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"In The News" ... from the museum newsletter, The Depot Dispatch. Volume 21 - (ISSUES IN REVERSE CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER) “Candy Cane Train” Starts Nov. 23. Don’t Miss All The Fun! - (Vol. 21, No. 4 - Winter 2001-2002) The Candy Cane Train will begin its 9th annual holiday run on Friday, Nov. 23. The popular year-end family event at the railroad museum will be held daily through Dec. 23, except on Mondays and Tuesdays when the museum is closed. Hours are 1 to 4 p.m. each day. Candy Cane Train tickets are $3 each (adult or child), which includes a ride on the festively-decorated miniature train, plus an assortment of holiday treats and favors. Additional rides are 75¢ each. Members receive their usual 25¢ off on all tickets. Tickets will be sold at the museum during event hours. There is a 34-inch minimum-height requirement for riders. Holiday Gifts Solutions Abound At Museum Store - (Vol. 21, No. 4 - Winter 2001-2002) The museum’s Trackside Shop is the place for finding those perfect gifts for rail fans and history buffs on your holiday shopping list. There’s something there for all ages – books, educational toys, train videos, T-shirts, engineer’s caps, whistles and many specialty items. The selection of Thomas The Tank Engine merchandise has never been greater. Every purchase that you make benefits the museum and, as a member, you receive a 10% discount on all shop purchases (Membership card required). We accept Mastercard and Visa, as well as your personal check. “Super Saturday VI” Kicks Off On Feb. 2 - (Vol. 21, No. 4 - Winter 2001-2002) The 6th Annual “Super
Saturday!” will be held at the railroad museum on Feb. 2. Event
hours are 1 to 4 p.m. Super Saturday is made possible by the sponsorship support of local businesses, organizations and members. Sponsors for the 2001 event included Cox Communications; Michael J. Gartzke, CPA; Mid-State Bank; and Cold Spring Tavern — many of whom will be returning as Super Saturday! supporters. Channel Communications has also joined the supporters list for 2002. Super Saturday! is held each year on the day before the Super Bowl football game. The date of the 2002 event was changed when the Super Bowl was moved back a week, into February. Each year, hundreds of free rides are given on Super Saturday to museum visitors. Last year, 229 free rides were given. We hope there will be plenty of members and other Depot Dispatch readers on hand for the 2002 event, as well. Memorial Gift Received - (Vol. 21, No. 4 - Winter 2001-2002) Virginia Gardner has made a gift to the museum in memory of Lester H. Carmichael, a former Southern Pacific employee. Volunteer News - (Vol. 21, No. 4 - Winter 2001-2002) Coast Starlight
Guide Training Museum Honors Volunteers Fairview Car Wash Sponsors “March Madness” & Monthly Handcar Rides - (Vol. 21, No. 4 - Winter 2001-2002) Unlimited free rides on the Goleta Short Line miniature train will be available at the museum March 1-29, 2002, as part of the fourth annual March Madness event (March 30-31 are not a part of March Madness in 2002 because they are the dates of the museum’s Easter Bunny Express event and Easter Sunday, when the museum is closed). March Madness set an audience record in 2000 and again in 2001, when 2,356 free train rides were given. Let’s see if we can make it 3,000 in 2002! For the second year, March Madness is being made possible by the generous sponsorship support of our good friends at Fairview Car Wash, which is also sponsoring the free handcar rides at the museum, offered on the third Saturday of every month. Parties, Parties, Parties - (Vol. 21, No. 4 - Winter 2001-2002) The children of Coast Starlight guides and museum trustees Pat Lorentzen and Perry Lorentzen held a surprise birthday party and anniversary bash for their parents at the museum on Sept. 8. Also celebrating birthdays at the museum in August, September and October were Margaux Christie, Richard Gonzales, Michael Hannigan, Sammy Herman, Taylor Leon, Kelvin Noronha, Christian Pelonis, Jeffrey Sloan and Dylan Taylor. Laura McKone held a summer social at the museum for families in her child-care group. Welcome New Members - (Vol. 21, No. 4 - Winter 2001-2002) We are pleased to welcome
new museum members Cecelia D. Puppo and James N. Ryan. Henry Bender Shares History & Architecture of Calif. Depots - (Vol. 21, No. 4 - Winter 2001-2002) It was a real treat having Henry Bender here on Sept. 10 as part of the museum’s Continuing Lecture Series and Goleta Depot Centennial. Mr. Bender has been working on a book on the railroad depots of California, a subject on which he is a leading authority. He shared the results of his on-going research with an enthusiastic audience of museum members and general public. Much of his program focused on the standard-plan depots that the Southern Pacific railroad built in California and other western states. The most common of these standard depots was the Combination Depot No. 22, of which about 90 examples were built by the SP from the 1890s until the 1930s in California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, Oregon and Utah. Eight examples of the Combination Depot No. 22 design were erected in Santa Barbara County in conjunction with the completion of the Coast Line, circa 1901. These were at Goleta, Naples, Gaviota, Concepcion, Sudden, Surf, Lompoc and Guadalupe. Goleta Depot is the only surviving example of the Combination Depot No. 22 in Santa Barbara County and one of only a handful to be found anywhere. Mr. Bender’s presentation also covered the earlier standard depot types that Southern Pacific built at Goleta, La Patera, and Ellwood in 1887 when the original branch railroad came to the Goleta area. Personal Treasures Make Holiday Display Unique - (Vol. 21, No. 4 - Winter 2001-2002) “Toy Trains and Teddy Bears! What better symbols are there of the Holidays, Past and Present. In that spirit, these cherished keepsakes are shared anew this Joyous Season – as their gift to you – by members of our Museum Family, young and old.” So reads the label that introduces the museum’s annual holiday display, the always-delightful year-end exhibition that opens Friday, Nov. 23, in conjunction with the Candy Cane Train. It can be viewed in the depot’s waiting room through Jan. 6 during museum hours. The display features toy locomotives and trains, plus a menagerie of stuffed animals, which have been borrowed from the homes of our Junior Engineers, museum volunteers, other members, trustees, and staff, as well as from the museum's own collections. “Steaming Summer” Was Big Hit in August - (Vol. 21, No. 4 - Winter 2001-2002) The 15th annual Steaming Summer, held over the weekend of Aug. 11-12, drew the largest crowd in the history of the popular museum event. Cars from Ted Cheesman’s circus-train collection were used to make up a special circus train that event attendees could ride. Especially popular were the cars with the water-squirting elephants and the bubble-blowing bear. In the model-railroad exhibit, Ken and Carolyn Weber’s HO-scale “K&C Famous Family Circus” completed the circus theme. The exhibit was shared by Kip Kramer, Perry Lorentzen, Bruce Morden and Hilda Volkman. Providing steam locomotion for the Goleta Short Line trains were the guest engines provided by owners Gene Allen, Ed Winnewisser and Dan O’Brien. Assisting in the train operations were volunteer conductors and engineers Ken Becker, Ted Cheesman, Jean-Guy Dube, Steve Kramer and Lavonne Sanchez. Noel Langle staffed the handcar ride. Volunteer clerk Peggy Langle was kept busy in the Trackside Shop. The cooking and food-service duties were shared by Connie Allen, Jan Bisol, David Chapman, Pat Edgerton, Jim Felland, Kip Kramer, Olivia Leonard, Todd Littlehale, Mila Marlow, Diana Mina and Lora Prater. Welcoming duties at the admissions table were covered by Jim Felland, Peggy Langle, Pat Lorentzen, Bruce Morden, Margaret Pryde, Dick Shelton and Wendy Shelton. Assisting museum staff with setup and cleanup were David Chapman, Todd Littlehale, Noel Langle, Peggy Langle, Bruce Morden and Michael Morden. Bruce and Michael also stayed over Friday and Saturday nights, watching over the Steaming Summer equipment. Extra special thanks are owed to those whose names appear two or more times above. These dedicated volunteers worked extra shifts to ensure that our visitors would not be disappointed. Steaming Summer was also made possible by the financial support of sponsor Toyota of Santa Barbara and of the Goleta Lions Club, which provided funds to keep the food booth supplied. Depot Night Postponed - (Vol. 21, No. 4 - Winter 2001-2002) Depot Night, originally scheduled for Nov. 9, has been postponed until 2002. When a new date has been set, it will be announced here and on the museum web site. Those who made reservations for the Nov. 9 event will also receive a personal notification. The decision to reschedule the event was based on the tragic events of Sept. 11 and their aftermath. Museum's Christmas Tree Is Part Of A Railroad Tradition - (Vol. 21, No. 4 - Winter 2001-2002) If you walk or drive along Los Carneros Road during the holiday season, you can enjoy the decorated tree displayed in Goleta Depot’s upstairs window bay. The lights go on in the late afternoon, but the effect is especially eye-catching with the fall of darkness, when the lights glow like a beacon in the night. For two decades now – ever since the depot was moved to Lake Los Carneros County Park – the tree has been placed in the landmark building’s second-floor bay. This has special meaning for the Yuletide season. It preserves a venerable railroad custom, practiced down through the years by countless station-agent families across America, of positioning their Christmas tree in a prominent spot, where its message of hope and wonder could be shared with crews and passengers on passing trains. The depot tree will also be ornamented with white “Remembrance Stars,” in memory of those special friends who are no longer with us. This is the fourth year that these simple paper decorations have graced the tree. Holiday Party Goes Forward As Planned - (Vol. 21, No. 4 - Winter 2001-2002) The museum’s annual holiday party will be held on the evening of Thurs., Dec. 13. The event will be at the Goleta Library, 500 N. Fairview Ave. The festivities begin at 7 p.m. All members, along with their families or guests, are invited to attend. Please bring a dessert or hors d'oeuvres to share with others. Beverages, cups, napkins, and plates will be supplied by the museum. The holiday party is a good way to meet other members, museum staff and volunteers. We hope to see you at this annual get-together. The party has been held at Goleta Library since 1993. E-Mail List Grows - (Vol. 21, No. 4 - Winter 2001-2002) Some members who have requested that their names be added to the museum’s e-mail list have not been getting their e-mails. This has been happening because we have been unable to read some of the e-mail addresses that members have written on their membership application & renewal forms. If you aren’t receiving those handy “Last-Minute Reminders” of upcoming events and activities and would like to be on the list, please send an e-mail to news@goletadepot.org, with the words “add me” at the beginning of your message. And, please be sure to print your e-mail address clearly on any membership forms that you submit. Depot Day Triumphant In Spite Of Low Attendance - (Vol. 21, No. 4 - Winter 2001-2002) Proceeds from the Depot
Day silent auction easily surpassed last year’s record total.
The auction’s success is especially noteworthy because the
crowd was one of the smallest in the event’s 19-year history,
a result, at least in part, to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on
America that occurred only days before the Sept. 23 museum event. Depot Day was made possible by these and scores of other volunteers, from both the museum and supporting community organizations, including representatives from the Dos Pueblos High School Interact Club and the DPHS Junior ROTC (26 cadets led by Capt. Daniel Freitas and Master Sergeant Steven D. Potts), who helped with event setup and parking. Local organizations and businesses and many others donated equipment, supplies and auction items to help make Depot Day a success. Trustee John Locke was responsible for much of the planning for the Depot Day barbecue. Joining John as food preparers and servers were Barbara Cornish, Rick Cornish, Jim Felland, Dondra Lankin, Olivia Leonard, Trustee Ken Pontifex and Judy, Hannah and Leah Savage. The silent auction tables
were staffed by Kari Adams, Connie Allen, Carol and Scott Matthew,
Jo McNally, while John Starr and Margaret Pryde handled the auction
receipts and sales. A record number of items were donated to the
auction by businesses, members and museum friends. Volunteering
on the Goleta Short Line were Gene Allen, Bob Burtness, Trustee
David Chapman, Jean-Guy Dube and Sean VanderJagt. Throughout the
day, rides on the standard-gauge track in front of the depot were
alternated between the handcar, operated by Trustee Noel Langle,
and Bob Mahan’s Ventura County Railway inspection car. Jude
Blau, trustee Kip Kramer, Stella Kramer took care of the admissions
table – greeting arrivals, distributing flyers, and collecting
donations. RoseAnn Hill and Hilda Volkman shared the depot agent’s
former second-floor living quarters with visitors. Trustees Pat Lorentzen
and Bruce Morden shared agent duties, while Edee Brown and Judy
Blue helped in the Trackside Shop. The model railroad exhibit was
shared by Trustees Kip Kramer and Perry Lorentzen. A LOOK BACK: 20 YEARS AGO - (Vol. 21, No. 4 - Winter 2001-2002) According to its Sept. 10, 1981 agreement with Southern Pacific and the Kellogg Heirs Association, Goleta Beautiful had until mid-December to remove the historic depot from its trackside site. With enough money in the bank to pay for the move and begin restoration and rehabilitation, the commitment was made to set a relocation date. Initially, the Depot Committee hoped to complete the move by mid- to late October, before any heavy rains could begin to adversely affect the project. Prior to the move, a number of things had to be taken care of at the new site at 300 North Los Carneros Road. A professional site survey was contributed by Hugh Simpson. Soils testing, donated by Pacific Materials Laboratory, revealed the presence of expansive soils. These would require modifications to the foundation design. The changes were made by Depot Committee member and project architect Raymond Baird, who donated hundreds of hours of Goleta Depot work. At its Sept. 21 meeting, the County Board of Supervisors approved Baird’s plans for the depot relocation and rebuilding. The site grading was performed on Sept. 29 and 30 – a donation from South Coast Contractors, Inc. The project also received from Goleta Ready Mix, SP Milling Co., McNall Building Materials and Granite Construction a combined donation of about 32 yards of concrete for the foundation footings. Phyllis Olsen was instrumental in securing these gifts of materials. The Depot Dispatch issue of Sept. 11 (Vol 1, No. 8) reported that 10 yards of concrete were still needed to complete this portion of the work. Rains and scheduling conflicts caused the original October move date to be pushed back to Nov. 4. More problems added another two-week delay. The company hired to perform the move, AA Jet Housemovers of Norwalk, arrived in Goleta and set to work on Nov. 9. Using a chain saw, the movers cut the building in two that first day. One of the sections was much larger than the other: 60 feet in length and weighing about 70 tons. It contained the entire second story, the waiting room, office, baggage room, and even a portion of the freight warehouse. The other section consisted of the remaining 32 feet of the freighthouse. By the end of the week, both pieces of the depot had been lifted onto the wheel-and-axle assemblies that would carry them to Lake Los Carneros County Park. The trenches for the footings at the park site were not completed until Nov. 11. The work was a donation from G and M Construction. On the 12th, the footings were poured. Tony Hernandez contributed the labor and, to mark the occasion, members of his crew carved their initials in the wet concrete. The work was completed only a few hours before a heavy rain began to fall. On Nov. 16 and 17, an olive tree on Kellogg Avenue and a grand oak on Los Carneros Road were trimmed. Some of their branches had been blocking the route of travel planned for the two depot pieces. With the week of Nov. 16 came many last-minute jobs. No one had remembered to pick up the building permit! The specimen oak on Los Carneros Road needed some more, 11th-hour trimming. After a visit to the new site, AA Jet Foreman Harry Steuk reported that some additional grading would be necessary to allow his crews to reach the awaiting foundation area safely with their precious cargo. But, when Nov. 18 arrived, everything seemed in order. It was time for Goleta Depot to see its new home! “Steaming Summer” Arrives Aug. 11 & 12 - (Vol. 21, No. 3 - Fall 2001) The 15th annual Steaming Summer, the railroad museum’s only two-day event, will be held over the weekend of Aug. 11-12. The event gets its name from the miniature steam locomotives that visit the museum once a year to pull the Goleta Short Line trains and their passengers. For many museum visitors, it’s a unique opportunity to ride on a steam-powered train. Daily admission to Steaming Summer is only $3, which includes unlimited rides on the Goleta Short Line trains and the museum handcar. Hours both Saturday and Sunday will be 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Museum members are invited to come early (10-11 a.m.) to watch the locomotives being steamed-up in preparation for the day's activities (Early-bird attendance is limited to members and their accompanying guests only, please.). Steaming Summer is made possible by the generous sponsorship of Toyota of Santa Barbara. The Goleta Lions Club provides additional support. Steaming Summer will adopt a circus theme again this year – a tradition started in 1998. One of the trains will be a circus train, including several rare circus cars from the collection of Ted Cheesman. Event attendees will be able to ride the circus train, as well as the other trains operating during the event. The model-railroad exhibit will again feature Ken and Carolyn Weber’s “K&C Famous Family Circus,” an HO-scale three-ring circus that first appeared here in 1999. The circus features a big top, an operating 20-car circus train, and a lot more. The $3 admission charge ($2.75 for members) applies to everyone, including those who elect not to ride, while infants and any others who are unable to ride the train will be admitted without charge. For late arrivals, the admission price drops to $2 after 3 p.m. Advance tickets, at 50¢ off (75¢ off with membership card) are now available in the museum’s Trackside Shop. As of late July, when
this issue of the Depot Dispatch went to press, the list of scheduled
visiting operating equipment included: Gene Allen’s 4-4-0 American
— a 500-lb. coal-burning replica of an engine built in 1888
by the Cook Locomotive and Machine Co. of Patterson, N.J.; an 0-6-0
switch-engine owned by Ed Winnewisser of Atascadero; and an Allen
Models 2-6-0 mogul owned by Dan O’Brien of Westminster. Don't miss this once-a-year chance to see and ride the Goleta Short Line under a full head of steam! Museum Hosts Postal Event; Catcheted Envelopes Still Available - (Vol. 21, No. 3 - Fall 2001) For the second time in three years, the museum has hosted a special event in cooperation with the U.S. Postal Service. The May 30 event celebrated the release of two new first-class stamps, one honoring veterans and the other celebrating the genius of the late Charles Schultz, creator of the Peanuts comic strip. Museum member and philatelist Michael Gartzke deserves a great deal of credit for his help in organizing the event. A former member of the museum’s board of trustees, Gartzke also served as master of ceremonies during an introductory program that included brief historical sketches of Schultz and of the depiction of cartoons on American postage stamps. Museum director Gary Coombs spoke about Goleta Depot during times when the country was at war. Goleta Depot served as an official U.S. postal station for the day, a role it filled on Aug. 27, 1999 during a similar postal event, when the USPS introduced five stamps commemorating famous American trains including SP’s Daylight. Special museum-prepared catcheted envelopes were also sold at the event. Each envelope has one of the new stamps affixed and cancelled using a unique, one-day-only “Goleta Depot Centennial Station” postmark based on the Centennial logo. The envelopes also bear colorful artwork that harmonizes with the stamp or postmark themes. The envelopes can still be purchased at the museum’s Trackside Shop. The complete line of envelopes and postcards can be viewed on the museum’s web site (www.goletadepot.org – select the “Museum Store” button). Dan Sanchez, philatelic clerk at the S.B. post office, said that he filled requests from across the nation for about 300-350 cancellations using the Goleta Depot Centennial Station postmark. This is in addition to hundreds of cacheted envelopes sold by the museum! Welcome New Members - (Vol. 21, No. 3 - Fall 2001) We are pleased to welcome all of our new members. They include Sally Pierce, a new Sustaining member, and Active members Jo Ann Austin, Jim Downing, Doug Barteld, Jan Bisol, Sally Cappon, Juanita Doyle, John Geiger, Donald Gillies, Ilsa Hance, Evelyn Kert, Joan McDonough, Lora Prater and Robert Seward. New Jr. Engineers Club members include Benjamin Anderson, Ryan Broumand, Marissa DePola, Connor Dickens, Caleb W. Funk, Grant Ryan Harrison, John D. Hollifield, Kyle Lawson, Harper Owen, Noah Perlmutter, Dylan Taylor, Thomas Vallejo and Christoffer Vedkiaer Missing Something? - (Vol. 21, No. 3 - Fall 2001) Did you find out in time about the July 30 library program change? Did you remember about the free-ride days in May and June? If not, you probably aren’t on the museum’s e-mail list. Those on the list receive “Last-Minute Reminders” of upcoming events and activities. This list is for members only. It is not made available to anyone else. To add your name, just send an e-mail to news@goletadepot.org, with the words “ADD ME” at the beginning of your message. “Rotary Day” - (Vol. 21, No. 3 - Fall 2001) Father’s Day was also “Rotary Day” at the railroad museum, as the Rotary Club of Goleta Noontime sponsored an afternoon of free train and handcar rides for the visiting public on June 17. In addition to underwriting the event financially, Rotary Club members also helped as event volunteers. Rotarians on duty included Rob Campbell-Taylor, Mike Gartzke, Ed Graper, Dennis Trammell and Walt Stephens, who staffed the handcar ride, after receiving museum training on operations and safety. Connie Burns and Rollin Gartzke greeted visitors at the museum entrance. Free rides on the train hit the 200 mark on the spot, and there were 85 free rides given on the museum handcar. Birthdays, Brthdays - (Vol. 21, No. 3 - Fall 2001) Celebrating birthdays at the museum in May, June and July were Zoey Alexander, Jordan Brown, Dario Bucy, Ian Chidester, Kyle Dannenfelzer, Sam Goodman, Rex Hardy, Grant Harrison, Caleb Hill, Spencer Hill, Koss Klobucher, Alessio Morello, Harper Owen, Jacob Park, Roberto Piotto, Thomas Vallejo, Christoffer Velkiaer and Ryan Weideman. Great Race Results Are In; Train Wins Annual Struggle!!! - (Vol. 21, No. 3 - Fall 2001) More than 400 free rides were given to museum visitors on Sat., May 19 during the Great Goleta Rail Race, the 20th annual spring fundraiser to benefit Goleta Depot and the railroad museum. The ride totals of 205
on the train and 204 on the handcar each surpassed the 2000 tallies
by wide margins. Pledge totals for the fundraising portion of the event were over $11,800. Bender Program Rescheduled; Morden Shares Santa Maria Valley Railroad History & Operations- (Vol. 21, No. 3 - Fall 2001) Museum trustee and docent Bruce Morden stepped in at the last minute to give a July 30 audience an interesting and informative presentation on the 90-year-old Santa Maria Valley Railroad. The scheduled speaker, Henry Bender, an authority on the depots of California, was unable to make the trip from San Jose due to a family illness. Bender’s planned program, Goleta's Depots and the Evolution of Southern Pacific's Standard-Design Depots, has been rescheduled to Monday, Sept. 10. The lecture and slide presentation will pay particular attention to Goleta Depot, an example of Southern Pacific’s widespread standard two-story combination depot No. 22 design, and to the three earlier, 19th century Goleta Valley depots. All programs are held at Goleta Library, 500 N. Fairview Ave, at 7 p.m. They are sponsored by the museum, as part of its Continuing Lecture Series and the Goleta Depot Centennial celebration. Youth Groups Tour Museum - (Vol. 21, No. 3 - Fall 2001) School and youth groups visiting the museum for tours and train rides over the May-August period include Adams School, Channel Islands YMCA, Cleveland School, El Rancho School, Hope School YMCA Day Camp, The Learning Academy (San Fernando), Lompoc Home Schoolers, McKinley School, Montecito Union School, Peabody/Roosevelt Summer School, Rainbow School, and YMCA Kindercamp. Volunteer News - (Vol. 21, No. 3 - Fall 2001) The Coast Starlight Interpretive Program has gained 12 new guides-in-training. They are Jo Ann Austin, Doug Barteld, Jan Bisol, Sally Cappon, Juanita Doyle, John Geiger, Donald Gillies, Ilsa Hance, Evelyn Kert, Joan McDonough, Lora Prater and Robert Seward. “Depot Day” - Sunday, Sept. 23 - (Vol. 21, No. 3 - Fall 2001) The 19th Annual Depot
Day will be held Sunday, Sept. 23. Event hours are 11 a.m. to 4
p.m. Donations Requested: A donation of $1 per person will be requested upon entering the museum grounds on Depot Day. Rides, Rides, Rides: There will be miniature train and handcar rides, of course, and Bob Mahan will be there to give rides on his Ventura County Railway inspection speeder. All rides are $1 each during Depot Day. Silent Auction:
There are always lots of great buys on items for yourself or gifts
for friends and family at the Depot Day silent auction. This year,
the tables will be jammed with more than 200 items going up for
bid, including luxury hotel stays, golf, admission to Southern California
amusement parks, tickets to regional performing arts productions,
winery tours, Amtrak adventure travel, and a lot more. Always represented
among the auction items are fine restaurants, including the five-star
Citronelle, Four Seasons Biltmore, and Fess Parker’s Doubletree
Resort. The silent auction is a very important revenue source for
the museum. Please help the organization and yourself by stopping
by the tables and placing bids on some of these fabulous items. Special Guests: Southern California representatives of Operation Lifesaver, Adam and Vikki Martinez, will be at Depot Day to hand out fun souvenirs and talk to visitors about pedestrian and vehicle safety around trains and railroads. Musical Entertainment: Back by popular demand will be the energetic youth singing group, SHOWSTOPPERS, and the Monte Vista Elementary School Choir, both under the direction of Radu Azdril. Barbecue Features
Choice Of Tri-Tip Beef or Chicken: The delicious Depot Day barbecue
will include your choice of entree – chicken breast or sliced
tri-tip – plus green salad, toasted french bread, and ranch
beans. Train Films: Films on a variety of railroad topics will be shown throughout the day in the museum's Gandy Dancer Theater. Other Refreshments: There will also be hot dogs, soft drinks, and other refreshments served throughout the day by our volunteers. Circus Display: Depot Day will also be your last chance to see Ken and Carolyn Weber’s HO-scale “K&C Famous Family Circus“ in the model railroad exhibit room. A LOOK BACK: 100 YEARS AGO - (Vol. 21, No. 3 - Fall 2001) In 1901, with the Coast Line up and running at last, Goleta became a link in the chain of stations and rails that connected California’s principal cities of San Francisco and Los Angeles. The new depot at Goleta grew rapidly in local importance, becoming the social and economic hub of its community. The building cost $6,500, according to a report in the Santa Barbara Morning Press, which described the new Goleta Depot as an “ornate station building” ... [with] a home [upstairs] for the agent and ... other improvements of a substantial nature.” Two other 100-year-old accounts of the new depot: “The gospel has been brought to Goleta. We have a real missionary in our midst, and he preaches everyday to the people in his own church, the gospel car Emanuel, which is side-tracked at the railroad depot.” (Morning Press, July 11, 1901) “The bad condition of the new road to the depot and the crossing on Hollister Avenue of San Jose Creek was discussed with result that the supervisors are urgently requested to build a bridge across this system.” (Morning Press report of the Sept. 11, 1901 meeting of the Farmer’s Club in Goleta) A LOOK BACK: 20 YEARS AGO - (Vol. 21, No. 3 - Fall 2001) For the Goleta Depot Project, the middle months of 1981 were ones in which the focus was largely on fundraising, an emphasis that would continue for more than a year. It had been decided early in the planning process that the depot should not be moved until enough money was in hand to pay for the entire first phase of the project. This included – in addition to the moving costs – site work, building stabilization and protection from the elements, installation of utilities, and restoration of the depot exterior. The total cost of this work had been estimated at $89,000. Soon it was apparent that this sum would not be obtained in time to complete a move prior to the on-coming winter of 1981-82. So, when the $50,000 figure was reached in August 1981, and sufficient cash was available to pay for the relocation itself, the decision was made to commit to the earliest possible move date. A grant of $5,000 from the Atlantic Richfield Foundation put the project over the top. At the end of August 1981, a lease agreement was signed between the County of Santa Barbara and Goleta Beautiful, providing the organization with a parcel of about 1.6 acres to accommodate the depot building. There would be no charge for the land use, which could be renewed in 10-year increments. Earlier that month, the County Planning Dept. had issued an address, 300 North Los Carneros Road, for the depot’s new home. The final two major obstacles to the relocation were removed in the month of September. On the 3rd, the Goleta Water District board approved the issuance of a permit allowing the sharing of water with Stow House, an arrangement to which the Goleta Valley Historical Society had agreed back in February. Then, on Sept. 10, the Kellogg Heirs Association and the Southern Pacific Transportation Co. both signed an agreement transferring to Goleta Beautiful any rights that either may have then had to the depot structure. In exchange, Goleta Beautiful agreed to relocate the building within a 90-day period. The stage at last was
set for the most dramatic step in the depot preservation plan. Museum To Host Postal Event Honoring Veterans, New Stamps - (Vol. 21, No. 2 - Summer 2001) As part of the Goleta Depot Centennial, the museum will be hosting a special event on Wed., May 30 to celebrate the release of two new first-class stamps by the U.S. Postal Service. Admission to the event is free. The Santa Barbara Post Office is co-sponsor. Both new stamps are being released in late May. One is dedicated to “Honoring Veterans,” while the second also follows a veterans theme, but in a more lighthearted fashion. It depicts Charles Schultz’s Peanuts character, Snoopy, in his role as “The World War I Flying Ace.” May 30 was chosen to hold the event because it is the traditional date for Memorial Day. The event will begin
with a brief ceremony at 1 p.m., and will continue until 4 p.m.,
so that children attending school that day will be able to take
part. The Goleta Short Line miniature-train will also operate during
the event. Especially for the occasion, the postal service will be using a unique, one-day-only “Goleta Depot Centennial Station” postmark, or cancellation, that is based on the Centennial logo developed by the museum to honor Goleta Depot’s 100th birthday. In addition to the stamps, themselves, event attendees will be able to purchase special “cacheted” envelopes with stamp and postmark affixed. These cacheted envelopes are prized by stamp collectors and are popular with a much wider audience as handsome and colorful commemorative keepsakes. Three different full-color cachet designs will be available during the event, each related to one of the new stamps or to the Centennial station postmark, itself. Envelopes bearing the Snoopy stamp will have a depiction of the Red Baron, perpetual nemesis of the Flying Ace, and the words, “In Hot Pursuit!” The cachet on envelopes with the veteran’s stamp will feature a large American flag similar to the one on the stamp, itself, with the wording, “A Salute To Our Veterans.” The third cacheted envelope will have a full-detail version of the Centennial logo, on which the special postmark is based. Attendees may choose which stamp to have affixed to these envelopes. In addition to the two new stamps, five historic train stamps, from the “All Aboard” series introduced by the postal service in 1999, will also be available. The envelopes are $3
each, which includes the stamp of the buyer’s choice and the
Goleta Depot Centennial Station postmark. The envelopes may also
be ordered in advance (see accompanying order form). For more information, contact the museum by phone (805-964-3540) or by e-mail (info@goletadepot.org). Spring Fundraiser Is May 19; Your Support Is Needed - (Vol. 21, No. 2 - Summer 2001) If you haven’t already made a pledge for the 19th annual Spring Fundraiser, there’s still time. Please complete and return the enclosed pledge card, which may be accompanied by your tax-deductible check or credit-card information. This year’s goal is $15,000, which is about $2,000 more than has been raised in any previous year. The event is the museum’s most important annual source of support for general operations, including payroll, insurance, utilities, supplies, repairs, and similar expenses. The Spring Fundraiser is also The Great Goleta Rail Race, a friendly competition, on May 19, between the museum’s people-powered handcar and machine-driven miniature train, to determine which can complete the most passenger-miles over a three-hour span. From 1 until 4 p.m., both handcar and train will operate continuously, giving free rides to all museum visitors. Race officials will record the total passengers carried and the distance completed by each conveyance. The Great Race winner
will be based on these totals, adjusted using a handicap based on
past years’ results. June 17 Is “Rotary Day” - (Vol. 21, No. 2 - Summer 2001) A new community event comes to the museum on Father’s Day – Sunday, June 17 – when the Rotary Club of Goleta Noontime sponsors an afternoon of free miniature-train and handcar rides. The event honors fathers and celebrates the successful close of another school year. Rotary Club members will be on hand to assist with the event. It will also be a good time to purchase tickets for the 4th of July Goleta fireworks show which Rotary organizes each year. Proceeds from the fireworks ticket sales benefit local nonprofit organizations, including the railroad museum! All Rotary Day riders must meet the museum’s minimum height requirements (34” for the train; 48” for the handcar). Welcome New Members - (Vol. 21, No. 2 - Summer 2001) We are pleased to extend a warm greeting to all new members. Bob and Mary Tench are new Life Members. Other new members include Vincent Cordrey and Ken Pontifex (Contributing); Fritzie Bell (Sustaining); and Austin Beede, Jude A. Blau, David Bothman, Jean-Guy Dubé, Ann Staten, Anthony W. Thompson, and William A. Wood. New Junior Engineers Club members are Chase Bowker, Jordan Brown, Peter Christiansen, Will Christiansen, Ryan Chung, Cameron Crabtree, Ian Jimenez, Melissa Piotto, Roberto Piotto, Nicholas Vanhecke, Sophia Winnikoff, and Koby Wood. E-Mail List Needs Your Name - (Vol. 21, No. 2 - Summer 2001) If you haven’t been receiving e-mail notices from the museum, you must not be on our exclusive e-mail list. If you’d like to receive reminders of coming events and activities at the museum, as well as breaking news about local and regional railroad activities, send an e-mail to news@goletadepot.org, with the words “ADD ME” at the beginning of your message. You’ll be added to the list. Lecture Series Kicks Off Centennial In Style - (Vol. 21, No. 2 - Summer 2001) The first two 2001 installments of the museum’s Continuing Lecture Series drew capacity crowds. In fact, these were the two largest audiences since the lecture series began back in 1992. Both Anthony Thompson’s Feb. 21 talk, 100 Years Along Southern Pacific’s Coast Line, 1901-2001, and Neal Graffy’s program, Naples: A Tale of Two Cities, on April 3, had at least 80 in attendance. All were treated to entertaining and informative programs that provided unique insights and perspectives into the times when Goleta Depot was born. Jr. Engineers Club Party Will Be July 26 - (Vol. 21, No. 2 - Summer 2001) The 10th annual Junior Engineers Club Party will be held Thursday, July 26, from 2 until 3:30 pm. There will be lots of free train rides on the Goleta Short Line, special showings of Thomas The Tank Engine videos, prizes and surprises, and delicious refreshments, including a Jr. Engineers cake! Don’t miss this special summer get-together, Junior Engineers! The event is free for members and one parent ($1 each for additional guests) but is limited to the first 60 reservations received. To hold your place, call 805-964-3540. Mid-State Bank Supports Summer Reading Program - (Vol. 21, No. 2 - Summer 2001) The railroad museum will again be participating in the Summer Reading Program of the Santa Barbara Public Libraries, thanks once again to the generous sponsorship support of Mid-State Bank. Each year, thousands of area youngsters receive certificates for free miniature-train rides at the museum, for themselves and a guest, when they complete the summer program by reading a minimum of 15 books. Participating libraries include Santa Barbara (Central and Eastside), Goleta, Solvang, Carpinteria, Montecito, Santa Ynez, Los Olivos, Lompoc, and the Bookmobile. We are proud that the South Coast Railroad Museum has actively supported the summer reading program, which fosters reading excellence among local children, since 1987.
“March Madness” Was Wild - (Vol. 21, No. 2 - Summer 2001) Another ride record was set during March Madness, which marked its third anniversary this year. Total ridership hit 2,269, beating last year’s record pace by about 5%. In fact, March 2001 now ranks behind only one month, July 2000, in terms of most train passengers carried, since the miniature railroad was added to the grounds in the late 1980s. The museum owes very special thanks to its good friends at Fairview Car Wash, who made this year’s March Madness possible through their generous sponsorship support. Depot Expert Henry Bender Will Speak July 30 - (Vol. 21, No. 2 - Summer 2001) Henry Bender, a leading authority on the railroad depots of California, will present a July 30 program, Goleta's Depots and the Evolution of Southern Pacific's Standard-Design Depots. The lecture and slide presentation will chart the development of the railroad depot, its architecture and functions, and show how Goleta Depot, an example of Southern Pacific’s widespread standard two-story combination depot No. 22 design, fits into this broader historical context. Henry Bender’s writing has appeared in SP Trainline and other rail publications. He is nearing the completion of his much-anticipated book on California railroad depots. A technical writer, Bender lives with his wife, Barbara, in San Jose. The program is sponsored by the railroad museum, as part of its Continuing Lecture Series and the Goleta Depot Centennial celebration. All Lecture Series programs are held at Goleta Library, 500 N. Fairview Ave, and begin at 7 p.m. Easter Bunny Express Attracts Another Large, Happy Crowd - (Vol. 21, No. 2 - Summer 2001) The 9th annual Easter Bunny Express turned out to be a perfect way to kick off a new spring season at the museum. The weather was near-perfect and, with so many things to do, everyone attending seemed to have a great time. Winners in the Jack Rabbit
Junction drawing included Alfred Aquirre, Samantha Bailey, Kevin
Burton, Jeff Colin, Kyle Dannenfelzer, Rachel Fan, Morgan Fletcher,
Kenneth Janes, Krista Kleinpeter, Hee Yun Kwon, Agustin Martinez,
Kendra McGary, Christian Mosbrucker, Randy Myers and Jordan Stanfield. Ticket sales and other
agent duties were handled for a second year by Pat Lorentzen and
Margaret Pryde. Food booth supplies were donated by the Goleta Lions Club. Von’s contributed many of the holiday cookies that were given out on the day. Assistance on event setup and cleanup was given by volunteers Kari Adams, David Chapman, Bev Gruen, Kip Kramer, Noel Langle, Peggy Langle, Ed Leska, Kathy Leska, Bruce Morden, Michael Morden, Arlene Radasky, Judy Savage, Hannah Savage, Leah Savage, Carol Welsh and Gary Welsh. Birthdays, Brthdays - (Vol. 21, No. 2 - Summer 2001) Celebrating March and April birthdays at the museum with group-area parties on the grounds were Chase Bowker, Corinna Casey, Chase Dietz, Peter Christiansen, Owen Hansen, Jonathan Heartley, Nicholas Venhecke and Annie Warren. Volunteer News - (Vol. 21, No. 2 - Summer 2001) New volunteers at the museum include Jean-Guy Dubé and Mary Hopson. Jean-Guy is training on the Goleta Short Line, while Mary is learning to become a weekday agent. Mary has joined the museum's volunteer corps as a result of her friendship with the late Betty Mocker, a former member, shop clerk, and agent. Jim Felland is another agent-in-training, but he is no newcomer to the corps of volunteers: He is a senior guide in the Coast Starlight Interpretive Program. Jude Blau and Fritzie
Bell joined the Coast Starlight program in February and took their
first training trips the following month. The newest guide-in-training
is Ann Staten, who joined the program in March. Join * Help * Serve - (Vol. 21, No. 2 - Summer 2001) There is a need for more volunteers in all visitor-service areas at the museum, including volunteers to operate the miniature-train and handcar rides, clerks for the museum store, and “station agents,” who share the historical landmark and model railroad exhibit with our guests. The basic volunteer commitment is one afternoon (three hours) each month. Both weekend and weekday openings are available. More Coast Starlight guides are also needed. Upon completion of training, guides are expected to complete an average of two train trips per month. For more information, please contact the museum office (805-964-3540) any weekday afternoon. 15th “Steaming Summer” Set For Aug. 11-12 - (Vol. 21, No. 2 - Summer 2001) Mark the weekend of Aug. 11-12 on your calendar so you’ll be sure not to miss the 15th annual Another Steaming Summer, the event that brings visiting live-steam locomotives to the museum grounds, both for viewing and for hauling the Goleta Short Line trains and their passengers. You and your family and friends can be among those passengers for the low admission price, which also includes unlimited day-long rides. The next issue of the Depot Dispatch, scheduled for a July publication date, will have all of the details. Expanded Summer Hours - (Vol. 21, No. 2 - Summer 2001) Museum hours will increase to 11-4 beginning Saturday, June 30. Days of operation will remain Wednesday through Sunday, with the museum closed Mondays and Tuesdays. The miniature-train ride also will operate additional hours under the expanded schedule. Train operations will begin at 11 a.m., with the last train departing the station at 3:45 p.m. Rides will be available every day the museum is open, including Thursdays, another change from the current schedule. The handcar ride will continue to operate on a monthly schedule. The rides are available and offered free on the third Saturday of every month, with sponsorship support from Channel Communications. Rail Museum Awarded “MAP” Grant - (Vol. 21, No. 2 - Summer 2001) The museum has received a Museum Assessment Program grant from the Institute of Museum and Library services. The purpose of the $1,775 “MAP” grant is to allow the participating institution to obtain the services of a consultant who can help the museum identify ways of improving its programs and manner of operation. The South Coast Railroad Museum is one of the first museum’s in the country to receive a second MAP grant. Prior to this year, museums were not eligible to receive MAP funding more than once. Our museum received a MAP grant in 1986. The railroad museum’s first MAP assessor was Alan Griesemer, the director of the San Bernardino County Museum. The recommendations contained in his MAP report proved to be of enormous value to the museum in a wide range of important areas, including collections care and management, long-term planning, and clarifying the museum’s mission and goals. Don’t Miss Depot Night! - (Vol. 21, No. 2 - Summer 2001) Make your reservations now for “Depot Night,” the crowning event of the Goleta Depot Centennial. The dinner gala will be held Friday, Nov. 9 at the Holiday Inn. We’ve set aside this special evening to pay tribute to the historical landmark for its 100 years of service to community and railroading, and also to recognize and honor the “depot people,” past and present, who have helped to make Goleta Depot the venerable institution that it has become. Tickets are $28 per person, which includes a delicious buffet dinner that includes beef, chicken and vegetarian entrees. To make your reservations, please call the museum office any afternoon at 805-964-3540. Seating is limited so call right away. A LOOK BACK: 20 YEARS AGO - (Vol. 21, No. 2 - Summer 2001) Fundraising for the Goleta Depot Project got under way with an "All-Aboard Party" on Sunday, March 22, 1981. By the end of April, early funding efforts had lifted the balance in the Depot Fund, held in an account at Mid-State Bank, to nearly $4,800. But supporters learned at an April 28 project meeting that the campaign had also suffered a serious setback, when fundraising chair George Adams reported that the Santa Barbara Foundation had decided not to approve a grant in support of the Save-The-Depot drive. Gary Coombs, overall project chairman recalls the disappointment and sombre mood that fell over the gatrhering. "For a few minutes there, I thought the depot project had come to an end," he remembers. And, in fact, several people who had helped with the early fundraising quit the project shortly thereafter, some, undoubtedly, in frustration over this expensive rebuke. Fortunately, there was a diehard core of supporters who stayed and the project limped forward. * * * The time has come to celebrate another milestone in the history of Goleta Depot, the project to save it, and the museum that honors it. June 5 will mark the 20th anniversary of the publication of the inaugural issue of the Goleta Depot Dispatch, which quickly became the official voice-in-print of the depot project. The inaugural Dispatch issue announced the formation of the "Friends Of Goleta Depot," which was created by the Depot Steering Committee "as a way of organizing and channeling community support for the Depot project." Anyone could join the Friends for a contribution of $10 or more ($5 for students; $25 for businesses). Friends received, among other privileges, the Depot Dispatch, sent via U.S. mail. The newsletter also reported that membership in the friends "was conferred retroactively" on everyone who had already made a direct contribution to the project. It was announced
that the names of all Friends would be listed as part of a permanent
public display at the museum. That “Friends Plaque” was
finalized in 1982 and can still be viewed in the waiting room at
Goleta Depot. Much of the first newsletter was devoted to describing the plan that had been formulated to save and revitalize the historical landmark. That plan was based on the principal of "adaptive reuse," which argued that some historic structures cannot continue to serve their original functions, but rather must be adapted to fill current needs if they are to survive. The plan called for the restoration of the depot exterior and the interiors of the freight office and waiting room, following standards set forth by the Santa Barbara County Historical Landmarks Committee. The freight room and upstairs apartment would be leased to local nonprofit organizations, according to the plan, with the rent monies used to pay for utilities and maintenance. Restrooms would be constructed inside the baggage room. Project
costs were estimated at $190,000 including about $89,000 for "Phase
1" work, which would cover building relocation and stabilization,
protection from the elements and vandalism, and restoration of the
exterior. "Goleta Depot Turns 100 This Year! - (Vol. 21, No. 1 - Spring 2001) On Jan. 8, museum officials kicked off the celebration of Goleta Depot’s 100th birthday with the unveiling of a Centennial logo and a Centennial calendar of events for 2001. The logo bears Stu Fredericks’ pen-and-ink sketch of Goleta Depot and the theme, “100 Years Of Service.” The theme wording was chosen to emphasize that Goleta Depot’s entire life has been one of service, first as a busy center of transportation and communications, then as the heart and soul of a museum and popular local attraction. You can download the complete Centennial calendar, which includes a full-color version of the logo, at the museum web site ( www.goletadepot.org – then select “Centennial Calendar”). The calendar can be printed on a single sheet of 8-1/2 by 11-inch paper. The Centennial logo is also featured on a button (including a pinless version for children) now available for $1.50 plus tax in the museum store. Centennial Year Will Be Busy - (Vol. 21, No. 1 - Spring 2001) On top of the museum’s regular schedule of events and activities will be a number of additions, most tied to the Centennial celebration. Lecture Series Programs Will Reflect Centennial Themes All of the 2001 programs in the museum’s Continuing Lecture Series will relate to the Centennial Celebration. The first two installments are scheduled for Wed., Feb. 21 and Tues., April 3. The February offering, by visiting railroad historian Anthony Thompson, is entitled “100 Years Along Southern Pacific’s Coast Line, 1901-2001.” Goleta Depot was built in 1901 as part of the Coast Line construction. The program is cosponsored by the Goleta Valley Historical Society, as part of its Goleta Community Heritage Project. In April, Neal Graffy will present “Naples: A Tale of Two Cities.” Santa Barbara’s most prolific historical lecturer, Graffy will tell the story of the ghost subdivision of Naples, which was planned west of Goleta near Dos Pueblos Canyon in the 1880s by entrepreneur John Williams in anticipation of the long-delayed opening of the Coast Line. All Lecture Series programs are held at Goleta Library, 500 N. Fairview Ave., and begin at 7 p.m. New Events Fill Out Calendar Several new events can also be found on the 2001 calendar. For the Centennial, the high point will be the “Depot Night” gala – an evening of celebration, recognition, and retrospection – on Friday, Nov. 9. On Sat., Feb. 24, Museum Director Gary Coombs will lead a bus tour of local sites relating to the history of transportation in Goleta. His “Trains, Planes & Automobiles” tour is also part of the Goleta Community Heritage Project. “Rotary Day” – sponsored by the Goleta Noontime Rotary Club – will be a free train & handcar ride day on Sunday, June 17, to honor Father’s Day and celebrate the end of the school year. A special “Centennial Postmark” event is also being planned for Wed., May 30, in collaboration with the U.S. Postal Service. Check future Dispatch issues for further details on upcoming events. Presents Keep Rolling In - (Vol. 21, No. 1 - Spring 2001) Birthday gifts for Goleta Depot continue to arrive. Trustees Perry and Pat Lorentzen donated both a new computer hard drive and printer – top items on the museum “Wish List” mentioned in a year-end letter to members. The Woman’s Service Club of Goleta donated funds for another “Wish List” item – a folding utility table. Member Ted Drozanski – an avid model railroader – donated more than a dozen pieces of rolling stock for the model-railroad exhibit, including four new locomotives. Donations of goods and services have been received from Goleta Electric Co. (electrical repairs), Goleta Valley Paint (paint supplies) and Silicon Beach Communications (internet access and web-site hosting). Most givers have expressed their recognition in the form of cash gifts. Year-end gifts were unusually high, with contributions during the fourth quarter of 2000 reaching $4,000. Contributors include Christine Allen, Constance Allen, Margaret E. (Betty) Bazzi, Terry and Patty Bliss, Ron Bruns, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Caccese, Nellie Casselman, Reed and Robin Cederlof, William Crow, DeVenne Family, Chuck and Nike Dreier, John Friend, Robert Halverson, Rose Ann Hill, Bill and Sheila Holzer, Josiah F. Jenkins, Ruth Johnson, Kip and Stella Kramer, Noel and Peggy Langle, H.W. (Hal) Lewis, Helen and John McKee, Bob and Helen McPherrin, Isabel Friend Newman, Paradise Machining Corp. (Warren Johnson), Bill and Arlene Radasky, Nancy and Walter Ried, Tom and Beulah Strout, Steve Sullivan, Rich and Linda Thom, George Thorpe, Hilda B. Volkman, Kay Woolsey, and Ron and Donna Zehrung. Donations were received in memory of George Adams, Raymond Baird, Ruth Hammond, Bill McNally, Sr. and Ernest Thomsen. News of more Centennial gifts will be reported in future Dispatch issues. Welcome New Members - (Vol. 21, No. 1 - Spring 2001) We are pleased to recognize and welcome the following new members. Our two new Milepost 100 members are Ellen G. Keeter and John Price. The Goleta Noontime Rotary Club is a new Life member. The latest Jr. Engineers Club additions are Chase Dietz, Carlos William Fairbanks, Jonathan Hartley, Marshall Payatt and Eita Takano. Other new members are Norman Burr, Ted Drozanski, Eric Heinsohn, Nancy Johnke, Charlie McNally, Mary Medbery and Ruth O'Donnell. “March Madness” Means Free Train Rides - (Vol. 21, No. 1 - Spring 2001) Don’t forget the 3rd Annual March Madness, sponsored by Fairview Car Wash. All museum visitors during the month will be treated to unlimited free rides on the Goleta Short Line miniature train (34-inch minimum height). The train will run Wed. thru Sun., 1-3:45. Local Foundations Award $5,000 In Capital Grants - (Vol. 21, No. 1 - Spring 2001) La Vista Foundation for the Blind and Physically Handicapped and the Wood-Claeyssens Foundation have awarded the museum capital-improvement grants of $3,000 and $2,000, respectively. The funds will be used for the new building and westside walkway announced in the last Depot Dispatch issue. Birthday Rolls - (Vol. 21, No. 1 - Spring 2001) The railroad museum has become a popular place for families to hold their birthday parties. Those celebrating recent birthdays at the museum include: Antonio Aquirre, Jack Burleigh, Isaac Daniel Calderon, Elijah Castillo, Christian Castro, Nicolae Christoffersen, Dylan Darga, Andrew Fay, Ian Fraser, Jacob Gonzales, Mark Gross, and Harrison Hall. Also, Chad Halleck, Rory Halsey, Gabriel Hill, Madeleine Kriz, Nate Owens, Sarah Rasmussen, Vincent Raya, Reagan Roberts, Jeffrey Sloan, Jonathan Sloan, Robert Stone, and Max Waitley. A brochure describing how to plan your party and reserve one of our party areas is available at the museum. Or, call Assistant Director Phyllis Olsen (805-964-3540) for more information. E-Mail List Being Assembled - (Vol. 21, No. 1 - Spring 2001) We’re putting together an e-mail list that will be used to send out news and information of interest to museum members. If you have e-mail and would like to be added to the list, please send a note to news@goletadepot.org, with the words “ADD ME” at the beginning of your message.
“Super Saturday V” Report - (Vol. 21, No. 1 - Spring 2001) Ridership for the fifth annual Super Saturday reached 229 passengers. Special thanks are due to our sponsors, who made this year’s January free-ride day possible. They are Cold Springs Tavern; Cox Communications; Michael J. Gartzke, CPA; and Mid-State Bank. Board Elects Officers and New Trustees; Noel Langle Is Centennial President - (Vol. 21, No. 1 - Spring 2001) Noel Langle has been
elected President for 2001 by the Board of Trustees. Langle is Zoning
Administrator for the County of Santa Barbara. A longtime museum
member, he has served on the board since 1997. The Board also elected Robert Tench and Ken Pontifex to two-year terms as new trustees. Bob Tench is a physicist at Digital Instruments in Goleta; Ken Pontifex is a partner with the law firm of Price, Postel & Parma.
Holiday Display Shares Members’ Keepsakes - (Vol. 21, No. 1 - Spring 2001) Special thanks are expressed to all of the members and friends who parted with their treasured stuffed animals and toy train items for a few weeks for the year-end display. The 2000 edition of “Toy Trains and Teddy Bears!” in Goleta Depot’s Waiting Room was a favorite with our holiday-season visitors. Museum docent Edee Brown shared her Millennium bears, “Mildred” and “Millie.” Another longtime volunteer, Eugene Allen, contributed two antique toy operating live-steam locomotives to the display, his “Birmingham Dribbler” and an O-gauge LMS 265, both manufactured in England ca. 1925. Returning by popular demand to the 2000 exhibit was “Merry-Lee,” a huge stuffed bear shared by Scotty Becker, son of Goleta Short Line engineer/conductor Ken Becker. Museum agent Ed Leska gave us a Shell Oil Co. train, a gift from his daughter, Susan. As always, a number of
our Junior Engineer Club members, and their families, also took
part in the holiday showcase. Eva and Max Wiedmann loaned a variety
of items, including “Edward,” a toy locomotive that Max
received at age 4, and three stuffed bruins: “Balerina Bear,”
“Thomas,” “Christmas Bear” and “Water Bear.” Every year, all museum members are invited to take part in the upcoming Toy Trains & Teddy Bears display. You can add your name to the list of 2001 participants now by contacting the museum office (964-3540). “Candy Cane Train” Was Sweet Event - (Vol. 21, No. 1 - Spring 2001) The 2000 Candy Cane Train was a huge success, easily eclipsing the results of the preceding year. Total event tickets sold reached 1,543. The near-record numbers may be attributed, in part, to the cooperative weather (only one day was rained out) and another year of great support from the Santa Barbara News-Press, which came in the form of free advertising through the repeated publication of a Candy Cane Train display ad. Over its eight years, the Candy Cane Train has grown to become one of the area’s favorite family entertainments for the holiday season. Along the way, the event has single-handedly transformed one of the museum’s slowest times of year into one of its busiest. Youth Groups Tour Depot and Museum - (Vol. 21, No. 1 - Spring 2001) Free guided tours of Goleta Depot were enjoyed during 2000 by a number of school and youth groups from throughout Santa Barbara County. The participating schools and organizations, some of which took several tours, included El Rancho School, Fundamental Baptist of Santa Maria School, Girls Inc., Hollister School, Home Schoolers of Lompoc, Kellogg School, Kid’s Club and La Patera School. Also, Monte Vista School, Montecito Union School, Mountain View School, Peabody School, Rainbow School, Roosevelt School, San Marcos Parent/Child Workshop, Santa Barbara Dayschool, and Summerland School. Tours may be arranged by contacting Assistant Director Phyllis Olsen (805-964-3540) any weekday afternoon. There is no charge to local youth organizations for the guided tours. 19th Spring Fundraiser Coming May 19 - (Vol. 21, No. 1 - Spring 2001) This year’s “Great Goleta Rail Race” will be held Sat., May 19. For the fifth year, the event will feature unlimited train and handcar rides for all visitors. The 2001 Great Race is the museum’s 19th annual spring fundraiser. It is one of the organization’s most important annual income sources, generating more than 10% of the funds needed for operations. Funds are raised by the event participants, including members of the Board of Trustees, volunteers, and other members, who obtain financial pledges from sponsors, including area businesses, organizations, fellow members, and others in our community, and even farther afield. This year’s goal is $15,000, about $2,000 more than has ever been raised in the past. To achieve this goal – which is critical to keep the museum running smoothly – it will take more participants collecting pledges. We urge all members and others to consider taking a more active role in this year’s spring fundraiser. Please contact the museum office and ask for a pledge sheet and instructions. With your help, the 2001 Great Race can be truly great! Bunny Day Is April 21 - (Vol. 21, No. 1 - Spring 2001) It won’t be long before the Easter Bunny Express arrives at the museum for another busy day of fun and fancy. This year’s, 9th annual event will be Sat., April 21, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The museum grounds promise to be aglow in yellow and orange from thousands of springtime blooms of Calif. poppy and nasturtium. For a preview, take a look at page 3 (“Must-See Attractions” section) of the current (Oct. 2000) Santa Barbara telephone book. This striking photo was taken during the 2000 Easter Bunny Express by Trustee David Chapman. It wouldn’t be the Easter Bunny Express without those adorable egg-shaped tickets, which open the doors to an array of festive diversions, including visits to Wabbit- Twacks Station (to ride the decorated miniature train); Harvey’s House (for a cookie and beverage); Easter-Bunnyville (to meet the Easter Bunny and receive an egg surprise); Jack-Rabbit Junction (to enter a drawing for some great gifts); and What’s Up Dock (to collect another event souvenir). The ticket price is $3 for both children and adults. Tickets will be available during the event until 3:30 p.m. Or, they may be purchased in advance during regular museum hours. Hot sandwiches and other refreshments will be available for those wishing to enjoy lunch or an afternoon snack during the event, thanks to support from the Goleta Lions Club. Hop aboard the Easter Bunny Express on April 21 (Rain date: 4/28). It promises to be another hare-raising eggs-perience for the whole family! Volunteer News - (Vol. 21, No. 1 - Spring 2001) The Coast Starlight Interpretive Program has four new guide-applicants. They are Norman Burr, Nancy Johnke, Sy Lankin, Mary R. Medbery and Ruth O'Donnell. Norman, Nancy, Mary, Ruth and Sy will learn to become Coast Starlight guides using the new “Guide Training Workbook.” All training takes place aboard Amtrak’s Coast Starlight train. Charlie McNally and Austin Beede are training to become crew members on the Goleta Short Line miniature train. Both young men attend Dos Pueblos High School (Austin graduates this year) and are also sons of former museum trustees and board presidents: Charlie's father is Bill McNally, who published Goleta Depot: The History of a Rural Railroad Station and was on the board way back in the 1980s; Austin's dad is Ben Beede, who also served as a museum docent for a number of years. It's great having members of the Beede and McNally families volunteering at the museum again! * Join * Help * Serve * There is a need for more volunteers in all visitor-service areas at the museum, including volunteers to operate the miniature-train and handcar rides, clerks for the museum store, and “station agents,” who share the historical landmark and model railroad exhibit with our guests. The basic volunteer commitment is one afternoon (three hours) each month. Both weekend and weekday openings are available. More Coast Starlight guides are also needed. Upon completion of training, guides are expected to complete an average of two train trips per month. For more information, please contact the museum office (805-964-3540) any weekday afternoon. A Night To Remember - (Vol. 21, No. 1 - Spring 2001) Please write “Depot Night” on your calendar for Friday, Nov. 9 and set the time aside for a special evening honoring Goleta Depot and its “100 years of Service.” You won’t want to miss this crowning event of the Centennial celebration! Watch upcoming issues of the Depot Dispatch for program details and how to make your reservations. A LOOK BACK: 100 YEARS AGO - (Vol. 21, No. 1 - Spring 2001) The famous Gap was closed on Dec. 31, 1900. Yet, while an unbroken ribbon of track now existed from San Francisco to Los Angeles, much work still needed to be done before the Coast Line could handle regular rail traffic. Railroad historian David
Myrick describes the construction on the Coast Line during the early
months of 1901 in his “Santa Barbara County Railroads,”
published in Noticias, the quarterly bulletin of the Santa Barbara
Historical Society (Vol. XXXIII, Summer/Fall 1987). “...the
main work was ballasting and surfacing the track. Five trains were
dumping ballast along the line at the rate of a half-mile per day.
Between Goleta and Ellwood, 200 men were in the gang, surfacing
the track and, depending on the weather, were making good progress. The Coast Line was opened for service on March 31. The announcement caused a stampede for tickets on the first trains, which were quickly sold out. The first scheduled train into Santa Barbara was No. 1, the Coast Line Limited, out of Los Angeles. Later that day, the sister train, southbound No. 2, arrived. Both were met by large welcoming crowds and much local fanfare. You can learn more about the opening of the Coast Line at railroad historian Anthony Thompson’s Feb. 21 program, “100 Years Along Southern Pacific’s Coast Line, 1901-2001,” 7 p.m. at Goleta Library. A LOOK BACK: 20 YEARS AGO - (Vol. 21, No. 1 - Spring 2001) At its Jan. 22, 1981 meeting, the County Parks Commission approved the plan to relocate the depot to Lake Los Carneros County Park. The Commission also agreed to set aside $10,000 of oil-settlement money for the depot project. These promised funds – the brainchild of Commissioner Karen Swenson – proved a tremendous shot in the arm. To date, contributions to the Depot Fund had been a mere $35, which made the prospect of raising the estimated $190,000 in project costs (including about $27,000 for moving the building to its new home) all the more daunting. Pitching the project to the Parks Commissioners were Gary Coombs, Raymond Baird, and Phyllis Olsen. Recently added to the Depot Steering Committee, Olsen had already contributed long hours and much energy to the project over a span of several months. Four days after the Parks Commission meeting, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved in concept the depot project plan. That plan was based on the principal of “adaptive reuse” – that all historic structures cannot continue to serve their original function – that many must be adapted to other, current needs if they are to survive. The depot plan called for the building exterior, Waiting Room and Freight Office to be restored to historic condition, while other parts of the building would be leased to local nonprofit organizations to provide funds needed for maintenance and other ongoing expenses. The Goleta Valley Chamber of Commerce and Institute for American Research were among the first groups to express an interest in leasing depot space. The plan also included the prospect of guided tours of the historical landmark for the public, but there was no mention of a museum or exhibits. George Adams agreed to chair the project’s fundraising committee and on Sunday, March 22 an “All-Aboard Party” was held to kick-off the fundraising campaign. The Santa Barbara Elks Lodge donated their facility for the event. By the end of March,
the Depot Fund balance had reached only $368, but it had finally
begun to rise after more than a year unchanged. And, with County
funds on the way, a growing list of enthusiastic volunteers at the
ready, and a receptive public that had long waited for something
to happen, Goleta Depot’s prospects looked bright.
Copyright © 2001 by Institute for American Research |
