News & Columns > Doe Huff > Our Town, December 2

Our Town, December 2

By Doe Huff
Tuesday, December 2, 2008

I sure hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving and are as excited as I am about the upcoming holidays. I didn't venture down the hill last Friday to join the mobs gobbling up the sales; I tried to get a good start on my indoor decorating which takes Jim and me a solid five days. I did do one stupid thing, as I am writing this column I am having new carpet installed in our loft by Joe's Floor World in Crestline. Last night I spent the evening taking down stuff I just put up the day before that had to be moved only to have to end up redoing it tonight. I am happy to report it is all finished except for the tree, which we will get on Thursday. We always go to the same place every year in Rancho Cucamonga to cut a fresh one that lasts all the way to New Years.

Those of you who know me know that Jim built me an entire storage room just for my obsessive decorating habit. However, my favorite decorations– and the only ones I took during the last two evacuations- are my candlestick holders. After our first Christmas, Jim cut off the bottom of our tree and stuck it in the garage. He did this for two more years and right before our fourth Christmas, I came home to find him working on his lathe making candlesticks from our previous trees. We put a small brass plaque on each one designating the year and now there are 16 of them sitting on our mantle.

I am so bummed that I didn't make it to the Christmas tree lighting and the craft fair at the San Moritz this year. I really meant to, but it was a case of just bringing up one more box and putting up one more bow. I was trying to estimate how many yards of ribbon I have used around the old homestead and it has to be at least 300! It seems I am not the only one who missed the tree lighting. I chuckled when EightisEnuff posted that she too missed the lighting and she should have read my column! I must admit I also found some humor in a post from the Mountain News stating RIMOFTHEWORLD.net readers should refer to their paper for upcoming events. When I wrote my column for the Crestline Courier, I wasn't even allowed to mention this wonderful web site! Hum, I wonder if they read our Calendar of Events.

The weather was perfect for both activities and I hope they were both well attended. I can't help but smile every time I drive by the lake and see the lighted tree. It's also so welcoming to see all of the lights and decorations popping up around Our Town and other mountain communities.

The holiday season really gets off to a roaring start this weekend. The Lake Arrowhead Classical Ballet Company presents The Nutcracker starting this Friday, December 5 and running through Sunday, December 7 at the Rim High School Performing Arts Center. Local school kids get a real treat with performances just for them. For more information, call 909 336-1359.

Friday night, December 6, is the annual Mountain Kids Fundraising Dinner at the San Moritz Lodge from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. I am assuming that our local firefighting heroes will once again be serving up their delicious spaghetti and meatball dinner. There will also be both silent and live auctions and after dinner dancing. The proceeds go toward making the holidays just a little brighter for so many of our mountain families in need. I hope to see you there. Our government's economic wizards finally announced we are in a recession, DUH! We just can't let these kids not have a great Christmas. For more information, you can call 909 338-0180.

On Saturday, December 6 the world famous (at least famous if you ever track the Guinness Book of World Records) community holiday parade rolls down the main street of Blue Jay. This is the 29th year for this annual event. The road closes at 1 p.m., the parade starts at 2:30 p.m., and ends around 2:45. Looks like they are going to have much better weather this year!

Also on Saturday is the Lake Arrowhead Republican Women's Club 6th Annual Holiday Fantasy Luncheon at the Lake Arrowhead Country Club. Many beautifully decorated little trees will be raffled to support various charities. For more information, call 909 336-6515.

On the other side of the mountain, the Big Bear Discovery Center is looking for volunteers to help with a Bald Eagle Count in the Big Bear Valley on December 6 at 8 a.m. On that day, you can also take part in Animal Tracking where you can learn to track animals in our forest and how to make your own animal track castings. That sure sounds like a fun family thing to do.

Don't forget that starting December 11, A Christmas Carol is coming to the Crestline Village Theater presented by the Lake Arrowhead Repertory Theatre Company. Be sure to check out Scrooge's tombstone and Bob Cratchet's desk that Jim made! For more information, call 909 744-8114.

In my last column I asked you what was going on in Putty Henck's homestead. Before I tell you, I need to give you a little more history on Skyforest. In 1925 Putty's dad, Joe Henck, built a store on the NE corner of Kuffel Canyon and Rim of the World Drive. It was called the J.E. Mercantile. A few years later, it was sold to Mr. & Mrs. McGinity. The new owners served as Postmasters after Skyforest got their first post office in 1928. Each following owner of the store became the postmaster until 1943 when the current owner just walked out one day and left everything behind.

Now to answer my question, the post office boxes were moved to the Henck family home in an upstairs room above the garage that had an outside entrance and Putty's mom, Mary Henck and Mrs. Ruth Fouch became acting postmasters. Mary received a Presidential appointment as Postmaster in 1946 and kept the job until she retired at the age of 72.

In 1943, the Skyforest Post Office was moved to the family home of Joe and Mary Henck. (Photo by Courtesy of Putnam Henck.)

Putty has written a marvelous book, From the Memories of Putnam Henck (plus a little bit of history). This is a wonderful first hand peek of early life on the mountain. If you can't find a copy in local bookstores, email me at Doe@rimoftheworld.net and I will try to get one for you from the historical society for a cost of $10.00.

• Sticking with Putty's book, his mom was a very busy person. She is much more well known for something else she did on the mountain. What was that?

Cassidy was taking me for our daily walk around Lake Gregory the other day and we came across several orange-painted lines at the proposed site of the new dog park. This is so exciting! I have also noticed that folks are stuffing plastic bags into the poop bag receptacles when they are empty. Most dog owners are really terrific! Cassidy has told all her friends how proud she is of her mom trying so hard to get her a park.

Well, Craig Pearson of A Bluer Sky just left after helping Jim take down our Christmas lights that are over 20 feet up to the point of the third floor of our house. When we turned on all of the outdoor lights Thanksgiving evening, a whole section was out. Years ago, we had put these lights on long skinny boards to make changing the light bulbs easier. Yes, we are one of those folks who leave the hard to get to lights up all year. However, this year Jim had some major repairs since squirrels had chewed through the wires in several places. He was not a happy camper, but he and Craig got the job done. Don't forget to call Craig if you need help with your lights at 909 648-3715. He also voluntarily put up all of the large Crestline Communities Development Alliance wreaths you see around town on commercial and public buildings. His motto should be "Have Ladder – Will Travel".

Isn't it just great living in Our Town?

This article was first published on Tuesday, December 2, 2008 at 12:40 pm. This article has been viewed 496 times.

Doe and her husband Jim bought their home in Crestline 12 years ago and moved to the mountain full time eight years ago. Doe retired from the Federal government four years ago after working for NASA, The Army Material Command, the Technical Air Force/Navy Training Team, the Army Corps of Engineers and the Air Force Academy. Doe worked in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Washington D.C., Jeddah Saudi Arabia, Isfahan Iran, Pasadena, and active duty Air Force at Glasgow AFB, Montana and Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota. Doe was born in Chicago, but was raised in Montclair, CA. Jim and Doe share their home with their dog Cassidy.

Doe earned an Associates Degree in Journalism and a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of Colorado and was awarded a Presidential Management Internship. Writing has always been a hobby for Doe and since living in Crestline she has written human interest articles for "On the Mountain Magazine" and was a news reporter for the Crestline Courier as well as writing a very popular weekly column.

Together Doe and Jim have three children and five grandchildren. They are both very active in the community. Doe has served as President for the Crestline Communities Development Alliance, was on the Board of Directors of the Boys & Girls Club of the Mountain Communities when it was formed, is a member of the Lake Gregory/Crestline Rotary and was a Board member for several years with the Rim of the World Historical Society. Doe and Jim organized the first annual 4th of July Old Fashioned Community Picnic and just finished the fifth successful year for this event. Doe has been working for over two years to bring a dog park to Lake Gregory. They received a Certificate of Appreciation from County Supervisor Paul Biane for their commitment to the improvement and general well being of the Crestline Lake Gregory community. Doe is very proud to be a citizen of Our Town.

The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of RIMOFTHEWORLD.net. This column is copyrighted by Doe Huff.