Oakland Tribune from Oakland, California • 71

beet ion Section FORUM BOOK 1 mjK CHOUSE OF THE WEEK 9 HOMES GARDENS TRAVEL' I i ft. I) I I t) I A T. PATtK WEEKEND WORKSHOP HOBBIES AUTO ROW VOL CLXXIII OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, SUNDAY, JULY 31, 1960 NO. 31 mr XX. I Stat nr i j- time may come when there wilt be no delegates at Presi 1 tions wby) have accomplished so much 6t real good, with so little of cant and hypoo t-; Interesting Trio -s, "A good many Protestant denominations were.

represented by pioneer, preachers especially in San Francisco, Dr. Hunt con" lift i I A i i. liir- I wpiuji "irinmirfTIr Tltl'- nHil-rf my (l i dential conventions just equipment and personnel, professional ushers and, in the case of the GOP, hordes of patronage-type sergeants-at-arms. Sounds silly, of course, but it points up a trend in recent years which became glaringly apparent" at Los Angeles and Chicago to the consternation of delegates, alternates, visitors and working newspapermen. As television becomes, more developed, jt, requires more space for its facilities and as its popularity increases TV becomes more insistent that its demands be met by convention planners.

The first change came when, to ac-, commodate television, convention sessions were run not at normal hours but during the best TV hours. That means that thousands of delegates and other convention-- goers are poured into streets and arterials already heavily congested by homeward bound commuter traffic. In itself that's enough to fray tempers, but the situation is aggravated by the fact that the conventioneers are also forced to undergo a major change in their eating habits. Floor demonstrations have long 'been a tradition, but when protracted, proved pretty, dull fare onTV, Therefore it was decided to curtail such hippodroming a decision hailed by all. Clear Those Aisles One method used to put a brake on serpentining floor parades was to narrow the aisles.

The result at Los Angeles was bad enough, but when the aisles were narrowed to about four feet at Chicago ft became downright ridiculous. Delegates, whose movements were thus impeded, and some of whose view was impaired by television and camera stands, waxed very vocal about the situation. Radio and newspaper reporters and cam-, eramen work the floor in sizable numbers along with their TV brethren and the, resulting clog-up of the aisles is further increased by the presence of an excess number of uniformed ushers. What brought -floor traffic almost to a standstill at times in Chicago, however, was the presence of a multiple of eager-beaver honorary sergeants-at-arms. Once they finally reach their seats, politicos don't object to answering news, radio or TV queries but one at a time.

Many at both conventions were irked by the fact that in the midst of talking to representatives of other media a "creepie-peepie" would suddenly be thrust in their faces. The other media didn't like it either because what started out as an informal, backgrounding confab turned into a live television show and the news source promptly clammed up. Even those delegates who wouldn't normally find themselves in such a situation were aware of the ever present TV eye and were unable to relax as much as they might have liked to during dull periods. That's whymany were more than willing to let their alternates sit in for them. When the novelty wears off and the' alternates start reacting the same way the ultimate absurdity we mentioned at 'the start may come to pass.

The Knave doubts it will eventuate, naturally, but suggests that better management of such spectacles would restrict floor access to delegates, alternates and TV, radio and news representatives charged with covering their activities. Lost City, The Knave: Much has been reported about "Lost City," a group of ruined stone buildings, near Salt Springs Valley Reservoir, between Milton and Copper-opolis. For years visitors have pointed to the old stones as a city of course, nearby residents have known about them for a long time. Apparently the people who built and lived in "Lost City" moved away long "ago and left little trace of 'their identity. Location of the stone ruins is on a private road to a large ranch! The recent furor4 brought, even more visitors, but the owners do not object as long as these explorers close gates after them and commit; no trespass.

"Lost City" lies in a bowl-like area about two miles from State Highwayl.5. Apparently it once consisted of about 20 stone structures, both homes and business places. A stone schoolhouse stqpd some distance away. The inhabitants lived to themselves and when, at an early day, the gold mining failed, they "folded their tents" like the Arabs and silently stole away." Where they came from and where they went remains a question, although some information, has come to light. My friend' R.

O. Rinf rot of the Lodi' News-Sentinel, who has frequently visited the( tinues. "With few exceptions they wert sefected young men of good physiquei proven devotion, and superior education. From early gold days there were Conere gationalists, Presbyterians, Methodistlir, Baptists, Episcopalians. I direct attention to three pioneer preachers, each of whofa have special interest: Samuel Hopkins Wil-ley, who reached Monterey in February, 1849, commissioned by the Home Missionary Society of the Congregational Church; Albert WJlliams, one of the first Presbyterian preachers who arrived In Sail Francisco April 1, 1849, and Martin C.

Briggs.who entered the Golden Gate Oct. 17, 1850, on the famous SS Oregon. Willey ucvaiuc iriucijr Kuuwu 03 inapiam vi ino Constitutional Convention in the autumn of 1849, serving also as chaplain at the Presidio and teacher in a( pioneer school. Before the end of 1849 he had been planning for a college or university and is rightly regarded as one of the founders of the University of California. At the Golden Jubilee of the university in 1910 President Benjamin Ide Wheeler ealled him.

'founder oroDheL seer. be. holder, declaring in his citation: Upon you, the foremost benefactor of California; first citizen of the State, I confer the degree of Doctor of Laws. For years he was minister of the Howard Presbyterian Church in San Francisco, He died Jan. 21, 1914, at the age of almost 93 years.

ln addition to his long life dedicated to the ministry and to education he placed us all under obligation by the writings he left. I refer to Thirty Years in California (1849-1870), 'The transition Period of Call-fonia (1846-1850), and 'History of tha College of California' published in 1887. I regret not having personal acquaintance with Dr. Willey, but after his death I did have instructive correspondence with his. daughter, Mrs.

Gray. Williams and Briggs "One of my prized books," adds Dr. iHunt, "is a copy of 'A Pioneer Pastorate and Times' by the Rev. Albert Williams, published in 1879. It is well written and throws much light on early times witnessed by an observing pastor.

His description of his own inspiring audiences comes as a pleasant surprise to many readers today. They, were mostly in the prime of manhood 3h'ere were few, very few grey hairs to be seen, he tells us. 'Such an assemblage of educated, active, strong men, rarely brought together in any land, It was a pleasure to look as it was my own privilege weekly Qne more than a report of the formal organization the YMCA in San Francisco. Here, in part, is Dr. Williams' account: 'It was my privi lege to be one of the founders of tfie give the proposal of organization a special attention.

The meeting was held in the First Presbyterian Church, and te draft of a constitution was made by myself. At that July 18, 1853, te YMCA of San Francisco walj formally instituted. Well do. remember the virile leadership of General Secretary Henry iT. McCoy, who did so much in upbuilding -1.

uu tt trr jr yi atawuiry to iuiiumc State." Next, Dr. Hunt turns his attention to Martin Briggs. "I shall cease Jto be grateful for my acquaintance with Dt. Briggs," he begins. "He was the Methodist Trumpeter of California.

After serving Tttmtr ta-rm in tTha If athruiicf PitnlfirAniA'sa pastor in leading San Francisco churches, and at Sacramento, one of his latest appointments was at Napa during my early student days there. It was while he was pastor in 1885 that I became a member 'cl that church. I came to know him his esteemed wife, Ellen Green Briggs. His sons, Arthur and Herbert, I remember well. It is possible to mention only a few of the notable achievements of this great man, contributions to California histoicy.

He was the first editor, along witbSamitel D. Simonds, of the 'California Christian president of the University if the Pacific, and trustee through- inay years; an early champion of coechicaUpn and racial tolerance; influential crusadfer for civic righteousness and Sabbath Observance; and, perhaps greatest of all, he held a commanding position, along with Leland Stanford and Thomas Starr King, as savior of California to the Union during the trying days of the Civil War THE TTVAVirT Whiff the aroma of freshly baked berry place in effort to uncover its secret, mailed his findings, to me only recently. An old resident of the area many years ago is reported as saying the inhabitants were all French. The community was known at different times as "Felix," "Stone City," and "Stone Creek Settlement. Only in late years did it become "Lost City." This 1 ties in 'with a report printed in Bulletin 141 of? the State Department of Mines which tells of a movement in France (par- 5 ticularly in.

Paris) during the early gold excitement of the 1850s. Money was raised to, send several thousand French miners to the California gold fields, bui only a few, reached California. ''Some settled in Marysville while another portion went to the Mother Lode country in the vicinity of "Lost City." The "matter was not followed up beyond these references. Visitors to the place have remarked of some likenesses in the stone buildings to French architecture. To find "Lost City" take Route 15 from Milton.

Beyond Salt Springs Valley Reservoir at crest of a hill note a farm house on right, a gate on left. A ruined stone building is in a field beyond the gate. Enter gate, go past old school-' house to another gate. Enter, proceed until road has three forks. Take the left fork.

A short distance further the road has two forksrTake the right fork. The old ruins will- appear a short distance from this point. John W. Winkley. Oakldiid Birth? After reading Dr.

Rockwell D. Hunt's Salvation Army history credited to "The War Cry" on this page last Sunday, Arthur W. Carpenter of the Band Section attached to the Oakland Citadel informs us that his research, shows that the Salvation Army's West Coasoperatfons began in Oakland. "The first meetings were held at what was called "The Point, he avers. "The hall was over a liquor store at 1833 Seventh Street The date, July 22, 1883.

In March of 1884 a building was rented on Ninth Street in Oakland, tween Broadway and Franklin Street, where services were held. This was called 'The On April 15, 1 1888 the Army moved to 315 Eightk Street, a new called 'The This served as territorial headquarters as well as a training school and as a Corps building for services. 'This building was con demned and torn down in 1897, and on March 20 that year the Army moved to an old theater building on the northwest corner, of 12th and Washington Streets. Services were held in a hall upstairs. In 1903 a new building was completed at 533 Ninth Street, which served the Army until 1953.

This building was then used for a Harbor Lights Corp, while the Family Group purchased an bid church and rebuilt it at 1711 23rd Avenue. Plans are now being completed for a new Corps building at the northwest corner of Sixth Avenue and Foothill Blvd. This should be completed in and it is hoped it will serve the Army many years." r-j- 1 i irr I I 431 I i )-) -n-n-'W- pies and hear' the si am of thaf screen door. Woman's Exchange It was sometime in 1904, that the Worn- an's Exchange, a luncheon and tea room at the northwest corner 13th and Franklin was replaced by the. State Savings Bank presided over by Col.

John C. McMulleni This is the corner that a today harbors the McMullen Building, a built as theReW'Buildiny---' Thomas E. Yerxa and Clifford M. Steves and formally opened on July 1925. There are perhaps some Oakland resi- dents today who will recall 1 the Woman's Exchange at this 13th and Franklin Streets location, but efforts to find someone who can reminisce about it have been nil.

The year 1904 was the same year Oakland publishers were jnourning the loss of the oak trees that gave rise to the i city's name. they been preserved-so far. as the needs of building and street making would permit," complained The Tribune, "the beauty and attractiveness of the city would be even now there is needless destruction of the native trees by people who see nothing in them but so many cords of fuel. The Oakland City Directory of that year reports Mrs. Ella M.

Morrill as the operator of the Woman's Exchange. She and her husband had arrived here from Washington in 1902. Up until her death a year 1 ago she continued to operate bakery shops in and about Oakland. The Russo-Japanese, war was the main topic of conversation among Oaklanders in 1904, but local gossip' that made print indicates that The Lace House was just emerging as theH. C.

Capwell Co. Taft Pennoyer had their department store atBroadway and 14th Streets opposite the Macdon-ough Theater. Next to the theater was the Pierce Hardware store. As the Fourth "of July approached that year O. G.

New-hall Co. announced their meat depart- ment at the 11th Street Market would not be open on the holiday. Specials prior to July 4 included corn beef at' 5 cents per pound, legs of4 mutton at 50 cents each, and shoulders of mutton for 25 cents each. J. Hume, 77, the well-known Wells Fargo died at his Berkeley home in May of that year, just three days after the first Santa Fe train arrived in Oakland.

Colonel McMullen The StaW Savings Bank which replaced the Woman's Exchange at 13th and Franklin began life as the Dwight Way Loan and: Investment Co. in March of 1893. It moved to Oakland the next year and had offices at various places including one location on Broadway and two on 10th Street before acquiring the 13th and Franklin Streets property. CoL John C. McMullen who had organized the State Savings Bank, bad been in the banking business since.

1870, He headed a bank at Winfield, Kansas, prior to coming to California. The State Savings maintained its headquarters at 13th arid. Franklin until it was absorbed in 123 by the Central Savings Bank. At thai time R. J.

McMul This was 13th and Franklin Sts. in' 1904. len, son of the Colonel, was head of the mergered institution. The McMullen family, however, kept title to the site of the old -State Savings as well as anjdjoiriing piece of property that extended 60 feet north along Franklin Street. In Septem-.

ber of 1924 Yerxa and Steves took out a permit to build the Richfield Oil Building which, won them public acclaim when it was opefted on July 1925. It was completed at a cost of $300,000. The entire fourth floor was occupied by the Oil Co Other, tenants included the Western Pacific Railroad, Missouri Pa cific, E. F. Hutton and Union In demnity.

Not until July of 1943 did thev name of' the. building. charige to the McMullen During the late, World War II much of the building was the headquarters, here for the US. (Navy Shore Patrol with a "brig" on the ground floor. Later the U.S.

Maritime Commission occupied most of the building, after which (1945) the Veterans Administration found it a convenient location. The Woman's Exchange disappeared from the corner more than 56 years ago. tea can still be had there. A sign at the corner announces "Johnny's Scramble Corner," a modern sandwich shop. i Pioneer Preachers Dr.

Rockwell D. Hunt has discovered that in his search, for the truth the serious historian often suffers a real handicap imposed by the; sensation-monger. "Especially through the -medium of the motion picture and television," he avers. "Even when the facts of early days not deliberately distorted for heightened effect, they are presented in such way as to give a one-sided picture and are thus misleading and inaccurate. Often there is lit-.

tie attempt to adhere to what is true and significant when the objective is mere en- tertainment or popularity. The yen for the 'tall yarnmust be catered to; the feats of the Indian hunter must be told as fact instead of. the legend they really are. Fables are told for truth, and by repeated repetition become still further exaggerated and distorted. Perhaps nowhere are these tendencies than in the, characterization of the '49ers as a horde of gamblers and drinkers with no decent women in town.

Or, as seen in the flippant remark that the thousands of gold hunters, including cjergymen, in their trek to California, parked their morals on the east side of the Missouri River. All such sweeping allegations are simply not true. No less an authority than the distinguished philosopher Josiab Royce, a native son of a noble pioneer mother, declared that on the whole the preachers were "remarkably faithful, intelligent, laborious and One other statement from, a higher au- thority is that of a contemporary author of the 'Annals of San Francisco' published in 1855: 'We have said enough, we hope, to prove that not all, "nor nigh all the citizens of San Francisco are lost to every- thing but reckless dissipation. No city of equal size a few of 10 times its age- can present such a list of men and institu ,1 1.