Diablo Bulletin

BULLETIN
PRESIDENT
John Bachochin
15731 S. 4210 Rd.,
Claremore, OK 74017
918-342-0710
No. 338
TREASURER
Loren Moore
POB 1181
Roseville, CA 95678
916-783-6822
ALL DUES DUE APRIL 1st
EDITOR
Mike Prero
12659 Eckard Way
Auburn,CA 95603
530-906-4705
March 2013
by
Mike Prero
I spent a lot of time in San Francisco when I was in high school and college. It’s changed drastically
since then, unfortunately. But, I’m always surprised that more collectors don’t have San Francisco covers
as one of their categories. It’s certainly one of the most famous cities in the world, and one of the most
picturesque, immortalized in songs, films, novels, and plays.
Greg Lund, MD, had 13,809, as of November, 2005, and that was for the San Francisco area.
No. 338
SIERRA-DIABLO BULLETIN-March 2013
Page 2
No. 338
SIERRA-DIABLO BULLETIN-March 2013
Page 3
The Lone Star Match Company
Yes, we know about Diamond; Yes, we know about Universal; Yes, we know about Lion. But what
about Texas match companies? Why don’t we hear about any of them? There were some...weren’t there?
Yes, there were. Obviously, there is Atlas, but there were a few others in the past, as well. They’re little
known, and their covers are rarely seen, but they were there, and one was the Lone Star Match Company.
At first glance, one might question the logic of placing a match company in Texas, especially in the
1950s....the country’s population centers were all somewhere else! Most of the World War II military
bases had closed; the hustle and bustle of all those military personnel, gone. The state wasn’t known for its
paper products or chemical industry. Southwestern Match Company of Ft. Worth had only made it a few
years, itself, before selling out to what eventually would become today’s Atlas Match, Euless, TX, in
1960. On the other hand, Atlas has gone on to become one of the few surviving match companies of the
domestic industry, so...
Unfortunately, hardly anything is known about this very short-lived company. It was centered in San
Antonio and operated from 1955-1956 (and the only known dated cover is from 1956). On the other hand,
it’s fairly easy to date Lone Star covers (!!). A total of 60 covers are currently listed; I have the four shown
here, plus a few others.
There’s a certain mystique about those little short-lived companies from the past. They’re not only part
of the industry’s and hobby’s past, but there’s always that tantalizing challenge to find their covers, even
more so than finding covers for your other categories.
No. 338
SIERRA-DIABLO BULLETIN-March 2013
Page 4
Titusville = Oil!
The area was first settled in 1796 by Jonathan Titus. Within 14 years, others bought and improved the
land lying near him, along the banks of the now-named Oil Creek. He named the village Edinburgh, but as
the village grew, the settlers began to call this little hamlet Titusville. The village was incorporated as a
borough in 1849.
Titusville was a slow-growing and peaceful community until the 1850s, when the discovery of petroleum
in the region caused quite the stir. Oil was known to exist here, but there was no practical way to extract it.
Generally, its main use to that time had been as a medicine for both animals and humans. In the late 1850s
Seneca Oil Company (formerly the Pennsylvania Rock Oil Company) sent Col. Edwin L. Drake, to start
drilling on a piece of leased land just south of Titusville near what is now Oil Creek State Park. Drake hired
a salt well driller, William A. Smith, in the summer of 1859. They had many difficulties, but on August 27
at the site of an oil spring just south of Titusville, they finally drilled a well that could be commercially
successful.
Teamsters were needed immediately to transport the oil to markets. Transporting methods improved and
in 1862 the Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad was built between Titusville and Corry where it was transferred
to other, larger, east-west lines. In 1865 pipelines were laid directly to the rail line and the demand for
teamsters practically ended. The next year the railroad line was extended south to Petroleum Centre and Oil
City. The Union City & Titusville Railroad was built in 1865, which became part of the Philadelphia & Erie
Railroad in 1871. That fall, President U. S. Grant visited Titusville to view this important region.
Other oil-related businesses quickly exploded on the scene. Eight refineries were built between 1862 and
1868. Drilling tools were needed and several iron works were built.
Titusville grew from 250 residents to 10,000 almost overnight and in 1866
it incorporated as a city. In 1871, the first oil exchange in the United States
was established here. The exchange moved from the city, but returned in
1881 in a new, brick building before being dissolved in 1897.
The first oil millionaire was Jonathan Watson, a resident of Titusville. He
owned the land where Drake's well was drilled. He had been a partner in a
lumber business prior to the success of the Drake well. At one time it was
said that Titusville had more millionaires per 1,000 population than
anywhere else in the world.
One resident of note was Franklin S. Tarbell whose large Italianate home
still stands. He first moved a few miles south in Venango County and
established a wooden stock tank business. About 10 miles southeast of
Titusville was another oil boom city, Pithole. Oil was discovered in a
rolling meadow there in January 1865 and by September 1865 the
population was 15,000. But the oil soon ran dry and within four years the
city was nearly deserted. Tarbell moved to Titusville in 1870. His daughter
became an accomplished writer and wrote a series of articles about the
business practices of the Standard Oil Company and its president, John D.
Rockefeller, which sparked legislative action in Congress concerning
monopolies.
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titusville,_Pennsylvania]
No. 338
SIERRA-DIABLO BULLETIN-March 2013
Page 5
Early Best Western History
[This information comes from the March/April and May/June 1975 RMS Bulletins]
“Best Western was organized in 1948 by Mr. M. K. Guertin who owned the Beach and Oceanaire Motel
in Long Beach, California. Until 1966, Mr. Guertin was the sole owner and only officer of Best Western.
At that time Mr. Guertin turned the organization over to members and the present organization was
formed, with a seven-man Board of Directors elected by the members administering the affairs of Best
Western. M. Milton Duvall (owner of Duvall’s Motel in Clarksville, Missouri) was named Best Western’s
first President, with M. Rene Grialou (Americana Motor Lodge, San Francisco, California) as Vice
President.
Best Western's 25th anniversary was in 1973 (not in 1974). At that time charter members were honored
at a gala celebration in Phoenix. According to the 1948 Travel Guide, these are the charter members of
Best Western:
- Harry P. Smith, of the Hitching Post Motor Inn, Cheyenne, Wyoming, whose fist motel was known as
Lincoln Court.
- E. Pollman, of Beach & Oceanaire Motel and Apts., of Long Beach, California, whose first motel was
known as Beach Motel.
- Lester U. Raw, of New Seashore Motel, of Seaside, Oregon; first motel was known as Center City Motel.
- M. & Mrs. Ray Knell, of El Rey Motel, Cedar City, Utah; original name still used today.
- Roy Coxwell, Rancho Grande Motel, Wickenburg, Arizona; original motel was known as Motel Rancho
Grande.
- Arthur N. Pack, of Ghost Ranch Lodge, Tucson, Arizona; original motel name still being used.
- Marie Peach, Coronado Motel Hotel, Yuma, Arizona; original motel name still being used.
- C. G. Wallace, of De Anza Motor Lodge, Albuquerque, New Mexico; original name still being used.
E. J. Shelley sent along a “Prospective Membership Kit” that outlines policies of BEST WESTERN for
the benefit of its members. Kit includes a “27 point requirements” that members must adhere to. No. 14 is
of special interest: “14. Book Matches. Book matches prominently printed with the Best Western logo
must be available in guest rooms.”
“...Unlike the H-I’s with their prominent large signs and conspicuous building design the Best Westerns
are not too easy to spot. True, some motels have the familiar Best Western sign (yellow/red/blue square
sign with a crown atop), but many are not that designated until you come upon the lobby door. Also, most
of the motels were built to the owner’s design before being affiliated with Best Western; thus no one
motel is a look-alike of another Best Western.
As the chain progressed eastward, the name was changed to Best Western/Best Eastern. But this was
dropped shortly thereafter and reverted to the Best Western theme. Some of the earlier matchcovers bore
only the slogan; some only had a small logo somewhere on the cover.
It wasn’t until the early 60’s that the matchcovers became a familiar yellow/white with the logo
emblazoned on the back. Around 1964 the Best Western/Best Eastern logo appeared, along with the
imprint inside the cover showing the figure “900 motels”. Some of these covers had the date 9/64
imprinted behind the matches. (in the crease).”
No. 338
SIERRA-DIABLO BULLETIN-March 2013
Page 6
An American Tour:
67
New Market, Virginia’s Endless Caverns
Endless Caverns is a commercial show cave located 3 miles south of New Market, Virginia. The cave is
a limestone solution cave.
According to the tour operators, the cave was discovered by two boys in October 1879, while hunting
rabbits on the property of Ruben Zirkle. The boys cornered a rabbit behind an outcropping of limestone
rocks, and began moving some of the loose stones to flush the rabbit from his hiding place. After doing
this they discovered a hole in the ground and ran back to the house to grab some ropes and candles. After
going into the hole the boys found that there were many chambers and rooms. Not long after the
discovery, the Zirkles began doing candle lit tours through the cave. In 1919, the cave was bought by
Colonel Brown who had the cave fully electrified in 1928 with a lighting design by Samuel Hibben.
Endless is home to colonies of bats, primarily little brown bats, that are visible on the tour route.
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endless_Caverns]
No. 338
SIERRA-DIABLO BULLETIN-March 2013
New Members
Leland Roll
Change of Address
Leland Roll, who was a club
member up to last year, passed
away on January 29th. Our
condolences to Leland’s family
and his many friends in the
hobby.
______________________
898. DJ Norton, 1018 Post Ave.,
Almagordo, NM 88310
Ads
WANT TO BUY: Matchcovers
with the manumark: Kentucky
Match Co, Henderson,Ky or
could have Kentucky Match Co,
Evansville, Ind. Also looking
for: The matchcover- Radio
Attractions Inc presents Sax
Rohmers The Shadow of Fu
Manchu. Who has one or two?
Lloyd Spivey, 1203 Charlotte
Ln., Hartford, KY 42347 (270298-1159) wkloradio@
yahoo.com
BANKS! I’ve got tons to trade
for your 20-strike Hotel/Motel/
Restaurant covers. Mike Prero,
12659 Eckard Way, Auburn, CA
95603 [email protected]
FANCIES! I’ll trade mine for
your Xmas, Girlies, Dated,
Recommended by Duncan
Hi n e s , Li o n 3 0 - S T I C K ,
Trucking, Military, Fraternals,
and more. Mike Prero, 12659
Eckard Way, Auburn, CA 95603
[email protected]
_______________________
Congratulations
to......Us!
We’re 30 years
old this year!
Readers Write
Larry Danver, CA: [Ref Sep
2012 issue] I read your article,
titled “Just What Goes In Those
Collections?” My preference is:
in the case of a business that
references a famous place, I
enter in my database under the
business name (i.e.: Anaheim
Plaza Hotel & Suites, across
from Disneyland). HOWEVER
in my Military collection, I
include covers from civilian
businesses that say that they are
located on a military base.
In my Girlies collection, I have
separate sections for “Sets and
Parts of Sets”, “Listed Singles”,
and “Unlisted Singles'”. I also
use my own criteria as to what
defines a Girlie. I include (in
my Unlisted section) covers
showing a mermaid, since they
are all female. I also include
covers that show any part of the
female anatomy (head, legs,
etc.) .
I have a total of 12 separate
collections; Girlie Singles,
Girlie Sets and Parts, Casinos,
Best Westerns, Hiltons, Elks,
Holiday Inns, Camels, RMS,
Military, AND General. That
last category comprises the bulk
Page 7
of my collections, which makes
me a General Collector. Those
are separate databases on my
computer and separate binders in
my den.
AMCAL 2013!
April 25-April 27, 2013,
Heritage Inn Express, 204 N
Harding Blvd., Roseville, CA
95678 (916-782-44660. App.
$50 a night.
Bu yin g, sellin g, trading,
displays, great auctions, info
exchange, Steve's Friday BBQ
lunch. Fun, fun, fun.
We have most of the “vices” in
close proximity. Gambling at
Thunder Valley, wineries from
Auburn to Napa Valley,
shopping mega destination
complex, Roseville Galleria 1
mile away, Lake Tahoe,
absolutely stunning, 1 ½ hours
drive. And, food choices from
casual to gourmet. You're in the
middle of a diner's paradise with
literally hundreds of choices in a
three mile radius.
To be prepared, show up,
register, be ready to soak up
information and fun exploring
the area.
G o
t o :
h t t p : / /
www.matchcovercollector.com
/mc/index.cfm to check out the
auction lots for each three big
auctions!
This year we are excited to test
out absentee bidders for the
AMCAL auction!
No. 338
SIERRA-DIABLO BULLETIN-March 2013
Happy Birthday!
Bachochin, John........................3-1
Fisher, Gary...............................3-1
Spivey, Lloyd............................3-4
McKinney, Denise.....................3-7
Mendonca, Raulin......................3-7
Tate, Michael.............................3-7
Johnk, Janet.............................3-12
Crum, Dwain...........................3-16
Cole, Larry...............................3-18
Danver, Larry..........................3-24
Thomas, Bob............................3-28
Gray, Tom................................3-30
Barbieri, David..........................4-2
Cosentini, George....................4-12
Scott, Bill.................................4-12
Moore, Loren...........................4-16
Corrales, Greg..........................4-19
Moore, Scott............................4-23
Turrini, Michael.......................4-23
Bouchard, Denis......................4-24
March’s Smile
Download the Registration
Packet for all information on
absentee bidding.
FMI: Loren Moore
[email protected]
Sierra Diablo 2013
AMCAL Host
Ed Note: If you can’t attend
AMC A L, yo u ca n stil l
participate in the big convention
auctions. Registration materials
and full details are on the
AMCAL site referenced on p. 7.
You can bid from the comfort of
your own home! Take a look!
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Read
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Leave those hard
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Page 8
arrive late; and they don’t lay
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can then buy...an extra gallon of
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Just contact the Ed.
COMING
UP
Apr: “Chinese Restaurants”
May:“Historical Characters”
Jun:
Replace“Literary
with advertising Characters”
text
SIERRA-DIABLO...we’re
the hottest club in the
hobby! Company Name
The Sierra-Diablo Bulletin is a
publication of the Sierra-Diablo
Matchcover Club. Deadline for all
submissions is 2 weeks before the
issue month. Any information
herein may be reproduced with
appropriate credit line. Dues of $5
(e-bulletin); or $10 hard copy
(individual), $15 (family), $15
(Canada/Mexico) or $20 (outside
N. America) are payable to the
Sierra-Diablo Matchcover Club, c/
o Loren Moore, POB 1181,
Roseville, CA 95678
Visit the Sierra-Diablo Web Site
at: http://www.matchcover.org/
sierra. You can reach the Ed. on
line at [email protected] for
help with Bulletin/hobby
questions, concerns or problems.