June 11, 1975 (8 pages)

ee -2 The Nevada County Nugget Wed., June 11, 1975 » (California Country. { Rough and Ready News Kristi Ottoman THE CHINA PHEASANT The China pheasant, or ringneck pheasant, isn’t a native of the west coast. In fact, none of the pioneers had even seen the bird until Judge Owen Denny was appointed as the American cansul to China in 1877. He wrote to a friend shortly after his arrival there about the t, ‘“The Chinese farmers never shoot the birds nor do they do anything which tends to frighten them from their fields, holding them friends rather than enemies, doing far more good to their crops than harm by the destruction of insects.” On January 29, 1881, a friend of Judge Denny’s, A.H. Morgan, received a letter from him. It said that sixty pheasants were being shipped to him in Portland and he asked that Morgan release them in different areas. The ship Otago arrived in Port Townsend in March 1881 and stowed in wire cages in the ship’s hold were the pheasants. Although the voyage had taken its toll over half of the birds were still alive when the vessel docked. But it was here, when the sailors were transferring the © crates to a small ship bound for Portland, that the greatest tragedy occurred. After months without light the birds became so excited by sunshine that they beat themselves to death on the wire cages and others were smothered when the sailors threw a heavy tarpaulin over them. Only seventeen pheasants reached Portland, and much to Morgan’s displeasure only three were hens. He released the birds on Sauvies Island and they began to multiply. That handful of ringnecks have been scattered throughout the West and can be found as far east as Michigan. But according ~ to government reports the China pheasant reached its peak, numerically, in the 190s. They predict that because of loss of habitat it will become a minor game bird and rare sight within fifteen years. e amptonville New CAMPTONVILLE, May 27 — June 28th has been set as the date to observe Founders Day, and to hold the annual Children’s Parade. This was started a couple of years ago and is an annual activity of the Camptonville Improvement -Association. The parade is open to children _ only, and any kind of an entry in which children can participate is permitted. Prizes will be. awarded for the best presentations in the various categories. Mrs. Judith McDowell is in charge of the arrangements. CAMPTONVILLE, June 3 — Mr. and Mrs. Robert Ivory, of NEVADA COUNTY NUGGET 301 Broad Street Nevada City, Ca. ‘ 95959 _Felephone 265-2559 PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY BY NEVADA COUNTY PUBLISHING CO. Second class postage paid at Nevada City, California. Adjudicated a legal newspaper of general circulation by the Nevada County Superior Court, June 3, 1960. : Decree No. 12,406. Subscription Rates: One Year . $3.00 Two Yeors . $5.00 _ Member of CALIFORNIA NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION. Susanville, were . weekend visitors at her old home here. Judge and Mrs. Acton M. Cleveland made a brief business trip to Sacramento Tuesday. Ron Ulrey, Jr. had the misfortune of falling out of a tree and breaking an arm. David Gore has returned from a few weeks’ visit with relatives in North Carolina; he made the trip by car.Mrs. Francis Chatfield, her sister Mrs. Merle Myers, and her mother, Mrs. Edith Kendall, of St. Helena, Mrs. Josephine Lampel, and Mrs. Beatrice Nichols, of Nevada City were in town Sunday on a brief visit, all being former residents of this place. Mr. and Mrs. Gordon W. Wheeler and daughter Debi, of Sacramento spent Sunday visiting Mrs. Wheeler’s parents, Judge and Mrs. Acton M. Cleveland. ’ The Camptonville Elementary School journeyed to Dobbins Monday to have an annual picnic at Lake Francis. An unusual electrical storm took place for four hours here early Sunday morning, bringing a heavy rain and wind, knocking the electrical power out for a couple of hours. Sierra sponsors ceramics class Sierra College is sponsoring a beginning ceramics class _ next month in Grace Lutheran Church. Tuition will be free to those over 62 years of age. There will be eight sessions beginning June 29. Registration may be made by calling Telecare (272-1710). Rides, tq the .clagses, may, be, .”,”. artangéd ‘ through’ ‘Telecare: *** By Fay Du nbar I love my doctor’s orders not to get tired. For two weeks I have woke up each morning to lie idly in the morning sun and watch a very intricate spider web on my ceiling. I even watch its maker wend his aimless way around the room and back a few times. Someday, of course, I am going to have to work up enough energy to get out the ceiling mop. Even a delicate spider web looks kind of messy. Last week was not aimless around the farm. Idon’t do any of the work yet but I do walk to the barn a few more times than these wobbly legs of mine like when we have emergencies. On Friday Johnny Johnson, who takes care of my television, came by to take father Sweet William and grandmother Josephine, my sheep, to the auction. It had to be and it was nice of Johnny but it sure ruined that day. Saturday one of my cows decided it was time to start next year’s family. Even, with the help of the man who really does the work here and Linda Starry who arranges about the new babies, Saturday was exhausting. Not wanting to be left out of any of the excitement on Sunday, my cow Susie decided to get in the swing of the thing. Everyone else took it in good stride but I ended up too tired even to eat my dinner. That’s life on a farm. Never a dull or restful moment. At least, hopefully, all next year’s calves will be 1 red. Somehow I find little black babies with red mothers quite disappointing. June is post office celebration month for ~ Rough and Ready. The recent death of Letitia Vroman, who served as postmaster here for several years prior to 1943, reminded me of the birthday date. Mrs. Vroman was 89 years young; she had been ill for some time. In the early days in Rough and Ready mail was dispensed from the Downey House (Rough and Ready Hotel) desk. Letitia managed the hotel ‘ and acted as postmaster until the demand for defense wokers won her away. It was five years, June 16, 1948, before Rough and Ready got its post office back with a new building and a new postmaster, Geneva Rogers. In earlier years the post office was taken into her home and operated from there by Alice Fippin Bennett. Again in a critical time the post office was run for a short time by Gertrude » Fippin who had a special little building built to house it. This little building was where that beautiful garden is today, beside the old John Fippin home. Various hotel owners or managers who became postmasters were Mary Downey; James Walling, Sept. 17, 1859; Schroeder, F. H. Fowler 1860; Schroeder for a second time, 1878 to 1906; Fischer, Provan, and Moore. After the death of Geneva Rogers in 1957, Etta Ettleman became postmaster and served until the present postmaster Helen Avery took over in 1968. Mrs. Avery has had three homes: first the 1948 post office at what is now the Country Store, then a mobile post office, and the new post office I worked for Mrs. Ettleman as parttime help until the post office began to require regular help. I loved it. You get to know everyone in the community and at that time the community extended from Grass Valley.to Smartville. We had a long window seat and rocking chairs where people came to wait for their mail. At Christmas time the grocery department cleared its space for the Christmas mail. Mrs. Ettleman was very fussy about rules except we certainly were friendly. One rule she had was that until the last package was delivered Christmas Eve we didn’t go home. I stayed one Christmas Eve until after 5‘p.m. _ The post office was returned to Rough and Ready in 1948 through the efforts of Andrew Rogers, Martina Paull, and the late Senator Clare Engle. The whole town celebrated the _ event. .Postmasters, ,came, from , all’ the surbduridihs’ courtties;,"¢ven’. Sacramento: The: : £9 ee ee late Frank Fippin rode shotgun on the horsedrawn stage driven by Ned Granholm which delivered the first mail. Several historical society notables came in with the stage. The twin cities bus, driven by Joe Spence, made regular trips throughout the day and evening with visitors. Rough and Ready was in its glory. Rough and Ready has had mail service since 1849, except for the one period. Mail came by mule out of Sacramento in 1849. The mail call preceeded the mule. People gathered and waited hoping their name would be called. They paid the mule driver $1 per piece of mail. The first official postmaster, A.M. Blanton, probably was a state appointment, made December 1850. Strange things happened in those days when 3,000 miles meant three months. Marcus Nutting, appointed July 28, 1851, seems to have been . the first federal appointment. All of Rough and Ready’s postmasters have . been colorful. Especially interesting is Helen Avery whose great-great-granaunt was Elizabeth Taylor, sister of Zackery Taylor, for whom our town was named. If you arén’t familiar with that story-General Zakery Taylor 12th president’of the United States, was called by his men old ‘Rough and Ready’ Taylor. It was a company of his men who settled here and built and named the original Rough and Ready Trading Post. Young Mitchell E. Abbott will not be coming home for a visit. Aaron Abbott is home after attending Mitchell’s graduation from the University of Virginia School of Law but Mitchell had to report to work last Monday. In this day of unemployment that is something of a record. Mitchell was recruited by a large Los Angeles law firm even before he graduated. Spanish is a beautiful language. I am just now feeling a little normal and I am enjoying all over again the good wishes I received while I felt so lousy. Arnold Solis of the Mexican Villa sent my sister home one day with a taco for me. The taco was very good but the note in Spanish that accompanied it was especially lovely. I am sure it was the thoughts of all such wonderful people, a has kept me going, through some of my bad es. You must all have been reading about Mark Tinsley and his prowess as a discus thrower. Even in state competition Mark is going to be hard to beat. I think that besides his own initiative and the encouragement of his parents . Mark owes some of his success to 4-H. When the 4-H volunteered its help to some community program Mark was always there working. I can see him now digging out blackberries beside the old blacksmith shop. There.may be another factor which contributed to Mark’s success. He lives next door to his grandparents, the Lloyd Waxs’ who raise the most beautiful organic garden I have ever seen. Just heard that Joan Mader broke her wrist a couple of weeks ago. Mary O’Neal, her mother, tells me she is just doing fine. She is even washing dishes and typing and doing all sorts of two handed chores with one hand. The Rough and Ready Girls; Norma Bowen, Val Fritche, Joann Stevens and her two friends Dee and Phyllis, and Jane Walter danced for the Malakoff Homecoming on Sunday. Janie said they had a “Rip Roarin’ time.”’ The day was gorgeous. There was a good sing-along for everyone at the King’s Saloon. Even the yougsters participated. The cast of ‘‘Paint Your Wagon” did excerpts from their play which will be presented the first day of July at the fairgrounds. I’m on the citizen’s Committee and this was the first homecoming I have ever missed. Glad it wasa good one. wt

ee -2 The Nevada County Nugget Wed., June 11, 1975 » (California Country. { Rough and Ready News Kristi Ottoman THE CHINA PHEASANT The China pheasant, or ringneck pheasant, isn’t a native of the west coast. In fact, none of the pioneers had even seen the bird until Judge Owen Denny was appointed as the American cansul to China in 1877. He wrote to a friend shortly after his arrival there about the t, ‘“The Chinese farmers never shoot the birds nor do they do anything which tends to frighten them from their fields, holding them friends rather than enemies, doing far more good to their crops than harm by the destruction of insects.” On January 29, 1881, a friend of Judge Denny’s, A.H. Morgan, received a letter from him. It said that sixty pheasants were being shipped to him in Portland and he asked that Morgan release them in different areas. The ship Otago arrived in Port Townsend in March 1881 and stowed in wire cages in the ship’s hold were the pheasants. Although the voyage had taken its toll over half of the birds were still alive when the vessel docked. But it was here, when the sailors were transferring the © crates to a small ship bound for Portland, that the greatest tragedy occurred. After months without light the birds became so excited by sunshine that they beat themselves to death on the wire cages and others were smothered when the sailors threw a heavy tarpaulin over them. Only seventeen pheasants reached Portland, and much to Morgan’s displeasure only three were hens. He released the birds on Sauvies Island and they began to multiply. That handful of ringnecks have been scattered throughout the West and can be found as far east as Michigan. But according ~ to government reports the China pheasant reached its peak, numerically, in the 190s. They predict that because of loss of habitat it will become a minor game bird and rare sight within fifteen years. e amptonville New CAMPTONVILLE, May 27 — June 28th has been set as the date to observe Founders Day, and to hold the annual Children’s Parade. This was started a couple of years ago and is an annual activity of the Camptonville Improvement -Association. The parade is open to children _ only, and any kind of an entry in which children can participate is permitted. Prizes will be. awarded for the best presentations in the various categories. Mrs. Judith McDowell is in charge of the arrangements. CAMPTONVILLE, June 3 — Mr. and Mrs. Robert Ivory, of NEVADA COUNTY NUGGET 301 Broad Street Nevada City, Ca. ‘ 95959 _Felephone 265-2559 PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY BY NEVADA COUNTY PUBLISHING CO. Second class postage paid at Nevada City, California. Adjudicated a legal newspaper of general circulation by the Nevada County Superior Court, June 3, 1960. : Decree No. 12,406. Subscription Rates: One Year .. $3.00 Two Yeors .. $5.00 _ Member of CALIFORNIA NEWSPAPER PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION. Susanville, were . weekend visitors at her old home here. Judge and Mrs. Acton M. Cleveland made a brief business trip to Sacramento Tuesday. Ron Ulrey, Jr. had the misfortune of falling out of a tree and breaking an arm. David Gore has returned from a few weeks’ visit with relatives in North Carolina; he made the trip by car.Mrs. Francis Chatfield, her sister Mrs. Merle Myers, and her mother, Mrs. Edith Kendall, of St. Helena, Mrs. Josephine Lampel, and Mrs. Beatrice Nichols, of Nevada City were in town Sunday on a brief visit, all being former residents of this place. Mr. and Mrs. Gordon W. Wheeler and daughter Debi, of Sacramento spent Sunday visiting Mrs. Wheeler’s parents, Judge and Mrs. Acton M. Cleveland. ’ The Camptonville Elementary School journeyed to Dobbins Monday to have an annual picnic at Lake Francis. An unusual electrical storm took place for four hours here early Sunday morning, bringing a heavy rain and wind, knocking the electrical power out for a couple of hours. Sierra sponsors ceramics class Sierra College is sponsoring a beginning ceramics class _ next month in Grace Lutheran Church. Tuition will be free to those over 62 years of age. There will be eight sessions beginning June 29. Registration may be made by calling Telecare (272-1710). Rides, tq the .clagses, may, be, .”,”. artangéd ‘ through’ ‘Telecare: *** By Fay Du nbar I love my doctor’s orders not to get tired. For two weeks I have woke up each morning to

lie idly in the morning sun and watch a very intricate spider web on my ceiling. I even watch its maker wend his aimless way around the room and back a few times. Someday, of course, I am going to have to work up enough energy to get out the ceiling mop. Even a delicate spider web looks kind of messy. Last week was not aimless around the farm. Idon’t do any of the work yet but I do walk to the barn a few more times than these wobbly legs of mine like when we have emergencies. On Friday Johnny Johnson, who takes care of my television, came by to take father Sweet William and grandmother Josephine, my sheep, to the auction. It had to be and it was nice of Johnny but it sure ruined that day. Saturday one of my cows decided it was time to start next year’s family. Even, with the help of the man who really does the work here and Linda Starry who arranges about the new babies, Saturday was exhausting. Not wanting to be left out of any of the excitement on Sunday, my cow Susie decided to get in the swing of the thing. Everyone else took it in good stride but I ended up too tired even to eat my dinner. That’s life on a farm. Never a dull or restful moment. At least, hopefully, all next year’s calves will be 1 red. Somehow I find little black babies with red mothers quite disappointing. June is post office celebration month for ~ Rough and Ready. The recent death of Letitia Vroman, who served as postmaster here for several years prior to 1943, reminded me of the birthday date. Mrs. Vroman was 89 years young; she had been ill for some time. In the early days in Rough and Ready mail was dispensed from the Downey House (Rough and Ready Hotel) desk. Letitia managed the hotel ‘ and acted as postmaster until the demand for defense wokers won her away. It was five years, June 16, 1948, before Rough and Ready got its post office back with a new building and a new postmaster, Geneva Rogers. In earlier years the post office was taken into her home and operated from there by Alice Fippin Bennett. Again in a critical time the post office was run for a short time by Gertrude » Fippin who had a special little building built to house it. This little building was where that beautiful garden is today, beside the old John Fippin home. Various hotel owners or managers who became postmasters were Mary Downey; James Walling, Sept. 17, 1859; Schroeder, F. H. Fowler 1860; Schroeder for a second time, 1878 to 1906; Fischer, Provan, and Moore. After the death of Geneva Rogers in 1957, Etta Ettleman became postmaster and served until the present postmaster Helen Avery took over in 1968. Mrs. Avery has had three homes: first the 1948 post office at what is now the Country Store, then a mobile post office, and the new post office I worked for Mrs. Ettleman as parttime help until the post office began to require regular help. I loved it. You get to know everyone in the community and at that time the community extended from Grass Valley.to Smartville. We had a long window seat and rocking chairs where people came to wait for their mail. At Christmas time the grocery department cleared its space for the Christmas mail. Mrs. Ettleman was very fussy about rules except we certainly were friendly. One rule she had was that until the last package was delivered Christmas Eve we didn’t go home. I stayed one Christmas Eve until after 5‘p.m. _ The post office was returned to Rough and Ready in 1948 through the efforts of Andrew Rogers, Martina Paull, and the late Senator Clare Engle. The whole town celebrated the _ event. .Postmasters, ,came, from , all’ the surbduridihs’ courtties;,"¢ven’. Sacramento: The: : £9 ee ee late Frank Fippin rode shotgun on the horsedrawn stage driven by Ned Granholm which delivered the first mail. Several historical society notables came in with the stage. The twin cities bus, driven by Joe Spence, made regular trips throughout the day and evening with visitors. Rough and Ready was in its glory. Rough and Ready has had mail service since 1849, except for the one period. Mail came by mule out of Sacramento in 1849. The mail call preceeded the mule. People gathered and waited hoping their name would be called. They paid the mule driver $1 per piece of mail. The first official postmaster, A.M. Blanton, probably was a state appointment, made December 1850. Strange things happened in those days when 3,000 miles meant three months. Marcus Nutting, appointed July 28, 1851, seems to have been . the first federal appointment. All of Rough and Ready’s postmasters have . been colorful. Especially interesting is Helen Avery whose great-great-granaunt was Elizabeth Taylor, sister of Zackery Taylor, for whom our town was named. If you arén’t familiar with that story-General Zakery Taylor 12th president’of the United States, was called by his men old ‘Rough and Ready’ Taylor. It was a company of his men who settled here and built and named the original Rough and Ready Trading Post. Young Mitchell E. Abbott will not be coming home for a visit. Aaron Abbott is home after attending Mitchell’s graduation from the University of Virginia School of Law but Mitchell had to report to work last Monday. In this day of unemployment that is something of a record. Mitchell was recruited by a large Los Angeles law firm even before he graduated. Spanish is a beautiful language. I am just now feeling a little normal and I am enjoying all over again the good wishes I received while I felt so lousy. Arnold Solis of the Mexican Villa sent my sister home one day with a taco for me. The taco was very good but the note in Spanish that accompanied it was especially lovely. I am sure it was the thoughts of all such wonderful people, a has kept me going, through some of my bad es. You must all have been reading about Mark Tinsley and his prowess as a discus thrower. Even in state competition Mark is going to be hard to beat. I think that besides his own initiative and the encouragement of his parents . Mark owes some of his success to 4-H. When the 4-H volunteered its help to some community program Mark was always there working. I can see him now digging out blackberries beside the old blacksmith shop. There.may be another factor which contributed to Mark’s success. He lives next door to his grandparents, the Lloyd Waxs’ who raise the most beautiful organic garden I have ever seen. Just heard that Joan Mader broke her wrist a couple of weeks ago. Mary O’Neal, her mother, tells me she is just doing fine. She is even washing dishes and typing and doing all sorts of two handed chores with one hand. The Rough and Ready Girls; Norma Bowen, Val Fritche, Joann Stevens and her two friends Dee and Phyllis, and Jane Walter danced for the Malakoff Homecoming on Sunday. Janie said they had a “Rip Roarin’ time.”’ The day was gorgeous. There was a good sing-along for everyone at the King’s Saloon. Even the yougsters participated. The cast of ‘‘Paint Your Wagon” did excerpts from their play which will be presented the first day of July at the fairgrounds. I’m on the citizen’s Committee and this was the first homecoming I have ever missed. Glad it wasa good one. wt