HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF THE UPPER MOJAVE DESERT
VOL. 14 NO. 4
April 20, 1999
HIGH FLYING MEETING PROMISED FOR APRIL
We can guarantee you a high-flying time at the April 20 meeting, since the topic will be the history of soaring in the Indian Wells Valley. The Inyokern area is famed in the soaring community for its great thermals, and many experts in the sport live here and have set records over our valley.
Some of the most experienced members of the local soaring community have agreed to entertain us on such topics as the early days of soaring here, some of the records that have been set in this area, the history of the China Lake Glider Club and of Sierra Soaring and more. Our panel will include Al Berryman, Hugh Helmick, B J Holden, and Bill McEwan, all of whom have much local soaring experience. They also plan to show slides and perhaps a video.
As always, the meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Sylvia Winslow Gallery of the Maturango Museum and refreshments will be served afterwards. Guests are welcome too.
Liz Babcock
ANNUAL MEETING - LEARN ABOUT A COLLEGE AND A CASTLE
Put our annual dinner, Friday, May 21, on your calendar and plan to enjoy a delicious meal with good friends - and add to your store of knowledge about some colorful characters who lived and worked on this fascinating desert of ours.
Our speaker for the evening will be Dr. Jackson Newell, president of Deep Springs College in California and Professor Emeritus of Higher Education at the University of Utah, where he taught in 1974-78.
Newell will speak on the topic, "A College and a Castle: Unlikely Prospects on the California Desert," the story of the intertwined lives and dreams of Death Valley Scotty, his benefactor Albert M. Johnson, and hydroelectric pioneer and Deep Springs College founder L. L. Nunn. Come and learn how the men met, how they helped each other, and what their sharply contrasting motivations and legacies were.
Lou Pracchia extended the invitation after he heard Newell speak at a recent conference in Death Valley. Newell was one of the conference's most popular speakers!
Dinner arrangements are pending, but we expect a buffet style with a choice of at least two entrees. The ticket price has not yet been determined, but is expected to be in the $15 to $16 range. Tickets will be available at our general meeting on April 20 and at the Museum after that, as well as from HSUMD board members. Liz Babcock
NEW MEMBERS
We are happy to report three new members this month: Carol & Craig Porter of Ridgecrest and Lloyd Lusby of Sun City, Arizona. Welcome!
RENEWALS
We are still looking for more membership renewals to come in. Our Treasurer, Fred Weals, will be sending out reminder letters under separate cover.
SUMMER EXHIBIT - CAN YOU HELP?
Planning is well under way for our summer exhibit, which will open in the Sylvia Winslow Gallery on July 10. We'll be displaying beautiful period clothing from CLOTA, the Maturango Museum, several of our members -- and maybe you!
Judy Ditzler from CLOTA and Liz Babcock from your HSUMD board are planning to display gorgeous dresses from the turn of the century through the 1940s. We have wonderful examples from the first decade of this century, plus some beautiful cocktail dresses from the 1940s era, but we're a bit weak in the 1920s-30s era. And we have very few examples of men's clothing from any era. If you have clothing from those periods that you have inherited, we would love to have a chance to consider displaying it.
Another important need we have is for dress forms and manikins. We had considered displaying some of the clothing on hangers, but something approximating the human form will really work best to show off the clothing to its full advantage. Lou Pracchia has tracked down several sources of manikins, but we can use more.
If you can help in either of these areas, just leave Liz a message at 375-7900 or e-mail her at lizbab@ridgenet.net. Liz Babcock
MYSTERY WAGON - A POSSIBLE PROJECT
The Historical Society is looking into acquiring an old ranch utility wagon. As it exists now, it has one fairly intact wheel, one wheel with axle but missing spokes and rim. The other two wheels are missing. It would need moving and a decision of how much to restore it. It looks historic. We need ideas on what to do with it and how. Please call Dick Moe, 446-4382, if you are interested and you can help.
NEW BUILDING, ETC.
Your Board of Directors held its first meeting at our new building location this past Wednesday and found it to be quite convenient and comfortable. There are still many items in storage at the USO/Courthouse and given the excellent working conditions we now have, the backlog of filing and sorting will reduce this overflow.
Jody Allred, owner of Holiday Construction and of the building, has given us a five year, no-cost lease on the building. The solidly constructed building is located at 302 Station St., has five rooms, plus a restroom, is heated and air conditioned. It is partly carpeted, the rest is linoleum. The HSUMD will be responsible for the cost of the utilities.
We are grateful to Board Member Chet Creider for making the connection that got us the use of the building. It seems he used to take his late wife, Vera, there when Cindy had her beauty parlor at that location. In a recent conversation with Cindy he found out that her father-in-law, Mr. Allred, owned the building. The rest is history. Thanks, Chet! And, of course, many thanks, Mr. Allred!
One of the items your Directors discussed is how to raise the funds necessary to pay our new location's utilities. Your suggestions are also sought and welcome.
A City planning commissioner is looking into what are the city's plans for the USO building. He hopes it can be restored and a productive use be found that will bring it back to life. He was familiar with the building as a child and I gave him a tour to refresh his memory. Besides all the work that it would take to make it habitable, it wasn't difficult to witness what damage major neglect of maintenance has wrought. Things such as a leaky roof bringing down parts of the ceiling's insulation, recent vandalism incidents of stored city property, broken windows, unlocked doors, cat litter and such. Overall, he agrees that it seems to be a very strong structure and even though the city does not have the financial resources he hopes something can be done. I suggested that whatever decision the city reaches, he urge them to consider a preservation ordinance. Lou Pracchia
NOMINATING COMMITTEE
The nominating committee has reported to the Board that it will be nominating seven people- Bill Burns, Chet Creider, Susan Hueber, Charlotte Paulsen, George Silberberg, Fred Weals and Bruce Wertenberger for the five positions open. Short biographical sketches on the nominees will be published in our May newsletter. Nominations may be made from the floor if prior permission of prospective nominee has been obtained.
WONDERFUL WEATHER-GREAT TIME!
The Saturday, April 10, outing to Sand Canyon was enjoyed by all who came. BLM representatives Dr. Katie Wash and Chris Mattingly gave an interesting review on the founding of SEEP and how the program is producing outstanding results.
Chris presented the society with three wood framed and folding display boards along with mounted photos. Chris made these panels especially for our use. And that wasn't all! She also gave us a well appointed binder containing a full set of the instructional material provided to teachers and included quite a few copies of the written comments from the students.
Some of the comments are really precious and we hope you will smile, laugh and enjoy reading them as much as we did at Sand Canyon Saturday. Here's a sample: "There are a lot of geologic living things in Sand Canyon;" "I didn't quite get all the questions you gave me the answers to."
Thanks to members Lois Carr, Hank Schuette and Litha Mattis we were treated to a more in-depth, personal and adult level anecdotes of their canyon experiences during the walking tour of the sign-posted sites.
Without a doubt this splendid event could not have happened without the detailed planning and presence of our Vice President, Charlotte Goodson, who is also the mainstay of our cultural history effort in SEEP . Lou Pracchia