My Neighbor’s Place

This story begins in 1973. My neighbor, Alice Sergeant, owned 400 acres next to me. We had to drive through her ranch to get to ours. The road was really, not much of a road. In some respects it was hazardous. Add to that it was strewn with all kinds of junk from dead wrecked cars to washing machines, refrigerators and stoves and a lot more junk as you will see.

Photograph taken by J. David.

Photograph taken by J. David.

Sixty-five cars are gone – 2 remain. Photograph taken by J. David.

Alice was a most unusual woman. Toughened by her life as a single mom on this hardscrabble place. (Her son Phillip was 4 when she arrived here in 1942.) The old run down cabin that came with the ranch was without electricity or running water, but with Lyndon Johnson’s work in Washington rural electrification soon brought her the electricity and with that she was able to pump water from a dug well that was only twenty feet deep. It was war time so plumbing materials and fixtures were hard to come by. She carved her bathtub out of stone and with cement built it deep enough to take a nice bath. Alice loved all wildlife. She respected all animals.

This old house was added onto from a log cabin.
Photograph taken by J. David.

Photograph taken by J. David.

I struck up a friendship with Alice and soon found her interested in my plans to restore Selah. She pitched in and you might say was my first volunteer! We planted trees together. We even painted my house. I passed on to Alice my wildlife magazines and therein begins this blog story!

As time went by, Alice and I had discussions about the eyesore that her son Phil was creating by bringing in so many junked cars, refrigerators, washing machines, freezers, televisions and just anything someone wanted to get rid of. These discussions led to Alice selling me all of her property except 28.9 acres. With the cash and payments from me, Alice built a new house which she affectionately called “The house that Bamberger built.” With the land I bought from Alice I was able to move the road into Selah to a location that was much more scenic and it avoided Phil’s junk. Although no longer seen by me, Phil continued his acquisitions.

Trees and brush had to be cleared before we could access the old house.
Photograph taken by J. David.

The House that Bamberger Built. Photograph taken by J. David.

The House that Bamberger Built. Photograph taken by J. David.

Alice worked in Crofts Grocery Store in Johnson City making $1.75 an hour. Phil, who by now is in his mid thirties, worked for Johnson City in the Water Department. One day Alice comes home and finds a man measuring her new house. “Who are you? What are you doing?” “Ah, Mrs. Sergeant, it’s a nice new home you have here. I’m measuring it for the tax office.” Alice ran him off! Now, when Alice owned 400 acres the taxes were less than three hundred dollars, so when at a later date she gets a tax notice for three hundred eight five dollars for only 28.9acres; she is mad as hell and her complaints fall on deaf ears. . . . She remembered reading in one of the wildlife magazines I’d given her that she could give her property to them and live there the rest of her life as well as her son Phil’s life. She makes contact. A representative from the National Wildlife Federation comes out from Washington and the deal is made. National Wildlife Federation, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization now owns the property and they removed it from the tax roles. Alice triumphantly thumbs her nose at the tax collector!

Yes, Alice Sergeant was a bit of a scofflaw – just another reason I liked her. Oh yes, I almost forgot, but she told me she was a distant relative of Jackie Kennedy! Alice died about twenty years ago and Phil continued bringing in the junk right up until his life was cut short by a stroke this past July. But there is more to this story . . . . Stay with me.

In 1997, I was nominated for an award by the National Wildlife Federation. Margaret and I were invited to Washington, D.C. to receive the award along with eleven other people. The awards were presented with a lot of fanfare by then Secretary of Interior Bruce Babbit. . . . Prior to leaving I thought of a scheme that could possibly facilitate the purchase of the 28.9 acres. Selah surrounds this on three sides. I thought it very important that it become part of Selah and not, at some unknown point in the future, fall into the hands of someone who may not treat the land with respect.

This timeframe was before the digital camera era. Margaret was a pretty good photographer so I took her over when Phil was not home to photograph these endless piles of junk. Margaret had real artistic talent. She put together a folio, with appropriate comments. It was great. Fortuitous for me, I’m seated at the awards ceremony, next to the Executive Director – the head man – of The National Wildlife Federation. (I no longer remember his name.) Before the ceremony is over, I tell him I have something rather important to discuss with him. I just know he thinks I want to offer Selah as a gift to the Federation . . . Breakfast the following morning is agreed upon . . . One cup of coffee and waiting for the eggs and bacon, I bring Margaret’s work to the table. Page after page of expertly posed junk and his comment fell right into my trap!

Guest Quarters or Junk? Photograph taken by J. David.

Photograph taken by J. David.

Photograph taken by J. David.

Photograph taken by J. David.

Photograph taken by J. David.

Photograph taken by J. David.

“This is abominable! Who would treat land like this?” To which I answered, “YOU!” This is a big nationwide conservation organization. It’s not expected that one in his position would know about all their holdings. Prior to leaving Texas and with our accountant’s help, we calculated the time value of money. I offered $30,000 for the 29.8 acres and showed him that with Phil’s life expectancy being 21 more years. $30,000 now would nearly triple by the time they could sell to anyone else. It makes sense and before we leave Washington the property is ours along with Phil and all his junk!

Now while Phil is a collector of everything, I have to tell you he is also a mechanical genius! He can fix anything. He also is slim, a non-smoker and doesn’t know what beer tastes like. He has never been married, a housekeeper and cook he is not. From the dozens of jars, we sometimes thought he existed on peanut butter! Whatever his lifestyle, Phil became invaluable to us. Margaret soon coined the phrase “Call Phil First” when anything quit working and I do mean ANYTHING from the truck to the washing machine! There was nothing he couldn’t fix. He even made parts in his shop.

Working Elevator built by Phil. Photograph taken by J. David.

But that was then and this is now.

Phil had only one known living relative. She lived in San Antonio, a single mom about to retire from being a stewardess for American Airlines. She was the sole inheritor of Phil’s personal assets which included 67 junk automobiles, 5 motorcycles and all the other junk your seeing in the pictures in this blog. She asked me for some time – ninety days – to remove things and I’m happy to do so if she will clean things up. The lady is ill equipped to do any of this but does hire a local to do it. A few of the old cars were sold to collectors, but most of them were crushed and sold as scrap iron. I’m a bit skeptical that anything else will be cleaned up. . . . So we will have a major project on our hands. But read on please.

Phil had boasted around Johnson City that he had a stash of dynamite on the place. The local, being aware of this is very careful with everything he does and sure enough he spots 19 sticks of dynamite along with detonator caps in a big glass jar. They are old, covered with moss, but very much alive! Not knowing what to do he called our County Sheriff who also heard the rumor that Phil had a stash of dynamite so he comes out and verifies the stash but offers no help except to call the Austin office of the ATF (Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms), the Federal folks who regulate such things. Four men from that office arrive. They verify the stash, but ask for me. They tell me that they will have to blow up the stash inside the old house, it’s too dangerous to move. However, they are waiting for a bomb expert whose been summoned from Dallas and a handler with two bomb sniffing dogs from Ft. Worth. They also inform me that this is now “officially” a hazardous waste site and if this problem is not solved today I could be fined $1,000.00 per day until it’s solved. The bomb sniffing dogs arrive first. No more dynamite is found however they do find a pint of mercury! Next, the bomb expert arrives. He has armor and equipment and says he will pick up the stash and remove it from the old house into a field and blow it up. . . . We should notify our neighbors – call the sheriff, EMS and Fire department. All ranch personnel are ordered to stay clear of the area. There are to be two blasts. What I’m going to tell you next still bothers me. They set the pint of mercury on top of the dynamite! The countdown: 10 - 9 – 8 – 7 – 6 – 5 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 1 – BOOM, one Ka Boom Two. . . . We were a quarter mile away and didn’t get the best picture, but the cloud of dust rose 100 yards. . . . So where did the mercury go?

Fire – EMS and Sheriff. Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.

The “Mushroom Cloud” Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.

Over the past 40 years we have worked tirelessly to restore this 5500 acres. We did all the work ourselves. Everyone whose has worked here participated. We built barns, fences, roads and pipelines by ourselves. We did contract to have three new homes built as well as our education building and considerable remodeling. These improvements and the value of the land today are believed to have a market value of 25 million dollars. . . .Selah will be here forever, not only to educate the young people about the natural world but to serve as a model for other landowners and to give Mother Nature room to breathe. We have given Selah to future generations. It needs and deserves your support. Won’t you help us with your tax deductible contribution? We are a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation. You can send your contributions to: Bamberger Ranch Preserve, 2341 Blue Ridge Drive, Johnson City, TX 78636.

“Institution”

Institution – A significant practice, relationship or organization in a society or culture. That’s Webster’s dictionary definition, but I’ve always thought that to be an institution it had to have been around for a long time and perhaps be identified by a building, such as a university or bank, or even a long established restaurant. When I built Hes’ Country Store in 1980, I never thought it would play a role in “Building an Institution.” Photograph taken by J. David.

The “store” has nothing to sell. It’s a gathering place here on the ranch, used more for teaching children about conservation of their families’ history and culture. It houses all of my inheritance, that’s the material things from an era long past. It’s become a “gathering place” for groups that come here for workshops and tours. It’s a rest stop that truly contributes to your experience here. I never dreamed of it becoming so much a part of our lives as it has. Photograph taken by J. David.

The definition also states a “significant practice in a society or culture.” What follows began 55 years ago by my brother, Tom, and me . . . an Annual Poker Game held on the second Saturday after hunting season opens. We were young with families and not much money, so we played for nickels and dimes and quarters. Over the years, it grew to bigger and sometimes serious money.

The poker players assemble early in the day to tell stories of games past, drink a few beers and catch up with one another. For most, they see one another only once a year – they may have met at this game in years past. Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.

Fred Meandro on the left is one of the original players from 1954. That’s me on the right. We’re both 81 years old and are able to play quite a few hands, but not endure the all night game. My son, David, in between us is listening to the same old stories. Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.

The game gets started around 2 o’clock in the afternoon. There are so many eager players that a second table is sometimes set up. Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.

Seven players at a table. The younger players come into our “world” with a bunch of new fangled games with odd names and wild cards. Us older players soon cuss them out enough that we soon settle on real poker using only a joker as wild. I believe Texas Hold ‘Em is the only “new” game we have accepted. Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.

There are some fairly respectable pots. It’s a $5.00, three raise limit game and by the following morning a thousand or more has changed hands. In our halcyon days, I’ve seen many thousands won and lost. Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.

There’s more: The definition of an institution also says a “significant relationship or organization in a society or culture” and for 29 years in conjunction with the Poker Game we put on the Deer Hunters’ Barbecue. It’s a tradition that our lease hunters and some friends look forward to. On the right, my son-in-law Ernie Sessums and a long time friend Jim Sims along with my dog Cory enjoy the affair. Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.

Colleen Gardner and Joanna Rees chatting it up a bit. Yes, “girls” are included. Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.

Left to right – Jack, David my oldest son, me and Joanna Rees. Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.

Scott Grote, Ranch Operation Manager seated, handles the barbecue and food preparations. Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.

I always enjoy visiting with the hunters. These men have been with us over 20 years. Their hunting camp is an old time hunting camp - a big tent that they have outfitted with gas stove for cooking, a wood stove for heat and a shower! They also have an outside campfire pit and an outdoor privy! Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.

There’s always plenty to eat. Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.

This is the Savarino group that leases the Recycle Cabin along with 900 acres. They have been with us as hunters and friends for many years. Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.

We have had only one bad weather day since we began the Hunters’ Barbecue and Poker Game. Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.

Anxious to get the game started, the “players” help Scott clean up. Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.

During the game, someone has to keep dishes, coffee cups and silverware clean. Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.

In the past ten months of writing this blog, you have seen the many education programs we do for kids and adults. I couldn’t possibly win enough in the annual poker game to cover our expenses, so won’t you please help support our programs with a yearend tax deductible contribution? We are a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation. You can send your contributions to: Bamberger Ranch Preserve, 2341 Blue Ridge Drive, Johnson City, TX 78636.

Volunteers – Selah’s Invaluable Asset

Volunteer – A person who undertakes some task of service of his own free will . . . to offer oneself willingly.

To me, this Webster Dictionary definition doesn’t go far enough to define a volunteer. It doesn’t mention they work without financial reward, nor the fact that personal expense usually is involved, and that time for family is given up. It doesn’t describe the person’s qualities, their personality and character. It doesn’t do justice to the volunteers I’ve known. It doesn’t say they are America’s unsung heroes.

I contend that America cannot function successfully without volunteers! So much is given to our society by volunteers, that is accepted by our society, but not recognized by our society.

We see organizations functioning, serving us: such as hospitals, hospice, Salvation Army, parks, conservation and environmental groups, Boy and Girl Scouts, schools and many, many more. All of which could not do what they do, what we respect them for – without volunteers.

Here at Selah, our volunteers range from 18 to 80! We could not function successfully without them. They serve as teachers, trail guides, food servers, Master Naturalists, Master Gardeners, Native Plant specialists, engineers, carpenters, animal rehabilitators, first aid givers, truck and trailer drivers, tree and flower planters, interpreters, rock and stone movers, trail builders, dish washers, house cleaners and on and on and frankly, just about anything that needs doing.

These are members of an Austin organization called The Trailtamers. We’re just one of the places they give time to. Sometimes turning out twenty-five members. They, at their own expense, spend a week in some national park across America. Photograph taken by J. David.

Joanna Rees, volunteer, a gardener at her own home near Austin, spent the day “stepping up” seedlings from four inch to one gallon containers. Photograph taken by J. David.

Steven Fulton, Ranch Biologist, with volunteers, Joanna Rees, Sarah Pierce, Tyler Porterfield. They had spent the day working around the greenhouse. Photograph taken by J. David.

On a Sunday evening in November we had a Volunteer Appreciation Dinner party at my ranch house arranged by Colleen Gardner, our Executive Director. Every volunteer got a big hug from Colleen! Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.

Lynda and Dave DeGroot, long time volunteers. They exchanged their wedding vows here on Selah a number of years ago. Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.

Three volunteers with diverse skills were at the party. Kathy Wilson, Linda Vincent and Susan Hamm. Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.

Marsha May, a full time biologist at Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, has volunteered here for many years organizing birders from all parts of Texas to do our three annual bird counts. Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.

David Matthews, a teacher at Small Middle School in Austin, with his wife Rita. David volunteers at Selah and has brought hundreds of his students to Selah for overnight learning. Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.

We have a tendency to think that members of a Board of Directors are big mucky mucks that live in big houses and are a part of our economic system isolated from the masses ~ not true, as you see here at a board meeting held at the ranch house, Sunday November 15, 2009. Board members, too, are unpaid volunteers who give their personal time and particular expertise to give direction and oversight to the Preserve. It is required by law to have a Board of Directors, a majority of whom cannot be related to me. Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.

After our meeting, the Board visited the homes of Preserve employees to get familiar with these assets that are on the Preserve’s balance sheet and to meet the families who carry out our mission. This is the home of our Ranch Operations Manager Scott and Melissa Grote and their two children Grey and Willow. Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.

Another view of the Grote house. Photograph taken by J. David.

The newest home was built in 2009 for Justin and Stephanie Duke. Justin Duke is our Ranch Steward. This is the only house on Selah equipped with a rainwater collection system. Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.

Another view of the Duke house. Photograph taken by J. David.

Our Ranch Biologist Steven and Amanda Fulton and their son Aiden live here. This location gives Steven access to the greenhouse and the shop. Steven is not only a biologist, but also a horticulturist and a skilled carpenter. Amanda teaches biology in the Blanco Schools. Photograph taken by J. David.

In the past ten months of writing this blog, you have seen the many education programs we do for kids and adults. Won’t you please support this with a yearend tax deductible contribution? We are a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation. You can send your contributions to: Bamberger Ranch Preserve, 2341 Blue Ridge Drive, Johnson City, TX 78636.

The Observatory

Four hundred years ago Galileo, for the first time ever, looked at the sky through a telescope. Now in 2009 the world is celebrating the International Year of Astronomy. Here at Selah, Bamberger Ranch Preserve, we too are celebrating the opening of our own observatory looking at the night sky with an instrument so much more powerful than Galileo could ever have imagined.

Pictured are long time personal friends and supporters of the Preserve, Kerby and Judy Confer. They donated the observatory which was originally constructed on their Blanco County ranch. The Confers live in Baltimore, Maryland. After witnessing our school program with volunteers from the Austin Astronomical Society, the Confers saw that the observatory would serve a much better service to society here at Selah than on their ranch where it was used by them infrequently. Now because of their generosity we have added the night sky as an additional classroom. Thus, Awakening and Nourishing a Passion for Learning. Photograph taken by Lois Sturm.

Here on “Majic Springs”, the Confer’s Blanco County ranch, is Justin Duke of BRP, Arlyn Cook, one of our volunteers, Steven Fulton our Ranch Biologist inside the dome and Ken Voss, Majic Springs Ranch Manager. Photograph taken by Colleen Gardner.

The observatory has been unbolted from the cement slab and the telescope removed. Steven Fulton guides the dome onto our trailer. Photograph taken by Colleen Gardner.

Arlyn Cook, one of our volunteers, who is a retired industrial engineer, handled the disconnection of the solar powered electrical system. Photograph taken by Colleen Gardner.

The solar panel keeps two batteries charged. It supplies enough energy to open the dome and operate the Celestron 1400 telescope which is computer programmed to track various planets and stars. Arlyn, Justin and Steven along with, back to camera, volunteer Dana Spontak. Photograph taken by Colleen Gardner.

I’m sure that passing cars wondered just what was Steven hauling on State Highway 290. The dome was securely strapped to our trailer and no mishaps occurred. Majic Springs is only 15 miles from Selah. Photograph taken by Colleen Gardner.

It’s arrival at the ranch created a lot of curiousity. Photograph taken by Colleen Gardner.

There was a lot of time and construction involved in preparation for the dome’s arrival. The PVC tube had to be perfectly level as it would support the telescope. Here, Steven and Scott Grote, Ranch Operations Manger, are adjusting the PVC tube. The metal box holds the batteries which power the scope. It will be anchored into the cement. Photograph taken by Colleen Gardner.

Here on the ranch, I have a reputation for insisting that gates and posts, tree corrals and such be level. Sometimes walking up to a project during construction and eye balling something and commenting – “It’s not level.” Here Steven and I are “eye balling” whether it’s level or not. Photograph taken by Colleen Gardner.

“Eye balling” is not enough. So here I am using a level. Photograph taken by Colleen Gardner.

The site was chosen by the Astronomy Club volunteers which required some leveling and tree removal. Selah is ideal for sky watching as we are far from the light pollution of Austin and San Antonio. Futhermore, the hills shield any local light. Pictured are volunteer Arlyn Cook, Scott Grote, volunteer Dana Spontak and Justin Duke of BRP. Photograph taken by Colleen Gardner.

The cement arrives. Leroy Petri, Ranch Engineer, directs the cement while seasonal ranch employees, Raul and Maestro, spread the mix while Steven Fulton and Scott Grote level the cement out. Photograph taken by Colleen Gardner.

The solar panel has to be adjusted so that it receives the most sunlight. Here, Steven Fulton and Scott Grote check it out. Photograph taken by J. David.

Dana Spontak, a volunteer, helped build the cedar post steps that provide easy and safe access to the observatory. Photograph taken by Colleen Gardner.

Herve LaPuente, a member the Austin Astronomy Club who has been volunteering here by providing night sky education programs for our overnight students. Herve (pronounced Err-vey) is excited and so enthusiastic about the observatory and the powerful Celestron 1400 scope. The telescope has to be programmed. It must be in a certain alignment with the North Star and once this is accomplished just a push of programmed buttons will turn the scope to Jupiter, the Moon, Saturn or any number of things in the night sky. Photograph taken by Colleen Gardner.

Chris Johnson took this long exposure picture by the light of the full moon, November 1, 2009, during our yearly volunteer appreciation party. Notice the sky, the stars and the streak of the meteor/satellite/airplane at the lower right of center. Chris has been volunteering with us for years, both as a photographer and computer expert. He’s invaluable. Photograph taken by Chris Johnson.

It’s confession time for me. I don’t know how to turn a computer on. I write this blog, Lois Sturm, my right arm, types it and also takes pictures and sends it to Chris who posts it each Sunday night. Here’s my testimony. Most non-profits cannot survive without volunteers. The good work and good deeds in America don’t get done by government. It’s the hundreds of thousands of people, who are givers not takers that contribute their individual talents and time to causes they believe in that make organizations like ours successful. All the money in the world cannot buy passion.

Selah Bamberger Ranch Preserve receiving our observatory coincides with 2009 being celebrated as the International Year of Astronomy. The International Year of Astronomy 2009 has a website where you can find more information and pictures of the universe. Selah Bamberger Ranch Preserve will continue in Galileo’s steps opening other’s eyes to what is a part of their world.

In the past ten months of writing this blog, you have seen the many education programs we do for kids and adults. Won’t you please support this with a yearend tax deductible contribution? We are a 501(c)(3) private operating foundation. You can send your contributions to: Bamberger Ranch Preserve, 2341 Blue Ridge Drive, Johnson City, TX 78636.