Some Cavern Supply Company Developments

The Cavern Supply Company served as a valued partner
with Carlsbad Caverns National Park--first as a National
 Monument--in serving the visitors with various needs.
 By the late 1920's they served visitors out of tent facilities
 at the Natural Entrance. Later Cavern Supply constructed
a store across the parking lot and near the Park Service
ticket office.

Cavern Supply provided lunches for sale for tour groups
 and later constructed an underground lunchroom. In the
late 1950's they added a number of facilities to the park's
 visitor center which had been constructed in the early
1950s (food services on the surface, gift shop, nursery,
 and kennels) The Coffee Shop Soda Fountain was
 finished in February 1958; the Cavern Supply surface
Gift Shop, a month later.

A incredibly significant labor-saving device for both the
surface/cavern logistics of both the Cavern Supply Company
and the National Park Service was the installation in 1932
of two 75 story (750 ") shafts and elevators. Prior to that
pivotal event, all supplies in and trash out required human
transportation.

Think of that.

Bob Hoff

10/30/11

Goodbye Party for a Great Guy--GUMO's Fred Armstrong

Fred and Kathy

When I arrived at the Caverns in January 1986 to become a cave crew supervisor, I met Fred Armstrong a member of my inherited crew. He clearly strove to do his best for his co-employees and himself. No one doubted Fred's dedication to do what was right for all concerned from the visitors, the CAVE staff, and the  Mission of the National Park Service.

He obviously prided himself in making the outstanding effort in
everything that he was charged with doing. He became my assistant supervisor for over three years, always doing more than his share of high quality work, again, for everybody concerned.

Fred with GUMO staff

I was glad to have Fred for a friend and I still am. At his going away party on Friday, 10/21/11 I again realized that many others had seen the extra special qualities in Fred, and like me, appreciated him for those and his willingness to befriend and help others, ever the positive friend and mentor as needed.

Fred now heads for Zion NP in Utah after serving so well the two national parks in this area (and several other park areas in between). We all salute you, Fred, for your contributions and inspirational example to us, your friends: the value of doing your best at all times and leading by example.

Fred and I

We, of course, will miss you, but are happy we were able to work and interact with you. Thanks for everything, Fred, and best regards to you and your family (Lori and Forrest)as well.

Stay in touch and visit when you all can.

Bob Hoff
10/26/11
Pictures by Chris Hoff

2007 History Blog article with Basic CCC information and another picturehttp://carlsbadcavernshistory.blogspot.com/2007/04/civilian-conservation-corps-at.html

Donated Pix of Rattlesnake Springs CCC Camp NP-!

Donated by a man whose father was an enrollee at this camp.

Don't forget to use Google Search box to find other "CCC info" or "park info."

Fannie White

Have you seen this picture of Jim White and his wife Fannie? She is the

woman to his left. Jim White died in 1946 so this picture must be around

that time. She later remarried a man named Barron.

Today she is laid to rest along side Jim in the Carlsbad Cemetery on Boyd

Avenue.

It must have been very sad for her to see Jim put so much effort into the

exploration of the cave, the work to make it accessible, and the promotion

of it and to see his contributions marginalized due to other circumstances.

Bob Hoff

10/20/11

Do You Remember if Jim White, Jr. had a son?

Does anyone remember a ceremony at the Natural Entrance
(around 10+ years ago) amphitheater during which a grandson
of Jim White was honored with a commemorative plaque?

A friend (and former co-employee) remembers something to this
effect, but isn't sure of when or the the full details. I have a partial
memory of such an event, but my details are skimpy at  best.

I realize now that I am not sure if Jim White, Jr. had a second
wife or just just married once. I knew Marguerite White who
was either his only wife or his second wife. Another faint
recollection I  have is that he and Marguerite were married
60+ years so they certainly may have had children, right?

Do you know if Jim Jr.had a son (a grandson to Jim, Sr.)
I will check at the The Family History Center here in town
soon to see what they know?

Thanks.

Bob Hoff
10/16/11

Avelina Wins CAVE Interpretive Award

Avelina  C., a long-term veteran of the
Interpretive Division at  CAVE, recently
won the park's Interpretive Award for her continuous and untiring efforts on behalf
of the park's interpretive program.


Anyone who has worked with Avelina knows
that her work ethic and workload of projects
undertaken and completed over the years has
always been exemplary.

She has always been an outstanding CAVE
employee in all facets of her position, as well as a delight to work with.

Congratulations, Avelina, for this well-deserved award!

Bob Hoff
10/16/11

Avelina

Fred Armstrong at CAVE, 07/21/85 until 11/18/89

Fred R. Armstrong

7/85 - 11/89--Carlsbad Caverns tenure

(from Enployee Reunion, 1998)

As an 11-year old visiting the Caverns on a family vacation in 1967, I never dreamed that some day I would be a park ranger caring for and sharing the beauties of the deep with visitors.  As an interpretive park ranger one of my favorite challenges was to learn as much about the cave as possible so that no matter where I was along the trail, I would be able to share some knowledge about a particular formation, fossil, or fantastic tale about cave exploration with visitors.  This desire to learn and share soon found me coaching other park rangers while in the role of assistant crew supervisor for the last 3½ years of my Caverns tenure.

Some of the most memorable times at the Caverns stemmed from the need to help others.  One of my collateral duties was that of park emergency medical services coordinator.  During this time we upgraded the first aid response and training for cave rangers and added several EMTs to the ranks.  Carryouts of overexerted or injured visitors unfortunately seemed to be common- place in the summer months and some incidents still stick out in my mind, like the time when the visitor had a heart attack in the auditorium and Jeff Denny and I performed CPR for close to 2 hours.  Or the man who broke his neck when he fell into a pit while taking a picture near the Whale’s Tail in the Big Room.  I felt so sorry for him and visited him in the hospital for a couple of days after the accident because he was traveling alone and was unable to be moved home until the injuries had stabilized.  Everyone always pitched in during an emergency or carryout.

There are too many great memories to recall in this short amount of space; observing and documenting Ron Kerbo, Jim Goodbar, and Michael Queen on their discovery climb into the Spirit World area; being one of the first employees to observe the delicate, undisturbed beauty beyond the culvert tunnel in Lechuguilla Cave to plan for any potential rescue that may be needed as mappers prepared to go to the bottom of Boulder Falls and beyond (and a rescue did become a reality in a few years); getting in voice with fellow rangers to conduct Rock of Ages ceremony reenactments; or never ceasing to be amazed at an evening sky full of bat wings.

The allure of new challenges took me from Carlsbad Caverns to the Chief Ranger position at Knife River Indian Villages, but the attraction of the Chihuahuan Desert brought me back to Guadalupe Mountains National Park as the Resource Management Specialist.  Today, each drive up Walnut Canyon or walk through the Caverns reminds me of many special people in our national park family and makes me realize I’m better for having worked with them.  I hope they can say the same. 1.

Guadalupe Mountains NP                            11/22/92 to Present

Knife River Indian Villages NHS                11/19/89 to 11/21/92

Carlsbad Caverns NP                                   07/21/85 to 11/18/89

Bighorn Canyon NRA                                  05/15/83 to 07/20/85

General Services Administration                11/14/82 to 05/14/83

Golden Gate NRA                                         05/16/82 to 11/13/82

Oregon Caves NM                                        06/07/81 to 09/26/81

Petrified Forest NP                                       06/22/80 to 03/05/81

1. I feel that I am "better" having worked with you, Fred, in the years you served as our assistant crew supervisor. Thanks for all your many contributions to CAVE, to me, and for your friendship. Best of everything for you and your family at Zion NP. Bob Hoff, 10/12/11

Natural Entrance: Three Occasions, Three Dates

Top picture--Natural Entrance with snow on the ground, December 8, 1931;

Middle picture--Circa 1960's @ the Natural Entrance, group starting tour;

Bottom Picture--July 1986, climbing demo at Natural Entrance or "hanging out"

at the Natural Entrance, heh?  <(*H*)>

P.S. Superintendent Thomas Boles (Supt 1927-1945) remembered walking though

the caverns 5000 times. I remember making it through 5001 times (6/71-1/72 & 1/86-2/2005)    .  <(*O*)> Not really. But Algernon, I did walk out frequently (with T.K. and Janet Brittan particularly and separately; CCGMA chief and CAVE Education specialist) Janet used to get so miffed when I introduced her to visitors we encountered "as my wife." One of us two thought that was funny. The visitors, for their part, seemed to appreciate their sheer good luck of running in a husband and wife ranger team. Janet, a good sport, never turned me in to the NPS policia. I enjoyed working with Janet and TK and the others of the CAVE familia who worked hard to serve the visitors and protect the resources. Yes, I did. ********

Bob Hoff

100711

• 





Is that Jim White standing mid-way up on
the Natural Entrance stairs? The stairs were
funded by the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce
to further prepare caverns increased visitation
and economic stimulus to the area. Eventually
in the eraly 1930s elevators would replace these stairs.

Bob Hoff

10/07/11

Bat-catching in 1924

Who is trying to catch a bat, and why?

Taking a Break in the Hall of Giants

Call a Ranger; Jim White is off-trail, taking a break

CAVE FEE History January 1, 1973 December 1998

Carlsbad Caverns National Park

Entrance Fees and User Fees

For Main Cavern and New Cave

January 1, 1973 December 1998

Bob Hoff

Excuse uncool formatting; I am still working on figuring out
 Word 2010 recently. Any Word, Excel, Powerpoint, One Note
"geeks" out there who want to share tips on these programs
with moir? Is there historical fees data to bring this up to date?

January 1, 1973      "User Fee” system becomes  "Entrance Fee” system:

                                         $2.00/ per carload

                                         Commercial vehicle  (buses) users:
.50 cents per person.

January 1974                    $3.00 per carload 

                                         Commercial vehicle        
users: $1.00 per person.

May  1982                            NEW CAVE: $2.00 per person 

"user fee" for New Cave, initiated May 1, 1982.

April 1983               "Entrance Fee" system switches back to
 "User Fee" system:

                                         $2.00 per adult

                                         $1.00 children age 6-15

                                         Free, children under 6

                                         Golden Age/Access holders, 50% discount

                                         GOLDEN EAGLE NOT HONORED

                                         NEW CAVE $3.00 per adult

                                         $1.50 children under 16

January 3. 1986                $3.00 per adult

                                         $2.00 children 6-15 years-old

                                         NEW CAVE $4.00 per adult

                                         $3.00 children under 16 years old

January 1987                    $4.00 per adult

                                         $2.00 children 6-15 years old

                                         NEW CAVE $5.00 per adult

                                         $3.00 children under 16 years old

December 1991                $5.00 per adult

                                         $3.00 children 6-15 years old

                                         NEW CAVE $6.00 per adult

                                         $3.00 children 6-15 years old

$10 for guided wild cave trips.

June 1994                            New fees for guided tours went into
effect Wednesday, June as well                                                                       
as the reservation system for guided tours.

                                         $5.00 per adult

                                         $3.00 children 6-15 years old

                                         NEW CAVE $8.00 per adult

                                         LEFT HAND TUNNEL $4 per adult

                                         LOWER CAVE $12 per adult

                                         HALL OF THE WHITE GIANTS $12 per adult

                                         SPIDER $12 per adult

                                         KING”S PALACE $5 per adult

April 1997                         $6.00 per adult

                                         $3.00 children 6-15 years old

                                         NEW CAVE $10. per adult

                                         LEFT HAND TUNNEL $5 per adult

                                         LOWER CAVE $15 per adult

                                         HALL OF THE WHITE GIANTS $15 per adult

                                         SPIDER $15 per adult

                                         KING”S PALACE $5 per adult

July 1998                          $6.00 per adult

                                         $3.00 children 6-15 years old

                                         NEW CAVE $15. per adult

                                         LEFT HAND TUNNEL $7 per adult

                                         LOWER CAVE $20 per adult

                                         HALL OF THE WHITE GIANTS $20. per adult

                                         SPIDER $20. per adult

                                         KING”S PALACE $8 per adult

December 1998                $6.00 per adult

                                         $3.00 children 6-15 years old

                                         NEW CAVE $15. per adult

                                         LEFT HAND TUNNEL $7 per adult

                                         LOWER CAVE $20 per adult

                                         HALL OF THE WHITE GIANTS $20. per adult

                                         SPIDER $20. per adult

                                         KING”S PALACE $8 per adult