LA Westerners | Los Angeles Westerners

Roundup: April 9, 2014

Almansor Court – 700 S. Almansor, Alhambra, CA.
Social Hour: 5:00 PM
Dinner: 6:00 PM

Speaker: Brian Dervin Dillon, Ph.D.
Subject: Camanche: California’s Forgotten Ironclad

Click here to view photos from the event.

California gold and Nevada silver financed the Union during the Civil War. The heavy bullion had to be shipped via Panama in vulnerable, Federal bottoms. Just one Confederate raider, loose in coastal California, could have severed the Union’s most important financial lifeline to her westernmost states and territories. So, when Californians begged for a U.S. Navy warship, President Lincoln sent the most modern vessel available. This was the USS Camanche, a second-generation, John Ericsson-designed, Passaic class monitor. Built twice, sunk once, and launched on both the Atlantic and the Pacific coasts, the Camanche had perhaps the most unusual history of any of the 30 Union-built monitors of the Civil War. In contrast to the prototype USS Monitor, the Camanche never fired her guns in anger. She also outlived every other Ericsson-designed vessel, yet remains California’s Forgotten Ironclad.

Brian Dervin Dillon is a 5^th generation Californian. An archaeologist, he is the son and the father of historians. All three Dillon generations were educated at the University of California, Berkeley. Dillon’s Ph.D. in Maya archaeology was at age 25, the youngest in the history of the department. A Phi Beta Kappa and Fulbright Fellow, for the past 40+ years he has done archaeology all over California, in every part of Guatemala, and in three other Central American countries. Dillon has taught and lectured at many California institutions. He has written nearly a hundred books, monographs and articles on archaeology and history. His most recent book is Fanning the Sacred Flame (University Press of Colorado, 2012). Dr. Dillon is the 2012 recipient of the Westerner’s International Coke Wood 2^nd place award for his two-part study Sergeant Dillon with the Dynamite Squads: 1906 detailing how his grandfather fought fire with explosives in the days following the catastrophic San Francisco earthquake. His Camanche study will be published in upcoming issues of the California Territorial Quarterly.

Click here to view photos from the event.

Paul McClure
Deputy Sheriff

Roundup: March 12, 2014

Almansor Court – 700 S. Almansor, Alhambra, CA.
Social Hour: 5:00 PM
Dinner: 6:00 PM

Speaker: Fellow LA Westerner, Jerry Selmer
Subject: A Great American General – War Chief Joseph of Nez Perce

Click here to view photos from the event.

The public policy of Manifest Destiny dictated the expansion of the United States from the original thirteen colonies to the Pacific Coast. Most of this activity took place in the nineteenth century. Although settlement of this new empire was relatively slow at first, the upheaval and dislocations caused by the Civil War (1861-1865) impelled many to seek a new life in a raw and untamed land. The problem was, of course, there were already people living there – the Native American Indians. The various tribes abounded throughout the region. To the new white settlers, they were a menace to be removed. Thus, the Indian Wars that came about during this settlement period. Since it was Federal policy to encourage settlement, it fell to the U. S. Army to remove them.

This talk will describe one such situation, the Nez Perce War. This tribe occupied a highly desirable piece of real estate in the Pacific Northwest. Therefore, they must be removed or exterminated. There arose from their midst a great heroic figure who possessed remarkable qualities of leadership seldom seen among any people. Chief Joseph took on the responsibility of command and led his people during the difficult and dangerous days of escape and battle. This heart-rending story is as suspenseful as a work of fiction. But, it all really happened.

Plan to join us for a thoughtful look at an important moment in time in the history of the Old West.

Jerry Selmer is a thirty-nine year member of the Corral who was our Sheriff in 1985. He has served numerous historical organizations in Board and executive capacities including the Southwest Museum as Executive Director. A third generation native born Californian, Jerry received his B.A. in Public Administration from UCLA before serving in the U.S. Army for two years of active duty and six years of Reserve duty. He attained the rank of Captain. He served 31 years in administrative and executive capacities with the City of Los Angeles, holding the position of Assistant City Administrative Officer for 12 years. He has written articles and book reviews for the Branding Iron as well as previously delivering his excellent presentations to us.

Click here to view photos from the event.

Larry L. Boerio
Sheriff

Roundup: March 12, 2014

Almansor Court – 700 S. Almansor, Alhambra, CA.
Social Hour: 5:00 PM
Dinner: 6:00 PM

Speaker: Fellow LA Westerner, Jerry Selmer
Subject: A Great American General – War Chief Joseph of Nez Perce

The public policy of Manifest Destiny dictated the expansion of the United States from the original thirteen colonies to the Pacific Coast. Most of this activity took place in the nineteenth century. Although settlement of this new empire was relatively slow at first, the upheaval and dislocations caused by the Civil War (1861-1865) impelled many to seek a new life in a raw and untamed land. The problem was, of course, there were already people living there – the Native American Indians. The various tribes abounded throughout the region. To the new white settlers, they were a menace to be removed. Thus, the Indian Wars that came about during this settlement period. Since it was Federal policy to encourage settlement, it fell to the U. S. Army to remove them.

This talk will describe one such situation, the Nez Perce War. This tribe occupied a highly desirable piece of real estate in the Pacific Northwest. Therefore, they must be removed or exterminated. There arose from their midst a great heroic figure who possessed remarkable qualities of leadership seldom seen among any people. Chief Joseph took on the responsibility of command and led his people during the difficult and dangerous days of escape and battle. This heart-rending story is as suspenseful as a work of fiction. But, it all really happened.

Plan to join us for a thoughtful look at an important moment in time in the history of the Old West.

Jerry Selmer is a thirty-nine year member of the Corral who was our Sheriff in 1985. He has served numerous historical organizations in Board and executive capacities including the Southwest Museum as Executive Director. A third generation native born Californian, Jerry received his B.A. in Public Administration from UCLA before serving in the U.S. Army for two years of active duty and six years of Reserve duty. He attained the rank of Captain. He served 31 years in administrative and executive capacities with the City of Los Angeles, holding the position of Assistant City Administrative Officer for 12 years. He has written articles and book reviews for the Branding Iron as well as previously delivering his excellent presentations to us.

Larry L. Boerio
Sheriff

Corral News & Other Subjects

About Dinner Reservations:

Dinner reservations are $35 and the deadline is March 6, 2014. Late reservations can be accepted, but reservations made on time will assure you the entrée of your choice. Walk-ins are $40.00 for potluck. Checks are payable to “Westerners, Los Angeles Corral”. Please mail to Registrar of Marks & Brands Pete Fries, 28160 Newbird Drive, Santa Clarita, CA 91350-1836. You may call Pete at (661) 296-7713 with questions or for late reservations.

Membership Wrangler Needed:

If you are interested in serving the Corral in this very important capacity, please contact Sheriff, Larry Boerio at 714-264-7575 or larrybemail@yahoo.com. This is an extremely exciting position heading a team currently made up of three others (more may be added) whose objective is to strengthen & revitalize membership based activities to achieve an increased number of a) overall members, b) members who are professional & serious historians, and c) Active members from within the membership pool. You need not be a long-term member of the Corral to fill this position. New ideas and creative approaches are welcome!

Interesting upcoming local events:

Saturday, March 8, 2014, 2:00 PM – 4:00PM. Chasing Ghosts: Chronicling Los Angeles’ Hidden Italian History – Speaker: Marianna Gatto, Executive Director of the Italian American Museum of Los Angeles. This is the first in a series of lectures entitled: “What Happened to the Ethnic Communities of Historic Los Angeles?” The series is co-sponsored by Los Angeles City Historical Society and the History Department of the Richard J. Riordan Central Library. Lectures are held in the Mark Taper Auditorium, on the first floor of the Central Library (640 W. 5th Street, Los Angeles). Admittance is free and open to the public.

Thursday, March 27 – Saturday March, 29, 2014. Symposium on the Southern Emigrant Trail in Temecula at the city Conference Center. This event is free to the public. Los Angeles Corral member, Phil Brigandi will be speaking on “Emigrants on the Southern Trail”. Additionally, our February speaker, Will Bagley will present “Salt Lake to Southern California; Route and Travelers”. Speakers are Thursday 8-4 and Friday 8-12. On Saturday, there will be a tour of historic sites in Temecula. The conference is sponsored by the Southern Trails Chapter of the Oregon California Trails Association and the City of Temecula Conference Center. For questions and itinerary, please contact Jud Mygatt at jvm@onemain.com or call 559-816-9404.

Through April 19, 2014 at the Pasadena Museum of History. The Colorado Street Bridge Centennial Exhibition. The mystique of the Colorado Street Bridge is undeniable. For nearly a century, the grand landmark has stood as a beacon to all who come to Pasadena. The exhibit pays homage to the people who built and preserved a beloved local landmark: the architects, the engineers, the builders, the civic leaders, and the community organizers who worked tirelessly to make it possible and to preserve it. Admission is $7, $6 for Seniors. Wednesdays through Sundays, 12:00 – 5:00 p.m. at 470 West Walnut Street, Pasadena.

RoundUp Store

RoundUp Dinner Form & Purchase

Instructions
To Inform our Registrar & Treasurer

1. Fill out the form below, review information, and click Submit below. (If you are planning on bringing more than four guests, please submit the form again with the additional guest’s names and dinner choices.) When you click the Submit button, this will confirm your reservation. This information will be sent via email to you, to our Treasurer and to our Registrar.

To pay & complete your purchase:

2. Click Buy Now below. You will be taken to PayPal. The following steps apply to the PayPal checkout process.

3. Enter total quantity of meals being purchased/guests attending under Your order summary then click Update.

4. If you have a PayPal account: under Choose a way to pay, you can enter your PayPal account information.
If you do not have a PayPal account: under Choose a way to pay, select Pay with debit or credit card, or Bill Me Later link and enter your billing information.

5. After entering your billing or account information on PayPal, click Pay. This will complete your purchase.

6. Any questions on how to use PayPal? Help is available. Call 626-822-1522 to speak with Michele Clark. Please make sure to submit meal selections before proceeding to PayPal.