The Ventura Gem & Mineral Society, Inc. (VGMS)
People and Personal Trips 1998 Archive.
Table of Contents.
January.
VERY SPECIAL "FOSSILS" OF VENTURA GEM AND MINERAL SOCIETY!!
Art Holloway.
Art Holloway is known to most Ventura Gem and Mineral members because he is warm, friendly, enthusiastic, and willing to volunteer for jobs that benefit our club. Art has been a member of VGMS since the early 1970's. He and his wife Fran retired to the Qjai Valley from Los Angeles and together with the help of their son Fred and a few contractors built their dream home on over an acre on McNell Road. After Fran passed away, Art met and married Sharlyne Amet.
Art was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada on August 13, 1912. He has written his own autobiography entitled "My Story". A copy of this will be placed in the VGMS library. Following is a brief synopsis.
Art's parents, both natives of England decided to move to L. A. from Canada when Art was nearly twelve.
Art tells of a childhood marked by many friends and exciting firsts from his first fishing trip off the Redondo Pier catching a halibut, to going from roller skates that cost $2.25 a pair to his first bicycle at age 13.
When Art was 18 years old he bought a fruit and vegetable route and truck. This was a chance for Art to earn money during the Great Depression. He went to the wholesale market and sold produce door to door.
Art gave up this business shortly after meeting Fran. He worked at different jobs during the depression; making sash and doors at a mill for $14.00 a week, then a battery factory pouring molten lead into a mold to make battery plates, then to Hostess Bakery where his job began at 3 A.M. and finally to Kolb's Bakery on a retail route where a loaf of bread cost 10 cents, pies 25 cents, cakes 25 cents. "It took a lot of selling to make $20.00 a week income", Art wrote.
Ultimately Art became a model maker for Douglas Aircraft. He traveled to wind tunnels all over the U.S. testing models of future aircraft. He and a partner, working under top security made the first mock up of a jet engine.
Fran and Art have two children; Fred and Barbara. Through the years the family shared many happy times working and playing together.
Fran and Art retired to Ojai in 1973. Before retirement, they had been active with the Northrup Gem and Mineral Society for a few years and now enthusiastically joined the VGMS.
They brought their special skills into use for the construction and set up of the new museum at Crooked Palm Road. Art held the position of field trip chairman for many years and coined the phrase "Field Trips Are Fun". He compiled a case, currently in the museum, showing beautiful rock samples that he and Fran self collected.
Everywhere the couple went they would pick up rocks as souvenirs. This lead to the fabulous state rock display in our museum. Art used his old 'produce huckster' talents to obtain, through friendship and trade, each of the rocks in this display.
After Fran passed away Art met Sharlyne Amet. They were married in June 1995. Sharlyne and Art are a perfect match. They both share a love of rocks and a commitment to the VGMS. Sharlyne has generously served as membership Chairwoman and as our extremely competent treasurer. Her smile is legendary.
In the brief few years these two have been together, they have blended their two families in harmony. They have gone on trips to Europe and many other places with more energy than people half their age. They have continued Art's tradition of annual trips to Quartzite. More importantly they continue to make more and more new friends. Their home is always welcoming.
Art Holloway has lived the American dream and he has done this with a positive outlook, hard work, humor and most importantly he never fails to show his appreciation for those he likes and loves.
Art was recently diagnosed with Lymphoma. His doctors are predicting a complete recovery. This is happy news for all of us in the VGMS who know and love him.
A reprint from Rockhound Rambling May 1984 Written by Art Holloway: "Field Trips Are Fun".
Having been on field trips for several years and having been field trip chairman numerous times, it's easy to realize this type of activity is the glue that holds gem and mineral clubs together.
Sure, you try to find the particular gem, stone, or fossil in a designated area, but the real fun is the companionship created by a group of people, some that have never met before, that have come to a pre-arranged meeting place to look for and discuss what material is good and what is a "Leaverite". I have found a good rule is what you like is good. Some collectors are purists, taking only the best, others are attracted to a pretty, shiny, rock. It you like it, keep it.
After a day of digging, exploring, and just enjoying the great out-of-doors, it's time to get together for a good dinner, maybe with two or three friends or a pot luck with the group and then assemble around a camp fire or crowd into the largest R.V. and tell stories, sing songs, or listen to the one or two in the group that have brought a musical instrument.
After a few field trips, one finds his list of friends has increased greatly, some for a life time, and he has added treasures to bring home. As these treasures increase and are hi-graded, sorted and picked over, don't throw away what is left--take a box or bag full on the next field trip and leave it on the desert or any collecting area; maybe some future collector will treasure your discards like you once did.
To those who have never ventured out, the next time your club has a field trip don't say, "I wouldn't know what to look for", there is always someone that will help you find just the right thing. Don't say, "It's too costly", it may be less expensive than staying home. Don't say, "We don't have the time", make the time for a great experience.
Try a field trip once and you will find it's the most friendly therapy there is. Yes, "FIELD TRIPS ARE FUN!"
Contributed by Inez Shakman,
Historian.
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Table of Contents.
February.
THANK YOU BRUNO & OPAL.
Thank you for sharing your "Time, Talent & Treasures" with members of the VGMS. Your knowledge and gift of fossils have left a lasting "Impression" on all of us.
Steve & Susan Mulqueen.
(Ed - We all second that!!)
Table of Contents.
VERY SPECIAL "FOSSILS" OF VENTURA GEM AND MINERAL SOCIETY!!
Bruno and Opal Benson.
Bruno and Opal Benson are our longest and, perhaps, our most treasured members. They joined the Ventura Gem and Mineral Society in the early 1950's.
Bruno came to California from Minneapolis, Minn., when he was 12 years old. His parents were followers of the philosopher Krishnamurti and were called theosophists. Ahead of their time, they arrived in the Ojai valley a few years before thousands more came to the valley forming a huge tent city on Krotona Hill. At first Bruno's family rented an Ojai house, but a year later, his father built the home Bruno and Opal live in today.
Occasionally Bruno's parents would go to L.A. where they would drop Bruno off for the day to dig at the La Brea tar pits. Later his father built him his "first museum" a simple lean-to in the family backyard. His parents clearly valued their children and encouraged them to pursue their interests. Bruno has a sister, Lillian Greene, who runs Turtle Town, a five acre refuge for ordinary and exotic turtles. She conducts field trips for school children just as Bruno conducts them for our earth science museum.
Bruno made a living as a heavy equipment operator driving a roller, skip loader and finally a crane. Eventually he owned his own crane business for 12 years.
After high school, Bruno continued his education by reading and searching for fossils. Bruno attended Ventura college for thirty five years, taking any course that interested him including: lapidary, Blow pipe analysis, mineralogy, and geology as well as non-geology courses in photography, welding, and machine shop. Not surprisingly, Opal sat in on most of these classes.
Opal is a native Californian born in Santa Ana. She was one of four children. It wasn't difficult for Opal to understand Bruno's livelihood as a heavy equipment operator because her father was also in that profession. He helped build Balboa Island. Using a fresno scraper drawn by horses he moved earth and rock to help form the foundation of the island. Later he supported his family as a professional house mover. Besides this, he owned the first car in Santa Ana! It had no steering wheel just a stick.
Bruno and Opal had four children; three daughters and a son. Family love is evident throughout their home. An entire wall is devoted to pictures of their children, their 14 grandchildren and l4 great grandchildren. Many of-these grandchildren and great grandchildren have 1ived with Opal and Bruno from time to time. (In fact, not long ago, Opal was chosen by her church as mother of the year.) The two cutest pictures on the wall are those of Bruno and Opal doing gymnastic tricks. One is on a giant innertube that Bruno calls his "trampoline" and the other is of Opal standing on Bruno's shoulders.
Bruno later became an expert on micro fossils and has, on occasion, been called to educate professors and museum curators about them. He once wrote a column for the magazine Gems and Minerals called "Whats new in Fossils". Bruno's love of fossils has given us a huge part of our Ventura Gem and Mineral Museum with his dinosaur petting zoo, great self collected fossils, educational displays, and more.
When Bruno married Opal she had no interest in fossils but she grew to love minerals and petrified wood. They traveled often in search of all three. Bruno said that for years he was given one weeks' paid vacation but he and Opal would take 4 or 5 weeks in addition to "really pursue their interests". They counciled their family to enjoy life but to work hard as well. They have many wonderful stories from their rock pursuits.
Both Bruno and Opal are small in stature but it never stopped them! They struggled once with 6 huge ammonite fossils (sea snails the size of people); first to free them from their matrixes, and then to use them as seats in their camper because they were so big.
In their youth Bruno called Opal his Fire Opal because she had a quick temper. Once, angry at her broken sewing machine Opal reached her end and tossed the machine out the second floor window. Luckily Bruno caught it "on its way out the window". Opal was a serious seamstress making all the family's clothes for years. She missed only one of Bruno's V.C. classes when she took a course on tailoring. Another "fire moment" happened when the wringer on the washing machine failed. She gave it giant kick sending it down the hallway and straight out the back door. (Bruno bought her new machines on both occasions.) Opal still has great strength and fire. At their recent rock sale she lifted a 30 pound garden rock she'd sold and pushed another into the empty spot refusing to wait for help.
Opal, like rockhounds everywhere, endured much in pursuit of her hobby. Once, in Bisbee, Arizona a city built on hills, Opal climbed two flights of stairs to check out a place advertising minerals for sale. Bruno waited in the car. When Opal reached the top landing she found herself face to face with a vicious dog who snarled and leaped at her. She made the split second decision to leap off the balcony. Bruno, sitting in the car, suddenly saw her sail off the second story balcony in a seated position backwards. He tells about this vision while chuckling. Opal sustained a mild sprain to a little finger and that was all! Bruno believes she was saved because the building was on a hill. "She kind of rolled," he said mischievously. "She went right back upstairs to check out the minerals" he said, "once the store owner had control of the dog of course."
Bruno suffered a devastating stroke when he was 54 years old. Doctors believed it happened because he worked 4 months straight, seven days a week from sun up to sun down operating a crane to repair Santa Paula bridges that were damaged in the floods of 1969. This stroke left him unable to speak or walk. For two long years Opal struggled to help him and Bruno struggled to help himself. One day Bruno was trying to button his shirt and Opal reached to help him. Bruno said "Leave me alone!" They looked at each other and then just held each other and cried with happiness. Bruno had finally uttered his first words.
Bruno and Opal have been active members of both our club and the Federation. They have created earth science educational cases for local classrooms, club programs, served refreshments for years and happily volunteered whenever they were needed. They have served in just about every capacity in our club. If all that isn't enough, they're also active in their church and they both volunteer for the charity Food Share.
Opal and Bruno are also artists though I'm sure they will both deny such talent. Opal has made exquisite clocks and bookends from some of the petrified wood and minerals she's collected. Bruno is very artistic too. Opal casually mentioned that she once packed a peach in Bruno's lunch nearly every day. Bruno would return from work and bestow on her something he whittled from a peach pit that day.
"If you can guess what this is", he would say, "then you can have it." She only failed to guess correctly once. "It was," Bruno said, "a portrait of myself in New York City, looking up at the tall buildings." This pit carving did look exact1y like people look with their eyes all goggled and mouths shaped like O's. Opal still keeps these peach pit creations in a special box. Every one of these carved animals is beautifully rendered, and all of them have a touch of whimsy.
Bruno's knowledge of geology is vast, his patience wonderful and his sense of humor is the best. He always makes us laugh and he is always approachable.
Opal is still his "Fire Opal" though he insists she is now his "Calm on Opal." She is just as intelligent in her way as Bruno is in his. Opal is sparkily, highly perceptive, warm, funny, shy sometimes, modest always, and just a total delight to those who know her.
It is clear that the Ventura Gem and Mineral Society is blessed to have them with us all these years.
Contributed by Inez Shakman,
Historian.
Table of Contents.
GEOLOGICAL TIME - The Ventura Gem and Mineral Historian's Column, February 1998. (From Rockhound Rambling Dec. 1957.)
Hi frens,
Ever sence I rote to ya last month me an Ol' Liz been follerin those same two rockhouns down in Mexico. Ben kinda interestin too--like the time the lady rockhoun bent over with a cactus too close in back of her. She yelled so loud her husband thought a bear or somthin wuz after her. He came to her rescue and it wuz purty funny him havin to use a pair of pliers to seperate vegetation. She did mostly standin fer quite a spell.
Anuther time he takes her out in a boat an she wuzn't too happy when a whale came swimmin over to investigate there boat.
They witnessed a wonce in a lif-time scene wen they were watchin a pelican scoop up fish in his pouch. When he got it full of fish another pelican dived down to steal the fish. His bill went rite thru the other pelican's pouch an they proceeded to reely git tangled up. It took both the rockhoun man and woman to git them untangled. They didn't have no needle an thread to sew up the one whose pouch was slit so they kinda worry for fear he can't catch anymore fish. We follered them cleer back to the U.S.A. and they reely had a nice trip (the rockhouns not the pelicans).
Now me an Ol' Liz is biddin ya a fond fairwell as we won't be follerin rockhouns no more but will jes be settin in the sun. It's ben nice ritin to ya weather ya ever red what we rote or not.
yer frens,
Ol' Liz and Ol' Horn Tode.
Historian's Note: It's ben 40 years since Ol' Liz and Ol' Horn Tode stopped writin their poplar colum for the VGMS bulletin, Rockhound Rambling. Ol' Liz and Ol' Horn Tode never did jes set in the sun. They dont foller rockhouns no more cuz the rockhouns purty much come to them with all kindsa questions about where thins ar found and what thar called. Ol' Liz and Ol' Horn Tode had a big sale jeslast month in Meiners Oaks that wer a 'coomalation' of rocks and fossils they done persnully found.
Inez Shakman,
Historian.
Table of Contents.
March.
GEOLOGICAL TIME - The Ventura Gem and Mineral Historian's Column, March 1998.
Ray and Florence Meisenheimer.
Ray and Florence Meisenheimer joined the Ventura Gem and Mineral Society during the club show in 1968. Florence had been busy working, and raising two daughters and a son. Her extra-curricular activities almost exclusively centered around her children taking them to dance classes, and scouting events. At the same time Ray was also active in scouting, bowling, and extremely active in the Elks Club. Florence felt they didn't have enough "together time". After attending the 1968 show she thought that this was something they could have a lot of fun doing together. This month marks their 30th anniversary with the VGMS. They have had lots of fun, met many wonderful people, and learned an enormous amount about rocks and minerals.
Ray and Florence came a long way to Ventura. Ray was born in Centralia, a rural community in southern Illinois. He was one of seven children and the eldest son.
Florence was born in eastern Montana and lived on a farm near Terry, Montana, all her growing up years. "Life was hard but we didn't know it then." she says. She remembers that her seven brothers and sisters were all given chores to do when they turned six years old. She also remembers no dissension among the siblings. "When the hay needed attention some of us would pitch it while others stacked it up and everyone did their fair share."
"This part of Montana isn't mountainous, just hilly. In the creeks and draws where the water source was located cottonwoods would grow but nowhere else. In the fall the cottonwoods would turn a brilliant yellow and last a month or more unless hit with an early frost which usually came in late October." Interestingly, Florence is an identical twin. Her twin's name is Grace. They were named after relatives but Florence no longer remembers which ones.
When Florence and Grace finished school in Montana they both attended Nursing school in Boise, Idaho. There in 1941, Florence met Ray who was a G I in the Air Force stationed in Boise. Together they have two daughters and a son and one grandson, Joshua Meisenheimer, who is currently attending one of the best mechanical schools in the country located in Phoenix, Arizona.
Once Ray and Florence became involved in the Ventura Gem and Mineral Society they went on to accomplish a great deal over the last thirty years. Florence and Ray have helped make this club what it is today. On a much larger scale they have also helped make the California Federation of Mineralogical Societies (CFMS) what it is today. Florence and Ray have put together this list of their activities over the last thirty years:
1969: They. were host and hostess, of our annual. show, greeting members and guests and providing refreshments.
1969: They participated in the plans and meetings held by VGMS to host the 1971 CFMS show. These meetings occurred over a two year period.
1971: At that time the '71 CFMS show, held in Ventura, was considered one of the best (shows). To this date, no show has had more competitive exhibitors. Ray's job during the show was preparing ham and turkey dinners. Opal Benson's small trailer was just outside, where she baked pies, one batch after another to sell. One pie never made it to the guests--Ray and Dorr Thayer ate it! These dinners made over $5,000 for the club. The Breton and Meisenheimer kids manned the hot dog, hamburger and ice cream booths. Florence (a registered nurse) was stuck away in a quiet corner with oxygen bottles, sterile bandages, aspirin, and a wheel chair. No one came. "They were having a great time at the show".
1974: After an industrial accident and a long hot summer in a body cast, Ray was retired by his company. His activities were limited for some time.
1975: Ray was elected club Federation Director.
1977: Florence retired this year and took over, from Opal Benson, the job of putting together the club case. The Meisenheimers visited from 12 to 15 shows a year with their case and the club case. Florence also took over the job of handling guest exhibitors and demonstrators for the annual show.
1979: Ray served as Assistant Show Coordinator in Sacramento for CFMS.
Ray and Florence talked our club members into wearing club vests, "as it seemed more professional".
For ten years Ray and Florence put an exhibit in a bank, library or museum during the month of February to advertise our show.
1980: Ray served as the CFMS Show Coordinator for the Pasadena Show.
1981: Ray served as Physical Arrangements Coordinator for the CFMS show in Anaheim.
1985: Ray served as CFMS Show Coordinator for the show hosted by the Conejo club and held at the Ventura County Fairgrounds.
1986: Ray served as Show Coordinator for the CFMS show held at Orange County Fairgrounds.
1988: Florence and Ray joined the staff of CFMS Earth Science Studies.
1990: Ray was Dealer Chairman for the AFMS/CFMS show in Ventura.
1991: Ray and Florence helped set up the Gull Wings Museum (a museum for children) in Oxnard. A number of minerals and some petrified wood were donated.
1991: Ray received the CFMS "Education Through Sharing" Award. It was presented to him at the show banquet in San Jose.
1991: Ray was elected one of three California directors to ALAA (American Lands Access Association). He was appointed at the AFMS/CFMS show in Florida.
1992: Ray and Florence were selected honorees for the CFMS scholarship award, allowing them to choose the institution that would receive the CFMS scholarship money. They chose University of California at Santa Barbara.
1993: Ray and Florence received the CFMS Golden Bear Award (the highest honor given, by CFMS, for service.
1994: Ray served as CFMS show consultant and again in 1995.
1996: Ray served as show Coordinator for the AFMS/CFMS show held in Riverside.
l997-l998: Ray is on the CFMS Golden Bear Committee.
Ray has held many offices in VGMS. He has been president six times, parliamentarian, federation director, show chairman many times, scholarship steering committee, treasurer, field trip chairman, and museum assistant from the time the museum opened until today. He was dealer chairman for our shows for 17 years. (From what I hear Ray and Florence also turned out a lot of VGMS breakfasts and BBQ's single handedly.)
Florence was hostess, hospitality and publicity chairwoman for a number of years, editor of the Bulletin for 3 years, guest exhibitor chairman 19 years, grab bag and kids booth 15 years, as well as Federation Director for a number of years including this year 1998.
Florence and Ray have much knowledge that club members can enjoy. If you are interested in becoming involved in the California Federation, there are many jobs available. See Florence or Ray and they will help you get started. Florence and Ray are extremely knowledgeable about how to put show cases together for exhibition or competition. They recently showed a group of our members the do's and dont's of case lining, mineral positioning for artistic display and answered other questions as well. They are also very knowledgeable about minerals, their values, properties, lapidary needs, etc. So seek them out and chances are they will have an answer for your difficult question or they will know how to get it for you.
Thank you, Florence and.Ray, for all you have done, and all you continue to, do for the Ventura Gem and Mineral Society.
Contributed by Inez Shakman,
Historian.
Table of Contents.
April.
"A ROCKHOUND ANNIVERSARY".
Greg and Valli Davis celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary March 16th.
It all started 25 years ago. We didn't have much money, Hawaii would have to wait and so for our Honeymoon, we went to Palm Desert (Couldn't afford Palm Springs!) and hunted colorful rocks in the wash. Being enrolled in a geology class at Ventura College, this type of trip interested both of us.
Well, 25 years later, I was surprised when non-rockhound friends chuckled at my anniversary gift to my wife - her very own new, shiny rock hammer and a trip to the desert to use it! I know that all of you will certainly understand such a gift as being perfectly appropriate for this occasion, and Valli did too.
Maybe I've always been overly practical!
Hope everyone comments on her lovely anniversary gift while at Afton!
Greg Davis,
Field Trip Chairperson.
(Ed. Note: I was at Afton and Valli was just more than hammering away at the canyon walls! She was thoroughly enjoying it as everyone did. It was a great field trip. Good job Greg!)
Table of Contents.
May.
PREHISTORIC JOURNEYS - APRIL & BARRY JAMES UPDATE.
Opal and Bruno Benson received a wonderful, poetic, three-page letter from friends April and Barry James who moved from California to their "Enchanted Farm" in Sunbury, Pennsylvania, just over a year ago. Bruno asked me to summarize the letter so all April and Barry's friends will be brought up to date.
"The Enchanted Farm" is just 3 miles from town, they see no other houses and get very little traffic. Although they are "dazzled by the farm and enthralled with the complexities of the wildlife," the seclusion makes memories of friends all the more special and comforting. They report that things are going well. They've spent most of the last year repairing, replacing and remodeling almost everything in the house, putting in new windows and doors, exterior siding, rewiring the electrical system, and many more projects. They are glad to be rid of the "Pepto-pink" walls. Most all their 800+ boxes and crates are unpacked and collections have been established throughout the house and spill out into the barn and greenhouse.
April and Barry are enjoying the changing seasons. Macro-photography and identification, pressing and framing wildflowers and other botanical wonders, inspecting insects with a close up lens, as well as collecting antique farm tools/equipment and civil war-era items, are just a few of the ways they spend their hours. Their paleo work continues--Giganotosaurus #3 for the museum in Portugal is in the barn. The second one went to the Natural Science Museum in Houston and they have one coming up for Japan. "Still the major thrill was mounting the very first one last summer for The Academy of Natural Science in Philadelphia was like winning the Olympic Gold!!!" The extensive media coverage continues with a picture and article in the March 22 Philadelphia Inquirer. I'm sure Bruno and Opal will be happy to share the special pull-out section of the newspaper which April and Barry sent along with their letter.
They are also in negotiation with Clyde Peeling, owner of nearby Reptiland and frequent guest of The Tonight Show with his monstrous reptiles, on a joint venture for the opening of a museum. They estimate it will take about a year to finish mounting the skeletons and preparing the displays and will keep us posted.
April and Barry report that the six cockatiels are doing well. They've adopted several other pets and are looking forward to acquiring a few goats, a donkey and some geese.
They're very pleased that Catherine was accepted to the undergraduate program at Bloomsburg University about 20 minutes north so she'll be joining them in September. Soon they will have the whole family in Pennsylvania.
The antique shops and auctions are favorite spots for April and Barry and the prices are right! From silver service for 8 in the original box for $5 or a stunning 19-room late Victorian mansion with huge carriage quarters and three-stall garage for $118,000, the bargains abound. Incidentally, the home will be turned into a B & B by the new owners.
Studying the songs and nesting habits of birds that migrate in and out of Barry's customized bird/animal feeding stations and watching the thicket every morning for signs of rabbit, woodchuck and deer families are a joy and an education. The sunsets rival those of Hawaii.
Sound like they should write a book? Well there's one in the works. For those of you who know April and Barry and would like to take the time to read their letter it would be very worthwhile. Opal and Bruno, I feel I've hardly done it justice but I've given it my best shot.
Submitted by Greg and Valli Davis,
for Bruno and Opal Benson.
Table of Contents.
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