Local history: Bakersfield.com

Resurrecting the ghosts of New River

We know that the Kern River has made several dramatic shifts in alignment over the past century and a half. I will mention only two of those shifts because they are relevant to the tale I’d like to share. In 1861-62, flooding from heavy rains opened a channel to a slough between Kern and Buena Vista lakes. That channel came to be referred to as Old River. Yet another flood, this one in the winter of 1867-68, moved the river further north, forming its present channel. Not surprisingly, locals referred to the westerly stretch of this new alignment, at least for a time, as "the new river".

But my tale is not about the Kern River or Old River or really any river at all. I suppose it's best descried as a ghost story since it recounts my efforts to resurrect the ghosts of the New River School. The schoolhouse itself has been gone now for more than a hundred years so there’s a very good chance that you’ve never heard of it. Indeed, except for a photograph, there is scant evidence that the New River School even existed.

It is an excellent photograph, probably taken by a professional photographer. A note on the back tells us the year, 1891, and the occasion, "Graduation day". The teacher and her sixteen charges are posed casually on a grassy area in the foreground, three of the girls wearing dresses of the same material, sisters perhaps. The teacher, standing erect and prim, is wearing a long, stylish dress that looks too formal, almost out of place in the decidedly rural setting. She is identified as Margaret Gardette, one of several Gardette sisters (including Millie Gardette Munsey) who taught in Kern County during that era. The one room, wood frame schoolhouse, typical of the times, sits solemnly on a rise in the background, a horse tethered nearby. Seven names, in a child’s hand, are printed on the back of the photograph: two members of the Still family, Percy and Sylvia, along with Bessie, Charles, Cora, Warren and Earl Tucker. It is merely a list, however, and no attempt was made to match names with faces in the photo.

It was a bit unsettling knowing that the children with whom I was exchanging stares were now long dead. Still, that only served to arouse my curiosity. If there were any New River ghosts still hanging around, perhaps I would be able to persuade them to reveal their secrets, to answer the host of questions that were running around in my mind. Where had they lived? In the city? On a farm? How did they get to school? What was it like being in a one-room schoolhouse? It looks like your little school was out in the country, but where exactly?

I set out to gather more information knowing full well that what I needed as much as information was a really good map of Kern County as it appeared in the 1890s.

I stumbled across a document in the local history section of the Beale Library that listed all the school districts in the county and how they had evolved. It told me that New River had first opened its doors in 1880 and remained open for twenty years. With a starting date in hand, I headed for the office of the clerk of the board of supervisors which proved to be a wonderful resource. From their archives, I managed to acquire a copy of the minutes of a meeting of the board of supervisors, dated July 23, 1880, at which time they offically approved the formation of the New River School District.

Copies of old Bakersfield Californians in the microfilm room at the Beale Library revealed a few more details: the New River School’s average daily attendance in its first year was five students. There were twenty-one students the following year, the greatest number of students it would have during its brief history. An edition of the paper from July of 1893 listed the names of students in local schools who had been promoted, a common practice in those days. Seven were from New River. Three had the last name of Hudson, two were named Carlin, the others were Ida Pensinger and Lizzie Powers. The teacher was listed as Miss Colton. More ghosts.

Within just a few years, New River's enrollment began a slow but steady decline. At the opening of the 1898-99 school year, fewer than five children were in attendance. Five was the magic number. In most instances, when a district’s average daily attendance fell below five, the county superintendent of schools would recommend its closure. Such a recommendation was made for New River, and on April 5, 1900, the district was declared lapsed (the official designation when schools are closed) by the board of supervisors and it’s territory annexed to the adjacent Buena Vista district .

So now I knew what New River School looked like, when it had opened, something of its enrollment, and when it closed. All that was for naught, however, unless I could find out just where it had been located.

I thought to make a map of the district boundaries using the legal description as set forth by the board of supervisors when the district was formed. Surely it was a tiny district and knowing its boundaries would narrow the search area and greatly improve my chances of finding the school on a map. Or so I reasoned. I couldn’t have been more wrong. The boundary lines circumscribed an area of almost four hundred square miles! It was bounded on the north by Seventh Standard Road, on the south by Taft Highway, on the east by a line close to Calloway Road, and on the west by the county line! I was dumbfounded. The New River district was, in a word, HUGE, and its ghosts now seemed more determined than ever to keep their secrets.

Maps of Kern County from that time period, 1880-1900, are hard to come by and rarer still are those that include the location of schoolhouses. Logic dictated that New River’s schoolhouse had been situated somewhere along that stretch of river to the west of town, that portion first referred to as "the new river". But that could not be confirmed unless I could find it on a map. Persistence finally paid off! I found the school site while gazing, for what must have been at least the tenth time, at a beautiful old county map on the wall in the local history section of the Beale. Dated 1885, it is framed and hangs over the map cabinet near the librarian’s desk. I don’t think I cried out when my eyes landed on the words "New River Sc", next to a small flag, but it was definitely an "Aha!" moment. I retrieved a digital camera from my car and took a few pictures of that portion of the map that included the New River site.

The map could not show me the exact location of the schoolhouse, of course, but it did reveal that it was in the northwest quadrant of section 18 (a section is one mile square), township 30 south, range 26 east. Close enough! That told me that the school had been situated on the north side of the river and just over a mile east of what would one day become Enos Lane. That put it in a very remote area about twelve miles west of town, a considerable distance in 1900. Where, then, would the students come from? And how would the teacher get there each day? Then George Lynch, a very knowledgeable Kern County historian, got wind of my quest and sent me an old map of the area. That map clearly showed three large ranches - Buena Vista, McClung, and Bellevue - all Kern County Land Company operations and all within a few miles of the school. George suggested that most, if not all, the students at New River lived on those ranches. Perhaps the teacher was offered quarters there as well. A logical conclusion and one that I agreed with.

Seeking further validation, I returned to the names on the back of the photograph and checked them out through Ancestry.com. The Still family was found in the 1890 census records. Those records revealed that the father, Robert Still, was employed as a superintendent for the Kern County Land Company, which likely meant he was headquartered on one of their many ranches. Although historians frown on assumptions, I found it not unreasonable to suppose that the Still family lived on that ranch and, further, that the ranch had been reasonably close to the school. Probably, but only probably, they lived on one of the three ranches shown on the old map.

At this point I had exhausted all my resources. If there was more to be found, I didn’t know where to look. I had expended considerable time and energy in searching for the where and the why of the New River School and now had to ask myself if my time had been well spent, if anything of historical significance had come out of this exercise. If - and I suppose it to be true - there is value in knowing and understanding the people and institutions that have helped shape our community, then, yes, we must assign some value to the contribution made by little New River School. And there was considerable personal satisfaction in being able to uncover sufficient details to validate New River’s existence. But now, with over a hundred years having gone by since it closed, it’s unlikely that we will learn much more. I hasten to add that mere satisfaction will turn to unbridled elation if I am ever able to determine the exact spot where that little schoolhouse sat! It seems likely that I will never know that, but I do know this: If I travel west on Stockdale Highway to Enos Lane, then turn south onto Enos Lane for 2-1/4 miles to where the bike trail begins, then follow the bike trail east for about 1-1/4 miles and, at that point, cross the river to the north side, then I absolutely must be within spitting distance of that school site.

I have made that trek three times, however, and found no more ghosts, nothing other than isolated, desolate scrub country, and lots of low growing stickery type weeds, the landscape dotted here and there with cottonwoods and willows. It could not have looked much different in 1880. Each time I have gone there I’ve tried to find a spot where I might recapture what I see in the photograph but each time I end up just shaking my head, frustrated, talking to myself. I know you were here, but where exactly? Did you leave anything behind? A metal desk leg? Part of the old wood stove? Anything at all to prove that you that you were something other than just a spot on an old map? How I wish those kids in that picture could talk to me!

Tule boating on CSUB campus

Two hundred twenty years ago, Lake Mohave filled the California desert to depths exceeding 200 feet, with a drainage of 3,500 square miles. Buena Vista and Kern Lake, near what is now Bakersfield, covered nearly 100 square miles to depths exceeding 50 feet.

The Kawaiisu Tribe travelled these lakes in tule boats, watercraft made from a tubular tule reed (seh-vi) that grows in marshy areas.

Last week, students at California State University, Bakersfield built a Kawaiisu Tule boat (paaga seh-vi) and took it for a ride on campus in a pond north of the dorms. They used tule reeds collected in the Kern River Valley near Lake Isabella. The students are enrolled in a course thru the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. The class is called California Tribal Arts and is taught by Kawaiisu elder David Laughing Horse Robinson. Students experience the traditions of California Indians as they have been practiced for more than 10,000 years. Indigenous math, painting, basketry and archery are taught in the old way of the Kawaiisu People.

The course meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30-7 p.m. in the Performing Arts building on the CSUB campus.

Stagecoach Days and the Butterfield Overland Mail

Fort Tejon will present "Stagecoach Days" on October 4th, celebrating the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the Overland Mail Stagecoach.

Fort Tejon welcomed the first Butterfield Overland Mail stagecoach 150 years ago on October 8th, 1858, 23 days after leaving Saint Louis Missouri on September 16, 1858. It arrived early morning and left at 3:30 AM because it was one day behind schedule due to a long delay in Texas.

Before the Butterfield stage line was built no railroads existed in the west. In order for eastern U.S. Mail to arrive on the west coast it had to be shipped down the Mississippi River to the Atlantic, go by ship to Panama, hauled overland by wagon to ships on the Pacific side then by ship to San Pedro or San Francisco.

John Butterfield had obtained a six year contract from the Federal Government to carry the U.S mail 2,700 miles between Saint Louis and San Francisco, by-weekly in both directions, it had to be delivered in less than 25 days. The contract paid $600,000 dollars per year. This first stagecoach arrived in San Francisco on October 10th, accomplishing the 25 day contract stipulation. The full 2,700 mile fare was $200 or 15 cents per mile for shorts. The Concord Coaches accommodated 9 passengers inside and 9 or more in the boot and on the roof. Sea sickness was a common occurrance among the passengers due to the Concord Coach's constant rocking motion.

Butterfield spent well over a million dollars building this mail delivery business, passengers were secondary to the mail. To build the stage line much of the 2,700 miles of road had to be constructed and 250 Concord Coaches were purchased along with 500 other wagons, 1800 horses and mules, 110 adobe way stations and 1200 employees; agents, road bosses, drivers, guards, conductors, blacksmiths, harness makers, hostelers and clerks.

Fort Tejon was the first of six way stations in Kern County averaging 12 to 30 miles apart. The others being; Sinks Of Tejon, Kern River Slough, Kern River Crossing (Gordons Ferry), Poso Creek and Mountain House. This first stagecoach arrived at Gordon's Ferry crossing, (below the Bluffs), to find the ferry barge had been washed away. The mail and passengers were transferred across the river in a row boat to an awaiting stage coach on the north shore.

The Butterfield Overland Mail Route lasted only 3 years, from 1858 to 1861. The beginning of the Civil War forced the company to move it's stage line to a northern route using the established immigrant roads. The company was then renamed "The Central Overland Mail Route". In the years following the Civil War, arrival of the railroad into the west ended the era of the overland Mail Company.

Stagecoach Days is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, at Fort Tejon State Historic Park. Admission is $2 for adults and free for chldren. The park is located along Interstate 5 about 36 miles south of Bakersfield. For more information, call 661-248-6692.

The event includes volunteers in period attire celebrating the 150th anniversary of the first stage coach, special tours, cannon firing, historic activies including a period baseball game.

Leonard Velasco was a leader in the Delano Filipino community

Leonard T. Velasco, Filipino pioneer and former mayor of Delano, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 16, with his family at his side. Velasco was born on March 5, 1931 in Looc, Mindoro Philippines. He shared many happy memories as a young boy growing up in the Philippines. He particularly remembered the U.S. troops assisting the Filipinos during World War II, and seeing General MacArthur when Velasco was a young shoe shine boy in Manila. He graduated from Far Eastern University and the Philippine Maritime Institute.

He immigrated to the U.S. in 1953 and settled primarily in Delano. As a farm laborer, he met the late Andrew Escalona, who happened to have a niece by the name of Estelita Vega. They fell in love and married on Sept. 30, 1962, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church with Father Frances Alabart performing the ceremony.

Velasco was the assistant manager at the local Cornet store for a few years before operating Leonard's Restaurant for 12 years, featuring Filipino cuisine. He was known throughout Delano for his famous pork adobo and pancit. He later was the food service manager for the Earlimart School District, worked three years each at prisons in Avenal and Wasco, and for five years worked at the North Kern State Prison before retiring in 1999.

His service to the community began in 1972, when he was persuaded by fellow Filipinos to run for city council. It was a landslide victory which led to 20 years of service as a city council member, and three terms as mayor of Delano, which gave him the honor of being one of four Filipinos to become mayor in the United States. After stepping away from civic service in 1992, he decided it was time to run for city council once more in 2002. He served for another four years, making him the only city council member to have served for a total of 24 years.

Some of Velasco's accomplishments during his years of service to the city of Delano included the inauguration of the Delano Redevelopment Agency, securing the Sears Logistics Center and the SaveMart Shopping Center, establishing the Delano Industrial Park, creating the Dial-A-Ride/Delano Transit Program, arranging both sites and services for two senior citizen centers, endorsed $27 million for Delano Regional Medical Center, and successfully petitioned for North Kern State Prison.

Velasco was the president of the Filipino Community from 1975 to 1977, a member of the Masonry Gran Oriente Filipino, serving twice as worshipful master. He also reached the fourth degree of Knights of Columbus, was Delano's Man of the Year in 1985, served on the Harvest Holidays Board, was director of Delano Lion's Club, and for more than 20 years had been on the advisory committee for the North Kern Vocational Training Center. He was a member of the Delano College Center as well as the chairman of the National-American Filipino Federation Association of Kern County branch for 15 years. He was also a member of the Fil-Am Political Association and in 1974 represented the city of Delano in the Philippines when a sister city relationship was established with Kalibo. Last fall he was the first recipient of the Man of the Year award by the Filipino Community of Delano.

Velasco was known for hosting officials from the Philippines, particularly Senator Benigno Aquino. In 1977, Velasco and his family traveled to the Philippines to attend the Pacific Ocean Congress of Municipalities with 17 other delegates and were guests of President Marcos at the Malacanyang Palace. While attending the conference, he was recognized by Marcos for the contributions that he had made to develop positive relationships between Filipinos and Americans.

The Velasco home was the "Ellis Island" for many of their relatives and sometimes friends, who had followed in his footsteps to come to the United States. There are many who would not be able to be where they are today if not for Velasco's generosity and support.

He is survived by his wife Estelita of nearly 46 years, who lovingly and selflessly cared for him to the end; daughters Leonora Velasco Lopez and husband Ted of Manila, Philippines; Elsie Velasco Davis and husband Richard of Duluth, Minnesota; Elizabeth Velasco-Ramirez and husband Daniel of Bakersfield. He was also a beloved grandfather to Hannah, TJ, Sterling, Rachel, Leonard, Sophia and Christian. He is also survived by his sister Leonor Candelaria of Stockton; daughter Victoria Escalante and husband David; grandchildren Victoria and Aaron; and great-grandchildren David and AJ.

The family would like to especially thank the medical staff at the Delano Regional Medical Center and the Bakersfield Heart Hospital who gave Velasco such loving care.

A 6 p.m. rosary will be held on Friday, Sept. 26 at the Delano Mortuary. Funeral services will be at 8 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 27 at St. Mary's Catholic Church, followed by the burial at North Kern Cemetery.

Local Figure's Historic Photo Collection to Display at BC

A special exhibit of 18 recently discovered historic photographs that were part of the Leo J. Pierucci collection will open Wednesday, September 17, in the Wylie and May Louise Jones Gallery at Bakersfield College.

The photos are part of a larger collection that Pierucci and his wife, Janet, donated to the Grace Van Dyke Bird Library at Bakersfield College in 1996, which is on display on the library’s second floor. The photos chronicle the history of Kern County as only great photography can. Janet recently found more photos which will become part of the permanent collection following the Gallery showing of The Leo J. Pierucci Collection: Capturing Kern’s History.

Pierucci, who died in December 2006, loved Bakersfield and Kern County. He was born and grew up at 18^th and L streets in what is today downtown Bakersfield. His tie to Bakersfield College began as a student and starting quarterback on the Renegade football team. He graduated in 1937 and he entered the local banking business, eventually becoming one of Bakersfield’s best-known and most beloved bankers.

He loved history, and throughout his life collected photographs of historic Bakersfield and Kern County events and landmarks. During the 1980s, while he was president of California Republic Bank, which was on the corner of Chester Avenue and 17^th Street, mere blocks from his childhood home, he began to display his growing collection of historic photographs in the bank. Customers and visitors began recognizing Pierucci’s affinity for historic photos and helped to bolster his collection. Years later, he and his wife, Janet, donated the collection to the Grace Van Dyke Byrd Library at Bakersfield College.

Recently Janet discovered another 18 photographs which she has donated to the library to add to the collection. These latest additions to the collection add to the richness of the images already on display, with many rare images which are not on public display until now.

The images show the diversity of life in early Kern County, from the famed Tehachapi loop, to a massive steam locomotive used to pull trains over the mountains to the east.

The source of the photos is as varied as the subject matter. Bakersfield photographer Greg Iger, who worked with Pierucci on his collection over the years, said people in the community knew of Pierucci’s interest and would bring their old photos to the bank to share with him. Many of those photos were copied and added to his collection.

The exhibit opens on September 17 and runs through October 2. The Wylie and May Louise Jones Gallery at Bakersfield College is open Monday through Thursday from 1 - 7 p.m.

Those attending the gallery exhibit, titled The Leo J. Pierucci Collection: Capturing Kern’s History are also invited to view the permanent collection on display on the second floor of the library. A special pamphlet describing each of the photos has been prepared to enhance viewers’ self-guided tour. The exhibit will continue for two weeks before being added to the permanent collection display.

“I hope people will come to this special event to honor Leo’s support and love for Bakersfield College,” Janet said. “He was always interested in preserving history, and was honored to donate his collection of historic photographs to the college, knowing that they would be preserved for posterity. Our future depends on knowing, preserving and understanding our past.”

For more information, please call the Bakersfield College Archives at 661-395-4949.

Bakersfield Builds "Blandings Dream House"

Sixty years ago this September, a truly unusual house was built in Bakersfield. The post WW2 war era had left 30 million people throughout America looking for a home. Tract style house construction had been introduced before WW2 but with this army of desperate house hunters begging for a home tract building resumed, only on a much greater scale than ever before. This enormous housing trend caused many building trades journeymen to form new contracting businesses in Bakersfield such as painting, plastering, plumbing and general construction. At this time my father-in-law established "W.O. Swank Painting" of Bakersfield, which in time became one of the largest painting contractors in the West.

In the spring of 1948, seventy three American cities were authorized to construct a replica of the beautiful " Dream House" featured in the hit comedy movie from RKO Productions "Mister Blandings Builds His Dream House" starring Cary Grant and Myrna Loy. Bakersfield was the smallest city to participate in the event which was nationally publicized for months in leading magazines and newspapers. The postwar housing boom was in high gear and it seemed as though everyone who read the book or viewed the movie fell in love with the Blandings Dream House.

Millions of G.I. families had just lived through four hard years of world war two and were facing a critical housing shortage all over America. These families were craving an affordable home equipped with those "atomic age appliances" that had previously been denied them due to war restrictions of everything except essential items. The Blandings Dream House fulfilled that desire of war weary America.

The movie was adapted from the book by Eric Hodgins, former editor and vice president of Fortune Magazine. He resigned his position with "Fortune" so as to have more time to devote to his writing career. In 1946 he re-wrote an article he had published in his Fortune Magazine titled, "Mister Blandings Builds His Castle". The new book was titled" Mister Blandings Builds His Dream House"and it was an instant best seller prompting RKO Radio Pictures to make it into a movie in 1948.

General Electric Corporation was the manufacturer of the "all electric kitchen", (electricity was cheap then), and all the "atomic age" appliances installed throughout the Blandings house, which RKO had built on The old 20th Century Fox Malibu Creek Ranch lot expressly for the filming of this movie. The "Zuzz-Zuzz" water softener, automatic washer and drier, dishwasher, garbage disposal, central air conditioning, television and all the futuristic work saving gadgets dazzled millions of young house hunters who had never before seen appliances such as these. Most households still used wringer washing machines and ice boxes. Most of the prewar built appliances had worn out during the war and couldn't be replaced till wars end. The spectacular public reaction to this post war Dream House prompted General Electric and RKO to supply Blandings Dream House blueprints to 73 cities which agreed to provide local building contractors with the plans to construct their cities own "Blandings Dream House". Thereafter the plans were made available Nationwide and are still obtainable on the Internet.

Bakersfield's Westchester Housing Tract was being constructed at that time and was selected as the perfect spot to build the house. Ralph Smith local real estate developer owned the Weschester land upon which the house was built. Gannon Construction was the building contractor supported by a host of local sub-contractors who all agreed to their services, 'at cost'. My father-in law, William O. Swank, was the painting contractor selected to paint the beautiful "Dream House". Most of the forty or fifty local businesses involved in the project are no longer with us but their beautiful creation still remains here. General Electric engineers inspected the partially finished house and commented,"of all the other Dream Homes under construction across the Nation, the Bakersfield house is the best and follows the master blueprints more closely than any other being built, and we have seen them all", a tribute to the skill of our local contractors and their employees of that era.

Promotion and sponsorship of the project was undertaken by "The Woman's Club of Bakersfield" with all proceeds earned during the month of open house going to charitable organizations such as "The Crippled Children's Society"and other needy causes. Building, decorating and fully furnishing the house became a community project with scores of local businesses using their products to make the home complete. I attended East Bakersfield High School at this time and Blandings Dream House was the number one topic of discussion for quite sometime. It seemed everyone in town attended the movie when it opened at the Fox Theater the first week in September, 1948.

On the weekend of October third and fourth, the two child stars from the movie, Sharyl Moffett and Connie Marshall, were hostesses at the open house. A free barbecue was featured along with famous local radio disk Jockey Bill Elliot taking live interviews among the crowd. So many people attended that weekend, finding a parking spot was a problem and the admission line was blocks long but everyone had a wonderful time.

Thousands of anxious families stood in line for an opportunity to tour the modern home during open house month, twenty five cents was the admission price and the Bakersfield Woman's Club raised a large amount for charity. No doubt this movie together with the Blandings Dream House presentation was the kick-off of the local post war building boom which lasted for years.

Approaching sixty years of age, how are the hundreds of Dream Homes, all over the Country surviving ? The original Blandings Dream House which RKO Pictures built near Malibu is still there, in use, fully functional and the Old 20Th Century Fox movie lot on which it is located is now a State Park, its name is Malibu Creek Park. The home built in Bakersfield's Westchester Tract looks as graceful and sharp as it did when it was originally constructed. When viewing the eternally classic appearance of the Dream House, one tends to believe this design will never die.

(C) by George Gilbert Lynch-- Apl. 30, 2006

Help identify these historic local homes

Can you help identify these homes? Maybe you live in one, or one is in your neighborhood.

The Kern County Museum is looking for addresses of these homes. Please email sawoodman@kern.org if you know the address of any of these homes.

More images of area homes, businesses, and scenes can be viewed at the Kern County Museum's website: www.kcmuseum.org

Thanks for looking!

Mojave Gold Rush Days set for Saturday

Gold Rush Days will be held Friday, Sept. 12 and Saturday, Sept. 13, in Mojave, beginning with a free Skate Party from 5 to 7 p.m. at Mojave Park. Sponsored by the Mojave Four Square Church, free sno-cones and refreshments will be provided.
Saturday morning the Gold Rush Parade will form beginning at 9 a.m. at the corner of Belshaw and K Street and the parade will proceed South on K Street at 10 a.m. with Bill & Billye Deaver serving as Grand Marshals.
All community organizations, churches, veteran groups, equestrian entries, community queens, businesses and individuals of all ages are encouraged to participate in the parade. Trophies for first and second place will be awarded in the park at 1 p.m. Call 661.816.3497 for parade application. All Gold Rush applications are available at the Mojave Desert Bank.
Food and merchandise booths will be located in the park and an Art & Photography Show will be positioned in the Vet's Building. Call 661.824.2481 for an application for your business in the park or for entry form for Art Show, space is limited.
A special attraction to celebrate the 132nd anniversary of Southern Pacific founding Mojave will be an appearance by the 7 1⁄2 gauge Kern County Live Steamers outdoor railroad. Rides will be available for the public.
Mojave Elks will host a dance featuring the music of the Honky Tonk Truckers at the lodge beginning at 8 p.m.
The dance will be preceded by a TriTip barbecue from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Charge for the dance is $3 per person or $5 per couple. The barbecue is $8 per person.

Who are the grand marshals?
Long-time Mojave residents Bill and Billye Deaver are the grand marshals of the 2008 Mojave Gold Rush Days parade.
The Deavers came to Mojave — separately — in 1948, Bill with his parents and Billye with her sister, whose husband was in the Air Force at Edwards.
During those early years, Billye lived in one of the Quonset Huts that provided housing for local military personnel at the Mojave Marine Corps Air Station.
“When the wind blew, we had to clean the dirt off the beds, the roofs leaked so badly,” Billye recalls. She worked for many years at Reno’s Restaurant and for the Bank of America and Mojave Desert Bank, and helped run the Mojave Desert News in the early 1980s.
Married in 1961 in San Jose, the couple have been active in the community over the years — including the 12 years they spent in Washington,. D.C., from 1982 to 1994, where they both worked for Members of Congress representing California.
“We kept on eye on issues affecting Mojave,” Bill Deaver recalls.
While in the nation’s capitol, Bill served as a political appointee in the administrations of presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush, at the Federal Railroad Administration, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, and the Treasury Dept.
Billye served on the staffs of Congressmen Norm Shumway and David Dreier, while Bill was administrative assistant to Congressman Chip Pashayan.
In Mojave, Bill served as constable, public safety communications dispatcher, court administrator and, with Billye, published this newspaper from 1979 to 1982. He is currently editor and publisher of the paper.
He is president of the Mojave Community Medical Center, Kern Transportation Foundation, and Edwards Community Alliance, and serves on the boards of the Chamber of Commerce and Mojave Transportation Museum Foundation.
“Everywhere we have gone around the U.S. and in Europe, we have found people who know about Mojave and the exciting things that happen here,” the Deavers say. “That — and the great people we work with throughout this region — is the reason we continue to make Mojave our home.”

Author David Kulczyk at Russo Books on September 27th

Author David Kulczyk will be signing and speaking about his book, California Justice - Shootouts, Lynchings and Assassinations in the Golden State (Word Dancer Press) at Russo Books (9000 Ming Ave) on September 27th .

Two chapters of the book happened in Bakersfield. A Hard Road into Bakersfield is a look into vigilante injustice in Kern County in 1879, when five Californios and two successful businessmen were lynched.

Chapter 11

A Hard Road into Bakersfield

Death Toll: 9

May 28, 1879, Bakersfield - Kern County

Justice was thwarted in the following case of the Yoakum brothers,

as in one trial, they were exonerated, and in another, they were convicted

on the basis of highly partial testimony, testimony provided by the victims’ relatives and friends. However, based upon exasperation at the lengthy

and multiple trial proceedings, and upon the dubious degree of

impartiality provided by the judge, some citizens of Bakersfield took the

law into their own hands. They drew their own verdict and administered

a much quicker form of “justice” than the courts were providing.

The city of Bakersfield is situated at the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley on the Kern River, and it gained a well-deserved reputation as a tough town almost from its founding. Maybe it’s the heat.

Bakersfield was settled in 1858, and it was named after an early settler, Colonel Thomas Baker. Colonel Baker ran a sort of campground for immigrants who were moving from southern California looking for a place to settle. By 1871, the settlement had a telegraph office, two stores, a newspaper, two boarding houses, one doctor, a wagon shop, a harness shop, one attorney, a saloon, and fifty students who attended a one-room school. Bakersfield quickly became the center of agriculture and industry for the region.

Five Californios were charged with the ever-popular crime of rustling on December 22, 1877, in Kern County. Whether they wee guilty or not, Bessena Ruiz, Fermin Eldeo, Miguel Elias, Francisco Ensinas, and Anthony Maron were all strung up together in one of the biggest Lynchings in California history. Nobody was ever charged with the murders.

Bill and Tom Yoakum were successful miners and businessmen in the area. Their land was located about twenty-five miles northeast of Bakersfield and the property included the Long Tom, the New Years Gift, and the Long Hank mines. The brothers also ran a general store, a blacksmith shop, and a mill. They employed thirty miners at their various excavations. The brothers defended their property against claim jumpers and thieves and thought nothing of suing anyone who challenged their right to their lands. Bill Yoakum even ran for sheriff once, although he lost the election.

The Yoakum brothers were not to be messed with, and their success in the mines and the courts angered many citizens of Kern County. Hamilton J. “Tug” Tucker and his partners. Johnson, Bronough, and Wegg, were involved in a long-running lawsuit over the Long Tom mine. The lawsuit became convoluted, and the Yoakums filed a court case against Tucker, Johnson, Bronough, and Webb. Little is known about the relationship that

Tug Tucker and William Johnson with the partners. But we can be reasonably sure that the extended lawsuit against the Yoakums drained the capital of both parties.

On April 13, 1879, Tucker and Johnson were driving their wagons along the road approximately a half mile from the Long Tom mine. They were returning from Granite Station, where the thirty-year Tug had established his family home. Johnson and Tucker’s sister, known only as Mrs. Burdett, were in the front wagon, with Tucker, his wife Harriet, and their two children in the second wagon, when two shots rang out from a rock outcropping on the hillside. Tucker was shot through the heart and died instantly. Johnson was also hit, and he died almost as quickly. People living nearby heard the commotion and came to their aid, but there was nothing they could do. Also, the men had been shot from a distance that was too far for anyone to have seen their assailants.

Harriet Tucker and her sister-in-law attended the coroner’s inquest the next day in Bakersfield. Both women were dressed in black. Mrs. Burdett’s face was badly bruised from her fall from the wagon. The Yoakums’ attorney, a Mr. Gregg, asked Judge Colby to clear the courtroom for the inquest, and the judge agreed. This riled the dead men’s friends, and as they stood outside the courthouse, they conjured up explanations as to why the courtroom had been cleared. A few hours later, Coroner A. A. Mix released the results of the inquest. Sheriff W. R. Bower’s investigation showed that the shots came from a large boulder with a natural hole in it that served as a gun port for the sniper. The boulder was located two hundred and fity yards from where the men were shot. The inquest dubiously concluded that the men were probably shot by the Yoakum brothers. Bill and Tom Yoakum were charged with murder, solely because of their ongoing lawsuit and the location of the shooting.

Completely disregarded by the inquest panel was the fact that Tucker and Johnson had successfully sent a miner to prison for stealing their gold. The miner had sworn revenge, and he had been seen around Kern County at the time of the ambush.

The Yoakums’ attorney asked for a change of venue for the trial, but Judge Philip Colby refused, although, ironically, before Colby had become a judge, he had represented William Yoakum in an unsuccessful lawsuit against a man named Thomas Baker. Although Bill and Tom Yoakum had huge investments in the area and a payroll to meet, they were detained in the Bakersfield jail while awaiting trial.

The Bakersfield newspapers stirred up passions with stirring editorials that suggested that good citizens of Kern County take the law into their own hands and become the judge, jury and executioner.

Bill Yoakum’s trial started on January 13, 1879. Yoakum was represented by three law firms. The attorneys again requested a change of venue, supported by a document signed by three outstanding Bakersfield citizens. The judge once again refused the request. Harriet Tucker testified first and added new details about the shooting. She now remembered that she recognized Tom and Bill Yoakum running from the ambush site. It was hard to believe that in the commotion, with her husband shot dead while sitting next to her, with their children on their laps and frightened horses pulling their wagon, she had possessed the mindset to look up to see who was shooting at them.

Tucker’s sister, Mrs. Burdett, testified that she saw a Yoakum running up the canyon just after the shooting, carrying a rifle. Bill Yoakum’s only alibi came from his wife Callie, who told the jury that Bill was home that day, taking care of their sick child while she did the washing.

The jury deliberated for only a few minutes before they came back with a not guilty verdict. Sheriff Bowers had to protect Bill Yoakum from the crowd, which was hell bent for blood, albeit not justice. Bill still had to face another trial on February 13 for the murder of Johnson. The brothers were pallid and baggy-eyed from their long imprisonment while awaiting trial and they had almost had enough. However, they hired additional attorneys from San Francisco for the next trial. The Bakersfield newspapers spread hate via editorials insinuating that the Yoakums had bought off Judge

Colby, completely omitting that Yoakum was found not guilty by a jury of his peers and not the judge.

The Johnson murder trial lasted ten days. Even thought Bill had been found not guilty in the first trial, he was found guilty of shooting Johnson. The jury heard the same witnesses and evidence as in the first trial. Yoakum’s attorneys immediately filed for a stay of sentencing so that they could appeal the verdict.

Any subsequent appeal trial was scheduled to be moved away from Bakersfield. Unfortunately, the Yoakums were still being held in the Bakersfield jail.

At half past midnight on the morning of May 28, 1879, a mob broke down the door of the jail and grabbed guards George Reed and William H. Coons. They took the keys from the jailers and went looking for the Yoakums. Sheriff Bower and a friend were nearby, but they were stopped by the mob and brazenly held at gunpoint.

The Yoakum brothers were in their cells when the lynch mob entered. Bill, who was in leg irons because he wasn’t a model prisoner, fought his attackers like a wildcat, until someone shot him in the chest. They then hung him by the neck in his cell. Tom was murdered the same way.

The jailers were released and they ran for their lives into the night. A few hours after the mob left, the frightened guards entered the jail and found the Yaokums beaten, lynched, and shot.

Even though only a handful of the mob word masks, and the sheriff and jailers all saw who was involved, the coroner concluded that “unknown persons” had lynched the Yoakums.

Evidently, the supporters of the victims had their own opinions

as to the events that had led to the ambush murder of Tucker and

Johnson. When “justice” flows from the barrel of a rifle, the “law”

sometimes becomes irrelevant.

Randsburg Celebration Sept. 20

The last "living ghost town" in southern California is the name given our eastern Kern County city. This 120-year-old boom town once had a thriving population of 4,000, in 1919, and was known as the biggest gold mine in California at that time. The quarter mile main street is lined with many of the original buildings, many which now sell antiques and artifacts along with a general store, saloons and cafes. Randsburg is about 40 miles northwest of Mojave, nestled within the red tinted hills of the Rand Mountain range.

Once each year, on Sept. 20, the little community really rocks as the local residents combined with hundreds of out-of-town vendors and visitors re-create the gold rush boom town days along their main street with the "Old West & Bluegrass Jamboree."

Randsburg is one of California's best known mining towns. With the $700 to $1,000 per ounce value on gold these days, many mines in the area are still being worked, mostly by independent groups or clubs which proves a lot of gold still remains hidden in those red colored mountains. In their active years of mining, these mountains produced more than $25 million of the yellow metal plus an equal amount of silver and tungsten. Scores of "gold hunter groups" come to Randsburg with their metal detectors, dry washing machines and old fashioned gold pans for a sometimes profitable weekend of outdoor recreation.

Randsburg's history can be reviewed in the many pictures and documents displayed in their great free museum which is loaded with artifacts including a rare narrow gauge steam engine which was used in the famous "Yellow Aster Mine." Also on display is an enormous stamp mill, old mining equipment, tools, wagons and enough relics to keep you interested for hours.

Admission is free so why not bring along the whole family and attend the "Randsburg Old West & Bluegrass Jamboree" for a day of fun? Here's directions for a picturesque drive to Randsburg: Take State Highway 14 north out of Mojave. As you approach Red Rock Canyon, a sign on your right will direct you to Randsburg.

My Mom's Texas Chow-Chow

Summertime food canning was a big event for my family and relatives in Bakersfield, whether it was in lean depression years or good times. Most of our relatives were from Texas or Missouri and they were raised on home canned foods so it was a way of life to them. Canning was such a large undertaking, the family with a big kitchen was usually chosen for the meeting place. Some summers at our house and the next year Aunt Macies or Aunt Mables home were used for the "Canning Bee".

Home canning during WW2 was no different except we had to apply at the ration board to get extra sugar for fruit canning and I remember the jars, rings and sealing lids were in short supply so we had to hunt them at many stores. The Government encouraged Victory Gardens and home canning to aid the food shortage.

My earliest memory of a dark, cool cellar was in the thirties, under my Uncle Bob and Aunt Mable's home on East Brundage Lane. When I and my cousins walked down the concrete steps and into that damp room beneath the house it was always a thrill to turn on the light and see the rainbow of beautifully colored fruits and vegetables neatly stacked upon wooden shelves along the walls. The black widow spiders also liked the cellar so we were always careful when in there. Pints, quarts, half gallons all prepared the summer before for us to now pick out our favorites. So delicious, at breakfast, were those sweet sliced peaches or nectarines piled on our bowl of corn flakes.

My Aunt Mable was the undisputed champion of our whole clan when it came to canning a large variety of foodstuffs. Pickled whole peaches, apricots, plums and nectarines filled scores of half gallon mason jars, and preserves of the same fruits stood in rows of quart and pint jars. Corn, tomatoes, green beans, cucumbers, peppers, okra, peas and any other vegetables their big garden could produce were all there waiting to be eaten.

Uncle Bob had planted many varieties of fruit trees over the years on their half acre home site at Brundage Lane and King Street so plenty of fruit was available every summer and when it all began ripening at once our relatives flocked in to hold a big canning bee which usually lasted a few days. My Uncle Bob was a believer in "if its worth doing, its worth doing big"and ten gallon earthenware crocks of sauerkraut and dill pickles were often seen curing in the wash house out back. His hand cranked five gallon ice cream freezer would consume 50 pounds of cracked ice and wear out half a dozen kids as it was so hard to crank but it made enough to feed us and the whole neighborhood besides. That rich ice cream was usually filled with peach, strawberry or apricot preserves from the cellar.

Every family had dozens of boxes filled with Mason jars because none were ever discarded unless the rim was chipped. This canning bee was mostly done by the women and they kept us kids out of the kitchen during the washing, peeling, chopping and cooking process but I remember washing empty jars in the back yard and turning the handle on the big food grinder when they were chopping vegetables. The sweet aroma of fruit, vinegar and spices filled the house as big pots full of fresh produce boiled on the overcrowded stove top. We kids knew bowls of excess fruit would would be given out when the canning was over so we stayed close by.

Each family had their own favorite Chow-Chow recipe and from every one's garden came the green tomatoes, green and red peppers, cabbage and onions needed to create the spicy relish. Boxes of green tomatoes and the other ingredients were run through the big food grinder. That Texas Chow-Chow made anything taste better from beans to beefsteak, a jar of it was on out table at every meal including breakfast, (good with scrambled eggs).

Everyone in our family agreed, my Mom's Chow-Chow recipe was the best of all because it wasn't as pepper spicy as the others and had a sweeter flavor so we kids thought it the best. It seemed each mom had a specialty that her family liked so many uncommon recipes were prepared like pickled okra and beets, spiced tomatoes, watermelon pickles, mixed fruit jelly and jams, the combinations were endless.

Years ago, my wife and I canned a small amount of food when we were raising our three kids but it seemed we could never find time for canning with the long process involved. After we became empty nesters and had time for gardening and raising our own produce we began canning fruits and vegetables and soon we had two cabinets filled with beautiful foodstuffs. Strangely, few guests cared to take any home with them and we ate so little of it, we gradually stopped canning. I guess this happens to most of us now that supermarkets are filled with every kind of food under the sun but nothing in a grocery store can compare with the great taste of that home canned food and besides, look at all the fun we had at those wonderful canning bees.

Bessie Webb: 100 years young!

Born in 1908 at Fulton-Union, Ark., Bessie has lived a long, healthy and productive life. She survived the depression and the 1918 flu epidemic. She lived on a farm in Arkansas and at 10 years old she took care of the entire family that was sick with the killer flu. She had two brothers and three sisters. Many of her neighbors died and all of her family was disabled in bed.

In 1935 Bessie married Homer Webb and they had one son, Bill. She was married for 50 years. They moved from Arkansas to Taft in 1941. Her husband worked for Standard Oil. Bessie also found a job as dispatcher with Standard. In the 50s she also worked as a seamstress in a shirt factory in Taft. In 1963 Homer continued to work for Standard and they bought a house in Bakersfield and Bessie took care of her grand kids.

Bessie has lived in southwest Bakersfield for the last 45 years and has resided at Glenwood Gardens for the last two years.

The Bakersfield Wavetts: 60 years later

By Sophie (Lozano) Unkrey

It was 1949. From an idea conceived by Mrs. Ilo (Blossom) Scatena, a group of young World War II ex-Navy WAVES (Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service) formed the club to be named Bakersfield Wavetts.

Beginning with a roster of 25 to 30 young women, 60 years later five remaining members are still meeting once a month. They are: Nancy Powell, Mary Pritchard, Lucille Sautter, Alma Smith and myself, Sophie (Lozano) Unkrey. Also a member of the group, but unable to attend meetings, is Doris Andrews.

We have donated our collection of scrapbooks and other memorabilia to the Beale Memorial Library’s Jack Maguire Local History Room.

One of the most memorable and proudest periods of my youth was joining the United States Navy as one of the first group of WAVES during World War II. I remember the long train ride from Los Angeles to New York, arriving at midnight and being asked to “muster” in the huge armory for barracks assignments. This was followed by a 5 a.m. rise, after three hours of sleep, then marching in the rain to our first classroom lecture.

It was not long before we became accustomed to the daily torture of early rising, long marches, aching muscles from shots in our arms for every conceivable infection, the hard-driving calesthenics, the obstacle course, and hours of classroom lectures. We were allowed time for fun and games, even a trip to New York for sightseeing. Also, we could not help but appreciate our beautiful surroundings of Hunters College where we were stationed.

I took much pride being a part of the Color Guard there. Later, having been transferred to Cedar Falls, Iowa for Yoeman training, as patrol leader I had the privilege of leading our squadron during our inspection and review before the Major and his staff.

After training, I was assigned to the newly organized Naval Ordnance Test Station at China Lake, where we were required to live in Quonset huts for a period of time. Being assigned to the Intelligence division as secretary to the commander in charge, I was assigned my own Jeep to pick up mail, and allowed on occasion to go out on the field with the field officer and staff during ordnance testing.

In our younger years, the Wavetts did all types of things to raise money for local nonprofits and children’s charities in Bakersfield. We also gave Christmas baskets to needy families.

Now we are in our mid-80s and we continue to meet for lunch once a month. It’s important for us to get together as a group and communicate about our shared memories and experiences. For instance, we all talk about how when we see the flag, it’s just a feeling we get inside, leaving us almost in tears, it means that much to us.
Having served in the United States Navy WAVES during World War II has given me the pride and love of our country that is immeasurable.

****************************************************

By Mary Pritchard

I was a Master-At-Arms (MAA) and my duty was being in charge of a crew of 12 to 16 WAVES Seamen. Each day they were supervised in the cleaning of the WAVES barracks — common areas only. I also supervised the guard watch for the barracks. This was at North Island Naval Air Station, San Diego. I was also MAA at Balboa Naval Hospital San Diego, where I was involved in sports and recreation, supervising horseback rides and coaching the WAVES basketball team. This was during World War II.

I was recalled for Korea, stationed at USN Training Center San Diego. I was transportation clerk, routing graduate recruits to duty stations, supplying travel tickets and meal tickets.

I have lots of special memories. One in particular is V.J. Day (Victory over Japan Day), Aug. 14, 1945. The Fleet was in port. Sailors, WAVES, civilians, everybody was dancing in the streets in San Diego.

I can never forget the thrill and chill I would experience when I heard “Taps” at sundown. Regardless of what they were doing, playing golf, drinking beer, walking and talking, every serviceman and woman faced the direction of the main flag pole and the music, came to attention and saluted. Even the wounded in wheelchairs or on crutches came to attention and saluted. Drivers in cars stopped, got out and saluted. I still get that same feeling today when I hear “Retreat.” It makes me proud “I served.”

Now when the Wavetts get together for lunches, we help each other, since we are getting to be older and fewer. Being part of WAVES makes me feel proud that I did something for my country and helped in the war effort. It reinforces my patriotism and love for my country.

*****************************************************

By Nancy Wilder Powell

As I look back about 65 years ago, I ask myself, “Why did I go into the service?”
I had gone to William Woods College after high school. This was during the post-Depression years.

My brother had just graduated from Beloit College. There was money left over for one year for me. So I went away to college for that one year.

I had several jobs after that in Evanston, Ill., and was thinking about going into the service. My brother was in the Army Air Corps and flew air reconnaissance in a P-38 in Europe.

My mother’s cousin Alma, who was married to a Brigadier General, heard that I was thinking about going into the service. She told my mother that there was a much nicer group of girls in the WAVES than in the Army. So, I signed up.

I had my boot camp at Hunter College in New York. I was lucky. No K.P. for me. I applied for the singing platoon and made it. Not only did we learn how to march, we sang everywhere we went — down the streets of New York City, and on several radio programs, too. It was fun.

After boot camp, I went to Bethesda, Md., for Hospital Corps training. I only wish my training had been longer. They badly needed nurses and Corps WAVES so they shortened the training. We could have had lots more. From there I was sent to Corpus Christi Naval Air Station.

We worked on the men’s wards, WAVES wards, in the family hospital, with newborns in the nursery, and in pediatrics. We had night shifts and special watches. We kept busy.

While I was in Corpus Christi, I received a letter from Ed Powell who was in the South Pacific saying he had just gotten state-side duty. I wrote to him saying, “Fine, why not come to Texas?” He was sent to Cabanus Field several miles from me.

We were engaged for six months and then got married in the base chapel after the war was over, while still in the service. From there we moved to Bakersfield and had two boys. We had been married for 45 years when Ed died of cancer. I still live in Bakersfield.

Oildale: In the beginning it was 'Northside'

The great Kern River flood of 1868 had left hundreds of acres of fertile, alluvial soil on the north side of Kern River adjacent to Bakersfield. A settlement called 'Northside' was founded there in 1875. The Beardsley Canal was built through this area in 1877 by E.M. Roberts, owner of the land along the north side of Kern River. Ditches from this canal afforded irrigation water for these small ranches.

No bridge spanned the Kern River back then and crossing the stream between Bakersfield and the community of Northside was either by fording during summer low water periods or paying to ride a ferry barge. The Southern Pacific Railroad bridge over the Kern River was completed November 9, 1874 and was often used by foot traffic but horses or wagons couldn't cross on it. The farmers living in Northside threatened to travel north to buy their food and hardware from a store at Lerdo if a bridge wasn't built to replace the undependable ferry boat system. Finally in 1877 the County Council approved funding for the first local public bridge over the Kern River. It was built at the north end of, still existing, Jewett Lane and after crossing the River it opened into Northside settlement.

The new Bridge and roadway were well traveled by traffic between Los Angeles and Stockton. Northside settlement continued to gain new farmers because of the rich soil and easily available, alkali free drinking water from shallow wells. Also being situated at the Jewett bridge crossing, mail and supplies were only two miles away in Bakersfield. The peaceful little farming settlement never imagined what was to happen a few years later, in 1899.

As a kid, in the '30s, I remember thick, black oil seeping from the sandy banks of the Kern River and the same seeps were evident in the mid 1800s but demand for gasoline for autos and oil for steam locomotives was just beginning at the turn of the century. In 1899, when James and Jon Elwood sunk that first well below the Bluffs and tapped a 3.8 billion barrel reservoir of crude oil, it was the right time and the right place for fortunes to be reaped.

The land within the arid, hot foothill location of that 10-square-mile Kern River oil field immediately rose from two dollars an acre to two thousand and higher as oil fever spread. Within a year, 2,000 men were working and 160 wells had been drilled in the discovery area. As thousands of barrels of oil accumulated in the earthen reservoirs from the increasing production, delivering the crude to the rail head was by mule-drawn tank wagons.

Plans to build pipelines and railroads to the booming oil discovery immediately began and the Southern Pacific Railroad bought a one-mile strip of land from real estate broker Hiram L. Waits. This land gave the railroad right of way from their main line siding at Norris Road, which they named "Oil Junction," to the terminal seven miles East which they named "Oil City." A depot was constructed at Oil City in 1900 and a lively community grew up around it. Within two years the population had increased to 7,000. Before pipelines could be built to transport the crude to Richmond refineries, the S.P. Railroad did a land-office business on shipping the tank car loads over the tracks through Oil Junction. During the month of July, 1901, the Standard Oil Company shipped 118,023 carloads of oil from the the loading site at Oil City. The most from any field in America at that time. To illustrate the prosperity of the booming area, the Wells Fargo Company ran a special monthly shipment of $100,000 in gold coin from the San Francisco mint, into Oil Center to support their local payrolls.

Most employees of the dozens of oil companies throughout the oilfields were furnished a house if one was available or tent houses were available until a house was built or moved onto that lease. Transportation, at that time, was by foot or horse so living on the lease, near the job, was essential. As automobile transportation became more common, living in the oilfields became less essential. The large community of Oil Center had all the things any other city possessed. A church, four schools, community recreation center, merchandise stores, swimming pool, eight rooming houses and scores of offices and homes. The Oil Center Post Office was established in 1901.

In 1912, the Southern Pacific Railroad decided the shipping point at Oil City Station was inconvenient now that the newly discovered wells were in the northwestern portion of the field and the bulk of crude oil was now being pipelined to refineries and storage tanks. The depot and freight house at Oil City was moved five miles west on Norris Road, to near what is now North Chester Avenue and was named "Waits Station."

The community that grew up around the station was called "Waits" and had its beginning when, in 1910, Andrew Ferguson subdivided his farmland into lots of 100 by 50 feet, on Ferguson Avenue. Businessman John M. Hughes also owned business frontage in that area. The businesses fronted on "The Valley Road," which was the road from Bakersfield, across the Kern River Bridge, and north to Stockton. It is now North Chester. In 1910 it was named "Hughes Avenue."

Hughes, the self-appointed 'mayor' of the settlement, built a business frontage consisting of a popular tavern, general store, blacksmith, butcher shop and a bakery that turned out 2,000 loves of bread daily to satisfy the demand of the sprawling oilfield community of 7,000 inhabitants. He used two delivery trucks in this booming business, delivering food, ice and merchandise to the homes on the oilfield leases. This trading center was the beginning of Oildale and was located between Ferguson Avenue and Cooper Avenue on the east side of North Chester Avenue. Combined with the Hughes' business center, Andrew Ferguson had a feed, seed and firewood business as well as his lively real estate sales and house building in the Waits area. The first 30 houses in Waits were built by Ferguson, Hughes and Cooper. Three streets named in their honor still intersect North Chester near Standard School. Hughes developed a domestic water system as well as an electric generating plant to serve the new community he helped develop. He also graded and oiled the streets.

In 1913, Mary Elizabeth Crane moved to Bakersfield from the East and bought half interest in the general store in Waits. The store was the place people received their mail so it was established as a US post office on March, 15, 1916. Mrs. Crane named the post office "Oildale," considering the railroad siding name of Waits inappropriate for the new city. For a few years, Waits and Oildale were both used as the town's name, but eventually "Oildale" was accepted. In 1925, the Oildale Southern Pacific freight depot changed its name from "Waits Station" to "Seguro Station." The structure of Seguro Station still stands as a private residence on Norris Road one quarter of a mile east of North Chester Avenue.

During the 1920s and '30s, Kern County began taxing the oil companies for the houses and other structures they owned on their leases which prompted the companies to begin moving those houses off their oilfield property and selling them to employees. Originally, more than 150 houses were located in the Oil Center area. Multiple scores of oil field houses were moved into Oildale and many can still be seen on Decadur or Belle Streets and all through that general area. This was the demise of Oil Center and of free rent for families living on the oil leases. Many generations of those original hard working, self sufficient oil field workers continue to live in or around Oildale. Essentially, over those years, the communities of Oil Center and Oil City were moved from their sites in the Kern River Oil Field leases into the city of Oildale.

As years passed, many other real estate developers subdivided tracts in old oildale. In May 1916, the first, modern, planned housing tract was opened by real estate developer, T. W. McManus. The community was called Highland Tract and the streets were named for past U.S. Presidents. Washington Avenue was the street upon which the first homes were constructed. The new tract featured;water piped to each lot as well as natural gas and commercial electricity. The streets were oiled and trees and shrubs were planted throughout the area. Arp addition and Riverview along the river were built prior to Highland but they lacked any utilities or paved streets. Arp Tract suffered from flooding each time the Kern River got high, which in mid-1929 resulted in new, higher levees being constructed by Kern County to protect Oildale.

Annexation to the City of Bakersfield was feared and fought against by the citizens of Oildale for years. The people of this city were determined to stay "Oildale" because Oildale is more than a community, it's a personality and way of life. They won the long fight and became an unincorporated suburb to Bakersfield. Oildale's mailing address was changed to 'Bakersfield' after the Oildale Post office was closed October 1, 1954.

About midnight, April 16, 1938, flickering red colors completely lighted the skies north of Bakersfield prompting hundreds of concerned citizens to telephone their friends and start driving north fearing the whole Kern River oilfield was afire. To everyone's amazement it was only a massive display of the Aurora Borealis, commonly called "Northern Lights." Never before had we seen the beautiful display of moving colors that normally are not seen this far south of the Arctic.

Although Oildale is today generally lumped into the group termed "North Of The River," which includes Rosedale, Fruitvale, Greenacres and others. But to its residents it is still the old city of Oildale bordering the greatest oilfield in the nation.

(C) By George Gilbert Lynch 12-10-06

Lopez House Historic Films Fundraiser Aug. 1

It will be Kern County on the big screen as “The House with Three Lives” and “Wild West Country: The Lure of Gold” premier for a one night only screening at the majestic Fox Theatre in Bakersfield beginning at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 1. Proceeds from the $10 per person, nonprofit fundraiser will be used for the ongoing preservation of the historic J.J. Lopez House at the Kern County Museum. Tickets can be purchased at http://vallitix.rdln.com or by calling (661) 322-5200.

Presented by the museum and Kern River Valley Historical Society, the event will even have a 19th Century feel outside with horses and “Wild West Country…” actors in period attire greeting visitors, along with members of the pioneer Lopez, Coppock, Hill, Rankin and Powers families.

“The House with Three Lives” is a 30-minute documentary detailing the history and preservation of the house built in downtown Bakersfield by Spanish immigrant and Tejon Ranch Manager J.J. Lopez in 1906. It became the home for Otis Coppock, who moved it to Rosedale Highway and Calloway Road in 1953, and later the Hill family that purchased it in the 1960s.

Inspired by the late Bob Powers’ books, “Wild West Country…” is a 90-minute docudrama about the county’s South Sierra region, featuring Joseph Walker’s discovery of the pass that bears his name in 1834 through the Kern River Gold Rush and the establishment of gold camp, Whiskey Flat — now known as Kernville.

The films were produced by veteran filmmaker Chuck Barbee, whose credits include work on the Peabody Award network series “Hot Dog” and Emmy Award winner “Night Court.”

For more information, please call Heather Fowler, Kern County Museum Foundation executive director, at (661) 852-5020.

Horned toad derby of 1935

Unusual contests became popular during the Great Depression, dance marathons, walkathons and 6 day bike racing to name a few. Bakersfield was no exception and promoted "The Horned Toad Derby." I don't know what became of all the horned toads that used to be plentiful around Bakersfield but back then I could catch one to put in my pocket most any morning while walking to Jefferson School. I haven't seen any, locally, for years.

The abundance of horned toads around town during the summer prompted The Veterans Of Foreign Wars to plan the big race at The Union Ave Plunge dance pavilion and award cash prizes and trophies. A dance featuring a popular band was to follow the big race as well as swimming in the massive plunge. The race headquarters was located at 1630 19th Street and for many weeks prior to the race, the event was the talk of the town due to heavy promotion by radio and newspapers.

Nearly a hundred merchants, countywide, including gas stations, food markets, cafes, department stores and every sort of business were sponsoring and training a spiney critter for which they chose a fitting name. For instance Pioneer Dry Cleaners trained "Spots", Steiners Feed and Seed touted "Hayseed", Safeway Stores was training "Airway", Green Frog Market sponsored "Bug Eyes"and Barnetts Tire Company featured "Goodyear". Secret training methods were claimed by most owners such as hanging a cricket on a tooth pick and taping it to the toad's head like a carrot dangled in front of a donkey or feeding their critter hot peppers to add more speed. Some trainers believed light weight was the secret of a fast racer so small toads were in abundance.

About a hundred horned toads of every size with racing numbers painted on their backs crowded the Union Avenue Plunge dance floor on the night of the big race, August 8, 1935. When they were all released , the mad scramble lasted only a few seconds as speedy "Nehi" of the Nehi Bottling Company zipped across the finish line first. After the big race, the losers were heard protesting Nehi was a "ringer" imported from Death Valley where the toads had to run fast or their feet would get scorched.

(C) by George Gilbert Lynch, Feb. 2003

Long Lost Friend

I need the help of the citizens of Bakersfield. In this day and age, it is so easy to loose track of friends from the past. My mother-in-law met a man from Bakersfield in 1969. He was working near Pecos, TX, possibly with a company that, at the time, used x-ray technology to look underground. He was a friend to her, but she is able to remember very few details about him. His name is Richard Hunter. I have seen one picture of him and he appeared to be over six feet tall. She spoke once about him being of Canadian-decent.

My mother-in-law is not aware that I am searching for Mr. Hunter. She is not looking for him, but does speak highly of him as a friend from her past. No one in our family wants anything from Mr. Hunter other than the possibility of a correspondence with an old friend. Any information that I could receive that would lead me to find Richard Hunter would be a blessing.

I can be reached at amy.valencia@att.net. Thank you, citizens of Bakersfield, for your precious time and your help!

Kern River Canyon, 1937-1940

My dad worked in the oil fields north of Bakersfield at the Italo lease. At certain times of the year he was given time off to rest up, usually a week or so. He liked to go up to Hobo Hot Springs to enjoy the sulfur water hot tubs and be near the river. My brother and I usually went with him. I remember the campsite as very quiet and peaceful. There were some hot tubs inside rooms and there were other hot tubs outside and situated almost in the river. Dad would spread a tarp in the low hanging branches of the oak trees and that would be shelter for sleeping outside at night and shade during the heat of the day. He cooked our meals on a grill over a circle of stones containing burning coals. It was wonderful.

Getting up to the springs was always a problem for us kids. We were very prone to car sickness and the road up to the hot springs from Bakersfield was guaranteed to get anyone in the back seat sicker than sick. We would have to make at least three stops along the way to get out of the car and deposit our little mess on the side of the road.

One weekend, my aunt was taking us up to the springs. We stopped at a little roadside cafe and store, probably near Isabel or Bodfish. She thought maybe a bottle of 7-UP would help with the car sickness problem. As we continued along our way to the springs, I noticed that the 7-UP didn't taste right. I had had several sips of the drink before I looked closely at the bottle. Inside, something was floating in the drink. We stopped, emptied the bottle outside the car and with the liquid contents, out came a large glob of blue-green paint. I don't remember ever being so sick as I was for the rest of the day. No, we didn't sue, the bottle was already open and the contents were gone.

Often, while at the springs, we would visit Kernville and watch the folks from Hollywood make movies. I remember seeing a very young John Wayne making movies there. We saw William Boyd, (Hopalong Cassidy), Leo Carillo, Russell Hayden and Gabby Hayes making oater movies out among the big boulders near Kernville. They would always be in Bakersfield during 'Frontier Days' to do the parade and perform in the Rodeo out at the fairgrounds just north of the Circle later in the day. I'll always remember the white stallion and the Mexican silver clad saddle Leo Carillo had. There was so much silver all over that horse and him that it was almost blinding watching them ride by on their way down Chester Ave from the Circle down to the Clock Tower. We lived only a couple of blocks from where the parade started and were always in perfect position to watch the parade.

I hear most of that area up around Kernville is all changed from what it was when we were kids and that Hobo Hot Springs is now known by another name. I suppose that's for the better but I sure wish I could see it all again as it was back then. We had such good times then and now, I have such good memories of those days.

1877 drought teaches us to conserve

The drought predicted this year is caused by three years of below average snowfall in the Sierras and scant rainfall the last couple of years. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared a statewide drought emergency.
The most disastrous drought in California history occurred during the years of 1877-78. The Kern River dried up completely, but Bakersfield’s ground water supply furnished us with domestic water pumped by windmill or mule power. Most field crops relied on canal water from the river and were lost.
After only three years as county seat of Kern County, Bakersfield was just beginning to bloom. Three years after the Southern Pacific Railroad connected us with the rest of the United States, this drought must have been realized as a great setback for our community as well as the whole state.
With the new railroad connection, our bountiful produce could at last be shipped to national markets economically. Before the railroad, the cost of shipping to market by horse-drawn wagon was prohibitive.
During that era, Kern County’s major industry was livestock raising and the natural wild grasses were the lifeblood of this vast enterprise. Miller and Lux, Cox and Clark, Tracy and Canfield and the Crocker brothers all owned vast herds of cattle that relied on the natural grasses as feed and the river supplied their water.
There was hardly any rain in 1876 and none at all in 1877. No one had ever seen the Kern River completely dry until that year. Kern River Canyon was only a sun baked ditch filled with hot granite boulders. Buena Vista Lake and its sloughs were dry. The cattlemen banded together and dug deep wells about four miles apart in the Buena Vista Slough area and installed water pumps powered by mules to provide livestock water.
The only feed for the stock was dry tules and that diet was only slow starvation. Ranchers had not, at this early period, began raising alfalfa or other fodder for their livestock, relying so far on wild forage.
Cattle owners had their cowboys ride up and down Buena Vista Slough, (the slough ran from Buena Vista Lake north to Tulare Lake), pulling stranded cattle from the mud holes if they became bogged down in search of water.
Some of these mud bogs were so strong in alkalis that when the cattle were pulled out the hide would strip from their legs. Livestock of all kinds died by the thousands from starvation and lack of water.
Many smaller ranchers went bankrupt when their sheep or cattle died, but others drove their sheep to the Sierra Mountains in search of feed where most died anyway. Others drove their sheep east to Idaho where they sold them. It took many years to rebuild these livestock herds after millions perished throughout California.
With the river bone dry, the county council agreed that the long overdue Jewett Lane bridge would be built. In 1877 the first bridge spanning the Kern River was constructed at the north end of Jewett Lane connecting the future Oildale with Bakersfield.
This tragic drought led to future benefits for our county as ranchers learned they must not rely on natural grasses for their livestock, and the large scale raising of alfalfa and other stock feed began in Kern County.
The importance of water storage was also realized and the combined efforts of Miller and Lux and Kern Land Company transformed Buena Vista Lake into a 36-square mile reservoir, at that time the largest irrigation reservoir in the United States.
The drought predicted for this year won’t have the impact of that experienced back in 1877 because of years of planning to ensure us a reliable water supply.
However as Bakersfield’s population increases, drought conditions have to be recognized as a time everyone must help in conserving water. Only then will we have an ample supply for our everyday needs.

About the author: George Gilbert Lynch is retired and lives in Oildale.

Historic aircraft photos

These photos of the Collings Foundation's historic WWII aircraft were taken by Ron Close. at the Santa Rosa airport recently. The aircraft are on their annual tour of the U.S. The four engined Consolidated B-24 "Liberator" is the only one of it's type flying today. The others are a Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress" and North American B-25 "Mitchell" medium bomber. The silver fighter is the famous North American P-51 "Mustang."

Buck Owens Studio: A final walk through history

The Day the Locks were changed at the Buck Owens Studio - Bakersfield, Ca.

Trout's spokesperson, T. Rockwell, spent several hours with Board of Trade Director, Rick Davis, as a small group followed them through the Buck Owens Studios for the very last time before the dismantling began and locks were changed. Every room, every piece of equipment, every public notice hanging on a wall, every light switch, doorway, and even the decor was documented extensively in the interest of preserving the history of what once was the source of countless eyebrow raising stories and also the springboard for many careers.

The significance of this farewell to the cornerstone of what would become known as the "Bakersfield Sound" is far reaching; all genre's of local musicians have been saddened by the loss of this valuable resource, and networking hub, of the Bakersfield Music Community. An excellent source of background information on the last days of the Buck Owens Studio, and final thoughts of the community, is very well presented in this documentary produced by N.L. Belardes www.youtube.com/watch or www.turnto23.com/news/16166966/detail.html . The documentary focuses on the local band, IRON OUTLAW, whose latest album, due to be released this summer, was the last project to be recorded at the studio. Also featured are local legend RED SIMPSON, who has performed every Monday night at 7pm at Trout's Nightclub, 805 N Chester Avenue for over 13 years. (661-399-6700 for details). The 30 minute presentation is heavy with both sentiment and optimism - very much worth watching!

It will be very interesting to see just what becomes of the location site, not to mention whether or not anyone else may step forward to fill the gap of providing the much needed resources and comraderie that this studio's demise leaves behind.

Bakersfield's “Hooverville” On The Kern River

By GEORGE GILBERT LYNCH
Contributing writer
In these times of our booming economy it’s difficult for today’s generation to envision so many destitute families living on the outskirts of Bakersfield, but more than 5000 immigrant families in Kern County strived to exist during the 30s.
From 42nd Street north to the Levee Canal, existed a virtual city of cardboard shacks, tents and patchwork shantys known locally as “Hooverville” or “Kern River Jungles.” The area is now occupied by the Royal Palms Mobil Home Village.
This camp was the one depicted in the movie “Grapes Of Wrath” in which the Joad family camped and heard the rumor that the place was going to be burned out that night. It wasn’t burned out and increased in size as more and more Dustbowl and drought-stricken families migrated into the Valley from the mid-west.
In fact, for a few dollars, one of these makeshift dwellings would be sold to another family after the occupant moved to another job location, the ones under a shade tree went for a premium price.
“Squatters Camps,” as these were called, were scattered all over the San Joaquin Valley. The camp sites were called squatters because the land didn’t belong to the migrants who lived there, it was just a convenient place to pitch their tent until the owner told them to leave. These people were drawn here in search of a better life and had to live somewhere as they awaited a job or for the crops to mature for harvesting. Newspapers called Bakersfields largest camp “42nd Street Squatters Camp.”
This camp began as R. C. Bateman’s Tourist Camp and store on north Chester Avenue but after the camp property filled the squatters kept building north and east until the area was filled.
Headquarters was Bateman’s grocery store where most of the inhabitants bought necessities and shared current events and job leads. In December 1935 a total of more than 400 people lived in this camp in more than 105 dwellings of all descriptions.
In the state of California, more than 100,000 families were on federal relief programs in 1934. Forty percent of these were located in Kern County. Over one million migratory workers were seeking work in California and only 87,000 jobs were available.
The Hollywood newsreel cameras were making the rounds of our local squatters camps through the mid 30s as well as Dorthea Lange, a noted photographer taking pictures for the WPA arts program. These films are testimony to the hardships jobless families suffered through during those tragic years.
As the Federal Government became deeply involved in assisting jobless families, food distribution warehouses were opened in Bakersfield at which food could be obtained in parcels to last a family of four for two weeks.
This food provision, workers camps and the many other “make work” programs instituted by the government removed a heavy financial burden from our county’s dwindling treasury.
On July 18, 1937, Dr. Joe Smith of the Kern County Public Health Department, sent his director of sanitation, Clifford F. Baughman, to the 42nd Street camp to access the health conditions and report upon the sanitary facilities.
Baughman reported the following: No electricity, running water or sewer systems; 87 structures fashioned from cardboard, scrap tin and lumber, 12 trailer houses and five tents, water derived from 5 bucket accessed wells, 28 feet deep, four contained good water one bad, 29 outdoor toilets, 11 maintained by the County were good, the other 18 all bad.
After this report was made known the public demanded the camp be condemned and destroyed. Residents of this squatters camp were allowed time to find temporary residences in settlements with approved sanitary facilities such as the Arvin, Shafter and Visalia Federal Camps as spaces became available in 1935 and 36.
Another large camp was located at Brundage Lane and Cottonwood Road. It was called “Little Oklahoma”because the majority of the occupants were from Oklahoma. This wasn’t a squatters camp like most others, these settlers bought the 50 by 150 foot lots for $150.00 each on the monthly payment plan.
The property was very low priced because the whole area was situated between three very smelly industries. The Bakersfield Slaughter House and stockyards were on the west side, Bakersfield Tallow Rendering Works were on the north side and the county sewer farm was on the easterly portion.
Little Okie, as it was called, was made up of converted boxcar homes, trailer houses, adobe homes and hundreds of tent houses. These families were mostly immigrants from the Dustbowl who had found permanent jobs in Bakersfield.
On September 28, 1931, The Bakersfield Slaughter House, near “Little Oklahoma” caught fire during the night and before firemen could extinguish the flames, the entire structure collapsed and became a great barbecue pit. The next day was a banquet for hundreds of families when the owners, Cassady and Beggs, permitted everyone access to tons of rare, medium and crispy meat.
More than 100 dressed beeves, 110 hogs, 50 lambs and 40 dressed veal were roasted in the conflagration.
Local ranches such as DiGiorgio farms furnished housing for more than 2,300 of their workers.
Frick ranch and many others furnished ample housing for their workers also but the tidal wave of Dustbowl families overwhelmed this on-farm housing which forced the thousands of others to take up residence at tourist camps, on ditch banks, along highways or behind sign boards to avoid the wind and give some privacy from the public view. Thousands of others were not in public view, they lived with relatives who were permanent residents of the community. Many local farmers built dozens of additional houses for the workers but the influx of laborer’s was overwhelming.
A large percentage of the Dustbowl migrants had friends or relatives residing here and that was their reason for coming to the San Joaquin Valley in search of a better life for their families.
My father was the pathfinder for the balance of our relatives when he drove his model T Ford, alone, from Texas to Bakersfield in 1923. He was confident of finding a better life than the one he was living in East Texas.
Upon finding the abundant agricultural and oilfield job opportunities that then existed here, he returned to Texas, married my mother, drove back here and started their new life as tenant farmers on the Dow Ranch near Rosedale. His letters to kin and friends eventually brought most of them here to Kern County when the 1929 depression began.
As the Great Depression deepened in the early 30s, Kern County found it necessary to establish a transient camp at the old fairgrounds on north Chester Avenue. The influx of transients at that time were men from all over America who rode the rails into Bakersfield in their search for jobs.
Hundreds roamed the streets of the city begging for work, for food or a place to sleep that night. Bakersfield was the most benevolent city in the country back then and the camp it built at the fairgrounds included a big mess hall to feed the 600 residents and indoor sleeping areas and beds furnished to any who registered and would work a few hours each day in exchange for their temporary room and board.
The work arranged for the men was clearing brush and trees from the miles of Kern River bed for flood control. Individuals, clubs and companies donated the food, bedding, furnishings and things such as radios, phonographs and records.
A weekly movie and other entertainment such as local musical groups were furnished by citizens to make life a little better as the transients searched for a job. This camp was taken over by the Federal Works Progress Administration (WPA) in December, 1935, and phased out as migratory camps were being constructed away from highly populated areas.
The people of Bakersfield opened their hearts and pocket books to these destitute migrant families by donating food, clothing, jobs and shelter. Local businesses promoted food drives such as the movie theaters making the admission price any can of food and donating it for distribution to needy families.
Many clubs, such as the Elks, put on free Christmas banquets where donated presents by the thousands were given to the migrant families’ children, in many instances, the only Christmas presents these less fortunate kids received.
Kern County also purchased property near Weedpatch to build a transient camp and in 1934 began establishing a camp with sanitary facilities and prepared spaces for homeless families to pitch their tents and temporarily reside until they could find permanent jobs and homes.
In December, 1935, the Federal Government Relocation Administration bought this Weedpatch camp from Kern County as an experiment and began expanding it in size and function. Weedpatch and Marysville Federal Camps were the beginning of dozens of these settlements built in California by the WPA.
These camps served only as temporary homes until jobs, agricultural or industrial, became available to the tenants and they did help displaced families in those hard depression times.
For ten cents a day a family received a tent space, sanitary facilities, electricity, a garden plot and daily news of local jobs available. Later as more permanent housing was constructed in these camps, many lived in wooden, steel and adobe houses as well as tents.
As a young boy, I remember visiting our relatives living at the Weedpatch Camp. The people living there were so nice and friendly to us and we always had a grand time in their swimming hole near the Camp.
It was a massive, concrete irrigation stand pipe that resembled a giant jaccuzzi tub as the water rushed through. We kids also loved running and roller skating on the wooden outdoor dance pavilion because the drumming noise was music to a kids ear. Everyone raised so many vegetables in their garden plots, we always came home with boxes full of their excess.
After WWII began these government funded communities and the “make work” programs were gradually eliminated. War time jobs became plentiful and nothing remained of the Great Depression and the Dustbowl migration except our memories.