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THE POPPY PAPER
Official Monthly Publication of the
Boosters of Old Town San Diego State Historic Park
A Non-Profit Organization
October 2014
President’s Notes
by Jeanne Ferrell
The Old Town Art & Craft Show, a free Old Town Chamber event, will be held on Saturday and Sunday,
October 4-5, 2014. Enjoy museum-quality art and sculpture, as you stroll through Old Town with all of
its history and charm. The Old Town Art & Craft Show features contemporary artists, fine craft, fashion,
and home décor artisans. This event brings together the essence of Southern California...beautiful San
Diego weather; the Flavors of Old Town international foods; a wine, beer and tequila tasting pavilion;
and continuous live entertainment. The festival will be on San Diego Avenue between Conde Street and
Twiggs Street.
From fiber arts, jewelry, contemporary art, gourmet food and home décor - there's something for
everyone! Nestled in nostalgic Old Town, the Art & Craft Show has ambiance second to none. This juried
show features the creativity of professional craft designers and fine artists, displaying and selling a
wonderful mix of quality contemporary crafts as well as fine art. Enjoy craft demonstrations and handson creativity for the kids, as well as musical entertainment. Save room for some delicious food in one of
our many great restaurants!
Come and make a day of it, AND be sure to visit the
BOOT Booth. We will have many incredible items
to sell. Members of our Craft Committee will also be
doing demonstrations of historic crafts. Pick up a
free program that will give you the times for the
demonstrations.
BOOT BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President:
Vice President:
Secretary:
Treasurer:
BOOT Store:
Historian:
Restoration Spec:
Web Master:
Board Members:
Jeanne Ferrell (619) 543-9057
Gary Turton (619) 222-0047
Linda Jacobo
Deanna Turton (619) 222-0047
Mary Jones
Bob Wohl
Chuck Ferrell
Bob Jones
Mary Ellen Young
Tom Young
Cindy Furlong
Chuck Ross
Poppy Paper Editor: Ruth French (858) 583-1269
[email protected]
BOOT Website:
http://boostersofoldtown.com/
Park Website:
www.parks.ca.gov/oldtownsandiego
Hurry in to get your Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
items! We nearly “sold out” at last year’s Art & Craft Show.
pg. 1
WHAT’S NEW IN THE BOOT STORE?
by Mary Jones
The Boot Store has added several new items…
We have added the cutest “wagon train” dolls to our family. These dolls
were originally made by moms and grandmas traveling across the prairies.
Using scraps of material, a doll could be made in no time, it took up very
little space, and it weighed almost nothing. A perfect companion for a little
girl on her 2000-mile journey west…and a perfect companion for today’s
little girls!
Visit our Halloween table. We have potholders, coasters, ghosts, cloth
pumpkins, candles, and haunted books. Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
is a popular holiday in Mexico. Buy our Day of the Dead book, and learn all
about the holiday. Using fun and festive fabrics, our Craft Committee has
been diligently working to make many fantastic aprons, coasters, tortilla
warmers, and potholders.
We have also added Little Critters that once
might have lived in Old Town. They are now
cute little finger puppets!
Come down and SHOP! Remember, BOOT members
receive a 10% discount. Join us and SAVE!
From the Editor’s Desk…
Besides the annual Art & Craft Fair that Jeanne Ferrell highlighted earlier, there is so much more
happening in Old Town during the fall months. Although the weather is not much cooler, yet…there are
still a bunch of “cool” events happening in Old Town:



Old Town’s Fall Festival, October 25th. (12:00–4:00 pm). Free fall crafts & activities.
Halloween, October 31st (4:00–6:30 pm). Trick-or-treating, special holiday treats &
activities, and extended shopping hours at all the stores in the park.
Dia de los Muertos, November 1st & 2nd. Historical altars commemorating the people
who once lived here in Old Town will be set up in three of the museums. Additionally,
some contemporary altars will be set up around the community, organized by Save Our
Heritage Organization. (For more information, call SOHO at 619.297.9327)
Check out the Old Town Chamber of Commerce website at www.oldtownsandiego.org/ and the Park
website at http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=663 for more information.
Come on down to Old Town and enjoy the festivities with us.
Happy Fall, Happy Halloween, and Happy Dia de los Muertos…Happy Reading!
Ruth French [email protected]
(Deadline for submissions is the 20th of each month for inclusion in the following month’s issue.)
pg. 2
Treasurer's Notes
by Deanna Turton
When you look at the bottom line this month, I hope you will recall my warning in last month's Poppy
Paper...."look for a large check" in which I returned the monies that BOOT was holding for the Golf
Tournament project. Otherwise, you might faint from the shock of being $45,764.00 in the red this
month!!! Actually the funds returned to the Golf Tournament project were $54,849.68, so the difference
was made up from proceeds earned in the BOOT Store, as well as donations.
So, removing that large check from the equation, BOOT earned $14,734.05 in August and spent
$5,648.67...which I am sure makes all of you feel very MUCH better!
On the income side of the ledger, the BOOT Store did very well this month, and we also earned a daily
average of $52.68 in the donation boxes. This daily average is a bit low for one of our busiest months, but
at least it is close to our projected figure of $55.00 a day. Other large income categories were:
 A Taste of Old Town - $990.00
 Descendants Day - $1045.00
 2nd Quarter blacksmith item sales at the RUST Store - $334.80
 Period Attire bank purchases - $ 409.00
 A Grant from SD County to enhance the July 4th and Stagecoach
 A refund from our insurance company for good record - $100.00
Days events in 2015 - $2500.00
Expenses were about average for this time of year, but one word of caution is in order…Gregg Giacopuzzi
turned in his Stagecoach Days expenses in early September, so those figures are not included in the August
accounts. Many thanks to Gregg for paying for all the incidentals for this event and carrying the debt until
the end of August ($776.91).
Large expenses during August were:
 BOOT Store - $ 2159.31
 Craft Supplies - $472.88
 Golf Tournament - $ 54,849.68
 Descendants' Day - $408.05
 Period Attire Bank - $645.23
Nine other spending categories were $300 or less.
Which brings me to say that Gary and I will be gone on vacation for the last half of September and the first
part of October. Hopefully, we will have no flat tires this year, no hail or snow storms, and no park
closures!!! We hope to see many of the parks that we missed last year. While we are gone, Bob Jones will
have the BOOT checkbook.
AGAIN, THE WINNER IS…
For our Guide Book Sales Contest, we once again say, “Congratulations to Park Aide Ellen
Green,” for the greatest number of guide books sold in the month of August. (Ellen won the
first contest in the month of July.) Each month, the “winner” will receive a $20 gift certificate
from BOOT, to be used towards period attire or in the BOOT Store. Many thanks to Ellen for
her continued excellence in visitor services, and for her enthusiastic attitude!!!
pg. 3
Mary Jones was born in Phoenix, Arizona, but has lived in San
Diego most of her life. She graduated from Hoover High School,
and went on to San Diego State University where she met her
husband, Bob. They were married in 1962, while still attending
SDSU. Bob and Mary have three children Virginia, Carolyn, and
Kevin.
Mary graduated from San Diego State University in 1967 with a
BA in Social Sciences and a teaching credential. She worked as a
teacher in Santee until 1970 when she was pregnant with her son,
Kevin; and she subsequently had the pleasure of being a stay-athome mom until Kevin started 1st grade. A quintessential
MOM…Mary kept very busy as a Girl Scout Leader, Little
League Board Treasurer, and Pony League snack bar chairman.
Through the years, Mary also continued her academic pursuits,
receiving a librarianship credential and a Masters Degree in
middle school curriculum. She worked at several schools
throughout San Diego, and retired in 2002.
Since retirement, Mary and Bob have spent lots of time traveling and researching their family
genealogy. They have traveled cross-country four times by motorhome, searching for their ancestors;
taken four Mississippi/Ohio River cruises by steamboat; and have traveled to all 50 states, plus
Canada. Their trips almost always include one or more grandchildren!
In 2004 Mary began volunteering in Old Town, starting as a school tour guide for BOOT. She shared
that she really misses the opportunity to do the tours since the State Park staff took over a few years
ago. However, Mary still manages to contributes endless hours to Old Town as a member of the BOOT
Board of Directors, a member of the Craft Committee, and as the manager of the BOOT Store.
Managing the store is no small fete…for it entails continuous inventory control, reordering, restocking,
organizing, labeling, arranging displays, cleaning…and SHOPPING! In fact, whenever Mary and Bob
return from one of their travel adventures, she always brings loads of ideas and products that she has
discovered at other historic parks across the country.
With 8 grandchildren ranging in age from 3 to 27, Mary’s days at home are never idle…as she spends
many hours attending school activities which include cheer, baseball, football, field hockey, and
lacrosse. Obviously, Mary and Bob continue to be big SDSU Aztec fans, and spend a great deal of time
cheering on their alma mater. One of Mary’s daughters is also a teacher, so Mary regularly volunteers
to help her in her classroom. She also plays Mahjong twice a week with friends.
BOOT and Old Town San Diego State Historic Park are fortunate to have Mary’s time and talents. She
manages to keep the BOOT Store running efficiently and profitably…and is always looking for ways to
make it better! Thank you, Mary, for all you do!!!
pg. 4
The Staff would like to say, “THANK YOU” to
long-time volunteers Bert and Judy Randlett for
choosing to volunteer here at Old Town San
Diego State Historic Park! It was a good long
run here at the Park. We hope you both will
continue to volunteer on the East Coast and
allow others to see and hear your gifts of
interpretation.
We appreciate all your
dedication and the positive memories you leave
with us. The donkeys will miss your care,
Judy!
Farewell and Good Luck in all your endeavors,
Old Town Staff
Supervising Ranger C. Lozano presented Bert with a signed Walking Tour Guide Book as a memento of
all his hours spent welcoming visitors and showing them around the Park. Judy received a lock of the
donkey’s hair, presented by Park Aide Araceli Ortega.
Craft Committee News
by Deanna Turton
During the month of August, the BOOT Store sold $2016.75 worth of handmade items...all due to the
hard work of the Craft Committee...and the park aides and volunteers who work in the BOOT
store. Many thanks to everyone for their dedication and hard work.
This year, the members of the Craft
Committee will also sell their handicrafts at
the Art Festival on the first weekend of
October. Since the event will be held
outside the Park, we will also sell items that
are not historically relevant and inventory
that BOOT has been given by former park
concessionaires. Thanks to Ruth French,
Becky Halliburton, and Kim Baldwin for
heading up the committee to organize the
BOOT booth and schedule volunteers.
Last year, our Day of the Dead products sold out, so we had to hurry and make more for the BOOT
Store. So, this year, we made Day of the Dead items all year long, and we added another line of
specialty fabric, as well. Based on Edgar Allan Poe's poem, "The Raven", the Nevermore Designs are
new this year. So, we hope our efforts to celebrate Halloween in a historic manner will be popular with
our customers.
Pictured Above: Craft Committee workers in July. Front Row (l-r): JoBeth Hull, Sandy Whitmyer, Diana Ojeda, Zulema
Franco, Dolly Wilson, Kim Baldwin. Back Row (l-r): Gary Turton, Alice Epault , Becky Halliburton, Deanna Turton.
pg. 5
A Brief Halloween History
Night falls, and a strong knock accompanied by
a yell of “Trick or Treat!” invades your quiet
Fall evening. Houses are decorated with spider
webs, tombstones and glowing, hollowed-out
pumpkins. From whence did Halloween, this
peculiar holiday, derive?
Halloween's roots lie in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which was celebrated in the British Isles
on a full moon around November 1st. The harvest had ended, the crops had been picked, and a chill was
in the air. The dark half of the year was beginning. On the night of Samhain, the Celts believed that the
souls of the dead were restless, on the move, and could cross over into the world of the living.
As night fell and All Souls' Day arrived, bells were rung for the souls. Across Catholic Europe, food was
laid out for the dead, whose souls were expected to return to their former abodes on All Souls' Day, a
practice we see today in Mexico's Day of the Dead.
In England and elsewhere, it was a custom for the rich to give out food in return for prayers, a practice
called "souling.” "Soul cakes" (square biscuits with currants) were baked and given to relatives, poor
neighbors or beggars on All Souls' Day. "Soulers" would go door to door asking for the cakes in return
for prayers.
In North America, Halloween began to arrive in force in the 1840s. Immigrants from Ireland flooded into
America and Canada, and brought Halloween customs from their homeland. Sometimes called “Mischief
Night," it was perpetuated with the endless ‘tricks’ of the day. Rowdy boys wreaked havoc during the
night, while families upgraded a harmless custom by making jack 'o' lanterns out of pumpkins, carved
into grinning faces.
By the late 1800s in North America, Halloween had developed into a family festival full of parties,
seasonal foods and costumes. Halloween lost its religious overtones and changed into a secular,
community-oriented celebration. Such acceptance did not diminish the pranks committed by young
males that night. By the 1920s, there was public concern about how wild the night was getting. Mischief
often veered into vandalism. Towns and clubs began to organize "safe" Halloween events - carnivals,
dances and street fairs - to keep youngsters occupied. While the practice of begging for, or demanding,
food on Hallows Eve was centuries old, the words "trick or treat" apparently came into use in the 1930s.
Today's Halloween has become popular in many places around the world. In America, homes have
bigger and spookier lawn displays each year. The merchandising for the holiday is enormous, second
only to that of Christmas, generating billons of dollars in sales each year.
From it’s origins thousands of years ago to this day, Halloween remains an intriguing ritual that fuses a
wealth of folk beliefs and cultural traditions from all over the world.
Submitted by Volunteer Dolly Wilson, paraphrased from:
McGowan, Huffington Post, October 26, 2011.
Spooky Secrets: A Brief History of Halloween, Chris
pg. 6
Park Update
by Chris Lozano, Supervising Ranger
Dear Ranger Noah,
Where has the time gone? It seems like only yesterday you arrived at Old Town with staff taking you
under their wing and showing you around the Park. It was a great pleasure to have you working at Old
Town San Diego State Historic Park. I’m sure you learned many things while working here and will
cherish the memories. The park staff is grateful for your presence and leadership. Your time is over here
at the Park, but your laughter, solid work ethic and friendship to all will be remembered. The staff hopes
you have as much fun at your new location as you did here at Old Town.
Despedida,
Old Town San Diego Staff
Footnote: State Park Ranger Noah Martin is transferring to Doheny State Beach in Dana Point.
Work Project Update
by Bob Jones
The third and final park flagpole has been painted. Using a 25-foot
aluminum extension pole, new white paint was applied by Bob Jones
(pictured) and Jim Hull before Park visitors arrived on September 24th.
All flagpoles have now been painted, and they are now ready for period
appropriate flags. Once again, the Park can proudly display our nation’s
colors.
Work has also begun on the Machado y Stewart Adobe (below).
Financed by a State Park grant, and a sizeable financial commitment
from Boosters of Old Town (BOOT), the work will include refurbishing
the exterior walls and foundation, replacing floor tiles, and replacing
some wood around windows and doors. Finally, the interior will be
returned to its smooth-surfaced, whitewashed walls. Extensive research
was conducted to ensure best practices in restoring this historic adobe.
The contractor hired for this project has worked on the restoration of several other adobe structures. We
appreciate his efforts to help preserve this valuable structure, the Machado y Stewart Adobe.
pg. 7
Membership News
Welcome to NEW BOOT MEMBERS, John and Jean Finch from Cooperstown, New York! It’s so nice to have
supporters from so far away, With their membership dues, BOOT received this wonderful note:
Hello,
We recently visited your park in Old Town and were delighted with all we saw. Our
daughter lives in Encinitas and we visit her usually twice a year. We got off the train
in Old Town and walked to the park, just in time for a walking tour. The tour guide was
very good. We belong to a few Historic Societies here in New York and currently are
active in the Fly Creek Area Historical Society. Please accept our
BOOT membership – hope to visit on our next trip to CA.
Sincerely yours,
Jean Finch
Also, a big “thanks” to those who have renewed their BOOT memberships in the past month…
LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP:
ANNUAL RENEWALS:
Charlotte Perry
Edward & Alice Epault
Jack Cannon
Athena N. Quejeda
Mr. & Mrs. Geoffrey Mogilner
Please remember…every dollar that BOOT raises stays right HERE in Old Town San Diego State Historic
Park to support all the work projects, special events, and interpretive activities throughout the year! Please
take a few moments to complete the application form on the back page of this issue and JOIN US!!!
OUR MEMBERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!
~ Celebrating 25 Years in Old Town ~
ALPHABET HOUSE PUBLICATIONS
~ Publishers of ~
Discover Old Town Walking Map & Dining Guide
Liberty Station Community Map • Colorful California • Passport Explorers
In celebration of our 25th anniversary, we have launched a new FACEBOOK page that will offer several
opportunities to win $25 gift certificates for some of our favorite local community restaurants.
If you would like to know more and get included . . . all you have to do is go to our new FaceBook page –
Facebook.com/discoveroldtown – and LIKE US . . . OR enter our 1st contest for an opportunity to win that
certificate!
Our first photo contest will be the “SELFIE PHOTO CONTEST” . . . just submit a “selfie” of you and/or friends
somewhere in Old Town, tell us where you are and then you will automatically be entered into the monthly
drawing. Just for Old Towners, this will be a “random drawing” and there will be 5 winners!
THIS MONTH’S WINNER WILL RECEIVE A $25 GIFT CERTIFICATE TO CASA DE GUADALAJARA, or CASA
DE BANDINI, or CASA DE PICO ! ! !
We would truly appreciate your support!
Thank you
Karen Spring, Publisher
Telephone: 619-491-0099 • web: DiscoverOldTown.com
pg. 8
Old Town State Historic Park Native Plant Landscape Work Party
Saturday, October 12, 2014, 1:00-3:00 pm
Our work in October includes snipping spent flowers (dead heading) and
shaping shrubs up. Please bring sun protection and bottled water, pruning tools
and gloves, if you have them - we'll share our gloves and tools.
The native plant landscape is at the corner of Congress and Taylor Streets, near
the junction of I-8 and I-5, the west end of Old Town. Come by trolley, train or
bus and cross at Taylor Street; or if you drive, park for free in the shady
CalTrans lot across Taylor Street. Meet us under the Sycamores.
Questions? Contact Kay at [email protected]
THANK YOU TO OUR CORPORATE MEMBERS!
SEE YOUR AD HERE!!!
Join these businesses in their support of Old Town San
Diego State Historic Park:
Old Town Market
Old Town Trolley Tours
Save Our Heritage Organisation (SOHO)
Toby’s Candle and Soap Shop
Write Out Loud
Please refer to the back cover page for more details.
pg. 9
BOOSTERS OF OLD TOWN
San Diego State Historic Park
4002 Wallace Street
San Diego, CA 92110
NOTICE: If you have a friend who would like to learn more about San Diego History, enjoys meeting people,
and likes to have a good time, give him/her this application form to fill out and send in. New members are
always welcome. And, if you have forgotten to renew your membership…it’s never too late to send it in. We
miss you!
MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
____$ 20.00 – Single Supporting Member
____$ 35.00 – Family (2 or more individuals)
____$ 15.00 – Senior (62+ years)/Student Single
____$ 25.00 – Senior Couple (62+ years)
____$150.00 – Life Member (62+ years)
____$ 50.00 – Corporate Membership*
(includes business card sized ad in the Poppy Paper
and on our website for one month)
____$125.00 – Enhanced Corporate Membership*
(includes business card sized ad in the Poppy Paper
and on our website for 12 months)
*Corporate Applications Only: Please enclose a business card or corporate logo with your payment.
NAME(S) ________________________________________________________________
ADDRESS _______________________________________________________________
CITY __________________________________STATE _______ ZIP________________
PHONE ______________________E-MAIL ____________________________________
I belong to the following group(s): Docent____ Military____ Descendants ____ Californios ____
I am also interested in volunteer opportunities, please contact me! _____
Make your check out to “BOOT” and mail to:
BOOT Membership Committee, 4002 Wallace Street, San Diego, CA 92110
pg. 10