Newsletter Quarter 1 - Perris Valley Historical Museum

T h e Pe r r i st o r i a n
Perris Valley Historical Museum
Perris Valley Historical Archives
Frederick Thomas Perris Day 2014
It was a bright and sunny
winter day at the Perris Santa Fe
Depot gardens January 18th, when
over 100 friends and family members
came to pay tribute to the Kenneth
and Anna Hutton Ricketts
Pioneer Family of 2014.
Ed Ricketts and Betty
Ricketts Golding, two of
their three children, along
with many others were
there to speak for the family, accept proclamations
from the city and county,
visit, reminisce, and laugh.
Edward in the Perris Valley, all
graduating from Perris Union High
School in the 1940’s.
It took more than one job to
raise a family in the “good
ol’ days,” as evidenced by
Kenneth’s work history.
He delivered ice, he expanded the family business
to include a quick freeze
locker plant, he was a
butcher, made flower deliveries and delivered bundles
of Press Enterprise newspapers to those who made
home deliveries. Anna did
And yes, that is a
her part by planting a big
very cute picture of Kengarden every year and harneth and Anna at their
vesting it with the chilwedding but the story bedren, ensuring that there
& Anna Hutton
gins sometime prior with Kenneth Ricketts
was always good food on
Willis Edward Ricketts
the table. For 28 years,
and his wife Etta Anne coming to Anna also operated her Grace Anna
Perris Valley in the early 1920’s. Flower Shop on D Street.
Soon after, Willis’ father Newton
They were involved in their
Franklin Ricketts joined them in
community
by attending the First
th
their home on 4 and G Streets.
Congregational
Church on 6th Street.
Willis worked in the Ida Leona Goldmine until he took over the lease on Kenneth served on the school board
of Val Verde Elementary School and
Perris Valley Ice & Cold Storage.
acted as District Deputy Grand MasAfter Kenneth and Anna ter of Odd Fellows while Anna was
Marie Hutton married on September District Deputy President of
2, 1923 they moved to the area to Rebekahs.
help Willis with the ice business.
We thank Ed and Betty and
They raised three children; Elinor
Marie, Betty Louise, and Kenneth all their family and friends for attending. It was a very fun morning.
First Quarter 2014
In this issue:
Ricketts Pioneer Family
1
Officers & Directors
1
Soul Food Sunday
2
About the AAAM
2
Opportunity Drawing
2
PVHM Installation Dinner
3
PV Chamber of Commerce
3
Rock House or Castle?
4
Archives Unveiling
4
Upcoming Events
5
Dues & Don’ts
6
Officers
President……….…...Quinn Hawley
1st Vice President…...Bill Hulstrom
2nd Vice President……...Ann Motte
Secretary……………...Mae Minnich
Treasurer…….…..Dennise Manning
Directors
Mike Behrens
Kay Busch
Cindy Chambers
Katie Keyes
Vincent Magana
Midgie Parker
Ed Ricketts & Betty Ricketts Golding
Marie Spradlin
Over 100 friends and family attended the celebration for the Ricketts Family.
951-657-0274
www.perrismuseum.com
info@perrismuseum.com
The Perristorian
A short history of the
Association of African American Museums
(AAAM)
First Quarter 2014
Soul Food Sunday
To celebrate Black History Month, the
PVHM hosted a
very special fundraising event on
Sunday, February
23rd to benefit the
Dora Nelson African American Art
&
History
M u s e u m
Rose Mayes, Dr. Ruth Jackson & Lovella Singer
(DNAAA&HM.)
Attendees were treated to a delicious afternoon supper of real “soul food” prepared by Chef
Richard Taylor while enjoying music provided by
saxophone player John Valentino, at the Perris
Santa Fe Gardens.
Members of the Association of African American Museums (AAAM)
Committee including cochairs Lovella Singer and
Dr. Ruth Jackson were on
hand to explain and inform
the public about the conference scheduled for 2016
to be hosted by our own
Dora Nelson African
The African American Museum Movement
emerged during the 1950s and 1960s to preserve the
heritage of the African American experience. Establishing African American museums did more than create a sense of achievement within African American
communities, it encouraged collaborations with the
broader public, inspired contributions to society and
advanced cultural awareness.
The AAAM is a non-profit organization that
supports African and African American Museums nationally and internationally and supports those who
protect, preserve and interpret African and African
American art, history and culture. They advocate for
those committed to the preservation and sharing of
African-derived cultures.
We at the PVHM support the preservation and
sharing of our local history and we support the Dora
Nelson African American Art & History Museum and
their work with the AAAM as our local tie to the
African American cultural experience.
AAAM Committee Members: Sam Black, Beverly Robertson,
Lovella Singer, Dave Stuart, and Rose Mayes.
John Valentino entertained.
Opportunity Drawing
American Art & History
Museum.
It was a
nice day with wonderful
food and an interesting
learning experience. We
hope that the funds we
Mable Kearney had fun.
raised will help the
DNAAA&HM on their journey to hosting this most
important event, the AAAM Convention 2016.
2
As a joint fundraising venture with the Chamber of Commerce, our volunteers will be selling tickets
for a new opportunity drawing. For a mere $2.00 you
could win one of two 2015 Chevrolet Spark cars, a
$1,000.00 gas card or a 60” Flat Screen TV.
Look for us or contact us. You wouldn’t want
to miss out on this opportunity!
The Perristorian
PVHM Installation Dinner
First Quarter 2014
100 Years of Maybelline
This year’s Installation
Dinner was held Saturday,
th
March 29 at the Motte Historical Museum. Sixty
-four people attended and all enjoyed the delicious
dinner prepared by Rene’s Bar and Grill, Moreno
Valley. After a short business meeting, the real
entertainment began. Thanks to our friend David
Van Houten and his connections, we were able to
learn the story of the Maybelline Empire from
author and heir to the family business, Sharrie
Williams.
She brought us back 100 years
to a time when her grandfather, Tom
Lyle Williams created a make-up line
emphasizing eyes. “Maybelline Eyes.”
Named after his sister Mabel, the company developed advertizing campaigns
with the likes of – Joan Crawford,
Betty Grable, Claudette Colbert,
Myrna Loy, Hedy Lamarr, Lucille
Ball, and many more. Talk about
name-dropping! Sharrie had a fascinating story to tell and if you want
more of the inside scoop, look for her
book, 100 Years of Maybelline.
You are probably thinking,
what about the men? Do they care
about make-up history? Well, if not –
there were plenty of pictures of beauti-
ful women and fabulous cars! Cars owned by the
Williams family and cars in the Motte Museum.
The men had plenty of eye candy.
After this stimulating talk, the officers were
installed by Mayor Daryl Busch to raucous
applause and standing ovations - just kidding.
But seriously, it was quite an evening. Everyone
enjoyed each other’s company, the great food and
learning the Maybelline story.
Author Sharrie Williams (driver) and her sister sit in a 1935 Auburn Boat Tail Speedster on
display in the Motte Historical Museum. Standing: the Motte Brothers, Leon and John.
Perris Valley Chamber of Commerce Installation Dinner Held
Opportunity Drawing Pays Off
President Quinn Hawley
accepting a grant from the
Perris Valley Chamber of Commerce.
PVHM President Quinn
Hawley, and Directors Katie Keyes
and Midgie Parker attended the
Perris Valley Chamber of Commerce
Installation Dinner on January
29th, at March Field Air Museum.
It was great food, a little business
and an award!
Our members spent several
months last year selling raffle
tickets for a drawing to win a Chev-
3
rolet Silverado Pick-Up which
benefited the Chamber of Commerce
and PVHM equally. As if that wasn’t enough, the Chamber rewarded
our efforts with a $100 grant.
The Chamber of Commerce
is certainly living up to its goal of
supporting local non-profit organizations and we thank them for being there for us.
Thank You!
Rock House or Castle?
The Perristorian
First Quarter 2014
How many people have wondered about the
“Rock Castle” on the hill overlooking Perris? Locals of
course, but many others traveling north or south on
Interstate 215 wonder about it. Such an unusual structure is often subject to a curiosity seeker’s imagination.
There are rumors and local lore. Could it be haunted?
Or could a movie star live there? The answer is no to
both. But the real story is just as interesting and
worth learning about.
John Lewis Ragsdale married his wife Ada
Woodford on November 1, 1913. He worked in the oil
fields of Fillmore, California where in 1915 they welcomed their daughter Mary Thelma into the world.
They moved to Moreno to take up farming but John
was not suited to that life. In 1922 they purchased a gas
station at 3rd and Main in Perris which was more to his
liking. They constructed a two room house behind the
station, where they lived, worked and saved their
money. In 1927 they purchased another gas station at
4th and Main in Perris.
That same year they began a search for property to build their dream home. By 1928 they had
found Maitral Hill. The hill was known locally for its
cross, under which Easter Sunrise services
had been held during the 1920’s. The
Ragsdale’s subdivided the 30 acres, selling
off the lots to the west adding home sites to
the northern portion of the city. They then
took down the cross and with a budget of
$10,000 set about improving the hill.
Through 1928 and into 1929 they constructed the house of their dreams.
They spent many hours and days
driving out to Whitewater (between Palm
Springs and Banning) to hand pick stones
chosen for their texture, design, color,
shape and size. They drove them to the
highway in their Model T Ford truck where
Fred Hare Trucking picked them up and delivered them
to the building site. By June of 1929 the Ragsdale’s
were moving from their rented apartment in Perris into
their dream home. Unfortunately, before they could
move all of their possessions and clothing, the apartment building burned. Undeterred, they moved in and
enjoyed their hilltop home for a short time. As we all
know, those were the years of the Great Depression and
while we do not know the details, the house was soon
sold at auction for $6,500.
In 1948 a local man, Jack Spillaine bought the
property and lived there with his wife until his death in
1964. In 1974 his widow, Dorothy sold the home to balloonist’s Fred and Hajnalka Krieg. The Krieg’s finished
out the basement, renovated and updated
the house and built outbuildings to house
balloons and equipment. They did most of
the work themselves and while they made
many changes they never compromised the
exterior of the lovely home. The current
owners purchased the property in 2001 and
it continues to be a private residence.
It remains a beautiful curiosity to
the citizens of this Southern California region. Looking at the sales history, many
years but few owners, we are inclined to believe that this home is a place that people
love and they want to stay awhile.
John & Ada Ragsdale
Unveiling Ceremony
Representatives from the California State University San Bernardino
and the Menifee Valley
Historical Museum, as
well as other interested
parties were on hand for
the Unveiling Ceremony
of a very special book at
the Perris Valley His-
4
torical Archives on Wednesday, January 29th. The 1880
edition of the Thompson and West History of Los Angeles
County, from the personal collection of Fred T. Perris, is
filled with amazing pen & ink drawings of homes, buildings, orange groves, vineyards and more from the late
19th century.
If you missed it, please schedule an appointment with Christina Perris at 951-657-6700. We are
very proud to be in possession of this historical artifact
and we would love to share it with you.
The Perristorian
50 years of Perris Valley History
Celebrate with us!
First Quarter 2014
Live Well Perris
April 26th
10 AM—2 PM
City Hall Campus
Since the city began its Live Well
Perris campaign, we have been
there. And we will be there this
year also. Please join us for a fun
day of art activities for children
with healthy-living messages.
Potato Festival - Rods N Rails
Silent Auction
Saturday, June 14th
Saturday, September 21st—4PM
Orange Empire Railway Museum
Location to be determined.
Join us at the “Perris”
stage to honor the Williams & Sons Trucking
Family. There will be
potatoes to dress and
more for the kids to do.
5
We put the “fun” in fundraising.
There will be food, wine, conversation and many items on the
auction block at this annual event.
Please contact us to donate
auction items.