Wells Fargo - Guided By History Blog

Maggie L. Walker

2009-11-21T00:20:54Z

My colleague Marianne Babal is a VIP in the Public History world (scroll down a little). A friend of hers teaches at The College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia, and earlier this year his/her students found a treasure trove.

In an attic (totally by chance!), they found records related to Maggie L. Walker. Walker was the first woman to charter a bank in the United States, and one of few women bank presidents.

Her story led us to include her in our exhibit in San Francisco, "Women Making Financial History."

Maggie Walker lived in Richmond, Virginia, where she raised a family as well as involving herself with civic activities. She was active in the Grand Order of St. Luke, later renamed the Independent Order of St. Luke. The Order was a benevolent organization , many of which existed in the 19th century (and today) to aid members with education, insurance, recreation, charity, dispute resolution and friendship. In 1899, Mrs. Walker became the leader of the organization, and her business skills helped the Order to prosper.

Walker's ambition was to found a financial institution by and for African Americans. In 1903, she organized the St. Luke's Penny Savings Bank , which loaned to black businesses, students and homebuyers. Assets grew, and Walker's bank was able to survive the Great Depression — legend has it the bank was one of the few banks that did not close during the "Bank Holiday" in 1933. Her bank survives today as Consolidated Bank and Trust.

Maggie Lena Walker was someone who made history without necessarily trying to. She went to work and did everything she could to make her ideas become realities. She did it, and developed a community for women and for African American in the middle of Jim Crow. She provided financial services — bank accounts, investment services and loans — for people who might not have had other options. Her home is now a National Historic Site , rightly so.

But it's additional honor to her that we all keep her history current, by recognizing her hard work, and the positive impact she had on her community.

Biographies mention Mrs. Walker was a great and inspirational speaker. The lady had it all!

Tomatoes

2009-11-18T17:00:14Z

Thanksgiving is almost here, and I've finally finished readying my yard for winter : I raked leaves, put away the grill, and pulled out the remnants of my garden – like my tomato plants.

I had been feasting off homegrown tomatoes all summer, making salsas and salads and eating them straight from the plant. And while some folks can tomatoes come fall, that's something I've never done. My husband is decidedly anti-canned produce. I tell him he never would have survived 100 years ago.

But it turns out that is not entirely true.

Wells Fargo was shipping fresh produce around the country more than 100 years ago. As the first express company to begin using refrigerated railroad cars, Wells Fargo was soon shipping crops like tomatoes, peaches, and oranges across the country. In 1901, one grower from Hayward, California, was shipping asparagus, cherries, currants, gooseberries, and strawberry rhubarb to many locations including Salt Lake City, Utah, Boston, Massachusetts, and St. Paul, Minnesota.

By 1913, 150 Wells Fargo refrigerator cars were speeding delicate western fruits and vegetables to eastern consuming cities. Most of the produce originated in California but later, Wells Fargo shipped fruits and vegetables (like tomatoes!) from Mexico across the United States.

So, while I am enjoying my homemade tabouli and margarita pizza this winter, I will remember Wells Fargo's refrigerated rail cars and be thankful I am not limited to eating canned green beans.

Traveler's companion: The gourd canteen

2009-11-12T22:40:23Z

Sala Faruq works as a museum assistant at the Wells Fargo History Museum in Old Town San Diego. We are thrilled to present her first post at GBH! (CR)

When traveling by stagecoach, passengers were only allowed 40 pounds of luggage. Travelers packed clothing and blankets, and firearms were common, as well as some type of water container.

In the 1800s, there were several options available for canteens — metal and wood were popular. Perhaps the most versatile material for a canteen, though, was the gourd.

A gourd is "any of several trailing or climbing plants related to the pumpkin, squash, and cucumber and bearing fruits with a hard rind." This titan of the plant world is durable, lightweight and watertight. It grows in a variety of shapes and sizes. And in addition to tropical and semi-tropical zones throughout the world, the gourd can be found in the temperate climates of California and the Southern United States — the route of the Overland stagecoaches!

In San Diego County, the Kumeyaay (pronounced: KOOM-eh-YI) have used the gourd for a variety of purposes for hundreds years. Jamacha means "wild gourd" in the Kumeyaay language. The city of Jamacha represents the area in the Kumeyaay territory where the wild gourd grows.

You can make your own gourd canteen just as the Kumeyaay did, and passengers on the Overland coaches may have done. Why not experience an eco-friendly alternative to the plastic bottle?

The materials to make a gourd canteen are simple and easy to obtain. If you want to create your own canteen, check-out my "How To" (PDF)....

]]> How to: The gourd canteen (Note: This project requires adult supervision!)

Materials you'll need:

Canteen gourd (approx. 6 inches in diameter)
pencil
paraffin
tapered cork (approx. 1 inch in diameter)
gravel
1/2-inch leather straps (approx. 72 inches in length)
sand paper (120, 220, and 400 grit)
microwave and microwavable dish
towels or oven mitts
X-acto® knife and/or small hacksaw
tacky glue or leather glue
long-handled spoon

Step 1: Cut opening
To prepare the gourd for drinking, a spout needs to be cut in the top of the gourd (see Figure 1). Start with clean canteen gourd. With a pencil, trace the outline of the cork on the top of the gourd. Cut the shape out using an X-acto® knife and/or small-tooth hacksaw (see Figure 1). Surround the cork with sandpaper and file the edge of the opening smooth using 120, 220 and 400 grit sandpaper respectively.

Step 2: Clean the inside
The gourd contains seeds and dried fibrous pulp, which need to be removed. Use a long-handled spoon to break up the contents. Be careful not to damage the opening for the cork! As you break up the pulp ball into smaller pieces, pour the pieces out through the spout opening. Repeat this process as necessary to remove the larger pieces of pulp and seeds. To remove the finer pieces of pulp, pour a handful of gravel into the opening, cork and shake vigorously. Uncork and pour out the pulp and gravel. Repeat this process several times until the gourd is clean. This procedure may take a fair amount of time.

Step 3: Seal the inside
Break paraffin into small pieces and put into microwave dish. In increments of 30 seconds, heat the paraffin in the microwave until it melts. Paraffin has a low flash point , so proceed carefully with this process!

Once the paraffin has melted, remove it from the microwave. Next, heat the gourd in the microwave for about 30 seconds to make it warm. You may need additional heating time. Go slowly (10 second intervals) — you want the gourd warm, not burned. Remove the warm gourd using a towel or oven mitts. Quickly pour the melted paraffin into the gourd opening, cork and swirl the melted paraffin around until it begins to feel heavy. Then, immediately pour the excess paraffin back into your microwave dish and heat again. Repeat this process at least three times to make sure you have coated the inside completely.

Step 4: Create the sling
To make a sling to hold your gourd canteen, cut leather into a ½-inch strip, approximately 72 inches in length. The length may vary according to how far you want the canteen to hang from your shoulder.

From the leather strip you just cut, measure and cut two strips the circumference of your gourd, with an extra ½ inch overlap. Glue one strip diagonally across your gourd, overlapping where the pieces come together (see Figure 2). Before glue dries, loop one end of the remaining leather strip under the diagonal strip at the top and tie in a knot. Then, press the diagonal strip down firmly. Repeat this process for the other side.

Let the glue dry for 24 hours and you will be ready to use your gourd canteen!

Wells Fargo and Veterans Day

2009-11-11T06:30:18Z

When I was a kid, I viewed Veterans Day as another holiday to commemorate distant events, and one of two times a year my Cub Scout troop would place flags on graves at a local Veterans Cemetery. In hindsight, I didn't even converse or thank my closest Veterans, my grandfather and father.

Following the attacks of 9/11, my subsequent joining the Navy Reserve , and a deployment to the Middle East, I have a different perspective.

This Veterans Day I would like to express appreciation to all Veterans and their spouses. To Wells Fargo, I add my appreciation — the Company is an outstanding employer of Veterans, and an outstanding banker to men and women in uniform.

Veterans Day was originally founded as Armistice Day, a day to commemorate the cessation of fighting on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. Unfortunately the "War to End all Wars" was not — and the world and United States have been party to another World War, and countless conflicts since then. In 1954, President Eisenhower converted the holiday to Veterans Day, to honor all American Veterans.

Wells Fargo's service to the military and its members goes back a century and a half. Wells Fargo transported coin and currency for military payroll to remote army posts in California and Arizona. During World War I and World War II, large percentages of its employees were activated for military service

Talk about customer service! At the outbreak of World War I when Americans fleeing Europe abandoned luggage in their haste, Wells Fargo's Vice President of Traffic, F. S. Holbrook, took it upon himself to gather 400 abandoned trunks and ship them to Wells Fargo warehouses in America where they were matched with their owners — free of charge. Wells Fargo continued to operate through London and Paris correspondent offices during the entire war, and assisted countless American doughboys in transferring letters and remittances stateside.

Several of the members of Wells Fargo's family tree were founded specifically to serve men and women in the military. One example is the Army National Bank of Fort Lewis, Washington.

Another bank, through the Norwest lineage, has continued to this day as Wells Fargo Worldwide Military Banking, a bank within a bank that focuses on serving our men and women in uniform.

During World War II, one-quarter of Wells Fargo's employees served in the military — including Isaias Hellman III, who was elected President of the bank while still serving in the Army Air Corps. That war also saw women join the workforce in higher numbers. By the end of World War II, women comprised 60% of Wells Fargo employees.

Wells Fargo continues to go above and beyond in supporting team members who are in the Guard and Reserve. In addition to providing benefits for mobilized employees that are in excess of mandated USERRA minimums, Wells Fargo sponsors an internal employee organization, the Wells Fargo Military Veterans Resource Group, which provides a network of support for employees and family members. The organization is open to all employees regardless of past or present military affiliation.

So this Veterans Day I would like to thank all remaining Veterans from World War II, "the Greatest Generation." I would like to thank all Veterans of the "Forgotten War," the Korean War. I would like to thank all Veterans of the Vietnam War. I would like to thank all Veterans of the Gulf War. I would like to thank all Veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

I would also like to thank all military spouses, including my own, Alice, who take care of the broken air-conditioners, flat-tires, and bills while the service member is deployed. I would like to thank all children who miss their nightly bedtime story or Saturday game with their deployed parent.

I would also like to thank all employers, especially Wells Fargo, of members of the Guard and Reserve who go above and beyond in their flexibility and support for their employees who are called away at a moment's notice for an unknown time period.

All of these parties named are part of the support network that assists the service member during deployment, and enable him or her to stay focused on the mission over there so we can sleep soundly over here.

Thank you for your service at all levels! Happy Veterans Day!

Wells Fargo in Colorado

2009-11-07T06:59:00Z

On Saturday, November 7, 19 Wachovia Bank stores in Colorado will convert to the Wells Fargo brand. Although Colorado is the first state where Wachovia signs will disappear, Wells Fargo is not a newcomer to the Centennial State.

On November 1, 1866 Wells Fargo, took over the operation of the major stagecoach routes west of the Missouri River. This "Grand Consolidation" was with Denver-based Holladay Overland Mail & Express Company.

Wells Fargo already operated stage companies, but the merger with Holladay’s network spread Wells Fargo stagecoach operations across 4,000 miles of territory. The Company covered the Rocky Mountains, and stretched from the Great Plains to the Pacific.

Wells Fargo was founded in New York in 1852, as a joint-stock association, the usual formation of that era. With the 1866 consolidation, the Company filed incorporation papers in the Colorado Territory in 1866.

Wells Fargo & Company operated under its Colorado charter for a century.

From the corner of 'F' and Holladay Streets in downtown Denver, Wells Fargo stagecoaches rolled out in all directions—north on the Overland route via Ft. Bridger and Boulder to Salt Lake City; west to the mines of Central City and Georgetown; and northeast to meet the transcontinental railhead as it advanced from Nebraska.

As with its California Gold Rush beginnings, a good portion of Wells Fargo’s business was transporting gold, silver, and currency.

And as in California a decade ealier, Wells Fargo entered the banking business in Denver. A local newspaper told Coloradoans that Wells Fargo could now "attend to their business to the ends of the earth if required."

By the following summer, three Wells Fargo stagecoaches arrived or departed Denver every day, with passengers, news and mail....

]]> When railroad construction had reached Julesburg, stagecoach connection with Denver took 33 hours. Passengers paid $50.25 for the trip, and added $60 if they continued by train to Chicago.

After the Transcontinental Railroad was finished, the Iron Horse overtook the stagecoach for passengers and express. (Stagecoach service did not end, of course.)

More and more, Wells Fargo Express rode the rails. By 1874, Wells Fargo had 19 Colorado locations including Colorado Springs, Golden, Greeley and Pueblo. Service extended to Trinidad, La Junta and other communities in southeastern Colorado.

Wells Fargo advertised reasonable rates, quick time, and courteous treatment. And that’s exactly what Wells Fargo agents delivered, like Miss Frances G. Curran at Holley’s, John L. Hopkins in Pueblo, and R. J. McIntyre in Colorado Springs. Denver’s general agent, J. L. Stubbs, served Wells Fargo for 33 years.

In 1916, Wells Fargo & Co.'s Express carried over $53.6 million of Colorado gold and silver, while refrigerated railroad cars rushed Colorado beans, cantaloupes, celery, cucumbers, lettuce and tomatoes to distant markets.

Some Wells Fargo agents went the extra mile: In December, 1914, a blizzard hit Colorado on payday for soldiers stationed in camps near Trinidad. Agent E. C. Whittlesey waded through snow drifts to reach the encampments, and brought a supply of money orders so that soldiers could send money home. Ninety-six soldiers purchased the money orders, and another eight provided Whittlesey with an armed escort back to Trinidad.

In 1918, the Federal Government took over the nation’s major express companies as a wartime measure, and Wells Fargo Express signs disappeared from Colorado storefronts and depots. But in 1996, Wells Fargo returned to Colorado.

Just as they did over 140 years ago, Wells Fargo and Colorado prosper today, and continue to grow together

Mrs. Shore's loss is women's gain

2009-11-02T23:30:20Z

When was the last time you lost $2,150? And because of a hole—not in your pocket, but in your stocking!

The Wells Fargo History Museum in San Francisco recently opened a new exhibit, "Women Making Financial History." It interprets the many different roles women have played and are playing in the financial world: as bankers, as customers, as pioneers; even as images on currency. If you’re in town, I’d definitely recommend you check it out.

(But until then, take a look at the mini-site about the exhibit, sort of a "sneak preview.")

One of the interesting stories on the site is one about how banks in the early 20th century accommodated the needs of their female customers. For hundreds of years women had typically been financially dependent on their husbands or family. It was in the late 19th century that a large number of women began to join the workforce, and therefore, gain economic power. Banks took notice, and they realized that women were a different type of customer. They needed and wanted to be treated differently.

Maybe even have a separate room to do their banking. I know, it sounds bad, right? But the reason is that many women didn’t trust banks. They had for years carried their valuables and money in their stockings or underneath their blouses. Imagine just how uncomfortable it would be, going to make a deposit and having to dig for your money in front of all the male bankers and the other customers! And, at a time when female propriety was often scrutinized, this wouldn’t be very ladylike.

But as Mrs. Shore found out when she lost $2,150 worth of jewels, through a hole in her stocking, it wasn’t the safest place for keeping valuables. Maybe a bank, with a little privacy, was less inconvenient than risky hosiery. Banks "got it" — the "stocking room" was created. Here was a special room, just for the ladies, where they could do their banking. And of course, ready their deposits in private.

Creation of the stocking room shows an interesting paradox: banks treated women differently on account of their sex, as society has for thousands of years. BUT, it also shows that society was beginning to value and better understand women’s economic importance. Banks were doing what they had to to gain women’s trust, and women's business.

To me, the stocking room shows an interesting shift. Though it physically separated the sexes, its intention, strangely enough, was a step towards gender equality: women were being recognized for their financial power, and were being encouraged to join the banking world.

As a modern woman, I’m not sure how I feel about the need for a separate room to do my banking just because I’m female. But then, I don’t wear stockings full of jewels!

Women Making Financial History

2009-10-29T17:45:38Z

In association with the International Museum of Women (IMOW) , the Wells Fargo History Museum in San Francisco has opened its latest exhibit, "Women Making Financial History." This exhibit examines women's roles in making and managing money, from the early history of the United States to today — all around the world.

The exhibit features striking photo essays of women benefitting from micro-lending in Nepal, new entrepreneurship of Arab women in Qatar, and more. The original material is from IMOW's virtual exhibition, "Economica," which explores the many facets of women's experiences of and contributions in the global economy.

"Women Making Financial History" introduces women who came West to make their fortunes, and build businesses and communities. It shows female Wells Fargo agents who provided financial services across the frontier, and remarkable woman pioneers in banking. You can enter a money vault to view historic coins and currency featuring women. You can experience banking in the 1920s inside our recreated bank Women's Department, and see vintage bank advertisements focused on women customers.

The first woman to be portrayed on U.S. currency was Martha Washington, the first First Lady of the United States. She was featured on an 1891 One Dollar Silver Certificate, which were exchanged for silver coins from 1878 to 1964. (It is still legal tender, too.) In the Museum, you can take photos and print your mug on vintage style bills, and take them home with you. (Look serious or silly — your choice!)

Find out what it was really like to work in a bank a long time ago, as you try your hand on our 1895 check cutter. See other machines that men and women bankers would have used back then. You can talk to a friend on two old-fashioned candlestick telephones. No speed dialing, though.

Ever heard of a "Stocking Room"? There was a time in the early 1900s when women didn't feel comfortable entering the very masculine environment of banks, and even avoided having bank accounts. Some women tucked their money and valuables in their stockings instead, under their floor-length skirts.

In order to gain these women for customers, banks came up with the Stocking Room — a Women's Department. This was a safe haven where ladies could remove their cash and do their banking without the distraction of men, cigars and spittoons.

Women Making Financial History will run through spring 2010, and can be seen at:

The Wells Fargo History Museum
420 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA

Admission to the Museum is free. Hours are 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, closed weekends and bank holidays.

More information can be found at our Wells Fargo Historical Services website! Just click on "New Online Exhibit: Women Making Financial History."

Clark, Gruber & Co. and the First National Bank of Denver

2009-10-22T20:00:38Z

In past articles I covered the first national bank chartered in California and the first national bank chartered on the Pacific Coast. In this post I'll share some of the incredible history of the first national bank chartered west of the Great Plains, the First National Bank of Denver. This bank's history incorporates a gold rush, a private mint, a national bank, and ultimately a Federal mint. This is truly amazing.

Our story begins in Leavenworth, Kansas Territory , in 1855 when Milton Clark set up shop as a grocer. Within two years, Clark, his brother Austin, and Emanuel Gruber formed Clark, Gruber & Co. to capitalize on the recent gold rush at Pikes Peak, Colorado. In 1860, they built a two story building in Denver.

Clark, Gruber & Co. bought gold dust with the idea that they would transport the gold back East to Federal mints. Huge transportation costs, however, sparked their interest in setting up their own mint to coin the gold with standard mint value. This would save the transportation cost and provide a valuable source of local exchange.

Very quickly, the firm earned a reputation as honest and trustworthy, with an exceptionally fast turnaround. The firm acquired minting equipment in Boston and made their services available to the public on July 5, 1860.

Over the next two years the firm minted thousands of gold coins ranging in value from $2 ½ to $20. Although most of the coins contained designs similar to the Federal issues of the day, their most famous designs contain a picture of Pikes Peak to pay tribute to the source of the bullion. Interestingly, the engraver had never seen Pike's Peak so the design bears no resemblance to the real mountain.

Following three years of frenzied private coining, Clark, Gruber & Co. sold their minting and refining business to Uncle Sam in 1862, when Congress established the mint in Denver. The Department of Treasury, however, used these facilities only as an assay office and depository for over forty years.

Amazingly, our story does not end here. The Treasury Department finally did convert this facility in 1906 to a full-fledged mint. From 1906 forward, billions of coins have been struck at the Denver Mint with the "D" mintmark.

You may ask, then, what connection does this have with Wells Fargo beyond having a parallel history to Wells Fargo itself? Well, their parallel history intersected over a century later....

]]> After Clark, Gruber & Co. sold their refining and minting operation to Uncle Sam, they continued in the banking business. Although the company had issued their own banknotes, redeemable in gold at a time when Federal currency was not convertible, they elected to charter a national bank in 1865. The First National Bank of Denver received OCC Charter number 1016. Over the next several decades, First National Bank of Denver continued to grow, and merged with other Denver firms such as Merchants National Bank in 1881 and Capitol National Bank in 1912.

In an effort to signify its heft in the intermountain region, First National Bank of Denver renamed itself to Intrawest Bank of Denver in 1982. Exactly one year later, Intrawest merged with First Interstate Bank of Denver, NA. This institution was acquired by Wells Fargo thirteen years later, and changed its name to Wells Fargo Bank (Colorado), NA on June 1, 1997.

At this point the premier bank of the Pike's Peak Gold Rush merged into the premier bank of the California Gold Rush. And while many people assume that Wells Fargo has produced coins or ingots (which we have not!), Wells Fargo can proudly say that it does have a private mint in its heritage.

If you're interested in reading more, the American Numismatic Association published a fascinating article on Clark, Gruber & Co. (pdf) in their July, 2006 magazine.

Oh, and next time you check your pocket change and find coins from the Denver Mint, tip your hat to Clark, Gruber & Co. — one of the many outstanding limbs of the Wells Fargo family tree!

Build a Wells Fargo History Museum...

2009-10-19T21:52:33Z

...and they will come....

Minnesota may not be the center of the world in many respects, but the world certainly comes to visit us. Over a span of just two days, the Wells Fargo History Museum in Minnesota had visitors from six different countries.*

First was a group of visitors from Iceland , who were on a trip tracing the paths of emigrants from Iceland to the United States. They were followed by a research scientist from Scotland, who came back the next day to show us photographs of the museum that he'd created in his village to document their local history. Next were families from France and Australia.

Then a couple from Wales asked me, "What does Wells Fargo do now that they're not an express company?”

And finally, a couple from Mexico visited us – they were in town for the Twin Cities Marathon.

I love our local visitors — our team members and school children — but there's just something special about hosting international visitors. Our roots may be deep in Minnesota soil, but it's nice to know that we branch out all over the world.

*You could say seven different countries — if you count the Packers fans visiting from Wisconsin!

Remember and Prepare!

2009-10-16T23:45:10Z

Saturday, October 17, marks the anniversary of the Loma Prieta earthquake in the Bay Area. We've posted some stories this past week of people who remember the day.

Also this past week, millions of Californians participated in the "The Great California Shake Out," a series of events that became the biggest earthquake drill ever. That morning 20 years ago, just about everyone everywhere was ducking, covering, maneuvering, practicing, checking. We're ready — but you can't be too ready, of course. That's why we practice, practice, practice.

Meanwhile, the Bay Area Chapter of the American Red Cross has its own "Memories of Loma Prieta" feature on its website. Wells Fargo and its team members have long supported communities with financial and human capital, and there are so many other groups who do as well. The Red Cross is one such organization that truly helps build community.

Three and a half years ago, Guided By History was born to commemorate the centennial of the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire on April 18, 1906. This year, with the 20th anniversary of Loma Prieta on October 17, we remember and continue that first mission. We want to help you prepare and stay prepared. So here's a suggestion:

On April 18, check the batteries in your smoke detector, and double-check your gas and water main valves. On October 17 — a near-perfect six month's time — check your disaster kit and stash , replacing any supplies that have expired or look old and worn. Use these dates as reminders to be ready for natural disasters.

Remember and Prepare!

"It Shook Pretty Good at the Ballpark"

2009-10-14T23:20:14Z

Naomi Ishida is with Wells Fargo's Customer Connection. In October 1989, Naomi assisted then-CEO Carl Reichardt.

About October 17, Naomi remembers, "I wasn't even here at the Bank — I was at the World Series game! You can tell where my loyalty was on that day."

Naomi was at Candlestick Park to see the San Francisco Giants host the Oakland Athletics in Game 3 of the World Series. The Fall Classic that year was dubbed "The Bay Bridge Series," after the span that connects Oakland and San Francisco. The powerful A's had taken the first two games in Oakland over the weekend, and were flyin' high on the strength of "The Bash Brothers" and the derring-do of Rickey Henderson. The Giants had their backs to the wall as the Series moved to the 'Stick.

The game was scheduled to begin after 5 p.m. on Tuesday the 17th. Many in the Bay Area took the day off to see the game, or left early to get home and watch it on TV. At 5:00, the game aired on ABC. Four minutes later, the earthquake struck.

"It shook pretty good at the ballpark," Naomi says. "The light standards were swaying back and forth. With the sound of the rumble, lots of fans thought folks were stomping their feet in excitement of the ballgame starting, before we all realized it was an earthquake."

"Some fans had small TVs with them," she continues, "and we quickly realized how bad this was. Surprisingly — and thankfully — once we were told to evacuate the ballpark, everyone was calm and exited as quickly but as calmly as possible...."

]]> Candlestick Park is located right off US Highway 101 south of San Francisco. There are parking lots on three sides, and traffic before and after games can be a minor exercise in patience.

It was a little different that day, though. As Naomi recalls, it took "roughly 2 hours to get to 101...everything on the west side of 101, going south, was dark." People crept home on dark roads throughout the area. To get across the Bay, people had to go south to other bridges (even to San Jose) because a section of the Oakland-San Francisco Bay Bridge had collapsed. That bridge was closed for a month for repairs.

The Series was delayed for ten days after Loma Prieta, as the Bay Area recovered from the disaster. The first two games were played with a feeling of exuberance, but the last two were played in jittery relief. The Athletics won handily in a four game sweep.

And what of Naomi's boss, Wells Fargo CEO Carl Reichart, who spent the day without his expert help?

"I am told that Mr. Reichardt was out of the building at that time," Naomi says. "His driver was trying to locate him, and he eventually got back to the building about an hour after the quake hit. He checked with folks still in the building, and offered a ride to anyone having to go to Marin County."

"Those Timbers Were More Like Rubber Bands..."

2009-10-13T19:00:10Z

My friend Mike Majoulet works in Wells Fargo Brand Management. He makes sure our communication looks right — that logos are where they belong, that signs in stores say the right thing and don't get in your way, and that Historians don't tell the story wrong just to get a laugh. Yes, Michael is the Chief!

He also has a good story about his experience in 1989, the day Loma Prieta struck. (CR)

"I was managing the Baker Hamilton building on October 17, 1989. The Baker Hamilton is a brick and timber warehouse at 7th and Townsend Streets, a part of San Francisco for over a century. The building was 290,000 square- feet and historic — which means unreinforced.

"The Baker Hamilton is a 4-story monolith of a building, built in 1904. The company was the largest hardware distributor west of the Mississippi probably up to the 1950s. The building rests on huge redwood tree piles driven about 75 feet into the ground. It survived the 1906 quake very well. My understanding is that hardware from Baker Hamilton was key to getting the City on its feet in 1906. In fact, Baker Hamilton distributed things like shovels, axes and housewares the day of the earthquake in '06.

"At the time I managed the property, it was mixed use — storage in the basement, and furnishings retail on upper floors. I was at my desk when the quake hit. Remember, this is a brick and timber building and the timbers are 2 feet square on the top floor where I had my office. I was sitting there and I could not quite believe what I was seeing. Suddenly, those timbers were more like rubber bands, almost liquid in undulation!

"There was grinding, bumping, and thumping all around me as the quake's waves passed through. Files flung open on one side of the room, and slammed shut on the opposite wall. Wild stuff! It felt like it would never stop, but as we all know, it did. I was sitting in disbelief as 90 years of dust was unleashed from the wood-slat ceiling above me. The room was golden from the sun hitting the dust particles.

"I suddenly remembered I was the building manager and had the responsibility of making sure all my tenants were OK — who cares about the building!

"With my heart in my throat I ventured into the building to see what happened. Luckily, there were no injuries, but there was furniture everywhere, as most tenants sold home furnishings. Some were much more concerned about their stock and not the possibility of another quake, so I 'ordered' everyone out. We didn't have a major aftershock, but as we started looking around outside, we quickly saw the city was in bad shape. A block away, several people were crushed to death when that brick and timber building lost its walls. Cars on the sidewalk were now only two feet high, flattened under bricks.

"I managed to make my way home to Tiburon that night, driving under the freeway that ran along the Embarcadero — which was condemned the next day. I drove across to Van Ness Avenue , because you couldn't continue along the Marina, which was all rubble and flames. I ended up in Pacific Heights on Divisadero Street : When I came over the crest of 'Divis,' heading down toward the bay, I saw the Marina on fire. Most, if not all, electricity was off, so the glow was heightened that evening.

"I was very nervous about what my home might look like, considering what I'd just experienced. But it was weird...I had 2 pendulum clocks in the house. The table clock in the living room had a pendulum that swung east/west and always ran. But it stopped that day at the exact time of earthquake. The second clock was on a small wall between bedrooms, and I never ran it because the 'tick, tick, tick' and my sleep didn't get along. Its pendulum swung north/south. When I got home, that clock was running.

"I’d still take a quake over a tornado."

Loma Prieta, 20 Years After

2009-10-10T00:45:07Z

Next Saturday, October 17, is the 20th anniversary of the Loma Prieta earthquake. The quake shook the San Francisco Bay Area beyond its 7.1 Richter score: Dozens of people died, millions in property losses were sustained, and the City was shut down for days.

Guided By History began three and a half years ago as part of the centennial commemoration of the 1906 earthquake and fire in San Francisco. That and the Gold Rush certainly are the defining moments for the City, even as it’s enjoyed a long and dynamic reputation since.

But remembering something from a century ago is different than something that occurred in our lifetime. Many who are too young to remember are still connected to people who not only remember, but who were there. During the first months of this blog's existence, we wrote about Loma Prieta and used its lessons to help everyone prepare for the next one — the one that is coming any minute....

I myself have a distinct memory, which I wrote about last year. Many people I work with have memories, and many others remember moments and people and stories from that eerie day.

Between now and next Saturday, we'll share some of those stories. But there's nothing more important than taking that personal drama you read about, and turning your feelings about it into a specific action — namely, taking the few minutes to get your kit together.

The coldest thing to consider is that at least 63 people died in the Loma Prieta disaster, and thousands were displaced and homeless afterward. These events are real — they happen, they will happen again, and ordinary people like you and me will be affected. I am glad to help rekindle awareness, and maybe some people will be spurred to create or re-energize their disaster plans.

But I also want to take time out this week to remember the many people who lost their lives that day. Many were just folks on their way home from work, something we all do routinely. Their loss is real. And the loss is still sudden, even over these 20 years.

Arturo Garcia, 1934-2009

2009-10-08T17:45:55Z

We learned recently that Arturo Garcia passed away earlier this year.

Mr. Garcia was Wells Fargo's first Hispanic Bank Manager. His longtime dream had been, he said, to become a banker and make his way up the corporate ladder to Officer. It happened when he was named Branch Manager in 1967.

After 34 years with Wells Fargo, Mr. Garcia retired and began compiling his life story. He had a deep interest in history and his own role in it — something we at Guided By History feel is absolutely central to properly understanding the past. We all are history, living it every day, with every act. Arturo Garcia understood that, and we are pleased to get a copy of his history, to get the story as he tells it.

It is sad to lose an old friend, but the service he provided to his community is as much his legacy as the dozens of family members who survive him.

Goodbye, Art. And thank you.

El Día de los Muertos

2009-10-06T00:15:51Z

Joycee Wong is Curator at Wells Fargo's San Francisco History Museum. (Her previous blog is here!) For Hispanic Heritage Month, Joycee reflects on the common sense we all have of celebrating family and life, whether we hail from Oaxaca or Hong Kong. (CR)

Recently, I went to the memorial park to pay respects to my dearest mom on the 4th anniversary of her death, lugging 2 large handle bags. In them were some flowers and vases, a thermos of tea and a freshly made scone, a camera (to capture the visit and share with out-of-town family later), a few old letters (to reminisce) and some tissues (for the inevitable tears). All this was my paraphernalia for a visitation to my mother's columbarium where her ashes are kept in a peaceful sanctuary.

I am reminded of the similarities between cultures when I saw a flyer a few days earlier about "Day of the Dead" celebrations that will take place this month among many Hispanic families.

If you've never heard of it, "Day of the Dead" (El Día de los Muertos) isn't some macabre Halloween game, but a time-honored tradition going back almost 3000 years. This holiday focuses on gatherings of families and friends, for prayer and to remember friends and family who have died. Traditions include building private altars, making sugar skulls, displaying marigolds and serving the favorite foods and beverages of the departed. Everyone visits graves with these gifts.

As a Chinese-American, I grew up with light touches of traditions on the multitude of Chinese holidays and celebrations, including those honoring our deceased loved ones. Growing up in Hong Kong, I remember periodic excursions to the cemetery where my parents and sisters — saddled with armloads of food, flowers, and cleaning supplies — spent a few hours with my paternal grandmother who was buried there. Honoring the dead according to Chinese customs require certain rituals, which our family followed to some degree....

]]> Traditionally, the most significant holiday for acknowledging the dead is "Qing Ming" , held in the spring time. As a wee child (yes, wee , not Wii! ), I recall walking tiny footpaths between tombstones of varying sizes, wondering why some of them looked so weedy and neglected while others shone with brightness and beauty. My parents taught me that not everyone buried at the cemetery has the fortune of regular visitors coming to tend the gravesite.

Holding a small scrubbing brush in my tiny hand, I would take pauses from our scouring effort cleaning her tombstone to caress her tombstone, marveling at the cool feel of the marble and its whiteness. It wasn't until much later in my 30s that I actually learned the full range of the rituals to properly observe Qing Ming from a wonderful book that has taught me specifics of my own heritage: Good Luck Life.

This fascinating book details the whys and hows of the many quirky Chinese customs and helped to put into context those early childhood experiences of visiting grandmother's grave. The author explains the four different steps in observing Qing Ming according to Chinese customs:

"Tidy up": Clear away debris. My sisters and I were in charge of pulling the pesky weeds and scrubbing the tombstone with soap and water.
"Food and flower offerings": Flashback. Lovingly, my parents would replace the dead flowers from our last visit with fresh colorful blooms, and I seem to recall some citrus fruits, perhaps a few Chinese sweets, being placed on her gravesite. I had to laugh when I read in Good Luck Life how the author noticed some families feeding their dead relatives with their favorite dishes and spotting a whole all-American apple pie on a grave site during Qing Ming!
"Spirit World Offerings": Ritual packages may include red (good luck color) candles, incense sticks, otherworld spirit money, etc. Our family never observed this part of the tradition although occasionally, we may bring incense (and the requisite 3 sticks per person) for the last step in observing Qing Ming...
"Giving Respect": Lighting our incense sticks, each of us would take turns to bow 3 times in front of the tombstone to pay respect to my Dad's mother. Afterwards, our family would sit by the gravesite to enjoy some tea and snacks we brought to eat in the presence of my grandmother's spirit.

Flash forward 35 years. I'm in San Mateo, California and just finished arranging the fresh bouquets in front of my mother's niche, where her ashes rest. I've taken pictures to share with my Dad who lives in San Diego, and bowed three times in deep reverence to my departed mom. I am seated and sipping the tea and nibbling on a scone I've brought to "enjoy breakfast" with her, and remembering how these rituals are celebrated by others throughout the world.

How sweet it is to read about Hispanics having similar activities in tribute to deceased loved ones in their annual "Day of the Dead" traditions! Hispanic observation of El Día de los Muertos is even livelier, with vibrant flowers and extensive decorations and amazing altars or shrines that are created in the families' homes.

I am now committed to learning more about Hispanic customs to add another layer to my own observances of future Qing Ming celebrations, or next September when I commemorate the 5th year of my mother's death. She was an adventurous lady and always curious about other countries and cultures, and she even took Spanish language lessons for fun when we first moved to San Diego!

So I don't think my Mom would mind if I mix-and-match various rituals to honor her, although I wonder if she'd chuckle or frown if I decorate an altar to honor her with the popular Catrinas , one of the most popular figures of the "Day of the Dead" celebrations in Mexico. Many people believe that during this holiday, it is easier for the souls of the departed to visit the living...so perhaps I can invite her spirit to "visit" me and let me know if she approves or disapproves of the new twist to honoring her!

I can't help but feel very fortunate that I have these treasured times to remember and honor my mother (and other departed loved ones) so freely and easily in America. I wonder too if those early settlers coming out west in search of gold on their own, leaving family and friends behind — sometimes from countries far, far away — would feel the loneliness of their bodies buried here in the U.S., where their loved ones couldn't easily come to their grave site to observe these rituals in person.

Perhaps that's why the idea of creating an altar at home to honor those deceased bridges the gap between our memories of them and their spirit beyond this world.