HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF THE UPPER MOJAVE DESERT

VOL. 16, No. 10 A United Way Agency December 2001

PARTY TO FEATURE TRADITION, SOMETHING NEW

Great fun, camaraderie, desserts, and a surprise guest are on the agenda
for our HSUMD December get-together.

The party will occur at our regular monthly time and place: Tuesday, Dec.
18, 7:30 p.m., at the Maturango Museum.

Following the ever-popular model of the past several years, George
Silberberg has planned the traditional desserts, entertainment, and
brain-teasers.

The Farris Family Singers -- who are becoming a not-to-be-missed part of
the holiday season for HSUMD members -- have agreed to appear again at our
party. Members of the talented family will bring us the joy of the
season's music as they sing some of our Christmas favorite

Between the music and a feast of members' favorite desserts, George will
challenge our memories and our ingenuity with a history-type game along the
lines of that great game we played last year.

Then just to cap off the party in style - George will bring us a mystery
guest. (The rest of your board is as mystified as you are about this guest
- all George will tell us is that it's not Santa.)

Bring your favorite dessert to share - and get ready for fun and
camaraderie with your HSUMD friends! Liz Babcock

/\__/\ HOW'S YOUR MATH?

-O.O-

Now the following has nothing to do with history, but the traditional
celebration of Christmas and the New Year are meant to be happy times. So
let's have a moment of fun before our annual Christmas Party.

Here's a rather simple mathematics question that requires the use of
multiplication and addition to derive the answer. Try solving it in five
minutes or less using pencil and paper. For those who forgot the longhand
method, calculators are allowed!

Question: There are 6 persons each having 6 baskets. In each basket
there are 6 cats. Each cat has a litter of 6 kittens. How many legs are
there?

Whisper your answer to me at the party. As I said, this is meant to be
fun--no prize to be awarded for the correct answer. Gerry and I wish you
all the best for the holidays.
Lou Pracchia

REGISTER NOW FOR INFORMATIVE EVENT IN DEATH VALLEY

Give yourself a Christmas or New Year's present of knowledge about
fascinating Death Valley. The 6th Conference on Death Valley History and
Prehistory will be held Feb. 7-10 at Furnace Creek Ranch in Death Valley.

Lou Pracchia, who has gone to this conference several times, says it's well
worth the time and money. The conference is being sponsored by Death
Valley National Park, Death Valley '49ers Inc., Furnace Creek Ranch, and
the Death Valley National History Association.

Conference activities include interesting lectures (many of them
slide-illustrated), plus an icebreaker, a wine tasting, a banquet, two
luncheons, and a field trip. You'll also be able to buy autographed books
from the many authors expected to be present. Papers to be presented
include "Rock Alignments of Death Valley," "Stagecoach Lines in Death
Valley National Park, "Life of the Death Valley Prospector," and many more.

Conference planners have arranged a very good group rate at Furnace Creek
Ranch, so be sure to mention conference booking No. 4605 when you reserve
your room at (760) 786-2345. The rate for double or single occupancy is
$100.60 per night, including tax and energy surcharge. To make sure you
get that rate, you should register by Jan. 7. Availability of that rate is
not guaranteed thereafter.

If you prefer to camp, call (800) 365-2267 for a reservation at a National
Park Service campground or RV site. Reservations are on a first-come
first-served basis. Campground rates per night are $10 for Sunset, $12 for
Texas, and $16 at Furnace Creek.

For a reduced conference rate of $85, you'll need to register before Jan.
30. After that date, registration will cost $100. Whenever you register,
each additional family member will be $60, with a single copy of
proceedings per family.

Make your check to Death Valley History Conference, and mail it to Death
Valley History Conference, c/o Jean Johnson, secretary/treasurer, 4916
Westridge Rd., Bishop, CA 93514. Include the following information along
with your check: name(s) and number of people attending, address, and your
phone and e-mail numbers. If you are willing to bring something home-baked
or otherwise for breaks, indicate how many pieces you will be contributing.

To obtain a registration form online, go to http://www.deathvalley.com/.

Questions? You can e-mail Ms. Johnson at ljohnson@qnet.com or phone her at
(760) 387-2720. Liz Babcock

GIFT SUGGESTIONS

Don't forget our five publications or SEEP video as possible gifts this
season: Indian Wells Valley - How It Grew, Zig-Zag Post Office and Its
Neighbors, Indian Wells Valley Stage and Freight Stops and How It Was -
Some Memories by Early Settlers of the Indian Wells Valley and Vicinity

All of these are available at the Maturango Museum Gift Shop.

GOT YOUR COPY OF FRED WEALS' BOOK YET?

The latest book to join our increasing list of HSUMD publications is Indian
Wells Valley -- How It Grew by HSUMD Treasurer Fred Weals. A significant
work of local history, the book includes information about land division,
land ownership, tract development, and street naming in the early Indian
Wells Valley.

Have you ever wondered how the street you live on got its name? Fred's
book can tell you. Looking for information on how the concept of
California land ownership changed and developed after the white man's
arrival? Fred's book has that information. How about maps showing our
valley's earliest land patents? Again, you can find that information in
Fred's book, which also contains a wealth of information on other aspects
of local land ownership.

We asked Fred what caused him to get interested in the topics he covers in
his book. He told us that from the mid-1950s until the late 1960s, he
performed a number of land surveys in this valley and surrounding areas
such as Kennedy Meadows and Olancha. "These were strictly moonlight
operations performed on weekends while I was employed at China Lake," he
said. He performed the work in partnership with Hal Harney and a crew of
helpers.

Fred discovered that proper land survey procedure requires an awareness of
prior surveys and that in some cases the only prior survey that existed
dated back to the original survey by government contract in the 1800s.

His interest in street names also dates from his moonlighting days as a
surveyor, since his weekend activities sometimes gave him the opportunity
to name streets.

"In the early '90s, I assembled some info regarding the origin of local
street names and presented it in talks to HSUMD and two other groups," Fred
recalled.

Later Fred discovered that Lou Pracchia had assembled a lot of BLM
information about local land patents. "With Lou's encouragement, I merged
his data with mine and began the compilation of a draft," Fred said.

He gives a lot of credit, too, to two of our valley's early timers -- Hank
Schuette and Larry Fox, both of whom could draw on their own memories and
information to fill in some of the gaps in the research.

"Additionally," Fred recalled, "I had known Robert Hurd Thompson of
Inyokern and knew that his family was significantly involved in the early
days in the valley. Robert Hoskins Thompson, son of Robert Hurd Thompson,
generously allowed me to review many of his extensive records and allowed
me to quote some of his recollections."

Other research involved contacting tract developers, many of whom had named
streets after members of their families. Fred pinned down developer
identities by spending a lot of time reviewing tract maps on file at
Ridgecrest City Hall.

A book this packed with information has to be a labor of love, and we are
indeed lucky that Fred contributed his talent to put this valuable document
together. And all this costs only $12 plus tax! You can purchase Indian
Wells Valley -- How It Grew and our other HSUMD publications at the
Maturango Museum gift shop daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Liz Babcock

RENEWAL TIME: DUES DUE

A reminder that our subscription year is the same as the calendar year.
Our dues are $15.00 per family unit per year. The dues help support our
programs, publish and mail our newsletters and in various other ways
support our activities. To renew you membership in the Historical Society,
just send your check to Fred Weals, Treasurer, P.O. Box 2001, Ridgecrest,
CA 93556, or bring your check to the HSUMD Christmas party on December 18,
2001 and give it to him then. Also, please send in the membership form
included with the November 2001 newsletter to update our information on
your volunteer interests on behalf of the HSUMD. (And many thanks to those
of you who have already renewed and sent in their forms.)

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR SEEP PROGRAM

We had a small, but good response to our request for volunteers in the
November newsletter, but we still are in need of some additional volunteers
to help with the Sand Canyon Environment and Education Program. The trips
to Sand Canyon start in mid-February and continue into May. For additional
information, please call Lou Pracchia at 375-7385.

BUSINESS MEMBERS

We appreciate the support of our business members: The Swap Sheet, Granite
Construction - Sand and Gravel, and Farris' at the Heritage. Please
patronize them.

A DESERT CHRISTMAS MEMORY

The following account of a Christmas in Randsburg in 1897 comes through the
courtesy of Marydith Haughton of Trona who gave a copy to Dr. Lorraine
Blair to be read as part of the "Christmas at Rand Camp II" festivities on
Saturday, December 8, 2001. Ed.

Now that I am growing old, the Holiday Season brings back memories of my
childhood. The one dearest to my heart is the memory of my first Christmas
on the desert.

In 1897 I was living with Papa and Mama, two younger brothers and two
younger sisters at Randsburg, a new gold mining own on the Mojave Desert.

The second week in December we children were worried where we were going to
hang our stockings for old Santa. There was no fireplace with a mantel,
and a greasewood bush wasn't tall enough for a tree, or the limbs strong
enough to hold five stockings. Mama comforted us, "I'll find a place for
you."

The 24th of December found Mama hurrying with her household duties to find
time to finish her baking,, and pick and dress the turkey for the big
dinner next day.

Her small children were busy sorting over their long, black, ribbed
stockings. Each one tried to find the largest one, as it held more;
especially one without holes, so not one piece of candy would fall out!

After the supper work was done, extra wood was added to the kitchen range,
and a wash boiler filled with water was put on to heat.

A long tin tub was placed before the range, and two at a time, we bathed.
Mama checked the two oldest, and scrubbed the little ones. She believed
that cleanliness was next to godliness. We rushed into our nighties when
Mama said, "I will fix a place for you to hang your stockings!"

How excited we were, each holding his stocking as we watched Mama tie a
small white sash rope tightly to the damper on the stove pipe of our living
room header. Pulling it taut, she fastened the other end to a large knob
on her high backed rocking chair. She gave each child a safety pin and a
slip of paper with his name and age on it, and a round wooden clothes pin.
The she told us to pin our stockings to the line, oldest first, and so on.
Mama helped the smallest ones pin theirs up.

After the five stockings were hung, Mama tucked us into bed. "Shut your
eyes tight, and don't open them. When you wake, the sun will be shining."
Teresa 7, Tom 6, Leo 5, Sarah 4, and Marie 2, fell asleep immediately.

We were waked by Papa singing, "A Merry Christmas to all of you!"

We scampered into the living room to find our stockings. Each bulged; a
popcorn ball and a long stick of peppermint candy peeked out the top. On
opening them we found candy, nuts, an orange and apple to enjoy.

Underneath mine in a red doll chair sat a kidskin bodied doll with blond
hair, dressed in a red China silk dress. Under Tom's a dray wagon painted
green was hitched to 2 beautiful black iron horses with a driver on the red
seat. Leo had a red fire engine with a tiny fireman on the seat and 2
white iron horses Sara had a doll with a china head, dressed in pink
lying on a doll bed. Marie had a rag doll and a small doll buggy.

Hurrying through my breakfast, and into my best dress and shoes, and taking
my doll, I went to visit all my schoolmates, and Mother's friends, showing
my doll and admiring theirs. Happy and tired, I ran home early in the
afternoon to Mother's Christmas dinner.

In the center of the loaded table was a large fruit bowl filled with red
juicy apples. The browned, stuffed turkey was surrounded by a large bowl
of mashed potatoes, one of brown gravy, creamed cauliflower, a large
platter of celery sticks, and a dish of home cooked cranberry sauce, some
olives, pickles and Mother's homebaked bread. All this was followed by
mince and pumpkin pies and fruit cake.

The rest of the day I played at home with my younger brothers and sisters.
I was so exhausted by the end of the day, I have no memory of bedtime, but
my dreams must have been memorable ones, indeed, for I have never forgotten
that Christmas.
Theresa Kane (McCarthy)