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Andy W. Noon It was an honor to be president of the first Death Valley ‘49er Encampment. The entire celebration was a free spectacle arranged for the public by the Death Valley ‘49ers, Inc., and the California State Centennial Commission, as one of the State’s official centennial observations. Film star James Stewart, was narrator for the story of William Lewis Manley and John Rogers, who walked from Death Valley to San Fernando Valley to obtain aid for their comrades stranded here in the winter of 1849-50. The pageant was scheduled to start at 2:00pm, Saturday, December 3, 1949 at Desolation canyon. By the evening of December 2 it was evident that a far greater crowd than had been anticipated was storming the valley for the centennial events. Almost solid lines of automobiles, bumper to bumper, were strung out along the highways. Overhead, planes circled for landing at the desert airport and the Highway Patrol was trying to cope with the astounding turnout, estimated at 65,000 persons, in the valley. It was a jovial crowd, camped along the road. The aroma of bacon and coffee filled the air and jokes resounded. On the great front porch of Furnace Creek Inn, official looked down with awe on the tremendous assemblage. This was California’s acclaim to the intrepidity of its forebears; its accolade to human courage as expressed in the exploits of the Death Valley party of 1849 and it’s rescuers, Manley and Rogers, who were the heroes of the historical pageant. All day, out there in the sun, the crowds stayed good-humored despite cars running out of gas, traffic tie-ups, and the failure of many to not reach Desolation Canyon for the performance. Never one word of complaint from man, woman or child, even when the pageant was over and the long shadows of night crawled up the yellow and red flanks of the Funeral Mountains and the wearisome journey home or to dry camp in the desert began. Everybody helped everybody else. It made everyone proud that an American crowd still could grin at its own discomforts even in the wilderness. Andy lived in Taft, California and was Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, Kern County. He successfully and proudly held the office of our first president.
Excerpts from article by Ed Ainsworth, staff representative, Los Angeles Times, Dec.1949
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John Anson Ford Death Valley and its surroundings were familiar to John Anson Ford a whole generation before 1949. As a Los Angeles public relations man he wrote in the May 1929 American Motorist magazine of an interview with Shorty Harris in 1920, “one of the most widely known of all the old desert men” as John put it. What more appropriate background than a 1920’s interview with Shorty Harris could there have been for the man who, 20 years later, would become the “founder” of the Death Valley ‘49ers. Certainly no person is more deserving of such a title than John Anson Ford.
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Ardis Manly Walker
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Paul Palmer Paul was an Attorney for many years, and as a member of the Death Valley '49ers he served as "Master of Ceremony" at the Dedication of the Visitors Center at Furnace Creek in Death Valley National Monument. He and his wife, Edith, lived on a Ranch in Newhall California. Paul passed away in 1968.
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George Savage George was the assistant to the publisher of the San Bernardino Sun-Telegram, manager of Inland Printing & Engraving Co. and a widely known Southland civic leader. He was active in nearly every phase of community service. His professional career included top government service, newspaper and administration service. He was born in Denison, Iowa, attended high school in Pomona and was graduated from Pomona College in Claremont. Immediately after his graduation, in 1925, he became a member of the Pomona College staff as assistant to the president. In 1928 he was managing editor of the Claremont Courier and in 1933 became publisher of the Chalfant Press newspaper and four weekly newspapers in Inyo and Mono Counties, including the Bishop Register. In 1946 he became editor and publisher of the South Pasadena Review, and left there to become secretary to the California Highway Commission. He met James Guthrie, President and publisher of the Sun-Telegraph, who persuaded him to join The Sun Co. organization. He was active in the Boy Scout movement, and served on the council’s executive committee. He served in the Navy during World War II, retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He was very active in the Death Valley ‘49ers, holding the office of production chairman, President and again production chairman for the 1961 Encampment at the time of his death in September 1961.
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Dr. Thomas Clements Tom Clements was a professional geologist. He received his degree from the Texas School of Mines and his Doctorate from the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. He was a geology professor there but soon became head of the department, a position he held for 30 years. During this time he also served as consulting geologist in private practice. In later years he was curator of Mineralogy and Petrology for the Los Angeles County Museum. He met his wife, Lydia, in Chicago during World War I. Tom was there on duty with the Navy. Lydia was a student at the Art Institute. After their marriage, Lydia went with Tom into the fields to paint but soon her own interest in geology developed. Their love of Death Valley began in 1926 when a group from Caltech went there for three days. It was given a major boost in 1950 when Tom took a sabbatical to study the Death Valley desert area. The Superintendent suggested they stay at Cow Creek rather than commute between field trips. They stayed the whole season and became intensely interested in the ancient Indian artifacts on Manly Terrace. They also became acquainted with some of the Indians then living in Death Valley. Lydia was among the first to paint desert landscapes. She entered her works in early art shows. Lydia’s book “Indians of Death Valley” was published in 1953. She was influential among those who started the ‘49ers Scholarship Fund. Tom’s “The Geological Story of Death Valley” is required reading for any serious Death Valley enthusiast. It was the #1 publication for the ‘49ers. Inside the cover are the words “dedicated most affectionately to my wife, Lydia, true helpmate and constant field companion”. Dr. Clements passed away May 13th, 1996 at the age of 98 Lydia passed away January 20th, 1994 at the age of 95
Excerpts from ‘49er newsletter
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Peg Lewis Mrs.
Willard J. Lewis, was owner of the Margaret “Peg” Haviland, Putnam, Lewis took over as sole owner and manager after the death of her husband George Palmer Putnam in 1950. (George Palmer Putnam’s first wife was Amelia Earhart). There were many challenges associated with running a hotel in Death Valley, however she met them all, as well as becoming quite active in the Death Valley ‘49er organization. In 1965 she married Willard Lewis and they decided to sell the hotel. Peg still lives in California and is an Honorary Director of the ‘49ers.
Excerpts from letter and keepsake # 32 by Harry Tucker
Peg passed away in October 14, 2002
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L. Burr Belden L. Burr Belden, was a well-known San Bernardino editor, author and historian. He was the author of several books, one of which “Goodbye Death Valley” is a ‘49er publication. He authored other works dealing with various phases of desert history and Baja California. A member on the editorial staff of the San Bernardino Sun-Telegram since 1920, a Marine in World War I, and a history major during his University years, he continued this interest by becoming a founder of both the San Bernardino County Historical Society and The San Bernardino County Museum Association. He was an officer in these groups. He was past President of the Conference of California Historical Societies, Vice President of the Honorable Society of Corporate Historians and a member of the Governor’s California History Commission. When the Death Valley Museum was planned, he was commissioned by the Department of Interior to write the Historical Survey of the Death Valley region, 1849-1933. He and his wife Sybil resided in San Bernardino. Both were avid backcountry travelers. Trips in their 4-wheel-drive camper took them into Mexico, Canada’s Arctic and many western Parks. They were active in The American Legion, each having held State Office, and several other patriotic and civic organizations. They had two sons and three grandchildren. Burr Belden passed away February 18th, 1977
Excerpts from ‘49er newsletter
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Alex Krater Alex Krater was a true son of those now-vanished and gone forever true west frontier days. Born in Ibex, California, he soon moved with his family to the booming copper-mining town of Jerome, Arizona. With the decline of Jerome, the family returned to California. When only a boy, Alex came to Independence to work for his older brother, Frank. Independence then was very much a Frontier town and the “wide open spaces” were very wide and very open. After living in Reno for a time and serving in World War I, he returned to Independence. His public service records were an impressive one. He was the First Adjutant and Second Commander of the local American Legion Post, Past Master of the Masonic Lodge, Past President of the Inyo Associates and President of the Independence Civic Club. He was especially proud of being elected to the Board of Directors of the Death Valley ‘49ers and serving as President in 1958.
Excerpts from ‘49er newsletter
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Harold Ihrig Harold was known around Pasadena as a “Big Wheel” in furniture, (owner of a large department store) but up in Death Valley he was the man who would scale Telescope Peak or explore the Racetrack Valley at every opportunity. For the 1958 Encampment he led an off-the-beaten-path excursion for the hardy, adventuresome visitors who came with jeeps, pickups or other high centered-vehicles. Who knows what the destination was? Maybe Ubehebe ghost towns, Gold Belt Spring, Saratoga, Owls Hole, Butte Valley or Wingate Wash. Maybe Harold would let the participants decide. I bet it was an exciting day of adventure and many places were seen that most ‘49ers had never been to. He was a real adventurer. Harold passed away in 1984
Excerpts from ‘49er newsletter
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