3rd Stock Certificate Being Acquired - Dated May 12, 1914

Friends of the SALT TRAM

www.facebook.com/SalineValleySaltTram

SalineValleySaltTram@gmail.com

www.SaltTram.blogspot.com 

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Update: Tim donated the May 12, 1914 Stock Certificate to the Eastern California Museum on March 16, 2014. Also donated to the Museum was the 1912 Report to Salt Co. Shareholders that you can read about by clicking here. Thanks to Roberta, Jon, and Heather for all their guidance and general wonderfulness in dealing with "All Things Salt Tram". A photo from the donation:

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Update: In order to acquire this stock certificate, we set up the "Friends of the Salt Tram" through the "Friends of the Eastern California Museum". A hearty thanks to Rich White and Elaine Delaney from the FECM group for assisting with this.

We collected $800.00 even for acquiring Salt Tram items, and spent $250 to buy this stock certificate, leaving $550 in the account for future acquisitions. Thanks to all those who contributed. Below is the stock certificate after Tim spent a few hours of photoshop time cleaning it up a bit. This stock certificate can be purchased elsewhere on this website.

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Update March 29, 2014: While getting ready to do my taxes, I found an envelope that this May 1914 Stock Certificate came in, and was about to throw it away...when, it seemed a little bit...stiff. Fishing around, I found a letter written by Mrs. Dale Marshall (Wayne Marshall's mother, I presume). Way back in 1968, she was inquiring with the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce (and later, the Arizona Corporation Commission) regarding the status of "The Saline Valley Salt Company". Click to enlarge.

It appears that Mrs. Marshall may have believed that the stock certificate could have some value, and without the benefit of the internet, had no idea that it had ceased to exist as a corporate entity long ago. Thanks to Wayne Marshall for both keeping this letter all these years (about 47 years!), but also forwarding it along with the stock certificate.

I shall mail it to Roberta Harlan at the Eastern California Museum so that this letter can live in the same folder as the one where Mrs. Marshall's stock certificate of dubious value resides. They will be reunited for a bit more time.

Apparently, Mrs. Marshall mailed an inquiry to the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce:

And received the reply that she would have to send a buck (yep - un dollare) to the Arizona Corporation Commission who would follow up on her request. There is no sign that she ever mailed in that buck, or got a report back from the Arizona bureaucracy in question. A final image for the ages:

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Update March 10, 2014: While photoshopping the stock certificate to get it ready for printing, I discovered some "secret writing" buried in the document. Close examination under a magnifying glass indicated that it said "A. Carlisle & Co. S. F.". Look carefully at the image below - can you find it? Click to enlarge.

Enter Google. A google search revealed it to be the "A. Carlisle & Co." of San Francisco. You can read all about the companies history by clicking here. Here's a brief except from the above link to A. Carlisle & Co of San Francisco:

"A. Carlisle and Company of Nevada got a start in stationery in the Gold Rush Days. By the year 1852, it was already apparent to thousands of fortune-seekers that the treasure of California’s Mother Lode just wasn’t juicy enough to go ’round. Shrewd men and talented men from all parts of the world accepted this bitter fact and turned to other pursuits, finding fortune or fame in California without the help of gold. One so fated was a New York lithographer named Joseph Britton, who in 1852 traded his pick and pan for tools he was better acquainted with and teamed up with a French artist named Jacques Rey, to start a lithographic business in San Francisco. 

Their business was purchased in 1916 by the San Francisco firm of A. Carlisle & Co., Printers & Stationers, and they are therefore regarded as the company’s earliest operating ancestors. A. Carlisle & Co. started in 1878 when a youngster from Maryland named Albert Carlisle went into business for himself at 212 Battery Street, San Francisco, selling stationery supplies."

The bottom line is that this stock certificate art was done by A. Carlisle & Co. before it merged with the lithographers Britton and Rey. It is clear from a close-up examination of the stock certificate that it was drawn by hand, as the art is not symmetric - not even close. I know this because it took me hours to clean this up to get ready for printing!

Didn't find the A. Carlisle & Co. logo? Look a little closer! Click to enlarge.

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Update March 1, 2014: We are pleased to announce the acquisition of a Saline Valley Salt Co. stock certificate dated May 12, 1914. The purchase price was $250. Many "Friends of the Salt Tram" members have pledged a donation to purchase the stock certificate. Note that any funds in excess of the $250 purchase price will remain in the "Friends of the Salt Tram" account to fund further purchases.

Please send a check made out to "FECM" and mail it to:

     Tim Waag

     Post Office Box 5060

     San Luis Obispo, CA 93403

Tim will collect all the donations, keep track of who donated what, and mail them all to the FECM. Tim will announce the total contributions and how much (if any) is left over for future Salt Tram acquisitions.

Thanks to everyone for helping with our Salt Tram research, and for helping to acquire the historically valuable document for the Eastern California Museum (ECM) . The stock certificate will be professionally scanned and printed, and for those who made a contribution, you will be mailed a copy of this stock certificate. Thanks to Scootertrash for this excellent idea. Expect it to be sent to you about a month after the donations have been mailed to the ECM.

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Friends of the Salt Tram - Donations
Update February 18, 2014: I received an email back from Rich White,  President of the Friends of the Eastern California Museum (FECM). We received permission from his group to collect donations in their name to acquire the Saline Valley Salt Company Stock Certificate. This allows the donors to receipt a tax deductible donation. I will send out an email to all the donors listed below that pledged to make a donation to acquire the stock certificate. 

Here's what Rich White emailed to me:

"The Friends of the ECM agreed to accept donations for purchase of items for the Museum collection if either Roberta or Jon at the museum has agreed in advance that the item is desirable for the museum collection.  The Stock Certificate meets this requirement.  Checks should be made payable to FECM.  Checks should be mailed to you so you can account for them and then send them to FECM, PO Box 33, Independence, CA  93526.  Thanks for your interest and support of the museum. --Rich White, President, The Friends of the ECM 

Stock Certificate Donation Pledges (so far - how about a few more?): Note that the Stock Certificate Acquisition Cost is $250 plus $20 to ship it Fed Ex - total $270. There are now 17 pledges (see below). Thanks for contributing to saving Saline Valley History.

Above: The May 14, 1914 Saline Valley Stock Certificate arrived via Fed Ex on 2/12/2014. I'm always amazed to be touching a tiny piece of history. Thanks to WM of North Carolina for being so easy to deal with. Next, I will have it professionally scanned and correct the flaws (rips, ink, etc.) with photoshop, then  have 100 copies printed in full color onto similar parchment style paper. Per Scoot's idea, I will mail out a color copy of the stock certificate to everyone who donated towards its purchase, and otherwise sell the rest for $8 each including shipping (same price as the 1st stock certificate). Finally, it will be donated to the Eastern California Museum in Independence, Calif.

Each Pledge below will be marked RECEIVED! when it comes in the mail to me. Brian and I pledge $100 EACH if and only if all the pledges below are received! 

As of 3/25/2014, all 23 Pledges have been collected, totalling $845. This should leave the "Friends of the Salt Tram" with $595 in our "account" with FECM to use for additional Salt Tram-related acquisitions, should they become available.

(1) RECEIVED! Count me in for $25 Tim. Btw - had nice short chat with your wife last weekend when I called you back. Heading for Saline Tuesday / hoping to ride my mtb into the springs via. N pass. We 'll catch up soon. Tim, Heck – I wasn’t even sure I would make it to Saline this year – wife’s work schedule as a nurse.  SO I figured I just ride in alone so I could play it out at the last minute. Regarding the stock cert, I’m now thinking I need to get you the $25 not the FECM.  Or was I right in the first place and we get the dough to you via the FECM in order the take a tax deduction (which is not critical).  Let me know how to pay.  Thanks --AS

(2) RECEIVED!  I'm in. Keep me posted. Put R2 in for $50. -R2

(3) RECEIVED!  I'll be glad to donate a bit toward that certificate. Just let me know the details, and I'll send in a check. Hi, Tim — It (Bradley Gratis font) does look pretty close, doesn't it? By the way, I am happy to send $50 for the stock certificate, but I am still awaiting information from you about where to send the money. --LB

LB posted a follow-up note with the donation: Hi Tim, Congratulations on the great works you do to make history in our area richer! I'm much looking forward to learning more about A. A. Forbes. If it weren't for him, we'd have scant pictorial representation of what native cultures around here looked like. --LB

(4) RECEIVED! Hey Tim and Brian, Count me in for $25. I already have the T-shirt so helping to purchase the Stock Certificate will make me feel like a part owner of this piece a history! I'm also interested in the March [Salt Tram] tour. Hope I can make it. Now why does the comment below make me want to be there all the more!!! "Also note that all participants assume all liability for their participation with the Waag Bros., and that the world is a more dangerous place when you leave your front door. The hazards of viewing and exploring the wild Salt Tram located outdoors in the dangerous desert are countless and unpredictable - you have been warned!" -MM

(5) RECEIVED! Tim,  I think I said a ways back I'd be in for a donation on acquiring a SVSC stock certificate. So you have a 25$ pledge from me. Glad to help --JS

(6) RECEIVED! Tim, get me set up for a donation. --AG

(7) RECEIVED! I can do $25. Just send the details and I'll mail a check. --RH

Re: Eastern California Museum (ECM) Saline Valley Salt Co. stock certificate. Dear Tim, enclosed please find my check for $25 in support of the ECM's acquisition of the stock certificate. I would appreciate an acknowledgment of the donation for tax purposes. Sincerely Yours, --RH. [Note to RH: The donation acknowledgment letter will be sent by the ECM to the name and address on your donation check - unless you request otherwise --Tim W.]

(8) RECEIVED! Please tell me how to send a $25 payment to help purchase this stock certificate. --HBG

(9) RECEIVED! Ok, put me down for $25.00. --SM

(10) RECEIVED! Hi Tim count me in for $30. --CU

(11) RECEIVED! Count me in for $25. Do you want me to mail the check? Or maybe I can drop it next time I'm in the area. -LE

LE posted a follow-up note with the donation: Here's the check I promised for the Stock Certificate - it's amazing they are still around, but lucky for us. We need to have a special display at the Eastern California Museum for all the Salt Tram info that has been found - people are very interested. Next weekend is the big ECM annual meeting - it's been what? 4 years since you did your historic Salt Tram presentation there?

(12) RECEIVED! Hi Tim, We will donate $25 or if you need $50 to close the gap, we can do that also. Let us know when you have the process set up through the Friends of the ESM. Thanks for preserving this bit of history of the Saline Salt Tram for all of us to enjoy. --BS and DS

(13) RECEIVED! Put me down for $50.  Check is in the mail, internet banking from RoK is cool! --MD

(14) RECEIVED! Tim - count me in for $25 --BW.

(15) RECEIVED! Tim, Count me in for $25. Sincerely, --BR

(16) RECEIVED! Awesome!!!! I am thinking that 25 dollar donors will get a color copy?? You guys need to have stand by cash in the event another comes available. Should check be sent directly to museum?? Great find!! --SW

(17) RECEIVED! Put me down for $20. --MA

(18) RECEIVED! Hi Tim, Great to hear from you. Another great find. Put me down for a $50.00 donation towards the purchase of the stock certificate. 

Best regards, --BS

BS posted a follow-up note with the donation: Hi Tim, Enclosed is my check to go towards the purchase of the SVSC stock certificate. Thanks again for all you continue to do for this great project. Best Regards, --BS

(19) Brian and I pledge $100 EACH if and only if all the pledges above are received! 

The Salt Tram is truly one of the most amazing engineering feats in the greater Death Valley area. Put me down for a $100 donation - let's save as much of the history of this jaw-dropping contraption as possible! Heck, put me down for $100! --Brian Waag, E. Clampus Waagus.

(20) Brian and I pledge $100 EACH if and only if all the pledges above are received! 

Well Bro, if you're in for $100, then so am I! Who wouldn't want to contribute to this worthwhile cause  - preserving a historic document from the Salt Tram era that is more than 100 years old! Yeah, a dollar for each year that the stock certificate is old (May 1914 - March 2014 - almost 100 years, anyways). --Tim Waag, E. Clampus Waagus.

(21) RECEIVED! Hi Tim, Here is my $25 towards the stock certificate. Be great to have a copy - put me on the list. See you in Ridgecrest on 3/18/2014. --GB

(22) RECEIVED! Hey Tim, Thanks for all your efforts regarding the Salt Tram. Still would love to hike down the West side, if ever that comes up. --FD aka FF

(23) RECEIVED! Received $50 cash at the Ridgecrest HSUMD meeting from --JK

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Sunday, February 8, 2014: The 3rd known Saline Valley Salt Company Stock Certificate was found in December, 2013, and is in the process of being acquired for the Eastern California Museum in Independence, California. If you are interested in making a donation to the Friends of the Eastern California Museum in order to fund the purchase of the important piece of Salt Tram History, please email us at: SalineValleySaltTram@gmail.com, and we will get that set up - thank-you.

This newest Stock Certificate is dated May 12, 1914, and the 125 shares were sold to Alvis Workman of North Carolina. This makes it the earliest dated certificate of the three that we have acquired for the museum. It also appears to be in much better condition than the 2nd certificate, which was dated September 25, 1914. The front and back of the stock certificate appear below (click to enlarge):

Note that on the 2nd and 3rd Salt Company Stock Certificates, in addition to the corporate stamp on the certificate, they have the corporate logo in gold. The stamped version of the logo was used to create our Salt Tram t-shirts, which you can buy by clicking here. Here is a closeup of the logo in gold, followed by the Salt Tram logo that is on the back of our T-shirts. Note that the gold embossed logo is more clear than the original stamped one that we saw, and that instead of a diamond at the bottom of the logo, it can clearly be seen that there is a 6-pointed star instead. Also, it now becomes clear that the lower middle salt pile is one large pile, instead of 2 piles that we merged together - sort-of. Oh well, nobody's perfect!

Below are excerpts from the email that we received from W. M. of North Carolina, the possessor of this stock certificate. He gives some background on the provenance as part of an email that he sent us below:

This stock certificate was issued to Alvis Workman.  He was the brother of my great aunt's husband, William Workman (W. W. Workman).  From our existing family history research, we know Alvis was born on Feb. 12, 1847 in Orange County, NC.  He died in 1920.  My great aunt, Sallie, was married to Alvis' younger brother, William.  William was born in 1852 - also in Orange County.  William survived Alvis and his wife, Susan and other brothers.  So that is why I assume it was inherited by my great Uncle William.  I never knew him since he died in 1926.  But I did know my great aunt Sallie B. Workman who married William in 1902 and who died in 1967 (May-December wedding, second marriage for William).  My mom looked after Aunt Sallie (who lived in Kernersville, NC) in her later years.  I got the stock certificate from my mom who got it from my Aunt Sallie.  That is the provenance I have. 

The certificate is the same style with the raised gold seal as the one you obtained in 2013.  It is for 125 shares.  It is signed by Fred and White Smith as well.  The certificate number is 2063 which is higher than the one you have (2034) but this one is dated as noted on May 12, 1914, not quite 100 years ago.  I assume certificates were printed and sold as they found buyers.  The number "125" is handwritten.  The signatures appear very similar but not exactly as the one you found.  The quality appears to me to be in better shape than the one you show.  It also has a tri-fold.  My guess they did not routinely use larger envelopes then.  

 I do not know if you are interested in buying this certificate or not.  I would consider selling it.  If you are interested, let me know what you would consider a fair price for this earlier document.  It could be the third and earliest known certificate you have! 

Sounds like your upcoming trip in March of 2014 will be very interesting! Thanks for the work you have done to help preserve this history. 
     ---W. M., North Carolina

Below are excerpts from the 2nd email that we received from W. M. of North Carolina, the possessor of this stock certificate. He gives additional background on the provenance as part of an email that he sent us below:

I have some additional provenance on the Saline Valley Salt Company certificate that I obtained from a cousin, including a possible connection to Tennessee.  The stock certificate trail appears to be: Alvis Workman to William Workman to his wife, Sallie Bull Workman, to my mother, Stella Bull Marshall, to me, Wayne Marshall.  Here is the sequence of who knew who, when, as best as we can determine going backwards from today.  

My mother was Stella Bull Marshall (Mrs. Dale Marshall).  Her father, James Robert Bull, had a sister, Sallie Bull and a brother John Franklin Bull (there were 7 additional siblings).  Sallie, my great aunt, was born Jan. 7, 1880, married William W. Workman on Jan 1, 1902 (his second marriage, her first) and died Jan 19, 1967.  They had no children.

William W. Workman, born in Orange County, NC on Sep. 2, 1852 married my great Aunt Sallie in Guilford County (my current residence county) in 1902 and died May 29, 1926.. William and Sallie moved to Norfolk, VA after their marriage and lived there until his death.  He appeared to be a man of means from pictures of them and their clothes 

William was the younger brother of Alvis Franklin Workman. Alvis, who was born on Feb 12, 1847, married Susan Hall (who was born Sep 9, 1845, died Oct. 10, 1914).  Alvis died Mar 11, 1920.  They had no children. 

My great uncle John (born Mar 19, 1885, met and married his wife, Sarah Dinkle on June 17, 1907 in Washington County, TN (Johnson City, TN).  They lived there many years before moving to Norfolk, VA where my great Aunt Sallie lived with her husband, William W. Workman.  My assumption is my great Uncle John's new home in Johnson City and the family of John's wife, Sarah, daughter of Calvin and Annie Gammon Dinkle, was the "Tennessee connection" to Alvis through my great Uncle William Workman and my great Aunt Sallie.  

I also know through another old deed passed on to me the same way that William Workman, living in Norfolk, VA, bought a lot in Elkmont Park in Knox County, TN dated October 9, 1914.  

In 1968,after my Mom, Stella, got possession of the stock certificate, she attempted unsuccessfully to find information about the Saline Valley Salt Company incorporation from officials in Arizona.  I will send that information with the certificate.  

Hope all continues to go well for you!  I will send the stock certificate soon. Sincerely, ---W. M., North Carolina

Cool Font for the Saline Valley Salt Company Stock Certificate: We thought the font on the stock certificate was very unique, so we were determined to find out what it was. Tah-dah! Liz B. hit the nail on the head, determining that it was the "Bradley" font. Upon further searching, it would appear to be the "Bradley Gratis" font, as shown below:

Thanks as always  for the support from Roberta Harlan, Jon Klusmire and Heather Todd at the Eastern California Museum, as well as Rich White from the Friends of the Eastern California Museum! Also, thanks in advance to those who have offered to chip in some cash to purchase the certificate. Last time (when we bought the 2nd stock certificate), the price was very reasonable, so I just made the purchase myself. That time, I asked you to keep that cash ready, should a more expensive Saline Valley Salt Company artifact become available - well, that time is now! We hope to hear from you.

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B-24 Bomber Lands on Salt Lake in on Oct. 20, 1944

Friends of the SALINE VALLEY SALT TRAM

www.SaltTram.blogspot.com  SalineValleySaltTram@gmail.com

Little is left of the Salt Tram and its diggin's. The Waag Bros. are actively seeking out information about the Saline Valley Salt Tram and the Salt Mine between 1903 and the 1960's, including: documents, photos, articles, stories, artifacts, etc. If you can help us out, please email us at the address above - Thank-you!  Caution (PLEASE READ): Climbing around on the tramway is dangerous because its really old and defnitely unsafe, so don't even think about it. Shoot, just getting to it requires some perilous hiking, and if you don't believe me, just take a look at the Zig Zag Access Trail (or what's left of it). Plus, climbing on it weakens it and endangers your life. Also, the Saline Valley Salt Tram is on the National Register of Historic Places and should be treated with the respect that it deserves. What little remains is of great historic value, and should not be disturbed in any way. Heck, its probably against the law to move parts of the tram around, and certainly a crime to take home some of the few bits of it that remain (though you'd have to ask your friendly local BLM agent for details). So please treat it with the respect it deserves, so that future generations can enjoy whats left, without you messing it up. Really. Please. You can see its listing on the National Register of Historic Places at these web links: National Register of Historic Places  • Inyo County Places of Importance

Nurse Hazel Schultz wrote this contemporaneous account of the crash-landing and rescue of a B24 Bomber on the very Salt Lake where White Smith had toiled in failure for almost half a century before. Read her first-hand account here.

This accident occurred on October 20, 1944. The B24 was on a routine training mission when it developed engine trouble. The landing caused severe damage to the undercarriage and other structures of the plane. Due to the damage and poor lakebed surface, it was impossible to fly the massive ship out, and so the army decided to abandon it. The B24 lay intact in this barren and remote desert wasteland until sometime in the late 1950's or early 60's at which time salvors dismantled and hauled it away. All that remains of that fateful night are a few small metallic parts, a tire and the memory of the "Corporal from Kansas."

I have reproduced her account below in the event that her story may someday be lost:

"The Corporal From Kansas"

by Nurse Hazel Shultz

It was one of those blustery days in early spring -- a day when any weather could happen. My husband had just come home to dinner when he got the call. I remember how the elm tree outside the kitchen window was just beginning to drop its seeds. And how as we packed the station wagon with fresh water, food and blankets, the wind blew the seeds like a shower. They danced on the driveway, swirling in drifts like driven snow against the curb.

By the time the folding stretchers, bandages, splints and plasma were stowed away it was dark -- a night with clouds and neither stars nor moon. We wore our heavy coats and took some sandwiches with us, thinking to eat as we drove along, rather than taking time for dinner. The Sheriff's posse which was to accompany us pulled up at the gate. One car would lead the way and the second car would follow behind the station wagon.

The call had said that a B24 with a crew of seven had crash-landed on the floor of Saline Valley. Apparently as their radio was damaged, they had on the white salt flat of the dry lake spelled out in letters six- feet high one word "Plasma." By this, army headquarters knew that someone was seriously injured and that someone was up and about. More than that we would have to learn when we arrived at the scene of the wrecked ship.

We proceed out through Keeler taking the dirt road at the Talc City turnoff to Jackass Flats. It was down in this low country that the lead car carrying Art Jewett and Charlie Cline got on the wrong road. The winter's snows and rains had washed away many of the tracks and landmarks were difficult to recognize. After wandering around a bit, they told us to wait while they scouted the area. When they had not returned after 30 minutes, Harry Mack in the rear car suggested that we go in search of them; but my husband thought it best to wait a while longer. I thought so too, for peering into the windy black, this valley looked immense -- and not being able to see the slightest sign of a road, I feared that if we so much as moved, we would become hopelessly lost. Just then we saw Cline's headlights. When we pulled up beside us he informed us that they had had a flat tire, therefore the delay, but they were sure of the way now.

Once more we got under way, slowly we crept across the rutted road of the flats, still more slowly up the side of Hunter Mountain and into a driving rain. The wind blew the drops so hard against the windshield that the wipers could scarcely carry them away. Occasionally the night was lighted by a flash of lightning.

From the growth of scrub pines and pinion appearing beside the road, we knew we were nearing the summit. The rain had now turned to snow and although it clung to the pines turning them into Christmas trees, fortunately it melted when hitting the ground. We started down on the other side of the Inyo range. Desolate Saline Valley, dark and foreboding, lay below us. Slowly we threaded our way out of the pine, out of the snow and finally out of the rain, Only the wind remained, putting its strength against the side of the car, as though in an effort to blow us off the mountain.

It was at this point that we saw a strange green light above the horizon. It must be a star, we thought. Now it vanished only to appear with a reddish glow. "I think it's a flare", said my husband. We peered into the east. I rolled down the window to see better. The wind was almost warm. There it was again -- the light -- this time green. Now we were sure it was a flare. There were many -- red, green, white. They had seen us coming down the mountain and were giving us their position. We turned on our red spotlights to signal them that we were the rescue party. It must have cheered them for what we didn't know then was that they had been here since ten o'clock in the morning. It was now eleven at night.

In our interest in the flares and now a campfire ahead and to the right, we had failed to notice the rear car. When we looked back there was no Harry Mack. We stopped and waited; still he did not appear. We backed up and around a curve to find him out changing a flat tire. He insisted that we proceed without him, but as we had planned to stay together, we thought it best to do just that. The tire was changed in a few minutes and on we went. The flares were still flying in the air as we reached the base of the mountain.

Here the road led into a wash with boulders the size of a man's head. It was necessary to reduce our speed to a mere crawl. The wooden body of the station wagon creaked and gave as we bumped all over the rock. The minutes ticked by, but the campfire seemed to remain ahead and to the right. I strained my eyes for some sign of the plane but all I could see was the blazing campfire being fed large clumps of brush, the wind carrying flaming portions far out on the salt flats.

At last we were as close to the camp as the car could get and we came to a halt near the other end of the old Keeler Salt Tram. Several buckets were still hanging on the cable overhead. We could hear men's voices as they ran through the bushes towards us. They were carrying flashlights, "Did you bring a doctor and an ambulance," they called? When they were assured that we had, they shouted, "Great!"

As we followed them through shrubs growing higher than a man's head in the sand banks surrounding this end of the lake they blurted out their story. They had left Muroc Air Base on a routine flight. They developed engine trouble and seeing Saline Valley below, decided to land. This salt flat was like Muroc, white and smooth with plenty of room to land a large plane. As is routine upon a forced landing, one man is detailed to open all hatches immediately when the plane comes to a stop. As the wheels of the giant ship touched the dry lake the top hatch was opened, but instead of coming back down into the cockpit, the man sat up on the fuselage swinging his legs.

It was a perfect landing, but as the entire weight of the ship came to rest on the lake, the salt crust gave away plunging the wheels into the brine beneath. The plane lurched forward, nose down, causing the man on the top to be thrown forward and into the still whirling propeller.

"He has a badly broken leg," said the young captain of the ship as we arrived at the injured man's side. "Look, Bob; here is a doctor and a nurse too. You're going to be as good as new in no time. They brought an ambulance too. Going to take you into a good hospital, -- aren't you, doc?", said the captain. " Say nurse, do they have any good looking nurses at that hospital?" I answered, "They surely do." All the men seemed to be talking at once, and laughing.

My husband had been preparing the plasma while I gave the injured youth a hypodermic of morphine. As I bent over him to bare his arm, I noticed the chevrons on his sleeve that he was a corporal -- blond and of slight build; that he bore of deathly pallor, his lips parched and dry. As he received the plasma he began to revive. He wanted to talk -- said he was 20 years old. Between spoonfuls of broth and sips of hot tea he became almost silly. All of the men joked and laughed. It was that release that comes when any tense ordeal is over.

My husband was unwrapping the parachute that had been wound about the injured leg. I noticed the rakish angle of the toe of the shoe and I realized that this must be a bad break. When I saw him snipping the few remaining ties of flesh that held this leg to the corporal's body, my heart sank. Now the amputated member was lying upon the bloody parachute to one side -- the tourniquet was removed, the bleeding vessels tied off and the stump dressed with sterile gauze.

All eyes were watching but appearing as not to. We were drinking hot instant coffee and talking of many other things. I was watching the last of the plasma flow into the corporal's veins -- all the time talking to him quietly. First about his home in Kansas, now about California. He had never been here before and had seen very little of the state; in fact, nothing but Muroc Air Base and its vicinity. But, boy, he was going to see plenty of it before he went home to Kansas. He liked flying. He liked the army. He had just had a bit of tough luck. Probably have to be in a cast a long time. Just how long, he wanted to know. After all, medicine had made some rapid strides. They can do things now-a-days to speed healing of broken bones. He'd read about it. Why, sometimes athletes brake an ankle and with the right kind of first aid went right back on the field and finished the game.

It was at this point that he raised his head and looked squarely at his amputated leg. He stared a moment only, then sank heavily back upon the blankets. Someone lit a cigarette and placed it between his lips, but he closed his eyes and appear to be asleep, ignoring the gesture. Another man refilled each coffee cup with instant coffee. The fire was heaped high with bushes. It crackled and snapped, the flames reaching dangerous proportions in the fanning wind. We sat about silently, some smoking and us sipping the hot drinks while the second unit of plasma was given. Then we wrapped him warmly in blankets and carried him on the stretcher to the station wagon. He aroused briefly when his buddies gathered around, admonishing him to take it easy, to keep his chin up, and the like. They spoke encouragingly about seeing him soon and that he'd be up and about before he knew it.

The little caravan turned into the river of boulders. The patient groaned as the wheels dropped down from the rock with a jerk. My husband said something about he wished he had some whole blood for this boy, that was what he really needed.

Now we were on the mountain side. The wind was again raw and cold. Once the corporal shouted out in a delirious dream, flailing his arms wildly out of the blankets. I turned back to reassure him and to receive him. His skin was cold -- his pulse thready and he was shaking in a chill. We stopped and prepared a third unit of plasma. The deputies held the bottle high and spread their coats to break the wind.

The night dragged wearily on as the three cars switched back and forth down the mountain. When we reached Hunter's Flats, my husband said that we would pull out ahead and try to make some time, as he felt it was imperative that we reach Lone Pine as quickly as possible. The posse said they would bring up the rear and over-take us should we be stranded. We did not see them again that night.

Above the noise of wind and the corporal moaning, I held my breath for him over the worst bumps and silently cursed the ruts and rocks in the dirt road.

It was before we came to the Talc City turnoff that our right rear tire went flat. My husband and I changed it in a very short time. The stars were out now, the wind dead. The patient was in a deep sleep -- perhaps a coma. His condition was very grave.

Now we reached pavement. What a relief to accelerate the motor. It seemed to relive tense nerves, to relax us. We fairly sailed along until we came to the boulevard stop south of Lone Pine. Dawn was breaking in the east. The stars had begun to fade. The morning was fair and silent.

Here we stopped long enough to examine our patient. He had expired! We were suddenly overwhelmed with weariness. The fatigue that accompanies defeat engulfed us and we felt heavy and old. I said, "All that for nothing." My husband said, "What a waste", but he was not speaking of a waste of time; he was referring to the expendability of American youth -- like the corporal from Kansas.

Ed. Note - This accident occurred on October 20, 1944. The B24 was on a routine training mission when it developed engine trouble. The landing caused severe damage to the undercarriage and other structures of the plane. Due to the damage and poor lakebed surface, it was impossible to fly the massive ship out, and so the army decided to abandon it. The B24 lay intact in this barren and remote desert wasteland until sometime in the late 1950's or early 60's at which time salvors dismantled and hauled it away. All that remains of that fateful night are a few small metallic parts, a tire and the memory of the "Corporal from Kansas."

  ********************click to go to Salt Tram Home********************

Charles William (C. W.) Hayes and his Moreland Motor Trucks

Friends of the SALINE VALLEY SALT TRAM

www.SaltTram.blogspot.com   SalineValleySaltTram@gmail.com

Little is left of the Salt Tram and its diggin's. The Waag Bros. are actively seeking out information about the Saline Valley Salt Tram and the Salt Mine between 1903 and the 1960's, including: documents, photos, articles, stories, artifacts, etc. If you can help us out, please email us at the address above - Thank-you!  Caution (PLEASE READ): Climbing around on the tramway is dangerous because its really old and defnitely unsafe, so don't even think about it. Shoot, just getting to it requires some perilous hiking, and if you don't believe me, just take a look at the Zig Zag Access Trail (or what's left of it). Plus, climbing on it weakens it and endangers your life. Also, the Saline Valley Salt Tram is on the National Register of Historic Places and should be treated with the respect that it deserves. What little remains is of great historic value, and should not be disturbed in any way. Heck, its probably against the law to move parts of the tram around, and certainly a crime to take home some of the few bits of it that remain (though you'd have to ask your friendly local BLM agent for details). So please treat it with the respect it deserves, so that future generations can enjoy whats left, without you messing it up. Really. Please. You can see its listing on the National Register of Historic Places at these web links: National Register of Historic Places  • Inyo County Places of Importance

*****QUESTION 1:  Speak to Cleo, Bob or Bill Hayes (grandchildren of Salt Trucker C. W. Hayes) and find out what they remember of their grandfather's trucking business, especially as it pertains to the Salt Tram.

*****QUESTION 2:  Where did Charles William Hayes live during the time he trucked salt for George Russell? (Bakersfield?) Where was C. W.'s trucking business, how many trucks did he have, how many Moreland 3 axle, 6 tire, dual rear-axle 4 wheel drive trucks did he own, how did he know and make contact with the Sierra Salt Co.'s George Russell or White Smith?

*****QUESTION 3: Find out if the Eastern California Museum already have a copy of the blue Sierra Salt Co. brochure below (and do we have a copy?) or do we need to get a copy of this document from Bob D? The ECM has a copy, but is missing page 12 and 13, which Bob D. has supplied to me and that I will supply to ECM! Thanks, Bob. Supply the ECM with page 12 and 13 to complete their booklet.


*****QUESTION 4: Does the showroom in Bakersfield California on Chester Avenue (the photo showing Charles Wesley Hayes standing with a Moreland Truck out in front of the Moreland Bakersfield showroom - photo below on this web posting) still exists?

Above: Pioneer trucker C. W. Hayes behind the wheel of the mighty Moreland Motor Truck TX-6 10-ton 4 wheel drive truck. C. W. hauled the first load of Salt trucked out of Saline Valley on June 15, 1926. Note that behind the tree to the right, you can barely make out the words "Lone Pine Garage".

Above: The Sierra Salt Co. printed the blue-covered pamphlet above around June 15, 1926, and it contains 20 pages. The driver of the Moreland Truck is C. W. Hayes. The person on top of the salt at left is Cyril G. Hayes  (son of C. W. Hayes) and the person at right is Charles Hulin Hayes (son of C. W. Hayes). The Eastern California Museum has a copy of this brochure, but it is missing page 12 and 13, but we got those pages from Bob D. The Eastern California Museum already had the truck photo shown above, which was located in the blue Sierra Salt brochure (page 12). However, what is new is the caption below the photo, which indicates that the first load of salt trucked of Saline in 1926 was sold to the City Market in Bishop, Calif., which explains what the trucks were doing parked in Bishop; however, we are not sure why the truck was posed for photos in front of the Watterman Bank. 

Note that "City Market" in Bishop, Calif. was owned by none other than Phillip Keough, the owner of Keough Hot Springs. Though Keough bought the Hot Springs in 1919, it hit its heyday in the 1920's and 1930's as a resort and spa. Though more quaint than fashionable, it is still open to this day!

*****Pre-Introduction: Before reading this post, we recommend that you read the section on the San Lucas Canyon Road by clicking here - if you haven't done so already. For all photos below - click to enlarge (you'll be glad you did!).

*****Introduction: In the early to mid 1920's, George Russell, President of the Sierra Salt Co., was desperate to save his failing Salt Mining operation that he had taken over as President from White Smith. He saw that the operation of the Salt Tram may have been too expensive to make a profit, but that the pure salt just waiting to be picked up off the Saline Valley floor was still a valuable commodity. He was certain that with the advancement of over-the-road trucking, the salt must surely be able to be trucked out of Saline Valley with less cost than the operation of the massive tramway. If they could find a short route to run trucks out of Saline Valley that avoided the long road out via North Pass, maybe they could start making some money with this operation, after suffering through business losses in the salt mining industry for so many decades.

*****New Information: We recently found documents indicating that George Russell opened the San Lucas Canyon Road to truck out Saline Valley Salt merely as a clever scheme to get the Steel Company to sell the Salt Tram to Sierra Salt at a steep discount. Mr. Russell and White Smith believed that using the Moreland 4 wheel drive trucks to transport Salt out of Saline Valley would diminish the value of the tramway, thus lowering the price during future negotiations to buy it back! I was happy to hear this news, because after looking firsthand at nightmare that was the San Lucas Canyon Road, it was clear  to me that this was a bad idea and an easy way to lose money. The San Lucas Canyon Road was used merely as a pawn in the game to retrieve ownership of their beloved Salt Tram.

*****Witness the Birth of the San Lucas Canyon Road: George Russell convinced the Inyo County Board of Supervisors that an efficient trucking road needed to be built to economically access the various mining operations in Saline Valley, including the Sierra Salt Company's Salt Lake. Serious route evaluation resulted in the selection of San Lucas Canyon road as the shortest route out of Saline Valley where it was possible to build a road.

Just one problem: a short section of narrows presented a road construction nightmare to any potential road builders. Sierra Salt partnered with Inyo County anyways, and took 2 years to build the San Lucas Canyon road. A handful of photos exist that demonstrate the difficulties encountered in building the road. No doubt, it took longer to build than expected, and cost more money. But they did build it! Now they would need some really tough trucks to haul the loads of salt up San Lucas Canyon and over to the Salt Tram terminus.

Above: rare photo of the construction of the San Lucas Canyon Road. Yes, they built it largely by hand with picks and shovels, as seen in this photo. Photo courtesy Eastern California Museum, Independence, California.

Above: I was intrigued by the unidentified yet well-dressed man in the above photo. In addition, he appeared to be carrying a few interesting items, so I thought I'd go in for a closer view. It turns out that he is carrying what appears to be a tripod in his right hand and a camera in his left! Perhaps too well dressed for a road construction supervisor, but not overly dressed for a hip photographer out in Saline Valley trying to make a name for himself?

*****Enter professional trucker Charles Wesley (C. W.) Hayes: George Russell initially contracted with trucker C. W. Hayes (of Bakersfield) to move the first bagged loads of salt out of Saline Valley. The initial photos of this effort show trucks with the name "C. W. Hayes" stenciled above the driver and passenger door of his innovative 6-wheel Moreland Motor Trucks. Later photos of Moreland Motor Trucks used to move the salt give no indication that they were owned or operated by Mr. Hayes. That is, there are no drivers that look like C. W. and no Moreland Motor Trucks that are marked with the C. W. Hayes name in the later photos.

Above: photo from Bob D. of Bakersfield, showing Charles Wesley Hayes at Moreland Motor Truck Factory Showroom in Bakersfield California. The truck shown in the photo does not appear to be a new truck - among other things, the name C. W. Hayes is stenciled above the door, and it appears to be somewhat worn. Since C. W.'s trucking business was in Bakersfield, as was this Moreland showroom and service center, it is likely that C. W. was there to have his truck serviced or to pick up parts.

*****Tough Moreland Motor Trucks: After having hiked most of the rugged and steep San Lucas Canyon road, we could not figure out how the heavily loaded Moreland trucks could possible make it up the canyon grade with such a heavy load. Remember, they were hauling the salt up and out of Saline Valley, then were driving the trucks downhill (light and empty) to go back for more. From some of the Moreland truck photos, it was clear that they were not 4 wheel drive - or more specifically, that the front axles did not have a differential. We would later learn from Bob D. that the Moreland trucks had an ingenious 4 wheel drive system that drove both of the rear axles. Back in the 1920's when Moreland invented his Model S-X 6-wheel trucks, many freight auto roads were still dirt, and traction was still an issue. Take a close look at the rear axle of the truck from the Moreland brochure below.

Above: Illustration of the Moreland S-X truck and its unique 4 wheel drive system that drove both rear axles. Image courtesy of Bob D. of Bakersfield, Calif.

Above: White Smith (standing on the street at left - all suited up) with pioneer trucker C. W. Hayes (standing on the street on right); person at left on top of sacks of salt is believed to be Charles Hulin Hayes (son of C. W. Hayes), and person on right at top of sacks of salt is believed to be Cyril G. Hayes (son of C. W. Hayes).  Photo shows the first load of salt trucked out of Saline Valley on board a Moreland Motor Truck. Photo courtesy Eastern California Museum, Independence, California. Note the C. W. Hayes name above the passenger cab. Liz Babcock of the Maturango Museum in Ridgecrest, Calif. identifies this photo as being taken in front of the infamous Watterson Bank building in Bishop, Calif. on the corner of Main and Academy streets, (thanks, Liz!).  It was later demolished in an unspecified year.

Above: How did these Moreland trucks haul 10-ton loads of salt up the impossibly rugged San Lucas Canyon road? They didn't have driven front axles, but they did have driven twin rear axles with solid rubber wheels to get them up these crazy steep grades like the one above. Photo courtesy Eastern California Museum, Independence, California. Note that the historic photos of the Moreland trucks shown driving along the San Lucas Canyon narrows do not have the C. W. Hayes named painted on them.

*****Many thanks to Bob D. of  Bakersfield, California for finding this Salt Tram website and contacting us. Bob's wife's great grandfather was none other than pioneer trucker C. W. Hayes. Yes, the same C. W. Hayes whose name is stenciled on the side of the truck that moved that first load of salt out of Saline over the San Lucas Canyon Road. The same C. W. Hayes who is standing next to Saline Valley Salt Company founder White Smith in Lone Pine after he drove the first salt load out. Bob pointed out which person in the photos was C. W. Hayes.

Above: Image of a Moreland Motor Truck loaded with grain (not Salt!). However, the text indicates that C. W. used the Moreland trucks to haul salt out of Saline Valley on grades as steep as 15%. C. W. considered the Moreland 10-ton (20,000 pound load capacity) 4 wheel drive truck to be a "wonder truck" and the best truck that he ever operated. Photo by the Dorman Brothers Photography.

*****A Brief History of Moreland Motor Truck Company: 

The Moreland Motor Truck Company of Burbank, California was originally located in Los Angeles. The Moreland trucks were sold worldwide. In 1917 Watt L. Moreland was planning to move his business to Alhambra, California. When Burbank city officials heard about this news they offered Moreland 25 acres of land for free, located on the corner of San Fernando Blvd. and Alameda Ave. The city of Burbank raised $25,000 to pay for the land, buildings were constructed and the truck company moved in. The factory was still surrounded by acres of farms at that time. 

Above: Photo of rear axles of Moreland 10-ton 6-wheel truck, including unique single spring pack to service the 2 rear axles.

At the opening of the new factory in 1920 Watt Moreland wrote:

"As I look back to the little old shack where the first Morelands were built, all the way it has been a story of co-operation and I want with all the strength and emphasis possible express my appreciation and thanks to all those who, by their encouragement, their faithful work and interest, have helped to put this organisation where it now stands."

Above:  Interior of the Moreland machine shop. 250 employees worked in the machine shop. 10 x 8 inch black and white photograph. Photo Courtesy Burbank Historical Society.

Moreland had branches in Los Angeles, San Diego, Bakersfield, Stockland, Oakland, Portland, Santa Ana, Fresno, El Centro, Sacramento, San Francisco, Spokane and Salt Lake City. The company slogan was "Built in the West -- for Western Work". 

Above: Moreland Motor Truck factory after the operation was moved from Los Angeles to Burbank in 1924. Photos show that at that time it was still surrounded only by farms and ranches.

Due to wartime shortages the plant had to close in 1940. Virtually unknown today outside of the small fraternity of antique truck enthusiasts, the Moreland Motor Truck Company of Burbank, California was a technical innovator along with West Coast truck firms Fageol, Kenworth and Kleiber in the first half of the last century. The big Moreland TX6 featured a twin axle bogey rear suspension (nice name!). The system was originally developed in 1924 for a massive 60 passenger double-decker bus and, although one prototype was built, it proved too expensive for frugal bus company operators and never reached production. 

Above: Details of the 10-ton Moreland Truck rear suspension, from “Automotive Industries”, February 19, 1925.

The design was not abandoned, and it worked great in the trucks used to haul out salt through San Lucas Canyon. The double-decker bus design was adopted to the heavyweight 1925 TX6. Moreland claimed to be the first in the industry to design, build and sell 3 axles, 6 wheel, 4 wheel drive trucks. The details of their system were certainly unique, but fellow Golden State manufacturer Fageol began producing a similar three axle truck at about the same time.

Above: Moreland sales brochures explain one aspect of the operation of the rear axles - when running over a fixed object, such as a rock, the frame of the truck only rises half as high as if it only had a single rear wheel. This was a convenient feature for trucks that often moved goods over rocky dirt roads.

*****Hayes Family geneology: Charles Wesley Hayes (born May 7, 1885, died October 4, 1977) had a son named Charles Hulin Hayes, who was also a truck driver. Both father and son  have since passed, but Charles Hulin's 2 sons, Bob and Bill Hayes, are still walking the planet, as well as his daughter Cleo. More details: My research shows that Charles Hulin has 2 sons and a daughter: son Charles W. (William? Bill?) Hayes of Denver, Colorado, son and daughter-in-law, Robert H. (Bob?) and Dora Hayes of San Antonio, Texas;  and daughter and son-in-law, Cleo A. and Warren Brackett of Bakersfield.

Above: Memorial for Bakersfield trucking Pioneer Charles W. Hayes. Courtesy of Bob D. of Bakersfield.

            ********************click to go to Salt Tram Home********************

New Stock Certificate Found - Dated Sept. 25, 1914!

The 2nd known Saline Valley Salt Company Stock Certificate was found in April 2013. Unfortunately, it is in very poor condition. It was owned by a man in Calhoun, Georgia. He acquired it recently (within the last year) in payment of a debt of the previous certificate owner. Ironically, the previous owner contacted me about buying it, but then his cell phone number became disconnected before we could agree upon a price. 

Upon acquisition of the certificate by the Calhoun man, he found our web page and contacted me - just like the person he purchased it from! We negotiated a reasonable price, and we acquired the stock certificate. We donated it to the Eastern California Museum in Independence, California in June of 2013. The Eastern California Museum also has the first stock certificate that we obtained and donated to them. Before going on, let's take a look at this one!

Above (Click to enlarge): I scanned the front of the 1914 stock certificate before donating it to the Eastern California Museum in June of 2013. 

The artwork for the 1914 stock certificate is dramatically different from the 1920 certificate. The main differences include:

1) Gold Corporate Seal (see below) which incorporates the same basic art as the embossed seal from the 1920 stock certificate.

2) Has original Saline Valley salt harvesting art in the oval in the upper left hand corner.

3) The paper and the print/ink quality on the 1914 stock certificate is of much lower quality than the 1920 certificate. This does not really make sense, as I would expect the initial stock certificates to be of better material quality, to go along with the original Salt Lake art. Not only is the 1914 paper of low quality, but the ink used to print it is faded and has ink drop outs in it.

4) The 1914 certificate was signed by White Smith, at the time the President of the Saline Valley Salt Company and also by Fred R. Smith, the Secretary and Treasurer of the Saline Valley Salt Company and White Smith's brother. This is the first known signature of White Smith and Fred R. Smith - a huge find! We believe that these are the actual Smith brothers signatures, because the 2 Smith signatures use different handwriting. There is also a 3rd type of handwriting used by the person that was dating the stock, the number of shares, and the name of the person the stock was issued to.

Above (click to enlarge): The back of the 1914 Stock Certificate. 

The back indicates that 500 shares were issued to Geo. Abington on September 25, 1914 (same name as on the front, and in the same handwriting as the front). We know that most or all of the major investors were from Tennessee, as was White Smith and his siblings. 

There is a George Abington who lived in Shelby, Tennessee in census years 1910 and 1920, and was born somewhere between 1869 and 1884, making him 41 years old in 1910 and 51 years old in 1920; he appears to have had a wife named Mary. George Abington is a fairly UNcommon name, so I am about 80% confident that it is the person named on the stock certificate. It would also appear that Geo. Abington signed the stock certificate on the back (vertical signature on the left side of the certificate above), bringing a total of 4 different handwriting samples on this 1914 stock certificate (both front and back). 

Let's take a look at the corporate logo that is embossed in gold on this certificate (below).

This artwork appears to be almost identical to the embossed stamp from the 1920 stock certificate. The main difference is that Inyo Mountains in the background are faded in the gold 1914 stock certificate seal.

This art was used to create the Saline Valley Salt Company T-shrts (which are for sale for $16 plus shipping - just email us at SalineValleySaltTram@gmail.com!). That artwork is reproduced below, and is the 4 color art on the BACK of the t-shirts (Art by Laura Waag at Sidedoor Studio in Southern California):

Condition of the Stock Certificate: Unfortunately, the condition of this stock certificate, as mentioned above is POOR. It is torn on the standard vertical tri-fold (and repaired with glossy clear tape), as well as having 3 additional horizontal folds that have torn (and been repaired with taped as well). It is also somewhat worn and faded, and has a few tiny spots where the paper is missing along the folds. However, given that it is the only one known to exist, we are not complaining. 

Thanks as always for the support from Roberta Harlan and Jon Klusmire at the Eastern California Museum! Also, thanks to those who have offered to chip in some cash to purchase the certificate. This time, the price was very reasonable, so I just made the purchase myself. Keep that cash ready however, should a more expensive Saline Valley Salt Company artifact become available.

            ********************click to go to Salt Tram Home********************

Frederick Clifton Patterson Passes Away January 5, 2013

January 9, 2013 - Inyo Register.com

Frederick Clifton Patterson

1924-2013

Born in Bishop on June 12, 1924, Fred passed away Jan. 5, 2013. 

[Tim's Note: Fred Patterson was the son of Henry Clifton Patterson, who was a Salt Tram builder and left a diary that documented his work on the tramway for all time. We met Fred in on 11/15/2009 at his home in Bishop, Calif., and he kindly let us spend 3 hours in his home scanning the diary of his deceased father, Henry. Thanks also to Nancy Patterson for her hospitality and graciousness in supporting our efforts at finding out more about the Salt Tram. Below is a photo of Fred at his home on the day that we scanned the diary. May he R.I.P.] - click photo to enlarge.

Mr. Patterson was a veteran of World War II and served in the Rhineland, Central Europe, where his troops liberated much of Germany, including Dachau Concentration Camp. For 25 years, Mr. Patterson was the principal of Line Street and Elm Street Schools (1959–1984). Fred served as a deacon and elder of the First Presbyterian Church in Bishop where he also taught the high school Sunday school class for many years.

Fred was preceded in death by his loving wife of 52 years, Pat. Fred loved his best friend and savior, Jesus Christ and was serving Him at the very moment the Lord decided He needed Fred more than we did. Fred was a family man and it was evident in the dedication, sacrifices and love he gave his family.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy of Bishop; sister, Annabelle of Fountain Valley; daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Doug Hayward of Fountain Valley and their children Brooke, Davia and Dustin; son and daughter-in-law, Brent and Suzie Patterson of Bakersfield and their children Noah, Noelle and Luke; son, Byron Patterson of Sacramento and his children Heather and Kyle; son and daughter-in-law, Scott and Angelica Patterson of Bishop and their daughter Abigail; daughter and son-in-law, Leslie and David Apple of Fountain Valley and their children Amanda and Michael; Debbie (Sonke) Jensen and husband, Kent of Idaho and their children Amy, Cassie and John; Dave and Sheri Sonke of Bishop and their children LeAnn, Staci and Scott; and six great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12 at the First Presbyterian Church. Pastor Peter Thomsen will officiate. Interment will follow at the East Line Street Cemetery in Bishop with a celebration of life to follow at the Patterson home.

The family would appreciate that any donations in Fred’s memory be given to the First Presbyterian Church Deacon’s Benevolence Fund (for the less fortunate).

********************click to go to Salt Tram Home********************