HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF THE UPPER MOJAVE DESERT
P. O. Box 2001, Ridgecrest, CA 93556
Vol. 22 No. 7 September 2007 ___________________________________________________________________________
SEPTEMBER MEETING: JOAN BROOKS, FATHER CROWLEY UPDATE.

The Society's September meeting will feature author Joan Brooks speaking on Father Crowley. The meeting will take place on Tuesday, September 18 at 7:30 PM at the Maturango Museum.

Joan is a retired public health nurse in Desert Hot Springs who became intrigued by numerous references on a map of the Eastern Sierra to the Father Crowley monument on Highway 14, to the Father Crowley Vista Point on Highway 190, and to Crowley Lake. A little research introduced her to the "Desert Padre" who ministered to the spiritual needs of the people of the Eastern Sierra and Death Valley between 1919 and 1940. In time she discovered his columns for the Central California Register, and the magazine article she was planning became a book, Desert Padre, published in 1997.

In her presentation to the Society, Ms. Brooks will discuss Father Crowley and update us on what she has learned since the publication of her book, including a new monument to Father Crowley at his birthplace in Killarney, Ireland.

The HSUMD meets on the third Tuesday of the month. All are welcome to attend. For more information on this or future meetings, call Society President Bill Nevins at 375-4764. Andrew Sound

There will be a few used copies of Joan Brook's book on Father Crowley available for sale at the meeting. Also, members already owning Ms. Brooks' book may bring it to the meeting to have the author autograph it.

UPCOMING TOURS

There will be a tour of Goler Wash and Barker Ranch on Oct. 20. Barker Ranch was where Charlie Manson and his band was captured in the 60's. Vehicles should be high clearance with reasonably good tires. Sometimes there is the possibility of brush on the trail. There will more information in next month's newsletter.

The next US Borax mine trip is scheduled for Nov. 2. You will ride a Borax supplied bus and will see all of the mining area including a trip to the bottom and view the huge ore trucks in action. Space is limited to 20 people and you must sign up for this trip. Contact Jim Kenney at 760-371-2458.

CCHE GRANT APPLICATION STATUS

On March 7, 2007, the Society submitted the application to the California Cultural and Historical Endowment (CCHE)'s 2007 grant program for $55.000 to support the refurbishment of our historic USO building and establishment of a Cultural and History Center. This grant program is highly competitive, with many hundreds of applications being submitted, reviewed and graded by the CCHE with a numerical score.

In August, the Society was informed that our application was not selected for award. We "missed the cut" by 1.2 percentage points. Needless to say, your Board was greatly disappointed, having come so close to success.

Kudos are due to Board member Ann Roseman, who was the lead in preparing the grant application. It was a big job, with many hours/days of effort on her part to comply with all the rigorous requirements of the application submission - and barely missing out.

What is the old philosophical saying : "Close only counts in horseshoes" ?? John Di Pol

USO BUILDING RESTORATION FUNDING REPORT

Our popular wine tasting party on June 30 netted us $906. The very next week Sam Schoenhals and Gail Marie Petty donated $1,000.

Although many of us took the summer off, Treasurer Andrew Sound recently deposited $2,265 in supporter donations.

We continue to promote our HSUMD and the building restoration every chance we get. We were at the recent small business expo at the fairgrounds and at all Olde Towne events. This year's last wine walk will be Saturday, September 22nd. Come and see the building and taste our special souvenir-bottled "Downtown Delight Root Beer" that's FOR SALE!

Remember our sweetheart diamond ring raffle tickets are still available at the Flower Shop (Chris chairs this money maker), the Ridgecrest Chamber of Commerce, Red Rock Books, Touch of Class and Treasures to Cherish.

An exciting auction at our building is in the works for Friday, September 28. KZIQ's fun team, Eric and Fritz (remember last year?) will be M/C and the auctioneers. Food fare like hot dogs, chips, root beer floats and wine will be available. Other entertainment and admission fee are not yet determined. Watch the local newspapers for more information.

We'll need volunteers for the Desert Empire Fair booth for October 11 through the 14th.

On Saturday, October 13th, Bob Peoples of "Blues After Hours" is hosting a restoration fund raiser in the Carriage Inn's conference center. Themed "Blues for the Masses" with nostalgic decorations, dancing and music from great periods and cultures like the roaring 20's, delta/New Orleans jazz, Chicago blues and, of course, the popular 40's. The
Carriage Inn menu and bar service will be available. Further details will be in the next newsletter, but mark down the date.

Please save your unwanted items for our fall yard sale planned for October 19-21. Call Kathy Armstrong at 375-2643 if you have questions prior to the October newsletter. Kathy Armstrong

WILLS AND TRUSTS

Please remember the Historical Society in your wills, trusts and other gift giving. We are a 501 (c) 3 organization.

FAMILY FUN FAIR

The HSUMD will have a booth at the upcoming Family Fun Fair Sept. 29 Please stop in for a visit.

HISTORICAL ARTICLE

(As a follow-up to Pat Farris' talk at our annual dinner meeting this past May 15, we started publishing a recollection by Pat Farris' brother, Pat Tharp, which was entitled "Memories of Joe Fox in Pat Tharp's Life." Because of the length of the article, we had to break it into two parts. The first part began by noting that the Tharp family arrived in Indian Wells Valley in the early 1940's. The article left off with Pat describing cutting, baling and hauling hay for Joe Fox to use in feeding his cows. Ed.)

We had a lot of fun while we were working. When there were several boys working, we would ride on the top of the hay. One had a pistol and one had a .22 rifle. I was the spotter, because mother wouldn't let me have a gun I would spot the rabbits running in the field, and they would shoot them. There were too many rabbits, and their population had to be controlled. Joe enjoyed watching us have fun as we were helping him on the farm.
Joe was a very industrious and enterprising person. He had the first water company. Then, before the Naval Weapons Center came, he had plans to plant some Winter crops East of the farm. He began to lay clay pipe for irrigation which he first had to dig up from an old apple farm out in the Brown Township area. When the Naval Weapons Center came to the area, he then saw a better venture. More housing would be needed; so
he developed land into lots for housing, and

developed his water system for that area, from Church Street to Upjohn, and Downs to China Lake. Also, he developed the alfalfa farm and truck patch, which was 160 acres, from Sunset Street, East, to Alvord Street including his water system.

Across the street, to the East of his homestead, Joe built another home for his family. It had a basement where he did his photography. He had an organ and after a long days work, we would play the organ for a couple of hours. We could hear him play the organ from our own house, and enjoyed his music. He did not require a lot of sleep,

and slept only 5 or 6 hours a night. When he retired, he wrote articles for the Daily Independent for years. It was in this house that he wrote his articles.

Joe was not a selfish man. He was a very generous person, and donated land to the
Baptist, Mormon and Catholic churches. He was well educated, and like(d) education and donated land to the school.

Joe was known for his integrity ­ a good man ­ an amazing man. I'll always have fond memories of the years I spent with Joe Fox. It is a shame that Ridgecrest has not honored Joe Fox for what he has done for this area with either a street name or park name or monument of some kind.

I would still like to see the old homestead preserved on the corner of Ridgecrest Blvd. and Norma Street.

These were the times I spent and enjoyed with Joe Fox until I left for Service in the U. S. Army and in the Korean War
Pat Tharp. (Clifford P. Tharp)