Remembering an extraordinary artist, friend, and humanitarian...

-Laverne Buckman , FOTA President

Because of his contributions to the Friends of the Adobe, inc. in the beginnings of restoration of the Rios-Caledonia adobe, we wanted all members to be aware of this extraordinary man and his special talent that has given us the art for our Friends of the Adobes logo.

Ernest "Ernie" Morris died peacefully in his sleep on May 5, 2021 at his ranch near Templeton, California. He was 93 years old. He is one of the local famous Vaquero artists of his time. He was one of the early contributors to the restoration of the Historic Rios-Caledonia with his famous drawing of the “old adobe stage stop” that he created to use for a fundraiser for restoration efforts. That drawing also became the logo for Friends of the Adobes. Copies of that drawing are still available at the Historic Rios-Caledonia gift shop. One of our current board members & artist, Steve Kalar, was fortunate to have known Ernie personally . So we asked Steve to share some memories of Ernie to share with our members in memoriam to Ernie.

My memories of Ernie Morris

-Steve Kalar

I remember the day I met the legend “Ernie Morris”. He and fellow artist Thomas Goff got together once a month in the Central Park of Paso Robles and displayed their art. My mother had discovered the event and asked them if I could come join them. I was 11 years old… painting on boards from the woodpile on the ranch. I remember that first day in the park and Ernie laughing at me, in pleasure, as I sold all of my art that first day. The time I was able to spend with him those days in the park, left a lasting imprint on me. I will never forget his encouraging comments and his inspiration by his presence. I will always remember him as a “vaquero cowboy”. I will remember the blue jeans and western shirt and always a red handkerchief around his neck and his ten gallon cowboy hat!

Remembering a remarkable woman who made a difference..

Alice Work, a notable benefactor to the Friends of the Adobes

(Information from the digitized obituary notice on the left summarized below)

One of our most remarkable notable benefactors was Alice Work, the daughter of John Work and Mattle Jones. In 1887, John Work settled in Hog Canyon, and this was just after the railroad arrived in San Miguel. In 1889, John Work married Mattle Jones who family was homesteading in Lowes Canyon. Their daughter Alice Work was born on June 14, 1900 in their home at the Work Ranch. Alice was delivered by her grandmother who acted as a nurse-midwife which was a common practice at that time. Alice's birth was not registered with the county which was also a common occurrence during those days, so she had no birth certificate.

Alice attended Independence School in upper Ranchita Canyon and she went directly into second grade because her mother had prepared her so well for school. The school closed after a year because of a lack of pupils, so Alice transferred to the Ellis School in Hog Canyon. This school was much further away so Alice rode a horse to school! Sadly, neither the Independence Schoolhouse nor the Ellis Schoolhouse remain standing, however the remnants of these historic structures can still be identified at these sites. 

Alice went to San Jose for her first year of high school and then transferred to the Paso Robles High School in the fall of 1914. It became necessary for her to board in Paso Robles because of the poor conditions of the country roads and during her first year she boarded with the Heaton Family who lived in a three-story magnificent Victorian house which occupied an entire city block on the west side of Main Street, just north of the current day Downtown area. Subsequently, for the next two years in Paso Robles, Alice boarded with Mrs. R.M. Schackleford who took in both students and teachers as boarders. When the weather was dry and the roads passable, Alice's father would drive into town in his Model T Ford to take her home for weekend. Alice graduated from Paso Robles High School with the class of 1917. There were 23 students in her class photograph. 

Alice went on to attend University of California at Berkeley where she earned a degree in Economics in December of 1921. 

She spent a year in Hawaii as a missionary after she graduated and taught at the Hilo Boy's School. She returned back to the San Miguel area in 1923 and worked on the ranch in Hog Canyon for her brother, Robert Work. Alice remained there until Robert married Margaret "Mard" Huston, also from Hog Canyon in 1924.

During the 1920's, Alice and her sister Ardelia lived in Capitola during the summers and in San Francisco during the winters. They also spent time in Chicago. In 1928, they sailed to Europe where they lived for the next two years. In 1932, they settled down in Pacific Grove, the same town where her parents had retired to. 

Alice was an astute business woman. When in the late 1930's, the San Miguel Mill was in financial trouble, Alice's help was sought and was able to save the business after meticulously going through the records and identifying uncollected receivables. She even personally drove around the county to help collect the amounts due to the Mill from the farmers and ranchers who were the Mill's customers. For those who were facing financial hardship, she set up long term repayment plans to help them out. In 1945, she sold the Work family's share in the mill to Lloyd Van Horn whose family ran the mill for several decades thereafter. 

Alice and her sister Ardelia frequently came down to San Miguel and Paso Robles to tend to the families several business interests and properties. In addition to checking in on their various business interests during their visits, they also maintained ties with family and friends in the area. They attended the annual Old Timers Picnic in the San Miguel Park as long as they were able. They were also life members of the Friends of the Adobes. 

Alice never married and passed away after a brief illness at the age of 96 on September 15, 1996 and was buried in the Work family plot in San Miguel Cemetery. 

Alice (and her sister-in-law Margaret Work) held a special fondness for the Historic Rios-Caledonia Adobe in San Miguel and the Estrella Adobe Church. Upon her death, the Friends of the Adobes, Inc. received just over $20,000 dollars from the trust she had set up for these donations.  

We are deeply grateful to Alice Work for her generosity to the Friends of the Adobes.  

Our sincere and deep appreciation to all our benefactors who have and continue to have a lasting impact on our ability to maintain the building and keep the doors of our beloved Adobe to our community and to our visitors to enjoy for many years to come.