The Trunk Series ~ Moments in Time ~ December 2, 1963

Fall of 1963 was my first semester at UCSB. I didn't have a car at the time and rode home for Thanksgiving with a friend from Mill Valley. I flew back on December 2nd. Take note of the cost of the flight. Yes, you're reading it correctly at $22.37. I looked up the conversion to 2014 dollars and it translates to $171.49. The actual cost of a one way flight, half a century later, is now about $220.00.  

Check out the Hertz ticket pouch. Oh Baby, a Chevy hardtop. Maggie, my housemate in the Pine Hall dorms, had a white one. We saw a lot of California in that beast and once set a land speed record from UCSB to Mill Valley to make it to a party at Rym Partridge's house. 

It's amazing how a small piece of paper can open doors to the past, to your history, and to some of your monumental dumb ass moves as a teenager. It's a wonder we survived our youth.

Oops and a Buried Treasure ~ May 20, 2014

The Big Reveal: The Research Queen must confess a Big Oops. I need to clear something up before my work is identified as being from the "Ready, Fire, Aim Academy of Research". 

In my April 29th post I stated that the Summit Avenue property was purchased for $1,600 in 1894 from the Tamalpais Land and Water Company (error since corrected on that post). My initial information came from a conveyance document (these days it would be called the deed of trust) transferring property to the owners when the loan was paid off. There were two of the two page documents. What I didn't catch the first time around is that the documents were for two different lots. My great grandparents purchased Lot 134 for $2,000 (roughly $51,200 in 2014 dollars) in 1892. Lot 135 was purchased by a George Scott Henry for $1,600. I checked with my Aunt Betty and she doesn't know of a second piece of property or a Mr. George Scott Henry who was, coincidentally, the Secretary of the Tamalpais Water Company at the time. I'm working with the Marin Municipal Water District to see if we can locate a copy of the original plot map. 

The Buried Treasure: I just found the following receipt folded up in an unmarked envelope. Charles and Flora Beals (my great grandmother and her second husband) purchased Lot 134 in August 1892. They were buying it on time and this receipt outlined the special agreement. I can almost decipher all of the handwriting: 

"Interest is to commence as soon as lot is connected with main pipes of water system" and "Special agreement ~ $50 every month from October 8th, 1892 until $500 is paid up .... of capital, then a deed to be given and mortgage for balance for 1, 2 and 3 years at 7% interest with ..... to pay $50 every month or more".

What I find fascinating is provision (1) in the Terms of Sale: "No spirituous or malt intoxicating liquors, wine or cider to be manufactured, sold, exchanged, bartered delivered or given away on said premises prior to May 31st, 1915, under penalty of forfeiture of the right of possession until said 31st May, 1915, except as authorized by such conveyance." On page two of the document it states: "Provided however, that the party of the second part his heirs or assigns, may in good faith, on said premises, himself use and supply his own family with such liquors, wine or ciders."

California was not a dry state at the time, but there appear to be at least a couple of trains of thought on the subject. The liquor industry may have gotten some legislation passed to control perceived competition from private parties and the Women's Christian Temperance Union was starting to gain popularity in the 1,800's. Inquiring minds want to know the significance of May 31, 1915. Further research is called for, but that's for another day. 

The Trunk Series ~ On Generations ~ May 2014

Three generations of women, free spirits one and all. From left to right: Grandma Olive, Mom Barbara, Grandma Hazel and wee me. It's 1947 and we're in Grandma Hazel's back yard in Mill Valley. Check out my wheels!

Grandma Olive was born in 1885 and grew up in San Francisco. She married the love of her life, Billy Macdonald, in 1909 and had three sons. Some of their early years were spent in Coronado where this photo of her with the boys was taken circa 1920. 

Free as the wind

Billy died unexpectedly in 1934 and she never remarried. She lived in San Francisco, visited her five grandchildren often and traveled the world by herself for three plus decades. 

Grandma Hazel was born in 1880 and met my grandfather John Sherman Bagg at UC Berkeley. She graduated in 1906 with a degree in Botany, he attended the School of Mines. They spent much of the first few years of their marriage exploring the Sierras with a mule. 

Fearless

And in long skirts to boot

They divorced in the early 1920's. He was drawn to the vagabond life of a mining engineer and miner in California, Nevada and Arizona and she had two daughters to raise. She later married Walter Polland and ran a successful insurance agency in San Francisco. They lived on the Mill Valley property, purchased by her mother in 1892, until the fire of 1929 burned off the middle ridge of Mt. Tamalpais. Aunt Betty and her grandparents, Charles and Flora Beals, moved to a house up the street that survived the fire while the compound was being rebuilt. My Mom was sent to live with her grandmother Charlotte Winchester Bagg in Santa Barbara. I'm sure it was a traumatic experience for her, but it must have also been an adventure.

The Old Adobe

She lived at the historic Trussell-Winchester Adobe at 412 Montecito St. which was then Charlotte's home and went to Santa Barbara HS. Had she not moved to Santa Barbara and attended UCLA she would never had met my dad. Here they are on vacation. As irreverent as always she stuck her tongue out at the camera. Here she was 22 he was 28.

Summer 1938

Colorado River 1970

So now you've met the delightful trio of free spirited women who influenced my collective soul by sharing their joie de vivre and wisdom over the years. I remain ever the tomboy and occasionally a lady.

Mt. Robson 1970

MacMurray Ranch 2007

Generations are the threads that bind us to our history and where we came from. The women of my family were pioneers, travelers, and free spirits long before it was acceptable behavior. They could do a man's work, climb a mountain, or run a business. Spend some time talking to your elders, taking notes and researching your history. It's a fun, rewarding and a sometimes surprising adventure. 

The Trunk Series ~ Undated

I've been sorting though Grandma Olive's Chinese trunk and organizing photos, writings and keepers into stand up files so I can remember where I'm going and where I've been research wise. Memory is a fleeting thing at this age and I'm working on collections that are 50 (college) to 150 years (family history) old. 

In the middle of the chaos I found a folded, typed page of what I'd call free verse. The stationary is stained and a bit yellowed with age. A partial watermark was visible so I turned it over and held it under the magnifying lamp on my beading table. I could make out Eaton's ~ Bond ~ Berkshire but that was about it. Time for a little web crawling. Drum roll please, we have a winner.

Eaton's Corrasable Bond USA Berkshire

Cotton 25% Content

It was a specially made, new fangled, erasable typing paper available from the 1950's to the 1970's. That narrows down the time frame but not much else. I've been researching this beautiful piece for a couple of weeks and have found no reference to an established author.

Okay, so I was at UCSB 1963-1967 and UCLA 1968-1969 but the verse is not familiar to me. And trust me I would have remembered if I'd received this from an admirer! 

My maternal grandfather, John Sherman Bagg, was a tireless correspondent, but not known to be a creative writer. His letterhead is the same kind of bond. Some of the discoloration and age marks are similar to other papers in his collection, but this font is smaller than the one on his letters. So we're everywhere and nowhere at the moment. 

What next? What haven't I dug through yet? Wait, Mom saved copies our letters to each other after my college years, so I dug those out today. I found one from 1977 on the same Eaton's Bond, same font size. Aha! The small "a" is slightly askew, just like the one on this note. So this begs the question of who wrote to whom?

My Mother's gifts were knitting and watercolors. She wrote travel logs that were published in travel magazines but I'd never known her to be a creative writer or a poet. However, my paternal grandfather, William Griffith "Billy" Macdonald, was quite the wordsmith. I have copies of several published poems and letters. Perhaps when Grandma Olive passed away Billy's typewriter came to Dad, and Mom used when they were on the road. This was Billy's 10th anniversary present to Grandma Olive. I'll leave it to you to decide but I think I've found my poet. 

I never met either of my Grandfathers. My mom was estranged from her father J.S. Bagg, but I've gotten to know him through my Aunt Betty. Billy Macdonald, the love of my Grandmother's life, died long before I was born. Digging through old books, photos and papers I am getting to know him too. If your grandparents are still in your life talk to them, ask about their lives, write or record a living history. It will be a treasure for generations to come. 

The Trunk Series ~ April 5, 1945

I hope you can read this priceless note from The Whitee-Didee Laundry. I believe it was the work of long time family friend Sam Wilson. I was born on March 17, 1945 so this was an ever so timely missive to my no doubt overwhelmed parents. 

My very pregnant Mom on March 11, 1945

The Scotties were Nip and Tuck

You tend to forget that your elders, be they parents or grandparents or family friends were irreverent pranksters in their early years (ages ten to forty) just as we were. I started reading the note and I'm thinking this is a whole new level of personal service. Then, I looked closely at the stationary of The Whitee-Didee Laundry and realize that I'm along for the ride. 

If you have family scrapbooks, photo albums, or old letters tucked away for posterity or your kids, it's time to haul them out of the back of the closet for a look see. They are endless resources of humor, insight and history. 

The Trunk Series ~ September 19, 1963

In 1963 the freshman dorms at UCSB were former officer's barracks for the Marine Corp Air Station that was once located near Goleta Point. It was kind of the wild west for those of us away from home for the first time.  There were about 20 students per building and a Resident Assistant (Responsible Adult) who multi-tasked as house manager, referee, wrangler, field marshal, and peace keeper. 

This loose knit community of dorms was centered in a wooded meadow a short walk from campus: The Center for Endless Shenanigans. Shortly after the Beatles appeared on Ed Sullivan singing "I Want to Hold Your Hand" we had a late night visit at Pine Hall. Awakened by knocking on the window we opened the curtains to see Mike Sterling and one of his buddies, in full bug regalia with pipe cleaner feeler headgear. As soon as the window slid open they broke into the song.

My Mom kept all my letters from UCSB. The letter of this date brought a smile and some memories. It was sent Air Mail for the grand sum of eight cents. My handwriting was still legible. It spoke of boys and dates, bad food and long lines at the dining halls, and looking forward to Thanksgiving and Mom food. Life was so simple and from the perspective of a 18 year old, getting acquainted with independence and new friends, quite the bee's knees. 

I'm sure the following had my folks rolling their eyes. Fearless and free we took everything in with open minds and sometimes a little commentary.

"We are naming the field mice in the hall by alphabet and we're already up to the letter S."

"My roommate Pam and I watched a professor cut up a lady for Human Anatomy classes. He was so casual about the whole thing, smoking and listening to the Dodger game at the same time."

It was definitely a different place and time. Campus was isolated from the real world. There were no computers or cell phones. Social media didn't exist. Hell, we hardly ever saw television. Looking back it was a blessing that served us all well. We learned how to communicate, to write, to make friends and entertain ourselves outdoors. 

The Trunk Series ~ Feb 08, 1964

In the Fall of 1963 I left bucolic Mill Valley to attend UC Santa Barbara. I was 18 and it was time to go away to school. I had no game plan but I was off on a new adventure and that's what counted.

At the time UCSB was the new kid on the block of the UC system. The student population was maybe 3,500 students, mostly living on campus or a short walk away in Isla Vista. The weather was great, the beach was always calling, you didn't need a car, and dogs were allowed in class. Somewhat insulated from the real world it had a well earned reputation as a party school in those days.

Freshman and sophomore year students lived in dorms. The original ones on campus were refurbished military barracks. The four of us met our freshman year while living in Pine Hall. Sophomore year we were moved uptown into Santa Rosa Hall one of the new dorms. The ultimate goal was to move to Isla Vista, but that would have to wait for junior year.

Pam, Maggie, Me and Priscilla

Pine Hall 1963

We decided on some peace keeping measures early on and wrote up this agreement regarding the borrowing of each other's clothes. The signatories: Margaret R. White, Priscilla H. Mullen, Shelley K. Macdonald, and Pamela B. Detloff

Maggie and I have remained close friends over the years, but we've lost touch with Priscilla and Pam. I've started doing some research on line to see if I can find the two of them. It would be a hoot if we could reconnect. There are stories to tell from those years ~ if we can still remember them.