A Drink of History in Beaumont

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

“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

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

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

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!