"Twenty Twelve" Piece by Chuck Trunks in Tribute to Mayan 2012 Doomsday Prophecy

December 21, 2012 is a date that signals the cataclysmic end of a 5,125 year cycle in the Mayan calendar when our sun aligns with the Milky Way galaxy. We’ve been able to read the Mayan calendar for over 100 years and the corresponding hieroglyphics have been completely deciphered for about 30 years.  What does this all mean?  Camarillo pop artist Chuck Trunks believes it means nothing more than hitting a giant, cosmic reset button.

 

Purchase this cool design on iPad sleeves, mousepads, t-shirts and more by clicking this image!“Twenty Twelve” is Trunks' tribute to this historic date.  While the temples and dragons in the piece offer a nod toward the Mayan culture, the sundials and Stonehenge refer to the cleverness of those ancient civilizations that linked celestial movements to time. As for the magic eight balls and surfer dudes...even though 12/21/12 will pique the interest of the spiritual and scientific, it is still just another random day to do what you love and to share it with those around you.  Visit www.chucktrunks.com for more of Chuck's signature work.

Horace Bristol 1930s Photos at Santa Paula Agriculture Museum March 3 to May 20

Horace Bristol’s Compelling 1930s Photographs On Exhibition At Agriculture Museum

More than two dozen images by famed LIFE Magazine photojournalist Horace Bristol are on exhibition March 3 through May 20 at the Museum of Ventura County Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula. Horace Bristol Photographs: Selections From the 1930s features not only work from his best known Grapes of Wrath series, but other selections from the 1930s period, including such diverse images as a never before exhibited aerial photograph of a Santa Paula orange orchard, and a migrant child pitting apricots. The exhibition is in the Agriculture Museum’s Reiter Affiliated Companies Visitors Center and Calavo Hall.

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Five Notable Historical Sites and Places to See in and Around Ventura County

In the mid 1850s, the area that we call Ventura County was the southern part of Santa Barbara County.  By 1873, Ventura County officially split off from Santa Barbara County and by the turn of the century the cities of San Buenaventura (or Ventura as we know it), Port Hueneme, Santa Paula, Nordhoff (now Ojai), Simi, Somis, Moorpark and Oxnard came on board. Camarillo and Thousand Oaks were late bloomers, incorporating in 1964.

There are hundreds of historical things to see around Ventura County, dozens of which are covered here on Conejo Valley Guide. Let's take a look at 5 neat places to see Ventura County history to additional information.

Strathearn Historical Park and Museum in Simi Valley has a notable collection of structures and artifacts from Simi's early days. The park is jointly operated by the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District and Simi Valley Historical Society. 1 to 1 1/2 hour docent-led tours of the buildings, a museum and much to see.

The Museum of Ventura County opened its Agriculture Museum in Santa Paula in September 2011. The museum is housed in the historic 18

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Library of Congress "National Jukebox" - Thousands of Free 100 Year Old Recordings

Launched in May 2011, the Library of Congress (LOC) "National Jukebox" is a website that provides free access to over 10,000 recordings from the 1900 to 1925 time frame. These initial recordings represent the entire collection of Victor Talking Machine Company 78rpm disc library from 1900 to 1925.

Sony Music, which currently owns this recording collection, teamed up with the LOC in allowing public access to these recordings accessible at www.loc.gov/jukebox. The LOC plans to add more recordings to this collection periodically and indicates that soon, collections from Columbia, Universal Music and Okey will be added.

The recordings are available for online streaming use only. They may not be downloaded for use on your MP3 players, etc.

This is an amazing collection. I have particular interest as I own an old Victrola and have appreciation for these old, pre-vinyl 78rpm discs. The collection includes popular music classical music, ethnic music, opera, ethnic characterizations, musical theater, humorous songs, ragtime/jazz, spoken word, religious, comedies, monologues, dialogues, and recitations, descriptive specialties, blues, ethnic spoken word, traditional/country, whistling, speeches, and...yodeling.

You can browse through these categories or search by name, artist, date and other attributes. Here are some examples.

I searched for "bunny" (hey it IS the Conejo e.g. Bunny Valley you know) and found this 99 year old recording "The funny bunny hug"

Acclaimed Italian operatic tenor Enrico Caruso is well c

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Video Footage at Victory over Japan Day in Waikiki on August 14, 1945

Originally posted in August 2010. Re-posted for Veterans Day 2011.

This is some wonderful video footage of spontaneous celebrations on Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki after the surrender of Japan (known as Victory over Japan, or V-J Day), effectively ending World War II. Rich Sullivan of www.discoveringhawaii.com provided this vintage footage from 65 years ago that was taken by his father. It was taken using Kodachrome 16mm film. For more still images of this day, as well as a ton of useful information about visiting Hawaii, visit www.discoveringhawaii.com.

Scenes From the Moorpark Rotary's Annual Civil War Battle Reenactment

The Rotary Club of Moorpark hosted its 11th Annual Civil War Battle Reenactment the weekend of November 12-13 at Tierra Rejada Ranch in Moorpark. It is billed at the largest civil war reenactment west of the Mississippi! This year's event highlights 5 battles, with more than 700 re-enactors! There will also be a civilian camp with leather crafting, sewing, blacksmithing and cooking demonstrations, military band concerts and much more! Mark your calendars!

Here are scenes from the 10th annual event in 2010, courtesy of local photographer Patrick Taillon. For more of Patrick's work, visit his website at www.patricktaillon.com.

Union soldiers from the 19 Indiana, spend their downtime playing cribbage. Soldiers are

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Annual Pepperdine University 9/11 Memorial Flag Display

Once again this year, Pepperdine University will honor the victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks with nearly 3,000 flags. This stunning tribute will be located at the corner of Pacific Coast Highway and Malibu Canyon Road from September 9th through September 19th.

Pepperdine has planned additional 9/11 10th Anniversary Remembrance events this year as follows:

Pepperdine University is presenting a special 9/11 remembrance on Pepperdine's Malibu campus on Sunday, September 11, 2011 commemorating the 10th anniversary of the attacks on America. Amid a breathtaking display of 2,977 flags on the University's expansive lawn – honoring the victims and emergency responders who died on 9/11 – Pepperdine will present a reading of the victims' names beginning at 11:00 a.m. A total of 20 readers from service, charitable, religious, and professional organizations will join 15 individuals from the Pepperdine community in reading the names.

View of the flags at 6 p.m. on 9/10/11, the eve of the 10th Anniversary of 9/11:

Some photos of the flag display at the Conejo Valley Guide Facebook page

At 4:00 p.m., Pepperdine will hold an hour-long memorial service commemorating the lives of our fallen heroes. The program will include remarks by Pepperdine President Andrew K. Benton, California Assemblywoman Julia Brownley, and Deena Burnett Bailey, whose husband, alumnus Thomas E. Burnett, Jr., was one of the heroes who perished on Flight 93 in Pennsylvania.

Also scheduled is a 1 p.m. viewing o

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City of Fillmore Neon-Lighted Sign From Pre-World War II

We spent some time in Fillmore this weekend and as always drove past the Fillmore sign at the northeast corner of Highway 126 (E. Telegraph Road) and Central Avenue. You don't see many signs like this around town.

Fillmore sign photo taken as I was waiting at the stoplight driving south on Central Avenue

The sign was originally constructed in 1940, making it over 70 years old. It is designated a historical landmark by the City of Fillmore.

Fillmore sign is a cool green neon lit up at nightIt's not exactly easy getting to Fillmore from the Conejo Valley as you either have to take the winding path of the 23/Grimes Canyon Road via Moorpark or drive out to Ventura via the 101 and take the 126 to Fillmore by way of Santa Paula. Kind of a haul but certainly fun to do every now and then.

At a total area of only 2.8 square miles, Fillmore is the smallest of Ventura County's 10 cities, and its population of roughly 16,000 places it 9th (roughly double the population of Ojai).

Quite a quaint little place that is certainly fun to visit, with highlights such as the numerous themed train rides at Fillmore & Western Railway, State Fish Hatchery and Railroad Visitor Center, along with an old town feel along Central Avenue with a 1 screen movie theater originally built in 1916.

Click here for upcoming Fillmore events and here for other things to do around town.

Unveiling of the Norwegian Grade Historical Monument on January 26, 2011

This is a guest post by Anne Schroeder, great-granddaughter of Nils Olsen, one of the original settlers in the Conejo Valley in the 1890s.

Wednesday, January 26^th,  the community unveiled a monument commemorating the original Norwegian pioneers who built the Norwegian Grade. My great-grandfather, Nils Olsen and his sons Nick and Oscar are in the picture that is part of the monument. The picture was taken by Nil’s wife during the ten years it took them and their Norwegian neighbors to build it, from 1901-1911, working in the slack time between crops and harvest. The picture shows them with hoes and shovels. Off-camera was a horse-drawn blade and $60 worth of dynamite donated by the county.

Nils Olsen's grandchildren, including (from left), Neil Olsen, Mary Olsen Rydberg, David Olsen (great-grand-son), Gerry Olsen, and Wyatt McCrea.

The Olsen family is proud to be part of the monument, a group-effort that includes Ventura County, Cal Lutheran, Sons of Norway and the Pederson and Olsen families. Thirty five Olsen family members came from all over California to honor the men and boys who built the grade.

For three generations we didn’t realize the story was important, so as children we kept it to ourselves, afraid that our friends would think we were boasting—or worse, lying. After all, tractors and graders built grades, not a half-dozen men and a barefoot waterboy.

Today, Ventura County residents know the story of the grade and its restoration; even the hand-forged hoe that was pulled out of the earth by a grader. In the photo that graces the monument, my great-grandfather is holding that same hoe, down to the slight burl on the limb-handle. It is physical proof of a story that we thought would disappear into the distant past as has happened in so many communities. Fortunately, VC understands that the privilege of having participated in a community’s founding years creates obligation to share.

Historic photo on the monument. Nils Olsen is second from the left (with the famous hoe). My grandfather is second from the right. His brother Nick is in the middle with his back turned.

My mother, Jean Olsen Thompson, is 83, the oldest living relative of the Olsen family, and almost the

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Holiday Shopping Can Include Time Traveling to a Simpler, More Peaceful Conejo Valley

By Nancy Needham (nancy@conejovalleyguide.com)

Enter the Stagecoach Inn Museum, say hello to the innkeeper in the lobby patiently knitting while she waits for guests and go to the right. That is where toys, candy and a variety of other items--some handmade by docents--are sold inside a country store called the Emporium.

It feels like stepping inside a mercantile in a story book written by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Little girls with pigtails should be inside buying penny candies from Mr. Olsen. But, candies at the museum's gift shop cost more than 1 cent. The good news is every dime goes to the Stagecoach Inn for the charming mansion's upkeep. The Inn is a replica of one that was built in the Conejo Valley in 1876 for stagecoach travelers.

The inside of the Newbury Pioneer House is decorated with Jacob's Ladder. Sometimes pioneers used a ladder as decoration instead of a Christmas tree. For a docent-led tour there is an admission charge--$5 for adults, $4 for seniors over age 62 and those from ages 13 to 21, $2 for those 5 to 12 and free for children under age 5. Those who just come to shop do not have to pay that fee.

Also on the grounds is a replica of Conejo Valley's original Timber School, a coach house, the Newbury Pioneer House, a Spanish Adobe and a Chumash shelter called an Ap. In the springtime there are roses in a memorial garden. But right now almost every square inch of the museum is decorated for the holidays thanks to volunteers.

When shopping at the Emporium, one should also treat themself to a tour. It's a lovely way to spend the afternoon. An antidote to holiday madness. The country store is open at the same time the museum is: Wednesday-Sunday from 1-4 p.m.

Wagon Wheel Motel, Restaurant and Bowling Alley in Oxnard

The Wagon Wheel Motel and Restaurant complex at the corner of the 101 and PCH in Oxnard is at the northern edge of a 64 acre slated to be redeveloped into a European-themed development with 1,500 residential units and retail space. The distinctive western-themed office, motel and restaurant was originally built in 1947. The restaurant closed in 2005 and the motel closed in 2006. Built in 1953, the Wagon Wheel Bowl is still in operation. The bowling alley was designed by Arthur Froehlich, who also designed Hollywood Park Racetrack and Hanna Barbera Studios in 1962.

This motel was built when western movies were at their peak popularity. My kids would have loved this place with rustic wood beds, chairs and lamps, windows made out of wagon wheels, lamps made out of branding irons and spurs, etc.  Even the street names in the area are western-themed...Pettitcoat Lane, Winchester Drive, Saddle Ave, Spur Drive, etc.

For a number of years there has been a tug-of-war between developers and preservationists, who want to retain this unique vestage of Americana.  While I personally love to see the preservation of local sites (like the cool Woolworth Building in Oxnard), these buildings are pretty darn run down and would cost quite a bit to redevelop. Wagon Wheel Bowl on the other hand is extremely functional, with 32 lanes, a restaurant, arcade, etc. Would be nice to see this bowling alley here on its 100th birthday in 2053!

Update: On 10/25/10, the VC Star reported that final briefs have been filed by the San Buenaventura Conservancy, which would like to preserve the complex as a historic site. Though it seems many people want these dilapidated buildings torn down to make room for 1,500 homes and commercial space, some would like to preserve it.

 Wagon Wheel Office and Restaurant Before Closure in 2005

Two Ventura County Cities Were Born on September 29, 1964!

You wouldn't immediately know it looking at the headline of this September 30, 1964 issue of The Daily News, but the day before, residents in BOTH Camarillo and Thousand Oaks voted to incorporate their respective cities.

The article indicates that voters in Camarillo voted in favor of incorporation by a 5 to 1 margin, with 64% of the 3,745 registered voters turning in ballots. In the far right column, you'll see that with 10 of 18 precincts counted, 61% of 2,428 votes cast in Thousand Oaks were for incorporation. In Thousand Oaks they also voted on the name of the city...over 87% of votes cast said "yes" to the name Thousand Oaks. Can anyone tell us what were the other name choices on this ballot? (I'd tell you but at the time I was just 2 months old.)

Thanks to the Pleasant Valley Historical Society Museum in Camarillo for maintaining this and other local Ventura County history!

The Homeplace of Original Conejo Valley Settler Nils Olsen in 1913

This historic photo and information was generously provided by Gerry Olsen, grandson of Nils Olsen, one of the original settlers in the Conejo Valley in the 1890s.

Nils Olsen was born 150 years ago (June 16, 1959) in Norway. After a stint in the Norwegian Army, he decided in 1884 that he wanted to emigrate to the United States. So he started saving his money. In late January 1886 he bid farewell to his family. He arrived New York on February 20, 1886 via ship...it took about 16 days to get from Bergen, Norway to New York via Liverpool, England and Ireland (cost was roughly $58).

Built in 1905, this is the homeplace of original Conejo Valley settler Nils Olsen in 1913

Two days after arriving in New York, Nils was off to San Francisco, where he arrived in 9 days.  Then later that month (March 1886) he took the train and stagecoach to Santa Barbara, where for 4 years he worked as a stone mason. In 1889, Nils met George Edwards, whose family owned 20,000 acres in the Conejo Valley and was selling parcels.

In 1890, Nils and 4 other Norwegians, Ole Nelson, Lars Pederson, George Hanson and Ole Anderson purchased 650 acres. Apparently the land cost about $3/acre for flatlands and $2/acre for hillsides. They

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People Pictures From the Early 20th Century

Recently I came across these really interesting World War I era photos of thousand of soldiers in the formation of large patriotic symbols.  The sampling of photos below are courtesy of the Carl Hammer Gallery, Chicago (www.HammerGallery.com).  Click here for a link to "The Art of the Conceptual Photograph 1915-1920" for other pictures and a more complete description.  The pictures below are the work of Arthur S. Mole and John D. Thomas.

The Living Uncle Sam: 19,000 Officers and Men, Camp Lee, VA 1919

The Human Liberty Bell: 25,000 Officers and Men, Camp Dix, NJ 1918

Woodrow Wilson: 21,000 Officers and Men, Camp Sherman, OH 1918

Human Statue of Liberty: 18,000 Officers and Men, Camp Dodge, IA 1918

Living Emblem of U.S. Marines: 9,100 Officers and Men, Paris Island, SC 1919