Contact and Feedback List for 1998
Welcome to the Trona 1998 contact list! Here you will find the names of former Trona residents, Trona residents, people with relatives from Trona, or other people with an interest in Trona. You may also find feedback from site visitors and links to other Trona Web sites.
| Name: Suzanne
WALKER Dean Email Address: tomdean@netins.net Web Site: I'm interested in Trona because:: I used to live there. Date: Mar 10, 1998 11:06 Comments: Enjoyed reading through your home page on Trona, my home town also. I remember your sister & brother but your name eludes me. I graduated in 1958 and have been back several times until my folks moved to Tehachapi. Dad passed away 3 years ago February, but, mom continues to live in Tehachapi. I did not have the bragging rights of being born in Trona, as there was no hospital in 1940. My sister's, Liz and Marilyn, do have those rights, as they were born in '47 & '49 respectively. I, too, live in the Mid-West as California got just too expensive and too fast. Love the "Laid-back" atmosphere of Southern Iowa. We are located just 15 miles north of Missouri. Both my husband and I teach at the high school level. I am in special education and Tom is an Ag teacher. Also have had sheep, in our past, but now just lease the pasture. Our free sheperds left home for better paying jobs. Though the two older boys graduated from California schools, all three boys are in the Mid-West. Oldest in Kansas City, middle here in Bloomfield and youngest in Houston. Let us hope this blizzard did not immobilize your area. We have had no school but hope to get back tomorrow. An old Trona-ite Suzanne WALKER Dean |
| Name: Roger Aitala Email Address: Isonex@eden.com Web Site: Isonex, Inc I'm interested in Trona because:: other reasons! Date: Mar 13, 1998 20:39 Comments: For many years I have been involved professionally and interested in trona. This quest has taken me to Trona, Owens Lake, Lake Magadi, Wyoming, and many other interesting places. Products derived from trona surround us as glass, detergents, pharmaceuticals, paper, and on and on.....Yet, very few people have ever heard of Trona or trona. Roger Aitala |
| Name: Dennis S. Kostick Email Address: Web Site: http://minerals.er.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/soda_ash I'm interested in Trona because:: other reasons! Date: Mar 23, 1998 08:18 Comments: Dear Mr. Stevens, I am the mineral commodity specialist for soda ash, sodium sulfate, and salt at the U.S. Geological Survey (with a group that was with the former U.S. Bureau of Mines that was abolished in 1996) in Reston, Virginia. I was searching for trona information on the internet and found your site, which I like very much since my role is to survey the domestic industries I cover and report the information in Government reports. It is always good to see soda ash and trona mentioned in various websites around the world. On the USGS website, we have a soda ash homepage that contains several publications you may be interested in. Its: http://minerals.er.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/soda_ash Keep up the good work. Sincerely, Dennis S. Kostick U.S. |
| Name: mark hamlett Email Address: Web Site: I'm interested in Trona because:: I used to live there Date: Apr 1, 1998 17:07 Comments: Hello all my fello Tronans! I was considering visiting my old hometown sometime soon. If anyone from my school days is still there I would enjoy seeing you. Good bye and God Bless. I'm at XBOURDS.com |
| Name: Gina
M. (Wilson) Huff Email Address: Ranma@PTI NET.NET I'm interested in Trona because:: I used to live there Date: May 9, 1998 01:21 Comments: I lived in Trona for about 14 years, I never dream that I would like to go back and see that little town.I would like to know to if this family by the name of Littleton still lives there? They had visit me here in Oregon about 15yrs ago and I would like them know that we are still here and still own the video store. I have to say that after living in a area that has rain about 9 months a year, I would love to have alittle of that dry hot desert weather again. It's raining right now:)I know that there are more people that I would like to find out about! The town sure has grown since I lived there! Is that large swinning pool still there? I spent alot of time there. Thanks for any information or comments that comes back to me! Gina Huff E-Mail Ranma@ PTI net.net Brownsville, ore. |
| Name: Durwood
Sigrest Email Address: DSigrest@AOL.COM I'm interested in Trona because:: I used to live there Date: May 14, 1998 02:55 Comments: Hello My wife Jan (Stroud) Sigrest and I are both from Trona. We graduated from Trona High the same year as Suzanne (Walker) Dean, 1958. I have great memories of Trona and occassionally we return there to visit friends such as Bea Kirk, Sara Rene Smith, Clifford Hara, Coralee Tankersley, Russ and Barbara Rector, and others. It may be hard for some people to imagine, but I have a fondness for that desolate and usually unattractive place. I guess it must be because I still think of Trona as home and the place where I spent my youth. I hope a lot of former Trona people read these entries and some that I know will send me an up-date on themselves. I look forward to hearing from you. Durwood Sigrest |
| Name: Rod
Heathcote Email Address: jeeprod2@aol.com I'm interested in Trona because:: I used to live there Date: Aug 2, 1998 19:56 Comments: I linked to your site thru your entry in the Ballarat site. I lived in Trona only one year,1984,in Homewood Canyon, when I I began to work for the company(Kerr-McGee at the time) and later moved to Ridgecrest. I am still at the company after 15 years, and am an avid fan of local history. Your fine pages were a joy to browse thru. |
| Name: Sandra M. Starkey (Trevino) Email Address: Sandy.Starkey@Co.Benton.Or.Us I'm interested in Trona because:: I used to live there Date: Aug 6, 1998 16:09 Comments: I was completely shocked to find a website on the little dirt town where I grew up and used to ride three wheelers and trek around in the Pioneer Point desert. I went to school from 3rd grade up until the middle of my sophomore year of high school (1985). Anyone remember me? I remember all of you. Those were great times and even though our town wasn't the greatest, we made the best of it. |
| Name: Patty Hess Ericksen Email Address: desertpat@worldnet.att.net I'm interested in Trona because:: I live there now Date: Aug 17, 1998 16:48 Comments: After all these years (63) now, I still live here in Trona. A couple of years ago I retired from the school district, but still substitute, etc. on a regular basis. I've been married to a chemical engineer(Rey Ericksen) for 34 years now. Our daughters got all their schooling here as I did. Lisa is a doctor working in Houston. She is an Ob-Gyn specialist. April is in Tacoma, Wa. writing software for her own company Brightideas. She specializes in networking software, but does do other projects as needed. |
| Name: Sandie (Grandjean) Lane Email Address: ron_lane@ridgecrest.ca.us I'm interested in Trona because:: I used to live there Date: Aug 17, 1998 23:17 Comments: I grew up in Trona and will always remember the experience fondly. I married a super special guy from there too, Ron Lane. While I now live in Ridgecrest, in my heart, Trona will ALWAYS be my home. It was my special goal to make Trona the birthplace of my three children, but, sadly, they tore the hospital down when I was expecting the last one. Although Ron and I both worked in China Lake, we opted to remain in Trona so our children could experience the same wonderful childhood we did. When our youngest graduated from THS (1987) we sold our home on Dogwood Street and moved to Ridgecrest. Our daughters, Jamie, Sirell, and Roni, are all happily married now. Jamie and Sirell live in Ridgecrest too. Roni is temporarily living in Rochester, New York, where she is finishing out her residency in Pediatrics Medicine. To date, we have four wonderful granddaughters. |
| Name: John
Fairchild Email Address: jlfair3@aol.com I'm interested in Trona because:: I was born there. Date: Aug 22, 1998 13:04 Comments: imagine my surprizr to see this. well, i lived there from 1964 to 1982 then moved to pasadena. I've worked as a lifeguard, paramedic and now employed by warner bros. studio for the tv show ER as a propman. I have 2 wonderful daughters amanda (8) and emily (5). |
| Name: Don
Farquhar Email Address: dkfarquhar@vtc.net I'm interested in Trona because:: I was born there. Date: Aug 29, 1998 11:38 Comments: Hello Trona...Gee, it seems like a lifetime ago. I spent my first 17 years in Trona, graduating from THS in 1962. Sheila and I live in Arizona, and have two beautiful daughters who live in Tucson and Phoenix, respectively. I work for a large Copper Mining company, and have been fortunate to have traveled all over the world. I wonder if anyone knows where people like Art Shultz, Andy Ford, Becky Blyler, Ken Klein, and others from our class are? It is great to see a Trona website. Who knows, maybe I'll come back and visit sometime. |
| Name: Bob Lively Email Address: I'm interested in Trona because:: I used to live there Date: Aug 31, 1998 20:59 Comments: David, Just a few lines to thank you again, great job, looking over your page, the photos really brought back memories. The square (used to sell newspapers by the drug store), open theater, basketball across the street. Family Day, the way the whole community pulled together be it sports marching bands or what ever, it was great to be raised around that, again thanks. Read your father's journal enjoyed it very much. I keep telling kids today, that they don't really know just how hard life can get, because their grandparents really had it rough. I remember selling news-papers to the guys coming out the gate, dirty, tried, thirsty, hungery, the look in their eyes said it all. That was damn hard work in Trona, and I feel something for all the men who ever worked the plant. It sure turned young men to middle aged men in a hurry. Thanks David. A friend, Bob Lively |
| Name: Bob Lively Email Address: I'm interested in Trona because:: I used to live there Date: Aug 31, 1998 21:02 Comments: You can post the e-mail I sent you if you like, being thinking of Trona all week-end (as I often do when mowing and watering the lawn), the story about your father really stuck with me. Bill Raye and I used to have green lawn contest, I still do with guys in the neighborhood, always have, people don't understand racking lines in the dirt yard, and they damn well better straight, perfect circles around trees, all this for 50 cents in 115 degree heat, learned alot about working from that. I could go on & on as we all can I'm sure. Well talk about a web page later. Looking forward to seeing you Oct. Friend, Bob Lively |
| Name: Joey
Peterson Email Address: Crakrman78@aol.com I'm interested in Trona because:: other reasons! Date: Sep 1, 1998 18:39 Comments: Dear sir, My name is Joey Peterson and I have been searching for some of my family members, and I have tracked them down to Trona. I know what your thinking, what in the hell dose this have to do with me? Nothing really, it's just your the closest I have got to them in years. So this is all that I ask of you is if you happen to know a Vanessa Aguilar, a Maria Moralas, a Michell Doak, a Linda Morales, or any one else related to them please E-mail me back and let me know if I am still on the right track. Any foot-work would be apperacited for I am all the way in Texas. thank you for your time and effort. Sincerly Joey Peterson |
| Name: Robert
L. Dye Jr. Email Address: robertdye@feist.com Web Site: I'm interested in Trona because:: I used to live there Date: Sep 4, 1998 20:00 Comments: I was a 1965 grad and now live in Kansas where it is a little cooler, and would like to hear from old friends and school mates. |
| Name: Kenny Hall Email Address: bhall@aol.com I'm interested in Trona because:: I drove through once! Date: Sep 4, 1998 21:50 Comments: O-is-yo David Stevens, Aren't you that funny kid with the mohawk hairdo and drove a three-wheeled Alfa-Romero wierd car in Hi-school? I like your Trona Web page. Muy bueno. Ronnie Lane put me onto your Trona page. Have you heard from David Bermani lately? Seeing your name and Trona brings strange memories. What is your e-mail address? If you put this comment on your web site, let everyone know that Ken Hall is alive and causing civil disruption and discontent in the sunny south (Birmingham, Alabama). After growing up in Trona, I knew that I was going to live in a place where it rains over fifty inches a year. Cutting grass twice a week is sometime a pain in the posterior, but tolerable. Carl, my older brother lives in Ridgecrest, Virginia (older sister) lives in San Diego, and Richard my younger brother lives in Hesperia, California. We sure have spread out. I'm still thinking about moving to Australia. Maybe in a couple of years. As you know, i have lived in South America, Okinawa, Guam, Panama, Nevada, Utah, Texas, and Alabama. Alabama is the best so far. Your question of why I'm interested in Trona. I answered that Imy family drove through once and stayed for eighteen years. David. Do you ever hear from Rex Worman? Got an e-mail address? E-mail sometime, ken |
| Name: Beniamino
T. Cenci-Goga Email Address: cencigog@unipg.it I'm interested in Trona because:: other reasons! Date: Sep 9, 1998 10:29 Comments: Last year I drove through Trona and I was shocked because Trona is the surname of a relative of mine, from Italy. Did the Trona chemical compound name came from Trona (in this case where does the name Trona come from?) or the other way round? Ben |
| Name: Ann
(Pohan) Tankersley Email Address: jtanker1@san.rr.com I'm interested in Trona because:: I was born there. Date: Sep 10, 1998 02:44 Comments: I was born in the Trona hospital in 1945 and lived there until my father (Joe Pohan who worked in the lab) died in 1951. I left for a while and then my mother Georgia remarried (Joe Evans) and I moved back in 1957. I graduated from THS in 1962, went to Bakersfield J.C., married Paul Varello, had two wonderful daughters, lived all over the country, got divorced and settled in Houston. In 1994 I met Joe Tankersley (also a Trona person and 1958 THS grad) at the Trona Hardware store while I was in town to see Dorothy Baker and after a long distance relationship, we were married in 1996. We live in San Diego. Both Joe and I would love to hear from former Tronans. His mother (CordiaLea Tankersley) still lives in Trona so we are there quite often and are up on the current condition of the town. As a sidebar, I am trying to find an old friend and former Tronan named Joan Castle. Her grandparents (F.M. and Fern Walker) lived in Trona and she went to school there for a short time and spent summers there. She moved to Santa Maria and married Wes Hardisty. They have since divorced and I lost track of her. I would love it if she(or someone who knows her)sees this and gets in touch with me. Let us hear from you, Ann and Joe Tankersley |
| Name: N.J. Launius Email Address: Blaunius@aol.com I'm interested in Trona because:: other reasons! Date: Sep 18, 1998 08:37 Comments: Mr. Stevens, I live in Texas and am interested in finding a student who graduated in 1978 from Trona High. My mother died in 1990 and upon going through her items i found a class ring from 1978 with Trona High on it and the name Lanonia Siraud/Giraud (i'm not sure of the last name hard to read) written on the inside. I would like to return the ring to this person if possible. I would appreciate any information you can provide. Thank you N.J. Launius |
| Name: Gay
Armstrong Email Address: gaylee@ix.netcom.com I'm interested in Trona because:: other reasons! Date: Sep 26, 1998 04:56 Comments: I am doing research for an author writing a biography about a man who lived in Trona from about 1927-1929. He worked at American Potash & Chemical, I believe in the office, doing accounting and statistical work. His name was Carl Rehnborg. We have been told that during his years in Trona, he married a local woman who died in childbirth. She may have beeen the daughter of the plant manager. We do not know her name (may have been Hilda, Lillian, or Ann). If anyone could help me research this information, I would be most grateful. Do you have an Historical Society in Trona? I will attempt to contact the plant, but fear that old archival records may be long gone by now. Would love to hear from anyone who might be able to point me in the right direction, perhaps, even, to long time residents who may recall. Thanks, in advance, for your help. Gay Armstrong |
| Name: Kathy
Halstead Barnes Email Address: barneskb@aol.com I'm interested in Trona because:: a relative lived there! Date: Oct 4, 1998 15:51 Comments: My grandmother, Hope Halstead, of Trona, passed away Sept 30th |
| Name: jackie
green standard Email Address: rebel1@cin.net I'm interested in Trona because:: I used to live there Date: Oct 22, 1998 14:20 Comments: my folks maurie and fay green moved there in 1948. i lived there until 1971, when my husband reb and i and family moved to miss. rebs home, then we was transferred to il. which is where we've been for 26 yrs now. i love the seasons and the snow, but reb would love to come back to the desert. do any of you rmember family day when the train would take us for a ride out to the spur and bring us back. i'm looking for someone in trona who might have the lists from the back trona oldtimers picnic who could looke on them to see if a carla van dyck is on any of them and where she is for me, her father was bill van dyck who owned the ford garage. we visit trona often as its still home. |
| Name: Rosemary Camus Mathews Email Address: rosemary.mathews@enmu.edu I'm interested in Trona because:: I was born there. Date: Oct 29, 1998 18:46 Comments: Hi! I just got back from the Classic 60s Reunion during the week of Oct. 23-25, 1998. So I just HAD to look up the web pages. I'm so glad I have access to the computer in my office. I work at Eastern New Mexico University; I've been the secretary in the Department of Mathematical Sciences for about 15 years. Yes, I learned from Bernice Franklin that good secretaries don't chew gum. That really came true for me when I saw myself chewing gum on the video that was taken during the 30-year reunion for the class of 1963. I won't do that again! I married Lance Mathews in 1971 and we raised two smart kids--Shirley (30) and Clay (25). Clay is named Lance Clayton Mathews II. We just loved visiting last weekend. And I'm so pleased to know about this web site. I've shown my co-workers the pictures of the pinnacles. This opportunity to post everyone's e-mail is a wonderful idea! Suzanne Walker Dean said she thought the Trona hospital wasn't there in 1940, but it was. My sisters Marge (1940) and Carol Camus (1941), and my brother Ed Camus (1949) and I (1946) all were born there. Our parents, Edith and Rene M. Camus, came to Trona in 1939 as newly-weds. Daddy started working there in 1936 (I think), and was paid a dollar an hour, which Mom pointed out was a Lot of Money for that era. Daddy retired in 1965. Does anyone care to share some memories of my parents? I miss them. Marge lives in Fountain Valley, CA, with her husband. They have 3 kids. Carol lives in Pasadena with her husband. She has no children. Ed married a woman with two, but he never had any of his own. I believe he is in San Luis Obispo. I live in Portales, New Mexico, near the border of west Texas. Well, maybe I ought to sign off. --Rosemary |
| Name: Ken
Klein Email Address: Kennetheklein@compuserve.com I'm interested in Trona because:: I was born there. Date: Oct 30, 1998 19:42 Comments: I was born at the old Trona Hospital in 1944. Dr. Denton delivered me. Some of the memories I have from Trona are the old Trona Square and the sounds and smells of the old Trona Pool Hall. I remember paying $.20 to go the the old Trona Movie Theater and I would take my dog with me and he would sit next to me. I remember the times at Valley Wells and the delicious hamburgers Mrs. Pilot used to make. It seemed like the song "Greenfields" was always playing on the jute box. I remember the night the old Trona resturant burned down. I remember Old Bob Swanson getting drunk and giving money to the kids. Some of the other old timers I remember were Dusty Rhodes and Seldom Seen Slim, the mayor of Ballerat. All of us kids in the Klein family were born in Trona. Judy in 1938, Sally in 1940, Tom in 1949 and Cathy in 1950. I love Trona and I love to visit Trona at reunion time. I was at the Classic 60's reunion. It was a great reunion. I enjoy your web site. |
| Name: Susan Swearingen-Kamachi Email Address: kamachi@netutah.com I'm interested in Trona because:: I was born there. Date: Nov 14, 1998 16:08 Comments: My sister Jolene was born in 1938, I in 1947 in Trona. Our mother, Coila, was a nurse at the Trona Hospital and the school. Our Dad, Neal, worked his way up and ended his career in L.A. I missed the last two years of THS because of this move and I sure missed out. Trona is HOME. Neat site!!! |
| Name: John
H. Johnson Email Address: Travel54@Hotmail.com I'm interested in Trona because:: I used to live there Date: Nov 18, 1998 09:48 Comments: I lived in Trona for a few years and would have been with the class of "63". There is something about Trona that stays with you and I will never forget the good times I had along with my friends. My work has carried me to a lot of places but I always think of Trona. During my travles I've ran into people who have either worked in Trona or know of it, some didn't like Trona like us who lived there. I'm working at a power plant in Argentina and actually doing some of the things my Dad said he did!!. It is good to know Trona has a web site and I'll continue to check at this site for any news about Trona. |
| Name: Doris Ann VanHorn (Hodge) Email Address: d1vanhorn@aol.com I'm interested in Trona because:: I live there now Date: Nov 19, 1998 05:16 Comments: I have lived in Trona all my life I have raised two daughters in this town Trinity & Trisha Boykin, I believe that this is a great place to call home and if everyone leaves Trona I will still be here watching the great sunrises with my husband Bobby. |
| Name: Roni
Lane Email Address: Roni_Lane@URMC.Rochester.edu I'm interested in Trona because:: I used to live there Date: Nov 19, 1998 12:20 Comments: How about this!!!! I just can't believe our little town has a web site! Like everyone else writing in, I will always be fond of Trona. I just wanted to thank Mr. Stevens for creating this site. Also, I want to say 'Hi' to all you Trona fans! |
| Name: Wendy Estill
Lawrence Email Address: weneslaw@yahoo.com (home) edlawren@indiana.edu (school) I'm interested in Trona because:: I used to live there Date: Dec 4, 1998 23:09 Comments: Comments: Hi David, Really love the page on Trona, I lived there in 1962, left for a couple of years, then returned in November 1964, and graduated from there in 1965, however if you ever see a 1965 yearbook, the only picture of me is my baby picture, I didn't even rate a caricature and initials (boo-hoo! tehe!). My stepfather was John Weise Walker and he worked twice for American Potash and Chemical Co. The last time from late 1961 till probably 1973/1974. He and my mom then moved in with my sis (class of 1963), where John passed away Nov. 15, 1974. My sis and mother now live in Ft. Worth, Tx. John was a maintenance machnist, he is buried in the Trona Cemetery. I really enjoyed the Classic 60's Reunion, it was a blast. I was not accepted very well when I went to HS., but it was not that way when I went to the reunion, it felt great to feel accepted. I thought everyone looked just great!! Guess now that I came back home (to Trona), I'll have to put a link from my homepage, and when I get a scanner, I will add pictures of the Reunion. Hey guys, let's do it again!!!!! Love to all. Wendy Estill Lawrence |
| Name: Hallett
Newman Email Address: castle19er@yahoo.com I'm interested in Trona because:: other reasons! Date: Dec 20, 1998 22:42 Comments: I almost listed my in Trona as "I drove thru there once. In fact I've driven thru Trona many times over the last 45 years. It's always been a stop for me weather going or coming thru town. Many, many years ago I had a relitive that lived in Ballarat and Goler Canyon. As stated in Wm. Cruthers "Loafing along Death Valley Trails" he was escaping a sour marrage and extorsion {alamony] payments. I still have the mining claims in goler, the reason I still travel thru town. In later life Cousin Will {Wilmot Hyder} lived up at the Ruth Mine in Homewood Canyon. I have many fond memories of Trona, one I always remember was about the Cheveron gas station owner. My dad and my brother and I plus another truck load of friends got in to town late one night. This would have been in the late 1950's. The station was closed but some one who was going in to the either VFW or Am Legion post said the owner was inside. The owner was nice enough to come over and un lock his station so we could get gas. That's my kind of people and one reason I'v always enjoyed traveling thru and stoping in Trona. Thanks for having this nice site and letting me ramble for awhile. See ya next time I come thru town. |