230 W. Ridgecrest Blvd. • P. O. Box 2001, Ridgecrest, CA 93556 • 760-375-8456

January 2018Vol. 33, No. 1

Upper Mojave DesertTo see our schedule of events, visit us at hsumd.org or on Facebook at hsumd

See p. 5

Ted Faye Photo courtesy of the speaker

“Wyatt Earp’s Bar” features a bar purchased recently that is said to be from Earp’s Northern Saloon in Tonopah, Nevada.  “Mr. Cook’s Bank” is the story of one of the gold rush’s richest bankers, who left behind an iconic ghost-town structure.

“A Gold Rush Family” is that of Allan Metscher, whose grandfather came from Germany in 1900 with gold fever. He landed at Ellis Island and headed straight for the gold fields of the west. 

Ted Faye’s first documentary, “Death Valley Memories,” featured an introduction by Ronald Reagan and narration by actor Eddie Albert.

The production was sponsored in part by US Borax, and following the film’s premiere in 1994, the com-pany brought Ted on as its history consultant for the next five years.

During that time he was able to work with all the company’s artifacts and materials, many of which dated

T he Society will open 2018 with a familiar face. Our January meeting will feature perennial HSUMD speak-er Ted Faye (via video link) showing his new video on the Nevada gold rush of the early 20th century.

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 16, and will be held at the Historic USO Building, 230 W. Ridgecrest Blvd.

In 1905 Tonopah, Goldfield, Beatty and Death Valley were known around the nation for their great riches.  Those locations, not far from

our own Indian Wells Valley, were the sites of the new American gold rush.  Thousands of hopeful miners from around the world came to one

of the world’s most barren and forbidding deserts to try their luck at get-ting rich quick.

Ted’s new DVD, called “Tales from the Gold Rush,” shows four episodes from his new series, “History to Go.” The first episode, “The Fight of the Century,” which tells about the Joe Gans fight in Goldfield.

Twenty-mule team hauling borax into Daggett. Ken Robinson collection, Maturango Museum

I hope every good present day in the New Year serves as a valuable treasure for a better tomorrow. Enjoy the New Year, and follow the policy of laugh, love, and live. At HSUMD, we want to continue the kinds of wonderful successes we enjoyed in 2017. And we have plans to accomplish that resolution!Our friends and volunteers who comprise the band called The Whatevers – who are the musical heart

and soul of our Society and who are often seen at our Open Mic nights “running” our sound equipment – donated the money to HSUMD for a new multi-channel digital sound mixer just before Christmas! Soon we plan to integrate the new mixer into our building’s system, and it will offer new heights for our visiting musicians and for others as well. Thanks for the donation, dear friends!

We saw HSUMD publish two new historical books by our own esteemed authors in 2017 – one by Lodge Cunning-ham, Liz Babcock, and Richard Nuckles and one by Fred Weals – and we hope to build on that accomplishment in 2018.

In 2017 we finished restoring the Old Jail and we restored the inside of the Old Firehouse (thanks to Carol and Craig Porter plus some help from the Aguabonita Flyfishers, Cordell Construction, and Roberts Electric!), and in 2018 we hope to gather the resources needed to restore the outside of the Old Firehouse and maybe even start on the restoration of the wooden parts of the two Old Engine Houses.

In 2017 Carol Porter’s cadre of volunteers made huge advances in scanning and organizing historical archival materials, and in 2018 we plan to start putting lists and directories of our archival inventories on the World Wide Web; after all, we are the HISTORICAL Society!

We also plan several special events to help raise funds for these efforts and to entertain and educate our com-

munity, but you’ll just have to wait for them.

Keep an eye on our website (we also plan to update its design in 2018, at hsumd.org), on publicity messages in the two papers and the Swap Sheet, our HSUMD Facebook page, and the sign in front of our Historic USO Building for notices of upcoming events.

Our volunteers lend their own hearts and souls to what they do for us and for the community, but our success also depends greatly on you, our fellow citizens and guests! Let’s enjoy this new year together. — Tex Hoppus

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January 2018Vol. 33, No. 1

President’s Message —

Happy New Year and Thanks!

The Whatevers — generous sharers of music and now a sound mixer — play for one of our holiday parties. From left are Tom Rindt, Sayer de Woadhyll, ClairAnn Herbert, and Chuck Bolt. Both photos by Liz

Tex presents thanks and a memento to Joe Depina, a pre-viously unsung hero of HSUMD — probably our main Gift Shop volunteer over much of 2017 and a guy who can be depended on to help wherever he’s needed.

January 2018Vol. 33, No. 11

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Eat Pizza, Drink Coffee — and Earn Funds for VMB on Jan. 13!

2018 Archival Assets Get a Running Start —

Here we are at the end of another year and already off to a running start on 2018.

We will have all our new scanners and printer up and running this month. This means our volunteers will be busy, busy, busy.

I want to thank all the people who helped make our December dinner a big success — great food, beautiful decorations, and even better entertainment.

Our book signing on Dec. 21 for Fred Weals’ IWV Pioneers Speak was another great success, and we nearly sold out of books that day.

We are planning to get HSUMD’s inventory lists onto our website in the next several weeks. The index will be searchable for topics, specific names, and dates when possible. Certainly we will have a full listing of our media, both printed and recorded, as well as available maps and books. We will list by subject what is preserved in our history files and perhaps will list local memorabilia we have stored away not on display.

These databases will be available for researchers to use as well for individuals to request personal copies. There is no plan to have the actual items scanned and made avail-

A horned lizard — the “horney toad” of fond childhood memories for those who grew up on the desert — crouches memorably beneath a bush in a photo by Milton Speckels. This particular photo is in the Maturango Museum collection, but thanks to Dr. Kristin Berry, HSUMD now has a major collection of high-quality Speckels photos on many subjects.

Valuable New Slide Collection Acquired

Boardmembers Chuck Cordell, Matt Zubia, and Carol Porter are shown hard at work preparing (in Chuck’s case) and serving in (Matt’s and Carol’s cases) a delicious feast for everyone at our December party.

Photo by Liz

able to the public — perhaps later with restrictions.Our most recent donation came from Dr. Kristin Berry.

She was given a collection of Milton L. Speckels slides several years ago. These slides of high quality, as you might expect, and are mostly of land-scapes, flowers, sunsets, and sunrises of the Eastern Sierra.

Kristin has removed several slides to use them in her wildflower programs of desert tortoise habitat and share them with the Desert Tortoise Preserve Committee, Inc. Since most of the slides are near-duplicates, the integrity of the collection has not been compromised. So we are now the caretak-ers of 47 boxes of about 600 slides per box. The boxes are dated and labeled, which is a help.

We will be able to use these wonder-ful photos for exhibits and publications. Perhaps we can set up some interesting slide shows to be viewed by our visitors and give them a taste of our wonderful and unique area. – Carol Porter

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January 2018Vol. 33, No. 1

NEW YEAR … NEW FILM SERIESCelebrating Our Ninth Anniversary

According to the calendar, the Historical Society’s Classic Movie Night series is entering its ninth year of delighting our community of movie fans.  Having just completed the last series with our encore presentation of that classic fun-filled filmed journey down the Yellow Brick Road, we now embark on a new cinematic voyage.

 “Reel People” is just that… a series of distinguished motion pictures depicting the life and times of real people who have shaped history in imaginative, interesting, and sometimes important ways. This series premiers on Wednesday, Jan. 10, at 7 p.m. and runs through Feb. 21 on flex Wednesdays.

The year 1941 saw movie legend Gary Cooper finally receive a much-deserved Oscar® for his portrayal of real- life World War I hero Sgt. Alvin York, one of the most decorated American soldiers of that war.  A bawdy, hard- drinking conscientious objector, York had incredible skills with a rifle that made him a somewhat reluctant hero. Howard Hawks’ masterful direction blends heart-pound- ing action with tender, down-home rural charm.  The horrific attack on Pearl Harbor, which occurred while the film played in theaters, helped propel this Warner Bros. epic into a true boxoffice champ. The film’s patri- otic theme helped recruit soldiers for service in WW II ... young men sometimes went directly from the movie theater to military enlistment offices.  Really! Or should we say, “Reely”?

 “Reel People” come from all walks of life. Ruth Etting was a talented singer and film actress of the 1920s who rose to show-business promi-nence from humble stints as a dance hall girl and chorine.  With the help of Chicago mob boss and eventual husband Marty Snyder, whose jealousy and obses-siveness dominated all aspects of Etting’s career, the entertainer achieved the heights of stardom in recordings and radio, the Ziegfeld Follies, and early talking films. Along the way, Sny-der’s many violent fits of temper very nearly killed Etting and her career.

 James Cagney’s spot-on portrayal of Snyder, in this 1955

Sgt. Alvin York (left) at a press conference aboard USS Ohioan,

May 22, 1919. Wikimedia Commons

Gary Cooper in his Sgt. York costume fooling around on the back

lot between takes. Lodge Cunningham collection

Ruth Etting and her husband Marty Snyder (above) are played by Doris Day and James Cagney (photo at right). The glamorous Etting is

shown singing on the radio in 1933. All photos from Wikimedia Commons

See p. 7

January 2018Vol. 33, No. 1

5

From p. 1

from the time of the 20 Mule Teams used to take borax from Harmony Borax Works in Death Valley to the railroad in Mojave.  

Ted’s interest in Death Valley has led to many productions involving mule teams, prospectors, railroads, pioneers, even ghosts, and has also led to many trips to Ridgecrest to show and talk about his videos. 

The Society meets on the third Tuesday of most months. Meetings are free, and all are welcome to attend. For more information about this or other programs, call HSUMD, 760-375-8456.  — Andrew Sound

HSUMD’S Open Mic Night is the place to

be for great music and ambiance every non-flex Friday. Admission is a mere $2 per adult. Children younger than 12 are free. Beers and

wines are available along with the usual candies, sodas, popcorn, Jumbo Crumville hot dogs, and other taste treats. The

entertainment starts a 7 sharp.

A Few Words on Parking — Please note that the parking lot to the east of our Historic USO Building does not belong to us; its owner has posted signs advising that it is a private lot and that

cars may be towed. Please be aware and park elsewhere.

Can you dig this? Among the many fascinating people showing up to purchase Fred Weals’

new book was Diana Rodriguez (shown at right). Diana, who is the granddaughter of Willie Grossardt, was born and raised here and still

lives on the family ranch — 40 acres just past Jack’s Ranch Road. Here she reminds Fred that she met him

when she was a little girl and he was doing surveying work for her grandpa. Among the historic trea-

sures on the ranch is an original steamshovel from the construction

of the first L.A. Aqueduct. Photo by Liz

At left aqueduct workers pose circa 1912 in southern Owens Valley with a Marion steam-shovel, used to excavate the open concrete-lined sections of the Los Angeles Aqueduct. Take a look in the Gladys Mer-rick Garden of the Maturango Museum to see a huge gear from one of these behemoths!

L.A. Dept. of Water and Power photo reproduced in http://waterandpower.

org/museum/Construction_of_the _LA_Aqueduct.html

January 2018Vol. 33, No. 1

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Fred Weals’ Book signing

Fred thanks Don Joe McKernan, whose memories of his dad, pioneering lawman J.D. McKernan, are in the book.

All photos by Liz

Jan Wages (left) and Robyn Jahn (right) with Fred and Donna Weals. Jan and Robyn surprised their dad by

driving many miles to get here just for the event.

Here are a few of Fred Weals’ many fans who showed up to congratulate him and buy his book, Indian Wells Valley

Pioneers Speak, at the Historic USO on Dec. 21.

Pat Moore (left) and Arlee Lakin, friends of Fred since the early days of China Lake, arrive to purchase books.

As a member of our Publications Committee, Donna McCrohan Rosenthal has already provided an excellent

review of Fred’s book, but she can still hardly wait to have a copy of her own.

Rev. Helen Harper of St. Michaels gets an autograph from Fred while her husband Barry Johnson looks on.

January 2018Vol. 33, No. 1

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Business Members — please patronize them!Ale’s Steakhouse and BarAllen County Public Library, Genealogy DepartmentAnna Marie Bergens, RealtorBest Western China Lake InnBob & Ardyce’s Bicycle ShopCalifornia Route 66 MuseumCal-Sun PoolsClarion InnComfort InnCordell Construction Co.Cruise Planners–IWV DeathValley.comDesert Empire Fair

Desert Garage DoorEarth LandscapingEcono-LodgeEdward Jones Investments – Brook H. AndreoliThe Flower ShoppeHeritage Inn Phyllis M. Hix, AttorneyIWV Premier LandscapingJack & Dana Lyons, RealtorsMaturango MuseumMotion Tire & WheelNevins Tech. ConsultantsThe News Review

Pleistocene FoundationProfessional Tax & Business ServicesRand Desert MuseumRed Rock BooksRidgecrest Area Convention & Visitors BureauRidgecrest Automotive, LLCRidgecrest Moving & StorageRidgecrest Regional HospitalRoaming Dog KitchenS&M Coins & CollectiblesGary P. Staab & Assoc., Inc.The Swap SheetVaughn RealtyWarren’s Automotive

New MembersMember CategoriesHSUMD has three membership categories — all very important to us. Our

regular memberships are $35 per individual or family. Our business member-ships are $45 each.

We also have a special category: life member, which is something the board bestows only on members who have supported HSUMD in sustained and spe-cial ways. Our life members’ names are displayed on our website.

John and Amy AldenLouis Reed

Diana RodriguezWayne and Kathy Silva

Our 2018 member-ship letter went out in early December. Letters went to all members regardless of whether you owe 2018 dues.

If you have already responded, THANK YOU. If you still need to pay your dues, please make any changes on the stub attached to the letter and return via mail in the envelope I enclosed or take it to the gift shop at the HIstoric USO Building.

—Lloyd Smith

box office smash from MGM, nabbed him a Best Actor Oscar® nomination. Cagney’s personal choice for the role of Ruth Etting was his good friend, Doris Day, who bested Jane Russell and Ava Gardner for the coveted role. Day’s riveting dramatic performance assured super stardom for the popular singer-actress, but sadly, her breakout star turn failed to win her a nomination.  Such the pity, as you will see! 

Two more popular “biopics” will screen in February.  So, stay tuned. For film titles, call 760-375-8456 or stop in for a new film schedule.  Admission is a much-appreciat-ed donation, only.

The Historic USO Building opens each flex Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. for hungry film lovers to taste the tantalizing treats from our thrifty Snack Bar, which premiers a brand new epicurean delight on Wednesday, Jan. 10.  The “Coso Queso” grilled cheese sandwich features a thick slab of American cheese nestled between two pieces of Texas toast and grilled to buttery perfection.  The plate will include cookies and chips and will cost only $4. Add a piping hot cup of delicious tomato soup for only $1.50, and you have a wonderfully warm treat for these cold wintry movie nights. 

 Come join the film fun…and have a Happy Hollywood New Year…at the movies!— Nick Rogers

NEW YEAR … NEW FILM SERIESFrom p. 4

Historical Society of the Upper Mojave DesertP. O. Box 2001Ridgecrest, CA 93556

MEETING OF JANUARY 2018Tuesday, Jan. 16, 7 p.m., Historic USO Building

NONPROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE PAID

PERMIT NO. 9RIDGECREST, CA

Important Reminders Annual dues are $35 (family) and $45 (business). Please remember the Historical Society in your wills, trusts and

other gift giving. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

DIRECTORSTex Hoppus, President 760-382-1852, tex.hoppus@me.comDoug Lueck, Vice President 760-375-8202, racvb@filmdeserts.comRichard Hendricks, Secretary-Treasurer shoreline83@me.comAndrew Sound, Programs 760-608-7296, afsound@verizon.net

John Abbott, Building Mgr., Bldg. Rental 619-808-2233, jga2nja@yahoo.com Dave Austin, Historian 760-608-7775, djaustin401@gmail.comChuck Cordell, Building cordell.construction@yahoo.com Carol Porter, Accessions & Exhibits 760-446-3400, carporter@gmail.comNick Rogers, Movie Nite, Publicity Wnr428@hotmail.com or call 760-375-8456 for info Matthew Zubia, Fundraising 760-608-3186, mzubiasr@gmail.com

COMMITTEE LEADERS

Liz Babcock, Newsletter Editor 760-375-7900, lizbab2@gmail.comMarti Hoppus, Bookkeeper 760-382-1852, tex.hoppus@me.comJim Kenney, Field Trips Coordinator 760-371-2458, j.kenney@verizon.netCraig Porter, SEEP Coordinator 760-446-3400, cporter48@mchsi.comDonna McCrohan Rosenthal, PR Coordinator 760-375-4308, mccrohan@iwvisp.comLloyd Smith, Membership Coordinator 760-377-3542, lloyd.smith@hughes.net

Here’s an easy way to see this

newsletter in color! Just send an e-mail to

our membership coordina-tor, Lloyd Smith at lloyd.smith@hughes.net, and ask him to put you on the list to get a PDF copy e-mailed to you each month.

We don’t plan to stop sending paper copies, but online is the way to go if you prefer living color.