August/September 2016 • Vol. 18, No. 1

Bancroft Ranch House Museum 9050 Memory Lane • Built in 1863

California State Historical Landmark No. 626, 1958 National Historical Landmark, 1962

SVHS DATES TO REMEMBER

Aug. 6 Picnic potluck – 5 pm !! Note earlier time !!

Aug. 15 Board meeting – 7 pm Sept. 19 Board meeting – 7 pm

Sept. 23 Newsletter deadline

From the President’s Desk . . .

First and foremost, I want to express my gratitude to all of you whose contributions made the Rummage Sale a super success! Whether you helped with setting up, during the sale, or the clean up - or maybe donated or purchased items, your participation made a BIG difference. As a result, the Spring Valley Historical Society raised around $1,620 after deducting expenses (and with the generous donation from Noemi Bancroft in New Jersey). Kudos to Caretaker Jim and Kathy Viessman for organizing the labor - many hands truly made for lighter work. For example, after closing at 3 PM Sunday the clean up (putting away things we want to sell next year, stacking those things that were being picked up by charitable organizations, putting the picnic tables and folding tables back where they belonged, etc.) was completed by 4:15 PM; other years it has taken nearly twice as long to accomplish! Thanks to one and all for supporting the Society and the Bancroft Ranch House. First News Flash: As most of you know, the Society purchased a new lighted exhibition case for the museum. More kudos to Jim for finding some local movers who got the unit inside the museum safely. However, as we prepared to put it in its place, we discovered that there was no cord to plug the lighting unit in so that they could be turned on. Imagine our surprise when we found out that was the way the manufacturer shipped the cases (that information wasn’t anywhere in the fine print). It seems that some museums prefer to wire 2 or more cases together so that one on/off switch controls all units which is perfectly logical. To resolve the situation, we contacted the local distributor and just today (Friday the 29th) a cord with a plug was installed. If curator Pat Case has any luck at all, the cabinet will be filled with additional artifacts from the 1950s by the time you come to the August picnic.

(Continued on page 7)

AUGUST 6th PICNIC

Honoring Past Mr. & Mrs. Spring Valleys

& Our Annual Country Fair Auction

Our annual August potluck picnic will be honoring ALL past Mr. & Mrs. Spring Valleys that have served as Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors for our community (see page 4). The picnic is held outdoors at 5 pm (an hour earlier than usual) - there’s usually a light breeze blowing (so dress accordingly). The Society will provide grilled hot dogs & buns, condiments, beverages, and eating paraphernalia. So please bring your favorite picnic salad, side dish, chips & dip, dessert or whatever, to share, and come enjoy the summer afternoon and friendly fellowship.

See you there!

See page 3 for details on our Annual

Country Fair Auction and how YOU

can help make it a profitable

success.

Please remember it is TIME to RENEW your DUES! *

Thank You * if you haven’t already done so.

Please check your mailing label for your membership status.

Bancroft Bulletin August/September 2016

Vol. 18, No. 1 - 2 - Spring Valley Historical Society

SVHS Officers/Committees President Rob Case 462-7928 Programs Kathy Viessman 465-1830 465-1830 Ways/Means OPEN Treasurer Carol Serr Secretary Carol Myers

Membership Carol Serr 698-1242 Bldgs&Grnds OPEN (buildings) Maureen Quinn (grounds) Curatorial Pat Case Historian OPEN Publicity OPEN Hospitality OPEN Newsletter Carol Serr 698-1242

FAX (858) 505-9658 Attn: Carol e-mail: SpringVlyHistSoc@aol.com

Caretaker Jim Van Meter 469-1480 Security Petey, the wonder dog General meetings are held on the 1st Sat. of even-numbered months; & Board meetings are at 7 pm on the 3rd Monday of every month - both held at the Museum annex - at 9050 Memory Lane, Spring Valley, (619) 469-1480. Visiting hours at the Bancroft Ranch House Museum and grounds are 1-4 pm, Fri. thru Sun. Group tours by appointment. Caretaker Jim Van Meter is always looking for people willing to be docents to help with giving tours; please contact him. The Bancroft Bulletin is a bimonthly publication of the Spring Valley Historical Society. Contributions are welcome and should be sent to the Editor, either by e-mail (preferably) or to: SVHS, P.O. Box 142, Spring Valley, CA 91976.

♦ ♦ ♦ DISCLAMER: Articles printed in this newsletter are informational in nature and do not necessarily represent the views or beliefs of the Board of Directors or the Society in general.

♦ ♦ ♦ If you help sponsor this publication you can use your contribution as a tax deduction to a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Our Tax ID number is 237317982. Please help us pay printing or postage costs.

Plants for Sale Come on by and check out our Garden Shop near the entrance to the grounds (at gate). We have a variety of plants - at great prices! And we’re always happy to take more potted plant donations. Your plant purchase is greatly appreciated too. Also check out our native plant garden on the east side of the property. Just ask Jim, if you can’t find it.

Caretaker’s Corner

Summer fun in full swing, here on Memory Lane. Hope all are enjoying the summer weather and staying cool. Projects moving along here at a pace only middle-age wannabe geezers can appreciate. More projects in planning stage - call 469-1480 to get informed on how You can participate.

Book clubs have taken a vacation from meeting here; they will

resume as weather gets cooler. The Victorian Ladies meetings will return beginning in September. Walk-in visitors are parading the grounds on weekends with summer here. All enjoying the melodies here that Memory Lane creates.

S D Movers, located here in Spring Valley, moved our new

display case (see President’s report) in to the Annex for us. They made it look easy to move a 500 lb. glass display case! It was wonderful (saved SVHS member’s backs). A great job!

Our Rummage Sale was a smashing success Thanks to

everyone who donated items, telephoned members who don’t have e-mail (Thanks Kathy Viessman!), priced items, helped set up, worked the cashier’s table, bought stuff, and cleaned up on Sunday. Rummage team extraordinaire – hooray! It takes a lot of work to make this event happen. Members Lee and Phyllis Bourdeau, from Nevada, dropped in for a visit and to donate items and ended up buying a couple of things, as did Maril Platte. Hard not to buy something, as the prices are very good! BIG BIG THANKS to All.

Barnyard News Flash: Resident hens and roosters managing the heat out about in the barnyard and grounds in the cool parts of the day/night. Semi-retired Guard Dog Petey is on light duty these days – doing basic security patrol at night. Local ground squirrels have re-located to the south. Uninvited night visitors not harassing barnyard; not much to crow about. Hope to see you at our next pot-luck. Yours faithfully, Jim Van Meter - Caretaker/Director/Raconteur

August/September 2016 Bancroft Bulletin

Spring Valley Historical Society - 3 - Vol. 18, No. 1

Please Contribute to Our

Country Fair Auction Donate Treats or Your Garden Goodies

at our August 6th Picnic

Once again, we will be having our Country Fair Auction – where members donate items to auction off to help the society raise additional needed funding.

We hope many of you can donate your "surplus" tomatoes, zucchini, fruit, nuts, etc. from your garden or what you have canned or made into jam/jelly. For those without gardens or fruit trees/bushes – you can bring baked goodies (cookies, brownies, pie) perhaps from an heirloom recipe – as one might find in a contest at a country fair. Of course, if you're not up to baking or canning, you can always donate store-bought goodies too – just make sure your contribution to our fund-raiser gets put on the Auction table so it won't be eaten during dinner! Please have your contribution wrapped up so bugs can’t contaminate it. Craft items are also welcome as auction items.

Hopefully plenty of members will bring something to donate as well as be generous with their bidding on the goodies – all for a good cause to help support the running of our historic museum and facilities (see page 6 for last year’s expenditures).

Thank You for your participation!

Membership News

Our membership year for 2016-2017 began July 1st and so far only a few members have renewed. Hopefully the rest of you will renew soon. Please check the address label* on this newsletter for your membership status – if it reads “EXPIRED” then please make the effort to renew your dues sooner, rather than later. You can bring your payment to our August picnic.

Thank you! ☺ – Carol Serr

Membership Chair

* For those who get an e-copy, you will get a renewal notice via e-mail. We Thank you for helping us make our funds stretch father by not using them on printing and postage costs!

Help NEEDED for Our August Picnic Set-up

Our Caretaker, Jim, is a Jack-of-all-trades (and then some) and does SO much for our Society - but these days he could use some Help preparing for our outdoor August picnic from some enthusiastic helpers to set up tables, chairs, canopies, and get things ready on Friday (we can use help also when food is being brought on Saturday). PLEASE contact Jim (619-469-1480) to find out what time he could use your help. Thank you.

September is California History Month

A BIG THANKS TO ALL THE

RUMMAGE SALE HELPERS!

Thanks to everyone who helped set-up, sell, and

clean-up at our postponed Rummage Sale held in

mid-July. Without you, SVHS couldn’t get ‘er

done. Thanks Paul Morales, Frank Mooney, Earl Hem, John Klein, Delfino Lutack, Gary Cowart,

Billy Deertz, Loretta Mendoza, Carol Myers,

Fred & Mary Bushardt, Rob & Pat Case, and

Carol Serr.

And thanks to Pat Case, Sharon Barrington. and

Nancy Hartung for pricing many items weeks

before the sale!

And additional Thanks to Frank Mooney who

sold hot dogs and sodas, making us some extra

money (funds weren’t kept separate to know

how much though). * Italics denote SVHS members

Bancroft Bulletin August/September 2016

Vol. 18, No. 1 - 4 - Spring Valley Historical Society

Spring Valley Ambassadors Year Ambassadors Year Ambassadors 1982 Herb Ketell & Frances Peters 1997 Bob & Marilyn Jarman 1983 Lee Green & Sadie Prasser 1998 CK Hill & Juanita Mangels 1984 Willie Baker & Thelma Lewis 1999 Troy & Gloria Goodman 1985 Bill & Bertha Rasmussen 2000 Walter Thompson & Marie Mendoza 1986 Ralph Spooner & Emma Allen 2001 Ted Lauzier & Rose Palazzolo 1987 Everett & Pat Lucas 2002 Robert & Joyce Schwartz 1988 Elmer Becker & Ruby Becker 2003 Bob & Mary Cederdahl 1989 Clyde & Blanche Noble 2004 Dick & Colleen Fleet 1990 Chet & Venus Smith 2005 Wil & Sharon Conley 1991 Albert Mooney & Frieda Ralston 2006 Al & Dee Cole 1992 Robert & Freda Phillips 2007 Ken & Pat Umbarger 1993 Dick Allen & Florence Bair 2008 Dick & Alice Snow 1994 Charlie Lavoie & Marguerite Iles 2009 Charles & Paulette Biggs 1995 Ralph & Carmen Mitchell 2010 Ed & Rita Zasueta 1996 Chalmers & Hazel Buck

(italicized names denote deceased, that we know of)

Bancroft’s Rock House, looking roughly north, ca. 1895 (photo

courtesy the San Diego Historical Society).

Mr. & Mrs. Spring Valleys at 2015 Picnic

Left to right – back row: Dick Snow (2008) and Bob Cederdahl (2003); Middle row: Alice Snow (2008) and Venus Smith (1990); Front: Carmen Mitchell (1995) Note: year after name is when they served as Ambassador; italics denote SVHS member.

Honoring the Past Mr. & Mrs. Spring Valleys

Since 1982, the Spring Valley Chamber of Commerce has recognized individuals over 62 years old for their years of community service by crowning the couple as Mr. & Mrs. Spring Valley (not necessarily spouses). Finding it increasingly more difficult to find people willing to serve in this role, the Chamber decided to discontinue this position in 2011. However, SVHS continues to honor all the past Mr. & Mrs. Spring Valley’s at our August picnic (at 5 pm).

August/September 2016 Bancroft Bulletin

Spring Valley Historical Society - 5 - Vol. 18, No. 1

◊ † EVENTS AROUND TOWN † ◊

Stagecoach Days at Old Town State Historic Park

Every Saturday in August • noon – 4 pm Celebrating the West on the move, this event has activities throughout the day giving visitors a taste of what things were like in the era of real horsepower – before the train and automobile. Life in the 1860s will be reflected through vignettes, demonstrations, stories, songs, and living history activities giving visitors a look at the early modes of transportation in San Diego and daily life at this time. There will be blacksmithing demonstrations, historic wagons on display at the Seeley Stable museum, equestrian activities, chuck-wagon grub, games and amusements played 100 years ago to partake in, a quilting bee, and much more!

For more info: (619) 220-5422 http://www.parks.ca.gov/oldtownsandiego

http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/663/files/MasterCalendar2016_0721.pdf

National City Automobile Heritage Day Kimball Park – East 12th St. & D Ave.

(behind City Hall) Saturday Aug. 27 • 9 am – 3 pm

The 25th year of this event will feature a dazzling display of cars from the very early models to the latest Super Cars now being produced.. Over 200 entrants of turn of the century cars to classic muscle cars will be on display. Besides the free car show, there will be great food (for sale), live music, and specialty booths. The event culminates with a 2 pm awards ceremony in 22 classes of autos. For more info, call 619-477-9339 or visit this website:

http://www.automobileheritageday.com/

Alpine Historical Society Luncheon

“History of Winemaking in San Diego County” Held at Alpine Woman’s Club - 2156 Alpine Blvd.

Sunday Aug. 21 • 1 pm (potluck) • 2 pm (program) Historian and local vintner, Richard Carrico, will present the interesting history on the deep roots of vineyards and wineries in our County; some vines first planted in 1769. He is completing a book on this subject. Mr. Carrico directed archaeological excavations on the County land adjacent to our adobe, as well as the Presidio, so he has an affinity to our area. Bring a potluck dish to enjoy at 1 pm for the lunch or come just before 2 pm for only the program.

Please RSVP to Tom at 619-885-8063 or e-mail: info@alpinehistory.org

Lemon Grove Historical Society’s "History Alive" Lecture Series

at the H. Lee House Cultural Center 3205 Olive St. (Civic Center Park)

Thurs., Sept. 1 • 7 p.m. (free off-street parking in Civic Center Park) Donna Vitale Lupinacci is the first lecturer in this history series, speaking on Battlefield Medicine and the Rise of American Nursing in the U. S. Civil War. A former military nurse, Ms. Lupinacci presents the story with visuals and artifacts from 1860-65 - when Clara Barton and the Red Cross brought urgently-needed skills and compassion to suffering troops. The free lectures, held the 1st Thursday of each month, September - June, are suitable for ages 17 and over. Refreshments will be served; donations gratefully accepted.

Pacific Southwest Brewery Collectibles Show

Sat. Aug. 6 • 11 am – 3 pm Terra Madre Garden (formerly Stone Farms)

9928 Protea Gardens Rd., Escondido

This is the largest brewery collectibles show in Southern California. If you collect or have brewery collectibles for sale then this is a must attend show. Soda, tea, oven-fired pizza available for purchase. Three brewery raffle prizes to win! Free admission after 1pm; $5 before 1pm. For more info, visit:

artsbeercans.com/brewery-collectibles-show/ Or call 817-266-9567; or contact Andie LaComb: tigger68@twc.com Need to Clear out Clutter? Don’t forget to Donate items like old school annuals, business brochures, advertising items (yard sticks, pens or pencils, ash trays, etc.), old photographs (with identification info), vintage tools, and similar items that can Tell a story about your community and our past. Give items to the appropriate society, be it SVHS, the Veterans Museum, etc.

Bancroft Bulletin August/September 2016

Vol. 18, No. 1 - 6 - Spring Valley Historical Society

Annual Financial Report July 1, 2015 - June 30, 2016 Carol Serr – Treasurer

INCOME: DISBURSEMENTS: Annual dues $802.00 Utilities/Services: Fund-raising: SDG&E - gas & electric $1,450.80 August Country Auction 265.00 AT&T - phone† 1,365.39 Rummage Sale donation* 50.00 Helix Water Dist. 365.74 Allied Waste Service - trash 606.24 Donations: Post Office box rental fee 82.00 Adobe ‘bank’ 323.38 Newsletter expenses: Other donations 2,675.00 Postage 224.60 Printing 305.55 Sales: Other expenses: Book (Our Hills & Valleys) 220.00 Supplies/expenses 431.87 Display supplies 65.68 CD interest 11.86 Repair supplies (water heater, etc.) 1,300.00 Program/Speaker (donation) 60.00 Caretaker’s share of SDG&E 837.49 Food (for events) 206.35

Total Income $5,084.73 Sales tax (book sales)† 11.00 Barcode stickers (curation) 129.95 County Grant** 9,500.00

Total Income $14,584.73 Caretaker bonus 300.00 Website 600.00 Fire extinguisher recharge 53.35

* sale wasn’t held until July ** put in Savings Security lighting installation & fixtures† 934.53 Display case† 1,946.30 Tree trimming† 3,200.00

Savings Report Workmans Comp. Ins. Fund† 397.80 July 1, 2015- June 30, 2016 Property Taxes & Fees† 442.12 Insurance-Liability† 3,176.00 Savings 16,621.60 Total Disbursements $17,655.27 CD (dedicated fund) 10,500.00 Total $27,121.60 † grant expense Report filed by the Treasurer 7/26/16 pending formal audit

Take a look at the list of your SVHS Officers & Committees on the left side of page 2. Notice anything? Five of our positions are not filled. Yet we somehow manage to plod along. But this is Your society. We can only accomplish great things if we have the people putting in the necessary effort to make things happen. We sure could use more volunteers. A Ways & Means committee would be great to organize our fundraisers throughout the year. I’m sure we would gain members if we had a Publicity person. And a Hospitality person to decorate and prepare our meeting room would take a load off Jim’s shoulders. That task is not that of the Caretaker, but Jim has been graciously doing it for too long. Please let President Rob know if you would like to serve on or run a committee.

Can’t believe I have been putting together this newsletter/bulletin for over 18 years now! My mom warned me it would be a Lot of work – and she was right. But I enjoy getting this info out to our members. I don’t often start working on it as early as I should though. Oops. Any member is always welcome to submit articles, photos, notices, etc. to run in an upcoming issue. Please see the Deadline date in the lower corner of page 1 (cover). Thanks for your support of SVHS! Carol Serr Bancroft Bulletin Editor

Editor’s Message

August/September 2016 Bancroft Bulletin

Spring Valley Historical Society - 7 - Vol. 18, No. 1

Petey’s Post

Hello to all my fans out there! Thanks for all my treats. I have been enjoying my semi-retirement that my buddy Jim has arranged. Life is so good - it happens here and there with my buddy Jim. He goes along chatting with visitors and sometimes he really gets excited. I have gotten in the habit of listening with one ear, as I snooze.

Lately, a group of happy-looking visitors and Jim were talking while walking through the adobe - when one of them got so excited. Something about history being made - a great first. And everyone seemed to agree it is worth chatting about. They said things like “finally this great country has nominated a woman for president” and “we have lived to see wonderful things.” Happy they were; loud, excited. A historic first, they said. Finally they all settled down. Hopefully my buddy Jim will settle down all this excitement and fun so I can say “hey great buddy Jim, where are my treats?” I get more treats ...yummy. Well, stop by and give me a scratch or a treat. I will be on the cool floor of the old adobe.

September 15 - October 15 is

(Continued from page 1) Second News Flash: The extraordinary support we have enjoyed over the years from 2nd District Supervisor, the Honorable Diane Jacob, continues this year with the award of our County Community Enhancement Grant request for $9,500. This grant will help defray operating expenses (primarily insurance) and allow us to complete the tree trimming necessary to keep the grounds beautiful and safe, but will also allow the Society to purchase one or more additional display cases, replace the aging desktop computer and obtain a cataloging software package that is specifically designed to the needs of a non-profit history museum. These are exciting times for the historical society and I hope you will be able to join us this Saturday to enjoy our annual Summer Picnic and Country Fair Auction. As usual, I will be grillin’ and grinnin’ at the barbeque. Do you prefer a light or dark hot dog? I hope to see all of you at the picnic. Yours truly

– Rob Case

A long list of potential questions is provided at this webpage: http://momitforward.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Family-History-eBook-Final_Page_03.jpg

Do You KNOW Your Family? Too many of us know little about our parents’ background or our grandparents’ life so long ago. It is so important to document this history Now, since too soon it will no longer be available to record for posterity. Probably the best way to bring up old memories is by asking questions to start things rolling. Start off simple to begin with, asking things like: When and where were you born? Where did you go to school? What were your favorite subjects? What did you have fun doing? What did you do for holidays.

Make it fun. If possible, use an audio recording device so you preserve their voice. Then transcribe their answers later on into a booklet to share with other family members. And don’t forget to go through old photographs and record Who is in them and approximately When the photo was taken (and where). If you don’t do this now, you will probably regret it later, when your loved one is gone.

Our Condolences

We recently received notice of the passing of SVHS Life member Donald Crosby’s wife Nancy (1931-1916); also the mother of member Erica Crosby – both from Davis, CA. Donald is the grandson of Rufina Porter – the woman who grew up in our adobe and is responsible for the name of our community. Rufina married Charles S. Crosby, from the nearby ranch to the north (where Eucalyptus Trees Park is now).

SPRING VALLEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY P O BOX 142 SPRING VALLEY CA 91976 Visit our website at: svhistoricalsociety.org ☞ Please save SVHS the cost of printing & postage by having your Bancroft Bulletin e-mailed.* Thank you.☜

Membership Application / Renewal Form

Fiscal Year: July 1 - June 30 Annual Dues: Individual $10.00 Please make check payable to: Family (2 adults + kids) $15.00 Spring Valley Historical Society Organization $20.00 bring this form to a meeting and introduce yourself! Sustaining $35.00 or mail to address shown in upper left corner of this page Student (under 22 yrs) $5.00 Life Member (1 individual) $150.00 NAME:______________________________________________________________ DATE: _______________ ADDRESS:____________________________________________________________ ZIP:__________-_______ e-mail: _______________________________________________________ PHONE: ( _ )________________

□ *I prefer a hard copy of the newsletter be mailed (if box not checked, a PDF newsletter will be e-mailed) AMOUNT: DUES $____________ and/or CONTRIBUTION $ _______________ PLEASE CONTACT ME FOR HELP WITH: ______Work Parties ______ Giving Museum Tours ______Serving on Board ______Rummage Sale ______ Other:___________________________

Our membership year began on July 1.

Time to RENEW you Membership Dues IF your address label below

Reads “EXPIRED”

Bring your home baked goodies, canned preserves, surplus garden produce/nuts,

homemade crafts, or similar items for our

Country Fair Auction at our August 6th picnic!

Remember the potluck dinner is at 5 pm