Historical Society Happenings
Here is where we recap some of the recent events in which the Lake County Historical Society has participated.
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November 26 General Membership Meeting
The Lake County Historical Society thanks its members and guests for attending and helping with the General Membership meeting February 26, 2012 at the Lower Lake Historic Schoolhouse Museum.
With a packed house, our speakers Barbara White, Archaeologist with the Mendocino National Forest and Bob Weaver, Archaeological Technician led us through the discovery and excavation of a pre-historic Yuki Village in Lake County. With Power Point, they presented a fascinating account of a piece of our history. The crowd enjoyed the presentation and asked many questions.
A surprise show-stopper was member, Patty Patten fainting and we had to call in the Fire Department to give her oxygen and take her off to the hospital. To our delight, Patty is alright, even though she scared us. Thank you to all who came forward to help her before the wonderful Lower Lake Fire Department arrived.
To those l who attended and to all who brought cookies and cakes to share, and to everyone who helped with the event to make it an incredible day, please accept our appreciation.
Our next General Meeting is scheduled for April 29 for a presentation about the Lucerne Castle and tour by Eric Seely. Our fingers are crossed that we can have our June picnic in the orchard just below the peak of Konocti. More information will follow.
Lake County has an incredible history. If you wish to join us, call Nick Voegtly at 349 7233. Annual membership dues are $15 a person or $20 a household per year.
Randy Ridgel, Publicity Chairman
Lake County Historical Society
(707) 279-4062 home, (707) 490-8279 cell
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November 14, 2010: At the Society’s annual Thanksgiving dinner at the Lucerne Senior Center, the following business was taken care of:
The following nominations for LCHS offices were announced:
President Phil Smoley
1st Vice President Open
2nd Vice President Catherine Quistgard
Treasurer Vonn Fuqua
Asst Treasurer Florence Peck
Recording Secretary Bonnie Skee
Corresponding Secretary Jackie Ridgel
District 2 Director Open
District 4 Director Val Onellion
District 5 Director Floraine Chalk
A motion was made to approve the nominations as stated, hearing no other nominations from the floor, the motion was seconded and approved.
Val Onellion moved to suspend the term limits portion of the bylaws to allow Jackie Ridgel to remain corresponding secretary and Bonnie Skee recording secretary. John Parker seconded and the motion carried. The bylaws were then re-instated.
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October 3, 2010: Almost one hundred Society members were in attendance for a fascinating discussion of the Richard Helbush murder of 1981. The following summary of the event is provided by LCHS President Phil Smoley.
Kelseyville- It may have been nearly 30 years since a pair of desperate fugitives murdered Lake County Sergeant Helbush, but the memories were still fresh in the minds of the panel of people who were involved in the manhunt that followed. The Lake County Historical Society’s presentation of “The Killing of Sergeant Helbush” last Sunday at Grace Free Evangelical Church in Kelseyville brought together several people who were working for the Lake County Sheriff’s office the night of the killing, and they shared their recollections and reactions in what was an emotional, and at times tearful, presentation.
The panel was made up of Vern Huggins, Carl Stein, Jeff Markham, Vicki Gelfan, Mary Southard, Don Anderson, and Crystal Esberg, and was moderated by Lake County Historical Society President, Phil Smoley. It was Anderson’s book, “408 Lakeport,” that inspired this panel and was a source of much of the information that was shared with the panel.
Panel members (left to right) Mary Southard, Crystal Esberg, Jeff Markham, Vicki Gelfan, Carl Stein, and Vern Huggins.
Smoley did an overview of the people and events of May 1, 1981 with a slide presentation and animated map of Lake County showing the movement of the various vehicles that were involved as they criss-crossed southern Lake County, often stopping to allow the panel to fill in details.
LCHS President Phil Smoley.
Drifter and con artist William Cox and Swedish native Annika Deasy were life long criminals and drug addicts. The day before, they had murdered and robbed a man in Stockton, and were attempting to flee the country. Deasy insisted on a side trip to visit her 10-year-old son who was living with his dad in Clearlake. They were unsuccessful in this mission, and were heading towards Lakeport around midnight when they pulled over to the side of Hwy. 29 between Lower Lake and Kit’s Corner (Manning Flat). Sergeant Helbush just completed his shift and was returning to Lakeport when he came upon the desperado’s, and stopped to assist what he thought were stranded motorists. They shot and killed him, and stole his patrol vehicle. When back up arrived, they reported that Helbush was down and that his vehicle was missing.
William Cox and Annika Deasy.
Lake County Sheriff Sergeant Richard Helbush.
Manning Flat, the scene of Helbush’s murder.
At this point, every on duty or stand-by Lake County law enforcement officer sprang into action to hunt down the killers, who by now had headed back towards Lower Lake, and then turned on Seigler Canyon Rd towards Loch Lomond. Once Cox and Deasy figured out how to turn on the emergency lights and siren, they decided that they would pull over the first vehicle they came upon and steal their vehicle to make their escape, and they would have likely killed the driver and any passengers. Fortunately, they did not come across anyone during their hunt.
Deputy Don Anderson was on a call at Harbin Hot Springs when he got the report of the murder, and was sent back to Middletown to stake it out and watch for the stolen patrol car. Soon, he was told by dispatch to proceed up 175 towards Cobb. As he approached Anderson Springs Rd., he passed by the killers going the opposite way. A chase ensued which ended with the suspects sliding off the road at the fork with Dry Creek Rd, disabling their car. Anderson pulled up about 60 feet behind, and along with his partner, Sheriff Reserve Carl Neimeyer, pulled their guns and demanded the suspects come out of the dust with their arms up. Cox yelled “No way!” and began firing at the officers. Soon, back up arrived in officer Bill Bloomquist of the CHP. Cox was hit in the stomach but still was shooting. A shot to the shoulder dropped him. Anderson took a shell fragment in the leg. Anderson was able to approach the suspects and subdue them, and with the help of the other officers, make the arrest.
Cox and Deasy were captured after a shootout at the Dry Creek Cutoff on Highway 175 north of Middletown (above).
In the meantime, every other officer in the county was speeding to the scene. But contact was lost with Deputy Sheriff Jackson, coming from Spring Valley, and there was a fear that he may have been a victim of the killers, also. Vern Huggins was redirected to go to Deputy Jackson’s last known location, and he raced up Hwy 53, not knowing what to expect. It turned out that Deputy Jackson had been racing to back up Anderson and missed a curve and rolled his patrol car. He was OK, but his vehicle was totaled. “My adrenaline shot up through the roof while I was racing to the Dry Creek shoot out,” Huggins recalled. “When I was called off as the suspects were captured, the adrenaline quickly went away. But then when I was sent to go look for Deputy Jackson, and it shot up again. We thought he too might be a victim. The next day I had a horrible headache.”
Carl Stein (who was the first to arrive at the gun fight scene just as it concluded) discussed his interviews with Deasy after her arrest, describing her as “all over the place, agitated, and aggressive.” He explained that Deasy claimed Cox pulled the trigger on Helbush, while Cox said it was Deasy that did so. “She was like a crazy woman when I conducted my interviews.”
Anderson explained that there was another victim that night besides Helbush. CHP officer Bloomquist suffered heavily from posttraumatic stress after the gun battle, and turned to alcohol to cope with that condition. This led to a severe period of drinking that slowly destroyed his life over the next decade, ending in his tragic death by liver failure.
“What happened to Bill is one of the saddest parts of this story,” Anderson said. “That night was fatal to him, too.”
Don Anderson shares his recollections with the LCHS audience.
Vern Huggins described how Anderson also had a period of posttraumatic reaction and how he (Huggins) helped Anderson get through it. “I spent a weekend with Don in Reno where we just decompressed. Back then there was no counseling, no support. We were on our own. We got through it together.”
Jeff Markham was camping with his family near Fort Bragg when a Mendocino Sheriff car pulled up and awoke him to request he return to Lake County immediately. “All he told me was that one of our officers was murdered and I had to leave now. He insisted to pay for my tank of fuel, and wished me luck.” Car problems prevented him from getting back to the station for several hours, but when he finally got there, “the look of shock was on everyone’s faces.”
Six months later, Cox was found dead in his Lake County jail cell; he had hung himself. Markham explained that the hanging was supposed to be part of an elaborate escape attempt concocted by cell mate Gerald Stanley, who was awaiting trial for the murder of his wife in Nice. The plan called for Cox to pretend to hang himself, then Stanley would yell for the guards to come cut Cox down. In the confusion, Stanley and Cox could surprise the guards and make their escape. But Cox’s attempt at realism was too real, and ended up killing himself for real, thus thwarting the escape attempt.
Annika Deasy plead guilty to the murder and received 25 to life. She was denied parole when she became eligible. However, she has obtained folk hero status in her home country of Sweden, and her supporters were able to get their government to petition to release her to their jurisdiction, and last year, they were successful. Once back in Sweden, they decided to release her, and next May, she will be a free woman.
An audience member raised the issue of “street justice” and how some in law enforcement commented after the event that the officers involved should have killed the suspects at the scene rather than putting their lives at risk to give them due process. Smoley commented that it would have been impossible for the officers to know whether Deasy was an accomplice or a kidnapped victim herself. Without knowledge of her situation, to kill her would make the officers no better than the criminals. He added that the transition from it being appropriate to shoot to kill, to it only being appropriate to attempt to apprehend the suspects, was just a matter of seconds. “Shooting them after they were defenseless would have been murder, though most of us can sympathize with the feeling that they should have been shot. But the officers did the right thing.”
Each panelist shared their memories of Richard Helbush, but one of the more touching was from Mary Southard, a dispatcher at the time. She described “one of those days” where everything was going wrong, and no one seemed to care. Seeing that she was feeling down, Helbush said some encouraging words and later left her a rose from the rose bushes in front of the court house. 30 years later, that act of kindness still brought tears to her eyes. “I always referred to him as ‘Rose-Bush’ after that.” Not long afterwards she was the dispatcher pleading for Helbush to respond after he reported that he was stopping to assist a stranded motorist; the response that never came.
The panelists stressed how being together in law enforcement created a very strong family bond between them, and how they came together whenever one of their own was in trouble. No time was this greater than the night Sergeant Helbush was killed. “We were all in shock. I was numb. It was horrible,” Southard recalled. When asked for a final thought, she said: “Support your law enforcement people; they go through a lot.”
Smoley ended the discussion by giving thanks to the panel not only for participating on the panel, but also for their service to the people of Lake County over the years. The audience gave enthusiastic applause in response.
For more information on this or future meetings of the Lake County Historical Society, contact Phil Smoley at (707) 264-4905
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July 4, 2010: Several hundred LCHS members braved temperatures in the upper 90s to attend the Society’s annual Membership Potluck Picnic in Lakeside County Park in the Lakeport/Kelseyville area. In addition to fine company and food, members heard Eric Seely, Deputy Director of Redevelopment, give an update on the Ely Stage Stop and Country Museum. Also, Nick Voegtly, LCHS Membership Chairman, spoke on the Gulf oil spill, from which he had recently returned after assisting in cleanup efforts there.
Outgoing LCHS President Randy Ridgel gave his final address to members before turning over the reigns of responsibility to Interim (until the next elections) President Phil Smoley and Second Vice-President Tom Pelandini, both of whom were sworn into office by Lake County Historian Ruby Glebe.
If you were unable to attend the event (or even if you were there!), a photographic summary follows:
A general view of the festivities.
Kevin Engle prepares the main course.
Randy Ridgel in his final address to the Society as President.
Phil Smoley is sworn in by Ruby Glebe.
Tom Pelandini becomes the new Second Vice-President.
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February 28, 2010: The second floor of the historic Courthouse Museum in Lakeport was a full house as LCHS members attended the most recent General Membership meeting.
In addition to refreshments and the company of fellow members, LCHS members were treated to a talk given by Karan Mackey describing the history of the Lakeport English Inn, which also happens to be her current residence. After the talk, there was a tour of the first floor of the museum.
The Courthouse Museum on Main Street in Lakeport.
LCHS members filled the old courtroom on the second floor of the Courthouse Museum.
Karan Mackey discourses on the history of Lakeport English Inn.
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February 5, 2010: As seems to be our historical tradition, we are once again very late in thanking our members and presenter for their participation in the Lake County Historical Society’s most recent event. The Lucerne Senior Center served a delicious turkey dinner to a packed house at our annual Thanksgiving Dinner meeting on November 22, 2009.
Local historian Phil Smoley presented an outstanding lecture about several of Lake County’s early characters and the fascinating stories that brought them here. The audience was captivated by the presentation that illuminated the connection between the Civil War, Ghirardelli Chocolates, the Lick Observatory, and the preservation of Clear Lake at the Grigsby Riffle.
Our Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Greg Dills in recognition of his devoted work and accomplishments as the project manager of the Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum. For his efforts in spearheading the project, Greg stands out amongst a fine group of volunteers that has worked tirelessly to bring that dream closer to reality.
Kay Ridgeway, of Kelseyville, was the lucky winner of Daisy Gawellek’s spectacular hand-stitched quilt. We sincerely thank Daisy for her gracious donation. Also, thanks to everyone for purchasing tickets for the raffle, which raised $503 towards the Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum.
As usual, there was a crew of volunteers who deserve special thanks for making this event run smoothly: Jean Beeson, Kevin Engle, Jinjer Hearn, Penny Lunt, Tony Marchese, KC Patrick, Florence Peck, Bonnie Skee, Sheralyn Riewarts, and Nick Voegtly.
Last but not least, thank you everyone for attending and making our Thanksgiving dinner a huge success. Please be on the lookout for our next upcoming event!
(Submitted by Jaclyn Ley.)
Below, Kay Ridgeway with her quilt.
June 28, 2009: Scores of LCHS members braved triple-digit heat to attend the annual Society potluck picnic, which was an historic event in itself as it was the first picnic held at our Clubhouse in Nice. The Clubhouse had been decorated and well arranged for the event. In the kitchen were a new sink and refrigerator, yet more signs of the Society’s progress
Attendees enjoyed grilled hamburgers and hot dogs and drinks provided by the Society. Many guests brought side dishes and desserts which were also relished.
Two speakers were on hand. Dave Morgan discussed his book It’s Lonely At The Top, which is a history of Lake County’s only railroad. Phil Smoley (A repeat speaker!) gave an interesting talk on Kit Carson’s brothers and their relationship to Lake County.
Please see the photo summary below!
LCHS member signing in at the picnic.
The crowd gathers inside the Clubhouse at the start of the event.
The new sink and refrigerator in the Clubhouse kitchen.
Dogs and burgers on the grills.
The membership lines up for chow.
Desert was an unbelievably good chocolate cake!
Dave Morgan describes publishing his book It’s Lonely At The Top.
The crowd listens intently.
Phil Smoley begins his talk on the (Kit) Carson brothers in Lake County.
This was Phil’s third talk (At least!) at LCHS events. His lectures are always good!
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April 26, 2009: The Society was treated to one of the most impressive examples of restoration of a Lake County historical location when it held its General Membership meeting at the Tallman Hotel and Blue Wing Saloon in Upper Lake. After a sumptuous brunch in the beautiful outdoor dining area on the grounds, members listened to hotel owners Bernie and Lynne Butcher recount the process they went through to obtain and restore the hotel property, which had been vacant and dilapidated until they came to the rescue. After the talk the Butchers gave LCHS members a tour of the hotel and of the livery stable adjacent to it, which was restored by Sheldon Steinberg.
The Butchers’ efforts and sacrifices have certainly paid off. Today the Tallman Hotel and Blue Wing Saloon are easily two of the finest guest establishments in the county!
Please see the photographs below for a pictorial summary of this great event!
The beautifully restored Tallman Hotel in Upper Lake.
The livery stable.
A fine brunch was served in the outdoor area between the hotel and the saloon.
After brunch, LCHS members and guests gathered in the meeting room.
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Bernie Butcher tells the tale of the Tallman’s restoration.
Bernie and guests in the lobby of the Tallman Hotel.
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The interior of the livery stable, now home to a huge collection of antique plumbing fixtures.
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February 22, 2009: On Sunday, February 22, members of the Lake County Historical Society were treated to a very interesting lecture/performance by Barbara White, who enlightened us all regarding the clothing worn by true ladies during the Victorian Age. Scores of LCHS members braved the rain to pack the Gard Street School gymnasium in Kelseyville in eager anticipation of the event, which was presented as a “strip-tease in reverse.” Starting with the barest essentials that decency would allow, Ms. White then added layer upon layer of clothing until she was finally ready and able to adequately confront the society of the Victorian day. Everything was done with thorough explanation, and in a question and answer period following the dress-up White provided much additional information to the fact-hungry crowd. All in all, it was yet another superior historic presentation, courtesy of the Lake County Historical Society.
See below for some photos of the event.
LCHS President Randy Ridgel addresses the crowd before the event.
The “reverse strip-tease” begins.
A bell-shaped undergarment gives body to the skirt.
Barbara White is now ready to properly confront society.
Ms. White takes questions from the crowd.
A well-dressed Victorian lady with some of her personal accessories.
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November 23, 2008: You can read a recent article on the online Lake County News about current Historical Society projects here: http://lakeconews.com/content/view/6417/764/.
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September 28, 2008: LCHS held its most recent General Membership meeting at the Live Oak Senior Center in Clearlake Oaks. A capacity crowd enjoyed the event, which included reminiscences from long-time local residents Gail Jonas, Lee Morine, Elizabeth Paddock, and Dennis Pluth. It was a joy to be able to listen to the speakers and hear their tales of growing up in the area, which were in turn funny, poignant, and, of course, interesting and historical. Please see the pictures of the meeting below.
The Live Oak Senior Center in Clearlake Oaks.
Society members in the center before the speaker program began.
LCHS President Randy Ridgel (left, with microphone) and guest speakers Lee Morine, Elizabeth Paddock, Gail Jonas, and Dennis Pluth.
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August 28 - 31, 2008: The Society manned a booth at the Lake County Fair offering news about the Mount Konocti purchase project, books for sale, and general information about LCHS and its activities.
Volunteers man the LCHS table at the Lake County Fair.
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June 22, 2008: Everyone had a fine time at the annual LCHS picnic, which was held at the Lakeside County Park on June 22. Starting at 1 p.m., the several hundred attendees enjoyed good company, good food, a good raffle, and the usual good guest speakers.
Skies hazy with smoke from the recent Northern California wildfires, however, fairly much blocked the view of the topic of those speakers — Mount Konocti and the possible acquisition thereof. After an interesting and informative talk on the geology of the mountain by Geologist David Adam, Lake County Supervisor Rob Brown and Analyst for the Public Works Department Jacque Armstrong explained the acquisition process and outlined possible county plans for the property once it is acquired. The audience paid rapt attention and asked many questions about this important project.
A pictorial account of the picnic is below.
Welcome to the picnic!
LCHS booths.
Raffle prizes.
One view of the event.
Another look.
A fine spread of food was on hand.
Geologist David Adam explained the geology of Mount Konocti.
Historical Society President Randy Ridgel.
Rob Brown and Jacque Armstrong.
Brown and Armstrong with a map of Mount Konocti.
A raffle prize being drawn.
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April 27, 2008: The LCHS held its most recent meeting for general members at the new clubhouse in Nice. The meeting was very well attended and the clubhouse was filled almost to capacity.
The featured speaker was Bob Lossius, Assistant Director of the Lake County Department of Public Works, who gave a very interesting lecture on the history of the levees on the north edge of Clear Lake. The construction of those levees resulted in the destruction of much of the natural wetlands in the area, and an extensive effort is now underway to restore a large portion of those natural areas. Mr. Lossius provided the rapt audience with a thorough progress report on the current status of that effort. He also made several handouts available which provided information additional to that given in his talk.
Also on hand was local author K. C. Patrick, who spoke about (and sold!) copies of her new book The Pomo of Lake County. This book is an entry in the “Images of America” series, and anyone who is interested in the history of the local Native Americans should get a copy.
Ample refreshments were available to the crowd, and several lucky attendees went home with prizes won in the raffle.
The meeting was additionally siginificant — even historical! — in that it was the first assembly of the general membership of the Lake County Historical Society ever to be held in our very own building!
See below for a photographic summary of the meeting.
Temporary signs assure attendees that they’re at the right place.
The clubhouse parking lot was close to overflowing.
Society President Randy Ridgel addresses the crowd.
It was almost a full house at the new Nice clubhouse.
Bob Lossius describes the progress of the project to restore wetlands to the northern part of Clear Lake.
K. C. Patrick discusses her book The Pomo of Lake County.
A lucky raffle winner selects the next prize winner.
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April 19, 2008: The Society had a booth at the the Earth Day Event at the Calpine Geothermal Visitor Center in Middletown. The weather was great (if a bit windy) and attendance was fine too, as hundreds of spectators enjoyed the activities and presentations. Among the many booths at the fair was one set up by the Lake County Historical Society to solicit memberships, sell books, and answer questions. Many people stopped by the booth to express interest in the Society and its projects.
The LCHS booth.
Books on sale at the Society’s booth.
