2018 July COLONY Magazine

LAST WORD
L’Envoi
The Epic Tale of the Colony of Atascadero ... in the Making
By Nicholas Mattson
Atascadero! To that sounding name
A far tradition leads its fame …
So begins “Atascadero — An Epic Written
for Flag Raising Day” by Paso Robles
resident Guy E. Heaton on July 4,
1913. It was written on the same day as
Edward Gardner Lewis and his wife Mabel
received the deed to Rancho Atascadero, and
the author dedicated the epic to E.G. Lewis
and those who, with him, devote their time and
talent to the upbuilding of Atascadero.
Heaton finishes the dedication, “lastly: ‘To all
that here shall after live’ at Atascadero.”
Heaton was not then finished with Lewis, and
closed the introduction with two paragraphs in
Lewis’ honor.
“The author offers due apologies for his
ready indulgence in poetic license and hopes
to not irretrievably offend against accepted
astronomical theories, the phenomena of Nature
or historic fact, and most especially to Mr.
Lewis for ascribing to the Padre the vision of
the future Atascadero instead of the real seer,
Mr. Lewis himself, at once Seer, Counselor and
Impresario.
“To him who would behold Atascadero in
its nearest pristine beauty ere its swift-moving
transformation merges Art in ever increasing
proportion with fair Mother Nature’s bounteous
features, the author says Haste! For the
mighty want of the magician is moving, Lewis
is here, and the scenery shifts.”
The poem is worth a read for historical perspective,
and is written with some apparent
influence by Walt Whitman (1819-1892), and
closes with an ode to the “Common Good Her
State—a world-wide Sisterhood” with a handdrawn
wreath with a bow labeled “Women’s
Republic.”
The final stanza titled “L’Envoi” gives the
summation for which the heart of Atascadero,
buried deep in the Mudhole, still beats.
Atascadero! Though thy name
Is stranger now to trump of Fame,
Shall yet to farthest echo ring
As art and genius here shall bring.
Proportioned true epitome
Of all a perfect State should be.
And Fame’s eternal scroll shall bear
“Atascadero” blazoned there.
I stumbled upon this poem while researching
the 4th of July and the Atascadero Printery
Building last year, and it resonated with
me. I don’t think I’m alone to feel a presence
in Atascadero. Is it the ghost of E.G. Lewis?
Is it some leftover inspiration of his utopian
dream that was run over by “progress” now articulated
by the US 101 that cuts through the
heart of his darling downtown dream? Or is it
something that was here before Lewis arrived;
something Lewis himself felt and was moved
by? Is it by chance that we are here now? Is
it by chance that you are reading a magazine
published in Atascadero, cover ‘blazoned’ with
an image of the historic Press Building that has
been reclaimed by some undaunted — uninhibited
— spirit that pours out of the soul of
this place with a purpose, yea a mission, that
fills the mind with wonder and stirs the imagination?
Is it by chance that you arrived, by
choice or by fate, here now with this question
still begging to be answered … what next?
Are we here, meant for something greater, or
just here to judge the past and the failures as
something that prevent us from realizing the
greatness we can achieve together?
It is together that we will succeed or fail, and
it is together that we should dream. As Guy E.
Heaton offered 105 years ago, I also offer due
apologies for my ready indulgence in poetic license
— and use of the Oxford comma — and
hope to not irretrievably offend against accepted
astronomical theories, the phenomena of
Nature, or historic fact.
I do hope you will enjoy this publication for
years to come, and in a world of digital noise,
bullet trains, cryptocurrency, water banking,
fake news, and fallen heroes, I hope that this
magazine will be an anchor to our community
for the betterment of us all — yea, for all that
here shall after live. Just as Lewis did not live
to see his dream’s to fruition, maybe we shall
suffer the same; but then, maybe there is no
conclusion. Maybe it is just for us to give the
next generation a better place than was given
to us, and better tools on how to improve it for
the next inhabitants. This is what Lewis would
want, could Lewis imagine his highest desire,
and it is what Dr. Mike would want, and why
this first issue of COLONY Magazine is dedicated
to his UNINHIBITED spirit — may
it continue to project “Atascadero” onto Fame’s
eternal scroll for all that here shall after live.
‘To all
that here
shall after
live’
— Guy E. Heaton —
This inaugural issue of COLONY Magazine is dedicated to my wife, Hayley, and everything she does. There is no way to describe in fullness the impact she has on everything we do as a
family. This magazine would truly not be what it is without her support, care, hard work, dedication, and input. She is my everything, and has given me the world. Thank you.
COLONY Magazine is a free publication, mailed directly to 14,900 residences and businesses in Atascadero, Santa Margarita,
and Creston, as well as the other communities within the 93422, 93453, and 93432 zip codes. It is all paid for by advertisers.
Please support your community by shopping local, meeting your local business owners, and enjoying this great community.
DIRECTORY TO OUR ADVERTISERS
American West Tire Pros 35
Arlyne’s Flowers 22
Atascadero Greyhound
Foundation 05
Atascadero Jewelry & Loan 14
Atascadero Optimist Club 15
Atascadero Pet Hospital 36
Atascadero Printery
Foundation 07
Awakening Ways 27
Baby’s Babble 32
Blenders 22
Bluegrass Freedom Festival 08
Bob Sprain’s Draperies 21
Bravo Pizza 02
Byblos Mediterranean Grill 02
CASA 14
Cassidy, Diane 23
City of Atascadero
CONCERTS 29
City of Atascadero
Rec. Division 33
Diversified Landscaping 26
El Pomar Manor 27
Frontier Floors 27
Greg Malik RE Group 10
Glenn’s Repair 19
Healthy Inspirations 21
Hearing Aid Specialists of the
Central Coast
Heather Desmond Real Estate 11
Hope Chest Emporium 14
John Donovan Insurance &
Financial Services, Inc. 09
LivHOME 35
Lori Bagby REALTOR® 19
Lube N Go 21
Michael’s Optical 21
Morro Bay Art in Park 32
Natural Alternative 31
Atascadero Optimist Club 15
Placer Title 27
PR Physical Therapy 23
Ray Buban, EA
Tax & Financial Services 19
Robert Gayle 31
San Joaquin Valley College 12
SESLOC Fed Credit Union 15
Solarponics 35
Stove & Spa Center 24
Susan Funk for
Atascadero City Council 09
Templeton Door & Trim 26
Triple 7 Motorsports 09
Triple 7 Tractor Sales 11
Whit’s Turn Tree Service 13
Writing Support Group 31
34 | colonymagazine.com COLONY Magazine, July 2018