The Bodie Times PROTECTING BODIE’S FUTURE BY PRESERVING ITS PAST

THE NEWS OF BODIE, MONO LAKE & GROVER HOT SPRINGS www.BodieFoundation.org

VoLUme Vi SPRING 2014 NUmBeR 1 Bodieite Remembered Evelyn Helen Mary Scarlett By Rachel Godfrey mother, Evelyn Helen Mary Scarlett, was born in Bodie, yCalifornia on December 24,M 1905 and named for the day on which she was born, Christmas ‘Eve’. An Indian “squaw” delivered her at home because the local doctor was too drunk to be of any help. Bodie’s population at that time was around 800. A contemporary report in the Chronicle-Union, a Bridgeport newspaper, states that Bodie “has good schools, and the purest water that springs naturally from the earth. It has 2 churches, a Catholic and Methodist Episcopal. Bodie people have the virtues of the west and few of its vices. Th ey have no city government, yet the best order is maintained.” Evelyn told how she and her brother York, who was born in 1907, used to ski to school. How did this English woman come to be born in Bodie, you may wonder. Three-year-old Evelyn and family in front of the Standard offi ces where her dad worked in Her father, John Edwin Scarlett, known 1908. as Jack, was born in Toronto, Canada and immigrated to around the turn So Long Sweetwater! of the century. He held a couple of jobs in the automotive trade and then worked John Buie, better known as “Sweetwater” for a short while for a gas company in San John, has worked both as a park aide and in Francisco. Th ere he met his future wife, the Bodie Museum. John has decided not to Annie Byner, who was a governess. Annie return to Bodie . was born in Cranbrook, Kent, England and No doubt, if you visited Bodie in the Please see evelyn, page 10 last six years, you would remember meeting John. In fact, many visitors believed that John walked right out of the mines and into Bodie! Park Fees Reduced He portrayed W. S. Bodey almost every FOB Day and certainly entertained the crowd with Entrance fees to Bodie State his (very) tall tales, charm and wit! Historic Park have been reduced! We want to thank Sweetwater for his Adults are now $5 (was $7) and kids dedication and service to Bodie State Park and (17 and under) are now $3 (was $5). Bodie Foundation. He promises to come back “Sweetwater” John Buie kicks up his We hope to see you at the park for visits and we will hold him to it! heels during Friends of Bodie Day multiple times in 2014! We will miss you Sweetwater John! 2010. The Bodie Times SPRING 2014 Page 2 The Rocket of Mono Lake Bodie Foundation By Dave James was a need for dozens of cords mills and a lumberyard south of News Briefs During the late 1870’s of wood daily in Bodie to supply Mono Lake. A small steamship and into the early 1880’s, Bodie the heavy demand. was purchased by them and Bodie Foundation announces was booming. Th ere was a high Everyone, businesses freighted in pieces to the shores the 2015 Calendar Contest demand for wood products; and individuals alike, also had of Mono Lake. It was named winners! lumber for building, shoring to stockpile vast amounts of the Rocket. Once assembled, Th ank you all who for the mining operations and a fi rewood in the fall to see them it measured 36 feet long by 10 submitted entries – we had huge demand for fi rewood. through a Bodie winter, as it was feet wide. A barge (scow) was almost 400 photos to view. Firewood was the primary sometimes impossible to bring built and towed by the Rocket Remember, even if your entry source for heating homes and wood into town during harsher to carry wood products across was not chosen, we may use businesses. Th e mining industry winter conditions. Mono Lake to then be freighted some on our website, in future was also heavily dependent on During the early years, into Bodie. Barging wood across newsletters or other Bodie a cheap source of fuel to power lumber and fi rewood were the lake saved several hours of Foundation materials. If we do their steam boilers used on freighted to Bodie from various transportation time, making it so, photo credit will be given. hoisting works, stamp (quartz) sawmills and wood ranches fi nancially viable. Th e 16 winners are: mills and huge water pumps throughout the region, such as Porter ran into fi nancial • Tanya Bunch that removed water from lower G. L. Porter and Company. Th ey diffi culties in 1880. Th e business • Cat Connor sections of mineshafts. Th ere operated a sawmill, two shingle of supplying the precious • Gigi Dean • Jordan Fenwick • Franka Gabler • Jerome Gibson • Josh Grant • David Hayes Jr. • Rice Jackson • Dave James • Ellen Klinkel • David Safanda • Doug Santo • Jeff Sullivan • Ryan Watamura • Michelle Wilson Each will receive a free calendar for their winning shot. Although this is not the Rocket nor Mono Lake, this photo nonetheless gives you an idea of what the Th ere were so many quality Rocket towing a barge (use your imagination here – the barge is stacked with railroad ties – wink wink) photos submitted, we decided may have looked like. to create a list of Honorable Mentions (kudos but no prizes he odie imes commodity of wood and lumber T B T was a cutthroat business and involved). Th ey are: THE NEWS OF BODIE, MONO LAKE the smaller suppliers were often • Cat Connor AND GROVER HOT SPRINGS forced out of business when • Jeff Dean • Jerome Gibson The Bodie Times is Brad Sturdivant President bigger enterprises entered the the offi cial publication of picture and drove down the price • Alena Hagedon Business Danielle Williams • Dave James the Bodie Foundation, Manager of wood products (fi rewood in P. O. Box 278, Bridgeport particular). Such was the case • Th omas Kelsey Dave James Editor CA 93517 with Porter. • Ellen Klinkel Bodie • Jill Odice (760) 647-6564 He sold off the steamer to Terri Geissinger Historian & James Cain, who was one of the • Doug Santo Guide Comments, stories principals for the newly formed • Jeff Sullivan and photographs Explore Historic Production & Bodie Railroad and Lumber • Florene Trainor are welcome. Please California Design Company. Th e new company • Michelle Wilson email to: DaveJ@ Gigi Dean, Terri Geissinger, had acquired about 12,000 See their work BodieFoundation.org. Josh Grant, Dave James, Contributing on our website at www. Ellen Klinkel, Mark Pupich, acres of timberland near Mono COPYRIGHT 2014 Chris Spiller, Roger Vargo, Photographers Craters and built a large sawmill. BodieFoundation.org ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Dani Williams Please see roCKet, page 11 Please see FounDatIon page 5 The Bodie Times SPRING 2014 Page 3 President’s Report Year in Review BODIE By Brad Sturdevent, including a generous $50,000 Friends of Grover Hot Springs. Bodie Foundation President grant from the Conrad N. We have approximately 60 FUN FACT Hilton Foundation. We are well members to help support our By all accounts, 2013 on our way to our goal of raising eff orts for this park. A website Which mine en- was a successful year for the $150,000 for the Railroad Offi ce is also being designed for Grover hanced Bodie’s foundation with over $100,000 Hot Springs. Bodie Foundation. Th ere were national fame in in a restricted fund for this Dr. Robin DeRosa of Park leadership changes at 1879 when min- Bodie, but a very harmonious project. Plymouth State University in relationship continues between In the past year, we have New Hampshire spent last ers discovered the the Foundation and State Parks. raised over $20,000 for the July in Bodie, researching Fortuna Lode (a We have been able to fund Bodie Cemetery Project. We and interviewing for a new very rich quartz most all project and activity were able to bring back the booklet she wrote called “Th e vein containing “Dogs of Bodie” last September. Women of Bodie”, which she is requests at all three parks – considerable gold Numerous unmarked gravesites donating to the Foundation for Bodie, Mono Lake and Grover and silver)? Hot Springs - and have made were discovered in what we sale. We thank Dr. DeRosa for believe was the historic Chinese her generosity. Th e booklet is considerable strides in raising (A) Bunker Hill Mine funds for a few of our larger Cemetery, and we are pretty available in the museum and on endeavors, which I will discuss sure the “real” burial site of W.S. our website. (B) Standard in a minute. Bodey has been identifi ed by the You will notice a bit of a Consolidated Mine Th e Foundation wasforensic dogs. diff erence on your next visit to (C) Noonday Mine We launched a website Bodie. Th e park is now ADA pleased to see the return of funds (D) Bodie Mine for the Stamp Mill tours. Th is supporting Mono Lake Tufa (Americans with Disabilities important income stream goes State Natural Reserve. You can Act) compliant. Updates include (E) Red Cloud Mine into our general fund. We also visit it at www.visitMonoLake. completely new bathrooms in the saw an increase in the number of com. parking lot, a sidewalk that goes Please see page 11 for photography workshops, which We started a chapter of from the parking lot to Green the answer. was one of our goals going into the Bodie Foundation called the Please see revIew, page 7 2013. A big “Th ank You” to new workshop leaders for thinking of Bodie and Mono Lake and for those who have been with us for the past few years. Funds from photo workshops are used in the Bodie Stabilization Project. New tours were started in 2013 and will continue into 2014. See article on page 4 for more info on these. Our other big event for 2013 was a concert by David John and the Comstock Cowboys performed last July 4th weekend. Funds raised for this concert went towards the Bodie Railroad Offi ce stabilization. For the past two years, we have been raising funds for the stabilization of the Railroad Offi ce (it needs a new foundation) and the Cemetery Projects. We have received many David John and the Comstock Cowboys perform at Bridgeport Barns and Terrace last July 4th weekend. donations for both projects, Funds went to the Railroad Offi ce stabilization project. The Bodie Times SPRING 2014 Page 4 Exciting New Tours Available in 2014 By Terri Geissinger, meander through town, you will Bodie Historian and Guide learn of the most fascinating ghost stories and legends of Memorial Weekend 2014 Bodie. When it is good and dark Special Cemetery Tours and the velvet diamond studded sky opens above, you can choose Join us for “Soul Stories”, to stay with an astronomer and an exclusive Memorial Day listen to ancient Star Stories. This weekend event; May 24 & 25 Bodie experience is guaranteed at 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to treat your family with lasting (weather permitting). $5 per memories. Limited dates are: person. For more info, call June 28; July 26; August 15. 760.647.6564 or email Terri@ Cost is $10 per adult and $5 BodieFoundation.org. per child 12 and under per tour. Introducing the Bodie Combine them and it is $15/ Ghost Walk and Star adults and $7/child. Newly Stories! reduced Park Entry Fees also still apply; $5 Adults - $3 age Terri Geissinger (in green shirt) and others check out some “diggins” Three dates have been 17 and under. Please visit www. at Masonic, another mining community not far from Bodie. Masonic established when the park will BodieFoundation.org for more was active around the turn of the 20th century and many Bodieites stay open late for the general details. migrated there as Bodie mines closed. public where you can experience Mines, Mills, Rails Bodie after dark. You can roared for over 70 years now have before. and Ruins tour enjoy the park on your own lay in quiet ruin. The echoes of Three hour tours are $40 or you can choose one or both This is a guided driving the past are all that remain of pp ($30 for FOB members). new activities. The first is an tour of Bodie’s Mining District. this rich landscape. Take this High clearance vehicles strongly hour-long Ghost Walk tour, Located on the hills above town, extraordinary opportunity to recommended – otherwise other which begins at twilight. As we the mines, mills and rails that experience Bodie as you never Please new tours, page 9 Grover Hot Springs Offers Something for Everyone By Dave James yellow color of the water is from Grover Hot Springs State mineral deposits on the bottom Park is located four miles west of of the pool. It is an oxidation Markleeville, California, on the reaction between the mineral eastern side of the Sierra salts in the water and a sanitizing mountain range at the end of agent (bromine) used. Kids and Hot Springs Road. It is situated adults alike enjoy soaking in the in a pine forest and alpine soothing mineral water. meadow setting, surrounded by Hiking is another favorite majestic 10,000 foot peaks. It is pastime in the Grover area. There also conveniently located just 35 is an easy family hike called miles (45 minutes travel time) “Transition Walk” that loops the from South Lake Tahoe. parks’ alpine meadow and goes Naturally, the hot springs out to a waterfall on Hot Springs are the main attraction at Creek. This is a three-mile fairly Grover. There are two pools; easy hike. For the more serious one hot (102 – 105 degrees) and hikers, Burnside Trail is a 10-mile Camping among the pines at Grover Hot Springs. This is a “dry” the other a “cooling” pool. The round trip hike with a 2100-foot campground, which means no hookups are available. Water and hot pool is fed continuously by elevation gain. Along the way, restrooms are on site. 6 mineral springs and contains you’ll get a marvelous view of virtually none of the “rotten egg” Hot Springs Valley. This trail slopes. It eventually ends up at at Grover Hot Springs. It has sulphur smell that is typical for winds through meadowlands, Burnside Lake. 76 sites – all have firepits with some hot springs. The greenish- Jeffrey pine and white fir covered There is also a campground Please see grover, page 7 The Bodie Times SPRING 2014 Page 5 Foundation 2015 Calendar Raises Funds, Showcases Bodie

Photo by Josh Grant

Cover photo by Ellen Klinkel

Th e Bodie Foundation 2015 calendar is on sale now. Th e calendar features 16 images selected from nearly 400 photos submitted between September 2013 and January 2014. Revenue generated from calendar sales helps support the Foundation’s goals. Please see Bodie Year in Review on page 3 for details on the Foundation’s achievements. Photo by Gigi Dean

Bodie Foundation Adds Websites and Events

FounDatIon from page 2 previously lived in Bodie. To pass down this history is an items. Th anks for spreading the On Saturday, we will meet honor and our gift to future word – see you on Facebook! Bird Chautauqua at Bridgeport Barns and Terrace generations. It is the cornerstone Th e 13th annual Mono for dinner (advance reservations of the Bodie Foundation mission Basin Bird Chautauqua only). Th ere you will have the of “Protecting Bodie’s Future by event is being held June 20- chance to mingle and share your Preserving Its Past”. Private Tours 22, 2014. Please visit www. Bodie stories. On Sunday we Friends of Mono Lake website Private tours can be will meet in Bodie for a private birdchautauqua.org for more We now have a website for any groups; friends/ driving tour followed by lunch info on this wonderful and very for Th e Friends of Mono Lake, family, private parties, on Bodie Bluff . If you would like popular birding event. which is a chapter of Th e Bodie to be on the invitation list, please business associates/ Bodie Family Reunion Foundation, fcousing on Mono email Terri@BodieFoundation. co-workers, schools, Lake. Please check us out at July 12 - 13 org. www.FriendsofMonoLake.com. church or social groups. Th e Reunion is open to Th ese wonderful stories Please email us at info@ anyone who has lived in Bodie, of life in Bodie are the very Like us on Facebook is a descendent of a Bodie fabric that weaves its history. We’d LOVE you to LIKE BodieFoundation or call resident or someone who had a Th rough these accounts, we us on our Facebook page! Enjoy our business offi ce at profession connected to Bodie can understand, interpret the ‘Photo of the Day’ along 760-647-6564 for more (i.e. doctor, teacher, etc.). We and teach how life was lived with some Bodie history. We also information. are also welcoming Rangers who during diff erent time periods. include announcements and new The Bodie Times SPRING 2014 Page 6 Native American Guesso’s Camp Found By Chris Spiller, Senior Park Aide One of the great things about working at Bodie is that history can change as new information is uncovered. The work of researchers provides more pieces of the puzzle and questions get answered. New research can end up changing the interpretation we provide visitors in our programs and it enriches the history of the people who lived in Bodie. In the last few years, some dedicated volunteer state park archaeologists uncovered (literally) new information in a surface survey of one of the Native Paiute camps within the park. Volunteer archeologists Ross and Only known photo of a local Native American Indian named “Guesso”. He received this nomenclature Maiya Gralia approached my when he frequently answered questions with the phrase “guess so”, which sounded more like “guesso”. (A. A. Forbes photo, courtesy Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History) husband Charley and I in 2010 in Bodie. He appeared on the including a map of features and because of fondness for the about finding a certain Paiute 1900 census with the name, photographs of artifacts. items or simply because of the camp. They showed us a photo “Gessoe Bodie.” His wife, “Old Native Paiutes in the proximity of Chinese neighbors. of a man I instantly recognized. Mattie Bodie,” is also listed. His area lived off the land, making We then turned to the They asked if I knew why he was age was 70. “wiki-ups” from trees for shelter, task of locating the area where called “Guesso,” and I told them The Gralias began doing hunting deer and other animals, “Guesso’s camp” could be. You’d several Bodie books mentioned avocational archaeology for and fishing from local streams. think it would be fairly easy to him. The old story was that California State Parks in 2003, The Pinyon pine nut crop was line up the landmarks. There when he was asked a question, he helping with surveys, recording, an important food source that was a huge tailing pile in the frequently replied “Guesso,” and monitoring and excavating could sustain them through background and there was a the name stuck. Guesso worked prehistoric and historic sites winter. When miners and others building that no one recognized. locally in various jobs and his throughout Northern California. arrived in the Eastern Sierra, they In Bodie’s later years, abandoned wife, Mattie, worked for a family They soon began to focus on chopped down trees, hunted mine buildings eventually fell the Sierra District State Parks, animals and deprived the Native down, buffeted by the area’s working under the supervision people of their way of life. Local strong winds. Tailing piles were of District Archaeologist Denise Paiutes had to turn to work on moved around as companies in Jaffke. local ranches, domestic work or the 1920s and 1930s continued In 2010, they began to in other industries. reprocessing this material, volunteer at Bodie, beginning Walking around some ground earlier in the stamp with an archaeological survey less‑traveled areas of the park mills, searching for every last bit to locate prehistoric sites. Their with Ross and Maiya was eye of gold and silver early miners present project is to monitor the opening. They showed usmissed. condition of historic sites on one area where I had noticed The Gralias knew the Standard and Bodie Hills (often broken dishes and other items campsite wouldn’t be found referred to as Bodie Bluff – ed.), before. Maiya and Ross noted quickly. Would we carry the correcting GPS information that many of the dishes were photo and look for it as we Manos are grinding stones used and updating the photographic clearly Chinese. I was confused hiked around the park? We did by native Indians. Finding them record. for a minute, thinking this was for the next summer and into – along with several other arti- They call the locating and another area where Chinese had the following year. One thing I facts - at the Guesso site helped recording of the Guesso site, “our lived. They explained Chinese knew from my own research is confirm this was a site occupied most exciting project.” They are dishes were a common find in that many Native people lived by local Native Americans. completing a record of the site, Native encampments, possibly Please see guesso, page 10 The Bodie Times SPRING 2014 Page 7 President’s Year in Review revIew from page 3 Th e Board of Trustees annual Governance meeting. Dave Marquart, a State Park holds regular phone conferences We focus on “in-house” business Interpreter 1 at Mono Lake Street, a reworked boardwalk in and also has three actual face-to- during this meeting, including for 30 years. Dave primarily front of the museum and a new face meetings annually. Frequent updating Strategic and Yearly works alone at Mono Lake cement stoop in front of the Red meetings (usually weekly) are Plans, by–laws, Foundation and he manages our new held with our Business Manager, fi nancials, new products, etc. Barn. Federal and State funds VisitMonoLake website also. were used for this project. Interpreter/Historian and our In closing, I would like to Please stop by Mono Lake to I would like to thank partners in State Parks. give a special thank you to Dani catch some of Dave’s interesting all of you, our members, Our fall meeting is focused Williams, Business Manager, for supporting the Bodie on our annual operating budget. and Terri Geissinger, Interpreter/ tours of the history and wildlife Foundation and our eff orts to State Park personnel prepare a Historian with the Bodie at Mono Lake – you won’t be preserve “our fair city.” Without budget request for their needs Foundation. You truly are both disappointed. you, many of the things we do for the upcoming season. tireless, especially with keeping To our Board of Trustees would not be possible. It is one We hold an annual 2 ½ day me in line and focused. - Nancy Frye, Mark Pupich, of our personal commitments “Retreat” in January, usually in We also have both seasonal Norm Stump, Dave James, and goals to be great stewards Bodie. Th e Foundation and State employees, Liz and Carolyn, Geoff McQuilkin and Benny of your generosity and hopes for Parks personnel review/approve returning at Grover Hot Springs, Romero - thank you for your Bodie’s future. plans for the upcoming summer whom I am excited to work with support of me the past fi ve years For those of you who season. Other discussions again. Th ank you both for doing may not be aware, the Bodie involve fi nalizing/approving all such a good job at Grover. Your as President and all the time Foundation spends a great budgets and State priorities for eff orts take considerable burden you contribute to make this deal of time in planning and stabilization activities. off Dani and Terri. organization successful. It has preparation for each year. In April, we hold our I also want to single out truly been an honor for me. Swim, Camp, Hike at FOB Day 2014 Announced Grover Hot Springs S. P.

Albert (center) of Albert’s Meat Market in Bridgeport supervises the grill team as they cook steak and chicken. The dinner, followed Pool complex at Grover Hot Springs. The ‘hot’ pool is on the left. The by an evening members-only event are part of the fun of each greenish-yellow color of the water is from mineral deposits on the Friends of Bodie Day. bottom of the pool (not the water itself). Mark your calendars, as FOB Day will be held on grover, from page 4 by calling (800) 444-7275 or at Saturday, August 9, 2014. Th is year, our theme is “Back to the Good Ol’ Days”. We grills, cupboards, bear-proof www.parks.ca.gov. See the State are celebrating the time from the 1859 gold discovery through lockers and tables. Also, two Parks website for more detailed the 1880’s boom years. of the sites are designed for info also. wheelchair use with accessible We welcome and encourage you to dress in costume! Don’t forget to stop in restrooms nearby. Although Much is planned throughout the day including Living History, there are no hook-ups, there is and visit our Bodie Foundation Live Music, Special Tours and Wagon Rides. Th e Member BBQ potable water and restrooms Visitors Center while in the park. will be served and when the park is closed to the public, our available in the campground See you at Grover Hot evening program will begin. Your invitations will arrive in July. area. Reservations can be made Springs! See you then! The Bodie Times SPRING 2014 Page 8 New Faces in Old Places Bodie State Historic Park has gone through several personnel changes in the last several months. Our Fall 2013 Bodie Times had a small introduction, but we would like to more formally reintroduce them.

Josh Heitzmann Terra Woodall Brooke Fellers Sterl Cogar

Josh Heitzmann, Terra Woodall, Brooke Fellers, Sterl Cogar, Senior Supervising Ranger State Parks Ranger State Parks Ranger Maintenance Manager Josh is the new Terra graduated from Brooke is originally Sterl has been with State Supervising Ranger for both the Ranger Academy in May of from Northern California and Parks for 26 years, originally Bodie and Mono Lake. Josh starting in Calaveras Big Trees 2013. She originally hails from graduated from California is originally from Lacey, State Park as a maintenance Reedley, California (near Fresno) State University, Chico with a Washington (near Olympia) and possesses an AS degree in aide, then moving to Sierra Bachelor of Science degree in and now calls Bodie home. Biology from Reedley College. District for eight more years, Recreation – Parks and Natural Josh fi rst worked for State Terra was a park aide in then on to Mono/Alpine Resources. Parks as a seasonal Park Aide at Bodie for 5 seasons before being District. Empire Mine State Historic accepted into the Academy. She She has been with State Sterl has his hands full Park in Grass Valley while was encouraged by a previous Parks since 2010 and was managing all maintenance attending Sierra College. Bodie Ranger to apply for the previously posted in northern projects at Bodie, Grover Hot He eventually was Springs and Mono Lake – a big Academy as she loves to work San Diego County beaches at accepted to the Ranger responsibility for sure! outdoors and is the type of Carlsbad and San Elijo. Brooke Academy and fi rst served at Sterl is originally from person who enjoys helping had worked earlier with Santa Lake Perris State Recreational West Virginia and now resides people in any way she can. Area in 2008. Clara County Parks Department in Dayton, Nevada. He has Terra also enjoys the After a short stint there, and the U. S. Forest Service at a Bachelor of Arts degree in he moved to Anza Borrego natural and cultural history of the Nevada City. Home is currently Criminal Justice and also served Desert State Park until area. She has a keen appreciation in Burbank where her husband in the Marines, but realized law of Bodie’s great history – one promoting into his current resides, so off time is spent enforcement and the military that can captivate you and makes assignment in Bodie. traversing highway 395 between weren’t or him. you want to learn more. Josh is an avid sports fan and Mono He headed to the (all sports according to him) Home is in Bodie, mountains in 1988 to (quote) County. and enjoys outdoor recreation living there with her husband, “become a better troglodyte” Brooke works in Bodie activities including kayaking/ Maintenance technician and begin his career with State canoeing and backpacking. Matthew (Woody) Woodall (see and Mono Lake Tufa State Parks. He is excited to be back Bodie Times 2011 Fall edition Natural Reserve. She loves the Sterl is committed, highly in the eastern newsletter for article on Woody mountains, snow and stories of project-oriented and very area, which he loves. and Terra’s wedding in Bodie). those who have lived here. excited about his new position. The Bodie Times SPRING 2014 Page 9 Experience Bodie’s Backcountry on a Guided Tour

tours from page 4 riding arrangements might be necessary. Available every other Thursday June thru August; June 12 & 26, July 17 & 31, August 14 & 28; advanced reservations required by calling 760-647-6564; email Terri@ BodieFoundation.org or through our website at www. BodieFoundation.org. This great tour is also available for private/group tours. Heritage Ghost Town Auto Tours are Fantastic! These 2-day tours are a wonderful way to get in-depth experience of the history of Bodie and the region led by our knowledgable historian Terri Geissinger. Choose one or both of Terri Geissinger (in green shirt pointing on right) leading a two-day heritage tour last summer. These tours the following dates/ are a magnificent way to get immersed into all the history of Bodie and surrounding region. tours: and rails. Next is Lundy, the Aurora now sits quietly with Bodie 5K Run beautiful sister-city of Bodie. her ghosts. The stories bring this Bodie Mining District Last, we visit Jordan, the site place to life and the scenery will (and Walk) for the and Mono Basin - June 14 of cutting edge technology and mark your memory forever. Railroad Postponed & 15, 2014 tragedy. $140 per person per tour This event, planned This Heritage Tour will ($125 for FOB members). Bodie, Masonic and for Summer 2014, has been take you back in time where High clearance vehicles Aurora September 13 & postponed for 2014. Our focus you will discover the fascinating strongly recommended 14, 2014 events this year will be our history that connects Bodie and – otherwise other riding annual FOB Day August 9 and the Mono Basin. The past will The Heritage Tour will arrangements might be necessary. the Bodieites Reunion July 12- come alive as you hear stories of take you back in time where Advanced Reservations 13. the discoverers, the prospectors you will discover the fascinating Only for both Tours – www. We are still planning for and the families who settled here. history that surrounds Bodie, BodieFoundation.org; or call this event to materialize at some We will travel historic wagon Masonic and Aurora. While in 760.674.6564; or email Terri@ point in the future and will share routes as we visit Dogtown, the Bodie, you will receive an in- BodieFoundation.org info on it when available. first significant gold discovery of depth tour of the town, stamp the Eastern Sierra. We then visit mill and cemetery. You will learn Oops! the site of Monoville, the very about the people, the mining Bodie Park Hours place where W. S. Bodey and and souls who never left. On page 9 of the Fall 2013 partners left to discover the rich We then travel up Geiger Bodie Times newsletter, in the Park hours are 9 a.m. hills of Bodie. Grade to the remnants of the ‘September Snow Covers Bodie’s until 6 p.m. daily (except for We traverse up to the town of Masonic, then onto the Dust’ article, we gave out an three special late dates – see pg. 4 Bodie Mining District, where Chemung Mill. Our second day incorrect phone number for the for more info). Also, the 3-mile the ghosts whisper their stories is spent traveling on the historic park. The correct phone number dirt section of the Bodie Road of hope, wealth and loss. The stage route between Bodie for Bodie State Historic Park is has finally been graded, as it was second day, we tour Mono Mills and Aurora. Once a bustling 760-647-6445. We regret the in dire need of maintenance. See and learn of men, mules, wood community of importance, mistake. Ed. you in the park! The Bodie Times SPRING 2014 Page 10 Volunteer Archeologists Help Find Lost Camp

guesso, from page 6 personally interested. back up the next day, compared up on the ridge in a lean-to or There have been former the ridgeline and decided we small buildings they constructed surveys in Bodie that identified might have found the site. themselves. I had read that some sites, including numerous The Gralias came several worked at the limekilns along prehistoric sites, as early as late weeks later and agreed with the railroad tracks near Mono 1960s, and then again in 1990s our opinion. They began a Lake but lived near the tracks when State Parks acquired surface survey and found over closer to Bodie, so we started in approximately 500 acres on the 40 artifacts, including a shoe, that vicinity. ridge that held most of the mines. teakettle and most exciting, What prompted the Jaffke explained there hasn’t “Manos”, or grinding stones. search for this particular been much follow-up fieldwork “The goal of the study of camp? Sierra District’s Jaffke and research to identify historic historic Native American site explained that Shelly Davis- Paiute sites specifically, due to is to recognize the influence of King, a well-known California lack of funding and staff. Euro American culture on the Ethnographer, and Tom Mills, After many hikes together adaptive strategies of local Native a Caltrans archaeologist, had and separately, Charley came Americans at the time of contact Maiya and Ross Gralia at Guesso a special interest in historic down a hill at a different angle and into historic times (ca. A.D. campsite. Their volunteer work, Native American sites, especially one day in 2012 and looked 1840-1900),” said Jaffke. including a map of features and on the east side of the Sierra across the valley. There was a Future work on Native photographs of artifacts, will Nevada. Reviewing old photos, tailing pile, not as large as the sites will continue to uncover add to the understanding of the they attempted to find the sites one in the photo, and of course their stories and enrich Bodie’s Paiute presence in the mining at Bodie because they were there was no building. We went history. town of Bodie. Remembering Evelyn’s Bodie An Unrestricted Childhood and Cold Winters of the United States, Herbert (Evelyn would have been 3 years she was born and raised. So, in Hoover. Both were mining old) in front of the Standard 1981 my husband and I visited engineers who graduated from offices; no doubt Jack’s office. If Bodie. We were impressed at Stanford University. Ted, you look on page 227 of Bodie: how beautifully the town had who had recently been hired The Mines are Looking Well by been preserved. We felt as if we as assistant manager to the Michael H. Piatt, you will see had been transported to another Standard Consolidated Mining a larger view of the same scene era. Company in Bodie, asked taken only a few days earlier Our guide was interested Jack if he would be interested (note the snow on the roof and to hear my mother’s story and in working as Treasurer. Jack the icicles). My mother’s face she showed us the house where accepted and the young couple would light up when she told the Hoover family lived and an moved to Bodie to start a new me stories of growing up in office at the mine -- rebuilt after life. The Standard had its ups Bodie. a fire destroyed the original one and downs, but Ted Hoover was The freedom to enjoy -- similar to one my grandfather instrumental in implementing a relatively unrestricted might have used. It was a deeply a new method for extracting childhood and experience the moving experience to stand and metal from the piles of crushed excitement and beauty of the look around and imagine my Evelyn in 1974, two years be- rock waste (tailings), and the natural environment more than mother standing in exactly the fore her passing. company prospered until 1913 compensated for the hardships same spot and seeing the very when the supply was exhausted. of living in such a remote same scenery. evelyn, from page 1 The Scarlett family packed up area. Evelyn was fascinated by immigrated to California at and moved to England to live the warm springs that “came Editors note: If you about the same time. They were near Annie’s family. right out of the ground” and would like to contribute an married in May, 1905 in San Winters were sometimes enraptured by family visits to article, please contact DaveJ@ Francisco. Shortly thereafter, harsh in Bodie as you can Mono Lake and Yosemite. BodieFoundation.org. Also, Jack made the acquaintance of see from the piles of snow in My mother passed away please see the Bodie Briefs column Theodore (Ted) Hoover, older the photograph on page one. in 1976 and I wanted very for info on the 2014 Bodie Family brother of the 31st President This photo was taken in 1908 much to visit the town where Reunion. The Bodie Times SPRING 2014 Page 11 Mono Lake’s Rocket Carried Passengers, Wood BODIE FUN FACT roCKet, from page 2 ANSWER FROM PAGE 3 Th ey also started construction ANSWER: (D) According to Bodie’s last of a narrow gauge rail line that prospector and miner, Bobby Bell (1914- would run from the lumber 2003): “The Fortuna was only found in the mill (named Mono Mills) up to Bodie Mine. Quartz veins at Bodie tended Bodie – a distance of 32 miles – to be nearly vertical at about 75 degrees with the last section steep and to 85 degrees. Most of them had names. winding. They all came to the surface but cropped Cain continued to use under the overburden. The Fortuna was the steamer to barge lumber Bobby Bell a different vein system altogether. It products across Mono Lake, pitched toward the east at an angle of much of the lumber being rails about 30 degrees. It predated all the others because they for the rail bed. all cut it. It kept faulting and was never found between Th eRocket was also used as A young James Cain poses for a the 300-foot level and the surface. There must still be a a pleasure craft. Mono County photographer. Cain was heavily 300-foot piece of it still in the hill.” residents would often use it for involved with many of the “infra- (Robert T. Bell: Interview, August 27-30, 1994) excursions on Mono Lake and its structure” businesses in Bodie, Editor’s Note: Special thanks to Michael Piatt for two islands, Paoha and Negit. including mining, banking and supplying this fun fact. A September 11, 1880 the wood business. article in Th e Bodie Chronicle Mono Lake also played clever tactic to avert problems. described one such adventure Bobby Bell’s Mining a prominent role in averting an Th e Chinese were for a party of ladies to Negit ugly labor dispute, which may put on the barges of the Rocket Terminology Explained Island. “We cannot too highly have led to some bloodshed. and moved to Paoha Island – commend to the people of Mono Th e Bodie Railroad and the larger of Mono Lake’s two When Bobby used the an excursion to and on this lake.” Lumber Company had hired islands, which is about a 3.5 word “cropped,” he really Th eBridgeport Chronicle- dozens of laborers to cut and square mile land mass – along meant “outcropped,” the Union of August 20, 1881 also grade a path and put in a rail bed with all their earthly goods. correct mining term. Most extolled the pleasures of riding and rails for the new railroad. When the angry white veins outcrop at the surface on the Rocket. “Tomorrow a large Pay was a low $1.25 a day (plus mob arrived at the Chinese labor of the ground. Th at’s usually number of our belles and beaux board) for the backbreaking camp looking to cause trouble, where prospectors fi nd a are going to Mono Lake for a sail work. nothing was to be found. mineral deposit, because it is on its placid waters. Th ey will Many Chinese were hired Th ey had acted without visible and the most accessible leave town at a very early hour – along with several unemployed much coordination or planning, there. At Bodie, a layer of dirt, about 4:00 a.m. – in order to get white laborers. Th e two large not having brought with them called “overburden,” concealed to the landing before the steamer crews were kept separate; the much in the way of provisions or the outcrops. Bobby said Rocket shoots out.” Chinese working from the Mono a way to cross the lake to Paoha the Fortuna didn’t reach the Once the last stake in the Lake end while the white crew Island. Th ey soon returned to surface, so it didn’t outcrop. rail line was pounded into place began at Bodie. Bodie, dispirited by the futile Th at’s why there is 300 feet in November 1881, the Rocket Th e section of line the trip. Th e Chinese were brought immediately below ground that was no longer needed, so it was Chinese were working on ran back and work resumed on the was never found. It’s a fabulous sold. across some alkali fl ats near rail line. No further violent labor mystery. One of its shortcomings Mono Lake, making this section issues arose. According to mining was put forth in the Weekly very challenging to work on due Unfortunately, there law, when a vein is discovered Standard-News edition of to the dust and smell. are no photos of the Rocket its owners may follow it no October 12, 1881 thusly: “Th e Evidently, several white available, so you’ll have to matter how many other claims small steamer cannot travel in workers became enraged about use your imagination of the it passes through. So, Bobby a storm, and as a terrifi c wind how Chinese were taking away little steamer who (barely) was noting that as miners from frequently blows over the lake, jobs and headed off to Mono could, toting barges laden with the Bodie Company removed there is often trouble among the Lake with the intent of running fi rewood and lumber across the ore from the Fortuna, and sailors. Last week the craft came off the Chinese labor force. Word windswept Mono Lake one day, went deeper into the earth, the near being swamped, and four of their intent preceded them, and transporting folks out for a Fortuna was cut by veins owned day’s delay was the result.” so railroad management used a scenic ride the next. by other mining companies. Bodie Foundation PO Box 278 Bridgeport, CA 93517 (760) 647-6564 BodieFoundation.org [email protected]

With your renewal, continue to be part of Bodie’s future! Join or renew online at www.BodieFoundation.org, or fi ll out and return this form: □ $ 35 - Pay Dirt NAME: ______□ $ 50 - Silver Vein ADDRESS: ______□ $ 75 - Gold Mine ______□ $ 100 - W. S. Bodey CITY: ______□ $ 601 - Lifer STATE, ZIP: ______□ $ 5,000 - Benefactor PHONE: (______) ______□ $ ______- Other EMAIL: ______BODIE FOUNDATION Please make checks payable to: Bridgeport, CA 93517 Bodie FoUNdaTioN Photo by Josh Grant