Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper 2012 by Kern River Courier

Join us in Kernville

Map of the Flat on pg.10-11

February 17-20, 2012

February 2012

Whiskey Flat, Calif.

FREE

Welcome to Whiskey Flat Days!

INSIDE:

Enjoy the old-fashioned fun as the California Gold Rush town of Kernville returns to its 1860-64 roots when it was “Whiskey Flat” Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper Let your mind go back in time, back 150 years when the California was a state only 12 years old, when large portions of it were still Spanish land grants. The mighty Kern River splashed unfettered by concrete, dams or controls of any kind, down to a swampy San Joaquin Valley. The swampland down below, a vast area known as Tulare Lake, was full of tule reeds and was home to millions of birds. The people of the day reported seeing clouds of birds in the sky so thick that they blotted out the sun. In those days there was little travel in the San Joaquin Valley itself, because of the almost impassable land. Travel existed mainly in the foothills, where rivers and streams still had to be forded, but riding by horseback or muleback was much easier. Gold had been discovered at about the same time California had become one of the United States. Gold seekers came from every corner of the world, many by sailing ship into the port of San Francisco. They streamed overland into the interior portions of California. They supplied themselves with provisions at Visalia, and then aimed themselves and their wagons at the Sierra Nevada. Gold was rumored to have been discovered at a place where two

Michael Batelaan/Special to the Claim Jumper

Cover your ears when the gunfighters come to town during Whiskey Flat Days. But enjoy the festivities, the food, the contests, the music and the fun! forks of a big river met, a place called the Kern River Valley. They streamed over the Greenhorn Mountains that formed the western boundary of the valley, their wagons slowed on the downhill side by big logs cut for that purpose. They came in mainly through Keyesville and down over the route that is now State Highway 155.

In the year 1860 a man by the name of Adam Hamilton was one of those who made the trip over the Greenhorn Mountains. He was an American entrepreneur who decided to make himself a bit of money by selling what many of the miners craved after a hard day’s work – a drink of spirits. So he led his burro laden with two barrels of whiskey down the eastern

side of the Greenhorns. He had heard about a gold strike at the bottom of the gulch he was traveling down. It was some mighty well-paying ore, and there were a lot of miners working in a mine called the Big Blue. So Hamilton found the center of the mining camp, found a plank of wood, set it across his two barrels and started selling his whiskey. Unfortunately, the spot he picked was in the middle of folks who did not care for the evils of spirits. They asked him to move his makeshift bar away from that spot, and he did. The spot he picked was on a little sandy flat next to the river, now more placid than it was higher up in the mountains. The miners started moving their own camps down closer to his establishment. As the ones who enjoyed a tipple now and again gravitated there, a town started to grow. That town was called by several names, but the one that stuck was Whiskey Flat. Four years later, things had changed a lot. A new county, Kern County, had formed. There were houses and hotels in the town, some eating houses and a few stores. There were real streets, a dry goods

See welcome page 2

Exactly where was Old Whiskey Flat? Kern River Courier

Michael Batelaan/Kern River Courier Calamity’s Jule, AKA: Julie Brueggeman and Flower Filly Sue, AKA: Sue Rumsower.

Meet the the Mayor Candidates Calamity’s Jule, AKA Julie Brueggeman is the program director for Family Preservation Community Services, the organization that runs the ETC! center in Wofford Heights. Brueggeman works with children and at risk fam-

ilies. The purpose of Every Teen Counts! is to enable children and their families to realize their own potential. ETC! was developed in response to requests from the chil-

See mayors page 6

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. In years when the lake is higher, you can’t see the foundations at all. They’re covered by the waters of Isabella Lake. But in lower water years, the former location of Old Kernville/Whiskey Flat is visible again. The lake recedes and little sandy flat where Old Kernville was becomes much as it was, withe the placid Kern River bisecting the flat area as it did in the old times.

Find out a little history on how long the parade has been marching

Step back in time with a visit to the Whiskey Flat encampment

The fun starts with the Whiskey Flat Calendar of events

Bodfish Bob shares his Cowboy Cooking receipes

19 The frogs are hoppin” at Whiskey Flat

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February 2012

welcome continued from page 1 store, a feed stable, some saloons, a blacksmith shop and a brewery. The town was now too civilized to be called Whiskey Flat any more. So it was renamed. The name that they chose was Kernville. Kernville in its original location existed for almost 100 years. It survived the years when the gold ran out. The citizenry switched to ranching and similar pursuits. Kernville saw the coming of hydropower plants put in to serve the electricity-hungry city of Los Angeles. The area was later discovered by Hollywood as an ideal place to make Western movies, and from time to time stars like Tom Mix, Roy Rogers and Hopalong Cassidy could be seen here. John Wayne came here to shoot a scene for the classic “Stagecoach.” WWII came and went, and then the Kern River Valley saw something new coming in that changed the face of it forever. Kernville was told its days were numbered. Residents who had grown up here, some whose families had been here for generations, were told they had to move away. A government flood control reservoir was coming into the Kern River Valley. The citizens of Kernville were told they had to move to higher ground or have their houses by covered by the rising lake. Kernville refused to lose almost 100 years of history. Many of the citizens of Kernville decided to move en masse to higher ground a few miles to the north, onto the former Burlando Ranch, where they could establish a new Kernville. By the early 1950s a new Kernville stood. Some of the original buildings from Old Kernville were moved there; others were newly built. The people of New Kernville picked up their lives and started a new history. But the citizens couldn’t forget the original town’s old history, a colorful Gold Rush past that was matched by very few American communities. So the townspeople decided to hold a yearly celebration in the winters when times were slower and people could enjoy the full

Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper

Cowboy joke corner Around here, the cowboys tell cowboy jokes to each other. Those cattle camps must get real lonely. Here’s some of the clean and semiclean ones we could print. A TEXAS TALE A cowboy rode into town and stopped at the saloon for a drink. Unfortunately, the locals always had a habit of picking on newcomers. When he finished, he found his horse had been stolen. He came back into the bar, flipped his gun into the air, catching it above his head without even looking, and fired a shot into the ceiling. "Who stole my horse?" he yelled. No one answered. The newcomer cowboy said, "I'm gonna have another beer. If my horse ain't back outside by the time I'm finished, I'm gonna do what I done back in Texas. And I don't want to have to do what I done back in Texas!" There was some shuffling in the back of the room, but the cowboy stared at his beer. The cowboy had another beer, walked outside, and his horse was back! He saddled up and started to ride out of town. The bartender wandered out of the bar and asked, "Say partner, what happened in Texas?" The cowboy turned back and said, "I had to walk home!" A BANG UP JOB A tough old cowboy told his grandson that if he wanted to live a long life, the secret was to sprinkle a pinch of gunpowder on his oatmeal every morning. The grandson did this religiously to the age of 103. When he died, he left 14 children, 30 grand-children, 45 great-grand-

children, 25 great-great-grandchildren, and a 15-foot-deep crater where the crematorium used to be. HORSE LAUGH A man was driving through Texas one spring evening. The road was deserted and he had not seen a soul for what seemed like hours. Suddenly his car started to cough and splutter and the engine slowly died away, leaving him sitting by the road in total silence. He popped the hood and looked to see if there was anything that he could do to get it going again. But he had a limited knowledge of cars, so all he could do was look at the engine, feeling despondent. Suddenly, through the inky shadows, came a deep voice. "It's your fuel pump." The man jumped up, striking his head on the underside of the hood. "Who said that?" he demanded. There were two horses standing in the field alongside. The man was amazed when the nearest of the two horses repeated, "It's your fuel pump. Tap it with your flashlight, and try it again." Confused, the man tapped the fuel pump with his flashlight, turned the key and sure enough, the engine roared into life. He muttered a short thanks to the horse and screeched away. When he reached the next town, he ran into the local bar. "Large whiskey, please!" he said. A rancher sitting at the bar looked at the man's ashen face and asked, "What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost!" "It's unbelievable," the man said and recalled the whole tale to the rancher. The rancher took a sip of his beer and looked thoughtful. "A horse, you say?

Was it by any chance a white horse?" The man replied to the affirmative. "Yes it was! Am I crazy?" "No, you ain't crazy. In fact, you're very lucky," said the rancher, "because the black horse don't know nothing about cars!" COWBOY DELICACY A big Texan cowboy stopped at a local restaurant following a day of drinking and roaming around in Mexico. While sipping his tequila, he noticed a sizzling, scrumptious-looking platter being served at the next table. Not only did it look good, the smell was wonderful. He asked the waiter, "What is that you just served?" The waiter replied, "Ah senor, you have excellent taste! Those are Rocky Mountain Oysters from the bull fight this morning, a delicacy!" The cowboy, though momentarily daunted, said, "What the heck, I'm on vacation down here! Bring me an order!" The waiter replied, "I am so sorry, senor. There is only one serving per day because there is only one bull fight each morning. If you come early tomorrow and place your order, we will be sure to save you this delicacy!" The next morning, the cowboy returned, placed his order, and then that evening he was served the one and only special delicacy of the day. After he downed the delicious meal, he called to the waiter and said, "They were delicious, but they were much, much smaller than the ones I saw you serve yesterday!" The waiter shrugged his shoulders and replied, "Si, Senor. Sometimes the bull wins."

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760-376-3384

Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper

February 2012

page 3

What in the world is this riches to rag publication? 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 in Wofford Heights. 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, less than $3 a month. 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, Bodfish Bob, Melody Batelaan, 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

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February 2012

Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper

There are many reasons to come back and 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 in March 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. And at the end of March, there’s the Isabella Lake Fishing Derby that alsocomes up March. 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://www..isabellafishingderby.com/ to find out more APRIL: April’s a beautiful month up here. Lots o’ stuff going on. There is the

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 personal watercraft like the one above. We’d call it a Jet Ski, but we think it’s another brand, and them lawyers get mad at us and cuss up a blue streak if we misuse their trademark.

Kern River Festival, when they race 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. The Kern Valley River Council puts it on. Go to t o http://www.kernfestival.org/ or call (818) 340-3083. Comin’ up towards the end of April 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. To find out the date, but you can call the Kernville Chamber of 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, the 1st, is the Sirretta St. Swap Meet in Kernville where a whole big old long street holds a gigantic yard sale! Definitely worth coming to. The next weekend, 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 we got the Kern River

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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 and This Old House. are $30.00 each See Marge in Circle Park February 17, 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

Valley Historical Society’s History Days . I’m gettin’ tired just writin’ about this one. It’s a great big deal held at the Kern Valley Museum in Kernville and it’s a lotta work, let me tell ya. They hold all kinds of demonstrations and shows and stuff about what life was like once upon a time here in the Kern River Valley. If ya like findin’ out about the olden times, this one’s for you. 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. 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.

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Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper

February 2012

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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. And last year Kay Walker and Helen Witt shared the honor. Here are other Grand Marshals

from the past few years. •2007: Jack White, Donna Begay, 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

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February 2012

Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper

mayors continued from page 1 dren and community of the Kern River Valley to provide a safe place for teens to belong. It is staffed by trained adults that are comfortable working with children that are going through the awkward adolescent stage. It is free to all aged 12-18. ETC! wants to be a value to our community and to teach our kids to give back to their community. The center provides a safe atmosphere to learn independent living skills, play fun games, have computer access, meet others, have camaraderie, take cooking classes, eat healthy snacks, and have positive behavior acknowledged. FPCS is a county wide organization that is a voluntary program to work within the child's community to help the child do well in school, at home and in the community. Flower Filly Sue, AKA Sue Rumsower is the owner of Petal Pusher Plus in Kernville and is supporting the Kern County Sheriff's Activities League, known as "SAL". SAL relies on members of law enforcement and the community to volunteer time to mentor and work with the kids who participate. Through regular contact with law enforcement as mentors, coaches and positive role models, SAL works as a deterrent to a criminal lifestyle and promotes leadership and goal setting through a variety of activities. Her husband is nicknamed "48" because he has gambled in 48 states. She left Keysville because her headstrong son was getting in with the wrong crowd, the Kernville High Country Outlaws, who nicknamed him "Nevada Kid." because of all the banks he robbed in Nevada! Now her son has a good gal in Whiskey Flat and has a whole passel of youngins. Flower Filly Sue said, "As their grandmother, I cannot let them follow in the footsteps of their grandfather the gambler, so that's why I am running for Whiskey Flat Mayor: to make sure our babies and grandbabies don't grow up to be outlaws!" Flower Filly Sue promises that she'll plant plenty of seeds and make the Kern Valley bloom from Keysville to McNally's. After all she is the flower lady..

Experience the Whiskey Flat historical Encampment Find out what it was like in the 1800’s. There is a chuck wagon with cookin’ and coffe, ax throwing, period tool demonstrations and more!

WANTED

The indian camp will show you the Native American experience, a fire pit cooking authentic foods, Native American games, crafts, and artifacts from the past!

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Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper

Encampment events such as dream catchers, beading, and Tule weaving, Native American games The Whiskey Flat Encampment is a like double ball and stick ball, archery, historical education and experience. The flint knapping, Native American food atmosphere at the encampment will be preparation, a drum circle with singing presented in the 1800's dress and man- and dancing, Native American cultural nerism. The encampment will have displays using artifacts from ancestors, ongoing events actual building of throughout the huts from natural day. Men, native resources, Encampment Schedule women and display and inforyouth will be mation of the Friday: Noon to sundown active in the local native plants Saturday: Immediately folreenactments of used by local lowing the Parade to sunthe era. The N a t i v e down Breckenridge Americans, open Sunday: 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Buckskinners, fire pit used for Its an educational encampment an 1820-1840 cooking, working with authentic demonstrations reenactment hides, making of life in the Old West! On club, will prodeer rattles, local Friday and Saturday at 2 and 4 vide living histoNative American p.m., and Sunday at 11 a.m. ry of the fur story teller. you’ll see history and guntrade era. This Come join the fights. All day there will be a will include fun while stepWells Fargo station and eatery, trader's demonping back in time Chuck wagon cook'n and cofstrations and to watch demonfee, a horse trader and livery. games including strations of the There’ll be horse shoe'n and tomahawk days of the Wild horse doctor'n, the Whiskey throwing, ax West as real Flats Saloon, a Justice of the throwing, camp Native Americans Peace, a Saddle maker and life demonstraand Cowboys leather craft, a Bath house, tions, leather lived, in peace and Beautifier and Hygienist, storycraft work, periharmony with tellers of the Old West, mining od tool demonnature. The Kern and sawmill demonstrations strations, trapRiver Valley is a and a Civil War Confederate ping (simulated) place of beauty camp! and trapping and full of wealth demonstrations. in many forms. The Indian The history of life Camp will take in this lush valley place from noon to 5 p.m. on Friday and brings knowledge that is fast becoming Saturday and from 10 a.m. to noon on lost to those unfortunate to miss this Sunday. It will include authentic crafts golden opportunity and experience. Lone Star Productions

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February 2012

page 7

Encampment Cast & Credits ~ GROUPS REPRESENTED ~ Lone Star Productions, Mike Woodward Native American Indians, Dave "Laughing Horse" Robinson Old West Mounted Lawmen's Association, Mike Thomas Breckinridge Buckskinners, DeeDee Moore, Director 3rd Texas Cavalry, Fort Tejon, Doug Mroczek Small Engine Historians, Perry Steinhoff 1st North Carolina Cavalry, Cpt. Dan Hogan Buffalo Bill, Bruce Kratt LawDawgs, Rob Lambert Kern River Feed, Roger McLaughlin Kernville Farrier, Ronnie Crowder ~ CREW ~ Producer/Director: Mike Woodward Whiskey Flat Camp Director: Dave Ryskamp Indian & Mountain Man Camp Director: Dave 'Laughing Horse' Robinson Whiskey Flat Camp Manager: Francis Moore Mountain Man Camp Manager: DeeDee Moore Miner and Sawmill Camp manager: Perry Steinhoff Safety Officer: Francis Moore Story Telling Coordinator: Dave Ryskamp Weapons Check Coordinators: Dave Ryskamp, Francis Moore, Dean Marshall ~ OLD WEST CAMP RESIDENTS ~ Mike Woodward (Gun Fight

Coordinator) Nathan Eddy "Crazy Fox" (Gunfight Coordinator) Dave Ryskamp (Land Claims/Story Tell'n) John Wilson (Town folk) Rob Lambert (Deputy/Miner) Billy Lambert (Town folk) Glen Lambert (Miner) Monica Lambert (Town folk) Sandra DeSpiganovitz (Town folk) Stephanie Alvary (Town folk) Erin Woodward (School Marm) Randy Henderson (Blacksmith) Jeannie Hawkins (Gypsy/Sheep Wagon) Billy Lambert (Chuck wagon Cook) John Olinger ( Cook) Francis Moore (WF Camp Sheriff) Bruce Kratt (Buffalo Bill) Doug Mroczek (Justice of the Peace) Mike Jackson (Mortician) Cheri Newsome (Fallen Doves) Dean Marshall "Buffalo Robe" (Mountain Man Camp) Kat Marshall "Buffalo Slayer" (Mountain Man Camp) Ed Wortsman (Miner) J.R. "Bob" Kastrup (Miner) Eileen Bissmeyer (Fiddler/Town folk) Terry Boon (1840 Trader Mercantile) ~ NATIVE AMERICAN INDIAN CAMP~ Dave 'Laughing Horse' Robinson (Coordinator) Kate DeVries (Camp member/Videographer) Ruth Berkemeier (Adawehi) Charlie Pruitt (Broken Feather)

page 8

February 2012

Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper

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OPEN SUNDAY ~ THURSDAY 9:00AM ~ 5:00PM Friday 9:00AM ~ 4:00PM Closed Saturdays

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Home of the 40oz. Porterhouse

Restaurant Hours

Friday Prime Rib Special 4:30 to 9:00pm Saturday: 4:30 to 9:00pm Sunday: 4:30 to 8:00pm

KER R N RIVE Opening February 10th The week before Whiskey Flat Weekend!

Yes we are Don’t forget your Valentine Tuesday February 14th -- open4:30 to 8:00pm

15 miles north of Kernville on Mtn.99 For Reservations

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Reservations Suggested

Hamburger Stand & Bar Open

Saturday & Sunday: 10:00 to 5:00pm Whiskey Flat Weekend Closed again until April

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Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper

February 2012

page 9

Calendar of Events

Whiskey Flat Days

Thursday February 16

Dinner is served

High Noon Epitaph Contest Judging

6 to 9 p.m. Street Dance

Alta One Credit Union-forms available at Kernville Chamber and at Alta One, Kernville. All epitaphs will be judged Thursday noon and placed in Boot Hill, at the Kernville Alta One Credit Union on Big Blue Road on Friday. Contest sponsored by Pat Turnham Realty.

5 p.m. Cowboy Auction

At Ewing's on the Kern, Kernville. Open: 5 p.m. Sign Ups: 6 p.m. Auction: 7 p.m. Contact Tony Cain at 760-378-3408. This is always a popular event!

Friday February 17

7 a.m. Breakfast All 'Round the Valley

Find your favorite eatery. In Kernville, there is Cheryl's Diner, Cracked Egg CafĂŠ, El Rio, Jacalito's, Big Blue Bear, and breakfast items are available at Sierra Gateway and Primo's.

9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Kern River Valley Art Association Arts & Crafts at Kernville Oddfellows Hall, corner of Tobias and Scodie.

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Kern Valley Museum

Open on Big Blue Road next to the Post Office. Historical Society, mining info, Indian exhibits, artifacts and photos from yesteryear when Kernville was Whiskey Flat, 1857.

All around town at all your favorite restaurants.

On Piute Drive. Music by "Obsidian."

7 p.m. Whiskey Flat Melodrama

Mrs. Wiggs and the Cabbage Patch. Kernville Elementary School Auditorium, $7/adults, $5/kids under 12. For any questions, please call Dawn Jordan at 760-376-2105.

7 p.m. Mayor candidates roaming town!

Hay Pardner! Be on the lookout! The race is on! Winner announced Sunday at 3 p.m.

Saturday February 18 7 to 10 a.m. "Breakfast"

$7 a plate, tickets at the door. Kern River Masonic Lodge, 562 James Road, Kernville. Turn uphill past Sierra Gateway Market. Always a favorite breakfast: get there early!

8:30 a.m. VIP Parade breakfast Kernville Chamber.

9 a.m. Golden Gulch opens

At the Elk's Lodge in Wofford Heights. Doors open at 10 a.m. Presale tickets only, admission $15. Call the KV Women's Club at 760-376-4578.

Circle Park, Frontage Road, Riverside Park. Crafts, handmade jewelry, info booths, art and more! Food vendors are non-profit organizations: Kern Valley FFA, Sweet Adelines, Tubatulabal Indians, Rotary Club of KRV, Elks Lodge, and Mt. View Baptist Youth Group. Whiskey Flat Headquarters and Info is on the corner of Kernville Road and Tobias Street selling Whiskey Flat shirts and memorabilia. Pick up your Claim Jumper, Whiskey Flat Miner and the most "up-to-date" Schedule of Events!

High Noon Golden Gulch opens.

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Arts & Crafts show

10 a.m. Annual Kern Valley Women's Club Luncheon

Contest Applications available

At Kernville Chamber info booth: Costume Contest: Sponsored by the Pizza Barn Pet Parade Contest: Sponsored by All Creatures Feed and Supply. Whiskerino Contest: Sponsored by Valerie's Hair Salon Pie, Jam & Jelly Contest: Sponsored by Cheryl's Diner (yummy!)

Noon to Sundown Whiskey Flat Encampments

Cowboy and Mountain Man Encampments, on Scodie Avenue 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 and gunfights, horse shoein' and horse doctorin', turn of the century saw mill demonstrations, and Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. There's cowboy cookin', a Whiskey Flats Saloon, and Old West Mercantile Shoppe, shot gun weddings, saddle makin' and leather craft, and more! Story tellers, Dave Ryskamp, Dave "Horse" Robinson, and Nathan Eddy will tell stories about miners, cowboys and outlaws. Open til sundown.

Children's Activities Riverside Park:

by the Wild and Scenic Kern River 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.

5 p.m. Schoeppner Carnival opens

on Kernville Road, across from Pizza Barn, by the Forest Service Work Center. Great adult and children's rides and games. Chills and thrills. Save 50% on presale tickets: sales throughout the Valley until February 17! Open until 10 p.m.

Kern River Valley Art Association Arts & Crafts at Kernville Oddfellows Hall, corner of Tobias and Scodie.

Children's Activities Riverside Park:

By the Wild and Scenic Kern River 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.

10 a.m. 2012 WFD Parade Line Up On Sierra Way.

Schoeppner Carnival opens

On Kernville Road, across from Pizza Barn, by the Forest Service Work Center. Great adult and children's rides and games. Chills and thrills. Open until 10 p.m.

Across the bridge to Kern River Drive by Riverside Park. Around Riverside One Stop and up to Kernville Road to Tobias. Then Piute Drive to Big Blue Road and end at Kernville United Methodist Church, Big Blue Road and Sirretta Street.

High Noon Whiskey Flat Encampments

Immediately following the Parade. Cowboy and Mountain Man Encampments, on Scodie Avenue 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 and gunfights, horse shoein' and horse doctorin', turn of the century saw mill demonstrations, and Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. There's cowboy cookin', a Whiskey Flats Saloon, and Old West Mercantile Shoppe, shot gun weddings, saddle makin' and leather craft, and more! Story tellers, Dave Ryskamp, Dave "Horse" Robinson, and Nathan Eddy will tell stories about miners, cowboys and outlaws. Open til sundown.

12:30 p.m. Concerts by the River Begin Music in Riverside Park. Free admission. 12:30 Les Bourgeois 1:00 Fight Like This 2:00 Allasso 3:00 Banned From Here 4:00 Jest Reason

1 p.m. Line Dancing

By "TLC" -Totally Loves Country. Circle Park Center Stage. Free Admission,

Concert by the River With Fight Like This.

Advice from an outlaw: When loved ones come home, exit by the back door!

Whiskey Flat Days Rodeo

McNally's 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!! Advice from an outlaw: Be quick! And if you can't be quick, at least be faster than the other guys!

2 p.m. "First Heat" of the Frog Jumpin'

Contest held at Piute Drive by Center Stage. Watch "Pie ala Toad" and "Sir Richtoad" compete, along with many more frogs. Bet on the Jumpin'est Frogs in the West! Finals Sunday at 11:30 a.m. Free admission.

Concert by the River With Allasso.

Check out the Whiskey Flat Encampments on Scodie across from the Rodeo Grounds.

Trout Hatchery Opens

2:30 p.m. Parade awards

Kern Valley Museum Opens

3 p.m. Concert by the River

Museum and Visitor Center 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sierra Way, one mile north of Kernville. Free admission. On Big Blue Road next to the Post Office. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Historical Society, mining info, Indian exhibits, artifacts and photos from yesteryear when Kernville was Whiskey Flat, 1857. Advice from an outlaw: Be wary of new friends, except dogs!

11 a.m. Whiskey Flat Days Parade

Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Outlaws. 155th anniversary of the Town of Whiskey Flat, a.k.a. Kernville. Sierra Way at Kernville Road. Awards given at 2:30 p.m. at Circle Park Center Stage. Get yer spot early! Parade Schedule: National Anthem, 2012 Grand Marshal, Jean Fuller, Senator, 18th District, 2011 Whiskey Flat Honorary Mayor, "Mean River Gene and Whitewater Whitman", 2012 WFD Mayor candidates, Susan Rumsower, "Flower Filly Sue" and Julie Brueggeman, "Calamity's Jule", Special VIP guests and delightful parade floats! Parade announcer, Geoff Emery, KUZZ Radio. Parade route: From Sierra Way and Kernville Road, south.

At the announcer's stand in Circle Park.

With Banned from Here.

4 p.m. Concert by the River Continues with Jest Reason.

7 p.m. Whiskey Flat Melodrama

Mrs. Wiggs and the Cabbage Patch. Kernville Elementary School Auditorium, $7/adults, $5/kids under 12. For any questions, please call Dawn Jordan at 760-376-2105. Advice from an outlaw: Delight in the simple joys of a free ride!

Sunday & Monday Events Continue on page 12

☞

WHISKEY FLAT DAYS Sponsored by The

KERNVILLE CHAMBER of COMMERCE P.O. BOX 379 • 11447 KERNVILLE ROAD KERNVILLE, CALIFORNIA 93238-0397 760-376-2629 • Fax: 760-376-4371 www.kernvillechamber.org

To: Golf Course,

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Va lle y

Page 11

Riverkern, Fairview, Johnsondale & Kern River campgrounds.

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Str e

Sie rr

w ie

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Sirretta

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ive Dr

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Ave e cod i S

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Kern River

To:

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February 2012

Walking Walking Tour, Tour, Train Train & & Parade Parade Route Route

iver Kern R

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Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper

February 2012

Page 10

Parking Circle Park Golden Gulch Riverside Park Kiddie Amusments Rest Area Frontage Road Arts & Crafts

The next ‘Stop on your Real Estate destination

Kernville Chamber Community Build.

History Museum

US Forest Service Information

Parade Route & Registration

Train Route & Stops

Carnival Grounds Games & Rides

Rodeo Grounds Wild West Daze Rodeo

Kernville School

Cowboy & Native American Encampment

Gold Mine, Cattle Ranch or City Dwelling Give us a call & we will be there! 40 TOBIAS , K ERNVILLE 6925 W OFFORD B LVD ., W OFFORD H EIGHTS

760.376.HOME . . WWW KERNRIVER VALLEYHOMES COM

☞

WHISKEY FLAT DAYS Sponsored by The

KERNVILLE CHAMBER of COMMERCE P.O. BOX 379 • 11447 KERNVILLE ROAD KERNVILLE, CALIFORNIA 93238-0397 760-376-2629 • Fax: 760-376-4371 www.kernvillechamber.org

To: Golf Course,

☞

& WHISKEY FLAT WILD WEST DAZE RODEO Always Presidents Day Weekend

☞

ndo Road a l r u B

Old Cemetary, Wofford Heights, Lake Isabella & Hwy 178 Bakersfield

☞ ☞ 2

☞

☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞

Legend

1 2 3 4 5 6

Restrooms

☞

Parade Start

To: Airport, Camp 9,

around the lake, Hwy 178, Weldon, Onyx, Walker Pass & Hwy 14

Kern River

Ke rn R iver Drive

☞

Ro Closad ed

Roa d

Whitney

Kernville

☞ ☞

Piute

Road Bl ue

Big

Road

☞

d oa ed R los C

☞☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ ☞ Welcome to 1

☞ ☞

d Kernville Roa

Big Blue

Road Closed

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Street

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Va lle y

Page 11

Riverkern, Fairview, Johnsondale & Kern River campgrounds.

ier ra W ay

Str e

Sie rr

w ie

e re St

Sirretta

Tobias

ive Dr

☞

Ave e cod i S

r Buena Vista D

Kern River

To:

☞ ☞

☞

February 2012

Walking Walking Tour, Tour, Train Train & & Parade Parade Route Route

iver Kern R

☞

Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper

WHISKEY WHISKEY FLA FLAT T

Vista Ro ad

Sirr et

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Ri o

Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper

February 2012

Page 10

Parking Circle Park Golden Gulch Riverside Park Kiddie Amusments Rest Area Frontage Road Arts & Crafts

The next ‘Stop on your Real Estate destination

Kernville Chamber Community Build.

History Museum

US Forest Service Information

Parade Route & Registration

Train Route & Stops

Carnival Grounds Games & Rides

Rodeo Grounds Wild West Daze Rodeo

Kernville School

Cowboy & Native American Encampment

Gold Mine, Cattle Ranch or City Dwelling Give us a call & we will be there! 40 TOBIAS , K ERNVILLE 6925 W OFFORD B LVD ., W OFFORD H EIGHTS

760.376.HOME . . WWW KERNRIVER VALLEYHOMES COM

page 12

February 2012

Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper

Calendar of Events

Whiskey Flat Days

Sunday & Monday Events Events Continued from page 9

Sunday February 19

7 a.m. Breakfast All 'Round the Valley Find your favorite eatery. In Kernville, there is Cheryl's Diner, Cracked Egg CafĂŠ, El Rio, Jacalito's, Big Blue Bear, and breakfast items are available at Sierra Gateway and Primo's.

9 a.m. Golden Gulch opens

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Arts & Crafts Show

Kern River Valley Art Association Arts & Crafts at Kernville Oddfellows Hall, corner of Tobias and Scodie.

Children's Activities Riverside Park:

9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Whiskey Flat Encampments

Cowboy and Mountain Man Encampments, on Scodie Avenue across from the Rodeo Grounds. Life in the Old West! Old West Church Service today at 10 a.m. Save the leather on yer boots and catch the Western Express Railway Train in town and ride to the encampments. Watch hold-ups and gunfights, horse shoein' and horse doctorin', turn of the century saw mill demonstrations, and Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show. There's cowboy cookin', a Whiskey Flats Saloon, and Old West Mercantile Shoppe, shot gun weddings, saddle makin' and leather craft, and more! Story tellers, Dave Ryskamp, Dave "Horse" Robinson, and Nathan Eddy will tell stories about miners, cowboys and outlaws. Open til noon today. Have you heard the Mayor candidates speechifyin' yet?

10 a.m. Schoeppner Carnival opens

On Kernville Road, across from Pizza Barn, by the Forest Service Work Center. Great adult and children's rides and games. Chills and thrills. Open until 10 p.m.

Trout Hatchery Opens

Museum and Visitor Center 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sierra Way, one mile north of Kernville. Free admission.

Kern Valley Museum Opens

On Big Blue Road next to the Post Office. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Historical Society, mining info, Indian exhibits, artifacts and photos from yesteryear when Kernville was Whiskey Flat, 1857.

11 a.m. Concert by the River Begin Music in Riverside Park, free admission. 11:00 Gary McGrath 12:00 Dos Guys 1:00 Acoustic River 2:00 Wonderland Soup Kitchen 3:00 to be announced

11:30 a.m. "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 Jumpin' Frog. Free admission.

High Noon Lots of Contest Sign Ups!

1860's Costume Contest sign ups. Adults and children forms at

WFD Info Booth. Judging starts at 12:30 p.m. Costume contest sponsored by Pizza Barn.

Pet Parade Sign Ups!

All the "Advice from an outlaws" is why you "don't let our babies grow up to be outlaws!"

Forms at WFD Info Booth. Judging at 2 p.m. Pet Parade sponsored by All Creatures Feed & Supply.

Ya'll come back next year!

Pie, Jam & Jellies Contest Sign Ups!

This schedule of events is subject to the information available to the Claim Jumper and the Kern River Courier at press time. All event times and locations are subject to change at any time without notice. Events may be canceled, postponed and/or rescheduled at any time due to weather, or any other circumstances beyond the control of the Kernville Chamber of Commerce, its independent entertainers, vendors, volunteers and groups involved.

From noon to 1 p.m., finals at 2:30 p.m. Forms at WFD Info Booth or Pie staging area. Contest sponsored by Cheryl's Diner.

Concert by the River In Riverside Park with Dos Guys.

12:30 p.m. Old Fashioned 1860's Costume Contest

Sponsored by the Pizza Barn. Piute Drive and Big Blue Road: Circle Park. Note: 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. Prizes awarded. Entry is free.

1 p.m. Whiskey Flat Days Rodeo

Concert by the River

Continues in Riverside Park with Acoustic River.

Sign Ups for Whiskerino Contest

Whiskers, beards, all mustaches apply. Ribbons awarded. Free to enter! Forms at WFD Info Booth. Contest sponsored by Valerie's Hair Salon.

2 p.m. Old Fashioned Whiskerino Contest

Sponsored by Valerie's Hair Salon. Sign up by 1 p.m. Piute Drive by Circle Park.

Concert by the River

In Riverside Park with Wonderland Soup Kitchen.

Whiskey Flat Celebration Weapons Carry Regulations For anyone wanting to carry a weapon during the Whiskey Flat Days celebration, a weapons and ammunition check will be at the "Sheriff's" tent in Whiskey Flat Camp (across from the rodeo grounds) Thursday evening though the weekend. Each participant must sign a release agreeing to the following rules: 1. Safety is our prime concern; for the reenactor and the viewing public 2. No live ammunition to be carried in the weapon or on your person at any time

Pet Parade

3. Dummy ammunition only. Spent primers are preferred. Participants with live primers will have to demon strate that the cartridge contains no powder.

2:30 p.m. Winners announced

4) For those participants engaging in 'Gunfight' routines, blank rounds should only be chambered just prior to the routine, and removed immedi ately after it concludes

sponsored by All Creatures Feed & Supply. Sign up at noon. Five categories: WFD's theme, Matched Pair, Smallest, Largest, Funniest! Grand Prize and ribbons awarded! Free.

for Pies, Jams and Jellies Contest-Yummy! Drop off at noon. This is what we're waitin' for! Bring on those delicious treats! Sponsored by Cheryl's Diner.

3 p.m. 2012 Honorary Whiskey Flat Mayor Announced!

Who will be the 2012 Whiskey Flat Mayor? Piute Drive by Circle Park. Drawing: Who will win the $500 Shopping Spree?

Concert by the River

In Riverside Park with (to be announced).

Participants will be issued a ribbon indicating that they have agreed to the restrictions listed above. This ribbon should be displayed prominently on the participant's costume. Weapons carrying participants may be subject to random checks by the Kern County Sheriffs Department to confirm they are in compliance with the above regulations.

Monday February 20 9 a.m. Golden Gulch opens

Circle Park and Frontage Road, free admission.

Children's Activities Riverside Park:

10 a.m. Schoeppner Carnival opens

On Kernville Road, across from Pizza Barn, by the Forest Service Work Center. Great adult and children's rides and games. Chills and thrills.

Mattress shortage causes Mrs. Tuttle's Tea and Ale House to close Mrs. Tuttle has had to close her tea and ale house on the far outskirts of Whiskey Flat temporarily because of a severe mattress shortage. "We like to serve our tea and ale to those rough miner boys on pure down mattresses," said Mrs. Tuttle. "Straw pallets just aren't good enough for us." Her 19 serving girls are out of work, she explained, until some new mattresses can be procured. "Some of them girls just really love to peddle their tea and ale on mattresses" she said," and they can't wait to get back to work."

Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper

February 2012

page 13

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page 14

February 2012

Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper

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 northsouth 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 build-

ings (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,

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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.

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/

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Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper

February 2012

page 15

Early Exploring of the Kern River Valley Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper

Lt. R.S. Williamson was an officer of the U.S. Topographical Engineers in the 1850s just as California had become a state and was being examined for possible railroad routes through the Southern Sierra. These excerpts from his account of his travels through the area later known as Kern County and the Kern River Valley are from Pacific Railroad Reports Vol. 5. My plan was to go with a small party first to Walker's Pass, and having examined it from base to base, to return to the summit and from thence follow, as closely as the configuration of the country would permit, the watershed, or "backbone" of the mountains, till I had reached the point where the Sierra and Coast Range unites. I would by this means be certain of seeing every depression in the mountains. I would then endeavor to ascertain the accessibility of these depressions from either base. By this plan, I supposed I would gain a good knowledge of the general character of the Sierra in this vicinity and would be able to select judiciously the best passes for minute survey. Wagon Train While the preliminary examination was going on, the wagon train was to return empty to Fort Miller, to obtain a further supply of provisions and barley, and Lieutenant Stoneman, with that portion of the escort not otherwise engaged, was to remain in Depot Camp to guard the stores and other property left there. On the morning of Aug. 10, the wagon train started from Fort Miller, and I, accompanied by Lieutenant Parke, Mr. Smith, civil engineer, Mr. Preuss, draughtsman, Mr. Godey, as guide, and five men of my party, started for the passes in the mountains. We

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had an escort of a corporal and nine men. We carried with us two barometers, besides the aneroid, a sextant, and the other usual instruments for a surveying party. Kern River Upon leaving camp, we followed up Poso Creek till it took a bend coming from the northeast, when we left it and took up a dry branch, with here and there a spring, our general course being a little north of east. We could see the open valley of the Kern River to the south and southwest. Higher up, this river canyons; and it was to avoid this Vintage photo courtesy of Chuck Barbee canyon that we A very rare aerial view of Old Kernville, which was known early in its life as Whiskey Flat. were obliged to keep the ridge, where there is a good packtrail, but impractical for wagons. We camped in a little hollow in the that camp, or nearly 5,000 feet above the tioned. mountain, and the barometer indicated the level of the sea. Directly opposite us, on the Down to the River The next day, after ascending a short disaltitude above Depot Camp to be 3,400 feet. other side of the river, was a mountain we called Canyon Mountain, still higher than the tance, we began to descend. We could see the As we had descended somewhat to find a camping-place, the highest point we passed one we were on; and these two mountains, river far below us, white with foam, looking over must have been over 4,000 feet above approaching each other with precipitous side-slopes, formed the canyons above men- See exploring page 16

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page 16

February 2012

Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper

exploring continued from page 15

Vintage photo courtesy of Chuck Barbee The A. Brown Store was in the center of Old Kernville.

Former Orvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Crematorium in Whiskey Flat to sell barbecued meats A long-closed mortuary on Main St. will have a new life as a barbecue restaurant. Sam McAllister has bought the building that formerly housed Orville's Funeral Home and Crematorium and will open a barbecue restaurant as soon as the first of the month. However, McAllister says that several people have stopped by the building and registered complaints. "I think people may be jumping to conclusions," McAllister said of the crematorium, which is still located at the

back of the building and whose smokestack still dominates the Whiskey Flat skyline. "We will be doing our grilling on a portable barbecue out on the street," he said, noting that many people looked relieved when he gave them that bit of news. The former crematorium will be used to store spirits. Offered will be whiskey, ale and bourbon. McAllister said he will be hiring Orville Sonderville, the town's former undertaker, to be the cook.

Lake study laughed at by locals The meeting last night at the social hall between the town fathers of Whiskey Flat and some guvmint people was a real comic act. Seems them

guvmint people are thinkin' of putting in a dam and makin' a lake out of the whole dammed valley! Now, who in the world thought of that crackpot idea?

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like a thread of silver as it dashed among the rocks with a very rapid current. There was the appearance of a large valley at the base of the mountain. Godey told us that the river there received a tributary, and that it was near the head of that stream that we would find Walker's Pass. The descent was very steep; so much so that in many places it was dangerous to ride; and it was easier to slide down than to walk. We arrived on the banks of the river, at the base of the hill, just in time to allow me to get a series of circum-meridian altitudes of the sun, about a half mile below the mouth of the branch. The river was very rapid, and apparently deep. We tried to find a ford in several places, but did not succeed until we had gone up stream three miles; and here the water came nearly up to the mules' backs. To keep our packs dry, we had to have them carried across by the men. After the crossing, we went up the valley of the creek for four or five miles, and made a camp in fine grass on the banks. The Valley Described The valley is from one to three miles wide, with a poor soil, except in the bottoms near the creek, where the grass grows luxuriantly. Following up the valley, which averaged more than a mile in width, with a gentle ascent, gradually increasing all the way, we found, about 12 miles from the creek, a small branch coming in from the south, now dry, but having apparently a long and wide valley. Five miles further, the creek, now a small brook, came from the mountains to the north, while from the southwest there was an open valley from a quarter to half mile in width. This valley we followed up; and having arrived within a mile wide, and the ascent mit, we were fortunate enough to find a fine spring and plenty of coarse grass. Here we made our camp; and it being early in the afternoon, I rode up to the summit, where I had a fine view of the basin. There appeared to be eastward a strip, 20 or 30 miles wide, of unbroken ground, and beyond this the view was limited by masses of mountains. The pass is nowhere less than a quarter of a mile wide, and the ascent and descent both gradual. In fact, it is an excellent natural wagon road. The mountains on either side are composed mostly of granite, and are rough and precipitous. Indians There were quite a number of Indians, both on the creek and at the spring near our camp. At first they fled, but soon gained con-

fidence and came into our camp. They seemed to be at this time of the year to be principally employed in collecting a kind of bulrush or cane, upon the leaves of which is found a substance very like sugar, which to them is not an unimportant article of food. They cut the cane and spread it in the sun to dry, and afterwards, by threshing, separate the sugar from the leaf. The cane itself has no sweet taste. As the creek itself had no name that I know of, I endeavored to ascertain its Indian name, and found it to be Chayo-pooya-pah, the accent strong on the last syllable. This name I have adopted on the map. I understand it to mean "the creek of the bulrushes." (Following this paragraph is a long and technical explanation of the grades involved for development of a railroad through the pass. Then Williamson concludes that Walker's Pass is not practical for a railroad route.) Too rugged for the Railroad Having completed the examination of Walker's Pass, in order to follow my original intention of tracing the watershed of the mountains as near as possible, I found it necessary to retrace our steps down to Chay-opooya-pah for 13 miles, till we came to the collateral valley before mentioned; for the mountains to the south were so high and rugged, that they only way to pass them was to turn them. We ascended this valley, which was about two miles wide. At first it was a broad bed of sand, which gradually contracted, and five miles up we found running water. There was an abundance of bulrush growing here, and a large number of Indians, probably 50 or 60, engaged in gathering it. They had evidently heard of us from their neighbors, and did not show the least sign of fear; but men, women and children came flocking around us, evincing much curiosity. We camped among them, and the next morning Godey and myself started to examine the next depression in the mountains south of Walker's Pass. This we found to be about the same altitude as that pass, viz: About 5,300 feet, and the ascent a little steeper. It is not as open as the other, and hence is not as good a natural wagon road. The average ascent for several miles is 288 feet to the mile. It is about six miles in rectilinear distance from (Walker's) pass. It is called Hump-Pah-Ya-Mup. (Williamson then describes another pass farther south, called Tah-ee-chay-pah pass, which is course where a railroad was eventually constructed - Tehachapi Pass.)

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Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper

February 2012

page 17

How to fix cowboy grub so’s you won’t starve Recipes by Bodfish Bob

Camp Fire Breakfast 1/2 lb bacon 1 medium onion 2 lb. bag of frozen hash brown pota toes 1/2 lb. grated cheddar 1 doz eggs Small jar of salsa-about 1 cup (optional) This recipe requires 6-9 bottom coals and 12 -15 top coals. Pre-heat 12" Dutch Oven. Slice bacon and onion into small pieces and brown until onions are clear. Stir in the hash brown potatoes and cover. Remove cover and stir occasionally to brown and heat potatoes (15-20 minutes). Scramble the eggs in a separate container and pour the mixture over the hash browns. Cover and cook until eggs start to set. (10 - 15 minutes) Sprinkle grated cheese over egg mixture, cover and continue heating until eggs are completely set and cheese is melted. Optional: Pour small jar of salsa over cheese/egg mixture. Cover and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes. Slice and serve.

Chili Verde 2 pounds boneless pork butt (shoul der), cubed and dusted with flour sea soned with black pepper 2 tablespoons bacon drippings or veg etable oil 3 cups chopped onion 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 tablespoon oregano 2 tablespoons ground cumin

2 teaspoons salt 6 (4-ounce) cans diced green Chiles, drained 3 (14 1/2-ounce) cans chicken broth 1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce, or to taste 1. Heat fat in Dutch oven over medium-high heat; add pork cubes and brown evenly on all sides. Add onions and garlic to pan; cook and stir until onions are tender, about 10 minutes. 2. Stir in remaining ingredients and bring all to a boil. Lower heat to a simmer, cover and simmer until pork is very tender and liquid is slightly thickened. 3. Serve immediately over hot cooked rice, if desired. Garnish with fresh cilantro sprigs. Serves 8.

Pot Roast 2 Tbs. Bacon grease or olive oil 1 Tbs. Balsmic vinegar 2 tsp. Dry rosemary; rubbed 3 Tbs. Brown sugar 2 med. Yellow onions; sliced 1 Tbs. Soy sauce 4-5 cloves garlic; sliced 1 bay leaf 3-4 lb. Beef chuck roast 1 tsp. Black pepper salt and pepper to taste 1-2 lbs. Baby carrots 1 cup hot beef stock or broth 6-8medium red potatoes; skins on, cut into chunks 1/4 cup honey barbecue sauce 1 tsp. Thyme 2 Tbs. Red wine vinegar 1 Tbs. Parsley flakes

Heat a 12" deep Dutch oven using 2022 briquettes bottom until oven is hot. Add bacon grease or olive oil, rosemary, and onions; cook 2-3 minutes until you start to see a little color on the onions then add the garlic. Cook for 1 minute longer. In a large measuring cup combine the beef stock, barbecue sauce, red wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, soy sauce, bay leaf, and black pepper; stir to mix then pour juice slowly into the oven. Season the roast with salt and pepper then add roast to oven and cover with as many of the onions as you can. Replace the lid then reduce the number of coals on bottom to 10 and place 14-16 coals on the lid. Cook for 30 minutes rotating oven every 15 minutes. After 30 minutes add carrots and potatoes. Season with salt, pepper, thyme, and parsley flakes. Replace the lid and continue baking for 60-90 minutes until vegetables are fork tender. Serves: 8-10

Chorizo and Eggs 3 links of Chorizo sausage links ½ c chopped onions 6 eggs, beaten Salt & pepper to taste 8 flour tortillas

Collard Greens with Neckbones 1 pound pork neckbones 2 bunches of collard greens 1 teaspoon of salt 1 tablespoon bacon drippings Dash of red pepper sauce Salt & pepper Boil neckbones in a large saucepan. Remove from the broth. Add the greens (wash well before cooking) to the saucepan. Cook on low heat until tender. Add bacon drippings, red pepper sauce to greens. Season with Salt & pepper. 4 to 6 servings

Potato Biscuits

Remove sausage from casings. Cook with onion over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes in a skillet. Add eggs to sausage and scramble. Serve on hot flour tortillas.

Smoked Green Beans 1 smoked ham hock

1 lg. Can green beans 2 tbsp. Sugar Drain green bean juice into large pot. Skin tough skin of ham hock off to expose meat and fat. Cook ham hock in green bean juice about 1/2 hour. Add 2 tablespoons sugar and green beans to pot. Cook another 1/2 hour. Stir juice over beans to flavor.

1 cup mashed potatoes 2 tbsp. Butter 2 cups flour 1 tbsp. Honey 1 cup buttermilk 1/2 tsp. Baking soda 2 tsp. Baking powder 1 tbsp. Brown sugar Mix ingredients and roll out on wax paper. Cut biscuits and bake at 400º F about 10 min.

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page 18

February 2012

Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper

Whiskey Flattians fight back against bingo taxes The gentle citizens of Whiskey Flat have rebelled against proposed taxes on bingo. “I’ll rip their arms off and feed them to my hogs,” screamed Lettie Honeybutter, who normally spends her days doing pettipoint and making lace curtains while listening to her Victrola when she’s not playing bingo down at the Whiskey Flat Social Hall. “Nobody messes with my bingo!” Only she didn’t say “messes.” Unleashing a string of profanities that would leave a motorcycle gang member staring in shock, Lettie raised her cane and made a threatening motion toward the Claim Jumper reporter. “I only have my Social Security check and my couple of thousand shares in American Telephone & Telegraph. And that’ll never be worth nothin’,” said Lettie as she quivered in indignation. “What’ll they take next, my false teeth?” The Whiskey Flat city fathers claim that they

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need to tax the paltry sums that senior citizens win from bingo. “I need to make a payment to my bookie,” said Toadly Lardbottom, a city father (well, he’s father to about half of the kids in Whiskey Flat, anyway). “We gotta raise taxes so we city fathers can get our semi-annual, semi-monthly, semihourly and semi-minutely raises.” Scheduled for further taxation are baby buggies, baby buggie bumpers (a separate tax) and rubber baby buggy bumpers (a separate tax from the regular, non-rubber baby buggy bumpers). Oh, and babies will now be taxed as well. “And if we could figure out how to tax the actual act of procreation, we’d tax that too,” thundered Lardbottom. Safe from taxes for now are people’s land and their incomes, but who knows, someday the guvmint will figger out how to do that too.

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Left to right: In the trenches at the Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper, Ron Benson, Riches to Rag Distributor; Sara Wakeman, Whip Cracking, Paper Pushin’ Office Boss; Mike Ludiker, Fabricating Web Spining Master and Michael Batelaan, Photografin’ Doodle Artist and Gossup Gatherin’ Rag Tag Publisher;. Vintage Val, The Advertising Answer Gal; not pictured, She is out collectin advertisments reservations for the Claim jumper.

Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper

Februay 2012

page 19

Why the leap to frog jumping? In 1863, a young journalist named Samuel Langhorne Clemens, traveling from San Francisco, CA to Virginia City, NV spent the night in Angels Camp, Calaveras County, California. Here, he heard the story of Daniel Webster, a famous frog who jumped higher and further than any other frog around. His owner, local gambler Jim Smiley never got tired of placing bets on his celebrated jumping frog. One day, a stranger took the bet. But when Jim wasn't looking, the stranger poured quail shot into Daniel Webster's mouth making it impossible for him to jump at all. The stranger won the $40 bet and escaped before Jim realized the

con. The story was first published in 1865 in New York's Saturday Press and the young journalist used the pen name Mark Twain. It not only laid the foundation for his fame, it also put the tiny mining town Angels Camp on the world's map. Here at Whiskey Flat, we celebrate this history with a frog jumping contest of our own. Everyone has a fun time placing wagers on the frogs and cheering the little guys on. It is fun to try to beat the odds. The winning frog nets you "frog bucks" script worth merchandise at local participating Kern Valley merchants. See Whiskey Flat schedule for the times and place of the races on Saturday and Sunday.

Steroid scandal hits frog-jumping contest Illegal steroid usage has been detected in three of the frogs scheduled to jump at the Whiskey Flat Frog Jumping Contest this year. Contest officials were tipped off by a neighbor of an unnamed frog owner who said he saw frogs in the neighbor’s back yard jumping all the way over the house to a pond in the front yard. “These was no ordinary frogs,” said the neighbor, who has asked to remain anonymous due to the known cutthroat tactics of champion frog owners. “They is a devilish lot, those frog folks,” he said. Contest officials rushed to the home along the river in Whiskey Flat and, using a baseball mitt, were able to capture three frogs as they plummeted from a 100-foot height. After the watching crowd did the Wave, the three sample frogs were rushed to a laboratory, tested for

steroids and came up positive. “This is a scandal of the highest proportion!” hollered the current mayor of Whiskey Flat, “Rustlin’” Rachael Whitman. “We won’t rest until we find every single one of these illegal frogs. The Whiskey Flat Frog Jumping Contest has always been an honest racket... er, I mean competition, and we don’t cotton to no fixin’ of the contest.” “Except by me,” one former mayor of Whiskey Flat was heard to say, who goes by the handle of Rapid Richard. Contest officials were unsure of how to handle the scandal, but it was generally agreed that all the frogs should be tested and all those that tested positive would be disqualified. “It may be a coincidence and it may not be, but I’m planning a special on frog legs the day after the contest,” said Cheryl Borthick of Cheryl’s Dinner House. “Actually, I’m hopin’ there’ll be a lot of disqualification goin’ on.”

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February 2012

Whiskey Flat Claim Jumper

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