Upper Mojave Desert P. O. Box 2001, Ridgecrest, CA 93556

Vol. 25 No. 7 September 2010 September Speaker — Mark Faull: Red Rock Railroad The Historical Society’s September meeting will feature Mark Faull, former chief ranger at Red Rock Canyon State Park. The meeting Field Trip to will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 21, at 7:30 p.m. at the Historic USO Red Rock Building, 230 W. Ridgecrest Blvd. Mark’s topic will be the Red Rock Railroad — Railroad and the other early roads in the area. October 2 A native of Northern California, Mark moved to the Mojave Desert You’ll have two ways to experi- in 1984 to become the new ranger at Red Rock Canyon State Park. ence Red Rock Canyon this fall! Very quickly, Mark and his family were captured by the desert’s beauty On Saturday, Oct. 2, Mark Faull, and fascinated by its abundant and resplendent natural and cultural our September speaker, will lead a history. Although other opportunities were presented, Mark chose to field trip on the remaining seg- spend the last 20 years of his career with California State Parks sta- ments of the Red Rock Railroad, tioned at Red Rock Canyon. He retired in 2004. between Cantil and Red Rock Canyon and into the Dove Springs Mark remains perennially intrigued by the Mojave Desert’s rich and area. diverse cultural and natural history. He pursued studies in both fields This trip will involve some while stationed at Red Rock Canyon and into retirement. In 1991 he hiking and cross-country walking, began to document the history and remnants of a long-defunct short- so be prepared with layered cloth- duration railroad that once traversed the canyon. ing, sturdy shoes, a hat, and other desert supplies. Bring a lunch and The Red Rock Railroad was created to help supply materials locally lots of water. Weather may be hot for the construction of California’s first large water-diversion proj- or cool, so plan accordingly. ect. In existence for only for two years (between 1908 and 1910), the The trip will be suitable for Red Rock Railroad ferried supplies that created a 20-mile stretch of most vehicles; there will be some sand, but we will be on existing Continued on p. 2 trails and roads. We’ll meet at the Historic USO Building at 7:45 a.m., leaving at 8 a.m. Please call me at 760-371- 2458 if you have any questions. — Jim Kenney

Photo by Liz Vol. 25 No 7 September 2010  Report on Giftshop News Collections We want to revamp our giftshop to offer more merchan- In the last three months we have added many dise and to make sure it is open on a regular basis. One of artifacts, histories and notes to our collections. Liz the new items we will offer is a postcard showing artist Scott Babcock will talk about our most wonderful addition Sayre painting the beautiful mural in our lobby. That postcard (see p. 4). is on order and should be available within the next few days. I want to mention the collection of items from the Many other items are planned as well. Rex Smith family and several files from super historian We will be calling the whole membership to recruit mem- John Di Pol. bers to staff the shop for special events and on a regular Andrew Sound brought us several items from his basis. We also would like your e-mail addresses, which will father’s collections. The Quackenbush family donated help us keep you informed of our happenings. several items of interest, as did Buddy Deffes. We plan on being open 10-3 Mondays-Fridays (and some Gerry Pracchia graciously offered us three five- Saturdays, we hope), and also just to be in attendance when drawer files of Lou’s records, research, and memorabil- the building is rented. A member needs to be present every ia. We’re finding lots of valuable information in those time the building is rented just to keep an eye on things as files, as you might imagine! we are planning to display artifacts. I and my volunteers have been busy sorting and The shop will be stocked for holiday shopping starting merging for the last month. Thank you, John Abbott Nov. 1. — Chris Cane-Prosser and Mary Kus. Now that we are somewhat organized in our new With the fall season upon us, the walls of the Historic collections rooms I welcome your items of histori- USO Building will once again ring with the melodic offerings cal interest of the area, as well as anyone interested in of local musicians as Adams Jewelers and Jeff’s Music help us searching through and organizing. Just give me a call. present “Accoustic Expressions” on Flex Thursdays, which this — Carol Porter month are Sept. 16 and Sept. 30 from 6-10 p.m. p.s. from Liz. As the Maturango Museum’s history cura- We need people to help sell tickets and refreshments! For tor, I recently had a pressing need to locate a picture. I more information, call Sticks at 760-793-9959 or HSUMD at was very impressed with the way Carol dropped every- 760-375-8456. Also — please mark your calendar and come thing and looked through HSUMD’s archives with me. to the Three Bands concert, Saturday, Sept. 18! Watch the lo- Thank you, Carol! cal papers for more info! Red Rock Railroad From p. 1 the first Los Angeles Aqueduct. This preeminent water diversion project would change California history. Deconstructed and sold for salvage, small remnants still provide clues to the short-term presence of locomo- tives ascending between the colorful facades for which Red Rock Canyon is famous. Following Mark’s presentation, he will lead us on a field trip to explore the remaining rail bed; see adjoining article. HSUMD meets on the third Tuesday of the month, but it looks like we’ll be meeting on the second Tuesday next month because by the haunted house. Watch for the details This 1909 photo shows the Red third Tuesday CLOTA folks will be in next month’s newsletter. Rock Railroad rounding a familiar preparing our building for their annual curve in Red Rock Canyon. — Andrew Sound Los Angeles Department of 2 Water and Power Archives Vol. 25 No 7 September 2010 Please Come Enjoy Steve Hill and Mark Gordon Creamer inWe areConcert proud to bring Steve at Hill andthe Mark GordonHistoric Creamer to theUSO Historic Building USO Building on Saturday, Sept. 11, 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 each in advance at Red Rock Books or $20 at the door. This concert, a fundraising event for the Historical Society of the Upper Mojave Desert, is being sponsored by TJ Frisbee Bicycles and Radio Station KZIQ “The Coyote.” Don’t miss this opportunity to see two multitalented performers right here in Ridgecrest.

is a five-time BMI Award win- selections from Steve’s vast and varied collection of ner,S extraordinaryteve Hill guitar player, accomplished fiddle- original songs include Rick Vincent (“Ain’t Been A violin player and the of nine hit songs to Train Through Here in Years”) Roy Rogers and Dale date, four of which charted No. 1. Evans (“God’s Plan”), The Rice Brothers, and many He wrote “Love Re- others. Artists he has worked with over the years in- united” with Chris Hill- clude Vince Gill, Rita Coolidge, Roseanne Cash, Jim man and launched the Croce, Karen Brooks, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and Desert Rose Band into a many others. Grammy nomination in ’s CD, “Like A Hurricane,” features 1989. 10 of Stevels songs. The prolific Steve also writes with Steve is a fantastic Will Jennings, Jeff Silbar, John Durrill, Larry Bastian, singer and performer in and many others. Steve’s website is www.stevehillband. his own right, and as com. a recording artist has been on the Maranatha, hasMark a musical resumeGordon that most onlyCreamer dream about. Shelter, and Mercury- Not only is Mark an outstanding musician, but he is Polygram labels. Steve Hill also a well-respected recording engineer and producer. Steve has six cur- He has recorded with such legends as Bob Seger, rently released CDs — “Gold Highway,” “Feathers Billy Joel, Tina Turner, and Robben Ford. and Stone,” “Decisions,” “House For Sale,” “Train,” He has produced and and “We’ll Always Have Texas.” Some of these songs engineered recordings as have been on the European top 15, with “Decisions” diverse as the Tonight topping at No. 3 for two months. Steve’s hit release Show’s Tommy New- from the “Decisions” album, “I Am Reaching,”made som as well as sessions the Rotterdam Smashplay list with 35 plays within 24 for R&B and Metal hours. artists. Steve began writing with Chris Hillman, and they To get an idea how became an exceptional songwriting duo with such talented Mark is, go hits as “,” “Summer Wind,” “I Still to his YouTube video Believe In You,” “,” “In Another at www.youtube.com/ Lifetime,” “Story Of Love,” “Will This Be The Day,” watch?v=64gT4rUac “Come A Little Closer,” and “Twilight Is Gone.” VQ&feature=related. has recorded more than 25 Mark Gordon Creamer — Mike Leming of Steve’s songs. Other legendary singers recording 3 Vol. 25 No 7 September 2010 Look What We Have NOW! By Liz Babcock Collections Manager Carol Thanks to O.K. Porter and “Frank” Franklin, a President Doug Navy chief who re- Lueck have tired after 30 years of something new service and now lives to smile about in Texas, the Histori- — a priceless cal Society is now in scrapbook show- possession of a price- ing the early life less asset. of our Historic Let me tell you USO Building. the story from the With this do- start. Back in late nated treasure May, Frank sent the came original following message to USO patches the City of Ridgecrest like the one on website: Doug’s Shirt plus “My father Oliver some original L. Franklin was the USO pins.now First USO Director in the Historical in Ridgecrest. I at- Society’s collec- tended school there in tion. Read more 1945/6. My mother about it below. compiled a USO Photo by Liz Scrapbook, which I have somewhere. I would like to find to the public. ball check). Well when my dad tried an appropriate person to give this While I was at it, I asked him if he to return the piano, he got the black scrapbook to before I croak. … knew what happened to the Corsair ball, and the guards would not let him “We lived on the second floor of that was given to Ridgecrest by the take the piano on base. The chaplain the club, for a period of time and Naval Ordnance Test Station as Kern had to come to the gate to give his then moved to a house which was County War Memorial No. 1. This blessing to get his piano back. built just to the left, looking at the historic aircraft has subsequently dis- “I was very fond of the desert as front. Archie and Willie Miller lived appeared, and nobody seems to know a kid, and in the ’40s kids did kid across the street and their son Mitchel what happened to it. things. … a better place could not be and I were childhood buddies. Please Frank responded, “The plane I found. We played with kangaroo mice, contact me via e-mail.” played on as a kid. What happened to which probably are a rare item now, Phillip Braem, who maintains it, I’m sorry I can’t help. and horned toads, but that’s not what the Ridgecrest site, sent the message “We lived at the front of the club you are seeking.… along to the Ridgecrest Chamber, and on the second deck. At some point in “When I lived there, the streets Heather Spurlock of the Chamber time we moved to the building built were sand with oil mixed. We had passed the message to me. (Thanks, to the left of the club, as residence for a theater, which was along the base Heather!). the Director. fence line, and a Purity grocery store. Needless to say, Carol Porter and “If you are interested in the USO, “My son is not interested in this I were both vibrating with excite- I have a scrapbook my mother com- part of his family history. He is cur- ment over this message. I immediately piled, which has a lot of history in it. rently overseas, with MEU 24, an replied to Frank, sending him our I have a USO pin, which was used by artillery officer in the Marine Corps.” flyer that gives a history of the USO hostesses, which I will also give you. Later Frank mentioned that he was Building restoration and assuring him “My father borrowed a piano from 7 in ’47, so he was only 5 and 6 when that if he would give the scrapbook to the base chaplain for a dance. He got he lived here. It’s great that he still has HSUMD, we would not only treasure the piano off the base with no prob- vivid memories of the place! it but we would also make it available lems (Security used the black/white Continued on p. 5 4 Vol. 25 No 7 September 2010 Our Business Members — please patronize them! A Ridgecrest Septic Service Phyllis M. Hix, Attorney The Pleistocene Foundation Allen County Public Library, Hockett’s Building Supply Kenneth G. Pritchard, Attorney Genealogy Department IWV Insurance Ridgecrest Automotive, LLC AltaOne Federal Credit Union Jacobs Naval Systems Group Ridgecrest Moving & Storage Anna Marie Bergens, Realtor JRP Historical Consulting, LLC Sierra Odyssey, LLC BevLen Haus – Bed & Breakfast The Library Press Sierra Wave Tank Sales Cal-Sun Pools Dick Lewis Domestic Water Systems Southern Sierra Medical Clinic DeathValley.com Jack & Dana Lyons, Realtors Spectrum Graphics & Printing The Flower Shoppe Netzer-Russell Consulting, LLC Gary P. Staab & Assoc., Inc. High Sierra Auto & Truck Repair Nevins Tech. Consultants The Swap Sheet The News Review (Farris) Scrapbook From p. 4 Carol and I would have loved it — as I’m sure many other HSUMD members would have — if Frank and his wife had visited and brought the scrapbook with them. We wanted him to meet some of our mem- bers who were around at that time, and we would have loved to sit qui- etly and listen in on their reminiscences! Frank told me he’s 70 years old and not as able to travel as he used to be. I had to restrain myself from pointing out that some of our most active members are at least a decade older than that! Rather than visiting, he mailed us the scrap- book, plus several authen- tic 1940s USO logos and pins. Those items arrived here in great shape — just in time for boardmembers to see it of normal paging through it. Building for everyone to look at. Pic- when we had our August meeting. For that reason, I have taken high- tured above is an early picture of the Although the scrapbook is in great quality digital photos of the whole site. You can see the Fox house in the condition considering its age, we de- thing and am in the midst of scanning background. cided it is too fragile and too precious those photos with the idea that we We’ll let you know when the book to expose to the relatively rough wear will have a copy in the Historic USO is ready for viewing. 5 DIRECTORS Doug Lueck, President Carol Porter, Accessions 760-375-8202, [email protected] 760-446-3400, [email protected] You could be seeing this Bill Nevins, Vice President & Bldg Rental Louis Renner, Member at Large newsletter in color! 760-375-4764, [email protected] 760-375-4379, [email protected] Check out our web- Kym McEntee, Secretary Pete Smith, Membership & Exhibits site, www.maturango. 760-382-7919, [email protected] [email protected] org/Hist.html for an Andrew Sound, Treasurer & Publicist archive of our newslet- 760-371-1795, [email protected] ters. Thanks to our M M M COMMITTEE LEADERS gracious webmistress, Liz Babcock, Newsletter Editor Janet Westbrook, Webmistress all the recent issues 760-375-7900, [email protected] [email protected] are included as color Chris Cane-Prosser, Giftshop John Di Pol, Historian PDFs. 760-793-0741, [email protected] 760-375-2610, [email protected] Chuck Cordell, Building [email protected] Jim Kenney, Field Trips & Programs 760-371-2458, [email protected] Mike Leming, Fundraising & Bldg Rental 760-371-7270, inspirationalcountry@ Important Reminders hotmail.com M Annual dues are $20 per family for the calendar year. Roger McEntee, Building Manager M Business Member dues are $30 for the calendar year. [email protected] M Please remember the Historical Society in your wills, trusts and other gift giving. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Historical Society of the Upper Mojave Desert NONPROFIT ORG. P. O. Box 2001 U.S. POSTAGE PAID Ridgecrest, CA 93556 PERMIT NO. 9 RIDGECREST, CA ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

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SEPTEMBER 2010 MEETING

Tuesday, September 21, 2010, 7:30 p.m., Historic USO Building