The Following is being forwarded from the TCI & ATCA list ...........
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Remco Enthoven tekabb@gmail.com [singingwires] < singingwires-noreply@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Fri, Sep 11, 2015 at 12:14 PM
Subject: [TCI] JKL Museum lost in fire
To: TCI <singingwires@yahoogroups.com>
The JKL Museum / American Museum of Telephony and surrounding residences were lost to fire last night.
The community of Mountain Ranch CA where the museum was located may also be affected. We were told by firefighters that the museum burned to the ground. Currently no one can get into the area. The fire is called the Butte fire. As soon as we have more news we will post it on our website:
http://jklmuseum.com
Please forward this message to other lists.
Remco Enthoven
JKL Museum Curator
This is a HUGE lost. I worked for about 6 weeks installing the SXS and other items there.
John had a world class collection. This is a sad day for the Phones and other items.
There was a large collection of books and other items that also was lost.
Here is some more info about the situation there, it seems there was enough warning to save lives.
http://www.calaverasenterprise.com/news/article_5b59b06a-576a-11e5-a92c-f759e26dcac2.html
http://www.capradio.org/articles/2015/09/10/butte-fire-grows-to-1,200-acres,-leaves-thousands-without-power/
http://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/fires/article34660890.html
For want of a better place to post this, a message from Remco. I had posted it under another topic, then noticed Jeff had posted it here:
QuoteThe JKL Museum / American Museum of Telephony and surrounding residences were lost to fire last night.
The community of Mountain Ranch CA where the museum was located may also be affected. We were told by firefighters that the museum burned to the ground. Currently no one can get into the area. The fire is called the Butte fire. As soon as we have more news we will post it on our website:
http://jklmuseum.com (http://jklmuseum.com)
Please forward this message to other lists.
Remco Enthoven
JKL Museum Curator
I am sure we all know the hard work that John LaRue, Wayne Merit and Remco have put in to this wonderful Museum. I have never has the pleasure of visiting it. I am sure they as well as all collectors are heartbroken.
Cowboy Frank Harrell visited the Museum last week, and has posted photos of the Museum to his page from his visit: http://CowboyFrank.net/galleries/Trips/2015-08/index.htm#jkl (http://cowboyfrank.net/galleries/Trips/2015-08/index.htm#jkl)
Dave
This is a sad day. I was to go visit the museum about 5 years ago, but due to a scheduling problem it didn't happen, and I have been wanting to go ever since. Now, it looks like I will have to wait for it to be rebuilt. Unfortunately, there were some very irreplaceable items! Take for instance the famous Picturephone that we all witnessed Maureen finding in her dad's attic, which eventually went to the museum.
John, Wayne, and Remco, I am so sorry to hear of this loss.
What a loss. Many of the items at the museum were 1 of a kind. I visited the museum years ago and I have sold many books, signs, and phones from my collection to the museum over the years.
Jim S.
What a pity, from what I heard seeing the museum was both enjoyable and educational to see the incredibly rare items. I hope a new collection can be started or at least some things salvaged.
Ben
In addition to the loss of the museum, Remco has lost his new home. He spent many many months orchestrating his move to California and only had a few short weeks to enjoy his new surroundings.
We are fortunate that he spent much of the last year working on a photographic inventory of the museum collection. Hopefully they had off-site back-up.
The network news mentioned tonight that over 6,000 homes are currently threatened by that fire. It's a monster.
This was shocking news to read. What a huge loss. It's fortunate of course that there was no loss of life. I cannot imagine the loss that John, Wayne and Remco are feeling. Their collection of telephones and related equipment was unbelievable. I hope that eventually they are able to begin to rebuild. But how does one replace a collection like that?
My heart-felt condolences to them and all people affected by that fire and all fires.
This is horrible news. John had put his life into the JKL Museum. It is heartbreaking. I can only imagine his pain. This was a life's work. The Bell Trucks and the phones are irreplaceable. This is a sad day for telephone collecting. Mo's fathers video phone was a part of this wonderful collection. My sincerest condolences to John and the crew. I looked at all the great picture after I heard the news. So many wonderful items and just a wonderful display. I am so sorry .....Doug
This is so sad to hear. My wife and I feel very fortunate to have visited the museum a while back. Such a huge loss for all involved. I am so glad that no one was injured and is safe.
I had the privilege of visiting a few years ago, have been meaning to go back. A few of my things ended up there too. An irreplaceable collection gone. Truly a sad day. Now, 9/11 has a doubly sad meaning for anyone in the old phone biz. Our thoughts and prayers are with John, Wayne and Remco.
P.S.: Everybody feel free to grab the icon I just switched to and temporarily switch to it as well in remembrance of the JKL Museum.
Here's the logo, for posterity.
How very, very sad! So many millions of dollars worth of telephone equipment plus years of enjoyment from collectors and those who spent most of their lives to build the museum--gone. I have never been to the museum before, but I feel deeply sorry for anyone involved in the project. My deepest condolences to John, Wayne, and Remco.
I think one of the hardest things facing John La Rue, Wayne Merit, and for Remco Enthoven will be to find the drive to do it all over again. The feeling of loss must be a thousand times more for them than what we feel, and I pray that there is a way to rebuild from the ashes.
John, Wayne, and Remco, I hope you know you have all of our support, and that we share your grief. I pray that when you are able to get back out there that you will find some items which can be salvaged, perhaps a little encouragement to go on.
This was a life-times work for John and Wayne, and Remco was a wonderful addition to the endeavor.
Lets all do our best to encourage them, and to let them know we care. It may help them to get over the initial shock and heartbreak.
From me, and collectors everywhere...
Dave
Dave...I totally agree with you. I was sitting in my phone room last night wondering what I would do if it was destroyed. My collection is minuscule compared to the loss of the JKL museum. I do not think I would have the strength or drive to try and recreate it. One of those amazing trucks could barely fit into my phone room.
This is just devastating!
John, Wayne and Remco I am so sorry for your loss....Doug
This is absolutely Horrible news. we have so few museums.
The first thought that flashed in my mind, and I know it's not the biggest concern. They had one of the FEW documented 1949 WE 500 sets.
Is there any hope of salvaging ANYTHING ?
D/P
Quote from: Dan/Panther on September 12, 2015, 01:48:17 PM
This is absolutely Horrible news. we have so few museums.
The first thought that flashed in my mind, and I know it's not the biggest concern. They had one of the FEW documented 1949 WE 500 sets.
Is there any hope of salvaging ANYTHING ?
D/P
Dan, as far as I know, they haven't been allowed back into the area yet due to the evacuation. Perhaps they may get back in some time today. We will have to wait for one of them to fill us in. The problem is it is a huge fire (65,000 acres as of this morning, and then only 5% contained). So it may be a while yet before they can get in to access the losses.
Of course, also, once they do get back in, they will have other things on their mind, and it may take some time before we hear a report. I can only imagine how they must be feeling.
Dave
This is certainly a huge loss. CA has really been hit this year with little water, low humidity and high temperatures making fires more likely and harder to fight. Like others have stated, I hope they were able to save some items. Either way, their collective knowledge would go a long way toward rebuilding if they can muster the gumption.
Question - I thought the museum '49 500 was in Seattle. Did it end up in the JKL museum?
I spoke briefly to Wayne who told me that they had several hours prior to the arrival of the fire in which to remove as much of the rare stuff as they could cart off. I'm sure we will all learn later just what that means, but Wayne did say that the rare prototypes and AUTOVON sets were saved.
DF
That is great news that they were able save some items.
Quote from: Dave F on September 12, 2015, 05:57:35 PM
I spoke briefly to Wayne who told me that they had several hours prior to the arrival of the fire in which to remove as much of the rare stuff as they could cart off. I'm sure we will all learn later just what that means, but Wayne did say that the rare prototypes and AUTOVON sets were saved.
DF
I agree, that is really good news. Hopefully they were able to load it up in the bell phone truck and drive it off?
Ben
Quote from: RotarDad on September 12, 2015, 03:39:51 PM
Question - I thought the museum '49 500 was in Seattle. Did it end up in the JKL museum?
They probably have (had) :( one too.
The photos and thread we had here on this forum were taken at the Seattle museum. I know because I was there.
Like many collectors, I have always wanted to visit the museum and it's marvels. I am glad everyone is safe and I hope they can re-build.
Well, I'm speechless :(
There have literally only been maybe 3 or 4 New topics here on CRPF that I have had to take a deep breath in preparation for what will undoubtably be bad news before opening and starting to read.
I really feel for them. I have long planned on visiting hoping to stay and help out for awhile. It never crossed my mind for even a moment that it might not be there before I managed to get there.
What a disaster.
Terry
Quote from: AE_Collector on September 12, 2015, 10:20:29 PM
What a disaster.
Terry
Hi Terry: Exactly what I felt the morning it was announced on the lists. It does leave you speechless for a while. However, at least as it turned out, they did have some warning, and were able to at least save some of the rarer items as announced today.
I keep waiting for them to get back there when the fire settles down, and I hope at least some of what was left there can be salvaged. Meanwhile, all we can do is wait to hear.
So sad for all of them.
Dave
It's really tough on people when they cannot get back into an area to see what they do or don't have left. We had a major fire about 10 miles out of my town this year and some residents were not allowed back in for as long as a week.
These are pctures sent to me from a good friend. You can see the wreckage as well as a gigantic sign in the corner of the second picture.
Ben
How horribly, horribly sad. I'll sadly admit, not as much left as I thought! I hope some phones can be found and salvaged in that wreckage.
Again, my deepest condolences!
Does look really bad. Sadly i never made it out there either.
Hopefully there will be some things left somewhere. I have looked at their website many times, wasn't there a vault of some kind a lot of the documents were kept in?
This just breaks my heart. Those picture are a sad reality. All the work, money and love that was put into the museum. ...Doug
Looks like a double set of metal garage doors in the first picture.
But the second picture is obviously the telephone exchange that I think was in the basement or at least on the ground level of one of the buildings. That would obviously be pretty close to irreplaceable now though what, only 30 years ago available at scrap value.
Even the Seattle museum only has two bays of SxS equipment where as I think John had a much larger SxS exchange.
Like I said yesterday....What a disaster.
Terry
Stunned, shocked, horrified. I too am waiting to hear what was saved. Sad, really sad.
Those photos leave numb and stunned.
Horrible. So sorry. Such a huge loss. Again, it's fortunate no one was hurt. Like any loss of property, it is unfortunate, but irreplaceable items are the most heartbreaking.
JimH
Quote from: Adam on September 11, 2015, 10:05:10 PM
Here's the logo, for posterity.
Hello Adam,
The museum was destroyed in a fire but we plan to rebuild something.
We do not yet know how, where or when but the JKL Museum of Telephony aka American Museum of Telephony is here to stay.
We hope to have more news soon.
Quote from: teka-bb on September 13, 2015, 02:53:54 PM
The museum was destroyed in a fire but we plan to rebuild something.
We do not yet know how, where or when but the JKL Museum of Telephony aka American Museum of Telephony is here to stay.
We hope to have more news soon.
Wonderful news, Remco. We certainly all wish you the best of luck, and universally share the sorrow you must be feeling! On a personal note: I hope that you are doing ok. I know you personally lost a lot in the fire, as well.
Remco, GREAT NEWS. PLEASE post as soon as you can as to the disposition of the recused items. I know you have a lot on your plate. Just such a tragic happening.
D/P
I was saddened to hear of this, like others,I never had a chance to go out and see it. Glad everyone is OK, and hopefully they were in fact able to rescue the rarer stuff in the few hours before the fire. Those pictures break my heart, especially all that switching equipment.
Indeed, great news, Remco. Just glad you're OK!
BTW, when I said, "here's the logo for posterity," I meant "the posterity of this message thread", not that the logo and/or the museum would never be back.
Posted by Remco on the TCI List:
The JKL Museum of Telephony wants and needs your help and assistance in restoring the JKL Museum for the benefit of all who are interested in the preservation of telephone history.
The JKL Museum was destroyed by the northern California Butte fire on September 11, 2105. A major loss of telephone history. After the initial shock wore off, museum management decided that the JKL Museum will be rebuilt! It is a decision that has heartened and emboldened the volunteers and contributors who made the museum what it was, and we are inviting you and your friends to help us make this happen. We believe it can once again be the very best resource and repository of antique telephone equipment, advertising, library material, real working telephone switching systems, and all else telephone. We are looking to replace these losses through donations of individual items or the donation of collections that current owners would like to see become a part of the new museum.
We are seeking quality items to replace those lost in the fire.Our not-for-profit museum's official name is the American Museum of Telephony. The museum is a 501 (c) (3) organization, and all donations of any kind are tax deductible. We stand ready to negotiate the donation process with any who wish to help us in our efforts to bring to life the JKL-2 Museum. Those who wish to assist in other ways may wish to help us purchase some of the assets that otherwise might not be available. Your time and expertise would also be a way for you to help us reach our goals.
Contact us if you can help!
For contact information please see our webpage at http://jklmuseum.com/ (http://jklmuseum.com/)
Remco Enthoven | Curator
American Museum of Telephony aka JKL Museum of Telephony
a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization
Thank You collector community and friends of the JKL Museum. The outpouring of support we have received in this difficult time has been overwhelming. It was a big loss for us and for telephone history and we are still reeling from it. We are in the process of answering all your emails and messages, a very large task for our volunteers and staff.
As plans for the future of the JKL Museum unfold, we will keep you informed.
Your support is appreciated and valued by all of us.
John K. La Rue
[this message was posted by Remco Enthoven, Curator of the JKL Museum of Telephony, on behalf of John K. La Rue]
I was looking at the site and the photos of the clean up. is the museum going to stay were it is, or move to another location? and what are the results of the trailer being moved, how much damage did the switching equipment endure. can it be salvaged?
I hadn't seen the initial site cleanup pictures. Here's the link:
http://jklmuseum.com/museum-cleanup-started/
The one year anniversary of the fire has just passed. Remco says they are just starting to build a new museum.
Terry
Time does fly. Today marks two years since the JKL Museum was destroyed by fire.
Does anyone have any info as to where they are at now with a new museum?
Terry
I think they are using the old Bell Telephone building in Murphy's CA.
Don't know for sure tho.
Jim S.
Thank God its not in southern Calif, or they'd be picking through the ashes....again....
The new JKL2 museum is located near Santa Cruz, California. It is very impressive. They are still working on getting it completed.
Do you know if in fact it is in an old CO building as Jim said? If so that will be the second one on the west coast after Seattle. Though Seattle isn't in an "old" CO building but rather in a currently operating CO.
Terry
Quote from: AE_Collector on December 19, 2017, 12:43:22 AM
Do you know if in fact it is in an old CO building as Jim said? If so that will be the second one on the west coast after Seattle. Though Seattle isn't in an "old" CO building but rather in a currently operating CO.
Terry
No it is not in an old CO. It is in a converted ranch style house.
Quote from: Russ Kirk on March 20, 2018, 07:52:44 PM
No it is not in an old CO. It is in a converted ranch style house.
My son used to live in Tacoma. The last time I visited, I talked him into visiting the Seattle museum with me. That place is awesome! Not one, not two, but at least 3 operating switches (SxS, #5 and ESS). And they let you play! Very, very cool. They are only open Sunday mornings, I think. And I will probably never get back there, but they now have a working Northern Displayphone I donated as a thank you.
Last September it was 5 years after the fire.
You can see the progress we've made on out website:
https://www.jklmuseum.com/ (https://www.jklmuseum.com/)
Scroll down to see photos of the new museum.
BTW besides the Connections Museum in Seattle https://www.telcomhistory.org/connections-museum-seattle/ (https://www.telcomhistory.org/connections-museum-seattle/) another nice museum on the West coast is the Telephone Pioneer one in Tacoma WA:
http://www.scn.org/telmuseum/ (http://www.scn.org/telmuseum/)
Roseville CA has a nice little museum too.
https://www.consolidated.com/about-us/history/telephone-museum?utm_source=local&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=roseville-ca
Sad. If only we could break up P. G. & E.
MIke
good luck with that.... PG & E has been around just as long as the bell system, except its more important... stupid californians won't take care of thier state, letting people live in wooded area and not educating them as to how to make a defensive barrier on their properties.... the state won't maintain the forests and are letting people live in densley wooded areas.... and of course, nature is calling the shots with constant droughts and other weather.... crazy! people are leaving california for greener pastures, wonder what its going to look like in 25 years?