Fall 08 MIRROR
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THE MIRROR The Richmond Museum Association Newsletter Fall 2008 Vol. 57 No. 3 DRILLING FOR OIL IN RICHMOND by Helen Pence (Reprinted from The MIRROR, Spring 1996) One of Richmond’s settlers The Plunge served was John Nicholl, who came to Richmond’s citizens well. But the area in the 1860s. He bought time takes its toll, and the Plunge land from the Castro family in what was closed in 2001 after years is now the heart of Richmond. He of neglect. The landmark build- built his ranch home near the ing was in danger of being lost. present 28th Street and Voters rejected a 1997 bond Macdonald Avenue and farmed measure that would have funded the area that is now Nicholl Park its needed restoration, and the and surrounding territory. city lacked the money to do the Although their home and work—but not to fear. To raise ranch was in what is now Rich- money for the estimated $10 mond, the Nicholl family actually million renovation/retrofit, a lived in San Pablo, for when they core group of volunteers formed came here there was no Rich- a nonprofit, chaired by tena- mond. Mr. Nicholl raised hay, cious Ellie Strauss, director of grain, and livestock and operated the “Save the Richmond Plunge a threshing machine. Trust.” Later he bought more land at Point Richmond from Dr. When Berkeley-based architect Todd Jersey came on the Tewksbury and became a wealthy man when he sold some of his scene, even Ellie Strauss thought that the goal of $10 million land to the Santa Fe Railway which built a terminal at Point Rich- seemed out of reach. But Jersey proposed a design for the his- mond in 1899. toric building that would cost half as much and would reopen Having acquired the wherewithal with which to speculate a the pool within a matter of a few years. People were skeptical, bit, Mr. Nicholl concluded that there just might be oil on his but Jersey’s plan is now underway and Richmond residents will property at the Point. [In 1923] an oil derrick was erected where enjoy a living piece of the city’s historic past—a past many of us Garrard Avenue, Tunnel Avenue and Tewksbury Street meet. and our children remember with fondness. Drilling began with great anticipation on the part of Mr. Nicholl — Lois Boyle and family. At last the great day came! The drillers struck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! …. artesian water. A great well of lovely, cold, pure water. Alas, no oil! How disappointed and downcast the Nicholl family was, history has not recorded. We can imagine that it was quite a letdown for all of them. Not to be defeated, how- ever, Mr. Nicholl donated that property to the city and the Richmond Natatorium was constructed, combining the artesian water with some sea water, to make a place for generations of Richmonders to learn to swim and to en- joy swimming. Richmond is, indeed, indebted to Mr. Nicholl for his generosity! Top photo, Museum collection; lower, Genser-Maack collection DAVID NEWSOM’S AMAZING LIFE FROM LOCAL BOY TO RESPECTED INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMAT by Don Hardison The only child of Fred & Ivy Newsom, David Dunlop where he assisted Pakistan’s new government in preparing its Newsom was born January 6, 1918, in a California-style bunga- first constitution. He subsequently served in Oslo, Baghdad low still standing at 4th Street and Barrett Avenue, a mere block and London, and in 1965, President Johnson appointed him Am- from the Richmond Museum of History, which at that time was bassador to Libya, where Mu’ammar Qadhafi was in power. There the city’s Carnegie Library. His father was part-owner of the David helped evacuate 6,000 Americans during the “Six Day War.” large-circulation Richmond Independent, which had been In 1973, David was appointed Ambassador to Indonesia founded by publisher John Galvin. during the presidency of its militaristic General Soeharto. There David attended Peres and Grant he was able to gain the release of most Elementary Schools, then Roosevelt of that country’s political prisoners. In Junior High School before graduating 1976 Betty and I had the privilege of vis- from Richmond High in 1934. Then, at iting the Newsoms at the US Embassy in the University of California, Berkeley, Jakarta, where we soon discovered that he participated in, and/or led, various ambassadors’ wives are expected to as- student activities, including a college- sume the role of hostess for embassy age church group where he and I first events, as well as providing care for their met. Upon graduation in 1938 with a numerous official guests. We found Jean degree in English, he attended Colum- performing this role with exceptionally bia University, gaining a masters de- great skill. gree in Journalism and being awarded In 1979, after David served briefly the Pulitzer Traveling Scholarship for as ambassador to the Philippines, Presi- that year, which took him to Japan, dent Carter called him back to Washing- China, India, Africa and South America. ton, appointing him Under Secretary of He then worked as a reporter for the State for Political affairs. In that post, San Francisco Chronicle. David assisted the President in what be- Jean Craig, his future bride, came a complex U.S. political effort to though Canadian-born, was by then a keep the deposed Shah of Iran from en- Richmond resident. Her father was an tering the U.S. Then, in November of engineer for the Atchison, Topeka and that year, things really got complicated Santa Fe Railroad, which had its west- when Iranian militants stormed the U.S. ern terminus on Garrard Boulevard at Macdonald Avenue. David Embassy in Tehran, taking more than 50 Americans hostage. David met Jean at the (now-demolished) First Presbyterian Church on assumed a major role in the unsuccessful effort to gain their Bissell Avenue at 12th Street prior to World War II. In 1942, with release and even their rescue, which unfortunately ended in di- WWII underway, David joined the Navy, serving in Hawaii; how- saster on the desert. As history has recorded, the Americans ever, in November of that year he interrupted his service long were not released until 1980, as Jimmy Carter was handing over enough to return to Richmond and marry Jean at the church the presidency to Ronald Reagan. In June of that year, three where they first met. Since David had served as my best man at consecutive issues of The New Yorker magazine featured an Betty’s and my marriage earlier that year, it was my pleasure to amazing series of profiles entitled “The Eye of the Storm” that return the favor on this important occasion. recorded David’s experiences in depth. Copies of these maga- Following the War, David and Jean returned to the Bay Area, zines are now on file at the Richmond Museum of History. where, deciding to continue a career in journalism, they acquired Having by then retired from the Department of State, David the weekly Walnut Creek Courier Journal. However, in manag- was invited to become director of the Institute for the Study of ing the publication and producing its editorials, David soon found Diplomacy at the School of Foreign Service, Georgetown Univer- that a small-circulation newspaper can be somewhat stressful sity, a position he held for ten years. In 1991, following the and its readers sometimes unappreciative. This prompted him to Newsoms’ move from Washington, D.C., to Charlottesville, VA., explore a career in international diplomacy, a field that had aroused David was appointed to be the first Gumming Memorial Chair in his interest during the War years. They sold the Courier Jour- International Affairs at the University of Virginia. nal to Dean Lesher, who converted it to the daily Contra Costa David and Jean had five children and have boasted of nine Times and an eventual publishing empire. grandchildren. During the years, they and their family have re- In 1947, David embarked upon what would become a 35-year sided across the U.S. and even abroad, but they have never career with the Department of State, serving as a U.S. foreign- forgotten their family’s roots in Richmond. This loyalty was service officer in seven countries, including three as ambassa- confirmed when they proposed and funded a permanent exhibit dor, under six presidents. His earliest assignment was in Karachi, CONTINUED, PAGE 3 - 2 - FROM THE PRESIDENT…. A BUSY FALL FOR THE MUSEUM by Lois Boyle We’re a busy association, building on the strengths of our “Rivets”, a musical written by Kathryn G. McCarty with mu- past. Upcoming events you will want to participate in include: sical score by Mitchell Covington, is a provocative story of The September 20th celebration of the 10th anniversary of women’s experiences in Kaiser’s Richmond Shipyards and of the the Red Oak Victory ship’s move from the Mothball Fleet in Suisun tremendous social changes that occurred throughout the coun- Bay to Richmond, on the actual day of the 10th anniversary, at 3 try. It is being presented on Saturday, October 4th. This perfor- p.m., with music, dance, entertainment, the musical overture from mance is sold out, but you can see this great production on the “Rivets”, a supper club quartet with our own Alan Sauer per- ship on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings from October 9 forming, dinner, and lots of congratulations to all for this suc- thru November 1. Call (510) 232-6593 for reservation information. cessful ongoing restoration project. Call (510) 232-6593 for reser- Featured on Sunday, October 5th, is Jovelyn Richards in her vations; cost is $25.00 per person.