The Havilah Herald

Official Publication of the Havilah Centennial Group, Inc.

aka The Havilah Historical Society and Museum

Havilah California – October 2024

 

A recognized 501 C 3 Historical Organization (all donations are 100% tax-

deductible)  Dedicated to the preservation of the history of Havilah,

the first County Seat of Kern County, CA

 

Our Purpose:

The purpose of this corporation is educational.  The organization has been formed and is maintained to research, document, preserve, and share the historic legacy of the town of Havilah, California, and of Kern County, California.  Included in this purpose is the objective to provide for the advancement of education about the history of Havilah and early Kern County to the local community at large and to any and all visitors to the community.

For October 2024 

The Prez Says

Great news!  The Phase II debris clean-up of the courthouse site has been approved.  On September 19 we attended the Phase II kick-off meeting at the Senior Center, and completed the application and Right-Of-Entry.  Clean-up will begin after October 2 when all of the applications have been submitted.  Not sure when our removal will begin, but we will be contacted in advance.

OES is the lead Agency for the phase II operation, and they and/or a contractor will contact me when they plan to complete our property.  I will be in Arizona Oct 2-8 so if I get call while I’m gone I may have to get someone else to meet them on site.   I will keep folks informed the best I can.

Just in…Jayne and Al did a power point presentation to KCHS (Kern County Historical Society) members who in turn donated $883.00; plus, they are sending an additional $500.00 from the KCHS itself.  Well done, Jayne and Al!

Roy Fluhart, President.

 

A “DIFFERENT TYPE” OF CALIFORNIA HISTORY

(From “Little Known Tales in California History,” by Alton Pryor;

 from the “Weird California” Internet Site, and my own sick brain!)–

                                                                                                                         by Al Price N6ALP

  1. 1943 TO 1950 – if you were travelling Hwy 58 through the Mojave Desert and you saw the Muroc Maru — What were you looking at?   ANS:  A 650 foot long, chicken-wire, and 4 x 4 replica of an Imperial Japanese Navy Takao Class cruiser, complete with a Rising Sun flag on its mast, surfing the sand.  This was a bombing target during WWII.
  2. How did the town of Muroc get its name? ANS:  A family by the name of Corum moved to this area of the Mojave Desert in 1910 (near where Edwards AF Base is now).  They petitioned the Post Office to name the town Corum, but there was already a Corum, California.  The petition was denied, so they turned it around and spelled their name backwards, that one was accepted, and by 1933 there were all of 44 people living in Muroc!
  3. In 1955 he made a Public Service announcement/commercial for the National Highway Safety Commission, where he said: “Take it easy driving.  The life you save may be mine.”  Two weeks later, this same fellow was driving his new Porsche, named the “Little Bastard” down Hwy 46, and was killed in a crash at the intersection of Hwy’s 46 & 41, Sept. 30, 1955. Who was he?    ANS:  Actor, James Dean.
  4. How did Buttonwillow get its name? ANS:  A lone “buttonbush” or Buttonwillow tree (now California Landmark, #492) was used for years as a meeting place for the local Yokut’s.  In the mid to late 1800’s this served as a kind of Post Office for local cowboys.  They would hang cans containing messages for other cowboys/travelers on the tree.
  5. He is said to have camped with his crew on San Miguel Island in 1542, was severely injured in an Indian raid while on the island, died and was buried in a lead casket, dressed in a suit of armor, and buried with his jeweled sword. (He was also rumored to have been buried on Santa Cruz Island, and in the mainland now somewhere near the town of Goleta).  Who was he? ANS:  Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo.
  6. The shelling of this town in California, by a Japanese submarine, on Feb. 23, 1942 was a major factor in President Franklin D. Roosevelt authorizing the establishment of the WWII Internment Camps. Ten centers/camps were set up in seven states, two of them in California.  In what California town did this shelling take place?  ANS: Goleta.
  7. Where was the State of Jefferson? ANS:  In October of 1941, counties in the southern part of Oregon and the Northern part of California were appalled at the conditions of their roads.  The counties in those areas decided to secede from their respective states and form a new state.  A $2.00 prize (yes, only two dollars) was offered for someone to come up with a new name for this new state, and the name
  8. Jefferson, (after Thomas Jefferson) was chosen. The new state had no property tax, no sales tax, no liquor tax, and no income tax.  The state would be funded primarily from their red light districts and their gambling halls.  Strikes were outlawed, and so were slot machines because they took unfair advantage as compared to the stud poker industry.  It ultimately failed because it needed the approval of the U.S. Congress, and of both the States of California and Oregon.
  9. The ghosts of Alfred Harrell, a security guard, and a newspaper editor, are said to walk the halls of what building in downtown Bakersfield? (Hint: It is located near 17th and Eye Streets).  ANS:  The Bakersfield Californian Newspaper Building.
  10. Who is buried in Grant’s tomb, and who else is buried in this tomb? ANS:  Ulysses S. Grant and his wife Julia Dent Grant.
  11. 1939-1959 there was a Western movie set in the hills of Simi Valley where serials such as Fort Apache, the Lone Ranger, the Cisco Kid, and Have Gun-Will Travel were filmed. It was also open to the public (for a fee of course).  What was the name of this site?  ANS:  
  12. At one old restaurant chain in California (8 restaurants in the L.A. area), when parents went up to the register to pay, kids were invited to dig their hands into a “Treasure Chest” and get themselves a toy. What Restaurant was this?  ANS: Clifton’s Cafeteria.
  13. Down along the coast in Long Beach there used to be an amusement park that had a huge wooden roller coaster that extended out over the ocean. What was the name of this amusement park?  ANS:   
  14. C.I. (University of California Irvine) is built upon land that once was a? ANS:  Buffalo Ranch and Indian Village tourist attraction.

Here are some “Bonus Questions:”

  1. Why are there Braille dots on the keypads of drive-up ATM’s?
  2. Why do we sing, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” when we’re already there?
  3. Why does “Slow down” and “Slow up” mean the same thing?
  4. If he is a “disgruntled employee,” what is a “gruntled” employee?
  5. Why is Mickey Mouse bigger than his dog Pluto?
  6. If Olive Oil is made out of olives, what is baby oil made from?
  7. Why is there an expiration date on Sour Cream?

*                 *                 *                    *                *                 *                 *       

                                      COWBOY WISDOM            From Doc Lange, local retired vet

Don’t name a pig you plan to eat.

County fences need to be horse high, pig tight, and bull strong.

Life is not about how fast you run, or how high you climb, but how well you bounce.

Keep skunks, lawyers and bankers at a distance.

Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.

A bumble bee is faster than a John Deere tractor.

Words that soak into your ears are whispered, not yelled.

Meanness don’t happen overnight.

Forgive your enemies.  It messes with their heads.

Don’t sell your mule to buy a plow.

Don’t corner somethin’ meaner than you.

It don’t take a very big person to carry a grudge.

You can’t unsay a cruel thing.

Every path has some puddles.

When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.

The best sermons are lived, not preached.

Most of the stuff people worry about never happens.

Don’t squat with your spurs on.

Don’t judge people by their relatives.

Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

Live a good, honorable life.  Then when you get older and think back, you’ll enjoy it a second time.

(to be concluded next month)

 

 

 

President-                                              Roy Fluhart

Vice President –                                   Larry Grafius

Secretary –                                            Vicki Porter

Treasurer –                                            Jayne-Hotchkiss-Price

Directors:                                              Bob Porter

Wes Kutzner

Immediate Past President –                  Jayne Hotchkiss-Price

Newsletter Editor –                              Janet Kutzner

 

Website:  www.havilahmuseum.org

 

Annual membership is $25.00 per individual or family when monthly newsletter is emailed.  If newsletter is snail-mailed the membership fee is $35.00.  The membership year is from January 1 to December 31.  The Courthouse Museum and Schoolhouse are open from April 1 through Sep. 30 on weekends from 11 am until 3 pm, and by appointment.  They are located at 6789 Caliente-Bodfish Road, Havilah, CA 93518.  Admission to the museum is FREE, but donations are cheerfully accepted (and 100% tax-deductible!).  The monthly general meeting is at 3 pm the second Saturday of each month at the Havilah Schoolhouse.