DESCRIPTION: You have heard about "Where's Waldo?" but on this map I ask: "Where's Kilroy?"
An original post-WWII pictorial map of Wishon Cove Camp at Wishon Cove on Bass Lake in Crane Valley, California featuring Kilroy (1). Subtitled "San Joaquin Power Club", apparently this camp was originally a private club for the San Joaquin Power Company. Today the camp is run by the Pacific Service Employees Association.
The map shows hikers, horse-back riders, dancers, hunters, boaters, Boy Scouts, fishermen, and swimmers, all enjoying themselves outdoors on what appears to be some steep slopes. McDougald's store is located next to the shoreline and red-roofed Sam's Place seems to be the local watering hole, surrounded by apartments, dormitories, and numerous outhouses. The camp was named after businessman Arthur Wishon.
Arthur Emory Wishon, often known as A. Emory Wishon, was a pioneering figure in the development of hydroelectric power in California, using Bass Lake water. He served as a chief engineer and later as a vice president for San Joaquin Light and Power Corporation. His work significantly contributed to the construction of multiple dams and power plants in the region.
(1) "Kilroy was here" is an American symbol that became popular during World War II, typically seen in graffiti. Its origins are debated, but it was incredibly popular among American soldiers, and it became a kind of running joke or proof of presence, as soldiers would scrawl "Kilroy was here" in all sorts of places all over the world where American forces were present.
The graffiti usually consisted of the phrase "Kilroy was here" accompanied by a doodle of a man peeking over a wall, with only the tops of his fingers and his bald head with a prominent nose visible. The character Kilroy itself is part of American folklore, representing a sort of everyman character of the American troops.
The origins of Kilroy are not entirely known and are subject to many legends. Some stories attribute the phrase to James J. Kilroy, an American shipyard inspector, as his way of marking that he had checked a piece of work. Soldiers then transported the phrase around the world. However, this story, among others, is difficult to verify. The "Kilroy was here" phrase and doodle remain an iconic piece of WWII history. My father, who served in the Navy at the tail end of WWII, frequently doodled images of Killroy.
PUBLICATION DATE:
GEOGRAPHIC AREA: United States
BODY OF WATER: Wishon Reservoir
CONDITION: Very good
Almost like new.
COLORING:
ENGRAVER:
SIZE: 17
" x
13 "
ITEM PHYSICAL LOCATION: 89
PRICE: $250
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