Spring Literacy Fair

March 17, 2012
11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Do something fun on Saint Patrick’s Day this year!

Come to the Heritage Museum of Orange County for an afternoon filled with joy, smiles, family, friends, laughter, free books, and free activities! The annual Spring Literacy Fair has something for everyone.

Not only does this Fair promote literacy, it also brings together many different organizations and groups that provide assistance to families.

There will be activities for children, including a scavenger hunt, face-painting,
balloon animals, and a raffle. Hands-on butter-making and demonstrations of the blacksmith’s craft will be presented by Heritage Museum of Orange County and the Orange County Blacksmith Guild. There will also be free tours of the ground floor of the Kellogg House.

This event is put on by Jumpstart (UC Irvine branch), Santa Ana Unified School District, and Mitchell Elementary School.

Admission: Free

Victorian Tea Society
Cordially invites you to attend the
Quilters Tea

Saturday, May 5, 2012
11:00 a.m.

Join us for a traditional Victorian tea in the Kellogg House’s lovely garden pavilion. Members of the Victorian Tea Society dressed in period attire will serve a delicious assortment of sweet and savory morsels along with scones and a selection of fine teas.

Quilters’ Paradise

• There will be a Quilt Walk of antique quilts on display.
• Sandy Sutton, Quilt collector and Historian, will be the guest speaker on The History of Quilts.
• Join in the Silent Auction fun activities.
• You may be the lucky winner of the Vintage Crazy Quilt for the opportunity drawing.

Download a Printable Flyer to Share

Tickets: $25

Order Tickets Online Now
or
Call 714-540-0404

Dam Politics

After returning home from his work on the Wahiawa dam, which was completed in 1905, Hiram Clay Kellogg barely had time to settle back in with his family when he was requested to return to Hawaii in late June of 1906. This time the request came from the Department of Public Works for the Territory of Hawaii, which needed an outside (and therefore presumably unbiased) consultant to help resolve design and construction issues involving the Nu’uanu Dam No. 4, which was under construction amid a political firestorm.

Apparently the scope of the work was explained rather vaguely to Kellogg, who sailed to Hawaii expecting to simply resolve a dispute about the specifications involving sluicing operations. He planned to stay only the four days that his ship was in port, and agreed to a payment of $500 for his services. When he arrived, he discovered that he was to investigate the entire dam and report on its safety, an estimated two-week stay plus about 6 days writing the report as he sailed home, all for the originally contracted price! Being a man who kept his word no matter what, he dutifully set to work.

Background

The history of the reservoirs in the Nu’uanu valley is long and convoluted. The idea of one or more irrigation reservoirs being built in the Nu’uanu valley dates back to mid-1800s. However, fear of flooding and disagreements over the need for such reservoirs kept anything from being done until 1889, when construction began on three relatively small dams. The third dam was completed in 1890.

Proposals for a much larger dam further up the valley, which had been circulating for at least ten years, were still being debated. The key to getting the project going turned out to be not irrigation and drinking water needs, but the advent of hydroelectric power. An 1890 plan for increasing electrical output, written by consulting engineer G. F. Allardt, included a fourth reservoir.

The prospect of new industries that could develop with an ample electrical supply was enough to get things going. But it still took another 15 years of political debate and public controversy before a contract for its construction was finally signed.

In stark contrast to the Wahiawa project, for which Kellogg did extensive preliminary surveys and core drillings before completing detailed engineering plans, and then personally supervised the construction, the Nu’uanu project was the sort of colossal boondoggle only a government agency can produce. Overall control of the project lay with C. S. Holloway, Superintendent of Public Works for the Territory of Hawaii, who delegated most of the practical details to his assistant J. H. Howland.

Howland hired engineer S. G. Walker to draw up the plans and specifications for the dam. When a series of problems arose during construction, it was discovered that:

• the specifications were severely lacking in detail, especially in regard to the materials to be used;
• no preliminary core drills had been done, requiring evaluating and adapting to the underlying soil and rock as construction proceeded;
• S. G. Walker, who had completed the plans and received final payment after returning to his hometown of Boston, was Howland’s brother-in-law, causing his appointment to smack of nepotism.

Clay Kellogg Enters the Scene

All of these issues were played out publicly in the local newspaper as concerns about safety, leakage, and water quality continued to mount. Finally it was decided that an outside engineering expert who would be “free from Honolulu’s peculiar methods, petty favoritisms and petty jealousies” should be called in to review the safety of the project. Clay Kellogg was selected by Superintendent Holloway and confirmed by Governor J. R. Carter. As with everything else about this project, there was significant public controversy over the choice.

Kellogg arrived aboard the S. S. Alameda on July 6, 1906. He immediately went to work, staying up till 11:45 p.m. the first night to study the plans and specifications. Over the next days he inpected the site and ordered core drill borings and other means of evaluating the underlying ground in various critical locations.

Apparently impressed with his thoroughness and/or reputation, the governor asked Kellogg to take over as supervising engineer for the project. He declined, citing pressing work back in California.

Kellogg’s long, thorough report, which he completed after leaving Hawaii, arrived on August 17, 1906. It identified a number of weaknesses in the design, materials, construction methods, and workmanship, and recommended changes to address them. His most important recommendation was to substitute rock fill for the earthen fill on the downstream wall of the dam.

Despite opposition by both Superintedent Holloway and Howland, the Governor insisted on implementing all of Kellogg’s recommendations.

Aftermath

Resuming work on the dam, which had been suspended during Kellogg’s investigation, was very expensive, requiring new engineering calculations, new equipment, settling of grievances, and rehiring of the laborers that had been laid off during the work stoppage.

Predictably, more public controversy ensued, and James Dix Schuyler, who had been the consulting engineer on the Wahiawa dam, was called in to inspect the construction progress, be sure it was following Kellogg’s recommendations, and assure the public that the structure was safe. Schuyler determined that the work was being done properly, but made a few recommendations of his own, requiring another round of construction revisions.

A variety of additional construction delays followed, caused by periods of flood and of drought, earth-moving difficulties similar to those encountered on the Wahiawa project, and other factors. The dam did not become fully operational until July 1, 1910, more than four years after its originally scheduled completion date. It cost taxpayers four times its original estimate.

Nu’uanu dam still stands today, although its reservoir is now used only for sport fishing. Despite all efforts to compensate for its original lack of planning, poor choice of materials, and shoddy workmanship, it has always leaked, its safety has always been questionable, and its usefulness for its original purposes has been limited.

Watch for the final installment of this series, in which Clay Kellogg finally gets a local dam project in Close to Home

One Dam or Two?

After completing the Gila Bend project, as described in Part 1 of this series, Hiram Clay Kellogg’s dam-building skills were next put to use in Hawaii Territory. The design and construction of the Wahiawa Dam on Oahu in 1903-5 was probably his most significant achievement in the dam-building arena.

There is some contradictory information regarding this project, with a few sources implying or outright stating that Kellogg was construction engineer for two dams in Hawaii. There are three possible explanations for the confusion.

• Although officially named Wahiawa, the dam is also known as the Waialua for reasons that will become clear later in this article.
• It was constructed at a fork in the Kaukonahua River, backing the water up into two separate valleys to form what may have been considered two reservoirs, implying two separate dams.
• Kellogg was involved with another Hawaiian dam a bit later in his career, but in a different capacity, as we will see in Part 3 of this series.

By 1889 sugar cane had become a rapidly-developing crop on Oahu. Despite the fact that the Hawaiian Islands receive significant amounts of total rain, it falls sporadically onto volcanic soil that does little to hold it. For agricultural purposes, much of the terrain is practically desert unless the rainfall can be captured and held.

Initially the sugar plantations were dependent on irrigation systems that used massive pumps to lift rainwater up to 650 feet from artesian wells along the coast to the level of the plantations. This was a very expensive proposition and most likely required a great deal of maintenance. So the idea of building a dam became very attractive.

Leonard Grant (L. G.) Kellogg, one of Clay’s brothers, had settled in the colony of Wahiawa, which was primarily engaged in pineapple farming. He organized the Wahiawa Water Company with the purpose of providing drinking water and irrigation to the colony. The company constructed a ditch from a local water source to the colony.

In 1902, L. G. called in his mainland brother to survey the area as the site of a potential reservoir. He also turned to the Waialua Sugar Plantation to help finance a reservoir project and be a customer of the water after the dam was built.

Once the survey was completed, L. G. called on James Dix Schuyler, a prominent consulting engineer from Los Angeles. Schuyler recommended a dam structure that used a combination of rock fill (loose boulders packed together) and hydraulic fill (soil that is moved into place and compacted by water). Clay was hired to do the detailed plans for the dam and to supervise its construction.

Construction began in 1903 and was completed in 1905. The logistics of the construction were challenging. Railroad track was laid for bringing in the boulders for the rock fill portion from as far away as 6 miles. A high trestle was built over the dam site, and the rocks were dropped into place. The long drop compacted them so they held in place.

The hydraulic fill was an even bigger challenge. Normally, high pressure water is sprayed from pipes to wash the soil into place. But there was not enough water pressure available to do so. Worse, the volcanic soil was highly resistant to erosion and would not flow along like ordinary soil. Clay Kellogg needed to develop innovative methods on the fly to get the soil in place. These required a great deal of additional manpower, which was supplied by Japanese laborers working at wages of 8 cents per cubic yard of soil moved.

At its completion, it was the highest dam and largest reservoir in the Hawaiian Islands. The dam rose 98 feet above the stream bed, was 460 feet long and 25 feet wide at the crest, and 580 feet wide at the base. The original capacity of the reservoir was 2.5 billion gallons. It cost $300,000 to build, and was considered something of a bargain.

The dam is still in place today, although its reservoir, now known as Lake Wilson, is kept at a much smaller size and is used only for fishing and other recreation. Concerns over its age and gradual deterioration keep it under constant watch by safety authorities.

The size, prominence, and innovative qualities of the Wahiawa Dam led it to be included in at least two engineering textbooks, one written by James Dix Schuyler and the other by Edward Wegmann. (See sources below for full citations.)

The Kellogg collection at Heritage Museum of Orange County includes numerous items related to this project, including the photo used in this article and several copies of a printed prospectus for the project authored by Clay Kellogg.

Watch for the next installment of this series, in which Clay Kellogg returns to Hawaii as an engineering expert, tasked with resolving a politically-charged dispute over a leaking dam in Dam Politics.

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Hiram on the Gila

Maybe it was growing up on a farm in Anaheim, the first town in California to establish a successful irrigation system, that attracted Hiram Clay Kellogg to water projects. Or maybe it was the four post-college years he spent laying out vineyards in Anaheim, where irrigation must certainly have played a key role, before landing his first real engineering job. Or perhaps it was simple economics: Southern California’s agriculture was developing by leaps and bounds, and its low rainfall climate required innovative methods of bringing water to all the oranges, lemons, limes, grapes, olives, apricots, and almonds that were being planted. Agriculture, with its irrigation challenges, turned out to be booming in other areas as well, taking him as far away as Hawaii for several years.

Whatever the reasons, a great deal of Kellogg’s career was devoted to hydraulic engineering. Four of his most noted projects involved the design, construction, and/or repair of dams. This series of articles will provide brief histories of the work he did on these important structures.

The First Dam – Gila Bend

There is little to tell about Clay Kellogg’s first foray into dam construction, so I will include it with this introduction.

In 1893 the Peoria Canal Company built a dam across the Gila River, near the town of Gila Bend in Arizona Territory. (Arizona did not become a state until 1912.) Within the year, floodwaters destroyed some 400 feet of the dam’s structure.

Kellogg was contracted as Chief Construction Engineer for reinforcing and rebuilding the dam. He made improvements to the original design and personally supervised its construction. The project began on January 1, 1894 and was completed by June 30 of the same year.

There is very little documentation available regarding this dam. Heritage Museum’s Kellogg collection contains two pieces of dam-related correspondence directed to Kellogg and a court paper documenting the work and its costs, and finalizing the dam’s transfer to its ultimate owner.

Read the next installment of this series, in which Clay Kellogg travels to Hawaii to work on the largest dam project of his career in One Dam or Two?

Source:

McMillan, Jas., Receiver

Report of the Receiver of the Gila Bend Reservoir and Irrigation Co., The Arizona Construction Co. and The Peoria Canal Co.

Herald Electric Print, 1894

Sat., March 10, 2012
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Enjoy an afternoon of art and history at the Heritage Museum of Orange County!

Local Orange County artists will be on hand selling their artwork. Jewelry, Watercolor, Acrylic, Oils, and Glass are just a few of the types of art work which will be available when you visit our Artists’ Fair.

Heritage Museum will present a special behind-the-scenes look at its rarely seen artifact collection and how we process each piece. Learn about the Hiram Clay Kellogg and John Maag families through photos and heirlooms.

Representatives from other museums and organizations will be on hand, including:

• Santa Ana Old Courthouse
• Tucker Wildlife
  Sanctuary
• Muckenthaler Cultural Center
• Rancho Santa Margarita Historical Society
• Costa Mesa Historical Society
• South Coast Weavers and Spinners Guild
• Orange County Historical Society

Enjoy a delicious lunch from our visiting Food Trucks:

• Seabirds
• Front Porch Pops
• and more…

There will also be Live Music, Tours of the 1898 Kellogg House and other activities.

General Admission: Free
Kellogg House & Behind-the-Scenes Exhibit:
    Free to Heritage Museum Members / $5 Guests

Free parking is available adjacent to the Heritage Museum Grounds.

Download a Printable Flyer

Proceeds from this event benefit the children’s educational field trip programs offered by Heritage Museum of Orange County.

Presidents & Patriots

A Living History Series Presentation

Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012
Gates open at 1pm

Our Democratic Republic in Motion: Rights and Responsibilities

Fun, Entertaining and Educational for 4th Grade and up!

Celebrate the upcoming Presidential Birthdays by joining Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield, and Theodore Roosevelt as they give their take on what freedom means to them in thought-provoking, entertaining, and humorous presentations.

• Patriotic Songs performed by Santa Ana College Choir
• History Walk with OC Liberty Patriots
• Photo Opportunities with the “Presidents”
• Food and Beverages provided by the Victorian Tea Society

Admission at the Gate:

• Adults (18 and over) $8.00
• Seniors and Students (6-17) $5.00
• 5 and under Free

For more information call 714-540-0404

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Heritage Museum 1st Annual Bridal Expo
Junuary 14, 2012
11am-3pm

Just got engaged and looking for that perfect secluded venue? The Heritage Museum of Orange County invites you to join us January 14, 2012, 11am-3pm, for our First Annual Bridal Expo, featuring Country Garden Caterers and Signature Party Rentals.

The museum will showcase a variety of ceremony and reception options in and around the Heritage Museum’s rose garden, gazebo, and Santa Ana’s historic Kellogg House as well as connect brides to professional vendors. Talk with photographers, DJs, florists, and many other unique vendors from Southern California, and find that perfect accent to complete your special day. Our Event Coordinator will be on site to answer any questions.

Free parking is available.

$5 General Admission

For more information, please call Tracy at (714) 540-0404 x223.

]]> http://heritagemuseumoc.org/events/bridal-expo/feed/ 4 http://heritagemuseumoc.org/events/master-gardeners-rose-pruning-workshop-jan-21-2012/ http://heritagemuseumoc.org/events/master-gardeners-rose-pruning-workshop-jan-21-2012/#comments Fri, 23 Dec 2011 19:10:42 +0000 sbrown http://heritagemuseumoc.org/?p=3360 Rose Pruning Workshop

Saturday, January 21, 2012
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.


 
 

Presented by the UCCE Master Gardeners
Featuring Consulting Rosarian and Author Stu Span
FREE to the Public

University of California Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners and the Heritage Museum of Orange County invite you to learn about growing roses in Southern California.

Consulting Rosarian and Author Stu Span will lead the workshop. Stu has written several books on the pruning and care of roses. He has a degree in Ornamental Horticulture and has worked at several large nurseries including Rogers Gardens.

The lecture will be followed by a free drawing as well as a pruning demonstration and hands-on workshop in the Museum’s rose garden.

Attendees are invited to bring their own pruning equipment and join in! If your pruning tools need sharpening, the members of the Orange County Blacksmith Guild can do it for you.

Additional exhibits will be presented by

• Victorian Tea Society
• Representative from Kellogg Garden Products
• Orange County Herb Society
• Orange County Blacksmith Guild

For more information, contact:

• Master Gardeners
• www.uccemg.org
• 714-708-1606
• Heritage Museum of Orange County
• www.HeritageMuseumOC.org
• 714-540-0404
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“History of Hats” Tea

Saturday, March 24, 2012
10:45 a.m.
Presented by the Victorian Tea Society

Please join us for a traditional Victorian Tea in the Winter Gardens of the historic 1898 Kellogg House.

Special guest Pamela Heiman will take us back in time a century or two and show us how millinery fashion evolved through the years.

Tickets: $25
This event is SOLD OUT. Please watch for news of our Quilters Tea on May 5, 2012.

• Gates will open at 10:45 a.m. for viewing of vintage hats, shopping, browsing, photo opportunities, and fine conversation.
• Please check in at the front table.
• Free parking is available.
• Tea will be served promptly at 11:30 a.m.

Proceeds from this event benefit the children’s educational field trip programs offered by Heritage Museum of Orange County.

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