The message forum is an ongoing dialogue between classmates. These are random subjects, topics, and trivia.

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Sherry Hester (Trasp)

In 1997 I was taking 2 of my grandchildren to Disneyland.
My 10 year old grandson called me saying he didn't want to go.
After talking to him a while I got out of him he was worried
about the Earthquakes. I explained to him they didn't
have Earthquakes in Disneyland, (that's a Grandma Thing.)
After talking him off the cliff we went had a great time.
A week after we got back guess what, YEP,  Anaheim had a 
Earthquake!! Yes Disneyland was closed for a while. 
So glad we weren't there. 
The first earthquake I experianced was last year 2023 right here
in Roswell. Came from Texas.
The first hurricane I experienced was in November 2022 in 
Disney World, Florida. 

Bill Leggett

Earthquakes.

Ann Topley (Acosta)

My office was on the second floor of a 2 story building in San Jose when the '89 quake hit.   The building shook so hard the ceiling tiles began to fall out.  What usually took me 15 minutes to get home took me almost an hour.  All the street lights were out and traffic a mess.   Wil was on 280 when the freeway started rolling like a wave, the lampposts were swaying, and he had the feeling the wheels were coming off.  The traffic immediately slowed down to almost a stop.  We found that the force of the wave of water out of our swimming pool picked up 2 heavy cement planters and moved them further into the yard.  Thank goodness the yard was graded away from the family room.  Many people found their swimming pool in their house.   The direction of the earth's wave determined the damage inside the houses.  My neighber's kitchen cabinets faced in a different direction from mine and all her cabinets opened and she loss all her dishes.  My cabinets remained closed.   One bookshelf went over and a few things fell off a shelf.   We drove around the historic area of Los Gatos where nothing seemed damaged until you realized the multistoried house had slipped off its foundation and the outside stairway was now going to  the second floor.  Sadly many did not have earthquake insurance.  

During a separate quake I stood at the kitchen sink and listened and then felt the 'freight train" enter the garage and ride down the length of the house.    The house rolled in waves as it passed under my feet.  I will never forget the sound as it disappeared into my neighbors house.  

Patrick Riley

Rex's mention of an "Indian arrowhead" brought back memories.

From birth through 6th grade, we lived about 80 yards from the banks of the Hondo River.

Since it was dry virtually all the time, it was a frequent play area for hiking, fort building, digging "caves" in the soft banks, hanging out under the bridge, etc.

While we never set out specifically to find them, Indian arrowheads were everywhere just to pick up ... particularly on the river banks but elsewhere too. Every kid in the neighborhood had a shoebox full. Some of mine were "collector quality" ... symmetrical and perfectly chipped and edged. More were a bit rustic but still "cool". No one was particularly excited about them as they were plentiful and everyone had some. Danny Adams, uniquely, had a full axe head he found, the only one of these I ever saw.

The other thing we picked up on hikes was "Pecos Valley Diamonds". These are rose-colored (usually) naturally formed quartz crystals. The best ones were an inch or so long, six-sided with pyramids on both ends, and only moderate interior artifacting. Others were four-sided or just globs of quartz with many jutting pointy pyramid ends. Colors would occasionally vary from rose-colored to almost clear to brownish to even black.

These were plentiful, too, and just lying on the surface to be found (i.e., we never dug for them). Like arrowheads, seemingly everyone had a shoebox of Pecos Valley Diamonds as well.

The third thing that was plentiful in my youth was Horny Toads (Horned Lizards). They were also everywhere and, being slow, easy to catch. While we didn't keep a shoebox collection of these, we were fond of catching them and rubbing their bellies until they were stiff and "hypnotized". After playing with them, we'd release them trying to do this close to their point of capture so they could be reunited with their (horny) friends and families.

BUT ... I'm describing my experiences from pre-kindergarten through ~ second grade. Seemingly all three of these early childhood facinations had disappeared by the time I was eight. I don't recall finding another arrowhead, Pecos Valley Diamond or horny toad after that???

What about you other early Roswellites? Do you remember any of these? Did they disappear for you as well?

Note: Photos are not mine.

Sherry Hester (Trasp)

Pat, I remember all the things you described!
I miss those day and all the artifacts even
the Horny Toads. 
I like you realized, some where along the way 
they seem to have disappeared.
Was it that we became teenagers and our 
interests changed, although since I have
moved back I have not seen any of these!
Thanks Pat for the memories!
Would you rather be called Patrick?
Sherry

 

Sherry Hester (Trasp)

Ann I bet those were scary moments! 
I can't Imagine how you felt!
What a experience!

Oh You too Bill!

Rex Booth

Pat,

When I retired from my business in Santa Cruz, Ca , I moved back to Roswell in 2014. Coming back to the roots. One of the first things I noticed was how the weather in the Pecos Valley had changed.  Especially during summer months.  As a kid, during Little League games, we'd sometimes get rained out. A cloud burst would rain buckets for 20 minutes creating a muddy flood on the field. Then the hot sun would come out, and less than 10 minutes later we'd out on the sun-baked dirt field playing ball again!  It just doesn't rain in the summer anymore. Oh, but wait, it does rain during the monsoon season like in October... like when we needed it several months before.

Yes, the other revelation is: I have not seen or nor found even 'one' horny toad in  Roswell neighborhoods.

A quick check online confirmed some of my thoughts:

A  University of Texas publication notes that horned lizard populations continue to disappear despite protective legislation. Population declines are attributed to a number of factors, including the loss of habitat from real estate development and road construction, the planting of "non-native" grasses (both suburban and rural), conversion of native land to pasture land and agricultural uses, and dum-de-dum-dum "pesticides". Additionally predation by domestic dogs and cats place continued pressure upon horned lizards.

I traded the arrow head collection for an old beat up baseball glove. The following summer I watered the newly seeded lawn of our next door neighbor who paid me ten bucks when returned from a two week vacation. Yup, you guessed it, couldn't hardly wait to get down to the old Sears store next to the Yucca to buy that brand new "Ted Williams" baseball glove!!

John Doyal

Yes to all 3.  I have had  horny toads in my yard every year up until about 3 years ago.  Used to see babies but think the mosquito spray the county uses has killed them.  I like Pat had bags of arrowheads found on our ranch.  Never saw a pecos diamond until we moved to Roswell and my dad had a truck load of fill dirt put in our back yard.  I thought I was rich when I found several diamonds.   I was disapointed  when my dad told me they were not real  diamonds.  I still had a few big ones left when I got married and my kids wanted to find some of their own.  One of my uncles said there were still lots on the pecos river east of Artesia.  Over the years I have taken my kids, grandkids and great grandkids there and still find smaller ones like an easter egg hunt.                      Just  saw on news about earthquake in NY yesterday.  You all talk about the quakes moving along the ground, the ones I have felt here were just like a shaking with no moving toward or away.

Rex Booth

Verlon Miller sent these pictures of his daughter's Dragsters.

Verlon has been drag racing and building powerful racing engines for years. His daughter has been drag racing since she was a young lady. IHRA Drag races are held in Knoxville, Memphis, Dallas, Texas, South Carolina, and other states. If you have any questions or need more info you may contact me or send Verlon a private message.

Verlon and Alice 

Check out the Christmas Tree lights

Denise out of the starting gate!  Notice the right rear slick!

Denise's Dragster - She won 1st place including a big pay day!

For more information on IHRA (International Hot Rod Association)  

Go to   https://www.ihra.com/

Saundra Bennett (Whiteside)

Thanks Rex, for your help changing my passcode.

Rex Booth

Saundra,

You are most welcome! I'm happy it's working for you! 

Have fun! 

Rex Booth

Total Eclipse !!

Monday April 8 starting at 10 AM EST

Be sure to wear proper "eclipse glasses"    And if you are in San Francisco, be sure to wear a flower in your hair...

Fred Miller

My daughter's significant other also has an expensive hobby.  He does quite well at it...

Saundra Bennett (Whiteside)

We had several earthquakes s few years ago in Oklahoma.  They weren't as bad as the ones in California  but they were scarey!  We knew pretty quickly that we had no control!  No damage, thank goodness! They were caused by pumping waste water in the earth after drilling for oil!  We haven't had any since they stopped drilling!

Rex Booth

It's good they stopped that 'fracking' drilling... 

Rex Booth

Fred,

Cool dragster! What is Chemical Reaction's E.T.  on the 1/8?

AND

For those who didn't get much of an Eclipse yesterday...

Fred Miller

Rex Booth

I understand North Star Raceway in Denton, Tx is an 1/8 mile faciltiy.  His 4.19 ET is still very quick!   Got $5.9 Mil ?   

https://www.dragzinecom/news/texas-heads-up-mecca-north-star-dragway-listed-for-sale/

Patrick Riley

Speaking of "fracking", here's an informative (some might say "amusing") video on the topic:

Rex Booth

Attention Classmates

Our RHS website was affected by a network outage Thursday 18th.  If you could not log-on between 8 - 9 am... the network outage was the cause.  Well, So far so good!

Rex Booth

Orson Wells during a TV commercial said... "We'll have no wine before it's time"... or was it  "We'll not whine for wine before it's time.."

Rex Booth

This one is for “Ladies” and (er... ah) gents too!

Who is the gentleman in the picture?  He starred in a television series 1959-61.

Paula Carl (Cowee Miller)

Craig Stevens as Peter Gunn. 

Fred Miller

I just want to know who the blonde is...

<did I say that outloud>  Yeah, you did!

Rex Booth

Paula...

You recognized Craig right away!... you definitely have good taste when it comes to handsome men!  Who knew Sean Connerly one year later would take on sexy spy role.  Remember  "Dr. No" in 1962?

Here is one for the "hearthrob" photo album...