Tuesday, February 16, 2010
City of San Francisco Train Disaster
February 12, 2010
This past week, we watched a television program on PBS where we saw the disaster that struck the City of San Francisco train in 1952. This morning, while going through some of my father’s old files, I found a picture of him standing in front of the “City of San Francisco” in 1938 at the Southern Pacific Depot in Sacramento, CA.
I checked out the “City of San Francisco” on the internet this afternoon and found the following article and photgraph of the same train!
"The City of San Francisco is perhaps best remembered for the January, 1952 disaster when a blizzard in the Sierra Nevada Mountains entrapped the train for 6 days at Donner Pass, California. The incident occurred when snowdrifts from the blizzard's 160 km/h (100 mph) winds blocked the train, burying it in 3.6 meters (12 feet) of snow and stranding it from January 13 to January 19. The event made international news headlines. In the effort to reach the train, the railroad's snow-clearing equipment and snow-blowing rotary augers became frozen to the tracks. Subsequently, hundreds of workers and volunteers, including Georg Gärtner, using manual snowplows, tractors and manpower came to the rescue by clearing the adjacent Lincoln Highway (the first road across America) to reach the train. The 196 passengers and 20 crewmembers were evacuated within 72 hours, on foot through the snow, to vehicles which transported them to emergency facilities at Nyack Lodge on the highway. The train itself was finally dug out several days later."
Albert J. Lebeck, standing in front of the
This past week, we watched a television program on PBS where we saw the disaster that struck the City of San Francisco train in 1952. This morning, while going through some of my father’s old files, I found a picture of him standing in front of the “City of San Francisco” in 1938 at the Southern Pacific Depot in Sacramento, CA.
I checked out the “City of San Francisco” on the internet this afternoon and found the following article and photgraph of the same train!
"The City of San Francisco is perhaps best remembered for the January, 1952 disaster when a blizzard in the Sierra Nevada Mountains entrapped the train for 6 days at Donner Pass, California. The incident occurred when snowdrifts from the blizzard's 160 km/h (100 mph) winds blocked the train, burying it in 3.6 meters (12 feet) of snow and stranding it from January 13 to January 19. The event made international news headlines. In the effort to reach the train, the railroad's snow-clearing equipment and snow-blowing rotary augers became frozen to the tracks. Subsequently, hundreds of workers and volunteers, including Georg Gärtner, using manual snowplows, tractors and manpower came to the rescue by clearing the adjacent Lincoln Highway (the first road across America) to reach the train. The 196 passengers and 20 crewmembers were evacuated within 72 hours, on foot through the snow, to vehicles which transported them to emergency facilities at Nyack Lodge on the highway. The train itself was finally dug out several days later."
Albert J. Lebeck, standing in front of the"City of San Francisco" in 1938.
City of San Francisco
City of San FranciscoWednesday, December 16, 2009
THE FIRE
The effects of playing with matches affected me personally when I was five years old. My parents had gone to Santa Rosa to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary with my father’s Uncle Chris and Aunt Anna Ketelsen. They were married the day after my folks’ wedding on August 4, 1929 and Dad had stood up with his Uncle Chris so it was fitting for them to celebrate their special day together. My oldest brothers, Robert and Leroy went with them and Paul and I stayed at home with Rachel Gomes who was our live-in care giver.
Paul was the most curious person I ever knew and had quite an investigative mind. At an early age, he could take apart a lawnmower and put it back together. In our two story home, we also had a basement which was finished off with six rooms used in my family’s business. At the back side of the basement, we had a laundry room with the old wringer style washing machine and shelves containing various products just waiting to be explored. As the story goes, Paul got a glass jar, filled it with water, struck a match and put it in the liquid and as one would suspect, the fire was extinguished. Then he repeated the experiment with a match in a jar of cleaning fluid. This time, the fire did not go out and soon the fluid got too hot for him to hold. He attempted to pour the fluid out into the wash tub but it got too hot for his hands and he dropped the jar. The fluid splattered onto us and we suffered 3rd degree burns on our legs. He had been taught in school about the drop and roll procedure to put out a fire, but all I knew to do was to cry for help. Rachel was reading a book out in the back yard and at first assumed that Paul was just teasing me but when she looked up and saw me, she immediately picked me up and ran up the back stairs and put me in the kitchen sink where she poured cold water on my burns. My friend and playmate, Joan Perry was with me and watched the experiment but escaped getting burned and skated home, about 4 houses down W Street, to tell her mother. Soon the sirens of the ambulance could be heard – I suppose Dorothy Perry was the one who called and we were both whisked off to the Sacramento County Hospital. As young as I was, almost 6, I was startled to see the ambulance go through a red light and then I reminded myself that they could do that.
I remember lying on a table and having a cool salve spread on my legs and having the hanging flesh cut away. My legs were burned below my knees and to some degree, on my thighs. My right arm was also burned (not as badly) and the thing for which we always gave thanks was the fact that I had been wearing a dress and the hem of my dress and my hair were singed.
My father often called his office to check for messages and when he called that day, he was told that his two children had been burned in a fire and that they were in the hospital. He did not know how badly we were burned or where and Mom later told us that the trip home was one spent in silence. I can imagine. Robert and Leroy were a little irritated that their visit with their cousins were cut short. Mom was also embarrassed when our picture appeared on the front page of our local newspaper – The Sacramento Union since they were away at the time and even though we were in good care, she thought it reflected badly on them.
Mom and Dad brought me a new red plaid dress on one of their visits and after our release from the hospital Dr. Binkley (who also had delivered me) came to our home to change our bandages. Another incident I remember centered on my mother being criticized for allowing me to wear slacks to church. It seems this woman didn't know I had been burned and Mom had me wear slacks, perhaps to hide the bandages. The other thing I strongly remember was being told that the scars would probably disappear by the time I was fourteen, but alas, I still have them to this day. Some kids are anxious to get their driver’s license – I was just waiting for the time when my scars would disappear.
The effects of playing with matches affected me personally when I was five years old. My parents had gone to Santa Rosa to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary with my father’s Uncle Chris and Aunt Anna Ketelsen. They were married the day after my folks’ wedding on August 4, 1929 and Dad had stood up with his Uncle Chris so it was fitting for them to celebrate their special day together. My oldest brothers, Robert and Leroy went with them and Paul and I stayed at home with Rachel Gomes who was our live-in care giver.
Paul was the most curious person I ever knew and had quite an investigative mind. At an early age, he could take apart a lawnmower and put it back together. In our two story home, we also had a basement which was finished off with six rooms used in my family’s business. At the back side of the basement, we had a laundry room with the old wringer style washing machine and shelves containing various products just waiting to be explored. As the story goes, Paul got a glass jar, filled it with water, struck a match and put it in the liquid and as one would suspect, the fire was extinguished. Then he repeated the experiment with a match in a jar of cleaning fluid. This time, the fire did not go out and soon the fluid got too hot for him to hold. He attempted to pour the fluid out into the wash tub but it got too hot for his hands and he dropped the jar. The fluid splattered onto us and we suffered 3rd degree burns on our legs. He had been taught in school about the drop and roll procedure to put out a fire, but all I knew to do was to cry for help. Rachel was reading a book out in the back yard and at first assumed that Paul was just teasing me but when she looked up and saw me, she immediately picked me up and ran up the back stairs and put me in the kitchen sink where she poured cold water on my burns. My friend and playmate, Joan Perry was with me and watched the experiment but escaped getting burned and skated home, about 4 houses down W Street, to tell her mother. Soon the sirens of the ambulance could be heard – I suppose Dorothy Perry was the one who called and we were both whisked off to the Sacramento County Hospital. As young as I was, almost 6, I was startled to see the ambulance go through a red light and then I reminded myself that they could do that.
I remember lying on a table and having a cool salve spread on my legs and having the hanging flesh cut away. My legs were burned below my knees and to some degree, on my thighs. My right arm was also burned (not as badly) and the thing for which we always gave thanks was the fact that I had been wearing a dress and the hem of my dress and my hair were singed.
My father often called his office to check for messages and when he called that day, he was told that his two children had been burned in a fire and that they were in the hospital. He did not know how badly we were burned or where and Mom later told us that the trip home was one spent in silence. I can imagine. Robert and Leroy were a little irritated that their visit with their cousins were cut short. Mom was also embarrassed when our picture appeared on the front page of our local newspaper – The Sacramento Union since they were away at the time and even though we were in good care, she thought it reflected badly on them.
Mom and Dad brought me a new red plaid dress on one of their visits and after our release from the hospital Dr. Binkley (who also had delivered me) came to our home to change our bandages. Another incident I remember centered on my mother being criticized for allowing me to wear slacks to church. It seems this woman didn't know I had been burned and Mom had me wear slacks, perhaps to hide the bandages. The other thing I strongly remember was being told that the scars would probably disappear by the time I was fourteen, but alas, I still have them to this day. Some kids are anxious to get their driver’s license – I was just waiting for the time when my scars would disappear.
Our 2009 Christmas Letter...to all, and to all, a good night.
With the advent of technology and electronic communication, I almost feel like asking ‘What can be said that hasn’t already been said”? But wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and the best of times for the New Year never gets old.
All of our children are living in the same places – Sacramento area and Everett, WA. No new grandchildren, a new dog at Tim and Shar’s house and of course we still have at least four cats that come to our place for nourishment. Ben’s sister, Dobbie, is a blessing to our family.
We did some traveling this year. We went to Washington D.C. in January with Charley and Frank (my cousins) for the Presidential Inauguration. There is so much to see there and we met many friendly and happy people.
In July, we made what seems like an annual affair – going to Eugene, Oregon for a reunion with some of my schoolmates. We continued on north to spend a weekend with Steve and Harriett who will be living in Everett, WA for another year.
The River Cats was more fun this year. We worked part-time as ushers (Guest Services) and enjoyed that more than working in the gift shop which we had done for the two prior years. Ben got to see more ball games and I enjoyed working at a variety of gates, etc.
We checked out Reno’s new baseball stadium when the River Cats played them in July. We lost, but certainly enjoyed seeing their new park and relaxing in Reno..
Ben and his daughter Jennifer co-coached an under 10 Girls’ Soccer Team again this year. Lauren was on their team.
In September, my cousin Tom married Jennifer in the San Francisco Zoo. Check out my blog for further details: http://benoresther.blogspot.com/
The highlight of the fall was attending the two day Breeders’ Cup World Championship horse races in Arcadia, CA on November 6th and 7th. Zenyatta, a mare, surpassed all of the boys in the Classic Race to become the first mare in history to do so. Go Girls. Of course this was a dream come true for Ben to attend this internationally attended event.
Our plans include hosting Christmas brunch again this year. We enjoy having our family with us. Steve and Harriett had her family from Texas with them for Thanksgiving.
Our seven granddaughters range from 16 to 2 ½ and bring us joy as we watch them wind through their various stages. Somehow, being a grandparent is a second chance to enjoy these cute girls with our full attention and with fewer of life’s demands on us. Whether it’s playing softball, soccer, dance, drama, music or achieving honors at school, we are so thankful to be a part of all of it.
Let’s keep in touch. You are the hub of what makes our world go around.
(Facebook: Esther Lebeck Loveridge. E-mail: benoresther@sbcglobal.net)
.
With the advent of technology and electronic communication, I almost feel like asking ‘What can be said that hasn’t already been said”? But wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and the best of times for the New Year never gets old.
All of our children are living in the same places – Sacramento area and Everett, WA. No new grandchildren, a new dog at Tim and Shar’s house and of course we still have at least four cats that come to our place for nourishment. Ben’s sister, Dobbie, is a blessing to our family.
We did some traveling this year. We went to Washington D.C. in January with Charley and Frank (my cousins) for the Presidential Inauguration. There is so much to see there and we met many friendly and happy people.
In July, we made what seems like an annual affair – going to Eugene, Oregon for a reunion with some of my schoolmates. We continued on north to spend a weekend with Steve and Harriett who will be living in Everett, WA for another year.
The River Cats was more fun this year. We worked part-time as ushers (Guest Services) and enjoyed that more than working in the gift shop which we had done for the two prior years. Ben got to see more ball games and I enjoyed working at a variety of gates, etc.
We checked out Reno’s new baseball stadium when the River Cats played them in July. We lost, but certainly enjoyed seeing their new park and relaxing in Reno..
Ben and his daughter Jennifer co-coached an under 10 Girls’ Soccer Team again this year. Lauren was on their team.
In September, my cousin Tom married Jennifer in the San Francisco Zoo. Check out my blog for further details: http://benoresther.blogspot.com/
The highlight of the fall was attending the two day Breeders’ Cup World Championship horse races in Arcadia, CA on November 6th and 7th. Zenyatta, a mare, surpassed all of the boys in the Classic Race to become the first mare in history to do so. Go Girls. Of course this was a dream come true for Ben to attend this internationally attended event.
Our plans include hosting Christmas brunch again this year. We enjoy having our family with us. Steve and Harriett had her family from Texas with them for Thanksgiving.
Our seven granddaughters range from 16 to 2 ½ and bring us joy as we watch them wind through their various stages. Somehow, being a grandparent is a second chance to enjoy these cute girls with our full attention and with fewer of life’s demands on us. Whether it’s playing softball, soccer, dance, drama, music or achieving honors at school, we are so thankful to be a part of all of it.
Let’s keep in touch. You are the hub of what makes our world go around.
(Facebook: Esther Lebeck Loveridge. E-mail: benoresther@sbcglobal.net)
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Friday, October 9, 2009
Route 66 - Nice to be there
Attending "Legally Blonde" was very enjoyable and a nice way to spend my birthday. Of course I love being with our family and we got to do that the next evening as we gathered at Leatherby's for ice cream. Sue, my friend from junior high school joined us and all of our granddaughters were so cute. The following day, we had a visit from Don and George. Don was a schoolmate from CBA, our high school. Cousin Charley and Frank came for lunch too and in the evening, Don and George treated us to Mexican food and the following night we treated them to an Italian dinner. It was nice to have them park their RV in front of our house and spend some time with us. Then last night, we went to a reverse mortgage seminar (and free dinner at Marie Calendar's) with my brother Robert. Anyone have any experience pro or con with reverse mortgages? Well, I like the way Route 66 has taken me so far and look forward to another year with family and friends.
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