Well, for the first time in 20 days I spent the night outside the RV.

No, I wasn't sleeping in the street — I was enjoying the hospitality in the beautiful and cozy home of Bill and Connie Whalen. I had met Bill briefly when we rendezvoused with him and Connie in Flagstaff, Arizona on the way to St. Louis, Missouri. He had been very helpful with figuring out how to get the RV's pilot light lit for the fridge and a few other things I was having difficulties with. After spending a few hours last night with him and Connie, I soon found him to be a great guy, and I appreciate the hospitality he and Connie showed me and the boys while in Phoenix.

I was awakened very early by my youngest pup Eddie. He was whining by the bedroom door, apparently wanting out. Not wanting an accident in Connie's house, I thought I better get up and oblige. He led me straight to the front door, then bolted outside and went straight for the RV. I opened it up for him, and he jumped in, sniffed around, and looked at me like, "Okay, let's go!"

I couldn't believe it. Apparently he had grown so accustomed to the RV and traveling that he felt more at home there than in the house. I, however, had other ideas — I picked him up, reassured him that we would be back on the road soon, and headed back for the guest bed inside the house. Although the boys and I have been on cross-country journeys of three days before, I wasn't exactly sure how they would react to this extended road trip.

But apparently Eddie is a born traveler!

The event at the Wells Fargo History Museum was to take place in the late morning, so before heading to downtown Phoenix, I dropped the RV off at Bell Ford  for advisor Joe Hough to take a look. Along with all the other before mentioned problems I'd had with the RV, over the last day and a half it had started to shake and sputter a bit when I accelerated. By the time I got to Phoenix, the problem had become very noticeable, and I knew it would not be safe to continue without it being checked out.

I hoped it would be something a good oil change and fuel line cleaning could resolve. However, not knowing anything about the mysterious workings of a motor I was wrong.

Way wrong.

When Joe opened the cap and put his nose to the transmission fluid dipstick, he could smell it — burnt transmission fluid!  Unfortunately, he couldn't tell the extent of the damage until he looked at it further, which meant the RV had to stay. Advertisements for the Phoenix event included the RV, but there was nothing I could do. The transmission was in trouble, so the event would have to go on without our branded RV.

You can imagine my mindset upon hearing the news. Here I was on a journey whose schedule was important to its success. Much like that first journey overland, I had a time table to keep, and there was not a lot of wiggle room. But we did have a little time to play with. There was the event today and not another until Saturday, October 4, when we had to be in Yuma, Arizona , for a Wells Fargo store grand opening, complete with media. Needless to say, my mind was not completely on today's event. Even so, I put on a happy face and (ever the professional) joined the festivities with all the smiles I could muster while anxiously waiting on a call from Joe.

The event at the museum was a big hit. We had nearly 500 team members and visitors. And I must say, if you've never been to the Wells Fargo History Museum in Phoenix, you have to go! The museum has an amazing Western art and gun collection, and Connie has done a terrific job with the displays. I especially loved the simulated mine shaft, complete with gold. Her staff, Amanda Bohn and Chris Adix, did a great job setting everything up, and they had many team member volunteers come and help out.

One of the things that everyone really enjoyed was the stagecoach races. Using tiny radio-controlled stagecoaches, they let visitors race along the Butterfield Trail — the trail being a gigantic trail map in the entrance way of the museum.

Since Connie was finished following the Butterfield Trail with me, I was joined again by Juan Colato of the Wells Fargo History Museum in Los Angeles. He was such a great help during the Ike and leaking RV debacle on the way to St. Louis that it was good to have him back — especially now that I was again faced with RV problems.

Juan was there when I finally got the call from Joe. Luckily, I was sitting down for the bad news — the transmission was shot and would have to be replaced. Then Joe gave me even worse news. It would be a minimum of 3 days, but up to 5, before he could get a new one and have it installed.

I was not a happy camper, literally! I put in a call to the RV rental company, and it was decided that first thing the next morning they would drive a new RV to me so I could complete the journey with the hope of reuniting with our branded RV before San Francisco. After all the money and time we put into designing the wrap and having it installed, it was just inconceivable that we would finish the journey without it. But I had no choice for now. I was at the mercy of an RV that had been branded but was not rented in good working order.

So, feeling a little defeated and drained, Connie, Juan and I headed back to Connie's home to meet up with Bill for dinner. After a good meal we retreated back to Bill and Connie's for another night.

What a great night it turned out to be! Bill and I broke out our guitars — the first time I have been able to find time to play on the whole trip. Although I should have just kept mine in the case as Bill is a much better player than I. While Bill mostly played, Connie and I sang country and gospel song after country and gospel song. She has a great voice, and I'm not half bad myself (if I may say so), and together we did some great duets. At times we were a quartet when Bill and their bird Sugar would join in. Connie and I had sung along to the radio and CDs on the trip, but tonight we were jamming! It was so much fun and such a release after another stressful day of RV problems.

With the mail in the shop and all the songs sung out of me, I settled in for another night outside the RV. Tomorrow is going to be an eventful day, as we're getting up early for a ride along the Butterfield Trail near Gila Bend  in an actual horse drawn wagon!

Posted by Casey at 11:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Found in At Home, At Work, Branding, Dogs, Environment, Events, First-hand Accounts, Misc, Museums, Music, On the Road, Overland Mail Co. 150th, Participate, Perspective, Prepare, Remember, Ride sharing, Stagecoach, Transportation, Travel, Wells Fargo Bank, Westerns

After a night at the Benson KOA  and with Connie all bandaged up, I headed to Tucson. I was meeting with team members and customers in downtown Tucson.

I have to say, the trip into Tucson was a bit nerve-wracking. The city is undergoing a lot of road construction, and on top of it some of the streets around the store were very narrow. But with some newfound RV skill I made it and had a great event. The team members and customers I met seemed very interested in the journey and history. I really enjoyed my time there.

Outside Tucson is Picacho Peak State Park . Unfortunately, the park was closed by the time I arrived, but the peak never closes. In fact, it has been used as a beacon for many weary travelers on their way West. From an 18th century Jesuit priest named Father Kino  to the Mormon Battalion  to the Butterfield Overland Mail Company , Picacho Peak or pass has guided travelers' ways for centuries.

Today the road that led those early travelers west is occupied by the transcontinental railroad.

The area surrounding the peak is very beautiful and typical for this part of Arizona. The Giant Saguaro Cacti  — some reaching as high as thirty feet — dot the land around the peak. If you've never seen one of these cacti, they are amazing plants that can live as long as 200 years. Their shape is candelabra-like with arms spread welcomingly outward (but watch out for those needles!), while others reach high into the sky.

It was very hot, especially since I was still in my 19th century costume, so I stood under the shade of one of those giant green fleshed candelabras. I looked out into the distance over Interstate 10 as the cars flew by and wondered how many people in them knew they were passing beside an ancient beacon. Or was the site of the towering Dairy Queen  sign on the other side of the road too much of a distraction?

When Ormsby passed this peak he himself said very little about it. His journal only mentions that the first fresh water to be found for 40 miles outside of Tucson was to be found at the pass — although thanks to some recent rain along the way, they had apparently scooped water from puddles along the road for the horses. There is no longer a station, but luckily for the I-10 traveler there's always the DQ for refreshment.

With the mail safe and sound and the peak in the rearview mirror, I headed to Phoenix and another event. I am excited because this one is taking place tomorrow at Connie's museum, and I have never visited this one before!

Posted by Casey at 12:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Found in At Home, At Work, Branding, Environment, Events, First-hand Accounts, Jack the Dog, Misc, Museums, On the Road, Overland Mail Co. 150th, Participate, Perspective, Prepare, Remember, Ride sharing, Stagecoach, Transportation, Travel, Wells Fargo Bank

September 15th through October 15th is Hispanic Heritage Month every year. (In case you're wondering why it starts mid-September, read here).  It's a time that's special for me, being Salvadoran-American, and it's also the time of year when Wells Fargo celebrates Latino heritage. Posters and brochures at our museums, as well as our website, illustrate how Wells Fargo has served and employed Latinos since its founding.

At the Los Angeles museum last month, we had an opportunity to continue this legacy of involvement with the Latino community. We opened our doors and shared a little bit of history with "Trancazo Musical,"  a local Spanish language television show. KRCA , which carries the show, conducted a TV shoot here for a segment on "Trancazo Musical."

They used the museum as the backdrop for an interview with renowned Norteño band , Los Cadetes de Linares. Los Cadetes  sure make an impression on people. The band (or conjunto) walked into the museum in the traditional outfit. (Also called conjunto!) Clothes, hats and boots all matched. People really took notice. A small group gathered outside our front glass walls to see these modern-day cowboys meet the Wells Fargo stagecoach and delve into some Western history.

During the shoot, the host spoke to Los Cadetes about their new album — no doubt featuring many new corridos . These ballads usually tell the stories of famed criminals and heroes in the rural areas of the US-Mexico border, and they are the type of songs that have made Los Cadetes famous. The host casually incorporated bits of Wells Fargo history into the different segments. She also interviewed our Curator, Juan Colato, and encouraged the audience to visit our "beautiful museum." It was a fun experience.

But there's a question I should've asked Los Cadetes: Who makes their ornate and decorative outfits? Kudos to their tailor!

Posted by Ileana at 12:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Found in At Work, Events, Experts, First-hand Accounts, Hispanic Heritage, Latin America, Misc, Museums, Music, Participate, Perspective, Stagecoach, Wells Fargo Bank, Westerns

Casey Gill has been recreating the Butterfield Overland Mail Route for some four weeks now. He's following the journey of Waterman Ormsby, a correspondent from the New York Herald  who was the only through-passenger on the first westbound Butterfield stagecoach.

Ormsby departed St. Louis on September 16, 1858, and his correspondence on the overland route to San Francisco described in great detail the politics behind where to place the stagecoach line.

Ormsby's record  reveals a strong sense of regionalism prior to the Civil War. This is not too different from any 21st century public works project to improve America's transportation infrastructure  in which settlement, access, and profit are involved. Ormsby even hinted at the boosterism  that would come with the railroad: "If the overland mail succeeds, the railroad and the telegraph will soon follow its course; the settlements along the line will be built up with rapidity..."

To obtain that first overland contract with the US Mail, John Butterfield , William G. Fargo, and a group of entrepreneurs submitted three bids to deliver the semi-weekly mail:

1. A stagecoach route between St. Louis, Missouri and San Francisco, California;

2. A stagecoach route between Memphis, Tennessee and San Francisco, California; and a

3. A stagecoach route from both St. Louis and Memphis that met at the best point, then proceeded on a common line to San Francisco.

According to Ormsby, Northern interests sought to establish a vast network of railroads, and a stagecoach route would lay the groundwork for the future.

The northern papers poured hot shot into their ears [Butterfield, Fargo, et. al.] to compel the location at St. Louis, or at least further north; while the southern papers fired bombshells on behalf of the termini at New Orleans or Memphis, and the extreme southern route...commencing at San Antonio, Texas...Columns upon columns were written to show the superiority of either or both termini.

In the end, the third option of a "bifurcated route"  was selected.

The idea of a bifurcated route (which I believe, originated with Mr. John Butterfield, the president of the company) seemed to meet all the difficulty at once. It gave termini to both the North and the South, and no advantage to either.

The enormity of establishing a stagecoach route required the "superhuman energy" of the Overland Mail Company's leaders. Butterfield, Fargo and the others had the wherewithal to establish a route that took eight months to survey, traversed 2,800 miles, required 200 stations, employed 800 people, and required the purchase of 1,500 horses!

Although, perhaps planning and running the stagecoach route was probably not as hard as handling the other "difficulties" that Orsmby described:

The adoption of this route was...attended with no ordinary difficulties, comprising as they did, all the conflicting interests in the Pacific railroad. The schemes of speculating contractors and land jobbers, the jealousies of the various sections of the union, the clashing views of the railroad companies, and the machinations of politicians, all had to be met, conciliated, or overthrown....

Posted by Steve at 02:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Found in Animals, Branding, Environment, First-hand Accounts, Misc, Museums, On the Road, Overland Mail Co. 150th, Perspective, Railroads, Remember, Ride sharing, San Francisco, Stagecoach, Transportation, Travel, Wells Fargo Bank

When Wells Fargo was young, no Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation  bailed out banks. Financial crises became "panics" as depositors rushed to drain banks of ready cash. In February 1855, the St. Louis, Missouri branch of California’s largest bank made loans dependent upon the arrival of California gold. When the ship did not arrive, that bank failed, which brought down the California branch. Managers of California’s second largest bank used customer deposits for their personal speculative investments, then closed — paying out nothing.

In Auburn, California, John Q. Jackson, Wells Fargo’s 23-year-old agent, responded events the Wells Fargo way. On February 23, 1855, after a late night of dancing, a messenger woke Jackson at 8 am to report the crisis in San Francisco.

"The moment I reached the door, crowds were running towards the office," he wrote. (That office still standing in the "island" in downtown Auburn.)  Then, a competing bank failed and "the crowd were now furious."

"Paying out commenced and the work got pretty warm," Jackson continued, "when 2 or 3 of my personal friends came forward and offered their assistance. As there seemed to be no lack of funds and my giving personal assurance of their safety, all was quieted for the day."

Jackson reflected, "This is certainly the proudest time of my life," and "the manner in which I acted as agent has given me a good name in the community." Looking forward, John Q. Jackson foretold that the new week would "establish the credit of the firm to a greater degree than it has ever enjoyed before."

It did. Wells Fargo & Company stands strong.

Posted by Bob at 04:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Found in At Work, Branding, Experts, First-hand Accounts, Minneapolis, Misc, Perspective, Prepare, Remember, San Francisco, Wells Fargo Bank

On October 17, 1989, I left work an hour early, picked up my seven-year old kiddo from school and went home. Our plan was to cook some hot dogs on the BBQ and watch the third game of the World Series . My San Francisco Giants were playing her Oakland A's, and while things weren't going well for the Giants, the Series had moved to Candlestick Park. I was confident my guys would turn it around.

Before the game started, Kid was lounging on the sofa and lecturing me on the futility of rooting for the Giants in that Series. I was on the floor, surrounded by the remains of an Eagle  that I hoped to reclaim. We tuned in to the game at 5:00pm, and minutes later there was a loud "THUD!" from the west wall. Had someone driven into the house?

I looked up and saw the bookcase on that wall rocking dangerously, so I leapt up to hold it steady. Looking out the window to my left, I saw the peach tree shaking oddly. When trees sway in the wind, it's beautiful; this looked as if some giant fist was shaking the poor thing from underground. It was the eeriest thing I've ever seen. Truly.

Moments later, everything was still. The TV was a hissing static and showing snow. No ballgame there. My neighbor came over and the memory of his voice is still clear: "That was a bad one."

Then, military aircraft were flying overhead, and low — it looked (and sounded!) like they were right over the roof. I turned on the radio and got the full extent of what happened. The earthquake was a 7  — it had wrecked neighborhoods around the Bay and sparked several major fires. A section of the Oakland-San Francisco Bay Bridge failed.

Worst of all, the Cypress Freeway  collapsed and trapped scores of people in their cars.

Most of us know the drama from that day  and the terrible loss of life. I am fortunate to have lived in the 'burbs, away from the fullness of the disaster. What strikes me the most after all these years — in addition to how low those planes flew! — is the different responses. My neighbor was running around helping everyone check the gas mains . And my kid was under the desk. She learned in school to respond quickly, to get to a protective place and wait out the quake. I was standing there like a knucklehead, holding up a bookcase.

They were prepared and I was not.

Recalling Loma Prieta , I remember the fear and confusion I felt. I remember that peach tree shaking weirdly and my kid's muffled reply from safety. I now remember also that I stood there not really knowing what to do.

Guided By History was begun to remember the 1906 San Francisco 'quake and fire, and we blogged for a long time about preparedness. In the Archives, I looked up Wells Fargo's news publication from that time and found the emphasis was on employee and customer safety, and getting things back to normal as soon as possible. The memory of Loma Prieta I now have, fully developed, is about being intelligent in advance..

Accepting that I did it all wrong, and that my seven-year old did it all right, is my first stop to getting prepared.

That, and getting "my kit" together!

Posted by Charles at 11:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Found in At Home, At Work, Barbecue, Baseball, Earthquakes, Environment, First-hand Accounts, Katrina, Misc, Natural Disasters, Neighborhood watch, Perspective, Prepare, Remember, San Francisco, Wells Fargo Bank

Connie Whalen is the Curator at Wells Fargo's Phoenix History Museum. She joined up with Casey in Texas for the second part of his journey, following the Butterfield Overland Mail Route. About a week into the trip, Connie injured herself on a hike. (She's fine.) Here, she reflects on her own historical significance. (CR)

"Living in Arizona all my life, I’ve looked forward to visiting the Apache Pass Butterfield Stage stop for many years. It’s one of the few places in stagecoach history where ruins still remain. I was really looking forward to visiting Apache Pass with Casey. After about a mile hike in for photos and to examine the ruins, we were on our way out. Just 50 yards from the RV, I caught my hiking boot on a rock and fell forward. Protecting all of the camera equipment must have been my main objective, because it was the only thing I didn’t hurt!

I ended up banging up my knees and cutting the palm of my hand. After getting a closer look, and removing a few small boulders from the wound, I realized I needed some stitches. This made me wonder what would they have done on that first run of Butterfield, 150 years ago, if someone got hurt? People were often asked to get off the coach and walk in rough areas, and up steep hills. What if someone then fell and was injured? Out in "the middle of nowhere"?

In that era people were just becoming aware of what are today considered common medical practices. The idea of closing a wound with stitches was known. Sewing needles were often used to perform the task, along with small pieces of thread. Each stitch would be set in a criss-cross and tied off. They would be left for a few weeks and removed by clipping the knots off the ends of each stitch.

Additionally, pain remedies were very limited: Chloroform was used to render people unconscious, but opium and quinine were standard pain reliving drugs of the day. (I believe the former has a much stronger effect then the latter.)

The ideas of keeping wounds clean and dry was known, but the concept then of "clean" was very different from ours today. Infections would often set in. Antiseptics were not discovered until 1865 by Joseph Lister , along with proof of germ theory. Antibiotics were not yet known. In 1858 the best cure for an infected limb was amputation. This may seem extremely severe but during the Civil War the most common surgery  performed was amputation.

Knowing all this, I can honestly say that I'm pretty happy I fell while retracing the trail, as opposed to being on the first run 150 years ago. If this had happened in 1858, I might be learning how to write with my left hand.

Posted by Charles at 11:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Found in Environment, First-hand Accounts, Misc, Museums, On the Road, Overland Mail Co. 150th, Perspective, Prepare, Remember, Stagecoach, Transportation, Travel, Wells Fargo Bank

Nowadays, bank deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation  up to $100,000, recently raised by legislation to $250,000.

A century ago, however, bank depositors' funds were kept secure only by the reputation and stability of responsible banking institutions. Like Wells Fargo Nevada National Bank, which operated under the leadership of President Isaias W. Hellman "on the most safe and conservative lines."

When war erupted in Europe in August 1914 , credit froze and banks and investors hoarded gold, causing worldwide financial panic . Banks on the East Coast began trading paper IOU's, or clearing house certificates , instead of gold.

On the Pacific Coast, Hellman led bankers in a different direction — continuing payments in gold, as usual, to restore confidence and keep interest rates in check.

The public showed its confidence in Hellman's bank by depositing more money with Wells Fargo over that summer than all the rest of the national banks in San Francisco combined.

During the war, Wells Fargo Nevada National bank helped sell Liberty Loans  and invested in U.S. Treasury Certificates. Afterward, Wells Fargo steered a course of cautiousness as the economy shifted back to peacetime.

At the meeting of the Bank's stockholders in 1920, Hellman said with typical honesty: "We cannot promise our stockholders extraordinary large earnings. Such profits cannot be made in legitimate banking, but we can count on gradual and steady growth. Our ambition is not to be the largest bank in San Francisco, but to be the soundest and the best."

Posted by Marianne at 02:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Found in At Work, Events, Experts, First-hand Accounts, Misc, Perspective, Remember, San Francisco, Wells Fargo Bank

Another morning, another campground. This one was the KOA Las Cruces . After a restful night I was off to historic Mesilla, New Mexico . The town of Mesilla, and the local Wells Fargo team led by Pat Lamb, really put together a great event for me to participate in.

The morning event began on the town square, where 120 local elementary students showed up to learn about the Butterfield Overland Mail Route and Wells Fargo history. While I did my presentation to one group of students, other groups were treated to a ride on the Wells Fargo stagecoach around the town square.

The students were really involved, and despite the challenge of holding the attention of 30 or so fourth and fifth graders while so much excitement was going on around them, they were great listeners and seemed to enjoy my stories.

After the great event with the students, I was invited to speak to a group of community leaders and team members at a luncheon held at La Posta de Mesilla Restaurant.  Some of the attendees included State Senator Mary Kay Papen , and Mayor Michael Cadena of Mesilla . Several Wells Fargo team members were there, as well as the owners of La Posta, Tom (a.k.a. "Hutch") and Jerean Camunez Hutchinson.

I must admit that I was a bit nervous to start, what with all the important people in attendance. However, once I began talking and they laughed at my first joke, I was completely at ease. They were all so great and responsive, and I appreciate the opportunity to have had a few minutes to talk to them about Wells Fargo history and my personal experiences retracing the Butterfield.

Although I didn't get to eat until well after my lunch was delivered, it was still really great. But while La Posta is a great restaurant, it is also an important historic landmark. It is one of the few remaining stage stops still in existence. According to Jerean and Hutch, the building is actually several old adobes that have been joined. In fact, the section of the restaurant in which the luncheon was held was the actual stage stop. The Hutchinsons gave us a tour of the building and shared with us some of its special history . This is a must stop for anyone traveling through the Mesilla/Las Cruces area....

Mesilla is immersed in history. The town was once the capital for the New Mexico and Arizona Territories. Across from the restaurant is the Billy the Kid Gift Shop . The shop is so named because it was once the courthouse where Billy the Kid  was tried and sentenced to hang.

I took an opportunity at the gift shop to pick up a coonskin cap . Not for myself but for Juan Colato, Manager of the Los Angeles Museum and my partner for the first and last leg of this journey. Juan and I kept running into these hats during the first leg of the trip, and he kept saying he was going to get one, but never did. So I picked up one for him. I hope he'll wear it!

After leaving Mesilla, we headed west toward Tucson . On the way we stopped in Gage at the Butterfield Stage Stop . This isn't actually a stage stop but a gas station/gift shop/Dairy Queen. Unfortunately, the very nice lady minding the store couldn't really tell us if there was actually an old stage stop nearby, or if the name is just a gimmick. I'm betting on the latter but who knows?

Next stop was Ft. Bowie at Apache Pass . This was supposed to be a quick and uneventful stop to shoot some video at the Butterfield ruins. Unfortunately, it was neither quick nor uneventful. First, it was quite a drive off of I-10, then about a mile-and-a-half hike to the ruins. It was an easy hike though, and the area around the ruins was actually quite beautiful. The ruins themselves were not unlike several others I've seen on this trip, with partial rock walls and scattered rock remains. This stop, though, actually still has the fireplace intact, and I could imagine the keeper making his scant meals and coffee on its coals.

It was on the hike back to the RV that things became well...eventful. As we were leaving the trail about 50 yards from the RV, I heard what sounded like Connie falling down and a word that I won't repeat here. I knew immediately something was wrong because Connie never uses a word like this. When I turned to see her lifting herself off the ground she held out her right palm and there it was — blood. Lots of blood streaming from her palm. I knew right away that this was no scratch because of the amount of blood pouring from her hand.

After making sure she was as OK as one can be after falling and splitting open a hand, I ran to the RV to get the first aid kit and a roll of paper towels. Upon returning, we determined that Connie should go to a hospital. The cut was really bad and full of rocks and sand. Yikes! But everyone who knows Connie knows what a tough person she is, so it was no surprise when she began cleaning rocks out of her own wound.

Well, that was about all I could handle. I don't do well with blood.

We drove nearly an hour, and finally arrived at a hospital in Benson, Arizona. Connie hung tough the whole way, and we talked about what would have happened 150 years ago if this same thing had occurred. Let’s face it, without cleaning out the wound, infection or gangrene could have set in. A traveler on the Butterfield route may have lost her hand with this serious a wound.

Connie ended up with 11 stitches and two bruised knees. But the folks at the Benson Hospital   were really professional and caring — she was bandaged up in no time and ready to return to the grind.

No accidents for the mail though, students! It is safe and secure en route to San Francisco.

Posted by Casey at 04:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Found in Animals, At Home, At Work, Branding, Dogs, Environment, Events, First-hand Accounts, Misc, Museums, On the Road, Overland Mail Co. 150th, Participate, Perspective, Prepare, Remember, Ride sharing, San Diego, Stagecoach, Transportation, Travel, Wells Fargo Bank, Women's History

Here’s the story of Wells Fargo & Company – where we came from, who we are today, and what we stand for.

Welcome to Wells Fargo!

John Stumpf,
President and CEO, Wells Fargo

Our History: Stagecoach to Internet

Our Vision: What We Believe

Our Values: A Culture of Collaboration

Read a transcript of the Wells Fargo: our History, Values and Vision videos.

Posted by John Stumpf at 12:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Found in Wells Fargo Bank

September 29:

Morning found me at the Roadrunner RV Park in El Paso, TX. After a quick bowl of grits and a walk with the boys, I headed for Hueco Tanks State Park . What a special place this is! If you are ever in this area you must make a stop here. You will not be sorry!

The 860-acre park is named for the large natural rock basins or huecos. These "tanks" have provided water in this arid region for thousands of years. From Paleo-Americans to Native Americans, from weary Butterfield passengers to their horses, these tanks were a vital source of water.

As I approached the mountains, I was amazed at how alien they seemed — unlike the surrounding land or the Franklin Mountains  in the distance. As one Native American visitor to the park said recently, "It's as if when the gods were finished with the world they had some left over rock and decided to just store it here." And that is a pretty good description. It looks like someone has just piled massive boulders of all shapes and sizes on top of one another in the desert. It is spectacular.

From 150 year-old "graffiti," to Native American pictographs , this park is filled with reminders of the people who sought shelter and liquid sustenance amid these mountains. Because it is such a special place and such a fragile environment, the park is guarded well, with limited access. There is a maximum number of people allowed into the park each day, and everyone entering must watch an orientation video describing what a special place it is and how to protect it.

So after watching the informative 15 minute video, I was off to the Interpretive Center to visit with Park Superintendent Wanda Olszewski. Not only is Wanda knowledgeable, she is also very passionate about her job and this special place.

Did I mention that this place was special?

With Wanda as my guide, I was able to see graffiti etched into stone in June of 1858. Several men carved their names and dates into the rock, and a few used a mixture of ash and axle grease to write their names. The number of men and the date suggest these could have been surveyors of the Butterfield route . I'm very excited by this prospect and Connie (as you may remember, my partner, photographer, videographer and keep-me-organizer for this leg of the journey) has promised to look into some of the names we found to see if indeed these were the men who were surveying for the Overland Mail Company. I'll keep you posted.

Next, Wanda took me on a small hike up some very slippery rocks to view some of the older pictographs. One is a drawing of a man engaged in a battle, with arrows whipping past him. One arrow appears to have hit him in the groin area. The picture is so simple and yet remarkable for the story — it forever freezes in time one moment in one man's life. His name may have been forgotten, but his story will be told for eternity.

Another pictograph required I lie on my back to view it. According to Wanda, this is an abstract painting in a style sometimes referred to as a "Mexican _blanket design." She explained that this one was probably much older than the battle scene, and the design is usually associated with water.

Finally, we reached the huecos.  Wanda took me to a spot that had several tanks, including a sort of overflow basin for times of heavy rain. Lucky for me the basins had water. When Ormsby came through here 150 years ago today, the tanks were dry. A drought had recently gripped the area, and all the station keeper could provide were two eight gallon tanks for "a dozen heads of cattle and as many men."

I can't thank Wanda enough for sharing this special place with me. This is one of those memories of the trip that I will always treasure, like my visit with the Richards' and "Big Daddy" at Ft. Chadbourne.

With my visit to Hueco Tanks completed, it was getting a little late, so I headed off to do some personal shopping. Connie and I decided we were going to get cowboy boots before we left Texas so we hit the El Rey Outlet. I haven't worn a pair of cowboy boots since I used to borrow a pair from my dad when I was a teenager. (And by "borrow" I mean take while he was working!) The El Rey Outlet has hundreds of Justin  and Tony Lama  brand boots in every size imaginable. It took me a while but I finally found the perfect pair along with a belt to match. From now on I'll be road trippin' Texas style!  Yee Haw!

With new boots on my feet, I headed to Las Cruces, New Mexico. So long, Texas! I'll sure miss all the great folks I've met here. My special thanks to Jill Campbell and Paula Walker of the Texas Heritage Trail Commission; Cliff Tienert, Trent McKnight, Garland and Lana Richards of Ft. Chadbourne; Katrina Dorris of Wells Fargo, San Angelo; Bob Bluthardt of Ft. Concho; and especially Margaret Hoogstra of the Texas Heritage Trails Commission, Ft. Trails Region for making most of what we were able to see and do in Texas possible.

The mail is safe and sound and riding high in the saddle, students!

Posted by Casey at 02:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Found in Animals, Artifacts, Dogs, Environment, Experts, First-hand Accounts, Misc, Museums, On the Road, Overland Mail Co. 150th, Participate, Perspective, Remember, Ride sharing, San Diego, Stagecoach, Transportation, Travel, Wells Fargo Bank

After a day of bats and caverns, I headed for the Guadalupe Mountains  and Pinery station . Ormsby wrote, "The Guadalupe Mountains loomed before us all day in the most aggravating manner." The peak is so high and can be seen for some distance so I can imagine, if I had been traveling five miles an hour, that I too would have been aggravated by their "looming." Thankfully, it didn't take long to get to them.

And what a site they are. The peak is a massive presence that seems to be, as Ormsby rightly described, as "if any moment to fall, while huge boulders hang as if ready, with the weight of a rain drop, to be loosened from their fastening and descend with lumbering swiftness to the bottom, carrying destruction in their path."

Unfortunately, I missed the big Butterfield celebration  they were having over the weekend. However, I did run in to a ranger who shared with me the secret to finding the Butterfield trail. So after a quick visit to the Pinery Station ruins (partial stone walls and piles of stone), I headed for Guadalupe Canyon.

Through this canyon are remnants of a 1930's-era road. On this road, overgrown with foliage and cacti, I headed up the canyon toward the peak. After going through two rusted old turnstiles, I found a path that led me high above the modern Highway 62/180 , and the older road. From this vantage point I could see three generations of road — the smooth new highway, the 1930's asphalt  with all its cracks, and most exciting, traces of the Butterfield stage route.

What a spectacular sight! Behind me was the great Guadalupe peak, around me were rainwater washes that can create, I imagine, quite a torrent rushing around the peak and down the canyon.

And in front of me, the Butterfield route.

What a spectacular sight! Behind me was the great Guadalupe peak, around me were rainwater washes that can create, I imagine, quite a torrent rushing around the peak and down the canyon. And in front of me, the Butterfield route.

It was through this pass 150 years ago today that eastbound and westbound stages met for the first time. As I stood there contemplating the scene, I could imagine the sense of accomplishment and destiny this meeting must have engendered.

As I headed back to the RV, the ground seemed to be alive. Indeed it was. Grasshoppers  — millions of them — have invaded this area due to some recent rains. It reminded me of the Biblical plague . They were every shape, size and color: I've never seen some of these varieties. One was about two inches long and solid black  except when it flew. When its wings were expanded it revealed the most vibrant blood red color. It was amazing to take a step and have the ground appear to jump around my feet.

With Guadalupe in the rear view mirrors, I headed to El Paso . After traveling about 15 or so miles from the peak, the sand around the highway suddenly and quite dramatically turned white. I could not believe the abruptness of the change. Having grown up on the Gulf Coast  it reminded me of the quartz beach sand of my childhood. It turns out I had entered the Salt Basin of Texas . I had to get a closer look, so I pulled to the side of the road near what appeared to be a lake mirage. It was way off in the distance, but being ever curious and a bit adventurous, I had to check it out.

So I took off for the mirage, a distance of nearly a quarter mile. As I moved closer, it became apparent to me that the ground around me, cracked and full of animal tracks and a few human tracks, had been wet recently. This was no mirage. The closer I got to the small lake the muddier the ground became, so that I had to chuck off my boots before reaching the shore. And soon I was upon it.

When I reached the lake, I stepped in and looked around. Wow! What a site! I was standing in a temporary lake in the middle of the snow-white salt basin with the Guadalupe Mountains ahead of me, pink and purple from the setting sun. I stood there, ankle-deep in the salty water, basking in the beauty of the scene around me for several minutes before grabbing my muddy boots and heading back to the ever-present road and journey ahead.

Yet another moment I shall never forget.

P.S. The mail has made it through the Guadalupes and is on its way to San Francisco via El Paso!

Posted by Casey at 08:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
Found in Animals, First-hand Accounts, Misc, Museums, On the Road, Overland Mail Co. 150th, Perspective, Ride sharing, San Diego, Stagecoach, Transportation, Travel, Vanpools, Wells Fargo Bank

You've seen Casey's regular mentions of the mail being safe and sound. I'm going to give Casey a break (or have Charles do more work, not sure which) and give some background.

When planning began for this adventure Casey wanted to include an educational component. He devised a lesson plan for school kids that would emphasize the mail delivery aspect of the Butterfield Overland Mail Company. Kids from a school at his starting point of St. Louis would be matched with a correspondent school near his final destination of San Francisco. The St. Louis students would write letters and Casey would deliver them in "stagecoach" time — the San Francisco area kids would reply and send the letters by United States Postal Service .

What really makes this fun is that all the kids can follow along via the Guided By History blog, track what Casey is up to, and imagine how difficult it was 150 years ago for a letter (and any news at all) to make its way across the country.

As Casey was researching for the trip, he also connected with the amazing Ms. Hansen of Lowell Elementary in Arkansas. Adding letters from her students worked especially well since Arkansas was historically a major mail connection point.

So now Casey has two bags in the RV full of inquiring letters that he is carefully transporting. (I wonder how the mail bags compare in size to the dogs?)

And now for a preview: on the morning of Friday, October 10, Casey will be presenting to the 4th graders of Mary E. Silveira School . Class representatives briefed the whole school at an assembly a few weeks ago about Casey's upcoming visit. So we will have lots of pictures and video to share from the Mary E. Silveira school visit, and of the letters finally being delivered to their intended recipients.

We'll also keep tabs on our three-way school connection after October 10 to hear how the USPS compares with delivery in "stagecoach" time.

(Click here to read what our wonderful teachers, Ms. Decker and Ms. Searway, and media specialists, Ms. Hansen, have said so far.)

Finding a Bay Area school for the end point was easy. The San Francisco History Museum team provides school tours and has relationships with an array of fantastic teachers. I just called one over the summer, Carlene Searway of Mary E. Silveira School, and she was on board with the project from the beginning.

Now then, what about a St. Louis school? We have no Wells Fargo History Museum in St. Louis and no banking stores. It was more complicated and really exemplifies a few degrees of separation .

There was a special Society of American Archivists  event in the San Francisco Wells Fargo History Museum at the end of August. I was talking with Barbara Dean, Archivist at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis . I mentioned our upcoming project and need for a corresponding St. Louis school. She traveled back to the office and enthusiastically put me in touch with her education-focused colleague, Mary Suiter. When I followed up with Mary and told her about our crazy RV idea, she went right to work using her network to try and locate a teacher that would help us. I think that says a lot about Mary's "make-it-happen" spirit.

While Casey was en route to St. Louis to begin the trip, I was fielding questions and trying to make sure there was a class ready and waiting for a match. Mary came through and connected us with the wonderful Ms. Decker of Kennard Academy , with 5 days to spare before Casey took off to head west! I give a gold star to Ms. Decker for talking to me on her cell phone on a Friday night outside a pizza parlor, delaying the gratification of a well-deserved Friday night pizza in order to help plan Casey's Monday school visit.

My amazement and gratitude to all the degrees that helped us make this work!

Posted by Anne at 04:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
Found in Animals, Branding, Dogs, Events, First-hand Accounts, Get Involved, Misc, Museums, On the Road, Overland Mail Co. 150th, Participate, Pe