CRG Discussion Forum

Camaro Research Group Discussion => General Discussion => Topic started by: Jerry@CHP on February 01, 2007, 11:26:15 PM

Title: Clear Lake, IA
Post by: Jerry@CHP on February 01, 2007, 11:26:15 PM
Started out this morning for Dell Rapids, SD from Clear Lake, IA.  Was -12 degrees when I left this morning.  Too cold to be doing these Camaro inspections.   High of zero for Friday and Sat.

Burrrrr..........

Jerry
Title: Re: Clear Lake, IA
Post by: 3Zs on February 01, 2007, 11:35:20 PM
Jerry, you better get out of there.  You know what happened to Charles Hardin Holley in Clear Lake exactly 48 years ago tomorrow.  Tex Timberlake
Title: Re: Clear Lake, IA
Post by: Jerry@CHP on February 02, 2007, 02:36:48 PM
Tex,

That's why we come out here every year.  There is a Winter Dance Party event at the Surf Ballroom where Charles Harden Holly played his last gig.  Been happeneing since 1979.  I worked in a Camaro road trip while my wife and I are here.  About 225 miles to Dell Rapids from CL.

Highlight so far was having dinner with Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs last night.  Anyone who bought one of these Camaros new will know exactly who they are!

Jerry
Title: Re: Clear Lake, IA
Post by: ccargo on February 02, 2007, 02:49:16 PM
I was born and raised in Clear Lake, IA. and graduated H.S. there in 1981. I worked at the gas station beside the Surf ballroom that at the time was a full service old fashioend Standard Oil. Parked my first 68 L35 RS/SS out front in the late 70's! Buddy Holly crashed on my grandfathers property. He was the first at the crash scene. Brutal weather there but a great place to grow up.
Title: Re: Clear Lake, IA
Post by: Jerry@CHP on February 02, 2007, 03:26:06 PM
Plane crashed on the Albert Juhl farm.  There is a crash site marked in the field but Jerry Dwyer, owner of the flying service said it's not marked in the actual spot.  Told us that the field sizes and fence lines were changed in the 1960's and the fence where it is marked is not right.  Jerry D was at the Surf last night.  I would like to get more details from him about the site.  Too damn cold to go out there this weekend,

Jerry 
Title: Re: Clear Lake, IA
Post by: 3Zs on February 02, 2007, 03:33:59 PM
Jerry, Lubbock reminds me of the pictures of Clear Lake from 1959.  It is 20* and snowing like crazy.  Looks like the Zs will have to stay hooked up to the Battery Tenders a while longer.  Tex T.
Title: Re: Clear Lake, IA
Post by: ccargo on February 02, 2007, 07:46:32 PM
The crash site is nowhere near the terist (IA. for tourist) location and memorial. The plane crashed 3 miles from the airport and the memorial is about 6 miles away! Very true about the area being rural and even more so during the 50's. You need to also understand that in a farming community, land is owned by one person, leased by another, and sometimes planted and harvested by yet someone else. If you look at the black and white photos of the wreckage and recovery you will see a tall man in a long black coat wearing a western hat. That's my grandpa "Buck". I played in the hole in the cornfield where the recovery crews tore things up. It made a neat little retreat in the middle of a corn field for a 10 year old boyk! Buck was never too happy about the whole situation as he was not Rock and Roll but a little bit Country :) If anyone is interested I can tell more about the long standing mystery of the whereabouts of personal belongings?
Title: Re: Clear Lake, IA
Post by: bertfam on February 02, 2007, 07:52:26 PM
I'm VERY interested. Give me more!!!

Ed
Title: Re: Clear Lake, IA
Post by: lakeholme on February 02, 2007, 08:37:25 PM
Me, too.  I'd already dusted off my "Peggy Sue" 45  to remember Buddy.  But tonight, I'm going to search for "Sugar Shack" and "Bottle of Wine" --thanks to Jerry.

http://www.fiftiesweb.com/cab.htm
http://www.globegazette.com/northiowatoday/buddyholly/pages/crashsite.php
Title: Re: Clear Lake, IA
Post by: Jerry@CHP on February 02, 2007, 08:54:48 PM
Jerry Dwyer, owner of Dywer's Flying Service was the first person to spot the plane in the search the next day.  He has taken visitors from the UK (England) up in one of his planes to show where the actual plane did crash.  It gets back to the fence lines being changed back in the 1960's. 

My buddy and I talked with him last year about this.  Jerry is very guarded about the whole situation as many blame him for the crash and both he and his wife told us about death threats he's received over the years.  Its only been in the past few years that the British people who come over every year reached out to him trying to get him to attend this event.  Now things are better.  It was through my buddy Glenn, who just retired from from flying Air Force One last year, that Jerry Dwyer opened up to us a bit.  Glenn didn't come this year so I didn't want to push anything with Jerry.  He warmed right up to Glenn because of his Air Force One duties.

Of special note, Tommy Allsup, Buddy's lead guitarist from the famous "last tour" has been playing at this event and just played at the British luncheon today.  He's about 75 years old but still can play that Stratocaster.  Also played last night at the Surf.  That place was rockin'.  Ricky Nelson's boys closed the show last night.  They are excellent too!

More later, only one computer here at the hotel courtesy desk.

Jerry

Jerry
Title: Re: Clear Lake, IA
Post by: Jerry@CHP on February 02, 2007, 09:00:04 PM
Ed,

Come on out and I'll introduce you to Jerry Dywer.  Much better weather here than in Ca.

Jerry
Title: Re: Clear Lake, IA
Post by: bertfam on February 02, 2007, 09:04:49 PM
Jerry,

Supposed to be in the high 70's today, 80's this weekend!

But I would love to be there.

Sounds like you're all having a ball.

Ed

Title: Re: Clear Lake, IA
Post by: ccargo on February 03, 2007, 04:56:18 AM
Jerry, can you get a couple photos of the Surf to post when you get home? This place is really special! My parents met there in the big band era. I was attending during the 70's to the likes of Ted Nugent, REO Speedwagon, and Head East among others. I had hair down to my shoulders a pair of bell bottom jeans with red white a blue patches that were held up by a thick leather belt with an attached buck knife, no shirt, just a deep tan and a three inch thick leather watch band around my wrist. Jeez I have three teenage daughters now and threw the last guy to visit out the door because of a tatoo LOL! The Surf Ballroom has a huge wooden dance floor with several levels of cozy booths surrounding it and a full service bar in each corner :) Its the perfect size to get that party feeling and dancing instead of jumping up and down shoulder to shoulder is what it was built for. It would make a sweet location for a summer car show. They do have a nice show in Clear Lake every summer that I attended a couple of years ago but the Surf is'nt part of it :( What I like'd about it was that it included a cruise around the lake and the road was lined with partying spectators over the entire 24 mile route. They also had a party and band at the city park band shell after the show. If you're close I'd recommend it but bring a set of rear tires to burn as the locals sauce the streets and hang banners and offer beers to entice a smoke show! Jerry, if you are staying near I65 at the Best Western part of my families farm was across the road where the small motels, and fast food joints are now. The Interstate came in and cut the farm in half. It was bitter sweet for the family but I had a great time running that unfinished Interstate in the 68 L35 untill I went to the airport and fueled up with aviation octane to run against a Cuda from the next county over.

  Back to the buddy Holley story. Clear Lake lived with the inigma of killing Buddy, the Bopper, and Richie for many quiet years. In the mid 70's a new disck jockey, "The Mad Hatter", moved to town and learning of the local history decided to spin the bad into a positive experience. Many locals just wanted to lay low and let the music die. My brother worked for the radio station helping with local promotion of the first reunion. It took a couple years for the locals to jump on board. No one imagined then that it would become the rock n roll  mecca it has become for people world wide who appreciate the short but important impact of cutting edge music that these three artists created. Does anyone know who gave up his seat on the plane for Richie that cold night? Hint, country music would have felt his loss as well. Part of the black eye Clear Lake endured in the early years was that the personal belongings of Buddy vanished including his signature black thick rimmed glasses. My grandfather was badgered by authorities and fans for many years as he was one of just a few non officials at the site. The Kemmer family who was also at the site suffered the same finger pointing. This was always a thorn in the side of my grandfather who did'nt understand the fuss and yes he was threatened at times as well. I think it was in the mid 80's when by some mysterious fortune the court house found these items in storage having been "miss filed". It was obvious to us that an "official" feeling the pressure most likely made them re-appear. Buddies widow was then reunited with the items at one of the reunions. I'm going to give my mother a call in the morning and get the story straight on a few wierd things that were found in the wreckage. It's been a bunch of years and she knows more of the what who and where than I recall. Jerry if you run into any of the locals in their 40's shoot them my name. I'd love to hear who you might run into that I know. You might also throw out my grandfathers name to the pilot and see what he recalls? Enough for now.

Pat Railsback
Buck Bisgrove (grandfather)
Donna Bisgrove (my mother)
Title: Re: Clear Lake, IA
Post by: 1968RSZ28 on February 03, 2007, 06:05:22 AM
Hi Pat -

  It's a small world!  My wife (maiden name Barbara Rickman) and I live in the Bay Area of California, but she was born and raised in Clear Lake, Iowa.  Her Great Uncle and Aunt Julius and Josie Heng owned the farm next door to Albert Juhl, and the plane crashed right over the fence line from the Hengs.  Her dad, Duane Rickman, was a friend of the plane pilot, Roger Peterson, who also died in the crash.  Roger Peterson was Jerry Dwyer's boss at the time.  Duane had a television and radio repair shop called Rick's Radio & TV Repairs on Main Street (now I think they call it "Buddy Holly Boulevard") from the mid 1950s through the 1960s.  Duane also knows your grandfather and Jerry Dwyer too.  He said to say hello.  He made tv repair service calls at many peoples' houses back then, including to Mr. Juhl.  We called my in-laws tonight in response to your question, and Duane said it was Waylon Jennings who was bumped off the flight the night of the crash.  All this happened back in February 1959 before my wife was born.  But when she saw your name, she remembered that she went to school with a Steve Railsback.  Is he a relative of yours?  She left Clear Lake after sixth grade, but she would have been in the high school graduating class of 1980.  She has older siblings (three) who all went through high school in Clear Lake too.

Paul
Title: Re: Clear Lake, IA
Post by: ccargo on February 03, 2007, 06:55:22 AM
Well it is a small world! I'll have to run all these names by my mother in the morning. Steve is my older brother by one year. I just pulled out the H.S. yearbook and found a photo of Jerry Dwyer chaperoning the Christmas dance in 1979 wearing a Santa suit :) His daughter Dawn was a Senior when I was a Freshman. One gorgeous red head! Paul and Barbara win the trivia question although calling home is cheating a bit :)
Title: Re: Clear Lake, IA
Post by: Jerry@CHP on February 03, 2007, 07:03:35 AM
Paul, Pat and others,

Surf Ballroom report:

Tonight the evening started with Johnny Star and the Meteors, a local rock n' roll act.  Then the original Jay & The Americans were reunited tonight and will start touring again.  They were fabulous, tore the house down.  Next was a DJ out of FL, Mike Harvey and his Super Gold Sock Hop.  The Surf is special when it comes to 1950's rock n' roll.  That is why we come out here every year along with many from out of the country.  There must be 200+ people here from England.  The weather sucks but it's worth the trip, and the locals are very friendly.  We have been coming for years.  

I am taking plenty of photos which I will post when  get back.

Had dinner again tonight with Jimmy Gilmer, George Tomsco and the Fireballs.  Jimmy Gilmer and Stan Lark (bass player) were hot rodders back in the 1960's.  They told me about buying new Corvettes.  Both bought new '63s and '64s.  Stans '64 was a 327FI car.  I'm sure that John Hinckley can relate to these cars.  The Fireballs had great cash flow back then because their hit record, "Sugar Shack" was #1 in the US, and the biggest selling record of 1963.  I told Jimmy Gilmer about the car prices today and he almost fell over!  Jimmy and the Fireballs are part of the big concert event tomorrow night.  Others on the bill are Barbara Lewis, the Cleftones, Dale Hawkins, Buddy Holly's original Crickets and Bobby Vee.    

It's late and have to get to bed.  Great reading this thread.  Didn't know I would start something with a bunch of Camaro people.  It's great!

Jerry

Title: Re: Clear Lake, IA
Post by: Jerry@CHP on February 03, 2007, 07:08:45 AM
Also, for the Clear Lake locals on this thread,

If anyone knows about the farm fence lines being changed during the 1960's, can they shed any light on the actual plane crash site?  Many of the British people would like to know where the real crash site is.  Has to be a way to figure it out without having to go up in a plane with Jerry Dwyer.

Jerry
Title: Re: Clear Lake, IA
Post by: Jerry@CHP on February 03, 2007, 07:11:37 AM
Pat,

We are sitting with two local women at our table.  I will ask about these names tomorrow night.  There is about 3000 people here so it's hard to move around and socialize with the loud music.

Jerry
Title: Re: Clear Lake, IA
Post by: ccargo on February 03, 2007, 07:38:05 AM
This is how you get to the crash site as I remember it. Go to the barn and get some bailing twine off a straw bail. Tie it to the harness of a horse and swing up on her bare back. Grab a fishing pole and head out across the pasture. Don't scare the dairy cows or they wont produce that day. Follow the creek about a mile untill you get to a small pond that is stocked with northern pike. If they dont bite then jump back up on "Princess" and follow the pond around to the far side. There you will find a dirt/gravel road that you can gallop Princess on. When you come to a tractor entry to the corn field turn in there and ride back untill you come to a small clearing. That's the best I recall hope it helps :)
Title: Re: Clear Lake, IA
Post by: Jerry@CHP on February 03, 2007, 08:20:08 PM
Hey, we found the plane!

Thanks for the directions,

Freezing in Clear Lake, high of -5 today!

Burrr.......
Title: Re: Clear Lake, IA
Post by: AFONEFE on February 03, 2007, 11:14:48 PM
Jerry,

Thanks for taking the time to discuss the history of Buddy Holly to my high school class.  They now know the some of the roots of real rock and roll.  They kept on asking alot of good questions after your talk.  Plan on Becky and me treking back out to C. L. next year.  I sounds like it was a litter warmer last year when we were there.  Stay warm!

Glenn ;) 
Title: Re: Clear Lake, IA
Post by: Jonesy on February 06, 2007, 10:34:59 PM
Does the name Carroll Anderson ring a bell? At least I think that was his name. He was the manager of the Surf that night.
He was the last one to speak to the ones on the plane and shut the door of the plane. I knew him for years as the carpenter/handy man at our outfitter camp in Canada. He had a nail pouch on that said Clear Lake, IA on it and I mentioned Buddy Holly. He told me he was there, I said, ya right. he then took me aside and told me what he recalled about the night. He set up the flight, he told me everything. This was 10 years ago and I will never forget talking to him. A few years ago he was on the VH1 special talking about it.
Title: Re: Clear Lake, IA
Post by: Jerry@CHP on February 07, 2007, 01:38:12 AM
That's right.  He was the manager.  There are photos of all of the managers from the Surf in the lobby.  His photo is there and he was interviewed in the PBS Buddy Holly special, Reminiscing.

Jerry
Title: Re: Clear Lake, IA
Post by: ccargo on February 07, 2007, 04:43:56 PM
I talked with my mom the other day but she could'nt remember any real details of the morning my grandfather went to the crash sight except that he left by snowmobile with the sheriff and others including the Kemmers who owned Kemmer Marine and most likely the snowmobiles? They took Buck along because he knew the area but the crash site was further back from the end of his property. I would say it was about four miles straight back North of the farm that is now that busy intersection at I35 and Hwy 18. That group supposedly was the first to find the plane but I've never seen photos with snowmobiles in it? The area she described was where I would have been as a kid playing and riding horses. I didnt pay much attention to property lines in 1972 and fences were few and far between in those days. All I remember is a swath of grass that was fairly long that I could ride into what was a corn field at that time. It was about two or three feet deeper than the surrounding ground and therefore not planted. It did have one spot that was an obvious round hole. The only reason I found it was that the horses didn't like walking on the gravel roads and I was instructed to stay out of planted fields and away from the livestock. My mother did give me a friends name that inherited that piece of property through marriage. She is still in C.L. and maybe next year you could give her a ring if you have time?
Title: Re: Clear Lake, IA
Post by: Jerry@CHP on February 07, 2007, 10:41:20 PM
Sounds like a plan, we will be back!  My wife and I enjoy this event. 

I am leaving for Donahue, IA next Thursday for another car inspection.  Back to the cold.

Jerry
Title: Re: Clear Lake, IA
Post by: Jerry@CHP on February 09, 2007, 03:25:37 AM
Nice write up here:  Opps, how do I post a photo here?

Jerry
Title: Re: Clear Lake, IA
Post by: JohnZ on February 09, 2007, 04:21:12 PM
Jerry, click on the "Additional Options" link just below the box you type in when you compose a reply, then browse to your photo.  :)
Title: Re: Clear Lake, IA
Post by: sd1968z28 on February 09, 2007, 11:25:45 PM
  hi everyone, i am the person jerry drove to dell rapids south dakota to see!  what a great experience, i recommend it to all who want to know the facts.  looking for info on engine vin 426203 it is supposed to be here?  thanks again jerry
Title: Re: Clear Lake, IA
Post by: Jerry@CHP on February 09, 2007, 11:34:59 PM
only 125 KB, that's very small.

Jerry
Title: Re: Clear Lake, IA
Post by: lakeholme on February 11, 2007, 03:24:33 PM
Jerry,

If you use a third party host site to post your pictures, the photo could be larger (and actually posted on the page).  I'm using photobucket.com.
Title: Re: Clear Lake, IA
Post by: JohnZ on February 11, 2007, 07:19:04 PM
I use Village Photos (www.villagephotos.com) as my hosting source.
Title: Re: Clear Lake, IA
Post by: sd1968z28 on February 21, 2007, 02:55:19 PM
jerry, jason here again,  i just located the original rearend for my 68z. thanks for showing me the light of originality.  i found the guy on that original sd title that i showed you, and it just so happens he has the rear axle assembly in his shed, it been sitting there for 35 years, he may have some other parts also.  this is so much fun, reserching this car and finding the correct parts, not just period correct,  but the actual original numbers matching parts.
Title: Re: Clear Lake, IA
Post by: 02undercover on February 24, 2007, 04:14:14 AM
JERRY ; Do you live near Carol IA?
Title: Re: Clear Lake, IA
Post by: Jerry@CHP on February 25, 2007, 09:42:01 PM
I'm located in Eldersburg, MD.  My wife and I attend the Buddy Holly event every year in Clear Lake, IA.

Jerry