Jack London State Historic Park
Moon Letter
Operated by Jack London Park Partners
Spring 2016
Jack’s View
News from the Park
JACK LONDON PARK PARTNERS HAS INITIATED A
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN TO UNDERWRITE THE
expenses associated with the redesign of the exhibits, displays and retail
center within the House of Happy Walls Musuem for an improved visitor
orientation to the London’s legacy. What in the man gave birth to the
phenomenal drive and the self determination that caused him to write
1,000 words a day? London’s life involved a rise from the Oakland’s
urban poor to heights of literary success. That same drive inspired an
adventurous lifestyle including sailing the seas, joining the Klondike
gold rush, becoming a war correspondent and world traveler, leading
reforms as a socialist and mastering a number of sports as an athlete.
Along the way he sought a diverse community of people to nurture
creativity and innovation. Eventually a spiritual drive led to his purchase
of Beauty Ranch where he devoted himself to redemption of the land
and pioneering sustainable agriculture. Some say the greatest story
London wrote was the one that he lived! The goal is to make the museum
experience one that encourages and inspires additional thought leaders.
The Sibbett Group leads the interpretive design process with input from
London scholars. The first of the exhibit designs will be showcased in
November of this year.
T
oday, adventure
and the name Jack
London remain nearly
synonymous. 2016 marks
the centenary of London’s
death at the age of 40 in 1916.
Outspoken and defiant, this
writer-adventurer stuffed a
bounty of living into a short
life. Sounding like a rock star,
he asserted that “the proper
function of man is to live, not
exist. I shall not waste may
days in trying to prolong them.
I shall use my time.”
It was a life of excess by
conventional standards—no
shortage of drinking, smoking,
and partying—but his
exuberant energies propelled
him out of the working class
to become a world famous
writer. Works like The Call of
the Wild, “To Build a Fire,” and
“Koolau the Leper,” explore
concepts of the feral and the
primeval that emerged from
London’s varied experiences
and travels.
As an adolescent he prowled
the Oakland waterfront and
was an oyster pirate on San
Francisco Bay. By 17 he had
traversed the Pacific and
Jack London State Historic Park | www.jacklondonpark.com
continued on page 3
•2
“I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should
burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry rot...
A Note
from the
Executive
Director
[email protected]
(707) 938-3689
Spring 2016
Volunteer Spotlight
This newsletter highlights
the past quarter’s activities
and events organized to
celebrate the centennial
of Jack London’s death
and commemoration of his
legacy. Across the Bay Area
hundreds of people have
joined forces to celebrate
the influential contributions
Jack and Charmian made
to world culture. And there
are more special events
to come -please join us
on April 30th at 10am at
the Montini Open Space
Preserve (next to the field
of dreams) in Sonoma for
the planting of one of the
mature seedlings of the
park’s beloved heritage oak.
As did Jack did a century
ago, we hope future
generations of community
members will one day be
able to write, read and find
solace under this majestic
oak’s “offspring”. On May 21
you can cycle to the park’s
summit for amazing views
with Mike Benziger and
return to the Jack London
Saloon for a raffle drawing
of great prizes. If you
haven’t already, please save
the date pf September 17
for a gala that brings back
our “sailor on horseback” in
spirit!
Tjiska Van Wyk
Moon Letter •
John Lynch
If you want to hear a good story, go on a nature hike with John
Lynch. John is a naturalist and ethnobotanist who leads hikes at
Jack London and many other locations around the county. He
has had extensive training and is incredibly knowledgeable about
the flora, fauna and folklore of the area with an emphasis on the
interplay between natural and cultural history. John exudes his
passion for the natural world to park visitors who listen raptly to
his engaging stories and explanations about the local plant and
animal life. John successfully accomplishes his mission to inspire
children to develop a lifelong interest in science and nature.
John has been a State Park volunteer since 2012. In addition to
leading nature hikes, he patrols the park trails assisting with trail
maintenance and providing information and assistance to hikers.
We are fortunate that John chooses to volunteer in our parks.
...and With Special thanks !
To the Sonoma Valley Inn for
agreeing to sponsor the display
of Jack London Park banners
around the Sonoma plaza August 1
through September 30th this year.
The images for the banners were
created by Town Kryer, LLC and
recently awarded Best in Show (
the highest award possible ) at the
California Addy Awards. Marcus
Young, co-founder of Town Kryer is
a member of the park’s marketing
committee and also responsible for
the park’s new general brochure.
Jack London State Historic Park | www.jacklondonpark.com
“I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a
sleepy and permanent planet. The proper function of man is to live, not to exist...• 3
Moon Letter • Spring 2016
With Gratitude
Jack’s view continued from page 1
visited Japan on a seal hunting
voyage. He crisscrossed North
America as hobo in 1894. After
dropping out of UC Berkeley,
he joined the Klondike Gold
Rush in 1897, where, instead of
real gold, he snatched a hoard
experiential loot for his fiction.
In 1899 he broke through as a
writer, publishing his work in the
Atlantic Monthly and Overland
Monthly. Lucrative book deals
soon followed. In a pioneering
feat of embedded journalism,
he masqueraded as a stranded
sailor in London, England
to investigate first-hand the
impoverished living conditions
the city’s East End slums,
which became the basis for The
People of the Abyss, a biting
exposé and one of his finest
books. In 1904 he journeyed to
Korea to report on the RussoJapanese War, and in 1907 he
began a voyage to the South
Seas on his self-designed ketch,
the Snark.
As London traveled and
explored, he also found time
to engage in politics. He was
a passionate socialist, twice
running unsuccessfully for
mayor of Oakland. In addition,
he was an ardent documentary
photographer, a progressive
rancher who experimented in
sustainable agriculture, and
an early advocate for animal
rights. London was continually
transmuting his experiences into
fiction, and those experiences
also included hefty doses of
reading and research. London’s
writings still resonate today
largely because they dramatize
a diversity of ideas from Darwin,
Marx, Nietzsche, Schopenhauer.
London’s inner, intellectual
journey was the most significant
adventure path he ever
travelled.
For London, physical adventure
entails a process of stripping
away civilization’s props—all
those appurtenances and
pretenses that make life
comfortable but false. Most
of us sense how our appinfested lives are tenuous
fabrications; hence, one aspect
of our continued attraction to
London’s fiction as an antidote
to our homogenized realities.
To adventure with London is
to confront the world chiefly
with our bodies and our wits,
aided only by the crudest
technology—perhaps a hand
axe and maybe some rope. He
depicts the primordial in terms
of wholeness and balance
rather than mere savagery or
simple primitivism. Adventure
is the fundamental, tactile
confrontation of self and wild,
a trial that draws from its
survivors a primal, cooperative
intelligence rather than brutish
subjugation or exploitation—
moral perversions London
tended to associate with
machinations of the capitalist
marketplace, not the adaptive
practices of the wild.
London stated his adventure
ethic best in the story “In a
Far Country,” declaring that
“when a man journeys into a far
country, he must be prepared
to forget many of the things
he has learned, and to acquire
such customs as are inherent
with existence in the new
land; he must abandon the old
ideals and the old gods, and
oftentimes he must reverse
the very codes by which his
conduct has hitherto been
shaped.” The adventurer needs
to reshape the “mind's attitude
toward all things, and especially
toward his fellow man. For the
courtesies of ordinary life, he
must substitute unselfishness,
forbearance, and tolerance.
Thus, and thus only, can he gain
that pearl of great price, -- true
comradeship.” Mutual support is
province of the true adventurer,
but London—correctly so it
now seems—was skeptical
about a genuine morality of
interdependence ever finding its
way back to civilization.
*Kenneth K. Brandt teaches
courses in English at the
Savannah College of Art and
Design. He is the Executive
Coordinator of the Jack London
Society and the editor of "The
Call: The Magazine of the Jack
London Society." Along with
Jeanne Campbell Reesman, he
is the co-editor of Approaches
to Teaching the Works of Jack
London (Modern Language
Association). His forthcoming
book is "Jack London: Writers
and Their Work" (Northcote).
Jack London State Historic Park | www.jacklondonpark.com
Contributors October 15, 2015 - March 18, 2016
Ken and Karen Adelson
Piper Andersen and Jeff
Kubiak
Jennifer Anderson
Angora Ridge Foundation
Valerie and Stephen Arelt
Beverly Ashe
John Matt and Suzanne
Atkinson
Timothy Bacon
Pat and Bill Belardi
Robert and Kathleen
Benziger
Gerard and Carol Benziger
Joseph B. and Diane
Benziger
Mike and Mary Benziger
James O. Berkland
Tom Bertino and Beth Wieser
Kimberly and Simon Blattner
Bill Blosser and Dorinda
Parker
Todd Board
Drew and Ellen Bradley
Susan Brandt Hawley and Bill
Hawley
Gerry and Bill Brinton
Wanda Burzycki
California Community
Foundation
California State Parks
Foundation
Bob and Tesa Carlsen
David Chalk
Chevron Humankind Matching Gift Program
Clay Foundation - West
Cliff Bar Family Foundation
William Cloud and Madelon
Reilly-Cloud
Karen Collins
Brett Cooper and James
Fontanilla
County of Sonoma
Katherine and Tom Culligan
Patricia Cullinan
John Cunningham
Lisa Dancer
Sally Davies
Lynne Deegan-McGraw
Holly Dietrich
Ron and Sandy Dodge
John and Sara Donnelly
Jeanie Duisenberg
Daniel and Joyce Dyer
Karen and Don Easton
Anne-Marie Eileraas
Ted and Pat Eliot
Gail Ellestad
Robin Ellison
Robin Fautley
Gary and Linda Felt
John Felton
Colleen Ferguson
Diana and Peter Ferris
Richard and Carolyn Fogg
Gaia Fund
Terry Gast
Elizabeth Gawron and Paul
Johnson
Donna Geiger
Jan and Jim Proud
Glen Ellen Village Fair
Lynn Goodman
Susan and Joe Gorin
Grace Us Foundation
Katie and Blake Griffin
Jeffrey and Debbie Gualco
John and Phyllis Gurney
Leigh Hall
Donna Halow
Mary Beth Halsey
Anne Halsted and Whitney
Wells
Richard and Katherine
Harkness
Charles Haseltine
Jaye Hays
Roger and Kay Rose Heigel
Steven and Troy Hightower
John Hirsimaki
Barbara Hughes and Greg
DiPaolo
Rich and Darline Irwin
Jim and Sharon Jackson
Hermia James
Lynne Joiner
Stephen Khamsi
continued on page 6
...I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.”
Moon Letter • Spring 2016 ­
— Jack London (1876 - 1916)
Welcome to our New Board Members
•4
Congratulations Students!
Jack London Park Partners is delighted to welcome three new board members to it's Roster!
Director: Bill Blosser: Over a span of 40 years Bill has
worked intermittently for CG2M HILL, an international
engineering and planning consulting firm, as an
independent environmental consultant on issues
related to water resources planning, sustainable
development, transportation planning, land use policy
and growth management. He has chaired the Oregon
Environmental Quality Commission, the Oregon Water
Resources Commission, Oregon Land Conservation and
Development Commission, Sustainable Northwest and
was founding member of the International Sustainable
Development Foundation, the China –US Center for
Sustainable Development. Bill is founder of Sokol
Blosser Vineyards in 1971 and Sokol Blosser Winery in
1977.
Director: Gerry Brinton: Gerry,
educated at Duke and Harvard
Business School, has had several
careers – CPA, management
consultant, property management,
finance and administration of the
Wiman Beverage Co, and similar
duties with Charles Creek Vineyard
which she founded with her
husband, Bill. She has contributed to her communities
through Governing Board responsibilities with California
Pacific Medical Center and Sutter Health, Sacramento,
where she termed out as Board Chair. Education is
another interest pursued through Board work at Drew
School and Enterprise for High School Students in
San Francisco. Locally, Gerry is actively involved with
Sonoma Plein Air Foundation, Sonoma Valley Hospital
and Mentoring Alliance.
Director: Maurice Tegelaar:
Maurice is a real estate
professional with Pacific Union
International of the Sonoma
Valley. He is their top agent
and a partner in the Living in
Wine Country Team. He has
been ranked among the top
agents in Sonoma County over
the last several years. Maurice
is a Certified Public Accountant having received his
professional training at Coopers and Lybrand, now
Price Waterhouse Coopers. Between Coopers and real
estate he was with Charles Schwab& Co. He is founding
member of the of Sonoma/Napa Top Agent Network
(TAN) has served as a member of the Scholarship
Committee of Sonoma Valley Chapter of Realtors,
and is a former Board member of the Kenwood
Education Foundation where he was recipient of
the foundation’s “Big Heart” award for community
service.
THE WINNER'S OF THE JACK LONDON
STUDENT WRITING CONTEST HAVE
BEEN ANNOUNCED
Jack London lived a life of adventure by traveling
the world and writing about his exciting experiences.
Some of his best stories described the survival of the
fittest man or beast in harsh environments. Students
in grades 4 through 12 had the chance to write like
Jack London and discover their own Call of the Wild.
Students entering the contest wrote an original short
story about an animal, an adventure, or a quest. Each
of more than 60 entries was judged on originality
of thought and creative use of language by a panel
of teachers and literary scholars including Dinah
Lee, Susan Rodkin, Alison Manchester, Kathleen
Eschleman, and Sylvia Crawford. On March 19th
winners in each age category were announced at a
ceremony in the garden of Jack London's cottage.
Each winner received a cash prize and will have
their stories posted
on the Jack London
Park website. Sylvia
Crawford, (shown
upper right in period
costume) said they
received so many
excellent articles it was
very difficult to narrow
down to the winners!
Jack London (aka Bern
Lefson) also greeted
the students and spoke
about the Jack London
literary legacy. Visit our
web page to see the
winner's photo gallery
and read the winning
stories!
Jack London State Historic Park | www.jacklondonpark.com
Jack congratulates a winner
...I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.”
Moon Letter • Spring 2016 ­
— Jack London (1876 - 1916)
Volunteer Council
The members
of the Volunteer
Council are Park
volunteers who
are ambassadors
of the Park. They
meet monthly
and discuss the
opportunities and
challenges in the
daily operations of both Jack London and Sugarloaf Ridge Parks. All volunteers
are able to voice themselves through the Council members or to the Council
itself. Volunteers are always welcome to attend the monthly meetings held in the
House of Happy Walls on the third Monday from 10 AM to Noon.
Jack's Shop now online
W
elcome to the Jack London Museum Shop on-line! We’re very
excited to get our unique and one of a kind merchandise out in the
world wide web. We have new and exclusive items to offer this
year of the centennial celebration. Artist Dennis Ziemienski painted wonderful
images for us to use on totes, notecards, coasters and later in the year,
calendars. We are also introducing a line of beautiful jewelry created for the
park by Camille Torres Designs.
Visit Jacks Shop!
Valentine's Day Piano Concert
T
he Jack London Piano Club
presented a Valentine's
Day concert devoted to
beautiful, romantic music. Jud
Goodrich, the founder of the club
researched Charmian's music to
find the perfect blend of romantic
popular and classical music. The
concert started with a variety of
show music sung by vocalist Ralph
Hoyal, accompanied by Jenny
Jones, Deborah Knapp played Debussy and her own California Quail Rag. Mr.
Piano Man, Jim Wittes, took the stage and played some beautifully, intoxicating
pieces from Jerome Kern and Lerner and Lowe. Rubina Mazurka,and Esfir
Ross teamed up with classical vocals sung by Rubina and 4 hand piano pieces
played by Rubina and Esfir. Finally, Esfir closed the show to a standing ovation
with a piece by Maurice Moszkowsk, Caprice Español. Read the full review by
Nancy Watson-Tansy Join us next time —May 8th.
•5
Jack London Book Discussion
T
he Jack London Book
Discussion Group started its
third year by delving into
Call of the Wild – the first of four
of London’s most famous novels.
The group meets at the House
of Happy Walls and is led by
two Jack London scholars Susan
Nuernberg, Ph.D. and Iris Jamahl
Dunkle, Ph.D. and Sonoma County
Poet Laureate. On June 4th you
are invited to discuss Sea Wolf,
the psychological adventure of
Humphrey van Weydon, a literary
critic who is rescued from an
ocean collision by Wolf Larsen, a
powerful and satanic sea captain.
On October 7th White Fang, which
takes place in the Yukon Territory
of Canada and details White Fang’s
journey to domestication during
the 1890’s Klondike Gold Rush will
be reviewed. Finally on December
3rd Valley of the Moon and its tale
of a working class couple, Billy and
Saxon Robert’s departure from
the city to find land and embrace
scientific and sustainable farming
methods will be discussed.
Did you know, that since 2011 the Piano Club has presented quarterly concerts,
raising over $15,000 to benefit operations at the Park?
Jack London State Historic Park | www.jacklondonpark.com
...I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.”
Moon Letter • Spring 2016 ­
— Jack London (1876 - 1916)
•6
With Gratitude continued from page 3
With wind, rain and nesting birds our trail maintenance
volunteers are keeping the trails open using hand tools! Now
that's hard work. Thanks to volunteers Mike Matthies (174 hour's
in 2015) and Bob Reid (105 hours in 2015) shown here with Park
Maintenance Aides Eliott Bilecki and Sam Cuculich. Photographs
by Kimberly Smith
A Special thank you
April Sponsor Madrone Vineyards Estates
Madrone Vineyards Estate was established in 1863 and is the
longest operating winery in Glen Ellen. The property is rich in
history and has passed through notable ownership including the
Hearst (William Randolph) and Parducci & Domenici families. On
the estate sits a beautiful Heritage Oak tree which is upwards of
450 years old. Legend tells us that Jack London himself parked
his horse after a long journey underneath this oak tree to enjoy
a glass of wine. Madrone Vineyard Estate invites you to visit the
tree on the estate, taste the small-lot wines and honor Jack as a
pivotal member of the historic Sonoma community!
GET READY TO HAVE FUN! WE ARE
PLANNING TOO MANY EVENTS TO
SHOW THEM ALL HERE! VISIT OUR
WEBSITE FOR A COMPLETE LISTING
Diane Kleinecke
Deborah and James Knapp
Bill and Beth Krumbein
Dr. Earle Labor
Sandra Larson
John and Nancy Lasseter
Paul and Sheila Leach
Lou Leal
Bernard and Elizabeth Lefson
Christine Lenart
Sandy and Geoff Leonard
Peter and Olivia Leveque
Chuck Levine
Marcia and Jim Levy
Sidne Long
Margaret Lourenco
Robert Lutolf
Penny MacKenzie
Gordon and Joan Marks
Rosemarie and Steve Marks
Hank Martinson
Sharon and Wayne Mascia
Nancy Mavis
Joseph McAleer
Jeffery and Anne McBride
Alice and John Melillo
Thomas Menzies and Elizabeth
Karrer
Jane Merryman
Jeanne Montague and Chad
Overway
Barbara and Chris Montan
Elizabeth Montgomery
Peter and Arlene Narvaez
Jack and Hope Nisson
Deborah and Tadashi Nitasaka
Michael and Susan OBrien
Pamella Olson and Donald Ryndak
Charles and Susan Oncea
Marna Owen
David and Christiane Parker
Sharon Parr
Ann and Alec Peters
Paulette Pierce
Peter and Virginia Ramsey
George and Karen Rathman
Elizabeth Ravenscroft
Robert Reuther
John Riley and Barbara Talbott
Kim Roche and Marjorie Wagman
Barry and Lois Santero
Cindy Sauvignon
Kevin and David Schuh
Michael and Mary Schuh
Jean Schulz
Steve and Nancy Shaffer
Susan Sheela Baptista and Jeff
Baptista
Harvey and Deborah Shein
Mark Patrick Sloan
Mikell Smith
Sonoma Portworks Tasting Room
Susan St. Marie
Mark and Viviann Stapp
John and Kathryn Stephens
Dave and Vicki Stollmeyer
Peter Stuart
Anne Symon
T & T Painting Company
Jim Taylor
Joe and Eileen Tenn
Lisa Thomas and Greg Englar
Laney Thornton Foundation
Tim van Oppen
Tjiska Van Wyk
Joe and Deborah Votek
Isabel Wade and Jan Chernoff
Marcie and David Waldron
Sally Ward
Sharon Willard
Muriel Williamson
John and Mona Wilson
Terrance and Diana Witzel
Suzanne Young
Carolyn Zecca Ferris
In Loving Memory of Bill Greenley
Carol and Ray Anderson
Barbara Ayre
Jan Brown
Laura Butler
Richard and Vicki Gatto
Theresa Mahoney
John and Muriel Mahall
Jerome Porter
CONTRIBUTORS
Editor: Deborah Large
Contributors: Tjiska Van Wyk, Piper Andersen, Kenneth K. Brandt, Deborah Large,
Michelle, Milne, Bob Reuther, Susan St. Marie
Photography: Deborah Large, Kimberly Smith and Special Thanks to the Huntington
Library, San Marino, Ca for the photos of Jack London
Jack London State Historic Park | www.jacklondonpark.com