HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF THE
UPPER MOJAVE DESERT
VOL. NO. 10
December 11, 1998
WHERE WILL Y'ALL BE THIS COMING FRIDAY??
Why, at the Christmas Party, of course! The particular where and when is the Maturango Museum on Friday. December 11th at 6:30 P.M. Meander on in all decked out with bells, mistletoe, antlers, or whatever will put you in the mood for a rip-snortin' good time! (Us old-timers in yars or in spirit can show the young 'uns a thing or two about stirrin' up the likes of a desert dust storm in the pure joy of havin' fun!) Well, seein' as how us history-makin' folks just can't seem to git together 'lessen over a pot of jack rabbit stew or some such, I'll move on out of the way so's you can concentrate on the important stuff. Food, that is.
Okay. As described in our last newsletter, we're having a Potluck Dinner. What we're looking for are delectable main dishes, vegetables, and salads each to serve 12 people. Culinarily-gifted and kitchen-klutzes alike are encouraged to give themselves free rein in producing or acquiring good things to eat and to feel at liberty to bring along a dessert, as well, if inspiration strikes. Remember, hors d'oeuvres and rolls are also possibilities to consider. So many choices. How easy can it get??
Now. Here's the new stuff. We're having a White Chris Moose gift exchange! Look around home and bring along something which still has some readily apparent virtues. Or, maybe the good of some object is anybody's guess, and you genuinely think somebody else will get just all sorts of pleasure out of trying. Even "historical objects" with the fine patina of rust are sure to touch someone's fancy. The gift exchange is entirely voluntary. If you bring ________, you get _______. If you don't, you still get to enjoy the fun.
No Holiday revelry is complete without music. Helping us raise our voices in song will be Eleanor Hartwig who formerly directed the Sweet Adelines, that wonderful singing group which most all of us will remember enjoying.
So, you can see that there are fun times ahead at our Historical Society's Christmas Party. Y'all come! (Questions? Dial 375-6449 & ask for Charlotte.
KNOWLEDGEABLE PEOPLE NEEDED
In keeping with our continual quest for historical information, the Oral History Committee is seeking people knowledgeable in the Bullion Road/Midland Trail area during the 1930's. Of significant interest is the fact that this thoroughfare was designated US 6 before it became CA 14. We are seeking points of contact who know of or have first hand information about this facet of our desert history. Specifically we are interested in talking to those persons who actually traveled this route or may know of someone who has. We need this information for a collaborative effort between our Historical Society and the Bureau of Land Management. Any contact however remote is acceptable. Please telephone John Faron (375-9516) with the names and telephone numbers of~hose people who may be candidates. Once a list has been compiled, we will seek permission of those listed to interview them for in-depth data. Thank you for your help.
John Faron
CHRISTMAS, WINTER AND TRAINS
In reflecting on some seventy plus Christmas times I realize they were always an occasion celebrated with family or friends. My earliest memory is rather hazy but I do recall a decorated tree with every boy's, (and maybe some girl's too), dream of a train circling endlessly around it. That early scene must have created my lifelong interest in real and model railroading. I wish I could say that I still have that first train (I think it was really my father's toy) but thinking back I believe by the age of six or so I had somehow damaged the set and never had another electric one for years. This brings to mind a train story.
For those of you who may have lived in places where there was snow do you recall how still it made the night? So it was for me living in south St. Louis, Mo. (notice the old abbreviation form)?
I nostalgically remember one such occasion when I was about 9 or so. It was night, there had been a heavy snow, and I was in bed. The nearby window was heavily frosted which indicated an outside temperature near zero. I could hear the distant sound of a railroad steam engine chugging, panting and tooting while doing its work about three-fourths of a mile from my house.
Here there was a siding for the Koken Co. who manufactured barber chairs. Their factory was located on a higher piece of land than our residential area and therefore a grade for the switch engine to push cars up to the factory from the main line less than a half mile away.
Now I knew pretty much about the perimeter of the Koken plant as we kids often played nearby and also walked the siding track to the main line where we always found things to do. But that night must have been one which made that train crew miserable. They were probably using an 0-4-2 switcher which could handle most level freight yard movements, but that grade was covered with snow and ice.
The Koken siding was a single track until you reached the plant where it forked. I had seen them bring in and take out cars during "kids-are-outside-weather" and knew what usually took place. Beside the engineer and fireman there were either one or two switchmen who coupled and uncoupled the cars and signaled the engineer by waving their hands during the day or using lantern signals at night. The engineer would respond according to the signal and depending on circumstances might give a light toot with the whistle.
Those guys earned their pay that night. I could hear that engine trying to make the grade at first by pushing the whole string and hear him getting only so far before he spun his wheels. Then there would be a toot and he would back down and try again. No better luck again. I guess there must have been another siding nearby where he took the string, uncoupled a couple of cars and headed for the grade again. If ever there were an occasion to record working railroad sounds that would have been a great one. Today it seems like they must have worked over an hour or so putting those cars at the factory, but their effort sure provided me and others in the neighborhood with memorable night sounds.
Lou Pracchia
RECENT DONATIONS
Thank you for the donations from Lou Pracchia, books The Land of Little Rain, and Volumes I and II of the History of China Lake; from Carroll Evans, an album containing photos of the construction of the bell tower through the dedication; Maya Newman donated a photo of WWI pilots at the Johannesburg Hotel. A 1950s photo of the crossroads at Inyokern and two more of the railroad station on Brown Road thanks to Louise Mitchell.
Dot Gould
ANGELS TAKE FLIGHT TO MUSEUM
We've installed a special exhibit just for the Holidays in the east vestibule case at the Maturango Museum. Nancy George, an HSUMD member, has graciously loaned us her angel collection for our new display - "A Flight of Angels."
Nancy has about 150 angels in her collection, and not all of those are displayed, but a sizable flock has landed at the Museum for your enjoyment during this festive season. She also gave us some interesting tidbits about angels that we've mounted on placards for you to read.
The angels are made of all sorts of materials - from porcelain to pasta or seashells. A beautiful snow globe angel is one of Nancy's special favorites. And she has a whole shelf of angel musicians just waiting for your visit.
Liz Babcock
ANNUAL SOCIETY DUES NOW DUE
Annual dues of $10.00 (per family) are now due. You may pay at the monthly meeting or mail them to Fred Weals, Treasurer HSUMD, c/o Maturango Museum, 100 E. Las Flores, Ridgecrest, CA 93555. Your dues are a main source of the Society's income and enable us to continue our programs without interruption. Thank you.
JANUARY MEETING TO FEATURE NEVADA GHOST TOWNS
Ghost town aficionado and photographer extraordinaire S. M. (Marty) Shelton will appear at our January meeting to give an update on his decade-long obsession with creating a comprehensive written and visual database of Nevada's ghost towns.
You may remember Marty's popular program a few years ago. In this talk, he'll talk more about some of the adventures and colorful characters he has met along the way, as well as showing about 80 slides of some of the ghost towns he has visited recently.
Liz Babcock
BEANS, BACON AND SPUDS
Following is a continuation of the story of Geo Enos begun in the April 1998 edition of this newsletter. We continue from the October 1998 installment. The spelling and punctuation are as used in the original letters.
Eventually George seems to have moved on to working about the country in the mines. The towns are so small that all inhabitants and regular visitors become known, in such a manner he is informed one day of mail waiting for him in Mojave, at the local post office. He begins working a night shift from 5 in the afternoon to 8 in the morning, leaving him "all day to have a good time, which we generally do," as well as a day jaunt with a companion eight miles over he mountain to visit another camp. In one letter he tell of taking a dip in a pool not far from camp... refreshing, but not as pleasant as the plunge."
That January, 1898, brings weather "colder than blue blazes" with sporadic snow storms. The camp now has 10 men. He apologizes to his mother in one letter for the "poor specimen of a letter. I am writing on the same table the cook is mixing bread on and it is not very steady."
Elinor Monjar
"Argus. Cal Feb 27, '98
"Dear Mother,
"I just got back from Mojave with a load of supplies and got the letter with the knife and pills. I had a tooth pulled while in Mojave. Tomorrow I am going across the desert to Indian Wells (the nearest stage station) to get some men who will come in on the stage. Then expected to go to Mojave again. It takes a week to make the round trip. You might send me a toothbrush so I can keep my teeth clean if not any more. I have lost mine. If Uncle Jerome wants to rough it, this country affords a splendid opportunity. I do not expect to come home before spring. Well, do nowknow what to write so will close for now.
Geo. Enos"
"Argus, March 14, 1898
"Dear Mother,
"I arrived in camp Saturday night and found your letter, a package of candy and brought another letter from you in the mail. I received the soap and knife, and wrote you the last time I was in camp. I located a claim yesterday and the first day I have in camp I am going over to prospect a little. Today I have been up to mountains for a load of wood. tomorrow morning I start for Mojave again. I will mail this letter in Mojave or on the road somewhere. The papers are very nice, we do not get very any here. You were lucky to sell 'Billy.' Hay is $22 a tone in Mojave an $40 out here. I have soap in plenty and a letter to spare. I can buy anything I want in Mojave. I have plenty of hankerchiefs. If Uncle Jerome wants to come up here I can meet him in Mojave and bring him out. I think it would be a nice trip for him. I have answered all the letters I have received from you. I don't know of anything to write about but I think I have written a long letter.
Geo. Enos"
"Argus, April 5, 1898
"Dear Mother,
"I have just arrived in camp I found a letter and the toothbrush here when I got in last time but I did not have a chance to answer it. I expected to be here several days, but an old man who lived about a half a mile from camp got runaway with and killed and I took his body over on the South Fork of Kern River, near Kernville. It took two days to go over. I went from there to Mojave and have just got home. I was laid up on the way home with a sick hose that was poisoned by drinking water that had arsenic in it. He is coming out alright now...I think I would just as soon work in the mines as drive team...I have read all about the blowing up of he 'Maine'...People tell me I am getting fat. This is all I can possibly write.
Geo Enos"