VOICES FROM THE PAST
Need a Speaker???
JANUARY 2007
The MBHS has enjoyed speaking before many service groups throughout the Morongo Basin. Our speakers in Old West costume use audience participation to enhance the presentation with GREAT results!! History is exciting and COMES ALIVE when our members arrive to address your group! We have made presentations to school children, service groups, employee groups and many more. If your group would like to learn a little history, please contact us at 760-365-1877 or MBHistSociety@msn.com and we will make every attempt to accommodate your group.
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NEWSLETTER ADVERTISEMENTS
FEBRUARY 2007
As you may or may not know, our newsletter is supported through advertising sponsorships. Our newsletter is mailed to our membership four (4) times a year and is packed with great information!! We request that ads be purchased for four issues (a 1 year commitment) at $35 per issue or $140 a year. Each ad reaches our entire membership and allows us to continue publishing the newsletter without depleting our treasury. If you would like to support our newsletter, please contact us at MBHistSociety@msn.com or call Sallie @ (760) 364-4446
CLICK TO:
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Dr. VERNETTE LANDERS
BEQUEATH
JUNE 2005 / Updated April 2007
Dr. Vernette Trosper Landers, MBHS Charter Member and long-time resident and pioneer of Landers, recently passed away. Vernette thought very highly of your historical society and will always be remembered as a true friend and supporter of our efforts to preserve the history of the Morongo Basin. She will truly be missed!!
At the reading of Vernette's will, we were advised that she left her Lander's property, house and all it's contents to our Morongo Basin Historical Society. The will has been submitted to the Superior Court in Joshua Tree for probate. Probate could last as long as a year or more. We will keep you advised as the case moves through the system.
UPDATE - April 3, 2007 - The estate has reverted to MBHS ownership!!!
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CONDOR FIELD
29 Palms
Sunday, October 9, 2005
Updated 1-26-06
The Billy Holcomb Chapter of E Clampus Vitus (ECV), in cooperation with the 29 Palms Historical Society and the Morongo Basin Historical Society had been planning to erect a historical monument on October 9th at the Combat Center entrance to recognize and honor Condor Field used by the Army Air Corps - 29 Palms Air Academy from January 1942 thru April 1944 to train glider pilots. The 1,600 glider pilots trained here were instrumental in the liberation of Europe, Sicily, New Guinea, the Philippines and the China-Burma-India Theatre of operations delivering men and equipment behind the lines. Condor Field was a vital element in the overall victory in World War II. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it, the foundry failed to cast and ship the plaque to ECV. **THE PLAQUE/MONUMENT HAS BEEN ERECTED!!! ** The Clampers conducted a 4X4 Vituscan Ice Trek into the Old Dale Mining District in 29 Palms the weekend of January 20th-22nd. This was a great opportunity to erect the monument. Stop by and take a look!!
Combat Center Command Sgt Major James Ricker attended the a public dedication at the site location and indicated the USMC will be building a 5 acre park in conjunction with a mural and would like the ECV Condor Field plaque to be part of the park The new Noble Grand Humbug of Billy Holcomb Chapter has indicated he is looking forward to working with the USMC on this project!!
About 120 people were in attendance for the public dedication on Sunday at 10:30 AM. As usual, Clampers themselves showed up in large numbers from throughout the Southwest. About 400 Clampers camped out for the weekend at the Miller Fairgrounds in 29 Palms. WOW!! Pictures to follow - Check back.
It has also come to our attention that the original Tetrahedron, or wind indicator, from Condor Field used in 1942 - 1944 is now at the 29 Palms Airport on Highway 62 east of 29 Palms. It was given to the County Airport in 1983 by the Marine Corps Base in quite a dilapidated condition - just a pile of tubing, rods, and cables and the base pedestal. It laid out in the middle of the airport field for several years until Charlie Lesis and Billy Bouldin decided to restore it and mount it on the airport as the primary wind indicator. It is lighted for night operation with new technology rope lighting instead of the original array of light bulbs. It is so well designed and balanced that it is a better wind indicator (more sensitive) than the typical wind sock used at airports. It was originally covered with a cloth material which was painted and had to be replaced every couple of years. It is now covered with a new long lasting shade material.
Click on photos to enlarge.
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BUILDING & MUSEUM FUND
JANUARY 2007
We are off to a great start! Through several donations, we now have OVER $10,900 in our building fund. This fund will be used towards a MBHS owned future office/headquarters and museum to house/display our growing historical artifact inventory. Long term, need our own "home" to preserve, store and display these historic items. ANY amount that you can donate toward our future museum and office is MOST appreciated. No amount is too small!! If you can donate any amount, please indicate on your donation check "For Building Fund".
MBHS GIFT SHOP
COME VISIT US!!!
JANUARY 2007
In March 2006, we opened a new GIFT SHOP inside the Old Town Mercantile Company in Yucca Valley on the S/E corner of Fox Trail and (55727) Highway 62. We have exciting new items for sale not found anywhere else in the Morongo Basin. We feature items such as books on the local area, historic DVDs, fascinating gift items for all occasions and souvenirs as well as features that promote significant historical events. The Mercantile Company is part of the historic Old Town of Yucca Valley where it is just plain fun to shop!!
FEATURED ITEMS IN OUR STORE:
Beginning January 22nd, we will feature the historic Willie Boy story. For those of you who do not know about Willie Boy (1881-1909), he was a 28 year old Chemehuevi Indian who fell in love with the love of his life, Carlotta. On September 26, 1909, Willie Boy and Carlotta became the subject of a manhunt by a San Bernardino County Sheriff Posse (actually, several of them) into and thru the Morongo Basin after Willie Boy killed Carlotta's father in Banning. The manhunt and story ended with Willie Boy's death on Ruby Mountain. Or did it??? It has been billed as the "West's Last Famous Manhunt". In 1969, "Tell Them Willie Boy is Here" came to the Big Screen starring Robert Blake, Robert Redford and Katherine Ross and told the epic story of Willie Boy.
HOURS OF OPERATION
DAILY, from 10 AM to 5 PM
You can contact the Gift Shop at (760) 228-0700.
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CATTLEMEN
OF THE MORONGO BASIN
Sunday, March 4th
Join the Morongo Basin Historical Society and the Hi-Desert Museum in a joint Community FUNDRAISER with the presentation of "THE CATTLEMEN OF THE MORONGO BASIN" (Flyer)
A great time was had by all!!
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CLOSE ENCOUNTERS AT THE INTEGRATRON
Sunday, March 19, 2006
More than 60 people were in attendance at the Integratron on Sunday. This was a great event to kick off our program schedule for 2006!! We traveled back in time as we listened to video reenactments of George Van Tassel (Lloyd Noel) telling us about the founding of his UFO conventions in the 1950's at Giant Rock and the building of the Integratron. Additionally, we heard from the owners of the Integratron, Joanne & Nancy Karl. Their stories are always interesting to hear. Finally, everyone was treated to a great Sound Bath upstairs in the dome. Special guests included members of the Warren family of Warren's Well fame in Yucca Valley and Morgan Reche visiting from Idaho. George Van Tassel bought the property the Integratron sits on from the Reche family. Click for PHOTOS and Hi-Desert Star Article.
Videos of the reenactment may be purchased at the MBHS Gift Shop located in the Old Town Mercantile Company, 55727 Hwy 62 in Yucca Valley.
SPEAKING OF THE HISTORIC INTEGRATRON, we also participated in the RETRO UFO SPACE CONVENTION on Saturday, April 29th, 2006. . It was definitely a FUN event taking us back to 1950's, 60's & 70's. Barbara & Rob Harris did a great job organizing and folks from all over the country were in attendance. Lots of knowledgeable people on UFO's and alien contacts were in attendance and shared their experiences.
LOOKS LIKE WE ARE GOING TO DO IT AGAIN IN 2007!!
This year's convention will be April 22/23rd. Check back for more information.
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AMBOY & ROY'S CAFE HISTORIC PLAQUE ON OLD ROUTE 66
On March 19th, the Billy Holcomb Chapter 1069 of the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus placed a historic plaque at the entrance to Roy's Cafe in Amboy. This plaque commemorates those road wary travelers in the early years of old Route 66 thru the Mojave Desert. These were the days prior to Interstate 40 bypassing the community in 1973. If you are traveling thru this area, please stop by and take a look at this plaque on the wall at Roy's Cafe and the historic community it remembers. However, don't plan on eating at the cafe. It remains closed for the foreseeable future.
Click on image to see plaque:
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HISTORICAL TOUR & LUNCH
ROUGHLEY MANOR - 29 PALMS
Sunday, November 13, 2005
Roughley Manor was formerly the Campbell Ranch when built in the 1920's. We will arrive at noon for a walk around the ground, with lunch served at 1 P.M. Jan Peters will relate the fascinating history of the Campbell Ranch immediately following lunch. Lunch will include Jan's famous Homemade Banana Cream Pie!! $20 per person. Please contact Laurie @ (760) 363-6681 or MBHistSociety@msn.com
IF YOU WEREN'T THERE, YOU MISSED A GREAT TIME!!!
MBHS ANNUAL MEETING 2007
Sunday,
June 3, 2007
1 to 3 PM
Your MBHS Board of Directors and Program Chairs have decided to change the date and venue for our Annual Meeting. We will now all meet on Sunday, June 3rd at our new "home" (our long term plans of a MBHS Research Center & Museum remain intact) in Landers. This "home" and acreage at 632 N. Landers Lane in Landers was bequeathed to the MBHS by Dr Vernette Landers and is now officially ours. It is located about a 1/4 mile directly south of the current Landers Post Office on Reche Road.
This event will provide a chance for our members to visit the property left to us by our generous benefactor. We hope that you will give us ideas to help us decide how best to utilize this amazing gift!!
We will have a catered lunch at 1 PM, followed by a tour of our new home and property plus a Silent Auction - including several items from Mrs. Lander's Estate. A short business meeting with election of new officers will follow at 2:30 PM.
The original Landers Post Office, which is now ours and on our new property, will be open for tours.
Please call Laurie at (760) 363-6681 for a reservation or e-mail at pg85pp94@yahoo.com. COST is $20 per person. DEADLINE for lunch reservation is Friday, May 25th.
This meeting is for MBHS members and guests only.
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MBHS MEMBERSHIP
May 2007
Our Membership Committee Chairperson, Bernice Falltrick, has reported our membership as follows: 75 Individuals, 49 Family, 11 Business and 62 Life Members for a total of 197 members.
We would like to WELCOME the following NEW MEMBERS to the MBHS:
1. Marty and Mary Brhel, Jr, Yucca Valley
2. Ernest and Betty Brown, Yucca Valley
3. Virginia Lilly, Yucca Valley
4. Betty Stirratt, Yucca Valley
5. Al & Marion Gartner, 29 Palms
6. William McCauley, Landers
7. Larry Turner, Yucaipa
8 Anna Hilburn (upgraded to Life Membership)
9. Emily Sweet, Landers
10. Jack Lewis, Landers
11. Stan Waite, Hesperia
The MBHS is very active in the Morongo Basin and is always looking for new members. Why not treat yourself to a membership in the Morongo Basin Historical Society? We think it is the best bargain in the Morongo Basin!!
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MBHS ANNUAL MEETING
Sunday, June 4, 2006
Another Great Event for the Morongo Basin Historical society!! It was a full house at the Red Dog Saloon in Pioneertown at 1 PM and we all had a great BBQ luncheon, complete with Cowboy Fashion Show and a Silent Auction!! A taste of the Old West was in the air!! Our thanks go out to the Pioneertown Posse for their participation in this event. Their knowledge of Old West attire is impressive!! For those of you interested in the serious stuff, the business meeting started at about 3 PM. and our new officers were installed by Mayor Paul Cook of Yucca Valley and currently running for the 65th Assembly District. Paul was the first President of the MBHS back in 1999 and did an outstanding job of installing the officers. New officers are Bob Connors/President, Lloyd Noel/Vice President, Carol Post/Recording Secretary, Marilee Hirst/Corresponding Secretary and Tom Granger/Treasurer. They will assume their new offices (well, some of em are new anyway) effective July 1. Despite the serious stuff, this was another great MBHS event!! BUT, there will be more to come. If you miss an MBHS event, you just might miss the event of the year for the Morongo Basin!!
To see some GREAT!! pictures of the event, click HERE
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TEMPORARY OFFICE CLOSURE
Effective Tuesday, April 25th, 2006
The MBHS Board of Directors, at the monthly meeting in March 2006, made a slight course alteration decision regarding our MBHS office on Church Street in Yucca Valley. Our wonderful membership made significant monetary contributions and pledges to allow us to maintain the office. WE THANK YOU!!! However, our rented office underwent an ownership change and it is felt that, in the best interests of all concerned including the MBHS, we should temporarily close our office until a more suitable and affordable location can be found. Business and all other functions will continue uninterrupted. Appointments may still be made for research or obtaining information by calling our phone number, 760-365-1877 and/or contacting us via E-mail at MBHistSociety@msn.com.
Our office on Church Street has been closed effective April 25, 2006.
Ultimately, however, our primary goal of a new MBHS owned Research Center and Museum remains in place.
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GRUBSTAKE BADGES
Grubstake Days celebration over Memorial Day weekend in Yucca Valley, every year since the 1940's, has produced a Grubstake Badge unique to that particular year.
The MBHS has accumulated a collection of these badges for display purposes. Our collection is almost complete except for the years 1950 through 1955 & 1965.
If you have any of these year badges and are willing to donate it / them to the MBHS, please contact us at (760) 365-1877 or MBHistSociety@msn.com
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PIONEER PASS GOLF CHALLENGE
September 23 - 25, 2005
Updated 1-26-06
The PPGC was originally started in 1959, as an attempt to get a road through from Big Bear to Yucca Valley. Originators Norm Granger and Jerry Moore rallied the Morongo Basin communities together, met on the mountain with shovels and other equipment in hand to fashion the proposed road. The Marine Corps joined them with heavy equipment to lend a hand in training sessions. The Golf Challenge came as a promotional idea to draw attention to the road concept. Today, the road is still just dirt, but the Pioneer Pass Golf Challenge lives on with nine holes played down the 22 mile mountain road and another regulation 18 holes played at the Desert Wind golf course aboard the 29 Palm Marine Base. The event was sponsored by the Yucca Valley Rotary Club and the Morongo Basin Historical Society with LOTS of help from other sponsors. The 2005 PPGC was covered September 28th edition of the Hi-Desert Star.
