Twentynine Palms Historical Society
29 Palms, California

Accessions Report - Spring 2014

by Marilyn Collier

Wednesday morning volunteers

Spring has arrived early this year. There is always work to be done at the museum. We are all volunteers that love history, the museum, and Twentynine Palms. If you are interested in computer work or lending a helping hand at the museum stop by and see us. We can always find something that will interest you.

The 100-Year Project has involved most of the Accessions Committee, but Pat Rimmington and Cheryl Erickson are the ones doing most of the legwork and coordinating with the Morongo Basin Historical Society. The 100-Year Project is explained elsewhere in this issue and in the Summer Journal.

Sue McMahan and Melanie Robbins continue to rearrange the shelves and displays in the Gift Shop. Keeping the Gift Shop stocked has become a real challenge during our busy season. Marilyn Fernald has rearranged the exhibits in the main Exhibit Room again. Come in and take a look at the laundry area. Laura Pellior has kept the membership up-to-date while completing her schooling. Congratulations Laura! Les Snodgrass continues to oversee a myriad of duties, plus attending to the Hastie Bus. He and Bob Carter are hard at work (and I mean physical) on providing an exhibit space for the Hastie Bus. Cathy Snodgrass is still scouting for unique purple glass for the Gift Shop and doing the yard work.

Our donations have dropped dramatically. If you are cleaning out "old" stored items, even early correspondence to people in Twentynine Palms, do not automatically throw it out because it is old. It may be something that relates to the history of our town, schools, the people and the area. If you are not sure, bring it in on Wednesday morning and we can tell you if it is something that the museum would need or like. Please don't throw away our history.

Researchers of Twentynine Palms history are welcome to visit us on Wednesday mornings as we are always at the Old Schoolhouse Museum Library. For those that live farther away, you are able to contact us through our website. The information on how to obtain research assistance is there. Requests by e-mail and regular mail are restricted to one or two specific area requests. A $20.00 donation is required by e-mail and regular mail requests. If you want to know what is happening at the Old Schoolhouse Museum or view the latest and oldest photograph visit: https://www.29palmshistorical.com.

White ceramic mug by Beulah Claire for Dr. Ince. Horseshoe and name "Bill" are done in gold on one side and 29 Palms Saddle Club (also in gold) is on the other side.
Round (six inches across) felt Pistol and Rifle Club patch on blue? background, three palm trees done in natural colors, lettering in gold embroidery.
29 Palms Fire Department felt patch with two palm trees and lettering in gold. The first three items donated by Susan Bise.
Twenty-five stereograph photographs.
The Sun Runner, Vol.5, No.2. February. Article by Dianna Stevens.
Greyhound Bus Depot poster with city departures to other cities. This hung in Johnnie Hastie's Depot.
Eight-inch rusted frying pan with Key's Ranch painted on back.
Handmade golf hole puncher for those making a "golf" course.
23" x 43 1/8" metal sign with Desert Haven Office painted on it.
Huell Howser California Gold milk bottle. Broguiere's Dairy '03 on it. Items 4 through 10 donated by Dianna Stevens.
Ricardo Breceda Accidental Artist by Diane Lindsay, signed by author, published by Sunbelt Publications. Donated by Cheryl Erickson.
Battery Charger. The metal plate on back says: BD, AC Volts 115AC Watts 35 Type 306C2. The Benwood Linze Co., St. Louis, MO U.S.A. Donated by Darlene Parris.
Twenty-two copied photos of the Old Schoolhouse move. All were taken by Louise Borquez.
Two 8" x 10" photos. One shows a group getting ready for a movie shoot. Looks like it is during Farm Workers organization and strike. Other photo is of one of the women being kissed by a dog. Photos donated by Karen Meyers.
Two yard sticks originally given out by businesses as advertising freebies. One is from Jost Lumber. The other from Standard Oil is also an oil gauge. Urges refill at 15 gallon level. Given by Scott Tremblay.
Five pieces of gathered desert rocks. One was a drill point, but impossible to tell if others are flakes from making other tools or if just too worn to tell. Donated by Patsy McDonald.
Photograph Album. Photos taken during the fortieth reunion of the class of 1963. They celebrated at the Old Schoolhouse Museum on May 3, 2003. Pete and Sue McMahan were honorary hosts. Donated by Sue McMahan.
1958-59 Twentynine Palms Business Residential Directory published by the Desert Trail.
Orville Hunter's Scrapbook Album. He was a Yucca Valley teacher/substitute from the 1980s through the 2000s. Last two items donated by Joyce Gutierrez.
Large purple glass round ink well set in square bottom. No decorative pattern, but in perfect condition. This belonged to donor's grandmother. Donated by Patrick Wastie.
Purple glass two-shot glass. Hobnail bottom, clear top and rim. Just a Thimbleful written in clear part. Donated by Sue McMahan.
Twelve inch ruler given to donor at the Old Schoolhouse by Miss Margaret Lynch during her first term as Principal/teacher. He used it in the classroom and wanted us to note that there is no metal rim as this was made during World War II. Donated by Phillip D. Smith, Jr., Ph.D.
Mysteries of the Whispering Sands. Published by the Desert Writers Guild of Twentynine Palms in 2003. All the authors are local and it is signed by one. Donated by the Desert Writers Guild.

There are times when an item has been given and the donor known, but we cannot archive them until we have a Gift Release Form with the donor's signature and a witness's signature. Without the signed releases we have no right to retain anything brought to the museum unless it was an anonymous gift. Our Editors also insist on having the reports by a certain date. There may not have been sufficient time to complete all the necessary procedures. Our Accessions Committee wants to thank everyone who donated. Your generosity allows us to catalog and save the history of our area for future generations.