Shameless, I know. But I was completely stoked this morning to see San Diego Legends at the top of Page Three in the San Diego Union/Tribune.
New book focuses on S.D. history
Author gives talk in Lemon Grove
By Melonyce McAfee
April 8, 2005
LEMON GROVE – Have you heard the Kumeyaay Indian folk tale about the coyote and the stink bug?
If not, don't worry, because Jack Innis has and he's willing to tell all about it. He's privy to lot of local legends and historical facts. So many, that he put them in a book. "San Diego Legends: The Events, People, and Places That Made History" is a collection of stories Innis dug up and committed to page.
Innis spoke about his discoveries yesterday at a Lemon Grove Historical Society gathering. In between the society's minutes and cookies and tea, members and visitors got an earful of San Diego myth and history at the H. Lee House, a historical building in Lemon Grove.
"This book reveals the stories behind the news stories and that's always the best stories you can hear," said society member Rosemary Putnam, while introducing Innis to a crowd of about 20 people. The book details events such as the mysterious and still unsolved 1852 murder of San Diego's first mayor, Joshua Bean, and a dramatic shootout at Campo's Gaskill Store.
"There's a little bit of that Wild West in us, but it's not apparent like if you go to New Mexico, Texas or Arizona," Innis said.
For the book, he chose stories that reveal local color. After writing a booklet on the history of Point Loma in 2000, the freelance writer vowed to pen a book about the history of the entire county. Innis embarked on six months of research and two years of writing to compile the information. He asked friends for leads and haunted libraries for stories.
"My love of history has grown out of my love of research," Innis said.
But he was quick to point out that his book, which was published last summer, is not a text book.
"It's not a homework-type of book," he said. "It's fun. It's interesting."
He tried to keep the tales short and varied. There are stories about everything from hidden treasures to the Heaven's Gate cult. Military battles and local politics also show up in the book. Innis said it reflects the uniqueness of San Diego and it's citizens.
Retirees Marilyn, 72, and Don Vinson, 73, came from Spring Valley to hear Innis. They carried with them a book on the history of Spring Valley; Marilyn enjoys local history.
Society member Gloria McKeen is also a history buff and delighted in listening to the lecture.
"I was enthralled with the whole thing," she said.
Innis, a Bay Park resident, is ghost-writing a book about the history of flight. He hopes his current book will be well read.
"My goal is to have one in every bathroom in San Diego County," he said.
For more information or to buy a book, visit
http://home.san.rr.com/jackinnis/main.html
Would be happy to inscribe a copy for any fellow fishing junkies.
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniont...m8history.html 
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