HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF THE UPPER MOJAVE DESERT
Vol. 14 NO. 7
September 21, 1999
SEPTEMBER MEETING - LIVING HERE IN THE LATE 40'S
The fall season of Historical Society programs will start out with a panel presentation the evening of September 21 by four local women talking about what life was like in Ridgecrest and China Lake in the mid- to late-1940's:
MARY ADLER came here in July 1944 and attended school in Inyokern, then Burroughs High School. Her first work experience was a an usher/cashier at the Ridgecrest Cinema. After marrying she left for Wichita Falls, Kansas, in 1952, returning in 1956. She married again in 1969 to Joe Adler. She started to work for the City of Ridgecrest only months after it was formed, then at Cerro Coso Community College and has been the bookkeeper at the Maturango Museum for a number of years. Mary has three children, two grandchildren.
ARLEE LAKIN came here on a brief visit in 1945, then returned in August 1946. She worked at the China Lake Pilot Plant, then the Salt Wells Pilot Plant. Arlee lived in a variety of WAVE barracks and bachelorette apartments, eating in the Navy mess hall. She shopped at the Navy Exchange and Mary Sues. Marrying Lee Lakin in 1951, they have three children and three grandchildren.
PHYLLIS LILLY arrived here on January 7, 1945. Like Mary Adler she attended school in Inyokern as an eighth grader, then Burroughs High School. She and Mary both graduated from Burroughs in 1949, the first class to graduate having attended all four years at Burroughs H.S. Her first job was also at the Ridgecrest Cinema. She then worked at Talbott's Hardware, which Mr. Robb bought out later. After the hardware store closed in the evening, she walked over to Jim's Malt Shop where she worked until it closed in the evening, doing her homework during the quiet times. Phyllis married Phil Lilly in 1950. They have seven sons, 20 grandchildren and one great granddaughter.
PRISCILLA "PAT" SILBERBERG came here in August 1946 from New England to marry George. They were married in Pasadena because there were no facilities here then. Their first child was born at the Navy Dispensary, the rest at Drummond. Pat worked as a secretary in the predecessor to the Test Department. She and George have four children , seven grandchildren and four (soon to be five) great grandchildren.
The meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m.,Tuesday, September 21, at the Maturango Museum. Visitors are welcome, refreshments will be served afterward.
Bruce Wertenberger
SUMMER of 1999
I hope everyone has had an enjoyable summer whether you stayed local or were able to leave your home for visiting elsewhere. Perhaps some of you attended an Elderhostel. My wife Gerry and I managed to do both this summer. We attended a great historical Elderhostel offering at Fredericksburg, VA where we learned a lot about why, where and how our country was settled during the 17th and 18th centuries. The on-campus weeklong session at the Mary Washington College campus was conducted by no less than three of their professors of history. The course title was "English to Virginian."
You don't have to travel to the East Coast for Elderhostel courses. A variety of historical and other informative courses throughout the year can be found here in California too. In our area The Friends of the Eastern California Museum at Independence are offering seven very interesting and different courses between September 19, 1999, and June 2000. Next May they are featuring a course that includes a two-night stay at Cerro Gordo in addition to a stay at the historic Winnedumah Hotel. The on-site learning opportunity at Ghost Town Cerro Gordo and about the history of the Eastern Sierra most assuredly will provide a memorable experience.
For more Elderhostel information or a catalog offering courses throughout the U. S. and the world call toll free at: 1-877-426-8056, or look at their web site at: HYPERLINK http://www.elderhostel.org www.elderhostel.org .
Lou
SHARE THAT SPECIAL ORNAMENT IN OUR DECEMBER EXHIBIT
Do you have an ornament or other Christmas decoration that has a special history linking it to the holiday traditions of the land of your ancestors? Would you be willing to share it with the public this year?
In late November, we plan to put a special Christmas display in the vestibule cases at the Maturango Museum. The display will last through the month of December and be taken down sometime in early January. Our theme will be something like "Christmas in Many Lands."
That theme came about after Heather at the Museum told us that one of the Saturday adventures there in December will be on the theme of a German Christmas. She asked us to put something in our display cases that would go with that adventure. After discussing the possibility of a display with a German theme, your HSUMD board reached the conclusion that we'd like to broaden the theme of our display to include other nations as well. If you have something you'd be willing to loan us, just call Liz Babcock at 375-7900, e-mail her at lizbab@ridgenet.net, or write her at 401 N. Warner, Ridgecrest CA 93555.
Liz Babcock
SUMMER EXHIBIT
The Historical Society's exhibit of period clothing in the Sylvia Winslow Gallery this past July and August is now history, so to speak. It was well-received and many thanks are due to Liz Babcock and Judy Ditzler for their skillful planning and execution. A glance at the visitor log for the exhibit shows that 161 people took the time to sign in. They came from thirteen states, Alaska to Maryland. Four countries were also represented among the visitors - England, Korea, Spain and Austria.
YOUTH INVOLVEMENT IN HSUMD
The last newsletter spoke of a high interest in involving youngsters in the Society. We would like to remind you that even though school is in session, we encourage all you parents to bring their youngsters to our monthly meetings. We promise to finish at a respectable hour so that these young people can get to bed at their appointed time. Please do bring your kids and their kids!
It is the intention of the Society to bring in guest speakers with topics directly focused towards young people. There are current efforts underway to do just this and as soon as firm commitments are made we will publish the details. We promise you that these speakers will really entertain the younger set. Please watch future editions of this newsletter for details.
With all your help, we will have a super good young people's program and involvement in the Historical Society of the Upper Mojave Desert! Please help us make this thing happen.
John Faron
MORE HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
The following article, transcribed verbatim, is taken from the August 4, 1908, edition of the LOS ANGELES TIMES newspaper, a few pages of which member John Di Pol recently found. It is a classic example of typical promotional material and methods commonly used to lure investors. It is interesting to note that the equally common story of reorganization and refinancing is also included.
MINES AND MINING
SKIDOO MINES STRIKE GAIT.
Production Twenty Thousand Dollars a Month.
Increased Capacity is Now Considered.
Johnnie Plans Are Assuming Concrete Shape.
The new mills of the Skidoo Mines Company in the Panamint Range, which has (sic) been in operation sixty days, is maintaining its successful record and is now producing, under normal conditions, at the rate of $20,000 a month, or $2,000 a stamp. For the last eight days of June, bullion to the value of $6,000 was received at the local office, the first eleven days of July were responsible for $8,000, the next eight or nine days for $4,500 and it is estimated that the proceeds from the clean-up for the last days of the month will increase the aggregate to $18,000. Some trouble was experienced with the screens during the middle part of the month, but this has now been rectified and it is expected that August will show a production of $20,000 from the plates alone. The cyanide tanks have been completed and are probably in commission at this time. It is estimated that another $5,000 will be saved in this way per month.
Capt. W. R. Wharton, who is heavily interested in the property, returned from the camp and expresses himself thoroughly satisfied with the work of the mill. He says the question of materially increasing the milling capacity is already under discussion and that the enlargement depends upon the record established by the present plant within the next few months.
Speaking of general conditions at the camp, he says several excellent properties, giving every promise of making producing mines, have been shut down the past few months owing to the difficulty of securing development funds during and since the recent financial depression. Among these, he mentions the Skidoo Blue Jay, Granite Contact, Saddlerock, Roses, American Eagle and Last Hikes, all of which show free gold veins of various widths and values and all of which have been developed to some extent in the past.
At present practically all the work in the district is confined to the Skidoo Mines Company workings and the various leases on its estate. Sixty men are now on the company's payroll with the mill feed being taken from the 100 to 150 foot levels.
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(Editorial Note: The article goes on to describe in detail the value of the ore that is being taken out of these leases, varying from $10 to $500 per ton. The article then describes the refinancing plans of the Johnnie Mine.)
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The Johnnie Reorganization.
Plans for the reorganization of the Johnnie Consolidated Gold Mining Company, which have been under earnest discussion since the return of President Myers from the mine two weeks ago, have assumed concrete shape and it is now assumed that a new company will be formed to take over the old company's assets and assume its debts.
As forecasted in this column a month ago, the new company will be launched with a capital of $1,000,000 divided into dollar shares, and of this amount 300,000 shares will be issued in exchange for the 3,000,000 shares of the old stock now in existence.
Last week an informal meeting of interests representing 1,320,000 shares was held and, after some adverse criticism had been drawn out, it was unanimously decided to indorse (sic) the plan evolved by President Myers and his coworkers in the reorganization.
Secretary Atkinson is at work on a complete statement to stockholders, in which will be embodied a synopsis of the exhaustive report recently made by Carl Anderson, the mining engineer. From other sources it is learned that he estimated 50,000 tons of $10 ore in sight and is optimistic as to the ultimate outcome. He recommends a comprehensive system of development with the object of ascertaining the extent of the ore shoots already exposed and believes that, with some minor alterations, the mill will be capable of doing excellent work. Two watchmen are now in charge of the property.
(Editorial Note: In this same edition of the TIMES, the shares of Johnnie Consolidated, which is located in Nye County, Nevada, are listed on the Los Angeles Nevada Mining Exchange at $.01 per share.)
DIRECTORS
Lou Pracchia, President, Co-Dir, Mbrshp 375-7385 e-mail: ldpracc@ridgecrest.ca.us
Liz Babcock, Dir. Exhibits & P.R. 375-7900 e-mail: lizbab@ridgenet.net
George G. Silberberg, Vice President,Co-Dir. Programs 377-5241 e-mail: ggs@ridgenet.net
John Faron- Dir. Youth Programs, Dir. at Large 375-9516 e-mail: jfaron@ridgenet.net
Bruce Wertenberger, Secretary, Liaison to Mat. Mus. Bd 375-2369 e-mail: brucew@ridgenet.net
Susan Hueber, Dir. History and Collections 375-2165 e-mail: hueber@ridgenet.net
Fred Weals,Treasurer,Co. Dir. Programs & Mbrshp. 375-5249 e-mail: weals@ridgenet.net
Charlotte Paulsen, Dir. Hospitality 375-8217 e-mail: apaulse1@ridgenet.net
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Bruce Wertenberger and Chet Creider (375-5725) Bulletin Co-Editors e-mail: ccreider@ridgecrest.ca.us
HSUMD Web site: http://www.ridgecrest.ca.us/~matmus/Hist.html by Janet Westbrook