History of the Upside-Down House

The Upside-Down House was created by Nellie Bly O'Bryan (1893–1984),

visionary, entrepreneur and long time resident of the Mono Basin. Originally

located along US-395 north of the Tioga Lodge, it was inspired by two childrens'

stories—“Upside Down Land” and “The Upsidedownians.” Upon her death in

1984, the Upside-Down House fell into disrepair until it was rescued and moved

to its current site in October 2000. The house became Mono County's first

“man-made” tourist attraction in 1956.

In early 2009, Heull Howser's California Gold television series shown on PBS channels featured the Upside-Down House in a show titled “Places I've Wanted to Go.”

Visit www.calgold.com to read about the show and order a dvd (or

purchase one when you visit the Old Schoolhouse Museum).

7^th ANNUAL GHOSTS OF THE SAGEBRUSH TOUR Join us to learn about 1940 in the Mono Basin, on Friday/Saturday, July 30/31, 2010 70 years ago, the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power completed an 11-mile tunnel beneath the Mono Craters (begun in 1934 and finished on April 24, 1940); began construction of Grant dam (on May 1) and finished the new reservoir on December 6; and completed conduits connecting stream diversions from Lee Vining Creek, Parker Creek and Walker Creek to Grant plus a conduit from the reservoir to the tunnel. Four construction camps had been used during the tunnel work. The largest was at West Portal. The nearby communities of Leevining (spelled as one word then) and June Lake were booming during those six years of construction. Every Saturday, workers joined others in the community at the Leevining Club (Hess Hall) to dance to the music of the Hess family band.

Friday, July 30: 6:00. Dinner at the Lee Vining Community Center with swing-era music (and dancing) to the Bishop Big Band, 8 PM.

Saturday July 31: 10 AM gathering outside the Old Schoolhouse Museum at Hess Park, with speakers and displays about life in Lee Vining in 1940; after lunch, tour to the Grant Lake and West Portal construction camp sites; speakers and displays.

Tickets: Dinner/music and dance $20; children 12 and under, $15

Tour: $20/person

Buy your tickets at the Old Schoolhouse Museum and Lee Vining businesses or at the events
                   curator@monobasinhs.org                   760 647-6461

1940 NEWS IN THE BRIDGEPORT CHRONICLE-UNION (note the accepted spelling of “Leevining” as one word back then)

Jan 11, 1940: Actor Enjoys Vacation in Inyo Mono Area: Anthony Quinn, featured player with Paramount studios, with Mrs. Quinn and their 15 month old son are guests at Crestview Lodge and plan to stay along as the studio will allow. “After the crowded conditions of Arrowhead and Big Bear, this country is a true paradise. Quinn said. “I hope it never becomes as commercialized as other sectors But I suppose it never will. Why, the mountains are so big here you could put all of Los Angeles up here and still lose it.” Quinn is learning to ski while here, in preparation for a part in a forthcoming winter picture.”

Jan. 18, 1940: “Ice Skating is Excellent in all Sections of Area: Gull Lake had 4-1/2 inches of ice Tuesday and more forming, and it was estimated June Lake would be ready by the week-end. The rink at Leevining was promised to be ready by the week-end and iluminated for night skating.

January 25, 1940: “Men Laid Off as Work Nears End”: About 300 men have been laid off the Los Angeles work in Mono Basin during the past thirty days, according to the Inyo Register. The camp at Shaft No. 2 has been closed, and that at Shaft No. 1 will soon shut down. The tunnel from Shaft No. 1 to West Portal is being cleared of rails, wiring and pipes and the big job is nearing completion. About 250 men are still employed, it was learned from Captain Jaques, engineer in charge. During the summer the Grant Lake dam will be built and a 6-mile conduit built from Leevining creek to Rush creek. Water of Walker and Parker creeks will also be added to the supply. Water will flow through the tunnel and be dumped into Owens river, probably my midsummer.”

“June Lake” by Harry: We had expected to have departed from this elevated situation before this storm struck us but was a little slow in our packing up, so now we are ‘holed up’ involuntarily until such time as ‘Old Sol’ shall show his face again and the indispensable state highway and county road department have done their stunts in opening up the roads for our departure.”

School at Shaft No 1 Closed for Lack of Pupils. Due to the laying off of men by the City of Los Angeles on their Mono Basin project, the families have moved away and the emergency school at Shaft No. 2 closed last week.

March 7, 1940: Mono Basin, by Slim: There are quite a few vacant houses in Leevining as many of the occupants were City employees and when they were laid off returned to Los Angeles…

March 21, 1940: Father Crowley, Beloved Padre of the Desert, Loses Life in Tragic Accident

April 4, 1940: Last Meet of Season Held by Mono Ski Club: An eight-inch fall of new snow, along with perfect weather, presented ideal conditions for holding the first annual Mono Ski Club championship races at Conway Summit on Sunday, March 30^th.

Mono Basin, by Goof Nut (Joe Eggs’ Pal): Gus Hess was busy Saturday with the wrecker hauling cars out of the mud and ditches caused by the last storm…The soda fountain at Tioga Store, which has been closed for a couple of months, will be open for business April 3^rd with our old friend, Hugh Burroughs, back on the job. Welcome, Hugh…Mrs. Ellen Banta entertained the Chatter and Stitch Club with a delicious luncheon Friday at 1 p.m. The tables were laid in white with a red candle in the center and place cards for each lady. The luncheon consisted of chicken tamale pie, tomato and avocado salad, baked potatoes, cookies and jello with whipped cream. Everyone voted Ellen a great artist as a cook.

April 11, 1940: Walt Dombrowski was out skiing Sunday. Said he was going to see if he couldn’t hurt the other leg, so they both could sympathize with each other.

April 18, 1940: Mono Basin by Goof Nut (Joe Eggs’ Pal): Shakespeare said, “to Be or not to be, that is the question.” And us folks are saying, “Is it Spring or is it not Spring?” The snow balls are still blooming. Let’s hope for spring May 1^st.”

August 1, 1940: “Fires Threatened Summer Homes at June Lake”: The rodeo held at Gull Lake waas suddenly interrupted about 3 o’clock Sunday when a brush fire started a short distance away and swept up the valley towards June Lake, endangering all of the summer homes on the west side of the lake. The fire was fought by the CCC boys from Fern Creek, assisted by the residents of the June and Gull Lake area, late being joined by CCC boys from the Mammoth and Angelope camps. How the fire started was undetermined.”

August 8, 1940: First Outboard Regatta Thrills Mark Twain Day Crowd: “The thirteenth annual Mark Twain celebration has come and gone…. [tennis tournament, pistol shooting match, Mammoth CCC boys and Bodie Town Team played softball game, Yosemite indian dancers, second day, boat races by Northern California Outboard Assoc., bathing beauty contest judged by State Senator Charles Brown, District Attorney Richard Hanna of Yerington, NV, Dr. William Russell, and Slick Bryant of Bridgeport: Barbara Gregg of June Lake won, Dolly Deary of Boulder City was winner of personality trophy.”

“Thanks Residents for Aid in Fire Fighting: Fire caused by a careless smoker on Sunday afternoon, July 28, for a time threatened cabins on the north side of Gull and June Lakes. The Forest Service wishes to thank the residents and campers of June and Gull lakes for their fine cooperation since it was through their efforts that the cabins on the lakes were saved and a possible major fire averted. [about 60 acres of brush and timber; CCC help]

September 26, 1940: SmileS by Joe Bish, Ex-Yegg: The floor manager in one of Leevining’s booze emporiums says there are various kinds of courage, some of which verge on recklessness, but that the most courageous thing he knows of is to drink out of every strange bottle that comes along.”

“Migrant Problem Hearings”: At long last responsible civic organizations of California have an opportunity to present their views on the migrant situation before an official committee of Congress,…in San Francisco on September 24 and 25 and in Los Angeles on the 28. Momentous national and international events have drawn the spotlight of public attention away from the problem that produced the very sensational and biased “Grapes of Wrath.” But the problem is intensified, if anything, by the very events that have temporarily obscured it. Vast shipbuilding and aircraft building assignments to California have increased the attraction of this State for the jobless and needy of other States. Yet the fact remains that there are not enough jobs to go around in California, nor will there be enough to go around in 1941. Unrestricted migrant flow westward will simply bring suffering to new hordes of miserable and deluded “Joads.”

October 10, 1940: “Details of County Draft Board Explained by Draft Official”

BECOME A MEMBER OF THE

MONO BASIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Annual Dues (deductible as a charitable donation):

General $25

Sustaining $50

Business/Organization $75

Lifetime Membership

Patron (lifetime membership) $500

Please send a check with your name, address, and email (if applicable); we promise not to pass it to others):

Mono Basin Historical Society, PO Box 31, Lee Vining, CA 93541

760 647-6461, EMAIL curator@monobasinhs.org

last updated June 6, 2010

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