Sunday, March 8, 2009

Hill Fine Dining

Great Grandma Blanche Hill was known as an exceptional cook and hostess. The Anaheim Gazette of January 23, 1913 contained the following article.


We are very fortunate to have two photos available of this dinner party; one inside and one outside. In the inside photo from left to right are Blanche Spielman Hill (wife of William Hill), Harry Spielman (brother of Blanche), John Harry Hill (oldest son of William and Blanche Hill), William “Billy” Young (hired help and friend of William Hill), Bessie “Bird” Spielman Shearer (younger sister of Blanche), Mrs. Mary Orilla Kellogg (early Anaheim pioneer), Edith Ella Hill (second oldest daughter of William and Blanche Hill), Marguerite Jessie Hill (fourth and youngest daughter of William and Blanche Hill), Mr. and Mrs. W.L. Gray and daughter Geraldine, Mary Grace Smith Spielman (wife of Harry Spielman) and daughter Annie Grace.



In the outside photo are (back row, left to right) Edith Ella Hill (second oldest daughter of William and Blanche Hill), Harry Shearer (second oldest son of James and Bird Shearer), George Oliver Hill (second oldest son of William and Blanche Hill), Mr. and Mrs. W.L. Gray, Bessie “Bird” Spielman Shearer (younger sister of Blanche), Blanche Spielman Hill (wife of William Hill), Mrs. Mary Orilla Kellogg (early Anaheim pioneer), Mary Grace Smith Spielman (wife of Harry) and Harry Spielman (brother of Blanche); (front row standing, left to right) Fred Shearer (third oldest son of James and Bird Shearer), Theodore Charter Hill (fifth and youngest son of William and Blanche Hill), Geraldine Gray (daughter of W.L.) and Marguerite Jessie Hill (fourth and youngest daughter of William and Blanche Hill); (front sitting) William J. Hill Jr. (fourth oldest son of William and Blanche Hill).



Below are three items that have survived over the years by being passed down from generation to generation. The first two items are a serving platter and dinner plate from Grandma Hill’s dinner table. The third item is the original lithograph and frame that hangs on the wall behind the dinner party. The picture is called Nature's Beauties and was painted by Paul de Longpré, a noted painter of the day who became well known for his renditions of flowers, especially roses. Born in 1855 near Lyon, France he came to Los Angeles in 1898 and died in Hollywood in 1911.







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