Where We’ve Been. . . Where We’re Going! PRESIDENT’S CORNER by Michael O’Keefe abot‘s Museum Foundation has achieved much during the past two years. We have become famous for our Annual BBQ Bash. However, there are some other things we have done, including: opened Cabot‘s Trading Post & Gallery opened the L.W. Coffee Gallery opened the Desert Hot Springs Visitors‘ Center opened Portia‘s Quarters started publication and distribution of our own professional-quality newsletter
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discovered, inventoried, and protected priceless artifacts discovered much previously forgotten history of the Coachella Valley, local and national Native Americans, and various other peoples and places touched by Cabot Yerxa. applied to the National Registry for recognition as a historical monument preserved and protected Cabot‘s original art rededicated Peter Toth‘s 30-yearold totem Waokiye rededicated Cabot‘s Kachinas as the city‘s first Art in Public Places project worked with DHS High School and
Groundwater Guardians for Eagle‘s Nest Bench (to be unveiled in November 2009) worked with City of DHS and PSUSD to name Cabot Yerxa Elementary School (opening fall 2009)
In addition, we developed working relationships with: Agua Caliente Tribe Agua Caliente Cultural Museum The Living Desert Palm Springs Art Museum Palm Springs Art Museum Western Art Council The Community Foundation The Berger Foundation Coachella Valley Emergency Preparedness Network (Continued on Page 3)
3rd Annual Cabot’s Birthday BBQ Bash a Huge Success!
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he 3rd Annual Cabot’s Birthday volunteer and contributor. BBQ Bash was a more fabulous The celebration was held under a affair than its two predecessors. It was tent with open ceiling to view the stars and gorgeous moon. A six-foot high ice carving—a large magnificent replica of our Waiokye sculpture— greeted guests in the courtyard. A sit-down dinner for nearly 500 included City Council, County and State Officials, Council members of sister cities, Members of Indian Council, and dignitaries from throughout the valley. The food was provided by Papa‘s indeed a fitting way to celebrate the Smokehouse BBQ. Onstage entertainfantastic success of the museum and ment by Tom Hiatt and the Sundown Trading Post & Gallery, as well as to Riders, followed by the highlight of the honor our Special Guests, Richard evening, vocalist Donna Theodore, Milanovich, Chairman of the Aqua was accompanied by pre-dinner Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, and entertainment scattered throughout the Gordon Gribble, our dedicated facility and included flutist Carlos
Reynosa, guitarist Tom Boyer, and rope artist Tomas Garcilazo. The evening was one of high celebration. And in raising nearly
$30,000 for the museum, the 3rd Annual Cabot’s Birthday BBQ Bash put a very large exclamation point to the statement of three years ago that ―we can do this.‖
See page 4 for additional photos of the 3rd Annual Cabot’s Birthday BBQ Bash
What’s Up on Miracle Hill
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A Day — A Year — A Beginning for Us by Vonda Pate-Davis hen the Trading Post & Gallery at Cabot‘s Museum opened on Valentine‘s Day 2008, it was an unknown venture. It was as though we were giving a big party and did not know if anyone would come, a nearly traumatic experience for any host to undergo, much less a host who wants and expects everything to
to some of our neighborhood‘s hope, for what had happened there. difficulties. Anyone who hasn‘t been We lost one of our strong supporters of around Miracle Hill lately will be the museum this year. Editor of The amazed at how much has improved Valley with the rehabilitation of the Breeze, neighborhood streets. Though Desert ―Buzz‖ View Avenue, the street that Cabot‘s fronts, still requires extensive engineering work, that will be done soon. But the paving project came not a Before (Need we say moment too soon as more?) visitors from out of town soon converged on Gambill, passed away, Gordon Gribble carefully but not before he was Cabot‘s to see ―What‘s examines the heavy Up‖ and also began able to see the beams of today‘s new checking out local restoration of the restrooms neighborhood spas. museum. Exterior TP&G The arrival of visitors began as a He expressed many times his Today trickle and ended in a torrent, which, gratitude for the work being done to though very exciting, put considerable see that the museum did not go the be in perfect stress on the facilities, particularly the way so much of the City‘s history had order. one restroom on the premises. And gone. ―Buzz‖ presented Michael Fortunately, while a single restroom may have O‘Keefe with the Breeze Whirlwind we kept sufficed in Yerxa‘s day, ours gave up Award for Year 2008-2009, which Michael the ghost with the onslaught of current seemed to sum up the way Michael O‘Keefe so visitors. (Don‘t ask if it collapsed while took on the task of the museum. With busy with we had guests.) the opening of the Visitor‘s Center at questions of Temporary facilities were rented. I.W. Coffee Gallery and the Dr. where for this However, everyone knows portables Bingham Room at the museum, Buzz February 2007 and what for are barely acceptable in the desert could sense others cared as much as that, he had little time to dwell on heat. With guests coming in large he and expressed his gratitude for that whether or not anyone would arrive. numbers, Michael O‘Keefe, working several times. Then he knew he had some very with the Our 2009 Annual Birthday BBQ dedicated volunteers who had worked RDA and Bash for Cabot Yerxa was just weeks many hard and long hours to pull the the City away and it opening kickoff together. There was Council, was to be the never a thought among us of whether put toevent of our or not it was worth all the effort and gether a year of pain. We just knew it. After all, most plan, preaccomplishwere from the art and literary world sented it ment. It Interior TP&G—Before where a worthwhile cause does not to the seemed only always produce immediate community, and got a building yesterday that gratification. And some of us just under contract. The new facility, we had had Interior TP&G at Grand our 1st Annual wanted to see that something with the coming not a second too soon, Opening, February 2007 Birthday BBQ value of Cabot‘s did not get lost along shows the great effort made to with so much of our forgotten past. blend it in with the original structures. Bash and had finished the grubbing However, the guests did arrive in The winter season was in full swing and clearing that began the restoration large numbers and left that day with and brought us to our Tamale Mixer for of the museum. Now we were coming considerable awe and hope. the year‘s end. It was the first opporup on our 3rd Annual Cabot‘s Birthday Art Showings were held throughout tunity that many local people had to BBQ Bash. the next season, and then The 2nd see the marvelous transformation This is the year we can look Annual Birthday proved to be another Michael, Jim Hehn, and the other around, see how much has changed, great party volunteers had performed with the and talk about the future. Our General Soon after, the City of Desert Hot Trading Post. Our 50-year blast of Plan for Cabot‘s is on the agenda for Springs started its street paving cold, rain, and snow arrived but did not the City. It is now time to be proud and project, which brought the first remedy dampen the spirits or the awe and time for reflection.
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What’s Up on Miracle Hill
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Where We’ve Been. . . Where We’re Going! (Continued from page 1) Coachella Valley Convention and Visitors Authority DHS Chamber of Commerce Tourist Bureaus Palm Springs Architecture and Design Council Palm Springs Historical Society Coachella Valley Historical Society Desert Hot Springs Hoteliers Association Joshua Tree National Park Desert Arc Groundwater Guardians Mission Springs Foundation Mission Springs Water District DHS Little League DHS AYSO DHS Women‘s Club Scholarship Program Palm Springs Unified School District PSUSD Alternative Education Center
book signings We have worked with the City of Desert Hot Springs to achieve: new restrooms extensive irrigation professional grounds lighting air conditioning drinking fountains new signage We have provided DHS residents with an opportunity for: employment volunteerism community service Chamber of Commerce mixers shopping free Halloween, Dias de los Muertos, Christmas, and Easter parties cultural and historic center
We have created ongoing programs to: We began serious working relationdevelop strategic planning and ships with distinguished elected sustainability programs with 5officials, including and 10-year plans Sen. John Benoit clean the grounds and be environmentally conscious Assemblyman Brian Nestande submit grant applications Assemblyman Manuel Perez create fundraising opportunities Supervisor Marion Ashley Desert Hot Springs Mayor Yvonne We have marketed Cabot‘s and the Parks City of Desert Hot Springs through: Desert Hot Springs Mayor Pro Tem Eye on the Desert Karl Baker KESQ Desert Hot Springs Council KMIR members Russell Betts, Scott EZ-103 Matas, Jan Pye KUSC Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet Palm Springs Life Coachella Mayor Eduardo Garcia The Desert Sun Coachella Mayor Pro Tem Steven Desert Valley Star Hernandez Desert Local News Mission Springs Water District The Valley Breeze Board Directors John Brown, John Total Marketing Partners Furbee, Mary Gibson, and Nancy Wright Oh, and did I mention that we Palm Springs Unified School achieved a milestone this year—more District Board Members Gary than 10,000 guests came to Cabot‘s Jeandron and Justin Blake from November to June! Almost 7000 Each year at the museum we have paid guests went on tours through the pueblo. produced multiple: art exhibits If the past is prologue to the future, music concerts then Cabot‘s brightest days lie ahead. plein air demonstrations Stay tuned! crafts demonstrations
What’s Up on Miracle Hill Newsletter Staff Donald Reed .................................. Editor Bent Reed Press ....................... Publisher Michael O’Keefe ................... Contributor Vonda Pate-Davis................. Contributor Jane Pojawa ......................... Contributor
Cabot’s Pueblo Museum Board of Directors Michael O’Keefe ...................... President John Brown ...................... Vice President Linda Blake ......... Chief Financial Officer Sally Rogers ............................. Secretary Louis Barbo .................................Director Mike Chedester ...........................Director Judy Gigante ..............................Director John Gilmer ................................Director Mike Grein ..................................Director Wes Laws ....................................Director Rich Lopez ...................................Director Barbara Maron ...........................Director Muffi Mendelson .........................Director Jane Pojawa ...............................Director Eric Pontius .................................Director Steve Sobotta ..............................Director Joanna Stark ..............................Director Todd Gregory Young ..................Director Donnalda Smolens ..... Leave of Absence
Cabot’s Pueblo Museum & Desert Hot Springs Visitors Center 67616 East Desert View Avenue Mailing Address: P.O. Box 104 Desert Hot Springs, California 92240 760-329-7610 www.cabotsmuseum.org Tours Daily
Cabot’s Trading Post & Gallery Daily, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. 760-329-7610
Publishing Graphic Design Logos
DONALD REED 39421 Bel Air Drive Cathedral City, California 92234 760-770-6562 donaldreed@dc.rr.com
What’s Up on Miracle Hill
3rd Annual Cabot’s Birthday BBQ Bash in Pictures
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What’s Up on Miracle Hill
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Waokiye Restoration Gives DHS Icon a Make-over by Jane Pojawa he big news at Cabot‘s this spring has been the return of Peter Toth, sculptor of our Whispering Giant, Waokiye. Waokiye is our 43-foot Native American sculpture, the most instantly recognizable icon of Desert Hot Springs.
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to the sculpture‘s south-facing side. It was not his first time back. In 1986, he also returned to the desert to do a bit of renovation to the sequoia statue. Toth spent most of February living on site in a motor home donated by Zoltan Cser. Rainy weather delayed the start of the project, as happened in 1978, but Toth and his helpers quickly made up for lost time and even managed to keep a chess match going while the grind and dust of power sanders, hammering, and flying chips of redwood continued apace. Lavish detail has been added to the Waokiye’s face; his lips are now parted to ―whisper‖ more effectively, his eyes seem to sparkle and his headband has new decorative
Peter ―Wolf‖ Toth in 1978 sculpting Waokiye As a gift to his adopted country, the flourishes. His hair Hungarian-born artist has carved a has been re-pegged giant log into a sculpted head in every and glued, and a single state to honor our Native steel beam has been American past. Collectively these are added to the back for known as the "Trail of the Whispering reinforcement. There Giants," and Waokiye was the 27th in is a new copper cap the series; sadly he is now the only to protect the giant left in California, the state where heartwood from rain Peter Toth received the inspiration for and sun. The beam his life‘s work. The original sculpture, and the copper have carved into the cliff face at Wind ‗n‘ Sea been artfully camouBeach in La Jolla, has weathered away. flaged; they are ―If you focus on the statue, you‘re almost unnoticeable. missing the point,‖ says Toth. ―I‘m just Wood treatments that a tool. God has given me the gift [of were not available 30 sculpting] but I do this to honor all years ago now offer Indian people.‖ protection against Toth revisited the museum, 30 weather damage and years after Waokiye’s creation, to do termites. some badly needed restoration work The city council and corrected some weather damage passed a resolution
honoring Peter Toth and his work that was read by Mayor Yvonne Parks at the re-dedication ceremony. Agua Caliente Tribal Chair Richard Milanovich was a special surprise guest. ―Today isn‘t really Peter Toth Day,‖ Toth said. ―It‘s Native American Day. I would like especially to honor the Aqua Caliente people and the other tribes of California.‖ We are very fortunate to have Waokiye restored to tip-top condition. Other giants have not been as fortunate. David and Bonnie Schumacker, of Highland, have visited more than 50 of the Whispering Giants, and have recently returned from Maui, where they found that the Hawaiian Whispering Giant, Maui Pohaku Loa, and the little house that stood behind it have been bulldozed. The sculpture is sitting in the contractor‘s boneyard, its fate uncertain. ―People don‘t know what they have ‘til it‘s gone,‖ says Schumacher. ―It‘s important that we preserve these sculptures before it‘s too late.‖
Toth in February 2009 restoring Waokiye
What’s Up on Miracle Hill
“Someone will Come Along . . . .” by Vonda Pate-Davis hose were the words spoken to a member of the Cabot‘s Foundation over two years ago, when it seemed impossible to continue with the restoration of the museum without locating funds to move forward. The volunteers were wearing down on energy, the city was having difficulties finding budget items for the city improvements, and RDA money was very limited. Everyone had donated his or her time and whatever money could be afforded, but it seemed hopeless. Vice President of the Foundation, Barbara Maron, appeared so stressed, she said she felt it was all slipping away. She was told to just ―hang on – because there is someone out there who will be able to see the dream and the value‖ in the same way she and Michael O‘Keefe and the volunteers could see. She sighed and said ―I hope you are right; can I believe in that?‖ The answer was a resounding ―yes.‖ Michael O‘Keefe brought his friend, Gordon Gribble onto the scene. Gordon is a quiet, low-key person without any need for fanfare or blaring horns to announce his arrival. Born in Northeast Nebraska (so appropriate to have the ―Heartland of America‖ as heritage), Gordon lived in Northwest Washington before venturing to California in the ‘60s. He owned a business with his family in the San Diego area for 25 years. He lived in Palm Springs as well as other desert cities of Scottsdale, Tucson, and Las Vegas, before finally making the decision to return to Palm Springs. He
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had owned a home at Paradise Springs in Scottsdale; so when he saw the name of a new development, Paradise Springs in Desert Hot Springs, he decided to settle there. Later he relocated back to his beginning desert roots, the Deepwell area in Palm Springs. Gordon has traveled through-out the world. Along the way he has picked up pieces for his frog collection. His home is a display of his numerous crystal, porcelain, and ceramic frogs in various sizes and expressions. He has also acquired an array of ring boxes— one from Tiffany‘s, one hand carved by Indians of the Northwest, and numerous boxes from different ports of the world. The entry court- yard to his residence reflects his enjoyment of another pastime, gardening. Just being outside and taking care of his and his neighbor‘s gardens is how he spends his time when not volunteering at the museum or enjoying his love for music, especially symphonies and opera. However, the things that bring a special gleam to his eyes are the plaques of appreciation given to him by Senator John Benoit and Assembly members V. Manuel Perez and Brian Nestande for his generosity to Cabot‘s Museum and his contribution to it as a place of cultural importance. He expressed surprise over the recognition bestowed on him; it seems no one has ever given him anything so special before. It is very much deserved, for he has donated so generously of his
SHOP— Daily, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
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Gordon displays his new awards time in painting the inside and outside of the Gallery, watering plants, and, as with so many other volunteers, doing whatever was necessary in general to help out for the day at hand. He did not appear on that white horse, nor did anyone notice his shining armor; however his generous monetary donation to the museum classifies him as that ―someone‖ who was to come along someday. He came and gave the museum the start that it needed to become what many saw and dreamed about—preserving its heritage and becoming the brightest tourist attraction in our City of Desert Hot Springs.
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Cabot’s Columns
by Jane Pojawa uch of what we know about Cabot Yerxa came from his column, ―On the Desert Since 1913,‖ which he wrote intermittently for the Desert Sentinel from approximately 1951 -1956. Of course, much was also written about Cabot and his ―fantastic pueblo‖; some notable writers who devoted columns to Cabot included Ed Ainsworth of the Los Angeles Times, Russ Leadabrand of the Pasadena Independent, and Louis Sobol, whose Broadway column ''New York Cavalcade,'' appeared in The New York Journal. In 1949, Cabot partnered with Arthur Bliss Conkwright, known to all as Conky Conkwright, on Conky‘s project, Pa’m Springs Pup, for the Palm Springs Limelight News. Conkwright, a photographer and actor was, with his wife Marie Ashley, a fixture of New York‘s silent film industry. By the ‘50s, Conky, calling himself ―The Pa‘m Springs Hillbilly,‖ struck out on his own with the Pa’m Springs Pup. It was an intermittently published newsletter, along the lines of Harry Oliver‘s Packrat Gazette, although not as polished. Cabot furnished the trademark illustrations and possibly some of the content as well. Desert Sentinel editor Jerome ―Jerry‖ Storm kept Cabot busy writing articles about his memories of the old pioneer days and natural history – the bugs, plants and critters of the desert. Cabot sometimes used a nom de plume for the nature articles, referring to himself as ―The Old Sage,‖ and his column was ―This Side of the Wash.‖ ―Su Amigo‖ first appeared in 1948 as
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the ―guest columnist‖ of ―This Side of the Wash,‖ with an article about Harry Oliver and the Peg Leg Smith Liar‘s Contest. Other ―Wash‖ articles included plugs for the Desert Hot Spring‘s Improvement Association, of which Cabot was the first president. Both he and Portia were active members. In 1949, Su Amigo (now spelled ―Sue‖ Though included here for indentification (and amusement) purposes, the accompanying photo caption shown above should be taken with a Amigo) was grain of historical salt. For example, Sir Francis Drake—not Don called in to Cabot—is usually credited with discovering San Francisco Bay. replace Jean Shannon, the ―Feminine Reflections‖ Old Sage, the Pa‘m Springs Pup, or columnist for a couple of issues. ―Sue,‖ just plain ol‘ Cabot Yerxa was writing was, in fact, Cabot. Sue Amigo did not for the local papers, his love for the have to do a thorough exploration of desert came shining through. Somehis feminine side, amusing as that times funny and always informative, might have been, and instead ran a Cabot‘s observations about the letter from ―her friend‖ Cabot! Cabot‘s growing village of Desert Hot Springs letter warned of the dire consequences caught the attention of the city‘s early of leaving water-filled glass bottles in residents and helped to establish a the hot summer sun (they explode). distinct local identity—even if that ―Sue‖ thanked Cabot profusely for his elusive columnist had several distinct timely advice. identities! No matter whether Sue Amigo, the
Cabot’s Igloo Museum by Jane Pojawa hat if Cabot didn‘t build a pueblo? In 1941, Cabot was living further down Miracle Hill at his first cabin, Eagle‘s Nest/Yerxa‘s Trading Post. These structures were razed in 1957 to make way for the Miracle Hill Subdivision by the Realty Company of America. Cabot Yerxa‘s Trading Post offered ―post cards, curios, Indian work etc for sale,‖ according to one of his handbills and, in addition, a ―Snake Pit: Desert
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snakes, trained chuckwallas, etc. See on to announce: ‘em alive—10¢.‖ Most significant, there Since first coming to the were also an art gallery and museum, desert nearly 30 years ago, the first in Desert Hot Springs. Cabot Yerxa, single-handed, This museum contained many of has done all his own building on the same exhibits we cherish in Miracle Hill, where he conducts today‘s Pueblo Museum, including the his antique trading post and art Alaskan artifacts, and Cabot had a gallery. He is still building. mind to expand his trading post into Just one mile from his tradsomething much bigger. ing post, Mr. Yerxa is now at work The December 25 edition of The on a two-story building, which Desert Sentinel had a front-page story he says will be called Yerxa‘s ―Yerxa Builds Own Studio,‖ and went Igloo. (Continued on Page 8)
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Cabot Yerxa Elementary School Opened August 31 by Jane Pojawa he April 24, 1947 issue of the Desert Sentinel carried the frontpage news: “New Elementary School Dedication Opens Forty-Niners Days Celebration.” It described the opening of Desert Hot Springs‘ first elementary school as a festive occasion and went on to report: ―Cabot Yerxa, desert pioneer, picturesque in broad-brimmed hat and fringed buckskin jacket, accepted the new elementary school for the community of Desert Hot Springs from W.P. Hillary, President of The Board of Trustees of the Desert School District at dedication ceremonies Friday morning which opened the second annual Forty-Niners Days celebrations for the town… ―‗This is indeed a great event for the community,‘ said Yerxa after the formal presentation of the school had been made to him. He related some of the problems
gratitude to L.W. Coffee, local subdivider, who made the new school a possibility by donating the land now occupied by the building and playgrounds.‘‖ The first principal was John Nichols, and the enrollment in the new school was 77 students, a substantial increase from the 27 youngsters who had been Dedication of Desert Hot Springs Elementary School, April 1947 eligible for elementary school in 1946. awards for their work with English How times have changed. learners from the Riverside County Cabot Yerxa Elementary School, at Office of Education last year. 67-067 Desert View (Desert View and The school serves approximately Verbena), is the newest of the 16 600 students in grades kindergarten elementary schools in the Palm through fifth but is built to accommodate 810 students in 34 classrooms. The 60,000 square foot facility also includes a library, an administration building, and a multi-purpose room. It is also built to a sustainability standard as a California High Performance School and as such is expected to save up to 20 percent on energy costs annually. Cabot Yerxa Elementary, home of the Explorers, is using a traditional academic calendar for the 2009-2010 school year, since the school was not be ready in time to accommodate a single track E modified schedule (yearArtist‘s rendering of new Cabot Yerxa Elementary School, to open August 31, 2009. round). The school‘s official colors are attendant in the past on the education of Springs Unified School District. Mike copper and light yellow. First day of local elementary school youngsters, who Grein, the new principal, has plenty of instruction was August 31, 2009. until last month were taken by bus to Palm experience under his belt—he was the At Cabot‘s Pueblo Museum, we Springs to the Francis Stevens School. . . . former principal at Della S. Lindley wish the Explorers the best of luck in ―‗The community also wishes,‘ Elementary and was one of three the 2009-2010 academic year! Yerxa said, ‗to express publically its educators in the district who received
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Cabot’s Igloo Museum (Continued from page 7) In it will be his art studio work room, where, he says, his artist friends may have a place, affording a magnificent view of the desert, in which to work when they come to visit him. The walls of the first floor of Yerxa‘s Igloo are being built of rock, and the entire structure will
have a stucco finish. The east wall of the igloo will be 24 inches thick and built into the hillside. The ground floor will be of concrete. Cabot Yerxa‘s Trading Post is located about three miles southeast of Desert Hot Springs and attracts an ever-increasing
number of visitors each year.‖ Seventy years later, we count ourselves lucky that Cabot persisted in following his dream of building a museum and trading post in Desert Hot Springs. We are also fortunate that he changed his mind about the igloo and built a pueblo instead!