10/04/06
Where do you live now? Corinth, TX
How many years were you in the desert? 16
Are you willing to help with pictures? If I am able
Are you willing to help with stories? If I am able
Comments:
There are some pictures on the first pages of the 40-50s about the Yucca drive-in. It did start out as the Yucca Dirve-In. It was built about the same time as the Yucca Inn Motel about a block behind. My dad (Jerry Smith) who worked part time for Pooley Electric helped to do some of the electrical wiring in both. both the Motel and drive-in were owned by the same people. It later became A&W Root Beer then Circle A drive in My mother (Shirley Smith Johnson) worked at the Yucca Drive In as a car hop in the fifties. While in attending Burroughs High School (Class of '68), I worked there when it was A&W then Circle A. As I recall, Bud and Lois Nemier (sp?) operated it for a number of years. Bud made the best root beer. Bud also drove a Studebaker Hawk in those days. Mike Smith 1952-1968
10/03/06
Where do you live now? Kingman, AZ
How many years were you in the desert? Visited RC off and on since the '70s
Are you willing to help with pictures? Have none unfortunately
Are you willing to help with stories? Probably don't have much to tell.
Comments:
What a wonderful site! My Uncle Raymond Miller and his wife, Katherine (Katy) lived for many years in a house my Uncle built behind John's Pizza on Jean Street. They are both gone now (Uncle Ray in 2002 and Aunt Katy just a couple of months ago) and are surely missed. Uncle Ray built several homes and an apartment house in and around Ridgecrest and in partnership with others they developed vacant land as homesites. He was very proud of his Real Estate work and even though he worked for an hourly wage in Trona at Kerr McGee for 30+ years, he left his wife well off when he died. They and another Uncle and Aunt, Lester and Betty Miller, moved to the desert in the 50s. Les and Betty still live in Trona. I used to think, when I was a kid, that they were crazy to move to such an isolated area. At the time, my mother's entire family (Miller) lived in San Bernardino and Loma Linda where I grew up. I remember my uncles would return to 'Berdoo' on shopping trips or to see the doctor and could not wait to get back to the desert. Now I live on the desert in Arizona and I see why. Uncle Ray was Raised in the Masonic Lodge in Ridgecrest and went through the chairs there. Aunt Katy worked as a butcher in one of the markets there for many years (I want to say it was K&R only because I remember my Uncle mentioning the name Gray over the years). She was a wonderful woman and the best thing that ever happened to my Uncle.
| Mandy (Chitwood) Humphrey | Email |
09/18/06
Where do you live now? Half Moon Bay, CA
How many years were you in the desert? 7
Are you willing to help with pictures? if I can
Are you willing to help with stories? yes
Comments:
This is the 2nd time signing guest book but I just remembered some stories that I will always remember. I lived off and on with my Grandparents, the Whitesides on Desert Candles. they were great and miss them dearly. Anyway, when I was 5 (1970) I had my tonscills taken out at Ridgecrest Community Hospital. Apparently there was either no pediatric unit or if there was, it was full because following surgery, I was placed in a room with a lady named "Suzi". I'd say she was about 19-25 and had a typical blond late 60's hair style. Very pretty. Anyway, I was in a lot of pain following surgery and I cried a lot. I remember this gal taking me out of the "crib" and literally rocking me in her arms to console me. I had never felt so comforted in my entire life. I don't know whatever happened to Suzi but 35 years later, I still remember her as if I had seen her yesterday. Bugs- Oh how I remember the large monster cockroaches. My Aunts Wanda & Michelle would run and drag us out of the house anytime we saw those creatures on the walls in the house. Ick. Black widows? Saw a few but I do, vividly, remember the big red ants in the yard and on the sidewalks. My cousins and I never seemed to get it through our heads that if you decided to play with the big red ants, they would eventually bite. I learned the hard way when I decided to collect the ants and drop them into an old coke bottle )before canned coke. In the entire 40 years that I spent in Ridgecrest, either living there or visiting until 2003, I never saw a rattle snake or scorpion. Lucky I guess.
09/15/06
Where do you live now? Stockton CA (Temp until Mar. 2007)
How many years were you in the desert? 12
Are you willing to help with pictures? yes
Are you willing to help with stories? Yes
Comments:
A great site. I have visited it a couple of times previously but never signed the guestbook. I came to the I.W.V. in 1953 and then was in and out until 1964. I then spent a few years in Utah and returned to the valley 1967 to 69 for the final time. It was a great place as I love the desert and also great in that while attending and graduating from Burroughs H.S. I made many friends who endure to today.
<Milt Rogers>
| GERALD BARBARA SENN | Email |
09/14/06
Where do you live now? Sedro Woolley WA
How many years were you in the desert? 52
Are you willing to help with pictures? maybe
Are you willing to help with stories? maybe
Comments:
How is everyone in the desert?
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