Upper Mojave Desert 230 W. Ridgecrest Blvd. • P. O. Box 2001, Ridgecrest, CA 93556 • 760-375-8456
Vol. 30 No. 3 March 2015 To see our schedule of events, visit us at hsumd.org or on Facebook at hsumd Wyatt Earp’s Experiences in the Searles Valley erhaps the most famous person to experience the Searles Valley was George Putnam, widower of Amelia Earhart, Pwho died at the Trona hospital. Others who gained fame here were George Hearst, Stafford Wallace Austin (husband of Mary Austin), Seldom Seen Slim Ferge, and of course, John Searles. However, Wyatt Earp, famed western lawman, gambler, hotelkeeper, miner, and the subject of Earpania all over the west also made his mark in the Searles Valley. Russ Kaldenberg will be our March speaker, appearing at the Historic USO on March 17, 7 p.m., to discuss Earp’s presence in the Searles Valley during the “Potash Wars” preced- ing World War I. He was arrested in 1910 for claim jumping on the Trona Company’s claims near the Trona Reef. Evidence also suggests that he gambled and stayed at “Poeville,” which was situ- ated near the famous “Tanks” — a site near today’s Trona Airport. Our speaker’s presentation will be illustrated by PowerPoint slides and will illustrate the history of Earp and Searles Valley. Russell Kaldenberg is a life member of the Searles Valley Historical Society and was the chair of the Trona Centennial Committee, where he organized a symposium on the history of the Searles Valley. He is a director of archae- ology for ASM Affiliates in Cheyenne, Wyoming, after a 30-year career in See p. 8 Field Trip to Manzanar Jim Kenney’s previously an- nounced field trip to Manzanar won’t take place this month, but we know he will host one as soon as he can. Our March speaker, Russ Kaldenberg, Watch this space next month for is shown (top) with historic photos of further details. Wyatt Earp as a young man and as he aged. Looks like someone you Manzanar obelisk at dusk. Photo by Liz wouldn’t want to tangle with! Vol. 30, No. 3 March 2015 President’s Message — Genealogical Administrative Accomplishments Committee f you come to the Genealogical e continue to enjoy a very busy year. Some Committee meeting on Tues- things you all see, some you do not. day, March 10, 7 p.m., at the His- One accomplishment that most don’t Itoric USO Building, you’ll be bound see is critical to our Society’s growth, and that to learn amazing facts about how to isW our moving to QuickBooks to manage our financial search for information on your ances- accounting and reporting. We’ve had an experienced and tors. capable person step up to help us make this move; that This month one of the videos from someone is Marti Hoppus. And she not only has vol- a past Southern California Genealogi- unteered hundreds of hours doing that but has also cal Society Jamboree will be shown. It agreed to be our bookkeeper. promises to be very informative. Andrew Sound will remain our treasurer until this Everyone is welcome! July and then focus on helping us in our Publications Tex Hoppus Committee. Yes, we are looking for a volunteer to be — Mary Kus our treasurer. So if you or someone you know is interested in helping us in that capacity, please call us! One accomplishment you can see is our new website. On your computer New in the go to www.hsumd.org and look it over. We have become part of this decade! The various links will tell you everything we’re doing and keep you up to date on Gift Shop our plans. If you go to the Events pull-down menu and then select the Calendar link, you’ll be amazed at all we have happening — AND you can put our events We have a selection of new on your own calendar. Many thanks to Brian Saunders and Matt Zubia for all books. Stop by and look at them! their work! Maybe you’ll also buy some If you think you have any time that you might share with us, please call me See’s candy or a fun memento of at (760) 446-3370 and let me know if you can help us in our Gift Shop (even as Ridgecrest. a backup), or help in the kitchen during events, or help upstairs in our archives. Here are our new books: We are all volunteers and we could use more of us, and that’s where you can É Skidoo! help. Thanks! — Tex Hoppus É A Road to Riches — The Randsburg Railway Company and Mining District Come to Open Mic Night É every non-flex Friday. Old Magic: Lives of the Admission is a mere $2 per Desert Shamans adult. Children younger than É and several new children’s 12 are free. books — great additions to Eas- Beers and wines are avail- ter baskets able along with the usual The gift shop will have a candies, sodas, popcorn and Sidewalk Sale from 11-3 on Jumbo Crumville hot dogs. Friday, April 10, and Saturday, The entertainment starts at 7 April 11. Select T-shirts, mugs, sharp. food, books, and many other items will be on sale. At left is ClairAnn Herbert of the Stop by on your way to vote Whatevers, one of several fine for your favorite wildflower bands that formed as a result of photo! Open Mic Night! Photo by Liz — Michelle Andreoli
2 Vol. 30, No. 3 March 2015 Our Celebration of Desert Wildflowers lthough the community is not hosting a Wildflower Festival this year, the Maturango Museum is of course having its annual Wildflower Exhibit, with hundreds of A specimens for you to study, a special lecture by wildflower expert Naomi Fraga on Saturday, as well as caravan tours. HSUMD has arranged for a Wildflower Photo Display each year of the festival and see no reason not to do the same this year in partnership with Maturango. Our photo display has been well attended and participated in by both photographers and visitors. This year we will expand the display, allowing entrants to have larger photos on display. We will be using our main auditorium and our easels as we did for our recent Wilderness Photo Contest. We plan to have a demonstration or two and perhaps a lec- ture. We are still working on the possibility of trail walks. Even if we don’t have guides at the trailheads as in previous years, we will have maps of the places you can see the flowers on your own. The maps will include names of the flowers usually growing in those spots. Prince’s plume Photo by Liz Babcock
Here is the info on entering our Photo Exhibit. Please read through the message to see the changes and above all share this info with your friends who like to take photos of wildflowers (and who doesn’t?). Remember your photo does not have to be from this year — only the subject matter is restricted. Of course this year may be the best in years — and you will want to get out there with the camera. You will see that we have increased the size allowed for your photo as well as the number you may enter (five photos rather than the three we allowed in previous years).
Wildflower Photo Show The parameters for the photo display are as follows. 1. All displayed photos must be of wildflowers, flora, shrubs, or cacti that can be found in the local area. Garden flowers or hybrids that happen to grow “wild” will not be accepted. 2. Each photo should be matted or mounted on card stock or foamboard and no larger than 11 by 14 inches. No frames or glass on the photos. We will be using adhesive Velcro on the back of your mounting board or photo. 3. Each photographer will be allowed a maximum of five items for display or sale. 4. Photos will be accepted on a first-come basis. The size of the display area will determine the number of items we are able to accept. 5. Members of the public will have an opportunity to vote for their favorite photo. There will be a student division. No names or business cards are to be displayed. A list will be kept with your contact information and sale prices. Winning entries will be posted Sunday afternoon, 3:30 p.m. Please bring your photos for display to the Historic USO Building on April 8 between 1 and 6 p.m. You will be asked to sign an agreement for displaying your items. Items will be displayed Friday, April 10, through Sunday, April 12. Call Carol Porter, 760-446-3400, or leave a message at 375-8456 with any questions. — Carol Porter 3 Vol. 30, No. 3 March 2015 SAIL INTO SPRING WITH THE CRUISE CLASSICS SERIES! ello, HSUMD movie fans! Classic Movie Night already set sail Wednesday, March 25, on the maiden voyage of its next series – “Cruise Control.” Get your passports in order, as we embark from the Historic USO Pier for the H next three of this four-film adventure on the high seas! Our round-the-world itinerary will offer plenty of laughter, romance, and drama, and you don’t even need to make reservations! Just hop on board every flex Wednesday at 7 p.m. through May 6. And remember, you can’t beat the menu of taste-tempting treats from the busy ship’s galley (snack bar), featuring such culinary masterpieces as the titanic Jumbo Crumville Hotdog plate, complete with chips and a cookie (still just $4), fresh hot $1 popcorn, frosty ice cream treats, ice-cold sodas, delicious candies and much more. This seafaring cinematic series is sponsored by Cruise Planners® of the Indian Wells Valley, the IWV’s new wave in travel planning, which proudly supports the ongoing events and activities of the Historical Society of the Upper Mojave Desert. Film schedules (complete with titles) are available in the lobbies of the Historic USO Building and leading area hotels, or call HSUMD at 760-375-8456 for more information. Difficult to believe, but summer will be nearly upon us by the time our cinematic cruise series disembarks. This year, Classic Movie Night’s Third Annual “Summer of Movie Magic” will feature a revamped format. Those great Walt Disney classics we all love will alternate weekly with exciting science fiction adventures. From the farthest reaches of outer space to the Earth’s very core, these films are sure to thrill and entertain young and old. Our summer movie series starts a bit earlier this year, on May 20, to better coincide with local school schedules. Films will screen every Wednesday evening through early August. Like last year, this summer’s series will be sponsored by generous local businesses, which enthusiastically support our mission to present family-friendly films in a community theater setting. If you are a business owner and would like to help sponsor this summer’s series, call HSUMD at 760-375-8456 before April 1. And keep an eye out for printed “Summer of Movie Magic” programs, available in early May. Once again, this summer: “If it’s Wednesday, it’s Classic Movie Night” at the Historic USO Building! — Nick Rogers HSUMD Volunteers Work on Collections e have been busy continuing to orga- by 1945. It is fun to see what she pops into my email box nize, index and scan our many filed items every now and then. and photographs. If you are interested in being added to the group work- I have great group of volunteers — Doug Whitnell, ing on our collections, please do give me a call. I have DonW Snyder, Claudia Sound, Kay Farrell, Pat and Tom plenty of work to pass around. Stager along with Leann Moel and Liz Babcock. Liz is a We have consolidated our deep storage items in our great help to me, in providing answers to historical ques- OWN Quonset hut, and I will begin to locate some of our tions and unsurpassed in taking a damaged photo or item other large items from the upper floor to give us a bit more and turning it into something to be displayed in almost its working room in the main building. original glory. Thank you to all of you. Just a note of thanks to the members of the community And thank you, Tom Stager and John Abbott, for putting who continue to bring in family items, bits of Ridgecrest up the display boards in the west room and adding a board history and photos. Bob Pruitt, our many-year UPS De- to the Rand Area flip display so I can get all our interesting livery fellow, is back in town and provided us with a great mining information back up for the public to enjoy. photo I will put on display soon. I also have an email friend who doesn’t like recogni- And now . . . please see page 3 for my wildflower mes- tion who dashes off a memory or two. She was in the area sage. — Carol Porter 4 Vol. 30, No. 3 March 2015 Pictures of Us Episode 3: ‘Coming of Age’ e continue our series of “Pictures of Us” films by Mark Pahuta and Leroy Doig III with a showing of “Coming of Age” on Tuesday, March 24, at 7 p.m. atW the Historic USO Building. This third episode takes on the phenomenal growth of the Naval Ordnance Test Station’s technical program as the Cold War deepens. As with the other films in the series, this episode is designed to help preserve and present China Lake’s rich his- tory and accomplishments. In “Coming of Age,” the so-called unconventional and lim- ited wars begin to take center stage, driving the development
of new systems and the exploitation of new technolo- gies. One highlight in the film is the 1963 visit here by President John F. Kennedy. We’ll also view China Lake “weapon-a-week” activities in response to the Vietnam War. As with the other DVDs in this series, this epi- sode includes archival films from China Lake, with a new introduction and additional material scripted by Leroy and filmed by Mark. Both Mark and Leroy are technical-communica- tion experts at China Lake, Mark as a videographer and Leroy as the command historian. A highly pro- ductive team, Mark and Leroy have also brought us “Secret City” and other well-received DVDs illumi- nating the history of the Navy at China Lake. The “Pictures of Us” programs are free and open to the public. They offer us wonderful opportunities to see footage from China Lake’s in-house productions, some of it only recently rediscovered and reclassified. So be sure to mark your calendar for the 4th Tuesday, 7 p.m. at the Historic USO.
SCENES FROM EPISODE 3 — “Coming of Age” glimpses of NOTS range assets include (counterclockwise from top) James Pen- nington atop a radar on G-1 Range, July 1952; a B-29 Superfortress flown into NOTS to become a target, October 1953; and David Reiter and others in G-1 Range Control Center, January 1953. Know any of the other people in this shot? If so, please let Liz know (contact info on back page). U.S. Navy photos 5 Vol. 30, No. 3 March 2015 Fond Memories of Anne Alpers — a Contributor in Many Areas When Elizabeth “Anne” Alpers Grace Lutheran Church. Thus she provided the American died at home on Feb. 21, we lost a Born in Chicago in 1921, Anne forces with valuable intelligence in- wonderful HUSMD supporter, who grew up with musical talent and a formation by decoding and denoting helped us in many ways — from facility for languages. maritime locations throughout the enthusiastically applauding our films During World War II, Anne stud- Southern Pacific. By war’s end she was and programs to serving as a delivery ied for 15 months — 15 hours a day lieutenant (j.g.) address for our books. — to learn the Japanese language at She married Fred Alpers in 1946 Few among us knew that this gra- the tough Defense Language Institute and they moved to Corona where cious lady made significant contribu- in Monterey, CA. She graduated as their three children (including tions to U.S. information about Japan an ensign and was detailed to Wash- HSUMD’s late lamented mainstay, during World War II. ington, D.C., where she translated Alan) were born. The Alpers were Anne’s memorial service will be “pilots” (charts of ports) and other among the last to leave when the work held Saturday, March 7, at noon at maps from Japanese to English. of the Navy’s Corona laboratory was transferred to China Lake, but they soon made their marks here as well. Anne grew to love the desert and became something of a wildflower expert, often joining Mary Ann Henry on wildflower expeditions. Anne was also active in several Protestant wom- en’s groups, was an avid reader, and loved crossword puzzles. She played the piano and organ for her church, concerts, and other functions right up until a week before her passing. She also spent time helping out and attending many functions at the Historic USO. We will miss her.
Anne Alpers talks in 2011 with Doug Lueck, then HSUMD president, about her World War II service in Washington, D.C., as a transla- tor of Japanese maps and charts. It looks like Anne may be donating one of the documents she translated for display in our VMB. Com- menting on her service in the WAVES, Anne told Jim Simmons of the News Review, “It was a very necessary effort . . . we had to win.” Photos by Andrew Sound
You can make a donation in Anne’s mem- ory to HSUMD, Grace Lutheran Church, the Historical Society of the Upper Mojave Desert, Heifer International, or the Indian Wells Valley Concert Association.
6 Vol. 30, No. 3 March 2015 Wyatt Earp in Searles Valley From p. 1 the Departments of Interior, Agriculture and Defense. He is a historic pres- ervationist, specializing in archaeology, and has written numerous articles and monographs on the cultural resources of the West including articles on the oral history of the Mojave Desert and the history of oil development in Kern’s West- side, where he was raised. With Jim Fairchild, of the Searles Valley Historical Society, he just completed a book on the history of Trona and the Searles Valley for the Images of America series for Arcadia Press. He recently edited and published a professional journal honoring famed California Archaeologist Jay von Werlhof. Russ is also a recipi- ent of the Society of California Archaeologists’ Lifetime Achievement Award. We meet, as always, on the third Tuesday of the month. Meetings are free and all are welcome to attend. For more information on this or future meetings, Josephine and Wyatt Earp with dog call 760-375-8456. — Andew Sound Earpie on the California desert. Our Member Life Members Kathy Armstrong Douglas A. Johnson Categories Elizabeth Babcock Roger McEntee Delores Di Pol Bill Nevins HSUMD has three membership Cliff and Susanne Fountain Gerry Pracchia categories — all very important to E. Norman George James E. Simmons us. Our regular memberships are Lyle Gregory Fred Weals $25 per individual or family. Our Ron Hise business memberships are $35 each. We also have a special category: life member, which is something New Members the board bestows only on members Julie Black Steven Rainey who have supported HSUMD in Irene L. Ekkens David and Kathy Schmeer sustained and special ways. Susan and Rich Lassell Ruth and Doug Whited Michael W. Pullen Business Members — please patronize them! Allen County Public Library, Econo-Lodge Peoples Images Genealogy Department Edward Jones Investments Pleistocene Foundation Anna Marie Bergens, Realtor Brook H. Andreoli Professional Tax & Business Services Best Western China Lake Inn Explore Historic California Red Rock Books Cal-Sun Pools The Flower Shoppe Ridgecrest Automotive Clarion Inn Friends of Cerro Gordo Ridgecrest Moving & Storage Comfort Inn Heritage Inn S&M Coins & Collectibles Cordell Construction Phyllis M. Hix, Attorney Sam’s Paint & Glass Dave Pearson Enterprises JJack & Dana Lyons, Realtors Gary P. Staab & Assoc., Inc. DeathValley.com Maturango Museum The Swap Sheet Desert Empire Fair Motion Tire & Wheel Tint This The Dog Haus Nevins Tech. Consultants Warren’s Automotive Earth Landscaping The News Review (Farris) Western Homes Realty 7 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
MEETING OF MARCH 2015
Tuesday, March 17, 7 p.m., Historic USO Building
other gift giving. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. nonprofit 501(c)(3) a are We giving. gift other
Please remember the Historical Society in your wills, trusts and and trusts wills, your in Society Historical the remember Please
Annual dues are $25 (family) and $35 (business). $35 and (family) $25 are dues Annual
Important Reminders Important
760-446-3400, [email protected] 760-446-3400,
Carol Porter, Accessions & Exhibits & Accessions Porter, Carol
760-375-4308, [email protected] 760-375-4308,
760-677-1026, [email protected] 760-677-1026,
Donna McCrohan Rosenthal, PR Coordinator PR Rosenthal, McCrohan Donna color version online. version color
Scott McEntee, Audiovisuals, Stage Mgr. Stage Audiovisuals, McEntee, Scott
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Craig Porter, SEEP Coordinator SEEP Porter, Craig that, but we thought you you thought we but that,
Chuck Cordell, Building Cordell, Chuck
760-371-2458, [email protected] 760-371-2458, we know most of you prefer prefer you of most know we
[email protected] 760-375-5709,
Jim Kenney, Field Trips Coordinator Trips Field Kenney, Jim sending paper copies, since since copies, paper sending
John Abbott, Building Mgr., Bldg. Rental Bldg. Mgr., Building Abbott, John
760-375-7900, [email protected] 760-375-7900, We don’t plan to stop stop to plan don’t We
Liz Babcock, Newsletter Editor Newsletter Babcock, Liz
e-mailed to you each month. month. each you to e-mailed
760-608-7296, [email protected] 760-608-7296,
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on the list to get a PDF copy copy PDF a get to list the on
Programs
Michelle Andreoli, Gift Shop Manager Shop Gift Andreoli, Michelle
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& Secretary/Treasurer Sound, Andrew
COMMITTEE LEADERS COMMITTEE Babcock, Babcock, lizbab2@gmail.
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Melody Hollinger, Recording Secretary Recording Hollinger, Melody
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760-793-2107, [email protected] 760-793-2107, 760-375-8202, [email protected] 760-375-8202,
newsletter in color! in newsletter Matthew Zubia, Fundraising Zubia, Matthew Doug Lueck, Vice President Vice Lueck, Doug
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Nick Rogers, Movie Nite, Publicity Nite, Movie Rogers, Nick & President Hoppus, Tex DIRECTORS