City of Beaumont, CA

2012-02-02T10:11:00.000-08:00

Ripped from the headlines: “Boost Beaumont!”

The old hometown newspaper—with its fraying, yellowing pages—delivers a glimpse back in time and new hope for the future.

The September 6, 1912 edition of the Beaumont Leader hit the streets with the latest on our hometown—two months before cityhood. As usual, the weekly newspaper proudly proclaimed: “WE PRINT ALL WE KNOW.”

This early newspaper, perhaps the oldest surviving bit of newsprint about our hometown, will be displayed on Thursday evening, Feb. 9 at the City’s Information Social. The Beaumont Blogger would like you to take a look and discover your city’s rich history. Please join us from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. for hot cocoa and learn all about your city government.

We’ll be celebrating our 100^th anniversary on Nov. 18, 2012.

Headlines announce stories of the day

Generations of readers have been captivated and spellbound by newspaper headlines, even if they’re increasingly found online these days. Hollywood often talks about stories “ripped right from the headlines.”

Well, the Beaumont Leader exhaustively chronicled the everyday lives of our forefathers in a small farming town. A century ago, the front page carried stories like this:

“SUDDEN DEATH OF MRS. FRED D. WEST
Well Known Beaumont Lady is Called to Life Beyond”

The story began, “Once more the community has been shocked and saddened by a visit from the Grim Reaper who spares no homes.”

Many other stories filled the front page, but as readers reached the bottom, they came across this headline:

“LOCAL SCHOOLS TO OPEN SEPT. 16^TH

New Teachers in High School Faculty—Others Engaged”

Scattered about other pages of the paper were stories about Beaumont’s incorporation petition to the county Board of Supervisors, signs of oil being discovered south of town and an article reprinted from the Hemet News about a booming canning factory creating huge prosperity in that town.

Boosting Beaumont

One story touted a Board of Trade exhibit that showed how eucalyptus trees grow “wonderfully fast” when planted in Beaumont. Other articles talked about the rising sugar beet industry in town, T.H. Silverwood returning from Los Angeles with a new team of horses to raise apples north of town, and several boys heading out for 10 days of hunting, fishing and camping in Whitewater Canyon.

Advertisements also covered the pages of the Beaumont Leader. They suggest a growing, vibrant local economy in the early 20^th Century. One front-page advertisement touted Belford’s Grocery offering Lovell Peaches for canning for three cents a pound. An ad from Beaumont Pharmacy tried to attract students, saying they could listen to music recordings for free on the latest gadget—a Victor phonograph. Other ads advised readers to stock up on their supply of coal for the winter and get their wagons and buggies repaired by blacksmith L.C Gist.

Call to arms

Back then, hometown pride was an article of faith, just as it is for so many today. As we approach Beaumont’s 100^th anniversary, its residents have much to celebrate. In the Sept. 6, 1912 edition, the Beaumont Leader issued a challenge that still rings true today:

“Be a booster. He who looks only on the dark side is a curse to himself, his country and his God, if he has one. Conditions are perfect in Heaven. Nowhere else. Don’t yamp like a guttersnipe. Make the best of everything and be a man among men. The pessimist can always find something to feel sore about. Look on the bright side. It will do you good.”

The Beaumont Blogger would like to thank the San Gorgonio Pass Historical Society for preserving the Sept. 6, 1912 edition of the Beaumont Leader and for sharing the newspaper with the community.

2012-01-20T08:15:00.000-08:00

Lois Denman: Beaumont’s 2012 Citizen of the Year

She lived up to her motto until the end of her career at the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce.
“I intend to wear out—not rust out!”

As a bookkeeper, office manager and Chamber volunteer in a career spanning 25 years, Lois Denman could always be counted on. She kept the office humming for busy executive directors, kept the books balanced to the penny, and kept busy answering the phones and helping walk-ins as a volunteer.

On Thursday (Jan. 19), Denman capped her rewarding career by being named the Chamber’s 2012 Citizen of the Year. A grateful community extended heartfelt accolades for her long and distinguished service.

Chamber Executive Director Sheri Bogh spoke for many at the Chamber’s 58th annual Installation Dinner at the Highland Springs Resort.

“There was no task too big or too small for her,” Bogh said. “Today, with our growing, thriving Chamber, we are forever indebted to Lois.”

"About 200 people attended the event and Denman received three standing ovations from the crowd."

At 90 years old, Denman officially retired last month in her final post as a Chamber volunteer. She will be moving to Florida to be close to her family.

Always delivering

Her love affair with the Chamber happened by chance.

In 1981, Denman, a retired teacher and counselor, moved west from Ohio with her husband. Along with another couple, they were looking for a small-town business to buy. They scoured the Inland Empire until they quickly discovered a throwback to the days when the milkman came calling every morning.

She and her husband Tom, and Gordon and Jackie Predmore found just what they were looking for when they spotted the Beaumont Drive-Thru Dairy on 6th Street. It was a perfect spot for a retired school teacher with a friendly, outgoing personality.

“Customers would drive up and we would go out and wait on them,” she said.

Going out to those cars and delivering milk orders gave Denman the opportunity of a lifetime.
In the early 1980s, she often waited on Chuck Hermes, who was executive director of the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce. He would pay for his milk and always ask Denman if she was ready to work at the Chamber. She politely explained about having to help run the drive-thru dairy.

But when the business was sold after about four years, Denman got her chance.

She ran into the Chamber executive at the Post Office, asked if the job was still open, and got hired on the spot in the mid-1980s as a part-time Chamber receptionist. At the time, the Chamber was located on 4th Street. She moved up to office manager and finished her paid Chamber career as bookkeeper before becoming a volunteer in 2005.

As a volunteer, Denman put her training as a school teacher to good use by proofreading the Chamber’s newsletter. At the Chamber, she helped keep things organized with the Winter Wish program. Denman and other local Soroptimist Club members founded the gift giving drive to help local families at Christmas.

Now, as she looks back on decades spent helping others, Denman says she is gratified to be honored and will always cherish her many years and strong friendships in Beaumont.
“This community has given so much to me,” she said.

A Drink of History in Beaumont

2011-12-22T09:44:00.000-08:00

The old water fountain has refreshed many of us. But few know its history.

On Christmas Day, the drinking fountain dedicated by the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union all the way back in 1910 will celebrate its 101st anniversary. The women’s temperance group was known for its fight for Prohibition, often kneeling and praying outside saloons. But whether the WCTU did that in Beaumont has been lost in the mists of time. About 10 percent of Beaumont’s 412 registered voters were Prohibitionists around the time the fountain was erected.

Hometown fountain

The drinking fountain sits in a tiny, triangle-shaped park at Egan Avenue and Seventh Street. It’s a sliver of grass with some lofty deodar trees for shade and a picnic table. Today, it’s called Veterans Park.

Over the decades, young and old have stopped at the fountain to wet their whistle. Some would take a break from playing ball to sip water at the fountain. Others would stop on their way to Beaumont Library for the waiting adventure of books. Many came to enjoy a moment of reflection in a quiet, peaceful setting.

Prohibition

Nine years after the fountain offered up its first drink, the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution banned the sale or manufacture of alcoholic beverages. That was 1919. But by 1933, the 21st Amended ended the failed experiment with Prohibition. But in our hometown, the echoes of Prohibition still reverberate from long ago when pioneering women fought for their beliefs. A plaque at the base of the stone fountain in town reads:

“WCTU Dec. 25, 1910”

Two more years would pass before Beaumont became a city.

Speakeasies and respite

The days of speakeasies, moonshine stills, and Al Capone faded long ago in America. But if we close our eyes and try real hard, in our mind’s eye we can still envision a hometown of long ago, when farms, orchards and a community were on the cusp of change, and a fountain offered fresh water to all comers just as it does today.

*The Beaumont Blogger would like to thank the San Gorgonio Pass Historical Society for this story idea.

Santa is coming to Beaumont

2011-12-08T11:08:00.000-08:00

“You better watch out

You better not cry

You better not pout

I’m telling you why

Santa Claus is coming to town”

In November, 1934, this traditional Christmas standard aired on the radio and became a big hit. By Christmas, record buyers snapped up 400,000 copies.

More than 75 years later, the holiday favorite has been covered by dozens of artists, including Alvin and the Chipmunks, Bruce Springsteen and Justin Bieber.

On Monday, Dec. 12, the city of Beaumont will add its own refrain with “Operation Santa.”

On that night, jolly Old St. Nick will be in town for a quick visit to see the children of Beaumont and the Pass. And we know Santa is checking his list “twice” to see who’s been “naughty” and “nice.”

So, youngsters in the Pass must be on their best behavior as they await Santa’s arrival next Monday night (Dec. 12).

After his long trip from the North Pole, the City of Beaumont is giving Santa a VIP welcome and tour of the town. With their lights flashing and their sirens sounding, the Beaumont Fire and Police Departments will escort Santa to his two stops.

Be sure and have the whole family enjoy a cup of hot chocolate with old St. Nick while he listens to Christmas wishes of our youngsters.

Here’s Santa’s itinerary for his visit to Beaumont. (His arrival times are approximate.)

—Rite Aid Pharmacy at Golf Club Drive and Oak Valley Parkway between 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.

— Wal-Mart in the 2^nd Street Marketplace (garden side) between 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

And then in a flash, his sleigh packed, his reindeer rested, and with Rudolph The Red-Nosed reindeer in the lead, Santa is off to the North Pole!

Diaper drive shows love to Childhelp youngsters

2011-11-01T11:16:00.000-07:00

Miss Beaumont Brittany Ramos and her court are sponsoring a baby diaper drive to help youngsters at the Childhelp Foster Family Agency based in Redlands and Los Angeles.

There are currently 69 children in Childhelp foster homes.

Brittany and her princesses, Raina Mosley, Ria Reyes, Danielle Martinez and Leah Calvert, are encouraging Pass residents to donate disposable diapers to a worthy cause. The diaper drive ends on Nov. 11.

Packages of diapers may be dropped off weekdays at the Albert A. Chatigny Sr. Community Center, 1310 Oak Valley Parkway (Hours: Monday through Thursday: 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Friday: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.).

Diaper history

Maybe you’ve spotted the city’s cute “Baby Diaper Drive” logo on flyers showing a baby holding a pacifier and a rattle. It’s a throwback to a bygone era before disposable diapers became the norm.

In the ‘30s, ‘40s and ‘50s, diaper services with names like “Dy-Dee Wash” sent their trucks to homes and picked up soiled diapers in special five-gallon containers. They returned later with fresh clean diapers in a sterilized container.

By the 1960s, disposable diapers quickly started replacing cloth diapers as many mothers began working outside the home and youngsters went to daycare.

Today, with Pampers and Huggies readily available, it’s easy to help with our diaper drive!

Community service

Brittany and some of her court recently had dinner at Childhelp and toured the facility. They saw all the deserving children and immediately wanted to get involved with Childhelp.

Miss Beaumont and her court represent the city at many local functions, including the Cherry Festival and the Summer Concert series.

“We hope to get more involved with Childhelp and build an even closer relationship,” said Community Services Manager Eileen Rodriguez. “We are looking for many ways to show our love for the children. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for helping these babies in need.”

Anyone with questions may call Rodriguez at 951-769-8524.

If you want to become a foster parent or adopt a child through Childhelp, you can contact Jennifer Quinn, director of Childhelp’s Foster Family Agency in Redlands at 909-335-1164 or at jquinn@childhelp.org

Building character with basketball

2011-11-01T10:24:00.001-07:00

It’s time to shoot some hoops in the Pass!

Registration is underway for the Beaumont Community Youth Basketball league.

The League, with 350 boys and girls ages five years old through high school, is signing up youngsters right now.

“Our motto is, `Leadership, integrity and community values,’ said League president Roy Mickles. “Basketball teaches teamwork on and off the court, how to overcome adversity and also helps develop a `winning spirit.’”

“You don’t win all the time, but if you do your best, you’ve succeeded.”

Registration details

Early registration can save you $20 per child, officials said.

The early registration fee is $70 per youngster through Friday, Nov. 4. The fee for late registration is $90 per child after the Friday, Nov. 4 deadline.

Registration forms, with a check or money order, should be turned into the Albert A. Chatigny Sr. Community Recreation Center, 1310 Oak Valley Parkway, Beaumont, or mailed to Beaumont Community Youth Basketball, P.O.B. 3126, Beaumont, CA., 92223.

The registration fee includes a full uniform, trophies, team pictures and medical insurance. Each youngster’s playing ability will be assessed at an evaluation before a player is drafted to a team. But all those registered ages 5 through high school are eligible to play, officials said.

Opening Day is Saturday Nov. 12 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., with food and prizes. Practice starts the week of Nov. 14, and the season gets underway Saturday, Dec. 3.

Play ball!

The 10-game season is played at the Albert A. Chatigny Sr. Community Recreation Center on Saturdays from Dec. 3 to Feb. 25, except holidays. “March Madness” will take place on the third week of that month. During “March Madness,” Beaumont’s basketball League will choose an all-star team to compete against the best young players in Southern California. In all, 61 cities from the Southland will vie for the championship.

With the season about to start, BCYB is looking for volunteers and also to the future. Parents are being surveyed about the possibility of year-round basketball.

At the moment, the League needs coaches, assistant coaches, time keepers, referees, score keepers, help setting up games, running the snack bar, fundraising, web design and help with the All-Star tournament.

“Everyone can play a role in youth basketball,” Mickles said.

For information: http//: www.thebcyb.net; League President Roy Mickles: 951-575-7172; bcyb.mickles@gmail.com

Playwriting contest spotlights community theater

2011-10-28T09:18:00.000-07:00

Could there be another Eugene O’Neill, Arthur Miller or Tennessee Williams among us?

Catch A Star Theatrical (CAST) Players wants to know, could it be you? To find out, the community theater group in the San Gorgonio Pass is sponsoring a one-act playwriting competition.

Cash prizes will be awarded and winning plays will be performed at a Pass drama festival next June. All styles, themes and genres are welcome and entries must be original, unpublished and unproduced works. A $10 entry/handling fee is required.

“Our lives are enriched by plays,” said CAST Players managing director Dick Meinhold. “Live theater gives us the opportunity to enjoy a performance, and to think about things a little differently.”

Lots of interest

CAST Players is excited to announce that so far, it already has received entries from nine states across the country. The deadline for submission is Dec. 31, 2011. Winners will be notified by March 15, 2012.

Authors of the top six plays will receive $100, and their work will be performed three times at next year’s festival. At the end of the festival, additional cash prizes will be awarded. Auditions, show times and other festival details will be announced later.

Entries should be mailed to:

CAST PLAYERS,

One Act Play Competition

P.O. Box 125

Beaumont, Ca. 92223

For further details, see the CAST Players website: www.castplayers.org

If you have questions, please call 951-315-4253.

Into the spotlight

CAST Players was formed in 2010, and its first production highlighted the words and works of author Mark Twain. So far this year, CAST Players has presented four plays. If you’ve always been fascinated by the stage, there’s a spot just for you.

CAST Players need performers, amateur directors, stagehands and ticket volunteers. Everybody is a star in community theater!

The “Monster Mash” comes alive in Beaumont

2011-10-25T08:25:00.000-07:00

“I was working in the lab late one night

When my eyes beheld an eerie sight”

In 1962, the novelty record “Monster Mash” became a No. 1 hit, and it’s been playing this time of year ever since.

The song tells a late-night tale of a mad scientist whose monster gets up off the slab and starts doing a new dance that becomes “the hit of the land.”

On Saturday night, Oct. 29, Beaumont will bring out the ghosts and goblins for its very own “Monster Mash Halloween Party.” The whole family is invited for a scary, good time!

It’s a free Halloween bash at the Albert A. Chatigny Sr. Community Recreation Center, 1310 Oak Valley Parkway. The activities from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. will include a maze, games, Jumpers for kids, candy, food, dancing, and a costume contest at 6:30 p.m.

Embracing the ghoulish spirit, the city’s Community Services Department will sell “howl” dogs, “boo tato” chips, “swamp juice” (water) and “ghoulade” (sodas.)

Trick-or-Treat!

On Monday night, Oct. 31, Beaumont will celebrate Halloween with a free, safe and supervised “Trunk-or-Treat” event from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Beaumont Sports Park at the corner of Brookside and Beaumont avenues. The Beaumont Police Department, churches and community groups will fill their car trunks with delicious treats for youngsters.

So rise from the slab with your fellow creatures and hit the dance floor Saturday, then take your costumed kids to the park for some neighborly trick-or-treating on Monday. Beaumont has just the family celebrations for you this Halloween!

Portrait of a columnist

2011-10-24T09:06:00.000-07:00

For years, readers have awakened to his column in The Press-Enterprise and on PE.com.

Dan Bernstein fans have grown accustomed to tales about wayward sheepdogs, his wife fixing everything around the house and the foibles of public officials.

On October 14^th, readers got a chance to ask Bernstein about all the stories he has relayed in print and online for nearly three decades.

At a “Good Morning Beaumont” breakfast, the audience peppered Bernstein with questions about his craft, what inspires him, the watchdog role of a free press, and even how he became a champion “whistler.”

Beaumont Chamber president Lynn Bogh Baldi introduced Bernstein to those gathered in the dining room at the Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet Canyon.

“Four times a week, his talents as a writer, humorist and chronicler of life in the Inland Empire have made us laugh, made us cry, and made us think, and after all these years, he keeps us wondering—how in the heck can he be so clever?” Baldi said. “I could only be talking about the Inland Empire’s answer to the great, old-time newspaper columnists like Jimmy Breslin, Herb Caen and Jack Smith.”

Voice for the Inland Empire

Bernstein, who has been a P.E. columnist for almost 30 years, started by whistling the well-known tune, “Oh, What A Beautiful Morning!”

The columnist began whistling decades ago when his wife spotted an advertisement in the New Yorker about a contest. Bernstein and a buddy won the “novelty” portion of the competition, in which Bernstein whistled a song called “Blue Skies.”

When it comes to writing a column, Bernstein said he picks topics that he feels strongly about and can have an opinion on.

“I try to write with some intelligence, although that might be debatable, and some passion,” Bernstein remarked. “Readers are very smart and I respect their intelligence immensely.”

Remembering our soldiers

A question from the audience about a recent column titled “Portrait of a young man” showed how Bernstein can be very insightful.

Someone had written the newspaper upset about one in a series of “American Hero” banners that hang near Fairmount Park in Riverside. The 9-foot-high banners pay tribute to soldiers who died while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan or after they left the service. Most are shown in their uniform. But a highly decorated sniper, Shaun Paul Raymond, was shown bare-chested, tattooed and with a large rifle over his shoulder.

On a recent weekend, Bernstein sat with Raymond’s family in their home for an hour and half. He came away touched by the excruciating pain of trying to summarize their child’s life in a single picture.

Bernstein wrote: “We like our wars smart and tidy, our soldiers crisp and clean.”

Then, he invited readers to take a drive out to see the banner.

“You’ll see a young man named Shaun Paul Raymond."

Columns like this one about a soldier and countless others that Bernstein has written, along with lighthearted tales and political satires and biting commentaries about government waste and corruption, are what makes the columnist almost a living legend among loyal readers. He has written thousands of columns, with many more just waiting for the telling … along with a whistle or two.

Water turns gold

2011-10-13T08:39:00.000-07:00

For more than a century, the history of water in the Pass has been about epoch moments of innovation that have defined this region and heralded a bright future.
From hearty farmers who dammed up mountain creeks to flood their fields to gutsy drillers who punched the first wells, water visionaries have made their mark.

On the 50th anniversary of the San Gorgonio Pass Water Agency, the Beaumont Blogger is honored to pay tribute to these pioneering forces in our region.

For decades, Pass Water Agency worked tirelessly to see that a state pipeline was built and extended to the Pass. That dream became a reality in 2003. Now a fresh supply of water gushes into a big pond in Cherry Valley and percolates beneath the surface to replenish our groundwater.

Big day

On Sept. 29th, Pass Water Agency held a golden anniversary celebration to mark decades of service to the region. Many were also honored for their pivotal role in bringing a state pipeline to the Pass.

“This is an historic moment,” said guest speaker Rich Atwater, executive director of the Southern California Water Committee. The nonprofit group educates millions of people about the importance of water.

The East Branch Extension in the Pass is the last link of the State Water Project, which is a series of dams, reservoirs, aqueducts, rivers, pumping stations and power plants that store and deliver water across a 600-mile swath of California.

The underground pipeline in the Pass runs for 13 miles between Redlands and Cherry Valley. So far, Pass Water Agency has sent 38,000-acre-feet of water from Northern California into our regional groundwater basins. It’s the equivalent of about 12 billion gallons or enough water for a year for about 50,000 homes in the Pass.

Honoring water pioneers

At the 50th anniversary event, speakers took turns recounting the Pass Water Agency’s historic contributions to our area. They praised the vision, foresight and can-do attitude of a 1960 committee of local businessmen and farmers that included Ted Silverwood, A.C. Dysart and Omar Barker. In those days, it was difficult for a sparsely populated and bucolic area to tax itself to bring in state water, but they rallied the community for a grand undertaking. Pass Water worked with the state to design and oversee construction of the pipeline.

During the celebration, Director Dave Dysart’s thoughts turned to his grandfather’s dream and the vision of others who longed to bring a reliable, new supply of water to the region. “It was quite an adventure, and we honor them today for their accomplishments.”

Sharing the history of Beaumont

2011-09-29T12:42:00.001-07:00

“If you want to understand today, you must search yesterday.”
—Author Pearl S. Buck.

History can be saved if you try.

Bruce Murrill proved that recently, and future generations will love him for it.

Murrill got a call from a good friend who discovered a stack of old newspapers in the garage. The yellowing pages from nearly 40 years ago seemed to bring the stories alive. The history of the Cherry Festival and the fun of living in a small town—it was all there!

Murrill, a board member of Cherry Festival Association, hopped into his truck, headed for Lyle Millage’s house and collected the old editions of The Record-Gazette.

“History, especially in a small town, is a fragile thing,” Murrill said. “Once you lose it, it’s gone forever.”

History on display

With the city of Beaumont about to celebrate its 100^th anniversary, Murrill is sharing his find with the community. He has decided to loan the Cherry Festival editions to Beaumont for display in glass cases at the Civic Center. He hopes many local residents will join him by bringing in and loaning their old newspapers, keepsakes, photos, letters and other flat items.

From those pages, here is a glimpse of time gone by:

· 1940: A total of 6,000 cherry pies were sold in June, mostly during the Cherry Festival.

· World War II: In an era of rationing, a carload of cherry lovers got a free tank of gas if they picked 150 pounds.

· 1956: A black-and-white photo showed boys kneeling, hands behind their backs, at a picnic table lined with cherry pies. It was a race to see who could eat a pie the fastest.

· 1983: Chappy’s next to the fire station on Sixth Street sold country fried chicken dinners to go for $2.79 during the Cherry Festival.

Beaumont wants to see a neighborly campaign to share a bit of the past during the centennial. Maybe you’ve got articles tucked away from our original hometown papers like The Beaumont Leader and The Gateway Gazette.

We’re looking for timeless items that can be displayed starting this November. Please contact Customer Service Coordinator Ashley Starr at 951-769-8520 or astarr@ci.beaumont.ca.us

The city’s 100^th anniversary is Nov. 18, 2012. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for our city,” said Mayor Brian De Forge.

2011-07-20T10:27:00.000-07:00

“The past is never dead, it is not even past.” —Novelist William Faulkner

Make new memories at the hometown library

A hundred years ago, the whole town turned out on Election Day to create the Beaumont Library District.

It was Aug. 12, 1911.

Some people climbed into wooden wagons pulled by plough horses. Others cranked up newfangled “horseless carriages” and drove to the polls.

When the votes were counted, a new Library District was born by a 2-1 margin.

New celebration

Now, the whole town is being invited to come out again—this time to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the Beaumont Library District, one of the city’s most enduring public institutions. The Memory Festival is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 13, at the Beaumont Library, 125 E. Eighth St.

The festival promises fun for youngsters and adults alike.

Community organizations will be on hand to elicit memories of the Library, the community and our own lives through journaling, quilting, games, crafts and music. Local historian Bill Bell of the neighboring Banning Library District will do oral history interviews with special guests, including Beaumont Mayor Brian De Forge. The interviews will be posted later on the Library’s web site: www.bld.lib.ca.us

There will also be appearances by mime Mark Wenzel and national bestselling mystery author Earlene Fowler, who wrote “Spider Web.” Free hot dogs and lemonade and a special anniversary cake will be served.

Paying tribute

De Forge, who as a youngster often did his homework in the library, will present a proclamation paying tribute to the Beaumont Library District. The mayor vividly remembers walking to the library and spending time surrounded by books.

“It was a place of solace and knowledge,” De Forge said. “A place of quiet reflection, where an entire new world was waiting for my mind to explore.”

As the Library District’s centennial anniversary nears, De Forge says, “Our hometown library has served this community long and faithfully. With reading, we’re able to enrich our own lives and the lives of our children and grandchildren and create lasting memories.”

Cherry Jubilee: A sweet event for all ages

2011-05-05T11:24:00.000-07:00

The Cherry Jubilee & Gift Exchange has something for everyone. And the cherries at this jubilee come sweetened with celebrities, sports memorabilia, an auction, homemade desserts and pastries, and even more!

In other words, it's just about time for Beaumont's annual Cherry Festival!

From 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 12th, Beaumont prepares for the city's signature event by celebrating at the Cherry Jubilee. The festivities will raise thousands of dollars for college scholarships for seniors at Beaumont High School.

Crowds are expected to gobble up "all you can eat" cherry delights at the Albert A. Chatigny Sr. Community Recreation Center, located at 1310 Oak valley Parkway. Between bites of cherry cake, brownies, ice cream and cheesecake, they'll catch fast-talking TV auctioneer and Yucaipa resident Dan Dotson of "Storage Wars" taking bids on everything from an autographed Willie Mays bat to a signed photograph of Yogi Berra. Dotson and his wife Laura, who host "Storage Wars," are grand marshals for the 2011 Cherry Festival. You'll find plenty more baseball memorabilia to bid on, and boxing fans will have a chance to go home with a signed photo of Jake La Motta, who slugged it out with "Sugar" Ray Robinson in a match that helped inspire the movie "Raging Bull" starring Robert De Niro.

"This is an opportunity for everyone in the Pass to come out and support young people and have lots of fun in a family-friendly atmosphere," said Bruce Murrill, a volunteer for the Cherry Festival Association.

Scholarship fund

To raise money for scholarships, local merchants are selling $1 raffle tickets at their stores for baskets full of merchandise. In all, more than 50 baskets will be given away during a drawing. The city of Beaumont is also taking part, donating three baskets provided by City Hall employees, the Community Services Department, and the Police Department.

Other prizes will include tickets for a Dodgers/Padres game in San Diego, a boat rental at Big Bear Lake, and the Morongo Band of Mission Indians will be donating gift baskets from Hadley's, dinners to the buffet, a stay at the Morongo Casino Resort and Spa, and a spa gift certificate.

Last year, the Cherry Jubilee raised $6,000 for scholarships.

Proud history

Nine years ago, the Beaumont-Cherry Valley Rotary Club came up with the idea for the Cherry Jubilee. The event is sponsored by Rotary in conjunction with the Cherry Festival Association and the City of Beaumont.

The Cherry Jubilee is the first of many fun activities during the 93rd annual Cherry Festival celebration, which runs from June 2nd to 5th. The jubilee promises to be a memorable night. For starters, enjoy homemade cherries jubilee - sweet, ripe cherries, a little sugar, cherry liquor - all whipped together, flambeed and spooned over vanilla ice cream. What a great way to celebrate the start of Beaumont's legendary Cherry Festival and raise money for local scholarships!

The Beaumont Charitable Foundation supports worthy causes that enhance our lives

2011-02-23T09:43:00.000-08:00

Beaumont has long shown that it takes care of its own.

This good will dates back to the Great Depression when the city and local service clubs worked together to find jobs for men who were desperately trying to support their families.

Now, the city is continuing that legacy with the Beaumont Charitable Foundation, which was formed in 2009. The charitable arm of the city accepts tax deductible contributions, and helps raise money for many very worthwhile causes and outreach programs.

In that spirit, the foundation recently awarded 15-year-old Brittany Ramos $3,000 toward her trip to Europe this summer as a Student Ambassador for the People to People Program. For more than a half-century, the program started by President Dwight D. Eisenhower has promoted cultural understanding and peace among nations.

Other Foundation beneficiaries include the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Shop with a Hero, Spark of Love, Special Olympics, Smiles for Seniors and a program that allows students with perfect attendance to take in a Los Angeles Angels baseball game with police officers.

Through the charitable foundation, contributions are made to individuals and programs that enhance life in Beaumont. Applications are available at the Civic Center. The City Council, which serves as the foundation’s board of directors, decides how to award the money. Brittany received her award after she spoke at the Feb. 1 City Council meeting.

Beaumont’s young ambassador

“Brittany will be an outstanding representative of the city of Beaumont,” said Mayor Brian De Forge.

The hometown girl, who was accepted to the People to People program based on teacher recommendations and good grades, has already served Beaumont for many years. She is currently one of three princesses for the Miss Beaumont Pageant. And as captain of the Beaumont Police Explorers, Brittany will study Europe’s criminal justice system on her trip abroad. But before she leaves, Brittany will take part in many fundraising activities for People to People, including being a “waitress for a day” in Hemet.

Proudly representing her hometown

Brittany will depart in early June for her 20-day trip that includes stops in England, France, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Once she lands overseas this summer, the world will become Brittany’s classroom. She will learn from the finest historians, educational experts, and professional guides.

While visiting Great Britain with other People to People students, the Beaumont High School sophomore will receive a briefing at Parliament and tour Buckingham Palace. Brittany will learn about the world wars by visiting Flanders Field in northern France and by touring the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. The teenager will gain an understanding of everyday life as she meets with ordinary European citizens and stays with local families in several countries.

During her trip, Brittany will be telling Europeans about her friendly hometown and fun things to do here like attending the Cherry Festival.

“I’m very excited,” Brittany said. “I’m looking forward to meeting new people and learning about many cultures and other languages.”

When she returns, Brittany will report on what she has learned to the Beaumont City Council. And one day, she hopes to protect and serve her hometown as a police officer, just like her father, Beaumont Police Corporal Chris Ramos.

“Beau” heads off to college and gets ready to make his hometown proud

2011-02-10T08:37:00.000-08:00

Beaumont is going off to college, canine style. The hometown pooch believes in helping people just like his namesake, the city of Beaumont.

The black Labrador will soon enroll in a rigorous school for guide dogs to learn how he can help someone who is visually impaired or blind move about freely in the world.

Wearing a blue-and-white vest to show he is a guide dog in training, Beau, as he is called, drew lots of attention and got a big send-off recently at a breakfast meeting of the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce. Many came up and patted the guest of honor as they wished him well in his upcoming classes.

“I’ll invite the whole community to come out and see his graduation,” said Ambassador Jackie Johnson of the non-profit Guide Dogs of the Desert.

The making of a guide dog

So far, Beau has shown all the traits needed to be a successful guide dog, including a good temperament, intelligence and an inbred desire to serve, Johnson said. Beau showed these and many more great qualities while growing up in Cherry Valley with puppy volunteers Laura and Phil Myring. Beau goes to Mass with the couple on Sundays and navigates the busy aisles at Costco and Petco. Beau got his namesake from the Beaumont Lions Club, which works diligently in the Pass area to help the blind and visually impaired.

The upcoming training will take place in Whitewater at the Guide Dogs of the Desert facility and requires a lot from every dog. It’s an intense six-to-nine month program month that teaches Beau and his canine colleagues how to be the eyes of his master. The dog will learn to spot and guide his master around an obstacle like a tree branch on the sidewalk and also how to safely take his master through crowded train stations and airports and cross streets while watching out for traffic.

The promise ahead

On graduation day, about half the dogs that start the school will be qualified to be paired up with a master. The others will find work as therapy dogs, police dogs and search-and-rescue dogs.

Beau couldn't speak for himself at the recent breakfast - at least not in words. But as the lab keenly watched guests file out of the Morongo Golf Club at Tukwet Canyon (former East Valley Golf Club), he seemed eager to begin a journey that will lead to a career of service and helping others. From Beaumont to his desert training, Beau was on his way!

"Zebras and Beatles” part of our future?

2011-01-25T11:06:00.000-08:00

More than 40 years ago, a Beatles' album cover ignited mystery and intrigue in its depiction of the Fab Four walking in full stride across a "zebra" crosswalk. The iconic photograph showed John, Paul, George and Ringo walking single file in the crosswalk, with its alternating black and white stripes.

Window to the future

In Beaumont, a well-traveled zebra crosswalk between the Civic Center and the Police Department represents the gateway to a new chapter in the city’s life. You will find it on Orange Avenue, between Sixth and Seventh streets. Orange Avenue has been blocked off under a plan to build a Civic Center Campus where all municipal facilities will remain in the heart of downtown. Pedestrians can now stroll peacefully across the city’s striped crossing and dream about what lies ahead: a more vibrant downtown, a more convenient City Hall and more public parking.

In the coming years, Beaumont’s dream of having all city facilities in one central location—Civic Center, fire department and police department — will become a reality. The block of Orange Avenue will remain permanently closed and will become a public promenade area with landscaped planters and illuminated at night with attractive, energy-efficient lighting. City employees and visitors alike will stroll back and forth beneath covered walkways in a peaceful, inviting atmosphere as they travel between buildings conducting business that might include anything from licensing a dog to updating a passport.

Civic Center Campus

The new Civic Center Campus is starting to take shape. Work has begun to turn the old Summit Elementary School site into a home for the Beaumont Police Department, Animal Care, Code Enforcement, Public Works and Engineering and the city’s computer department. There will be more public parking, as well as an improved, secured parking area for police cars and other city vehicles.

Can you hear it?

So if you’re strolling across that zebra crossing in Beaumont and hear the echo of hits from the Abbey Road album like “Come Together” and “Here Comes The Sun,” close your eyes for just a moment and it will be 1969 all over again! Or maybe it’s the soundtrack of our future, as Beaumont moves closer to a new Civic Center Campus where we can all come together and appreciate the sunny days ahead.

Among the Best and Brightest

2011-01-07T09:47:00.000-08:00

Robert Starr is a young computer wizard who could someday help change the world through the use of supercomputers. While he has an odyssey ahead that will require intense study, Starr will forever cherish the support, encouragement and friendship of the Beaumont - Cherry Valley Rotary Club.

With the help of his local Rotary Club, Starr received a $26,000 Ambassadorial Scholarship award by The Rotary Foundation. He will soon be earning his master's degree in high performance computing at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Founded in 1583, the University is recognized for its high performance computing program.

"Robert will be a terrific goodwill ambassador for Rotary and will help further international understanding and friendly relations," said Arlon Brubaker, past president of the Beaumont - Cherry Valley Rotary Club.

A supercomputer is one of the latest, fastest or most powerful computers in the world. They come with immense processing power and are incredibly sophisticated. Among its nearly endless uses, supercomputers can simulate how a tsunami would impact a coastline or a city; test the aerodynamics of the latest military aircraft; and model the effect of proteins on Alzheimer's disease, Cystic Fibrosis and many kinds of cancer.

Hometown scholar

Starr grew up in Beaumont and is the son of Ken and Sharon Starr. He is 2007 graduate of Beaumont High School who will earn his bachelor's degree this spring in computer science and business administration from Chapman University in Orange. A counselor at Chapman University suggested that he apply for the Rotary Scholarship. Starr will leave in September to study in Scotland.

"This is a chance of a lifetime," Starr said. "I am very thankful that my local Rotary club and Rotary International sponsored me."

Ambassadorial Scholarships, which date back to 1947, are the Rotary Foundation's oldest and best known program. Since that time, more than 40,000 people from about 100 nations have studied abroad and represented Rotary and their respective homelands. In 2009-10, the foundation awarded nearly 700 scholarships totaling more than $16 million.

Before receiving his scholarship, Starr was interviewed by local Rotarians and by Rotary officials at the district level, which includes Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Rotary officials at the national level awarded the Ambassadorial Scholarship.

This is the second Ambassadorial Scholarship that the local Rotary Club has sponsored. Two years ago, the Club sponsored Clint Lorimore who went to Singapore to study international terrorism. Lorimore, who once served as former Governor Schwarzenegger's field representative in the Inland area, is now working on his doctorate degree.

Bright future

As he prepares for a year-long master's degree program, Starr dreams about harnessing the power of technology for good in the world and fostering Rotary's core values of high ethical standards and international understanding, goodwill and peace among all people. With today's supercomputers operating on the petaflop (that's one quadrillion operations per second!), the possibilities seem endless for out hometown computer whiz with a bright future ahead.

Podcasts: Beaumont Stays Connected

2011-01-07T08:58:00.000-08:00

Beaumont is always searching for new ways to stay in touch with its citizenry. Now, because of our latest effort, you'll have access to audio podcasts of Beaumont City Council meetings on the web! These podcasts will be added to the city's website within one week of the council meeting.

It's just a quick mouse click to Beaumont's website, http://www.ci.beaumont.ca.us/., followed by a quick download.

The podcasts are a great way to catch up on town happenings, and you'll hear it all when you tune it, including the tapping of the gavel as the meeting starts. Mayor Brian De Forge, Mayor Pro Tem Roger Berg, and council members David Castaldo, Nancy Gall and Jeff Fox will offer firsthand reports about the community. City staffers will discuss topics that affect the lives of every resident, merchant, and visitor. You'll also hear your elected representatives discuss informative, wide-ranging issues and then cast their votes.

Staying in touch

Even if you can't attend all the council meetings, the podcasts offer an easy and convenient way to learn about the goings on. The City Council and the city staff would like to invite each of you to attend our next council meeting on January 18th - whether you're able to join us in the Council Chambers or listen at home on your computer to the podcast a few days later.

Podcasting is a relatively new way of reaching people. A reporter for The Guardian newspaper received credit for coining the term in 2004. He combined "pod" from Apple's iPod and "broadcasting," even though recordings also can be heard on computers or any digital music player, not just iPods.

The future

If some of you wonder why we're reaching out this way, it's because we believe Beaumont's future depends on sharing the City's views and seeking out a broad base of ideas and opinions from everyone in town. This form of technology will help us all stay connected as we lead our busy lives. At the moment, city staff also is studying the idea of using video to give you a seat at council meetings - even if you can't be there in person. We're proud to say that the idea came from the Beaumont Cares Awareness Team.

Stay tuned

So, if you click on "City Council Podcasts" for December 21st, you'll hear all about community events like Winter Wish and the Christmas Light Parade. You'll learn about buying tickets to the February 19th Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre at the Civic Center to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. And you can learn more about the "Name that Bridge" contest for our new trestle bridge. You'll get acquainted with Planning Commissioner Richard Bennecke, who was reappointed to a four-year term at the meeting, and you'll learn about the commission's newest member, registered civil engineer Nathan Smith.

Please stay tuned as we bring you the latest on the City of Beaumont. We hope you will enjoy learning about your city in action during these podcasts.

A very likable 2011 Citizen of the Year

2011-01-03T08:21:00.000-08:00

The honor, the accolades and the recognition are wonderful. But it's enough just to be embraced by the community.

Donna Franco, 2011 Citizen of the Year in the Pass, says actress Sally Field's famous Oscar acceptance line for the Best Actress in the 1984 film "Places in the Heart" ("I can't deny the fact that you love me! You like me.") quickly comes to mind.

And just like an Oscar winner receiving that treasured gold statuette, longtime community volunteer Franco will accept her award and give a speech on January 27th. It's a night when people from throughout the Pass will turn out to honor one of their own.

It's the 57th Annual Installation Dinner for the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce.

Devotion to community

Many of you have seen Franco's smiling face at the pancake breakfast during the Cherry Festival. Or maybe you've spotted her timing log-sawing contests at the Oktoberfest. Many of you catch a glimpse of scurrying about buying, wrapping and delivering Christmas gifts to deserving families for Winter Wish. Or you see her volunteering at the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce and serving as an elected director for the Beaumont-Cherry Valley Recreation and Park District. She has an unwavering spirit for volunteerism.

"She just dives into anything that will help our community," said Kathy Munyas, the chamber's executive director.

Bruce Murrill and Lyle Millage, who donate many hours of community service to the Pass, nominated Franco for the honor.

"Donna does so much," Murrill said. "She gets the work done - plain and simple. This is a richly deserved honor for a very special person."

Helping the Pass

Many in the Pass caught their first glimpse of Franco in 1972 as she cheerily rang up their groceries at the old Alpha Beta. By 1981, Franco and a girlfriend opened up a cake decorating business in town, and she got involved with the Chamber. Over the years, Franco has served as director, vice president and president. By 1999, Franco retired and became a nearly full time volunteer for the community. She answered phones and questions at the Chamber and spent countless hours on beloved community projects. And through it all, she avoided the limelight - until now.

"The volunteers do it all and make things successful," she said. "I just help organize.'

Come support the dinner and honor one of Beaumont's most dedicated volunteers!

What: 2011 Beaumont Chamber of Commerce Installation Dinner

Date: January 27th

Time: Cocktails: 5:30 p.m. Dinner and program: 6:00 p.m.

Where: The Grand Oak Steakhouse & Bar, the Highland Springs Resort, 10600 Highland Springs Ave., Cherry Valley

Cost: $40.00 per person (reservations and payments in advance. Checks should be made payable to the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce, 726 Beaumont Ave., Beaumont Ca 92223)

Information: 951-845-9541

Let's rent some fun

2010-12-17T11:33:00.000-08:00

Have you ever thought about having a big birthday party, a wedding or maybe a baby shower? You'd like to have the special occasion at home, but when you look around you find the living room and even the backyard are just way too small for such a special gathering. Well, no need to worry and look no further, because the party you want is within your reach - right here in Beaumont!

The City of Beaumont has the perfect facility for your special occasion. Whether you need an outdoor pavilion, a meeting room, a baseball field, a swimming pool or even a big auditorium, these spaces are available for rent at an affordable cost, and right in your city!

Right for every occasion

Beaumont can help you celebrate a coming home party, conduct a business meeting, get in shape or even tie the knot and have plenty of space for a wedding reception. Almost no party, celebration, or gathering is too big or too small for Beaumont. Soon, you and your family and friends can hold a stress-free event without worrying about cleaning up the house afterward by renting one of the city's well-maintained public facilities.

So, grab your boom box and let's dance at the Pavilion! how about a two-hour long business meeting in a quiet room at the Beaumont Civic Center? Maybe you'd like to swing a baseball bat under the lights and pretend you're a Major Leaguer at the plate with the bases loaded in the bottom on the ninth inning in front of a crowd gone wild. Well, these kinds of dreams can come true at the Beaumont Sports Park.

How about cooling off once the winter passes and the heat arrives next summer at The Plunge? You can have a two-hour pool party for 100 of your closest friends and watch them splash about in Beaumont's sparkling, blue pool with its famous high dive. And you can have four lifeguards! If you're planning a big bash that won't fit the confines of your address, the entire Civic Center auditorium is yours for that special event.

Quick and easy renting

While deposits may be required for renting some city facilities, that and the small price is worth the fun you can have when you're looking for a little more room than your living room has to offer. Look no further than the city of Beaumont!

Rental forms can be downloaded on the City's website http://www.ci.beaumont.ca.us/

Completed forms can be e-mailed, faxed, mailed or dropped off at the Community Recreation Center, 1310 Oak Valley Parkway. For information: Please contact Yvonne Blake, Customer Service Coordinator: 951.769.8524

Faithful Clock Keeps on Ticking

2010-11-05T10:50:00.000-07:00

No matter what you did to a Timex watch, it seemed to keep on running. Some of you may even remember those "torture" test commercials ("Timex - it takes a licking and keeps on ticking"). Delighted TV viewers would watch their flickering screen in amazement as the iconic clock survived the high diver's leap into water, the hoof of a galloping horse, or a propeller blade in the water.

Keeping Time

Maybe it hasn't been quite so dramatic in Beaumont when it comes to keeping track of the hour. But we've all heard the famous expression, "Time stands still for no one." Perhaps it's never been truer than for the old clock in the heart of our city. For nearly a half century, we've driven right by it, glanced up, noted the hour and most likely just kept going about our business.

But in our hustle-bustle lives, do we ever take the time to wonder about that old clock and its significance? Or those big, black hands with tiny arrows that precisely count the minutes and hours of our lives?

Sure, we know that many small towns across America have a tall clock somewhere in the city square. But our clock near the steps of the Civic Center has it's own story, one that deserves telling.

Clock Details

Here's what the Beaumont Blogger knows about the clock that has stood sentry-like for decades.

Nearly a half century ago, the local Soroptimist Club embraced the idea of creating a community clock for Beaumont. On December 23, 1963, dedication ceremonies were held at Beaumont Avenue and Sixth Street - the clock's original location. Over the years, the clock became a fixture. When a car knocked the clock over, people rallied around. They had it meticulously restored and moved to City Hall, where rededication ceremonies were held October 2, 1998.

Today, the face of the clock stares out at passing traffic along the main drag through town. As the seconds, minutes, hours, days, months and years tick by, the clock remains a steadfast symbol of Beaumont's timeless small-town spirit.

Unlocking the Mystery of Gravity Hill

2010-10-22T11:50:00.000-07:00

For decades, Gravity Hill has been a place of fascination, wonderment and teenage high jinks. It’s on a sweeping, two-lane country road with a gentle dip where cars seem to roll uphill, defying gravity.

During the 1970s, Mike Thompson and his buddies would have fun testing the spot on Oak Glen Road. They would pile into a car in downtown Beaumont, head north into the mountains and wait to be amazed. This was small-town fun at its finest on Friday and Saturday nights.

Coasting to glory

The boys had the routine down pat: Come to a stop, put the car in neutral, let off the brakes, and within moments, the car seemed to be miraculously rolling uphill and gathering speed. There were hoots and cheers, but not because the laws of physics had suddenly been suspended in the San Gorgonio Pass. No, this was a contest with bragging rights!

You see, the boys were trying to see how far they could coast—even if they had to tap the brakes a few times as they rounded tight corners. This was a time of heavy cars and little traffic in the Pass—and sometimes they would go far! Thompson remembers careening through Cherry Valley before gliding right up to the old Alpha Beta on Beaumont Avenue—a five mile run from Gravity Hill. (A few years ago, the supermarket was torn down and replaced by a new Stater Bros.)

Deepening mystery

Over the years, the attraction and myth of Gravity Hill grew along with the hometown coasting contests. That place seemed to intrigue and even mystify the locals. But with the teenage years so full of merriment, it always seemed that answers could wait. Besides, why ruin such a fantastic legend and spoil the fun?

Still, as he grew older, Mike Thompson found himself occasionally drawn to the “mystery of Gravity Hill.” It nagged at him. When the Beaumont Blogger asked him to relive his teenage years by going up to Gravity Hill and making one final run, well, he just couldn’t resist. Thompson grabbed his carpenter’s level and headed for the spot at 12849 Oak Glen Road.

“This is something that I always wanted to do,” he said.

Looking for answers

Was the celebrated spot an optical illusion or a true life mystery? Or were magnetic or even supernatural forces at work? The phenomenon has been reported around the world in almost every culture—some places just seem to defy the laws of nature. Experts say the layout of the surrounding landscape produces an optical illusion that tricks us into believing that a very slight downhill slope is actually uphill. And so, a car left out of gear will appear to be rolling uphill against gravity’s pull. Scientists say the most important factor contributing to this illusion is a completely or mostly obscured horizon. Without the horizon for a reference point, it becomes very difficult to judge the slope of a surface.

Solving a mystery

Thompson wanted to know if the seemingly matter-of-fact explanations made sense. He placed his level on the ground and carefully tested the roadway at three points. He uses the tool everyday as a construction superintendent, and it never lies. Thompson stood up, grabbed the level, and carried it like a walking stick. After nearly 40 years, he had his answer to the secret of Gravity Hill.

“You’re actually going downhill,” he concluded. “But it looks like you’re going uphill.” His words came out softly though, as if to protect the mystery for all time.

The Beacon

2010-09-23T09:12:00.000-07:00

From high atop Mt. David, the panorama stretches as far as the eye can see. For hundreds of years, a place later known as "The Beacon" has been a landmark in the San Gorgonio Pass. When skies are powder blue, you can see clear to Hemet and San Jacinto, the Interstate 215 grade at San Bernardino State University, Moreno Valley, Banning, and east to Cabaon. Many have found inspiration, adventure and serenity nearly 3,000 feet above the city lights and everyday life.

On the lookout

Some, like Leslie Rios, remember Pass history classes at Beaumont High School, where students learned about Native Americans keeping a lookout on the mountain top for settlers' wagon trains and the U.S. cavalry. During the 1930s, Easter sunrise services on the mountaintop drew the faithful who took in the early morning light that played across the mountains. In the early 1950s, David Valdivia remembers hiking up to "The Beacon" and heading deepin into the mountains south of Beaumont. He and other youngsters sought adventure in a world all their own. They bagged rabbits with .22 rifles, camped in tents and roamed the nearby hills. Like the wayfarers of old, they came upon many wonders.

Secret spots

They chanced upon an ancient rock cave in the side of a granite mountain. Dropping to their knees one by one, they crawled inside for about 20 feet and felt the air growing colder and colder. They wondered silently who might have lived in this cave through the ages. on another odyssey, the boys stumbled across a deep hole in the ground-probably six feet across. They crept over the edge and peered down into the inky blackness. Then, the boys took turns tossing rocks into the pit and waiting for the muffled sound of a stone to hit the bottom. Valdivia's older brother Arthur was fearless. He would lie on his belly, clutch a rock, and scoot his way over to the lip of the black hole. With friends clutching his feet, Arthur would shoot his arm out and drop a rock. It seemed that whatever the young adventurers threw down, the abyss swallowed right up.

The Beacon's call

As decades passed, the environment changed atop "The Beacon." In the early 1950s, there was only a single red "beacon" light blinking on and off to warn low-flying aircraft. With technological advances, many began wanting space on the high mountain. Today, the Beaumont Police Department and the Riverside County Sheriff's Department have radio equipment atop the mountain summit. Cell phone companies have their own towers. But on a starlit night in Beaumont, "The Beacon" still calls to us. It's always been a special place and remains so today.

Silent Oak

2010-09-20T16:27:00.000-07:00

Around the world, giant oak trees are thought to have mythic power and influence. Many centuries ago, legend has it that Robin Hood hid out from his enemies amid the gnarled branches of the Major Oak deep within Sherwood Forest. In ancient times, Celtic culture believed that a huge oak tree could be a “door” or a “gateway” to other worlds. The San Gorgonio Pass has its own towering, majestic oak, with branches the size of tree trunks and leafy, green foliage that cascades to the ground. For generations, the oak has served as a gathering place for teenagers—their faces lit by the soft glow of a campfire—to reveal dreams, lost loves, and secrets.

Gathering spot

As a Beaumont High School student in the late 1940s, Evelyn Salley (now Olson), remembers piling into cars with her friends and driving Cherry Valley’s twisty roads way up to the “old oak tree.” Her daughter Karen Thompson, now the City Clerk of Beaumont, took those same roads in the 1970s with her own friends as did her future husband, Mike Thompson. Mother and daughter say the oak tree has been part of growing up in Beaumont for generations now.

Over the decades, little has changed about the teenage ritual of gathering ‘round the giant oak tree. Young people park in a circle around the tree—whether they were driving big, heavy Fords and Chevrolets in the late 1940s or tooling around in 1970s “muscle cars” like the Chevelle SS or Olds 442. Like a scene from a James Dean movie, teenagers would go from car to car as they laughed, talked and danced the night away to the sound of car radios. In the 1940s, they listened to Frank Sinatra, Mel Torme and Eddie Fisher. Over the years, word spread about the gathering spot overlooking the Pass. In the late 1940s, maybe two dozen kids would hang out around the tree on weekend nights. By the 1970s, more than 100 teenagers could be seen crowding around the stately looking oak, listening to Aerosmith, Emerson, Lake and Palmer, and Led Zeppelin.

Local landmark

The regal looking coastal live oak dominates a plateau area about seven miles north of downtown Beaumont. The tree is located along Avenida Miravilla at the entry to Mile High Ranch. A narrow dirt road heads off to the west, which you can follow to see the grandest oak in the Pass. Hidden beneath the branches is an old stone cabin, a big fireplace and a campfire ring.
Local nurseryman Christopher Layton recently surveyed the imposing oak tree. He estimates the tree is 60 to 70 feet tall and that its canopy on top is about 100 feet across. The oak has always had a special place in his heart. During the mid-1960s, Layton remembers family picnics beneath its branches, and how much everyone enjoyed his mom's bread and butter sandwiches and homemade fried chicken.

Keeping watch

Just as it has for decades, the oak is a destination out on the plateau, where car radios reverberate and young people take in the panoramic view of city lights below. Off in the distance, they spot the blinking antennas perched atop Mt. Davis and a sliver of white light in far off Orange County. And so, for a new generation, the steadfast, silent oak keeps a lonely vigil over a slowly unfolding tomorrow in the Pass.

Highland Springs' Patriotic Oak

2010-09-10T16:04:00.000-07:00

Standing guard

With its majestic crown of shiny, prickly leaves and ripening acorns, the grand old oak shields dozens of tiny American flags in the hometown memorial. The stars and stripes flutter in the breeze and pay homage to the sacrifices of those who served in Iraq and around the world. Since the memorial went up in the Pass area five years ago, thousands and thousands of cars have streamed by. Many of those drivers—patriotic and perhaps a little curious—have pulled off along Highland Springs Avenue just past Oak Valley Parkway and caught a glimpse of the neat rows of flags—standing guard like watchful sentries. It’s a bucolic setting where range cattle graze from behind barbed-wire fencing. Taking just a few moments from their daily lives, people are lost in moments of profound gratitude for the men and women who have served—and sacrificed their lives—in faraway lands.

The ultimate sacrifice

Those taking in the scene soon spot a prayer for Staff Sgt. Anthony R. Griffith, 3rd Infantry Mechanized Unit and all the troops who have served in Iraq. Only a few steps way, they catch sight of a laminated poem tacked to the graceful oak. It gives the tree’s history and its purpose in life:

“I grew up here all alone; you know, so spindly, small and frail,
‘Twas nicer here way back then, a horse and buggy trail
By the side of this country lane, I stood only four foot high,
I hardly got a sideways glance from folks a passing by
I am an oak, a scraggly oak, not mighty and not tall
I’m approaching 80 years; I’ll be 80 in the fall…
‘Twas first a flag, then two more, I did not understand
And then I heard the prayers of those come praying hand in hand,
Each flag is for a mother’s son who went to meet the call,
I’ve seen the tears and heard the prayers for those who gave their all,
And so my job, both night and day, protect these many flags
Shade those who come to mourn their loss and do the best I can
I’m proud to be out here, there are no other trees to guard the many flags that
Stand and flutter in the breeze.”

Saluting the troops

On this day, Sept. 11, 2010, let us gather under the shade of this spreading oak and give thanks to our sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, and sisters and brothers, who serve us so faithfully across the globe.

Evergreen Tunnel

2010-08-27T13:56:00.000-07:00

We’ve all passed beneath the drooping, feathery branches along Beaumont Avenue. Since the Great Depression, the deodar trees that overhang the grand country lane have filled us with a sense of wonder, peace and beauty. But in our hometown where many things are changing, how often do we pause and consider these silent witnesses to history?

Living landmarks

The deodars have been part of our heritage since Fred Hirsch, owner of the Highland Springs Resort, planted them in 1930. Back then, people dreamed of an evergreen parkway that would also serve as a windbreak. Around the world, the pyramid-shaped trees—with their bluish-green needles—generate awe and deep respect. In Sanskrit, the word “deodar” means “tree of the gods.”

Stretching more than a mile and half toward Cherry Valley and Oak Glen, the deodars rise like sentries, visible to airline passengers flying over the Pass and to hikers climbing peaks in the San Bernardino Mountains. Rising up to 70 feet high, these living landmarks are part of the fabric of Beaumont and as such, are fiercely protected.

Revered icons

At their own peril, politicians, developers and pranksters find they must tread lightly around the trees. Over the years, some nature lovers in town have threatened to chain themselves to the deodar trees’ massive trunks to keep chainsaws at bay. A few years ago, planning commissioners heard such a threat and promptly spared two of the stately trees. A developer even changed the entrance for a new subdivision along Beaumont Avenue because of the deodars. And beware any prankster who would tamper with the beloved trees. In the early years, thieves sneaked out and under the cover of night, plucked themselves a Christmas tree, only to find themselves caught by sharp-eyed officers patrolling the parkway. The thieves had to plant a new deodar and water it for a year.

So, next time you’re cruising Beaumont Avenue, take a moment and contemplate the evergreen tunnel that has withstood the test of time and inspired us all.

Marquis Moments

2010-08-25T11:46:00.000-07:00

If the old building could talk….what tales it would tell.

Today, the Beaumont Antique Mall, with its big façade and rounded, Quonset-shaped roof, sells the treasures of the past. But way back in the late 1930s, the homey building started out life as a movie house where the likes of Gary Cooper (“High Noon”) and Gene Autry (“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,”) showed up and signed autographs at hometown movie premieres in the Pass.

Glitz and glamour

It’s part of Beaumont’s “silver screen” past, a time when Hollywood came calling. Ida Mae James and C.L. “Jimmie” James arrived in town in 1937 and built a movie theater along old Highway 99. Today, the main drag through Beaumont is called Sixth Street. Their son, Brion James, who used to spend every night at his parent’s movie theater, dreamed of the day when he too would appear on the big screen. James went on to become a well-known Hollywood character actor. He appeared in more than 125 films during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s with the likes of Harrison Ford and Bruce Willis, most famously playing the character Leon Kowalski in “Blade Runner.”

“I play out negative fantasies for people,” he used to say about character acting and playing bad guys. “I’m the guy people love to hate. And they always remember the bad guy.”
Brion James, who also appeared in more than 100 television episodes ranging from the “Dukes of Hazzard” to “Dynasty,” died on August 11th, 1999.

Curtain call

Beaumont’s comfortable little movie theater eventually fell on hard times. Audiences loved paying a dime or a quarter to see 1940s hits like “Casablanca,” “Mrs. Miniver” and the wartime favorite, “Sergeant York.” For decades, when the house lights dimmed, Beaumont’s youngsters ducked down into their seats, munched popcorn and thrilled to the exploits of John Wayne in “Red River” (1948), and then a few years later to a new rebelliousness that swept America, as vividly portrayed in rock ‘n’ roll classics like “Rebel Without a Cause” starring James Dean (1955).

Coming attraction

By the late 1950s and early 1960s, Beaumont’s cinema days had passed. The building at 450 E. 6th St. became a roller rink, a motorcycle shop and finally an antique gallery. Today, only a few remnants survive of this town’s “picture palace” and its storied past. If you look up, you can see the carved, wooden door that once led to the projection room. On the second floor, right next to that door, a big hole still remains in the wall. It’s the spot where many a projectionist kept a nightly vigil to make sure those film reels kept spinning.

A long heritage

2010-08-02T13:36:00.001-07:00

“A great library contains the diary of the human race.”— Canadian geologist George Mercer Dawson (1849-1901)

How would you like to slip back in time and peek into the origins of the Beaumont Library? Well, you can do just that. At the library, hand-written letters dating to 1908 are now on display. With fountain pens, members of the local Woman’s Club wrote in a neat, precise slant and praised the Bank of Beaumont for setting aside a room for their books. But what they really longed for was a fitting library filled with the knowledge of the ages.

For a few years, the dream of these women would remain elusive. But in 1911, they successfully galvanized public support for an election that created the Beaumont Library District. In those days, only men could vote and final tally was 59 to 27.

In August, the Beaumont Library will officially begin a year-long centennial celebration that heralds the founding of the Beaumont Library District in 1911, said Library Director Clara DiFelice. The Woman’s Club had achieved what an early headline in the Gateway Gazette boldly predicted: “And that settles it! Beaumont women have started out for a library and they always get what they go after.”

Little things

The road to building Beaumont’s library would be long and winding. But the Beaumont Woman’s Club forged ahead and rallied townsfolk. Philanthropist Andrew Carnegie’s foundation also awarded a $10,000 grant for the library. In 1914, Beaumont built the library with its graceful Neo-classical architectural style at Eighth Street and California Avenue.

Beaumont had its own library building only two years after becoming a city. Just like libraries built by the steel magnate across the country, there was close attention to details. For example, original plans still on file for the Beaumont Library called for an umbrella rack with a copper drip pan. Those plans required a shelf for the Webster’s dictionary and a newspaper rack with room for 20 editions. The children’s round reading table was to be 51 inches in diameter and 22 inches high. And the librarian was to have a comfortable swivel desk chair.

Looking ahead

Carnegie might do a double take if he could see changes at the library—especially a very ambitious one in the making. Over the decades, the main library building has been expanded to make room for more books and a community room. A library once heated by chunks of burning coal now has the latest high speed Internet access. A few years ago, an elevator was installed to the second floor. And looking ahead four or five years, a big, new addition to the Beaumont Library will be built on a lot next door. It’s an eloquent tribute to a group of dedicated women who treasured books and a self-made tycoon, who steadfastly believed in the power of learning to change lives.

Chamber of Commerce Market Night

2010-07-13T11:35:00.000-07:00

Rootin’, Tootin’ Good!

Maybe you’re craving a sweet slice of cinnamon raisin bread with a nutty, whole grain taste. Perhaps you’ve got a hankering for two jumbo chili dogs. How about a Wild West old-fashioned soda flavored with black cherry or orange cream?

You and your neighbors in the San Gorgonio Pass can make new friends and pick up the latest bargains every Tuesday at Market Night. The event, which runs through August 17th, is sponsored by the Beaumont Chamber of Commerce. The good times at Noble Creek Community Park, 650 W. Oak Valley Parkway, run from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Carl Thornton and his daughter Natalie, 10, came from Cabazon for a recent Market Night. Thornton, with a bag of Kettle Corn in his hand, stood in line with his daughter, who had her eye on a fresh-whipped smoothie. A 1981 graduate of Beaumont High School, Thornton often runs into old friends at Market Night and looks forward to the spontaneous reunions.
“You find out what your friends have been up to,” he said. “And everyone is so friendly at Market Night. I would advise people to come check it out. It’s good family fun.”

Some browse a line-up of venders offering new purses, disappearing ink or Hi-Bounce Stretch Balls for baseball, basketball and soccer. Others check out booths with fresh, organic produce. Visitors to Market Night are serenaded by the Blues Deluxe band, which plays such all-time favorites as “Stormy Monday,” “Crossroads” and “Red House.”

As Market Night vendor and supporter David Grube says about his old-fashioned sodas, “It’s rootin’, tootin’ good!”

Silver Screen memories

2010-07-09T15:03:00.000-07:00

“Movies at the Park” harkens back to the good old days when people in Beaumont bundled up the family and headed for the Cherry Pass Drive-In. In the 1950s and 1960s, cars filled with kids in their pajamas headed for the tiny town’s favorite place for a night out. (The drive-in was located on a big patch of land where Stater Bros. and Applebee’s are now.)

Bundled up and ready to go

Mayor Brian De Forge remembers his mom and dad making popcorn, gathering up the family of seven and heading down Sixth Street to watch a movie under the stars. Often, they would spread a blanket out on the ground near a movie speaker. In those days, people would roll down their car window, remove a speaker from a pole, attach the speaker to the glass and adjust the volume. In the days of double features and cartoons, restless youngsters could scamper off to a swing set near the oversized screen and play. Eventually, the Cherry Pass Drive-In went the way of most drive-ins and was torn down as times changed.

Yesterday, once more!

That long-ago era of family fun still thrives in modern-day Beaumont. Every Tuesday night this summer through August 17th, the Beaumont-Cherry Valley Recreation and Park District presents “Movies in the Park” at Noble Creek Regional Park. On Tuesday, July 6th, the movie “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” delighted an audience of young and old in an amphitheater setting. The 2009 animated film is based on a beloved children’s book about the town of “Chewandswallow.” In the movie, a young inventor dreams of improving everyone’s life and finally food falls from the sky like rain. On next Tuesday, July 13th, the movie is “Blue Hawaii” starring Elvis Presley. After that, it’s back to cartoons.

So, if you’re looking for a fun way to spend an evening with the kids, the Beaumont Blogger recommends a starry night out at the movies. Bring a blanket and lawn chair and some marshmallows for roasting in the fire pit, and enjoy some old-fashioned fun for a new experience! The event is co-sponsored by ChurchForFamily in Beaumont. A $1 per family donation is requested.

Lonely Vigil

2010-06-30T09:41:00.000-07:00

Tattered and soot-stained from wartime, Old Glory keeps a lonely vigil inside a custom oak display case. The stars and stripes from World War II are located at the south entrance to the Beaumont Civic Center. Day after day, a procession files right past the flag, slowly and inexorably. They’re headed inside City Hall to pull a building permit, take out a business license or pay their sewer bill. But few know the true story behind the flag that flew proudly over the U.S.S. Beaumont while it gathered meteorological data, patrolled the sea lanes and supported land operations in the Pacific.

Proud legacy

The onetime yacht was pressed into duty during the war. Its polished, wooden decks bristled with .50-caliber guns instead of well-dressed passengers. During its many voyages, smokestacks on board belched thick, black smoke. Along the way, faint traces of gray soot coated the flag, which bore 48 stars that symbolized the number of states earlier in our history.

In 1946, only a year after the U.S. S. Beaumont ended wartime operations, the Navy wrote Beaumont officials asking whether they wanted to display the ship’s battle colors. City officials proudly accepted the offer and preparations got under way for displaying the flag. Ken Smith of Wildwood Cabinets made the custom display case, which came with wheels. Jerry Casey of Beaumont Glass got credit for the framing job. Sandi Miller of Miller Enterprises did the tapestry work. During the 1980s, the Exchange Club of the San Gorgonio Pass recognized those who helped make the exhibit possible. Inside the display case are black and white photos of the U.S.S. Beaumont and historical documentation about the ship’s role in WWII. On April 9, 1946, the 11th Naval District wrote to the city of Beaumont and saluted the U.S.S. Beaumont as a large gunboat that “carried the name of your city into battle in the war zones.”

Honoring the flag

So, the next time you’re in City Hall, please take a moment to glance at Old Glory. And with the Fourth of July coming up, let’s all pay tribute to a living symbol of Beaumont’s history—our stars and stripes forever!

The Right Combination

2010-06-29T12:37:00.000-07:00

The big vault door almost beckons as you walk into Beaumont Civic Center and spot the safe lodged in the north wall near the glass double doors. The combination dial and heavy metal door with gold leaf lettering bring to mind safecracking scenes from old Hollywood movies.
Have you ever wondered what’s inside the old Cary Safe and what’s it doing in the middle of a well-traveled public hallway? The dial is frozen, and the combination was lost decades ago. Even so, this is one safe that Geraldo Rivera won’t need to crack.

Mystery solved

This is a mystery with an answer. Geraldo, who came up nearly empty-handed years ago when he cracked Al Capone’s safe on live TV, would come up short again. Capone’s safe had some dirt and a few empty bottles; the safe inside the Civic Center is just the vault door. There is nothing behind it, except a small bit of wall space.

Few people know that little secret in small-town Beaumont, yet they keep trying in vain to open the safe; children and adults stop in the hallway, glance around, reach for the combination dial, tug on the handle, and hope for the best.

Unlocking history

Actually, Beaumont displays the door because it’s a piece of local history and a bit of Americana. The venerable Cary Safe Co. was located in Buffalo, N. Y. around 1900 and made safes for companies all across the country. Today, collecting, restoring and trying to open the old safes is a big hobby with a wide following on the Internet.

The history of this safe began in 1928 when today’s Civic Center opened as Beaumont High School. The plans included a very secure concrete vault room, further fortified by a heavy door manufactured by the Cary Safe Co. For decades, the vault room and its heavy door remained hidden away in the Finance Department. Several years ago during some remodeling, the vault room was torn out to create more work area. But city officials couldn’t part with the old safe door. So in keeping with a city that loves its past, Beaumont had the vault door displayed for everyone to see. When Beaumont celebrates its centennial in 2012, the old Cary Safe will be part of the many pieces of history that tell the story of our hometown.

Putting their stamp on Beaumont

2010-06-29T12:29:00.000-07:00

Beneath our feet is a marvelous piece of hometown history—that humble, well-trodden concrete sidewalk. Kids play on it and ride their bikes. Adults walk and jog on it for exercise. Fido tugs at his leash. But how often do we pause and appreciate our sidewalks? Sure, once in a while we sneak a peek when we hear the echo of that old saying: “Step on a crack, break your mother’s back!”

Now, if you’ve got a few moments and want to see how hard-working laborers put their “stamp” on our city decades ago, stroll on over to the Beaumont Unified School District’s headquarters (formerly Beaumont City Hall.) If you look at the sidewalks in front of 500 Grace Ave., you’ll see smooth concrete poured and floated during 1929—the same year the stock market crashed and America plunged into the Great Depression.

Today, more than 80 years later, you’ll see nary a crack or bulge in that concrete. The sidewalks have remained unscathed through decades of weather and spidery tree roots and generations of people scuffing their feet. Today, we admire such craftsmanship. And if we ever forget, those long ago artisans left us a little reminder etched deeply and proudly into the cement: “Osborn Company 1929 Contractor.”

By the way, do you know something about Osborn Company and the men who created those sidewalks? If you do, please contact the Beaumont Blogger and we’ll do a little more research.

Siren's Song

2010-06-29T12:27:00.000-07:00

The old air raid siren has been silenced by time and world events. It no longer sounds off with that eerie, haunting wail that once echoed throughout Beaumont during the 1950s and early 1960s. At the time, many across the country believed that blasts of the siren and “duck and cover” drills in school would save lives if the Russians launched a surprise nuclear attack.
But the Cuban Missile Crisis passed, test ban treaties were signed and the Cold War ended. The “all-clear” signal, however, didn’t mean the end of duty for a venerable air raid siren in a small town. Growing up in Beaumont, people knew it was lunch time when the siren went off at noon. For years, volunteer firefighters kept an ear out for distinctive tones that said, “Stop what you’re doing, and head for the station immediately.”

Silent vigil

But today, the siren’s wail has gone quiet, perhaps forever. Seemingly relentless woodpeckers have pockmarked every square inch of a pole that the almost forgotten siren rests upon. Today, families enjoying a quiet Sunday afternoon in the Stewart Park never even glance up and notice the siren. If they did, most would be puzzled. The solitary siren keeps a silent vigil of its own—a throwback to a bygone era.

Staying safe

The era of air raid sirens was also a time when some Americans built bomb shelters in their backyards, listened to transistors radios and watched black and white televisions. There was the persistent worry of a giant flash, a mushroom cloud and the end of the world. It was an age when youngsters wrapped their arms over their heads, coiled themselves under school desks, and turned away from windows. They were acting out what many had seen in a 1951 Civil Defense movie called “Duck and Cover.” It starred Bert the Turtle who saved himself when danger arrived by ducking inside his shell. Today, you can find Bert the Turtle on YouTube. And if you look up in Stewart Park, you will see an old guardian looking out over Beaumont.

Marking History

2010-06-29T12:25:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time in a small town, waist-high, concrete street markers with bold, black lettering pointed the way to the street where you lived and to your favorite mom-and-pop store. But over the decades, the stubby markers have gradually disappeared—replaced by modern, easier-to-read street signs with reflective lettering.

Some residents like Barbara Dwyer still love the quaint old-time street monuments. She’s lucky enough to still live on a corner with one. The marker sits along a dirt stretch of Cherry Avenue where it meets the paved Antonell Court. It’s imprinted with the word “Cherry” and below that in smaller, faded letters is “Ave.” Very little is known about the history of the few remaining markers left in town. But in Dwyer’s neighborhood, the markers probably go back at least a half-century like the homes.

“It’s kind of neat to have something from back in the old days,” Dwyer says. “We like it—even if most people don’t say much about it.”

Today, the street marker keeps a lonely vigil on the street corner. Cherry Valley resident Bruce Murrill works throughout Beaumont and often drives the city’s streets. During his travels, he’s seen three or four of the old markers. “I keep an eye out because they’re part of Beaumont’s history,” Murrill said. “I just kind of like them.”

If you have your own favorite old-time marker near where you live, have spotted one around town or know something about their history, make sure to email or write in and let the Beaumont Blogger know!

Buried Treasure

2010-06-29T11:49:00.000-07:00

Did the class of ’35 bury something beneath that patina-colored bronze cap or is the bronze cap simply a plaque left in commemoration by the students?

It’s been 75 years now.

At the front steps to what was once Beaumont High School (now the Beaumont Civic Center), the class from long ago left a “marker.” It reads simply, “35.”

Small-town mystery

We’ve all walked right past the marker while going about our business. For decades, a canopy of tall, stately deodar trees with feathery, outstretched branches has shielded the marker from nature’s elements.

But what (if anything) did the class of 1935 put away for some future generation to rediscover? Graduates from that class would now be in their 90s.

Back in the 1930s, the approximately 150 students at Beaumont High made their own fun. They tried to catch a greased pig at the Cherry Festival. They watched hometown farmers pit their finest draft teams against one another in pulling contests. Before a big game with Banning High School, Beaumont students would light a flaming, celebratory bonfire fueled mostly by abandoned outhouses. Girls would sell lilac blossoms along Highway 99 (now Sixth Street) for 50 cents a bunch. Wendell Wallace, from Beaumont High School’s class of 1938, remembers crowds of teenagers hanging out at the Standard station hoping to catch a glimpse of movie stars in fancy cars on their way home from Palm Springs.

Long ago secret

But there’s still the nagging mystery about what the classmates of ‘35 had in mind when they cemented that marker solidly into the ground. They weren’t the first graduating class. A plaque on the front wall proudly proclaims that Beaumont High was “erected in A.D. 1928.”

Did the class of ‘35 bury newspaper clippings, photographs or maybe some quaint souvenirs of small-town life? Seventy-five years later, should we let the past stay buried for others to discover in some distant time, or should we open a window to the past? Perhaps sometimes it’s best to let the mystery live on, so that we can always wonder what might be there as we walk near those steps in front of the Civic Center.