Cave Pearls, aren't they pretty?

I am not sure where this picture of some cave pearls was taken, but I seem
to recall, in my undocumented memory, that it was Lower Cave. But I
cannot confirm this. I do know that it is one of my favorite pictures in the
cave.

Has anyone else seen this picture somewhere? If so, please let me know;
Avelina has my e-mail address.

Bob Hoff
11/15/11

Two More Pictures of the Dome Room

As you can see in the second photo by noted caverns photopher Ray V. Davis,

the Dome Room was also called the Chapel. The larger photo format for these

pictures was suggested by reader Christa C.

Years ago I was lucky enough to find a few miniature RVD postcards at Ebay.

11/14/11

Bob Hoff



Dome Room

The Dome Room located near the Big Room. This is one of my favorite pictures
even though I have not visited there.

Many years ago the park sent this picture to be included in a Life Magazine
volume on the history of national parks. I selected this picture for inclusion
in their book.

Who is that way in the back in the white shirt?

Bob Hoff
11/10/11

Governors' Day 1924 in King's Palace

Don't know when Governors Day was or who participated. Extra credit for

anyone who does know. b(*o*)b  I do know that on several occasions a

New Mexico governor showed up. In 1932 when the new elevator system

began, Governor Arthur Selignmann delighted in being the honorary

elevator operator, refusing to yield to other operators a turn or two to

run it. Glory Hog, no?

Bob Hoff

11/9/11

At the City Musuem--Jim White's Purported Guano Bucket.

I know that this bucket was on display in White City for a while because

I saw it, but I don't remember when. Before that I heard that someone

had it in their garage. I don't know anything about its' origin or

authenticity, and except for the fact that I recall personally seeing the

bucket I cannot document anything else.

I do have a name of the owner of the garage, but since I am only about

60% sure that I remember the name accurately, I am not going to

share it. My documentation is too weak for that.

I find it difficult to imagine two humans fitting in this bucket as they are

lowered 170' (17 stories) into the cavern (or lifted the other way for that

matter)..

Bob Hoff
11/6/11

Jim White, April 19, 1924, posing beside an interesting looking stalagmite, no?

Bob Hoff

11/4/11

A 3D View of Carlsbad Caverns

This picture, a personal favorite, appeared in the October 1953
issue of The NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE. The
writer explained, "using no exaggeration, (the map) uses an extreme
width of 2400' and a depth of 900'. It shows three miles of paved
trails but omits 20 miles of obscure, seldom visited passages.

This 58-year old magazine also contains many excellent and famous caverns pictures

by photographer E. "Tex" Helm. Two of my relatives by marriage are included in these

photographs; in fact, they graciously gave me a copy of the magazine. (Thanks Mario and

Helen S.)

Did you notice the comparison to the Washington Monument on the right side of the

drawing?

Bob Hoff

11/3/11



And not to leave out the new gift shop, Feb 16, 1958

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