Being part of the Trona Centennial Celebration was like going home for both Andy and I. Memories on top of memories, meeting friends we hadn’t seen for . . .well, years and years.
To read more about what the Washburn brothers had to say about their visit to Trona go to: The Brothers Washburn: Happy Birthday Trona
Linda Monroe sent me this picture of the bronze plaque Jess Dominguez created for the centennial and of the dedication ceremony for the plaque. Jess did a great job with the plaque and Linda took some great photos of it. Thanks for sharing Linda.
I have meet a lot of lawyers who work on social and economic justice issues but have never met one quite like Paul Henry Abram. I look forward to his visit to Fresno on Friday, when he will appear in a benefit for listener sponsored radio station KFCF (see details below). Abram has written an extraordinary account of his experience representing the union members in ILWU local 35 who were on strike in Trona Ca in 1970. Most lawyers are more cautious (some would say conservative) than the activists they represent, but Abram gains the trust of the workers by being as militant as they are and willing to share the risks needed to win.
In the first couple of days after Abram arrives in Trona, he describes scenes that are neither conservative or nonviolent. The subtitle of the book is “A Revolution in Microcosm.” The strike against the Kerr-McGee plant in the Mohave Desert saw the workers and their legal counsel cutting electrical power to the plant, dynamiting communications systems, and “kidnapping” scab employees. I kept thinking, as I read these accounts, that it is good the statute of limitations has expired on these remarkable actions. The kidnapping charges, which Abram claims were all a big misunderstanding, were resolved in court – you will have to read the book to see what the judge and jury decided. To read the complete review go to: Trona, Bloody Trona A book review by Mike Rhodes
Since Trona is essentially a company town for the Searles Valley Minerals operation, which harvests minerals from Searles Dry Lake and processes them at three local plants, no visit to Trona would be complete without a tour of one of the plants.
To read the rest of this photo essay by Sandi Hemmerlein go to Photo Essay: Searles Valley Minerals Plant Tour, Trona
Sandi Hemmerlein created a great photo essay about the Argus Cemetery to see the whole essay go to : Photo Essay: Argus Cemetery, Upon the Trona Centennial
I have just learned from David’s sister, Bonnie, that my longtime neighbor and childhood friend, David Mock, passed away on October 4, 2013. Bonnie, his sister, said that the muscular dystrophy (MD) pain was getting to him and he was in a great deal of pain that not even the medication could relieve.
This is corrects an earlier error about his death date and sadly, an admission that I don’t take the time to read things very well.
Pat Stevens, Jim Ewing, Patty Hess, Betty Dilbeck, Larry Knowles, Sylvia Chavarria
This is the class of 1953’s 50th reunion held in 2003. Jim Ewing died in March of 2012.
Phyllis Jean (Dilbeck) Lang 12/06/1930 – 02/28/2005
Mom,
Dad has turned over the responsibility for our annual recognition to the family, and I (Lori), being the oldest by nine minutes, have been given the honor this year. Mom, There’s not a day goes by that I don’t remember a moment we’ve shared, even if it was me being rebellious. Last week, I stopped to get Dad and I lunch; Long John Silvers was my choice. All I could remember was all the Long John Silvers’ lunches we shared, not to mention the late night bologna and tomato sandwiches we enjoyed together. Mom, the memories are endless and so is the love I feel for you each & every day.
Love,
Lori and Family.
Longtime Trona resident Fred Keith Reeves died Monday, June 17 at his home in Trona. He was 61.
Visitation will be held from 5 pm to 8 pm on Thursday at Holland & Lyons in Trona. Funeral services will be held at 9 am on Friday, June 21, at Church of Christ in Ridgecrest. Fred Smith will officiate. Interment will be at Searles Valley Cemetery in Trona. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made in his name to the Trona Senior Citizens or the Trona Historical Society.
Mr. Reeves was born Oct. 26, 1940 in Tomahawk, Ark. and had been a resident of Trona since 1941. He retired in 1991 from employment as a transportation specialist with Trona Railway Company.
His family says this about him: “Fred passed away after an illness with cancer. He lived a happy and productive life in Trona as a railway superintendent and after retirement became president of Searles Valley Cemetery in Trona.
“He enjoyed sports, camping, traveling and fishing. He was an active member of the Church of Christ. He was a loving husband, father, son, brother, uncle and grandfather.”
Mr. Reeves is survived by his wife Carol L. Reeves of Trona, daughter and son-in-law Kelly and Randy Ray of Ridgecrest; daughter Terry Pounds of Ridgecrest; daughter and son-in-law Mona and Darris Castleberry of Inyokern; grandchildren Crystal Pounds, Charlotte Pounds, Brooks Talley, Terrel Castleberry and Carrena Castleberry; mother Mary Reeves of Trona; sister Charlotte Biggs of Bremerton, Wash. sister Mary (Janie) McCord of Ridgecrest; brother Mike Reeves of Ridgecrest; brothers Rodger Reeves and Terry Reeves both of Las Vegas, Nev., and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father Leon Reeves, sons Ricky Stockdale and Brian Reeves and sister Linda Carr.
Holland & Lyons Mortuary is assisting the family with arrangements.
Daily Independent newspaper Ridgecrest Ca Kern County
June 18, 2002
FRED KEITH REEVES
Former Trona resident Barbara Corrion Sherman died in her sleep of a cerebral hemorrhage on Sunday July 29 in her Santa Barbara home. She was 62. A Mass of Burial will be held at St. Madeleine Catholic Church in Trona at 9 am on August 4, followed by the burial at the Searles Valley Cemetery.
Barbara was born on December 28, 1938, in Detroit, Michigan, the first child of Maurice and Phillis Dill Corrion. The family moved to Trona in 1947 to join Phyllis’ parents Frederick and Amy Dill. Barbara attended the Trona Unified School from second grade until she graduated in 1957. She graduated from San Jose State College in 1961 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education.
Barbara married Trona resident George Sherman in San Jose in 1959; they raised five children and were divorced in Santa Barbara in 1987. The family relocated several times, living for a few years in Savannah, Ga, Culver City, Ca, Rochester, N.Y., Lexington, Mass., and Ridgefield, Conn. They settled in Santa Barbara in 1983 where Barbara lived the rest of her life. After graduating from San Jose State College, she taught in elementary schools for eight years until she retired to become a full-time homemaker in 1969.
She worked in the healthcare field for several years in Santa Barbara and most recently has been working at Magellan’s Travel Supplies.
Barbara is survived by her life partner Stephen Keating, brother Gregory Corrion, sister Jennifer Corrion Smith, ex-husband George Sherman, daughter Rebecca Sherman Harmon, daughter Laura Sherman Wilkinson, son Wayne Sherman Middleton, daughter Alison Sherman, and five grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests remembrances in her honor be sent to the Searles Valley Cemetery Association, 13772 Elm St., Trona, CA 93593-2336, or the Trona Senior Center Club, 13187 Market Street, Trona CA 93592.
Daily Independent Newspaper Ridgecrest CA Kern County
August 2, 2001
BARBARA CORRION SHERMAN