This was a letter I found pinned to the wall at the J. Riley Bembry Cabin when I visited in December 2023 while running the East Mojave Heritage Trail. It's exactly this type of history that is so wonderful about these places in the desert, so I hope that capturing it here will lead to appreciation for those who stumble upon it.
Lorretta * Dan Boring
( - - - address redacted - - - )
February 18, 1985
Dear Lorretta (formerly Lorretta Bembry)
You called some time ago and talked to my wife, June. She wrote down some notes of your conversation - she has cancer and I have been extremely busy with her the last two months. She is doing pretty now - we go to UCI Medical Center in Orange. I think we are making good progress with the long period of Chemotherapy - and all the tests that are constantly made.
It appears you and your consultants might be having a problem in your inheritance of Riley's properties and claims, especially the "home" or mill site. Therefore, perhaps the following true story from me may shed some light on Riley's life as I new (sp) it.
I, Roy A. Seeman was born into a mining family on June 26, 1918. My father started taking me with him on prospecting trips when he figured I was big enough to carry a canteen and a bag of rocks. I was 12 years old. He had a Model A Ford roadster with side boards on the running boards and large balloon tires. The majority of trips were in the southeastern portion of Calif.
My fathers closest friend was Ajax Wolf. Ajaz was an early graduate of the Mackay School of Mines, University of Nevada, Reno, NV. His mining engineering career in the gold regions of Western South America were extremely successful. He retired early and settled in Laguna, close to the Seemans.
In the spring of 1933 I was a 15 year old Sophomore in High School. My father and Ajax had another trip planned. They took me along. An experience, sitting between father and Ajax in the Model A roadster from Cajon Pass through Victorville, Barstow, and Baker - 40 MPH, two lane highway and a hot desert. We continued east up over a summit and then coasted down into Shadow Valley. We turned south off the highway onto a single lane dirt road toward Cima. It was new country to me. We went about 7 miles and turned off the Cima road toward the hills to our left. About 3 miles we could see a little house on a little hill. My father and Ajax had been in this are before and knew "Riley." I was introduced to the Riley Bembry. Hair down to his shoulders, working cloths(sp), clean shaven and a Big Smile.
Entrance to Riley's home was through two doors. First door - you are in a closed "porch," water tank, firewood stacked, wash basin, towel, boots, shoes coats and hat. Some canned goods in a curtained area to the right. Second door opened into the one room home. To the right was an iron wood stove served the needs for heat, cooking and baking. Other items I remember were: table, chairs, books, magazines, cupboard, curtained bedroom and cloths (sp). Ligh was from a kerosene lamp and candles. Two windows gave light to the room, one on the north side - one on the south side. (And additional window may have existed on the west side but I didn't see it because of the curtained bedroom.
Outside the "home" - a wood pile yet to be cut for stove wood, an extra water tank for future use, a car and an old truck, mineralized rocks that had been gathered from the area, a ravine where cans and bottles were laid to rest, a cloths (sp) line on the north side of the house and the "out house" about 50ft northeast of the house.
We camped nearby. The next day the talking continued about water resources, mines, claim markers, minerals and roads. The walked around the base of some hills picking up rocks and I was permitted to carry them in the secured bags with numbers on them.
I had met (John R.) "Riley" Bembry for the FIRST TIME.
I continued my education. Basic engineering courses at Santa Ana Junior Colledge including Physical and Historical Geology, mineralogy, physics, chemistry, surveying, (etc.). Got employed by the College to assist the professor of geology and mineralogy (Horace B. Scott - Columbia Univ.). Assisted in the lab work and field trips. Did some tutoring. During this period (1933-1938) numerous trips to "Riley's" were made by the Seemans. Riley had visited us 2-3 times in Laguna Beach. I spent a spring vacation with Riley (at Riley's Camp) teaching the fundamentals of mineralogy and setting a little labratory (sp). I would often buy the necessary chemicals and materials and send them to him with a note compliments of ? ? ? by the time I moved up to the University - his mineral know how and labratory (sp) was in fair shape.
1939-1940 I attended the Mackay School of Mines (Ajas's influence), Reno, Nevada. Was doing good in my senior year when - "Grandpa needs you at the mine." The "mine," Tungsten Reef Mine, southern Arizona, Huachuca Mts. Had government contract for Scheelite (tungsten mineral). Uncle Sam sent me a letter (Pres. Roosevelts era) "Greetings, you have been selected for a years training in the Army - - -." I could have gotten out of it because of our government contract. Talked to Grandpa - mine doing good - several tons of Scheelite in the Gov't warehouse in Tucson - go and get it over with. March 3, 1941 I was introduced into the army. WWII - Dec. 7, 1941 - my years training was extended. Qualified for OCS. Trained in anti-aircraft artillery on the east coast. Graduated as a 2nd Lt. and had 2 weeks before assignment. Fort Monroe, Virginia for a couple of months. Met the girl I later married. Sent to South Pacific, (for 29 months ?? ended up for 3 years). Capt. Seeman - anti-aircraft battery - Oahu, Saipan, and Guam. Ranger combat. Sent "home" from Guam for 6 weeks Rest and Recuperation (?) prior to the planned invasion on Japan. Requested R&R on east coast, Fort Mead, Maryland - so I could see that West Virginia gal that I met in Wash. D.C. when I was a "green" 2nd Lt.
We got married and spent some time in Wash. D.C. - my Grandpa wanted me to go to the U.S. Bureau of Mines and get information on reported placer deposits in So. New Mexico. Introduced myself, told them what I wanted. Waited about an hour, ushered through the building - everyone wore suits and ties except the occupant of the small room I was entering. Shelves of books, a couple of phones, waste basket, "IN" and "OUT" tray and a mineral specimen on the table-desk. Elderly man, some gray hair, open shirt, sleeves rolled up, no tie ... pointed to the mineral on the desk, had no looked up yet, "WHAT IS THAT?" I told him it was "cassiterite." He looked up at me, took his glasses off, got up and shook my hand. -- "WHO ARE YOU." -- "I use this specimen to put the 'KNOW-IT-ALLS' in their place." I told him about the area - the "tin" mine on the first hill to the right of Riley's road, the general history etc. as I knew it. He talked about retiring in Riverside, having a few orange trees and spending a lot of time out in the mineralized desert regions like the Ivanpah Mts., etc. etc. I didn't find out who he was until a few years ago. Foster Hewett - Chief Geologist - U.S. Geological Survey. (When we left -- we were locked in -- he called & guard had to let us out of the building -- it was dark.)
Curing this same trip I visited the Smithsonian Institute, mineral specimen display. While admiring a large Scheelite specimen, a man approached - "I see you have eyes for mineral specimens - do you know minerology?" ---- come let me show you our labratory (sp) -- I'm in charge of the labratory (sp) and the displays. Come into my office. There is a fellow out in the high desert area that keeps sending me minerals that he can't classify -- see this one on my desk -- is is a NEW ONE -- think I'll call it "RILEYITE." (Riley told me, later, that he picked it up near the contact with the famous Cima Dome). Riley's "RILEYITE" is a complex copper that normally is not listed in mineral text books.
My wife and I flew to California. My father had a Pontiac sedan fixed up with a bed and grab box in the back. June, my wife, had never seen any part of the U.S except W. Va., and surrounding states. Father gave me a bunch of gasoline coupons and away we went - to "Riley's." He and I teared some together. After a couple of hours, he wanted me to see what he had been doing with his claims and "diggins." It was probably March, 1945. No other cabins could be seen from Riley's. A few "NEW" things - a new "2 hole" out-house at a better location, more rock piles, larger minerology lab, and display, blacksmith shop, generator, newer car, older car and machinery, etc. He had to show me around his claim workings, including underground, monuments, future plans, etc. -- we were gone from the cabin or "Home" for at least 4-5 hours. I was rather worried about Hune - this was all foreign to her. When we returned - June had made herself at home. Kitchen area cleaned up, everything spic & span, and there in the middle of the table was a CAKE WITH FROSTING on it. Baked in the old wood stove. Riley and I never got over that.
The war ended. We lived in Laguna Beach after I was discharged -- a Major then. Went to work with a civil engineering firm that was just getting started. Boyle Engineering Corp. grew and after over 30 years with them I took early retirement in 1976 - I'm 66 now. We have four boys that also loved Riley - especially the camping trips out by Riley's areas. (Mineral Hills, Coko reef, Cima region, etc.) All of us visited Riley - the kids still go out in that region.
I bought a good van for traveling around, prospecting, fishing in the Hi Sierras. Riley always loved to drive it. We would go to Henderson - to the bank - then into Las Vegas for miscellaneous supplies. He enjoyed riding into a friends place to say hello -- .
We didn't know about Riley's illness until you called and told me he was released from the hospital and was recovering at your home. You let me bring him down to our home for a few days. It was wonderful. We told him "the place is yours -- we will do anything you would like to do." Our home is up on a hill overlooking Laguna Beach, on a "dead end" street, so it is very quiet. We took it easy - but he wanted to see each of the boys. Great - Jeff (#4) works with and for Jon (#2), their shop is in Laguna canyon - exotic wood furniture - in the festival each year - very busy. Kim (#3), now a Supt. with a large construction firm. Rick (#1) teacher at Warner Springs School Dist. - lives in Julian.
Riley saw all the boys - I think the boys were thrilled as much as Riley was. Riley really enjoyed the ride up to Julian and Rick's place - had wood burning stove with oven, in the kitchen.
On behalf of the Seemans - we hope something can be done to retain "Riley's Camp." I loved Riley - over 50 years.
Roy A, Seeman
( - - - address redacted - - - )
Loretta - this is my letter to you and yours. You may show it to anyone. It is true.
Letter to Lorretta, page 1 and 2.
Letter to Lorretta, page 3 and 4.
Letter to Lorretta, page 5 and 6.
