Mystery of golden key unlocked by historical group

There are many wonderful museums and libraries in San Bernardino County that feature a potpourri of regional history. One of those great resources is the San Bernardino Historical and Pioneer Society.

Their complex, at 796 N. D St., houses a plethora of ancient tidbits. There are pictures of old businesses, portraits of San Bernardino pioneers, rare “one-of-a-kind” historical books, publications and memorabilia from the National Orange Show.

Recently, the society received from Eugene Chapparo a unique item known as the “golden key.” His family kept it for 50 years but had no clue what it was until a few years ago.

In 2016, Eugene contacted me about this 25inch long gold-plated wooden key. Initially all I had to go by was Eugene’s initial correspondence:

“After the 1973 (Pioneer Society) log cabin fire, city & fire personnel determined what was salvageable and what should be discarded. A city maintenance clean up crew that included my brother Angel Chapparo and brotherin-law John Baeza saw the key in discard and Angel kept it as a souvenir. After Angel’s untimely death in June of 1980, my brother Robert Chapparo kept the key. In July of this year Robert gave it to me.”

When Eugene and his mother, Catalina, visited the San Bernardino Historical and Pioneer Society’s research library after our initial contact, genealogist and board member Lyn Killian found out the key was one of three presented by Mayor J.J. Hanford on California’s Admission Day on Sept. 9, 1907.

One key was presented to the mayor of Los Angeles. The other two, we soon learned, cemented the bond between two local preservation groups — The Arrowhead Parlor No. 110 Native Sons of the Golden West and the San Bernardino Society of California Pioneers.

The San Bernardino Sun reported on the event at Urbita Springs Park — now the site of Inland Center mall — the following day:

“‘Southern California residents are the envy of the world,’ added the Mayor (J.J. Hanford), as he elaborated upon the many bounties, which repose in the lap of those residing in this section of the state, and with great feeling the speaker reverted again to the white-haired Argonauts, and then turned to another duty. Taking in his hands three great golden keys, the Mayor presented the first to Mayor Harper of Los Angeles, who occupied a seat beside him on the raised platform, and another to Mrs. Eva T. Bussenius, junior past president of the Native Daughters (of the Golden West), and another to John Brown Jr., representing the Pioneers, while the crowds vented their feelings in rousing cheers.”

Since its founding in 1875, the Native Sons of the Golden West — an organization for native-born Californians — has dedicated itself to historic preservation, documentation of historic structures and places in the state and placing historic plaques.

Starting in San Francisco, the Native Sons now has many “parlors,” including Arrowhead Parlor No. 110, established July 20, 1887.

In January 1888, George W. Suttenfield, B.B. Harris, and Sidney P. Waite, inserted a notice in the Chronicle asking anyone interested in forming a society to preserve San Bernardino County history to be present at the courthouse on the 21st of that month. Thirty former frontiersmen joined that day as charter members of what became known as the San Bernardino Society of California Pioneers.

The San Bernardino Sun continued with its praise of the Admission Day “key” ceremony in its Sept. 22, 1907, edition:

“Past President C.L. Thomas, in eloquent language presented to the society (Pioneer Society) the large key prepared by the Native Daughters and Native Sons on Admission day, through the hands of Mayor J.J. Hanford, which was accepted by the Pioneers with the feelings of high appreciation, and who will carefully treasure this emblem of veneration as long as life shall last. Remarks then followed in praise of the grand success of our Native Sons and Native Daughters in entertaining so many representatives of Southern California on the recent anniversary of the Golden State.”

On May 9, 1908, while preparations were under way for building a log cabin on 4th Street for the upcoming Festival of the Arrowhead, “Brother” Richard Weir presented the Pioneer Society with a glass case, in which was placed its golden key.

By the time the celebration began, two additional golden keys were on the scene. The San Bernardino Sun reported on May 20, 1908:

“President Cooley was followed by Mayor Hanford, who was escorted to the presence, bearing in his hand two massive golden keys, and after he had paid his respects to the throne, he delivered the keys, first one to Queen Lola, at the same time reading the address, which was attached to the key:

Queen Lola

Your most gracious Majesty:

From time immemorial a custom has prevailed among the Monarchial courts of the world, that when the Queen ascends the throne, all her royal officials surrender the keys of their respective offices.

Following that timehonored custom, I now, as the chief Executive officer of the city of San Bernardino, most graciously present to you the Golden Key of my official authority, with the hope that your reign will be filled with glory and honor, and that it will redound to the benefit of all your subjects.”

Then to fairy Queen Mildred, he read as he delivered the other key.

“To you Queen Mildred, I also present this Golden Key, emblematic of my authority as Mayor of the City of San Bernardino. In presenting it we wish to convey to Your Highness, and the young fairies of your court, our heartfelt loyalty, and trust that your reign during the San Bernardino Festival of the Arrowhead, this year of grace, 1908, will ever be remembered by your Majesty and members of your court as the crowning incident in your careers. — J.J. Hanford, Mayor” Most likely the Golden Key that was in the possession of Eugene Chapparo and now with the San Bernardino Historical and Pioneer Society belonged to John Brown Jr., of the original Pioneer Society. As for what happened to the others, the mystery continues.