Local Author Shares His Memories of Growing Up in Ramona

Long time Ramona resident, Darrell Beck.

by Ruth Lepper

It’s a book that’s been 65 years in the making.

That’s how long Darrell Beck has been collecting stories, at least in his memory bank, for the book he has written, titled “On Memory’s Back Trail: A Story History of Ramona and the Backcountry of San Diego County.”

“In my mind, I think I always wanted to run a newspaper or write a book,” said Beck, 71. “I always listened to my grandfather tell stories. Somebody would say, ‘We’d better write that down.’

“Well, I never wrote it down but I did in my head. That’s why I say my book started 65 years ago, at least.”

Beck, a retired contractor, has lived in Ramona since he was 9 years old. His maternal grandparents, Janneva and Charles Harper, lived here for many years before that, settling in the Ramona valley in 1917. Beck dedicated his book to the memory of “their pioneer spirits and outstanding moral character,” which inspired him to write the book. The book also is a tribute to “the many people who most influenced my life,” he said.

Through the years, Beck perfected his writing skills by making use of the “Letters to the Editor” pages in several newspapers. The majority of his letters were about current issues and situations affecting Ramona and the backcountry.

“I’ve written stories and letters to dozens of newspapers and other publications,” he said. “That’s how I learned how to write. That’s how I learned how to get people to understand what I was trying to say.”

But Beck didn’t take his writing seriously until he retired about six years ago.

That’s when he discovered he could go a lot faster if he stopped writing his stories in long hand. He learned how to type.

“I learned how to use a word processor and transcribed everything from handwriting to word processor,” he said.

When Beck met a new member of the Kiwanis Club of Ramona, the rate of progress on his book moved forward considerably. John Whiteman offered his expertise in self-publishing.

“When John found out what I was doing, he suggested he might be able to help me format the book,” Beck said. “So I handed him this box full of papers and he said he needed that on a (computer) disc. I asked him, ‘What’s a disc?’ So I had to learn how to use a computer.”

The book continued to move along at a steady pace after Beck mastered the computer, but it was another three years before it was ready to be published. Beck formed his own publishing company, Backcountry Press.

There are 400 photos in the book, many dating back to the 19th century and early 20th century as well others from as present day. Beck used photos from descendants of pioneer families, the San Diego Historical Society, local residents and his personal collection, along with previously published photos from newspapers and magazines.

Beck interviewed hundreds of people whose stories are included in the book. His only regret, he said, is that some of them passed away before the book was published.

“Any other regrets would be I forgot somebody or missed an important story,” he said.

But there’s always next time. A second edition or updated version is under consideration.

“I’ve always got something that needs to be added,” he said. “History never stops.”

Beck would like to someday write another book that would include more stories about the backcountry, as well as those that were missed the first time around. He also has an idea for a book about the many buildings he constructed as a general contractor.

“When we built Ethel and Del Johnson’s house in 1971, they asked me to write a note about how the house was built,” he said. “Then I

started writing a few stories about some of the homes I built and some other things I did. I haven’t finished that yet. That’s another thing I want to do: ‘Fifty Years of Building in Ramona and the Backcountry.’ ”

For now, it’s one of the chapters in “On Memory’s Back Trail.”

The book covers the history of many clubs and organizations, as well as stories about pioneer families and life in the early days of Ramona and the backcountry.

The list is endless: country fairs and air fairs; schools and churches; water and fire agencies; lakes and parks; gems and mining; roads and transportation; sports and rodeos; and many more.

Beck has included many personal anecdotes and discourses of events in which he participated, calling upon memories from his childhood as well as from more modern times.

Beck’s first book signing will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Oct. 2 at the Ramona branch library’s community room, 1406 Montecito Rd. It will be hosted by the Friends of the Ramona Library.

The 297-page, softcover, or “perfect bound” book, sells for $24.95 plus tax, as well as shipping and handling fees if it needs to be mailed. The book is available by calling Beck at (760) 789-2534.