Map of the Flat on pg. 12-13
Join us in Kernville February 18-21, 2011
February 2011
Whiskey Flat, Calif.
FREE
The Wild West lives forever at Whiskey Flat! Kernville celebrates its heritage Feb. 18-21 with huge festival Mike Devich Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper
Whiskey Flat. The name is legend around these parts. Whiskey Flat was a town, now covered up by Isabella Lake, a magical place where dreams of big gold nuggets ran through the dreams every night of thousands of miners in the 1800s. Whiskey Flat was a hard-scrabble place built on a sandbar by the Kern River near where the North Fork joined the South Fork and formed a broad valley. But Whiskey Flat didn’t last very long., only four years, from 1860 to 1864. By then a town had grown up around those miners’ shacks, and the new town needed a new name. They called it Kernville, after the man, Edward M. Kern, who had come through the area 30 years earlier in order to map it. The valley, the river and the town still bear his name. Even the county is named Kern County after him.
Kernville lasted for almost 100 years, until it a government flood control project came in after WWII and the town was in the way. Kernville was reinvented a few miles north, and a decade later an annual celebration was brought into being to remember the halcyon days when Kernville was known as Whiskey Flat. The yearly fest was a family-friendly jubilee until the late 1960s, when troublemakers had to be run off by the law – exactly like what would have happened a hundred years earlier. Since then, up to 50,000 visitors have gathered peacefully each year to enjoy remembering the bygone days of Whiskey Flat and enjoy a weekend of fun and history. Whiskey Flat Days is put on by the Kernville Chamber of Commerce with the help of many volunteers. Although most activities are free, there is a small charge for some of them. Enjoy yourself and our mountain town with the long history.
Michael Batelaan/Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper
The Whiskey Flat Days Grand Parade, taking place on Whiskey Flat Saturday at 11 a.m., is full of Western floats, equestrians, Native Americans, clowns and much more.
Whiskey Flat Days Grand Parade • Saturday, 11 a.m., Grand Marshal Fred “Bud” May; Theme– “Goin’ to the Dogs” (spotlight on spaying and neutering your pets); floats, gunfighters, animals, skits, clowns and more!
The Whiskey Flat Daze Rodeo is another huge part of the Whiskey Flat Days experience. Held both Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m., the rodeo has been an integral part of the Whiskey Flat Days festivities for over 50 years. The Kern River Valley, especially the South Fork area, has been a major cattle raising area since the 1850s, and still raises cattle to this day. Murdoc Douglas/Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper
Roundup of cattle original meaning of word ‘rodeo’ Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper
Spanish-speaking vaqueros brought the word rodeo to early California (before it was a state), meaning a roundup of cattle, conducted to brand the calves and count the herd. It wasn’t until later that the word rodeo would mean a competition among cowboys to show off their speed and their skills. In the 1860s and much of the 1870s in Central California, cattle grazed without any restrictions from the Kings River all the way south to the sinks of the Tejon. To the east of the San Joaquin Valley, they could roam freely to Tehachapi Valley and on east to the Mojave Desert. In 1851, the state legislature passed a law stating the cattlemen had to hold rodeos, or roundups, of the cat-
tle. Because of all the herds running together, there would be many problems that would come up. The main problem was determining which cattleman had the right to put his brand on an animal which had left its mother before being branded. These unbranded animals were sometimes called orejano (o-ray-han'no). It was because of this problem and others that might come up that it was decided a judge would be appointed for each rodeo. At least twice a year, and sometimes three times, a roundup would be held. The area worked would cover most of what is now Kings, Tulare and Kern counties, with the exception of the Mojave Desert. There would be from 100 to 200 cowboys working together. The pay was only $15 to $20 per month, but it was the
See RODEO, Page 22
Inside: • Map of Kernville with parade route and where all the activities take place • Photos of Old Kernville, previously known as Whiskey Flat, California • frog jumping contest handicaps • Historical area ranches • Cowboy humor page • Stories of Some Of The Old-Time Gold Miners • Past Whiskey Flat Days Parades • lots of old-time fun and good times! Note to drivers: The back way around the lake, Sierra Way, is closed right now due to washouts. You can go the other way around the lake with no problem.
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2011 Claim Jumper
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2011 Claim Jumper
page 3
Vintage retail Old Kernville’s A. Brown Store was Andy Brown’s major retail enterprise, although he also owned another store in the South Fork. Old Kernville existed until the late 1940s when Isabella Reservoir was put in, and the town was moved north a few miles. Most of the townspeople went with it, although some moved their homes to the new Wofford Heights.
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2011 Claim Jumper
Stories of the gold miners Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper
Here are a few stories of some of the illustrious gold miners of the Kern River Valley during the California Gold Rush, of which we were very much a large part.
Lovely Rogers
Some local history buffs have treated Lovely Rogers as though he were legend. They have placed "Lovely" in quotes, as they would a nickname. Perhaps the tale of Lovely and his mule was so typical of single-blanket jackass prospecting during Gold Rush days that it was borrowed just for the spinning in any camp and on any occasion. Such is the telling that gives birth to legends. Lovely's mule was as cantankerous as most any mule, and Lovely was as goldhungry and wander-struck as any 49'er. This is probably why these two helped to make history in the Kern River diggins'. Before going into the story of their great strike, it might be interesting to backtrack on Lovely and find out just how he moved into history. Early records show him to have been a half-breed Cherokee raised in the vicinity of the pioneer outpost of Fort Gibson in Indian Territory (now Oklahoma). He could well have been playing around the fort while Captain Bonneville and Joe Walker planned their famous exploration in the West. His parents, being comparatively well-to-do, sent him across the border to nearby Cane Hill, Ark., to be educated in a school for white children. He had for classmates other Cherokee boys who were to share in his adventuring across the Plains to the California mines and to the Kern River diggins'. Among these were Richard and Johnnie Keyes and Hamp Williams. Later these men and many others of their tribe
Vintage photo
Old Kernville’s former name was Whiskey Flat, which existed from 1860 to 1864. This photo was taken in the 1890s.
joined in the California Gold Rush in 1849. On Feb. 3 of that year, the Cherokee Advocate based at Tahlequa in the Cherokee Nation announced "... such citizens of the Cherokee Nation as contemplated going to California met this day in the courthouse." On Feb. 19, an editorial in the same publication proclaimed, "Gold lump after lump in rapid succes-
sion are revealed and found under the wonder-working picks of the gold diggers in California. . The little 'thirteen pounders' are lost sight of, when two hundred pound lumps are being picked out by the butcher knives of those who are now gently disturbing the bowels of the auriferous mountains of the modern Eldorado. And shall we Cherokee not
take advantage of the times and be found trying to get to this glorious country?" Finally, the editor, overcome by his own eloquence, decided to "be found trying." He joined forces with Lovely Rogers and his friends. These in turn became associated with people from Arkansas and Missouri, and the company made its start on April 20, 1849. Lovely Rogers did make it to his Eldorado. On Jan. 7, 1850, a letter appeared in the Cherokee Advocate from Rogers relating the details of the arduous trip, and adding, "Myself and J.N.A.Carter and Shaw and two young men from Georgia are working together. We shall not return to Gibson until we make 20,000 apiece. A man can make money here at anything except doing nothing." Lovely and his Cherokee friends, Hamp Williams, Richard and Johnnie Keyes and John and William Carden turned out to be the among the first 49'ers to arrive in the Kern River diggins' when word of gold in that region filtered into the Mother Lode country. They were credited with making the first big strike on Greenhorn Gulch and with bringing a name to the gulch and Greenhorn Mountain - as they were supposed to be from Arkansas and people from that state were then dubbed "greenhorns." Later Lovely and his companions prospected farther south on the eastern side of the mountain, where Dickie Keyes soon discovered the Keyes Mine and rated the changing of the camp name from Hogeye to Keyesville. Either Lovely's mule was an ingrate or he maintained an insatiable will to wander. One night he left camp, his tracks leading down Hogeye Gulch and up the
See GOLD, Page 16
2011 Claim Jumper
page 5
Whiskey Flat campfire humor Never make fun of old people
An old prospector shuffled into the town of El Indio,Texas, leading an old tired mule. The old man headed straight for the only saloon in town to clear his parched throat. He walked up to the saloon and tied his old mule to the hitch rail. As he stood there, brushing some of the dust from his face and clothes, a young gunslinger stepped out of the saloon with a gun in one hand and a bottle of whiskey in the other. The young gunslinger looked at the old man, laughed and said, "Hey old man, have you ever danced?" The old man looked up at the gunslinger and said, "No, never did dance... can't say as I ever wanted to." A crowd had gathered as the gunslinger grinned and said, "Well, you old fool, you're gonna dance now," and started shooting at the old man's feet. The old prospector, not wanting to get a toe blown off, started hopping around like a flea on a hot skillet. Everybody was laughing, fit to be tied. When his last bullet had been fired, the young gunslinger, still laughing, holstered his gun and turned around to go back into the saloon. The old man turned to his pack mule, pulled out a double-barreled shotgun, and cocked both hammers. The loud clicks carried clearly through the desert air. The crowd stopped laughing immediately. The young gunslinger heard the sounds too, and he turned around very slowly. The silence was almost deafening. The crowd watched as the young gunman stared at the old-timer and the large gaping holes of those twin barrels. The shotgun never wavered in the old man's hands, as he quietly said, "Son, have you ever kissed a mule's ass?" The gunslinger swallowed hard and said,
"No sir, can't say as I have... but I've always wanted to."
A Good Policy
An insurance salesman was getting nowhere in his efforts to sell a policy to a rancher. “Look at it this way,” he said finally. “How would your wife carry on if you should die?” “Well,” answered the rancher after giving it some thought, “I don’t reckon that’s any concern of mine, so long as she behaves herself while I’m alive.”
A Popular Horse
A rancher’s horse kicked his mother-inlaw to death. An extra large crowd, mostly men, turned out for the funeral. The minister commented, “This lady must have been mighty popular for so many people to be willing to leave their work and come to her funeral.” “They’re not here for the funeral,” replied the rancher. “They’ve come to buy the horse.”
in
A young cowboy appeared before St. Peter at the Pearly Gates.. 'Have you ever done anything of particular merit?' St. Peter asked. 'Well, I can think of one thing,' the cow-
Two old cowboys, confirmed bachelors, got to talking about cooking. “I got one o’ them cookery books once, but I never could do nothing with it.” “Why is that?” asked the other. “Too
A Shy Cowboy
Two cowboys went to a night club show. As the chorus girls pranced out to perform their number, one cowboy turned to the other and whispered, “See that fine lookin’ gal on the left end. I feel like taking her out again.” “Why I didn’t know you had taken her out before,” answered the other. “Well I ain’t,” came the reply. “But once before I felt like it.”
A Cowboy Heaven
February 18-21, 2011 Come visit us at the
KERN VALLEY MUSEUM Celebrate the History of the Valley with the KERN RIVER VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY Museum Hours Thursday ~ Sunday, 10am to 4pm 49 Big Blue Road, Kernville (Next to the Post Office)
(760) 376-6683 ADMISSION IS FREE In the Kern Valley Museum you will find artifacts and memorabilia which make the history of this valley come alive.
Native American Objects • Gold Mining • Farming and Ranching • Lumbering • Western Movies • Gift Shop and Art Gallery
THE
Medical Treatment
The old rancher took his wife to town to see the new doctor. He waited for her by the hitch rail while he shot the breeze with some other old timers. After a few minutes, he heard his wife scream, then she slammed through the door and nearly knocked him down. Finally, he calmed her enough to learn what the problem was. After listening to her story, he helped her into the buckboard to wait for him while he settled things with this new upstart. He hitched his gun belt in place and marched in to confront the doctor. "What the hell's wrong with you?" the rancher demanded of the doctor. "My wife is 63 years old. We have five grown children and eleven grandchildren, and you told her she was pregnant?" The new doctor raised his eyebrows and asked, "Does she still have the hiccups?"
WELCOME TO WHISKEY FLAT DAYS
BRING
boy offered... 'On a trip to the Black Hills out in South Dakota, I came upon a gang of bikers, who were threatening a young woman. I directed them to leave her alone, but they wouldn't listen.. So, I approached the largest and most heavily tattooed biker and smacked him in his face ... I then kicked his bike over, ripped out his nose ring, and threw it on the ground. I yelled, 'Now, back off!! Or I'll kick the crap out of all of you!' St. Peter was impressed. 'And when did all of this happen?' He asked. The cowboy sheepishly looked down at his boots as he scuffed one across the cloud he stood on, then answered.... 'Why, just a couple of minutes ago...'
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Cowboy Cookery
much fancy work in it?” “You said it.” Replied the first. “I could never get past the first sentence. Seems every one o’ them recipes began the same way: ‘Take a clean dish…’
The Cowboy and the Rancher A big city lawyer went duck hunting in the fields out by Onyx. He shot and dropped a duck, but it fell into a pasture on the other side of the fence. As the lawyer climbed over the fence, a crusty old rancher rode up and asked him what he was doing. The attorney responded, "I shot a duck. It fell into this field, and now I'm going to retrieve it." The old rancher retorted, "This is my property, and you are not coming over here." The indignant lawyer said, "I am one of the best trial attorneys in the United States, and if you don't let me have that duck, I'll sue you and take everything you own." The old rancher smiled and said, "Apparently you don't know how we settle disputes in Onyx. We settle small disagreements with the 'Three Kicks Rule'." The lawyer asked, "What is the 'Three Kicks Rule'?" The rancher replied, "Well, because the dispute is occurring on my land, I get to go first. I kick you three times, then you kick me three times, and so on back and forth until one of us gives up." The attorney quickly thought about the proposed contest and figured he could easily take the old geezer. He agreed to abide by the local custom. The old rancher slowly climbed down from his horse and walked up to the attorney.
See HUMOR, Page 16
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2011 Claim Jumper
As the years went by in Whiskey Flat/Old Kernville decline. A year-by-year history of Old Kernville 1891: Petersen's Kernville Hotel burns, taking 22 houses with it. (formerly Whiskey Flat) 1853: Prospectors start looking for gold in area south of future Whiskey Flat/Old Kernville. Gold Rush had been on since 1848. 1855: A 42-ounce gold nugget is found in area now known as Hungry Gulch/Boulder Gulch Campgrounds, just south of the future Whiskey Flat/Old Kernville. Gold fever is on in Kern River Valley. Over 5,000 men make their way here. 1860: A man named Lovely Rogers finds a rock with flecks of gold in it just north of what would soon be called Whiskey Flat. Rogers works his claim. (This claim would later be known as the Big Blue Mine, one of the biggest-paying gold mines in the area.) 1860: Joe Caldwell builds a house near the mine. Adam Hamilton comes in and pitches a tent across the road from Caldwell’s house and sets up a couple of barrels with a board across them for a bar. Caldwell and his friends are not the whiskey-drinking type, and Hamilton is asked to move his operation a mile or so south on a little flat by the river. Hamilton does so and calls it Whiskey Flat. Most of the miners follow him and a town begins there. 1861: Toll road built over Greenhorn Mountains down into Whiskey Flat. 1862: Post office comes to Whiskey Flat. 1863: Whiskey Flat grows. Town founder Adam Hamilton establishes a private school. 1863: U.S. soldiers sent to Kern River Valley to investigate Indians. This leads to massacre of about 35 male members of the Tubatulabal tribe where Tilly Creek empties into the Kern River, just south of Whiskey Flat. 1864: Name of Whiskey Flat changed to (Old ) Kernville. 1868: Kernville School District formed with building of first Kernville School. Adam Hamilton, founder of Whiskey Flat, was clerk. 1868: Flood sweeps through Kernville, damaging mine workings. 1869: Andy Brown purchases a brick store building in middle of Kernville and opens A. Brown Store. 1871: Big Blue Mine in steady operation with a 16 stamp mill going.. 1872: Odd Fellows Kernville lodge founded. (Still active.) 1873: Little town of Kernville is growing, with population doubling in five months. 1874: Big Blue Mine’s 16 stamp mill replaced with 80 stamp mill. 1874: Sawmill built high on Greenhorn Mountain, west of Kernville. Road constructed between sawmill and Old Kernville (now known as Sawmill Road). 1876: Surface tramway for Big Blue Mine built; parts of roadbed for track can still be seen from the highway south of New Kernville. 1876: Harley Mine started near today’s New Kernville. Tramway built to lower ore down mountainside. 1877: Six or seven stores now in Old Kernville, with four saloons, a brewery, three hotels, a livery stable, and other businesses and homes. 1882: Harley Mine Tramway cable breaks in horrific accident, killing two and signaling end of Harley Mine. 1883: Fire destroys Sumner Shaft of Big Blue Mine, shaft collapses and is rendered unworkable. 1884: Big Blue Mine sold at Sheriff's auction in Bakersfield. Mining era in valley starts to
1896: Albia Curliss homesteads a ranch five miles north of Old Kernville that would become New Kernville 50 years later. 1898: First permanent church in Old Kernville built, the Kernville Methodist Church. 1901: Borel power plant work begins in the Kern River Canyon. A canal feedning the power plant would have an intake near Old Kernville. 1902-04: Edison Company purchases ranches around Old Kernville to obtain water rights for Borel canal. (Date approximate.) 1910: Edison Company builds road up the Kern River north of the future site of New Kernville to construct an intake for another future power plant there. 1912: Telephone line connects Old Kernville with rest of valley. 1913: Fire in Big Blue Mine drainage tunnel, which came out close to the river near the cemetery just north of Old Kernville, kills three miners. 1914: Kernville Library established, books kept in the old A. Brown Store. 1916: Matt Burlando buys the ranch upriver from Old Kernville that would in the early 1950s become New Kernville. 1919: Construction begins on KR3 power plant near Burlando Ranch (modern-day New Kernville). 1920: Hub of KR3 power plant job is Headquarters Camp on Kern River. Name kept when the Forest Service later built a campground on that spot. Other campground names on Upper Kern have similar history. 1921: KR3 power plant completed. 1928: Hollywood finds the Kern Valley and Old Kernville a perfect place to shoot Western movies (date approximate). 1928: Kern County Sportsmen group builds trout rearing ponds on Burlando Ranch (later New Kernville). 1929: Trout rearing ponds moved upriver, Kernville Fish Hatchery begins. 1929: Bert James buys Bechtel's grocery store in Old Kernville, calls it Bert's Store (ancestor of James Sierra Gateway Markets.) 1930: Movie Street built in Old Kernville, parallel to Kernville's main street, to accommodate the Western movie shoots. (Date approximate.) 1932: Kernville Union School District formed. 1937: New scenic road from Old Kernville to Johnsondale dedicated. 1938: Camp Owen started in Burlando Ranch area (later New Kernville). 1941: Kern Valley High School opens across river from Old Kernville. 1942: Old Kernville’s Movie Street dismantled and moved to desert to be used for army maneuvers. 1942: McNally family starts operating Fairview On The Kern upriver from Old Kernville. Steakhouse there still bears their name. 1948: Town of Wofford Heights started. 1948: Army Corps of Engineers starts getting ready to build a dam across the Kern River just south of Old Kernville. Old Kernville and Old Isabella prepare to move to higher ground. 1953: Dam across Kern River completed, and lake begins to form. New Kernville, New Isabella and Wofford Heights start to grow. (Information obtained from writings by Bob Powers, Ken Wortley, Elizabeth P. Brady and Ardis Walker.)
2011 Claim Jumper
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Old Kernville’s Movie Street built for Western films Mike Devich Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper
Old Kernville was a real Old West town, but in the late 1920s, after its Old West day had passed, Hollywood discovered the town as the Western movie craze grew. The town responded to accommodate the increasing numbers of crews arriving to shoot movies by building a special street parallel to Old Kernville’s main street especially for them. The late Bob Powers, in his book “North Fork Country,” wrote about Movie Street: “Movie Street in Old Kernville was a replica of a typical frontier main street. Originally called Granite Street, it was about two blocks long and ran north-south along the hill west of town. The Methodist Community Church and the grade school were at one end, and a large barn on the A. Brown property closed the other end of the street. The fronts of other buildings
HUNGRY
(the backs of which were only shells) were built, including, on one side, a general store, assay office, jail and livery stable. On the other side stood a blacksmith shop, saloon, dance hall, hotel and harness shop. It was hard to realize when walking along the street or viewing the set in movies that many of these buildings were only propped up like billboards. “On this street gallons of ‘blood’ were shed, and from the large old cottonwood tree in the schoolyard many a hangman’s noose swung.” In the evenings, many of the movie’s stars and crew would take part in local community activities in Old Kernville. Sometimes they would form a baseball team with the likes of Roy Rogers, Humphrey Bogart and John Huston filling the positions. Powers says in his book that other famous movie stars seen in the valley over the years included Dale Evans, Gabby Hayes, Yvonne DeCarlo, Victor McLagen, Audie Murphy, Andy
Devine, Tom Mix, Hoot Gibson, Hopalong Cassidy, Gene Autry and Harry Carey. The Mountain Inn, at the time the only hotel in Old Kernville, served as headquarters for the film companies. Many local people served as doubles, stand-ins and extras in the movies. Some working as extras donned cowboy costumes for a chase scene one day and then Indian costumes the next day for that side of the chase. Irven Wofford, owner of the ranch that would someday become Wofford Heights, provided much of the livestock for the films as well as wagons, buggies and other equipment. He also acted in some of the films. A list of films wholly or partially shot in the Kern River Valley is available at the Kern Valley Museum in Kernville. The list was assembled by the late Billy Couch, at the time the curator of the museum. Powers was also a curator of the museum.
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Page 8
2011 Claim Jumper
The Mayor’s Race: excitement builds Mike Devich Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper
Each year, the month before Whiskey Flat Days, brave candidates step up and throw their Stetsons into the ring for the office of Honorary Mayor of Whiskey Flat. During that month they pick out their wardrobe, polish off their persona, and get out and canvass the valley for bribe money. Selling $1 “bribe tickets,” they sometimes raffle off prizes as well. The money raised goes to the charity or charities of their choice, and a portion goes to the Kernville Chamber of Commerce to help put on the festival. This year there were two teams of foolhardy ... er, energetic candidates looking to claim the honorary title of Whiskey Flat Mayor. They are (Team 1) “Mean River Gene” Hacker and “Whitewater (Lucien) Whitman” (his wife Rachel was a former mayor) and (Team 2) “Mercantile Frank” Vargas and his wife Sheila, who is running as “Millinery Dolly.” Mercantile Frank and Millinery Dolly are raising money for the REVA Co-op, which plans to open a low-cost spay/neuter clinic here for dogs and cats. Mean River Gene and Whitewater Whitman are raising money for the Riverside Park river project, and Kern Valley Search and Rescue. The mayor race is one of the biggest elements of Whiskey Flat Days, with the winner being announced on Sunday of the festival, so it’s a good thing to stick around. Past mayor races have been very colorful. The candidates adopt Western
Murdoc Douglas/Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper
Last year’s winner of the Honorary Mayor contest was “Tenderfoot Tony” Plante, shown as he accepts his honorary office at last year’s Whiskey Flat Days mayor announcement on Sunday afternoon.
monikers and fill their speeches with tall tales, jokes, put-downs of the other candidates, and other shenanigans. Let’s take a look at the 1969 race, and a particular candidate, “Bull Run” Bob Powers. He documented his campaign in one of his nine books on Kern River Valley history. "I, 'Bull Run Bob' Powers, after lengthy deliberation have bowed to the will of the people to debark on a win-
nin' campaine for mayore of Whiskey Flat. It is my feelen that this society, or any grate society can long indure without drastic changes. But, indeed, we are in a period of unrest that cries for solutions. "As your next Mayore, I promise to provide these simpel, yet unquestionably good ansers to problems that have plaged us. "Be it known that my platform will
be one of simplicity, good horsesence, and fare play. Not only will teritorial problems be solved, but I will bring to Whiskey Flat a new aira of properity. "To provide these betterments, the following will be inacted: "1. After the county seat was swiped by the flat-landers of Bakersfield in 1874 from one of hour most outstanding mountain communities, it is only fitten and proper to return it again to the mountain folk. Unbiased surveys bave showed the most desirable location, considering its growth to be the beautiful and prosperous town of Bull Run. "2. Revise the gold. standard upward to $95 per ounce, so the most famous and marginal mines of Bull Run, Harley, and Big Blue may reopen. This would take the local miners off the welfare rolls and gettum eaten regular. "3. Rebuild the tramway to the top of Harley Mountain in an attempt to spur mountain fun in the sun. This would not only provide a gorgeous view of Whiskey Flat below but give the visitor a chance to see Bull Run and walk on the head of the Sleeping Giant. "And that ain't no bull!!" Shenanigans aside, the money the mayor candidates raise have helped many worthy causes here in the Kern River Valley. Thousands of dollars are donated to charities and community projects and programs, which are mighty glad to receive the money. Remember that when some armed character in period dress saunters up to you and asks you to pay some money for bribe tickets. (And make sure the tickets are for this year!)
Bob Powers BOOKS Books by the late
Bob Powers, Local Historian and Author A nine-volume historical account of the Kern River Valley. All nine books are presently in print, beautifully printed and bound and will be available in Circle Park during Whiskey Flat Days. South Fork Country, Visit our booth in Circle Park North Fork Country, during Whiskey Flat Days Hot Springs Country, Kern River Country, Indian Country, Desert Country, High Country, This Old House and Cowboy Country are $30.00 each See Marge in Circle Park February 18, 19 and 20 during Whiskey Flat Days. Or place your order by mail to: Marge Powers P.O. Box 204 Kernville, Ca 93238 7 6 0 - 3 7 6 - 2 3 2 9
Piute Pump
Water Wells • Pumps • Softeners Sales & Service Don’t croak if you run out of water. We’ll take care of you. Home of the Whiskey Flat 2006 Champion Frog
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4571 Lake Isabella Blvd. Lake Isabella
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Service All powerchairs, manual wheelchairs, lifts, servicing, repair & accessories Serving Veterans and the disabled everywhere. Please feel free to give us a call anytime; just ask for Bob Weigel. Veteran & Family Owned
P.O. Box 2452 Lake Isabella Office:760-379-8317 Fax:760-379-8969 Authorized repair for Pride, Champion, Rascal, Jazzy & more.
Steam Powered Model RMWS
2011 Claim Jumper
page 9
More history is to be found at museum Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper
We hope you enjoyed reading about Old Kernville. There are many more historical photos than we could possibly use, and lots of stories and artifacts and maps and all kinds of good stuff at the Kern Valley Museum in Kernville. It’s not hard to find-- it’s across the street from Alta One Credit Union on Big Blue Road. If you like exploring the history of this area (and there’s a powerful lot of history here), the museum is a good place to start. Join the Kern River Valley Historical Society. They can tell you
how at the meeting, because they run the place. If you want some great history, pick up Bob Powers’ books (he wrote nine of them) at the library, or Marge Powers will be selling them again at Whiskey Flat Days. Look for her ad in this Claim Jumper. Ardis Walker’s books are a requirement, too. Ken Wortley was another. A memoir of Old Kernville just before the lake went in is available, if you want to read about what the place was like. It’s called “River Children,” written by Barbara Hinkey and Pat McPherson. You can get it through http://www.riverchildren.net/
Vintage photo courtesy of Chuck Barbee
At right is the Kernville Hotel, built by N.P. Petersen in Old Kernville. The hotel and 22 houses burned down in 1891. For a timeline of Kernville’s history turn to page 2.
Bridge to the past
The Kern River footbridge near Old Kernville. Children were not supposed to run across it, but they often did anyway. The Kern River Valley in those days was a simple place, a place that was where a kid could go down by the river and find pollywogs and fish with a branch and a hook.
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For Unusual Antiques and Collectibles 5129 Lake Isabella Blvd. Lake Isabella 760-417-0407
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Page 10
2011 Claim Jumper
See re-enactors recreate life in the Old West Mike Woodward, Lone Star Productions Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper
Come on down and experience the "Wild West Encampment" located across from the Rodeo Grounds down in the "Flats" by the river. Scheduled are two camps for your enjoyment – The Mountain Man Camp and the Native American Camp. These attractions are great additions to the Whiskey Flat Days celebration and are designed to give the whole family a glimpse at what life may have been like back in the 1800s. Camp activities will be interactive and there will be many opportunities to speak with Whiskey Flat residents, Mountain Men, and Native American residents from the 1800s. Come smell the Cowboy Coffee. Camp events begin at noon Friday Feb. 18 and end at noon Sunday, Feb. 20. The Whiskey Flat Camp will feature: • Old Fashioned Train Service from the Museum To the Whiskey Flat Encampment • Hold-ups and Gunfights • Wells Fargo Station • Cowboy Cookin’ • Horse Tradin’, Livery and Wagon Sales
Murdoc Douglas/Whiskey Flat Flaim Jumper
The Whiskey Flat Encampment is always a big hit with visitors to Whiskey Flat Days, and this picture from last year shows why.
• Horse Shoein’ and Horse Doctorin • Whiskey Flat Saloon • Justice of the Peace, Shotgun Weddings. • Old West Church Service on Sunday at 10 • Saddle Maker and Leather Craft • Old West Chuck Wagon • Turn of the century Sawmill demonstrations.
• Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show • Old West Mercantile Shoppe • Story Tellers of Old Whiskey Flat: Dave Ryskamp, Dave "Horse" Robinson and Nathan Eddy will tell stories of how Miners, Cowboys and Outlaws got along (or didn't get along) in the old days. A special treat at the Whiskey Flats camp this weekend will be Gus Curry, a Robert Duvall lookalike as seen in his
cowboy roles such as “Lonesome Dove” and “Open Range.” He will be portraying Robert Duvall's role as Boss Spearman in the movie “Open Range.” Advanced Thanks to the Folks that help make Whiskey Flat Encampment 2011 possible. • Jill Thurman and Chuck Richards; • Mike Ludiker for our Web Page www.whiskeyflatcamp.org • George Randall and talented staff for their exceptional interest and heavy equipment for grounds preparation. • USFS for camp wood • Kern County Sheriff ’s Department and SAL for outstanding cooperation and support. • Chuck Barbee for documenting the history of the valley in "Wild West Country" on DVD. • Re-enactors from So. California participating: Legends of the West, John Olinger; Goshen Mounted Police, Dan Hogan; Texas Cavalry, Fort Tejon, Doug Mroczek; Mountain Men, Breckenridge Buckskinners, DeeDee Moore; Dave "Horse" Robinson; Buffalo Bill Show, Bruce Kratt; Perry Steinhoff for his "Turn of the Century" Sawmill exhibition. For further information and a schedule of events go to www.whiskeyflatcamp.org
For your family of animals,from hounds to horses,pigs to poultry and lots in between Come in and see our large selection of Tack & Feed Supplies. If what you need is not already in stock we will gladly order it for you. “Our customers agree - we are the friendly store” - Owner Roger McLaughlin
6400 Lake Isabella Blvd. Lake Isabella Store: 760-379-2041 Cell: 760-379-6963 across from the Senior Center
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Just a hop, skip and jump outside Whiskey Flat 4700 Lake Isabella Blvd. Lake Isabella, 760-379-4631 HOURS: Monday - Friday 7- 6 Saturday & Sunday 8 - 5
2011 Claim Jumper
page 11
Activities for Thursday through Saturday Fancy pull-out section
Pull this Whiskey Flat Days schedule and map (pages 11-14) out of the center of your Claim Jumper, carry it around
with you and you’ll know what’s going on! It covers all five days of the festival.
THURSDAY FEB 17th 12 NOON EPITAPH CONTEST JUDGING – Kernville Fire Department. All epitaphs will be judged Thursday Noon and placed in Boot Hill, at the Kernville Fire Station, on Friday. 5:00 PM COWBOY AUCTION at Ewing’s on the Kern Restaurant, Kernville Open: 5:00 p.m. Sign ups: 6:00 p.m. AUCTION: 7:00 p.m. Contact Tony Cain at 760-3783408. Always a popular event!
FRIDAY FEB 18th 10:00 AM 10:00-4:00 - KERN VALLEY MUSEUM OPEN on Big Blue Road next to Post Office. Historical Society ~ mining info ~ Indian exhibits ~ artifacts and photos from Yesteryear when Kernville was Whiskey Flat. Annual Kern Valley WOMEN’S CLUB LUNCHEON & FASHION SHOW at the Elks Lodge in Wofford Heights. Doors open at 10am. Presale Tickets Only – Admission, $12. Call KV Women’s Club 760.376.4578 or purchase tickets at Kernville Chamber. HIGH NOON GOLDEN GULCH OPENS Circle Park ~ Frontage Road~ Riverside Park Crafts, handmade items, jewelry, info booths, art & MORE! FFA, Sweet Adelines, Tubatulabal Indians, Rotary Club of KRV, Elks Lodge, and Mt. View Baptist Youth food vendors! Whiskey Flat Headquarters Info on the corner of Kernville Road & Tobias selling Whiskey Flat shirts & memorabilia. Pick up your Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper, Whiskey Flat Miner and the most “up-to-date” Schedule of Events! CONTEST APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE AT KERNVILLE CHAMBER INFO BOOTH: Costume Contest ~ Pet Parade Contest ~ Whiskerino Contest ~ Pie, Jam & Jelly Contest, Yummy! (See this schedule for date/time of contests.) WHISKEY FLAT DAYS KICKOFF MUSIC with the Jazz Tones. Performance at Cheryl’s Diner Patio ~ Kernville WHISKEY FLAT ENCAMPMENTS – Cowboy and Mountain Man Camp re-creations on Scodie Ave across from the Rodeo Grounds. LIFE IN THE OLD WEST! Save the leather on yer boots and catch the Western Express Railway Train in town and ride to the encampments. Watch hold-ups & gunfights, horse shoein’ and horse doctorin’, turn of the century sawmill demonstrations, and Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. There’s cowboy cookin’, a Whiskey Flat Saloon, an Old West Mercantile
Shoppe, shotgun weddings, saddle makin’ & leather craft, and more! Storytellers Dave Ryskamp, Dave “Horse” Robinson & Nathan Eddy will tell stories about miners, cowboys and outlaws. Open ‘til sundown. NATIVE AMERICAN teepees with activities, demonstrations, and more! Lots to do and see! Riverside Park by the Wild & Scenic Kern River. Sponsored by Owens Valley Career Development Center. CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES: Free Face Painting by New Life Assembly of God Church. Bounce houses, rock wall, and obstacle courses. Mechanical Bull rides. Small charge for rides. Riverside Park by the Wild & Scenic Kern River.
NATIVE AMERICAN teepees with activities, demonstrations, and more! Lots to do and see! Riverside Park by the Wild & Scenic Kern River. Sponsored by Owens Valley Career Development Center. CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES: Free Face Painting by New Life Assembly of God Church. Amazing Bounce, with bounce houses, rock wall, and obstacle courses. Mechanical Bull rides. Small charge for rides. Riverside Park by the Wild & Scenic Kern River. 10:00 AM
2:00 PM Check out the WHISKEY FLAT ENCAMPMENTS on Scodie Ave across from the Rodeo Grounds. 4:00 to 7:00 PM SPAGHETTI DINNER AND A MOVIE at Odd Fellows Hall in Kernville to support Mayor Candidate 'Mean River Gene & Whitewater Whitman.' Come enjoy some great vittles! 5:00 PM SCHOEPPNER AMUSEMENT CARNIVAL OPENS on Kernville Road, across from Pizza Barn, by the Forest Service Work Center. Great adult and children’s rides & games, chills and thrills! Save 50% on presale tickets. Sales throughout the Valley until February 18th! Open until 10:00 p.m. 7:00 PM HEY PARDNER ~ BE ON THE LOOKOUT! MAYOR CANDIDATES ROAMING AROUND TOWN SELLING BRIBE TICKETS! THE RACE IS ON! Winner announced Sunday at 3:00 p.m. 2011 WFD Mayor Candidates: “Mercantile Frank & Millinery Dolly” “Mean River Gene & Whitewater Whitman”
SATURDAY FEB 19th 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM Breakfast $6.00 a plate ~ tickets at the door. Kern River Masonic Lodge ~ 562 James Rd., Kernville. Turn uphill past James Store. Always a favorite breakfast – get there early! 8:30 AM VIP Parade Breakfast KERNVILLE CHAMBER
Tobias selling Whiskey Flat shirts & memorabilia. Pick up your Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper, Whiskey Flat Miner, and the most “up-to-date” Schedule of Events!
–
9:00 AM GOLDEN GULCH OPENS Circle Park ~ Frontage Road~ Riverside Park Crafts, handmade items, jewelry, info booths, art & MORE! FFA, Sweet Adelines, Tubatulabal Indians, Rotary Club of KRV, Elks Lodge, and Mt. View Baptist Youth food vendors! Whiskey Flat Headquarters Info on the corner of Kernville Road &
PARADE LINE UP Equestrian judging in designated horse area. (Not everything has “Gone to the Dogs.”) 10:00 a.m. SHARP! SCHOEPPNER AMUSEMENT CARNIVAL On Kernville Road, across from Pizza Barn, by the Forest Service Work Center. Great adult and children’s rides & games, chills and thrills! Open until 10:00 p.m. TROUT HATCHERY OPEN (Sat., Sun., Mon.) Museum & Visitor Center 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Sierra Way, 1 Mile North of Kernville. Free Admission. KERN VALLEY MUSEUM OPEN 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Big Blue Road next to Post Office. Historical Society ~mining info ~ Indian exhibits ~ artifacts and photos from Yesteryear when Kernville was Whiskey Flat. 11:00 AM WHISKEY FLAT DAYS PARADE Theme – “GOIN’ TO THE DOGS” – COWBOY’S BEST FRIEND GET YER SPOT EARLY! Parade route: From Sierra Way & Kernville Road south across bridge to Kern River Drive by Riverside Park, around Riverside One-Stop and up Kernville Road to Tobias. Then Piute Drive to Big Blue Road and end at Kernville United Methodist Church, Big Blue and Sirretta. Judging will be during the parade march. Awards given at 2:30 p.m. at Circle Park Center Stage. 2011 Grand Marshals ~ Fred May, Kern County Animal Control Officer & Kimberly Mullins, Manager of Kern County Animal Control Special VIP guests & delightful parade floats. Parade Announcer, Geoff Emery of KUZZ Radio HIGH NOON Immediately following the Parade – WHISKEY FLAT ENCAMPMENTS. Cowboy and Mountain Man Camp Re-creations on Scodie Ave. across from the Rodeo Grounds. LIFE IN THE OLD WEST! Save the leather on yer boots and catch the Western Express Railway Train in town and ride to the encampments. Watch holdups & gunfights, horse shoein’ and horse doctorin’, turn of the century
sawmill demonstrations, and Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. There’s cowboy cookin’, a Whiskey Flat Saloon, an Old West Mercantile Shoppe, shotgun weddings, saddle makin’ & leather craft, and more! Storytellers Dave Ryskamp, Dave “Horse” Robinson & Nathan Eddy will tell stories about miners, cowboys and outlaws. Open ‘til sundown. 12:30 PM CONCERT BY THE RIVER Music in Riverside Park. FREE admission. Continues all afternoon. 12:30-12:45 ..... Les Bourgeois 1:00-2:00 ......... Off Track 2:00-3:00 ......... Scott Costa & Valerie Cassity 3:00-4:00 ......... Allasso 4:00-5:00 ......... Jest Reason 1:00 PM LINE DANCING by “TLC” ~ Totally Loves Country Circle Park Center Stage – Free Admission CONCERT BY THE RIVER continues in Riverside Park with Off Track. WHISKEY FLAT DAYS RODEO, McNally Rodeo Arena - Cotton Rosser’s FLYING-U Rodeo sponsored by Bud Light. Open Team Roping, Bull Riding, Hide Race, Open Barrel Race, Junior Barrel Race, Calf Scramble, Sheep Riding, and more. Entertainment by “Wild West Cowgirls.” Admission charge. 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM FREE HISTORICAL WALKING TOUR ~ See the Keyesville Mine and Mill with Dr. Gregg Wilkerson, historic tales of the valley! Meet across from the Golf Course and caravan. Minimal walking. *Need waiver form, Hold Harmless statement to sign for insurance purposes. 2:00 PM FIRST HEAT of the FROG JUMPIN’ CONTEST held at Piute Drive by center stage. Watch the Jumpin’-est Frogs in the West! Finals Sunday at 11:30 a.m. - Free Admission CONCERT BY THE RIVER continues in Riverside Park with Scott Costa & Valerie Cassity. 2:00 PM Check out the WHISKEY FLAT ENCAMPMENTS on Scodie across from the Rodeo Grounds. 2:30 PM Parade Awards at the announcer’s stand in Circle Park. 3:00 PM Special performance by the Whitman Dancers- Circle Park, Center Stage CONCERT BY THE RIVER continues in Riverside Park with Allasso. 4:00 PM CONCERT BY THE RIVER continues in Riverside Park with Jest Reason.
Page 14
2011 Claim Jumper
Activities for Sunday and Monday Fancy pull-out section
Pull this Whiskey Flat Days schedule and map (pages 11-14) out of the center of your Claim Jumper, carry it around
with you and you’ll know what’s going on! It covers all five days of the festival.
SUNDAY FEB 20th 9:00 AM GOLDEN GULCH OPENS Circle Park ~ Frontage Road~ Riverside Park. Crafts, handmade items, jewelry, info booths, art & MORE! FFA, Sweet Adelines, Tubatulabal Indians, Rotary Club of KRV, Elks Lodge, and Mt. View Baptist Youth food vendors! Whiskey Flat Headquarters Info on the corner of Kernville Rd. & Tobias selling Whiskey Flat shirts & memorabilia. Pick up your Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper, Whiskey Flat Miner, and the most “upto-date” Schedule of Events! NATIVE AMERICAN teepees with activities, demonstrations, and more! Lots to do and see! Riverside Park by the Wild & Scenic Kern River. Sponsored by Owens Valley Career Development Center. CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES: Free Face Painting by New Life Assembly of God Church. Amazing Bounce, with bounce houses, rock wall, and obstacle courses. Mechanical Bull rides. Small charge for rides. Riverside Park by the Wild & Scenic Kern River. 9:30 AM JESSE LEE BENNETT, Methodist circuit rider who was present in Kernville and the entire Kern River Valley in the mid-1800s, will be reenacted by retired minister Chuck White. He will lead the worship service at Kernville United Methodist Church on the corner of Big Blue Road and Sirretta Street in Kernville. 9:30 AM – 2:00 PM WHISKEY FLAT ENCAMPMENTS – Cowboy and Mountain Man Camp re-creations on Scodie Ave. across from the Rodeo Grounds. LIFE IN THE OLD WEST! Old West Church Service at 10 AM. Save the leather on yer boots and catch the Western Express Railway Train in town and ride to the encampments. Watch hold-ups & gunfights, horse shoein’ and horse doctorin’, turn of the century sawmill demonstrations, and Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. There’s cowboy cookin’, a Whiskey Flat Saloon, an Old West Mercantile Shoppe, shotgun wed-
dings, saddle makin’ & leather craft, and more! Story tellers Dave Ryskamp, Dave “Horse” Robinson & Nathan Eddy will tell stories about miners, cowboys and outlaws. Open til noon today.
p.m.
HAVE YOU HEARD THE MAYOR CANDIDATES SPEECHIFYIN’ YET? IT ALL LEADS UP TO THE MAYOR ANNOUNCEMENT AT 3 P.M.!
CONCERT BY THE RIVER continues in Riverside Park with Dos Guys.
10:00 AM KERN VALLEY MUSEUM OPEN 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. On Big Blue Road next to Post Office. Historical Society ~mining info ~ Indian exhibits ~ artifacts and photos from Yesteryear when Kernville was Whiskey Flat. TROUT HATCHERY OPEN (Sun., Mon.) Museum & Visitor Center 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Sierra Way, 1 Mile North of Kernville. Free Admission. SCHOEPPNER AMUSEMENT CARNIVAL – On Kernville Road, across from Pizza Barn, by the Forest Service Work Center. Great adult and children’s rides & games, chills and thrills! Open until 10:00 p.m. 11:00 AM CONCERT BY THE RIVER Music in Riverside Park ~ FREE admission. Continues until 4 p.m. 11:00-12:00 ..... The Knoxville Prairie Ramblers 12:00-1:00 ....... Dos Guys 1:00-2:00 ......... Fight Like This 2:00-3:00 ......... Bodfish Blues Band 3:00-4:00 ......... Voice of Many 11:30 AM FINAL HEAT FROG JUMPIN’ CONTEST. Held at Piute Drive by center stage. Watch the Jumpin’-est Frogs in the West! These are the FINALS~ Cheer on your favorite JUMPING FROG! Free Admission. HIGH NOON 1860s COSTUME CONTEST SIGN-UPS! Adult & Children forms at WFD’s Info Booth. Judging starts at 12:30 p.m. PET PARADE SIGN UPS! Forms at WFD Info Booth – Judging at 2:00
A NT I G
Come Celebrate at McNally’s
PIE, JAM & JELLIES CONTEST SIGN-UPS! From Noon to 1:00 p.m. finals at 2:30 p.m. Forms at WFD Info Booth or Pie staging area.
12:30 PM OLD FASHIONED 1860s COSTUME CONTEST – Piute Drive & Big Blue Road – Circle Park. Adult categories include Frontier Lady and Man, American Indian Lady and Man, Fancy Lady and Man, Authentic Indian Dress, Modern PowWow, Best Overall Family. Children categories include Frontier Girl and Boy, American Indian Girl and Boy, and Fancy Girl and Boy. Certificates and ribbons awarded Entry is Free! 1:00 PM WHISKEY FLAT DAYS RODEO – McNally Rodeo Arena – Cotton Rosser’s FLYING U Rodeo sponsored by Bud Light. Open Team Roping, Bull Riding, Hide Race, Open Barrel Race, Junior Barrel Race, Calf Scramble, Sheep Riding, and more. Entertainment by “Wild West Cowgirls”. CONCERT BY THE RIVER continues in Riverside Park with Fight Like This. SIGN UPS FOR WHISKERINO CONTEST~ Whiskers, beards, all mustaches apply. Certificates and ribbons awarded. Free forms at WFD Info booth. 2:00 PM CONCERT BY THE RIVER continues in Riverside Park with Bodfish Blues Band. OLD FASHIONED WHISKERINO CONTEST – sign ups at 1:00 pm. Piute Drive by Circle Park. PET PARADE, sign ups Five Categories: WFD’s Matched Pair, Smallest, Funniest! Certificates and awarded – Free
STE AK S
2011 HONORARY WHISKEY FLAT MAYOR ANNOUNCED! WHO WILL BE THE 2011 WHISKEY FLAT MAYOR? Piute Drive by Circle Park . DRAWING: Who will win the $500 shopping spree? CONCERT BY THE RIVER continues in Riverside Park with Voice of Many.
MONDAY FEB 21st 9:00 AM GOLDEN GULCH OPENS Circle Park and Frontage Road Free Admission CHILDREN ACTIVITIES CONTINUE – Riverside Park by the Wild & Scenic Kern River. SCHOEPPNER AMUSEMENT CARNIVAL on Kernville Road, across from Pizza Barn, by the Forest Service Work Center. Ya’ll come back next year!
Be sure to make your plans now to attend the Kern River Valley’s special events this spring! • The “Living Green in the KRV” Festival March 17-27 • The Isabella Lake Fishing Derby April 16-18
2:30 PM
Whiskey Flat Weekend
Sunday, February 20th, 4:30 to 8:00pm Reservations Suggested
Celebrate Your Birthday at McNally’s Buy One Entree and Receive the Second of Equal or Less Value at ½ Off! Plus Free dessert For Birthday guest
Prime Rib Served every Thursday 15 miles north of Kernville on Mtn.99 For Reservations
3:00 PM
Thursday, February 17th, 4:30 to 8:00pm Prime Rib Special Friday, February 18th, 4:30 to 9:00pm Saturday, February 19th, 4:30 to 9:00pm
KER R N RIVE
Home of the 40oz.Porterhouse
at noon. Theme, Largest, ribbons
WINNERS ANNOUNCED FOR PIES, JAMS AND JELLIES CONTEST - YUMMY! Drop off at noon. This is what we’re waitin’ for! Bring on those delicious treats!
760-376-2430
Hamburger Stand Open
Saturday & Sunday Whiskey Flat Weekend Only 10am to 5pm
2011 Claim Jumper
page 15
Who puts this thing out anyway? The publication you’re holding is called the Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper. It’s published once year, especially for the Whiskey Flat Days festival. For a few days in February, Kernville residents pretend it’s the 1860-1864 era of the Gold Rush, when the town went by its original name, Whiskey Flat. The Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper is put out by the folks who publish the Kern River Courier, a weekly newspaper for the Kern River Valley. If you like this Claim Jumper, be sure to check out the Courier. It’s a free newspaper, available for pickup all over the valley every week. Or if you want the convenience of getting the Courier in your mail, you may want to subscribe. Get the Kern River Courier in your mailbox every week and find out what’s happening here in the beautiful Kern River Valley. It’s only $36 a year – only 3 bucks a month. And the Claim Jumper is a free annual bonus. Here’s a list of some of the Courier folks and friends who contributed to this year’s Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper. (If your name isn’t here, forgive us!) Mike Devich, Michael Batelaan, Mike Ludiker, Sara Wakeman, Val Minoux, Murdoc Douglas, Chuck Barbee, the folks at the Kernville Chamber of Commerce, and too many others to list. If you’d like to make a comment on the Claim Jumper or get a hold of us at the Courier, here’s our contact information: Mail: P.O. Box 1145, Wofford Heights, CA 93285. Phone: (760) 376-2860. Fax: (760) 376-2862. E-mail: office@kernrivercourier.com
379-3671
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Page 16
2011 Claim Jumper
GOLD continued from page 4 Kern River along the foot of Sawtooth Mountain. Next morning Lovely, armed with lead rope and prospector's pick, set out on the track of his mule. A few hours and several miles later, he overtook the mule munching weeds in a cove that nestled on the slope above the bank of the river (near modern-day Wofford Heights). At this juncture it is said that Lovely picked up a rock to hurl at his obstreperous mount when his eye caught a glint in the sunlight. The rock was specked with flakes of gold! Soon J. W. Sumner purchased Lovely's find and went into business by incorporating a $600,000 stock company and setting up a 12-stamp mill. Although the records do not show just how much Lovely received for his mine, it is safe to assume that he made up his $20,000 from his proceeds. From this point he and his mule faded from the pages of history, perhaps to return to a quiet life near Fort Gibson in the Cherokee Nation.
Bob Palmer
Robert Palmer was a veteran prospector by the time he reached the Kern River diggins' in 1860, the year Whiskey Flat came into being. Among the gold strikes he had heard about during his travels throughout California during the Gold Rush were those reported from the Kern River. When Lovely Rogers was said to have discovered a new bonanza in the Big Blue lead, Palmer decided to it was time to move along to this new strike. He traveled down the Owens Valley and turned west over Walker Pass, discovered about 25 years earlier by Joseph Walker. In the vicinity of the new strike at Whiskey Flat, he found the area staked out in all directions. Confronted with the necessity of prospecting in new fields, he moved downriver and located a claim south of the Keyes Mine near the spot where Erskine's Creek emptied in the Kern River. Here Mike Erskine had constructed a bridge across the river and set up a way station near where he rented pasturage in the lush meadow formed by the creek. Beside the creekbed Erskine had also built an arrastra in which he ground ore for the miners of the region. Although Bob's claim near the Keyes Mine did not "pan out," the oasis at the junction of creek and river struck him as a mighty fine place for a man to settle down sometime. Since he hadn't made his pile yet, Bob moved on to prospect other areas. Working his way up Kelso Creek, he found colors. He followed the creek up the rugged slopes of Piute Mountain, digging, panning and tracing the gold to its source in a raw, new wilderness. By the
time he reached the willow-bordered gravels of a small stream that meandered through a plateau area on the upper reaches of the mountain, heavier yellow grains were trailing the black sand in the prospect pan. Things looked good, so Bob sent word to a couple of former partners, Hamp Williams and Blackburn Wyatt, to join him. Soon other miners, including Ben Tichnor and Rufus Burrell, made other discoveries resulting in a sizeable stampede to the Piute country. Within a short time, the town of Claraville had blossomed. But Palmer could not agree with his two partners so he sold out and returned to his ranch in the Hot Springs Valley (now the town of Lake Isabella), marrying Rose Glennon and starting a family. He began to raise livestock. Eventually he acquired the Mike Erskine property and built a large, twostory home. His family grew to12 children. There was no school, inasmuch as the Palmers' home was the only one in Hot Springs Valley. They met the problem and established the Palmer School District and the first school in the area. Until 1883 Bob financed the school by hiring a private teacher. The Palmer School District continued to function until the mid-1890s. Thus did Robert Palmer's early dream of the meadow at the mouth of Erskine Creek come true as the place where he built his home and raised his family.
The story of gold in the Kern River Valley
Back in olden times when only Indians inherited the Western earth, a wandering band of Shoshoneans entered into this wilderness. Over the centuries these people built their special culture and lived in harmony with their environment. They were of the Tubatulabal tribe. They lived by hunting and seed-gathering in such a manner as not to deplete the renewable resources on which they depended for sustenance.
There were other untouched treasures that the Indians did not deplete. These included gold buried in placer gravel and in quartz ledges of the lower Kern drainage; gold that would lure white men during early Gold Rush days. The movement of whites to the Kern generated slowly. As early as the spring of 1834 Joseph Reddeford Walker moved up the South Fork Valley and over Walker Pass as the head of the historic Bonneville expedition. In 1843 he returned to over the pass, guiding members of the Chiles party from the east to their settlement of the future in Northern California. There were other visits in passing that left no scar on the Kern landscape. But other visits were to come. Gold had been found at Sutter's mill up north early in 1848; by 1849 the great rush was on. People of all nations flocked to California's Mother Lode. Some "struck it rich," but most were doomed to disillusionment. In this new society prospecting was endemic. Men became compulsive seekers for other far bonanzas. Frazer River, Gold Lake and Gold Bluff became in turn the objectives of explosive rushes to the new diggins'. Then came reports of Indians bringing gold from the Kern River and of prospectors, on their way north from Southern California, panning out colors on Greenhorn Gulch. By 1851 the Kern River excitement began to mount, at first slowly, then with accelerated momentum. As early as 1854 the rich placers of Hogeye, Mammoth and La Mismo gulches had been worked to bedrock; even the river bottom had been ransacked for gold. Where there was no water to wash away the overburden, they had "coyote-holed," sinking shafts to bedrock, then burrowing their way like moles as they followed every golden hint of treasure caught in pothole and crevice along the buried depth of dead watercourses. By the fall of 1854, Dickie Keyes had discovered the lode claim that was to bear his name, and Theodore D. Maltby was glory-holing his outcropping on the crest of Mammoth Ridge, where even the gravel was rich enough to pack by burro to the river and wash in long toms. Later, Lovely Rogers moved on to the Big Blue strike and the founding of Whiskey Flat. As paystreaks pinched out or were worked to greater depths, the days of the independent miners became numbered. Company mining picked up the labor supply. People began to settle on the land to raise crops and cattle. Then came the day when even consolidation and incorporation into ever-larger operations could not revive mines worked down through depths of dimin-
ishing returns. Ranching, recreation and hydroelectric power supplanted mining in economic importance. But we remember these ordinary men of all classes and colors, saints and sinners, and the Indians so badly sinned against. Now the massive monuments to their gigantic labors lie eroded and silent in their wake. Streambeds gutted as high on slopes as panning could show trailings of gold dust, stopes and drifts driven by hand through solid granite where they now lie moldering in black silence, the caved-in mouths of tunnels and shafts, are all mute evidence of their labor.
Garrett shyly looked at the ground and scuffed at the dirt some with the toe of his boot before finally mustering up the courage to inform Owen’s wife of the situation. “Ma’am, your husband just lost five hundred dollars playing cards.” Owen’s wife was furious, “YOU GO BACK AND TELL THAT NO GOOD SHEEP TENDER TO DROP DEAD!” Garrett replied, “Okay, Ma’am.”
“If you’re wondering what’s in the saddlebag,” offers the cowboy, “It’s a bottle of wine. I got it for my woman.” The old Indian sits silently for a time pondering. He soon turns towards the cowboy and nods his head in approval. “Good trade,” he says.
By Ardis M. Walker, adapted from "The Rough and the Righteous of the Kern River Diggins," 1970. Edited by Mike Devich, 2011. About the Author Ardis M. Walker was born April 9, 1901 in Keyesville. He grew up in the Kern River Valley the way it was before the lake. Walker loved poetry as a boy and would memorize it and recite it as he walked back and forth to school in Vaughn (now Bodfish). In 1910 his mother took her three sons and one daughter to Fresno so they could get a good education. Ardis continued his education at UCLA and later at USC working on and off to pay for his education. In 1927 Ardis went to work for Bell Telephone Laboratories in New York City, one of the world’s most prestigious research facilities. He worked during the day and wrote poetry at night. In 1932 he quit Bell and returned to California. He wanted to return to Keyesville, where he was born, and write poetry. He supplemented his income by being a correspondent for the Bakersfield Californian. In 1953 the Walkers started a motel in Kernville. He was President of the Kernville Chamber of Commerce at the time and came up with the name Whiskey Flat Days. He was also a justice of the peace and a county supervisor. Walker was passionately devoted to the Death Valley ‘49ers group. In 1977 the Death Valley Encampment was dedicated to Ardis and Gayle. Ardis was made President Emeritus of the Death Valley '49ers November 11, 1990, about two months before his death. He passed away January 16, 1991. Excerpts from the 1977 Death Valley Encampment Program dedicated to the Walkers by Mary DeDecker, biography by Joseph S. Nelson and the Kern River Valley Historical Society, from the Death Valley ‘49ers web site.
HUMOR continued from page 5 His first kick planted the toe of his cowboy boot right into the lawyer's groin and dropped him to his knees. His second kick, to the belly, doubled the lawyer over, gagging for air. The lawyer was on hands and knees when the rancher's third kick, to his rump, sent him face first into a fresh cow patty. The lawyer summoned every bit of his willpower and managed to struggle to his feet. Wiping his face with the sleeve of his jacket he said, "Okay, you old fool. Now it's my turn." The old rancher laconically turned away and answered, "Nah, I give up. You can have the duck."
A Lucky Break Five local cowpokes were playing poker at the Whiskey Flat Saloon when one of the players, named Owen, loses five hundred dollars on a single hand. It was just too much for his weak old heart to take. As he clutched at his chest, he stood up and promptly dropped dead on the table.
Showing the greatest respect for their fallen comrade, the other cowpokes finished the hand standing on their feet. Frank, the youngest of the bunch, looks around the table and asks his fellow cowpokes, "Well now, which one of us is going to tell his wife?" No one readily volunteered for the job so they decided to draw straws to see who would do the chore. Garrett, who usually ended up the loser at such contests, was true to form as he managed to draw the shortest of the straws. His friends were more than willing to offer him their sound advice to be discreet and gentle, and to not make a bad situation any worse than it already was. “Discreet? Why I'm the most discreet man you’ll ever meet. Discretion is my middle name,” bragged Garrett. “You just leave it to me.” Garrett made his way to the house of Owen Smith and knocked on the door. Owen’s wife answered and asked the young man standing at the door what he wanted.
Trail Wisdom
A lone cowboy had been riding the trail in the Owens Valley for several days as he worked his way back to his ranch in Weldon when he comes upon an old Tubatulabal man heading the same direction. Because the ride had been long and quiet he asks if he might ride along with him for a spell. The old Tubatulabal agrees and they travel along together until nightfall. That evening they made camp and as they sat near the fire they began some small talk. The cowboy notices the old Tubatulabal glancing over towards a bottle sticking out of one of the saddlebags lying beside him.
Fried Chicken
The old rancher was on his deathbed. He had only hours to live when suddenly he smelled the scent of fried chicken wafting into his room. Aaahhhh…He loved fried chicken more than anything else in the world. With his last bit of energy, he pulled himself out of bed… Down the stairs and into the kitchen he went. There was his beloved wife, Claire, standing at the stove frying up a second pan of chicken. As he reached towards the platter next to the stove for what might possibly be his last drumstick, he got smacked across the back of the hand with the wooden spoon his wife was holding. “Leave them alone” she scolded. “They’re for the funeral!”
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Whiskey Flat Days Grand Parade history Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper
The Whiskey Flat Days Parade started about the fifth year of the festival in 1961. John E. McNally was master of ceremonies that year, and he announced the parade for many years before he passed away in 2007. Lloree Knowles, a local real estate agent, organized the first parade and was chairman for many years. Over the years the parade has grown to become possibly the highlight of Whiskey Flat Days. Each year many thousands of visitors and locals line both sides of Kernville Road and other locations in Kernville to see the many floats, equestrians, marching reenactors and clowns make their way along the parade route. The parade starts at the corner of Kernville Road and Sierra Way, ready to cross the bridge and enter the Circle Park area. From there the parade turns left on Kern River Drive and goes along Riverside Park. Then it turns right on Kernville Road again around Riverside One-Stop and up Kernville Road to Tobias, the street on the east side of Circle Park. Then up to Piute Drive to Big Blue Road and another right turn to Whitney Drive. There are lots of blank rounds going off, so owners of dogs and little children beware. The Grand Marshals of the parade are a Who’s Who of the valley and the county. In 2008 the Grand Marshal was Kernville’s 92-year-old Tom Johnson, who is a whitewater legend and who helped develop the fiberglass kayak. He started the annual Kern River Festival in the 1960s. In 2009 it was Jim Scott and
Michael Batelaan/Whiskey Flat Flaim Jumper
The Whiskey Flat Days Grand Parade takes place on the Saturday morning of Whiskey Flat Days
Robin Mangarin, news anchors on KGET-TV in Bakersfield. Here are other Grand Marshals from the past few years. • 2007: Jack White, Donna Begay,
‘KICK’EM UP KEL’ 2004 WHISKEY FLAT MAYOR
Chuck Barbee, and Amanda Rankin • 2006: Cotton Rosser • 2005: John E. and Shirley McNally, and special guests Rebecca and Eric Giddens.
• 2004: Smokey Bear • 2003: George and Darlene Randall • 2002: Ray Vega
Dogs ’ to the “Goin A Cowboys Best Friend ”
Southfork Womens Club
KELLEE SCOTT Insurance Agent License #0833364
Phone: (760) 376-8703 Fax: (760) 376-8603 27 Big Blue Rd. Kernville, CA
We Be a’Protect’n • Wagons • Homesteads • Butts & Concerns
After 97 Years & Still Going Strong
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379-7674
Outfitters of your entire outfit For Gosh Sakes Man! Put in some indoor plumbing for that little lady of yours and she will smell and look nicer than those girls you drink with. Get your new fangled toilet today. Ast. Mgr. Joe will install at little to nothin'.
Fatigues, knifes, long johns, boots, duffel bags, cast iron cook’in ware, all the gear to set up camp.
11317 KERNVILLE RD. • KERNVILLE
760-376-2426
6112 Lake Isabella Blvd. Lake Isabella 760-379-8614 Open 9am-5pm Monday thru Saturday 9am-4pm Sunday
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2011 Claim Jumper
Hey YoU! You Like whiskey flat? well, then come visit us all year! Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper
There’s always somethin’ for a flatlander like yourself to do when ya come up here to our rarified mountain air. If ’n ya like gettin’ outside, there’s campin’ and fishin’ and huntin’ and all that stuff. If ’n ya like pokin’ around stores, we got that too. We got eatin’ houses and places to stay and all kinds of civilization here. But then once in a while we like to kick our heels up and have some fun. Flatlanders like that too, so here’s a list we threw together so’s that you can see all the fun we have around here. MARCH: In March this year is the Keyesville Classic mountain bike races. If ’n they can get all the gold miners up there Keyesville way to stand aside for a while, mountain bikers come from all over to ride their trusty metal steeds up and down the considerable hills they got over there. A group outta Bakersfield puts that on. Go to http://ssfta.com/ on one of them new-fangled computers. Also we’re gonna have a Living Green festival in Wofford Heights so’s we can all learn how to live without foulin’ our own nest, so to speak. Go to krvr.org to learn about that one. APRIL: April’s a beautiful month up here. Lots o’ stuff going on. There’s the Isabella Lake Fishing Derby. If ’n you get registered and you catch a trout with this year’s tag on it, you can win your share of $200,000 in cash money! Up to $20,000! Wonder how much that works out to per pound? It’ll buy ya a lot of chips at the poker table, that’s for sure! Get a hold of http://derby.kernrivervalley.com/ to find out moreAlso in April is the Kern River Festival, when they race
Nelson
File photo courtesy Kern River Courier
There’s lots to do here in the Kern River Valley. When the warmer weather comes, out come the boats like the one above.
those kayaks up and down the river. They have rafts too, but they only go in one direction -- if ’n you don’t count flying into the air and turning upside down. TGo to to http://www.kernfestival.org/ or call (818) 340-3083. Comin’ up also will be the annual Trout Festival at the Hatchery, where they give you a free hot dog and let you have some fun there in the shade and learn all about fishing. They don’t know the date yet, but you can call the Kernville Chamber of
“Gene & Jeltje”
Aviation Services Phone (760) 376-2852 P.O. Box 837 Kernville, CA 93238
Commerce at (760) 376-2629 when it gets closer and they’ll give you the skinny. MAY: The Kern Valley Spring Nature Festival used be called the Bioregions Festival and it’s a pretty big deal. You can learn about all kinds of stuff havin’ to do with nature, like all about plants and animals and rocks and what a beautiful place we live in. They hold it here in Kernville and Weldon -two places. The first Saturday in May is the Sirretta St. Swap Meet in Kernville
where a whole big old long street holds a gigantic yard sale! Definitely worth coming to. Also in May is the Classic Car Show in the park on the river. They close off the whole street. The Kern Valley Rotary Club puts it on. Good times and rock and roll! Then on Memorial Day Weekend, the Kern River Valley Art Association will put on their big ol’ Spring Fine Arts and Crafts Festival in Circle Park. They’ve been doin’ it for 45 years now! Wow! Then summer starts, and man there’s a lot of events. In June there’s a free fishing day and they hold a fishing derby just for kids. There’s a day called Whitewater Wednesday when people can get introduced to whitewater rafting and get all wet. There’s a mule and donkey show, kind of like those Mule Days over in Bishop. In July is the fireworks show for our great nation’s independence and a race of those new-fangled water bikes or whatever they call ‘em -- they go real fast. August is when they run those rubber duckies down the river and bet on ‘em and raise money for the Kern Valley Exchange Club, which uses it for community projects. And there’s the fall art show by the Kern River Valley Art Association. And a bunch more. Throughout the fall there’s so much going on here. Then come the holidays and then Whiskey Flat Days and we start it all over again. Come and join us up here anytime you feel a hankerin’ to taste some fresh mountain air and get out of the rat race. We’ll save a stool for you at your favorite joint.
THE MOTHER LODE ANTIQUES & COLLECTiBLES
On Sierra Way ~ 3 Miles South of the Heart of Kernville
16 Tobias, Kernville
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ASSISTED LIVING Providing Seniors with Companionship, Security and Peace of Mind. We Encourage our Residents to be Openings now available Active in Family, Community and Event Participation. A Touch of the Resort Atmosphere in the Kern River Valley. Kern Village The Burlington 32 Burlando Rd. Kernville, CA 13 Sycamore Dr. Wofford Hgts, CA 760-376-6733 760-376-6474 LIC#157200475 LIC#155801223
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Summers are pretty cool in the Kern River Valley Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper
File photo courtesy of Kern River Courier
In the summer new Kernville is the headquarters for the many whitewater outfitters that host rafting trips on the Kern River, which is swollen with snowmelt every spring and summer. The reservoir rises and becomes another playground for water enthusisants, with water skiing, boating and windsurfing available. Fishermen have their choice of lake fishing or stream and river fishing. Both are considered terrific here. Around Kernville there are trails for hikers to hike, rocks for climbers to climb, and campgrounds for campers to camp in. The Forest Service office in Kernville, which is a building made of giant logs, will be able to help you with all the information, permits, reservations and so on. It’s right around the corner from the Kern Valley Museum, a gem of a place packed full of local history.
Wheel fun Mountain bike riding is just one of the many things you can do here in the Kern River Valley during the summertimes.
Exactly where was Old Whiskey Flat Located? Kern River Courier
A lot of visitors wonder, as they enjoy Whiskey Flat Days in the town of New Kernville, exactly where the town of Old Kernville was. They know the original location is out in the lake bed, but exactly where was Whiskey Flat? A clue to where Whiskey Flat was is the old part of the Kern River Valley Cemetery, which was a part of Old Kernville originally and is now part of the town of Wofford Heights. Wofford Heights is adjacent to the former site of Old Kernville. Wofford
Heights is named after an old-time rancher by the name of Irven Wofford, who sold off part of his ranch to valley folks who needed new places to live when the lake went in during the early 1950s. Old Kernville was located just to the northeast of Wofford Heights. Look in the lake bed just south of the Old Cemetery and you’ll see foundations. Those were part of Old Kernville. There are still people in New Kernville who can tell you what buildings those foundations belonged to. Many of them serve as docents at the Kern Valley Museum in Kernville, just down from the post office.
Lots of other stuff to see in the general area, too. Want to see some of the original buildings from Whiskey Flat? Go to Silver City Ghost Town in Bodfish, where they moved a lot of local old-time historical buildings to save them. Or try going out to Weldon, where a lot of buildings from the old times are still there, like the A. Brown Flour Mill, visible right from the highway across from where Highway 178 and Kelso Valley Road meet. It’s been there since the 1800s. You might have come straight to Kernville to Whiskey Flat Days, but you might not be aware of the many other things to do and places to see in our big Kern River Valley. Each one of them is a delight to the senses and will keep you armed with things to talk about for a long while. Enjoy our little not-so-little celebration, and come back for the many other things happening here in the Kern River Valley throughout the year
rodeo grounds named after mcnally One attraction of Whiskey Flat Days that is not be missed is the Wild West Daze Rodeo, to be held both Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m. at the John E. McNally Rodeo Grounds (just follow the crowd). There has been a rodeo in the Kern River Valley for many years. The late John E. McNally produced the Sierra Roundup Rodeo at Scovern Hot Springs during the 1940s, before the lake came in and the town of Isabella moved onto and around the site. The McNally barn is still there, behind
Isabella Supermarket. McNally went on to be a rodeo stock contractor until the mid-1950s, producing shows not only in California but Nevada as well. McNally and his wife Pauline started a steakhouse in the late 1940s at Fairview that still bears their name. Retiring from the resort business, John E. McNally became a legendary Tulare County Sheriff ’s deputy, covering 1,000 square miles of back country. McNally passed away in 2007 at the age of 94. He was truly a legend larger than life.
KERN VALLEY GOLF COURSE FORE the Avid
Lanny Borthick General Contractor
Duffer
Residential Commercial New Construction & Remodel
Whiskey Flat Weekend Specials $28 Includes Cart - or take advantage of Twilight Golf $18 includes cart starting at 1:00pm
Breakfast: Breakfast Burrito with choice of Bloody Mary or Mimosa $5.00 8 - 11am
9472 BURLANDO RD KERNVILLE
Lunch: Hamburger, Chips & Soft Drink $5.00 11am - 2:00pm
760 376-2828
Lic. #269081
2010 Isabella Lake Fishing Derby $100 Trout Sponsor
P.O. Box 910 Kernville, CA 93238 Office 760-376-6800 Fax 760-376-1710
G ENE P ARKS
Insurance Agency
Law Office
of
Rocky D. Ritchie
Got a Claim? We’re on it lickety split.
In Lake Isabella & Ridgecrest DUI Defense Criminal Law Defense Most Of Your Legal Needs Free Initial Consultation Office: (760) 549-0900 Cell: (760) 417-1582 www.rockyritchie.com 5104 Lake Isabella Blvd. #B
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2011 Claim Jumper
2011 Jumping Frogs These are early entries for the famous Frog Jumpin’ Race. All About Travel Alzheimer’s Association Betty B's Justin Tyme Burlington Assisted Living Cheryl’s Diner Click Realty Erskine Creek Water Co. Farmers Insurance George & Darlene Randall Harry Thal Insurance Isabella True Value Kern Lodge Kern Lodge Kern Lodge Kern River Courier Kern Valley Sun Kern Village Asst Living Kernville Chamber Kernville Inn L & M Lumber Lanny Borthick General Contractor McNally’s Mtn. Masonry My Sewing Room Petal Pusher Riverside One Stop Sierra Gateway Sierra Gateway Sierra South Sonia Penny The Drug Store Thomas Refuse Mayor Candidate Mayor Candidate
“Travelin’ Frog” “Forget me Not” “Lett me Jump” “Springer” “Pie AlaToad” “Slick Click” “Liquid Gold” “Kick em up Kel” “LeRoy” “Budwiser” “Mr. Fix-up” “Aggapina “Carl” “Napolian” “Claim Jumper” “Sun Spot” “Jerry Atrick” “Ben Irritatin’ ” “DownTown” “Knot Head” “Douglas Firbanks” “Fairview Special” “She’s A Brick House” “Kermitt” “Petal Pusher” “Legs” “Sierra Gateway Ribbits 1” “Sierra Gateway Ribbits 2” “White Water Willy” “The Captain” “Pill Popper” “Recyclin Rose” Mercantile Frank Freddie The Frog
Native American history shown at French Gulch If you’re here for Whiskey Flat Days, be sure to explore the Nuui Cunni Indian Cultural Center at French Gulch, midway between Lake Isabella and Wofford Heights. The Nuui Cunni Indian Cultural Center is one of the jewels in the crown of our local area. Located at French Gulch (between Lake Isabella and Wofford Heights), just north of the French Gulch Bridge, the Nuui Cunni (meaning “our house”) Center is a showplace for Native American artwork and cultural objects. The 3,150 square foot center is built on one of the most beautiful pieces of land in the valley, overlooking Isabella Lake with a spectacular view of Cook Peak across the lake. It houses a museum, library, gift shop, and visitors center. Managed and operated by the Kern River Paiute Council, the Nuui Cunni Center is dedicated to preserving, restoring and teaching the Native American
culture, history and traditions by providing a facility available for educational, ceremonial and social activities for Native Americans (gatherings are held there regularly) as well as the interested public. There is no charge to enter and observe the center, although donations are appreciated. Hours of operation from May through October are Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. and during the winter (from November through April), 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. The building is also available for meetings, seminars, gettogethers, weddings, etc. at very affordable rates. Call the phone number below to get rates for your event. It is used for classes of all sizes coming through the center to learn about Native American history and to see demonstrations of early Native American life here in the Kern River Valley. For more information, call the center at 760-549-0800.
Thanks to the special contributors to the Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper The staff of the Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper would once again like to thank the many people who contribute to this effort each year. Thanks to Sara Bellum, Warren Peace, Amanda Reckonwith, Chris P. Bacon, Justin Case, Ella Fant, Ivona Tinkle, Paige Turner, Owen A. Fortune, Rick Shaw, Wendy Sunsets, Robin Banks, Warren T. Sellers, Marge Inalong, Jacque Strap, Louise E. Anna, Kay O'Pectate, Sue Shie, Rick O'Shea, Phil A. Delphia, Mike Rohsopht, Cody Pendant, Casey Deeya, Ginger Vitis, Hammond Eggs, Beau Vine and Carrie Oakey.
DR.NANCY D.BOYD MEDICINE WOMAN
Vintage photo courtesy of Chuck Barbee
In plane view HOURS: 8:00AM - 5:00 MONDAY -FRIDAY
PM
144 BUENA VISTA DR. KERNVILLE (ACROSS
FROM
EWINGS)
760-376-6504
This is an aerial photo of Old Isabella before the lake went in and covered it up. The South Fork of the Kern is coming in from the right, and the North Fork is coming in from the top of the photo. The Edison Company canal serving the Borel power plant can easily be seen running down through the left of the photo. Old Kernville was five miles north of Old Isabella. The markings on landmarks are on the original photo and show the locations of a few landmarks, including the road to the South Fork (shown as “Highway 187 to Weldon.”) The Auxiliary Dam today stands in the approximate location of Old Isabella.
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Some Early Ranches of the Kern River Valley this time had a store in Kernville. Andy had also raised stock and farmed in Tulare County, and had done more than a little mining. Soon after he came to Kernville in the middle 1860s he was given the responsibility of being foreman of the Sumner quartz mill. He was unable to stay away from the store business long though, and in 1869 he bought a brick store building in Old Kernville. The A. Brown Store in Old Kernville carried much of what was needed by the valley’s families. It was a hub of life in Old Kernville. Andy Brown never lived on the South Fork property that bore his name.
Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper
The Kern River Valley, in the late 1800s, consisted of dozens of ranches of different sizes. Here is some history about a few of them.
• Cannell Ranch/Joughin Ranch
Thomas Arthur Cannell was born on the Isle of Man in 1854. Coming to California with his brother, John J. Cannell in the 1870s, he joined him in the roving life of a sheepman. During a visit to his homeland in 1891 he married Margaret Ann Joughin, and they returned to California, settling almost immediately on the South Fork. Mr. Cannell’s brother-in-law, William D. Joughin, also came to the valley in 1898, and after a year he started ranching in Inyo County with Bob Stephens, who was also from the Isle of Man. In the 1900s, this land became the Joughin Ranch. As Highway 178 gains the summit of Joughin Hill and starts down to Mt. Mesa, you can see the new headquarters of the Joughin Ranch. Before the lake was formed the ranch complex was north of the point of the hill. Reaching as far east as Patterson Lane, at one time it took in 800 acres, including the Patterson, Cook and Wes Brown ranches as well as the original Cannell Ranch. In later years, an Isle of Man friend of Joughin’s, Bill Kissack, had a ranch of his own nearby.
• Taylor Ranch/Neill Ranch
Just west of the Kernville cut-off road in the South Fork is the ranch that was known for many years as the Taylor place. Originally settled by C. J. E. Taylor, it was purchased in the late 1800s by Robert Neill. Along with the Taylor property, Neill had also bought the Swan and Gray ranches, and by 1900 what was then known as the the Neill Ranch stretched west for over a mile, taking in 840 acres.
• Petersen Ranch
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The A. Brown Ranch was located one mile west of the South Fork School on Highway 178. Andrew (Andy) Brown bought the ranch in 1871 from Alexander Forsyth. As the Weldon Post Office had been established at the ranch that same year, it wasn't long before Brown started stocking various necessities. A virtual trading mecca soon developed. Andrew wasn't a newcomer to the mercantile business as he had tried his hand at running a store in Mariposa County, and also at
When Thomas H. Smith founded the ranch in 1861, he set aside a portion of the land for use as a family cemetery. This is the quaint old burial ground nestled in a curve of the hill and was named Cottage Grove Cemetery. A walk through the tree-shaded serenity of the cemetery may give a lesson in local history to those who take time to read the weathered inscriptions on the gravestones. The Smith home became the center of community life in the Valley. It was the scene of weddings, births and solemn occasions of death. The first ice cream socials to be held on the South Fork were also held here. Its doors were never closed to friend or stranger, and many a traveler camped overnight in the yard and was sped on his way with gifts from the Smith's ever-full larder. (Editor’s note: author Bob Powers was a descendent of the Smiths.)
• Nicoll Ranch
As the highway starts on a straight stretch three miles below Onyx, you can see the buildings of the old Nicoll Ranch where they stand off to the north side of the road. Bill and John Nicoll came to the Kern River in 1859, where they mined until 1863, when they took up ranches on the South Fork. Bill had his first ranch on Seybert Lane, and the second one on Kelso Creek just above where the Kelso Valley Road first crosses the creek. John Nicoll settled on the property where the buildings are located and in 1891 owned 480 acres. His
See RANCHES, Page 22
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owning many dwellings in Kernville, the Golden Gate Hotel in Havilah was added to the family holdings. In 1883 the Kernville Hotel was destroyed by a fire that swept through town. Lost with it were other structures owned by Petersen. After such a big loss on his town property, N. P. turned more of his energy to the land. In 1888 he constructed another ditch from the river to put more of his land under irrigation. He acquired adjoining land until he had 1,200 acres. This was in addition to two ranches he owned on Greenhorn Mountain. These Greenhorn ranches were used mostly for the summer headquarters of his cattle operation. The NP brand was known throughout Kern County.
• Smith Ranch
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A cattle drive heads north in this undated photo. The view is looking south from about the middle of modern-day Lake Isabella (around Kern Valley Plaza) towards Hooper Hill in the background.
• Forsyth Ranch/A. Brown Ranch
N.P. Petersen was a miner who stayed after the gold mining played out. Petersen arrived in Old Kernville in May of 1864. In 1871, Petersen took up land on the South Fork of the Kern River about 12 miles from Old Kernville. He continued to prosper. In 1873, Petersen built the Kernville Hotel, which provided food and lodging a little above the usual mining town fare. Besides
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Photo courtesy of Chuck Barbee
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Page 22
2011 Claim Jumper
RANCHES continued from page 21
RODEO continued from page 1
holdings went as far as the Methodist Church, and the original ranch buildings stood about 200 yards straight behind the church. To the south of the ranch, Nicolls Peak looms over the South Fork Valley, named after old John.
most sought-after work in the San Joaquin Valley. The main rodeo was the one in June. Branding the calves that had been born since last spring made up a big part of each rodeo. Each owner or a representative of the owner would go into the herd and cut out each cow and calf belonging to his brand. Then, as they were held away from the main herd, the calves would be roped and dragged from the herd to be branded, earmarked, and the bull calves castrated. While one owner was branding his calves, another owner or representative of an owner would be cutting out his cows with unbranded calves on the other side of the herd. There were quite a few calves that had not been branded the year before, and at this time would not be
• Landers Ranch
In 1877 William Landers moved his cattle operation to the South Fork of the Kern River. His ranch was in Kelso Valley. Landers had sent back east for trees five years earlier and planted them on the home ranch. He had planted peaches, pears, and other varieties. These trees produced the best fruit in the area. Everyone in the South Fork Valley was free to come and pick what they needed for their own use at no charge.
• McCray Ranch
In 1892, John McCray was working for William Landers and decided he wanted to have a ranch of his own. He left Johnnie Johnson, a well known cattleman on the South Fork, as Mr. Landers' foreman, and bought the Garden Brothers Ranch six miles west of Weldon.
• Bloomfield Ranch
James Pruitt first filed on this ranch in 1872, and the family names that come to mind in connection with ownership of this ranch over the years include Rankin, Hutchison, Thomas and Gardner, in that order.
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following their mothers, and this was where the judge of the rodeo came into play. The judge would have to make a determination as to whose brand would be put on the animal. This job of cutting the herd and branding was the spice of life to these cowboys. Everybody pitched in, making it seem more like play than work. When all the market steers had been gathered, they were started for Butcher Town in south San Francisco. They would drive the steers only about six miles a day, letting them feed on the way. It would take about two months to make the trip. This way, they would arrive at the market with a few added pounds. From the book ‘Cowboy Country’ by Bob Powers
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2011 Claim Jumper
page 23
A panoramic view of KRV history
Vintage photo courtesy Chuck Barbee
If you were standing in the middle of downtown Old Kernville many years ago, this is what you would have seen as you turned from left to right. At left is the old A. Brown Store and at right is the Mountain Inn, where many celebrities stayed. In the middle left of center is old Doc Smith’s place.
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Left to right: In the trenches at the Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper, Mike Devich, Rag to Riches editorializing Co-publisher; Sara Wakeman, Whip Cracking Office Boss; Mike Ludiker, Production and Spider Web Master and Michael Batelaan, Rag to Riches graphic Co-publisher;. Vintage Val, The Advertising Answer Gal; and Kelly Scarborough, are not pictured, They are both out collectin advertisments reservations for the Claim jumper.
Page 24
2011 Claim Jumper
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