 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||
| Cromers’ landmark By David Mason A hot summer evening, enchanting dinner beside the rushing creek spilling into a pond with the roar of a beautiful waterfall, can only mean you are eating at one of Ojai’s newest and most unusual restaurants. Bodee’s — an Ojai legacy. Many of us remember the wonderful Anne Cromer as she greeted each person to walk into her place with a smile and a very warm welcome. Coming from Galveston, Texas, Anne with her husband, Hiram Imboden Cromer, who was called “Doc Bodee” by those who knew him, would have an exciting life together. They had been married in 1934. Anne worked as a retail clerk along with doing some modeling. Bodee was a physical therapist. In response to an ad the young couple packed up their two dogs and all of their belongings and ventured west. The ad was for the job of running a resort bath house and therapy area at Wheeler’s Hot Springs in the mountains above the town of Ojai. When they arrived, Wheeler
Blumberg hired the couple
immediately. They enjoyed their life
together, but when World War II
broke out, they felt like most young
people — that they must do their
part. Bodee went to work in the
Long Beach shipyards and Anne
found employment at Douglas
Aircraft. In 1944, Bodee went to
work with The Island Company on
Catalina Island. At night he tended
bar at the original Chi Chi Club in After the war ended, the Cromers returned to the Ojai Valley and purchased property on the Maricopa Highway for the construction of what would become the Bodee Ranch. They pitched tents on the site, one for sleeping and one for cooking. The young couple purchased one
of the old army barracks that had
been built on the Ojai Valley Inn
property while it served as a base
during the war. Bodee had it moved
up the Maricopa Highway for their Today, the Cromers’ granddaughter, Michele Cromer- Bentivolio, has re-opened this landmark establishment with a new flair and I must add, I thought everything was perfect. Among the guests at my table were Edie Lambert and Nadia McKelvie. We spent a couple of hours just relaxing as our table overlooked the waterfall, pond and the lush landscape. McKelvie had just returned from Hawaii a few days earlier and remarked that it had the feel of Hawaii more than any place in Southern California. At the next table, Ventura County Chief Executive Officer Johnny Johnston and his wife, Kitty Johnston, were certainly enjoying their evening. I spotted Jack and Jean Smart entertaining friends and enjoying the cool atmosphere on an otherwise hot night. The menu says, “committed to
providing you with a most unique
and memorable dining experience.” |
||
 |