"VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER" IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM: [CLANGING BELLS] HUELL OKAY.

HUELL WE'RE TRYING TO GET THEM STOPPED.

ONCE THEY GET STARTED, IT'S HARD TO GET THEM STOPPED.

WELL, THIS IS GONNA BE A VERY EXCITING ADVENTURE.

I'M STANDIN' HERE WITH ANNA JORGENSON, AND WE'RE STANDING IN FRONT OF HER HOME IN IDYLLWILD UP IN THE MOUNTAINS.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL MORNING.

THERE'S NOT A PERSON ASLEEP IN IDYLLWILD RIGHT NOW, AFTER THAT BELL RINGIN'.

LET'S GET EVERYBODY OVER HERE FOR A GROUP PICTURE BECAUSE YOU HAD PEOPLE FROM THE COMMUNITY COME OVER HERE TO RING THESE BELLS, RIGHT?

YES, YES.

HUELL YOU TALKED THEM INTO COMING OVER HERE THIS MORNING.

YOUR NAME?

MATT.

I'M RALPH.

BUD.

DORIS VALENTINE.

CHARLOTTE.

BARBARA.

PRISCILLA.

HUELL AND ONE MORE?

BIRCHY.

AND ONE MORE, ANNA.

HUELL WE HAVE A GUY OVER HERE FROM THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER WHO'S TAKING PICTURS OF US THIS MORNING.

YOUR NAME IS?

I'M BEN.

HUELL BEN; OKAY.

WE'VE GOT EVERYBODY INTRODUCED.

THIS IS GONNA BE A GREAT MORNING BECAUSE WE ARE HERE TO VISIT ANNA'S GARDEN.

WE MIGHT AS WELL LET SOMEONE ELSE TALK ABOUT IT FOR A MINUTE BECAUSE ANNA'S GONNA GIVE US THE WHOLE TOUR.

WHAT IS THIS PLACE KNOWN AS?

THE IRON GARDEN.

HUELL "THE IRON GARDEN."

BECAUSE IT'S ALL IRON ANTIQUES.

HUELL AND IT'S QUITE FAMOUS UP HERE, ISN'T IT?

YES, IT IS.

IT'S QUITE A FEAT.

IT TOOK 20 YEARS TO ESTABLISH IT.

HUELL WELL, CAN WE TAKE A LITTLE TOUR OF IT?

YES.

HUELL DO YOU HAVE PEOPLE COMING BY HERE JUST TO WANDER AROUND?

THEY COME ALL THE TIME.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW THEY'RE HERE.

I'M IN THE HOUSE AND HEAR SOMEONE TALKING SO I COME OUT AND TALK TO THEM.

HUELL WELL, YOU'VE GOT A GREAT HOUSE HERE.

THIS IS A WONDERFUL, IDYLLWILD WOODEN HOUSE?

YES, MY HUSBAND BUILT THAT TOO.

HUELL REALLY?

YES.

HUELL ARE THE DAUGHTERS GONNA COME WITH US FOR A MINUTE?

YEAH.

HUELL BECAUSE THESE ARE YOUR THREE DAUGHTERS?

THESE ARE MY DAUGHTERS AND I'M THEIR MOTHER.

HUELL THE IDEA BEHIND THIS GARDEN IS REALLY QUITE AMAZING, ISN'T IT?

MY FATHER LOVED IRON.

HE USED TO WORK IN A FORGE FOR INTERNATIONAL HARVESTRY YEARS AGO WHEN HE WAS YOUNGER, AND IRON WAS HIS LOVE.

HE LOVED EVERYTHING OF IRON.

AND HE HAD A GREAT PERSONALITY WITH PEOPLE TO EXPLAIN HIS PURPOSE AND HIS PLANS, EVEN THOUGH AS HIS DAUGHTERS, WE WEREN'T AWARE AT THE TIME WHAT WAS GOING ON, WE THOUGHT: MY GOODNESS, HE'S NOT BUILDING A HOUSE, HE'S BUILDING A MUSEUM.

HUELL I WAS WONDERING: WHAT DID YOU THINK WHEN HE STARTED DOING ALL OF THIS?

ACTUALLY, IT WAS NEVER INTENDED.

THEY CAME UP TO BUILD A WEEKEND CABIN.

AND IN THEIR TRAVELS AS THEY WERE LOOKING FOR THE FLAT ROCK TO BUILD ALL THIS ROCK WORK, IT JUST BEGAN TO GROW.

AND HE INVARIABLY KEPT FINDING MORE AND MORE IRON.

AND IN 1951 WHEN THEY CAME UP, IRON WAS RATHER SCARCE THEN BECAUSE OF WORLD WAR II.

IT WAS MOSTLY USED FOR BATTLESHIPS AND TANKS FOR THE WAR.

AND SO HE SAW THE VALUE OF IT.

"OH, THIS IS SCARCE, I GOTTA HAVE THIS."

HUELL SO REALLY, HE JUST STARTED COLLECTIN' STUFF?

YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

HUELL NOW, DID YOU HELP HIM COLLECT?

WELL, WHEN HE NEEDED HELP, 'D CALL ME.

HUELL AND WHERE WOULD HE FIND ALL OF THIS STUFF?

OH, HE'D GO DOWN OFF THE HILL AND FIND ROCK IN DIFFERENT PLACES.

HE FOUND ONE PLACE PEOPLE SAID HE COULD HAVE ALL THE ROCKS HE WANTED.

SO I HAD TO GO DOWN WITH HIM AND HELP HIM.

HUELL NOW, DID YOU HELP HIM LAY IT ALL OUT BECAUSE-- LET'S GO UP HERE.

THERE'S AN AMAZING...

THIS LOOKS LIKE A GLASS GARDEN UP HERE.

YEAH.

HUELL DID YOU HELP HIM DECIDE WHERE TO PUT THINGS?

OH, NO, HE DID IT ALL.

HE HAD DONE EVERYTHING HIMSELF.

THIS IS ALL HIS IDEA, EVERYTHING.

HUELL THIS IS...

THIS IS AN INTERESTING PIECE.

THIS IS A FEEDER FOR LITTLE PIGLETS.

THIS PIECE IS A PIG... AND THIS IS A PIG OILER.

HUELL "A PIG OILER"?

YOU RUB THEIR BACK AGAINST THIS, AND THEY KEEP OIL ON IT AND IT SCRATCHES THEIR BACKS AND KEEPS THEIR BACKS.

HUELL I'VE NEVER...

WAIT A MINUTE.

LET'S MOVE THIS OUT.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN AS MUCH... A PIG OILER.

WHERE DID HE GET THAT?

HE FOUND IT; HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS WHEN HE BOUGHT IT.

HUELL THIS IS A PIG OILER?

I'VE NEVER EVEN HEARD OF A PIG OILER.

HE TRAVELED ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES, REALLY; BACK EAST, IN THE MIDWEST.

HE USED TO COME TO PORTLAND AREA WHERE I LIVED, AND I WOULD TAKE HIM TO ALL THE JUNK YARDS AND ALL THE IRON SCRAP YARDS.

AND HE WOULD DIG UNDER TABLES AND UNDER SHELVES AND PULL OUT THINGS THAT I HAD NO IDEA WHAT THEY WERE, BUT HE KNEW.

HUELL WHEN DID ALL THIS START WITH YOUR HUSBAND, THIS FASCINATION WITH DIGGING THINGS?

WHEN HE RETIRED.

HE COULDN'T SIT IN THE HOUSE ALL DAY, SO HE WOULD GO HERE AND GO THERE.

HUELL LOOKIN' FOR STUFF?

YEAH.

HUELL WELL, LET'S GO UP TO THE BOTTLE TREE UP HERE.

THIS IS WHERE PEOPLE GET MARRIED.

WE'LL WALK UP HERE AND TAKE A LOOK.

YOU GOT THREE STEPS HERE, LUIS.

THIS IS BEAUTIFUL UP HERE.

NOW, WHERE DID HE GET ALL THESE BOTTLES?

WE PICKED THEM UP HERE AND THERE.

NOW THEY'RE HARD TO FIND.

HUELL OKAY, LET'S GO DOWN BECAUSE ACTUALLY WHAT WE'VE DONE RIGHT NOW, WE ARE AT THE TOP OF THE IRON GARDEN RIGHT NOW.

AND WE HAVE JUST BARELY SCRAPED THE SURFACE.

IT COVERS THE WHOLE SIDE OF THIS HILL, DOESN'T IT?

YES.

HUELL ALL RIGHT; WE'RE HEADIN' DOWN INTO THE GARDEN.

YOUR DAUGHTERS ARE AHEAD OF US.

THEY'RE LEADIN' THE WAY.

[CLANGING BELL] HUELL I FOUND A BELL THAT HADN'T BEEN RUNG YET.

WHAT'S THE STORY ON THE BELLS?

THE STORY ON THE BELLS IS MY FATHER LOVED BELLS.

EVERYWHERE HE WENT, EVERY STATE HE WENT INTO, WHEN THEY TRAVELED, HE ALWAYS LOOKED FOR BELLS, SMALL ONES, LARGE ONES; THE LARGER THEY WERE, THE BETTER HE LIKED IT.

WHEN HE TRANSPORTED THEM BACK UP TO THE HILL, HE WOULD MAKE OR BUILD THE ARCHES THAT THE BELLS WOULD BE DISPLAYED IN.

BUT HE NEVER COULD HAVE TOO MANY BELLS.

HE LOVED THEM BECAUSE HE WAS A VERY PATRIOTIC MAN.

HE LOVED THIS NATION, AND BELLS REMINDED HIM OF OUR AMERICAN HERITAGE.

HUELL NOW, WE STARTED THE PROGRAM OFF BY RINGING BELLS, AND I HEARD YOU SAY SOMETHING AS THE BELLS WERE RINGING, THE LAST TIME THEY HAD BEEN RUNG LIKE THAT?

THE LAST TIME THE BELLS RUNG WAS WHEN MY FATHER PASSED AWAY.

AFTER HIS FUNERAL, WE ALL CAME UP, THE FAMILY, AND WE RANG ALL THE BELLS, IN TRIBUTE TO HIM.

AND THE VILLAGE HEARD THEM, AND THEY THOUGHT: OH, MR. JORGENSON IS OUT OF THE HOSPITAL AND HE'S WELL.

BUT IT WAS JUST THE OTHER WAY.

HE HAD PASSED AWAY AND WE WANTED TO RING THE BELLS AS A TRIBUTE TO MY FATHER.

HUELL WELL, I WONDER WHAT THEY'RE THINKIN' THIS MORNING?

WE'RE HAVING A TRIBUTE TO MY MOTHER.

HUELL OKAY, GOOD.

AND SHE'S STILL VERY MUCH ALIVE AND HERE.

AND WE MIGHT MENTION RIGHT NOW THAT YOUR MOTHER IS... WHAT IS YOUR AGE, DO YOU MIND?

91 YEARS OLD.

HUELL 91, AND YOU'RE STILL OUT HERE WORKING IN THE GARDEN?

YES, I'M STILL ALIVE.

HUELL WELL, OF COURSE YOU ARE!

ALL RIGHT, LET'S... SOMEBODY MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT THE?

MAYTAG WASHING MACHINE.

SHE PURCHASED THAT IN 1929, AND THAT'S THE YEAR I WAS BORN.

AND SHE USED IT UNTIL IT STOPPED AND WE KEPT IT BECAUSE IT WAS A PART OF OUR FAMILY FABRIC.

HUELL COMPLETE WITH... WITH THE BORAXO?

RIGHT.

AND THE FELLS NAPTA SOAP.

AND YOU HAVE TO BE QUITE OLD TO KNOW WHAT THAT IS BECAUSE EVERYBODY IN THE EARLY-- YOU CAN'T GET THAT ANYMORE.

HUELL WOW, I'VE NEVER HEARD OF THAT.

YOU WOULD CHIP IT UP AND PUT IT IN THE WASHING MACHINE.

AND THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE USED IN THEIR WASHING MACHINE; THEY DIDN'T HAVE BOXED SOAP IN THOSE DAYS.

YOU KNOW WHAT WE DID WITH IT?

WE WASHED OUR HAIR WITH IT.

HUELL WITH THAT?

YES; AND IT WAS WONDERFUL.

HUELL WELL, I'M LEARNIN' AS WE GO.

LET'S GO DOWNSTAIRS.

NOW, WHAT IS ALL OF THIS?

JUST MISCELLANEOUS IRON WORK.

THERE'S WHEELS.

THERE'S LUMBER SAWS.

THERE'S A MINING PAN, RAILROAD EQUIPMENT.

PETRIFIED WOOD.

THIS IS AN OLD BELL.

HUELL ANOTHER BELL.

WAIT A MINUTE, I GOTTA RING IT.

IT HAS A SIGN UP THERE, IT TELLS YOU WHAT TO DO.

HUELL "IN CASE OF ATTACK, RING BELL."

[DING-DING] WE'RE GONNA RING EVERY BELL ON THIS SPOT WHILE WE'RE HERE TODAY.

SO THIS IS MISCELLANEOUS?

THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THEY USED ON THE RAILROADS FOR HAULING.

HUELL TOOLS?

LOOK, YOU HAVE A WHOLE WALL OF IT DOWN HERE?

THAT'S A COLLAGE OF MINING TOOLS.

THERE'S A PLOW.

THERE'S AN OLD IRON PLOW.

FROM GOLD MINING, THERE'S ANOTHER, OF COURSE, BLACK IRON POT.

HUGE TOOLS HERE THAT WERE USED IN THE RAILROAD.

JUST MISCELLANEOUS; IF IT WAS IRON, MY FATHER HAD IT.

LOOK AT THAT HUGE WRENCH.

HUELL YEAH; NOW THAT LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING THAT WAS USED ON THE RAILROAD?

RIGHT, RIGHT.

YOU KNOW WHAT MY HUSBAND SAID THIS WAS FOR?

TO PULL YOUR TEETH.

HUELL SO HE HAD A SENSE OF HUMOR TOO, DIDN'T HE?

HE SURE DID.

HUELL NOW, DID HE PUT IT ALL UP LIKE THIS, THIS IS THE WAY HE DID IT?

YEAH, IT WAS ALL HIS IDEA.

HUELL HE BUILT THE WALL AS WELL?

UH-HUH.

HUELL WELL, OKAY.

UH-OH, HERE ARE THE BELLS, WE'RE NOT GONNA RING THOSE AGAIN.

I JUST NOTICED SOMETHING OVER HERE.

WHAT IS... THAT'S A CIVIL WAR CANNON.

THESE ARE THE CANNON BALLS.

AND THIS IS A BULLET.

ANYTHING THAT HAD A MILITARY CONNOTATION, WE KIND OF PUT IN THIS.

HUELL AND A LITTLE CANNON?

RIGHT, RIGHT.

FROM WORLD WAR II.

HUELL THESE ARE CANNON... YEAH, THEY'RE THE REAL THING.

RIGHT.

CANNON BALLS.

HUELL WHAT WAS THIS?

LOOK AT THIS ONE?

I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE PRISONERS KEPT AROUND THEIR ANKLES WHEN THEY WERE OUT.

HUELL REALLY!

THEY COULDN'T RUN AWAY IN THEM...

PRISONERS OF WAR.

HUELL OKAY; I'LL PUT EVERYTHING BACK WHERE I GOT IT; I DON'T WANT TO LOSE ANYTHING.

ANOTHER INTERESTING THING ARE THESE ORE CARS.

THOSE CAME FROM THE MINING AREA.

THESE ARE ORE CARS RIGHT HERE ON THE SIDE, AS PLANTERS.

HUELL NOW, I'M JUST WALKIN' WITH YA'LL; YA'LL ARE TELLIN' ME WHERE TO GO.

WE'RE GONNA GO DOWN THIS PATH.

HUELL OKAY; LET'S GO IN HERE.

THESE ARE ALL THINGS FROM SAN PEDRO, WILMINGTON SHIP SALVAGE YARDS WHICH ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

HUELL THIS WHOLE AREA HERE?

YES, UH-HUH.

AND THIS IS PEG LEG SMITH, THE BUCCANEER.

HE LIKED HIS BOOZE AND THE TREASURE OF JEWELS.

HUELL YOU HAVE THIS FIXED UP GREAT.

THIS IS A PORTHOLE, ACTUALLY, OFF OF A SHIP, WHICH MY DAD FIXED UP WITH A SHIP UNDERNEATH.

HUELL LOOK, AN OLD HARPOON HERE?

YES.

HUELL PART OF AN ANCHOR WHERE YOU TIE UP AN ANCHOR?

UH-HUH.

CANNON OFF OF A SHIP.

ANOTHER LITTLE... HUELL HERE'S A PROPELLER UP HERE?

YES.

THIS IS MORE NAUTICAL-TYPE ITEMS.

HUELL WE'RE SUDDENLY GETTING INTO THE GOLD COUNTRY AGAIN, THE OLD ORE BUCKETS HERE.

NOW, WE'RE GETTING BACK INTO NAUTICAL.

RIGHT.

HUELL SO SOMETIMES THIS ISN'T EXACTLY...

IT'S FIXED IN DIFFERENT WAYS, ISN'T IT?

YES, THESE COULD HAVE BEEN USED FOR CARGO SHIPS, BUT YOU SEE THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE HE WAS CONTINUALLY COLLECTING, SO WHEN HE GOT ONE DISPLAY DONE, THEN HE WOULD FIND ANOTHER PIECE FOR IT, THERE WOULDN'T BE ROOM FOR IT, SO IT'S A LITTLE...

BUT THAT'S OKAY.

HUELL WELL, NOW THIS IS, THIS IS A BEAUTIFUL DISPLAY RIGHT HERE, WITH THE NAUTICAL BIT ON IT.

THAT'S REALLY NICE.

THIS IS JUST A CHARIOT.

MY FATHER LOVED THIS PIECE.

SO IT REMINDS YOU OF CHARLTON HESTON AND THE 10 COMMANDMENTS BUT BECAUSE IT'S IRON, HE LOVED IT AND WAS ABLE TO GET IT HERE AND DISPLAY IT.

HUELL WHERE DID HE GET THIS?

HE PURCHASED THE HORSES.

AND THEN HE WAS A SELF-TAUGHT MAN IN LEARNING BLACKSMITHING.

AND HE MADE THE CHARIOT HIMSELF TO GO WITH IT.

HUELL OH, REALLY?

UH-HUH.

HUELL AND LOOK, IT'S COMPLETE WITH ARROWS POINTING OUT OF THE... OUT OF THE TOP HERE.

AND YOU HAVE THAT IN JUXTAPOSITION TO... WHAT IS THIS?

I BELIEVE THAT'S A-- HUELL COFFEE GRINDER?

YEAH, I THINK SO.

IT IS.

HUELL ARE THERE THINGS IN HERE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY ARE?

THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS, BECAUSE HE WASN'T A FARMER.

BUT HE LIKED IRON, SO HE BOUGHT IT.

HUELL SO HE DIDN'T KNOW EITHER?

YEAH.

THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT INTERESTING WHEN WE HAVE VISITORS BECAUSE THEY CAN SPOT THINGS THAT THEY RECOGNIZE, SO IT'S AN EDUCATIONAL THING FOR ALL OF US.

HUELL YEAH, I GOTCHA.

THAT'S A GRINDSTONE, ISN'T IT, UP THERE?

YES.

HUELL FROM A GRISTMILL OR SOMETHING?

YES.

THOSE ARE OLD SHIP CABIN DOORS.

DO YOU SEE HOW HEAVY THEY ARE?

HUELL YEAH.

HE JUST TOOK THE DOOR, SPLIT THEM AND WELDED HEAVY CHAIN FOR THE LEGS TO MAKE A PATIO TABLE.

SO HE WAS VERY PRACTICAL.

HE COULD BUY THINGS AND IN HIS MIND, HE HAD SOMETHING FOR THEM.

HE WAS GOING TO DO SOMETHING WITH THEM.

AND SO, WHEN HE PASSED AWAY, THERE WAS A LOT OF THINGS WE JUST THOUGHT: I WONDER WHAT HE WAS GOING TO DO WITH THIS?

HUELL ONLY HE KNEW.

THAT'S RIGHT.

SO IT'S NEVER FINISHED IT.

AND IT CAN GO ON AND ON AND ON.

HUELL ALL RIGHT.

LET'S WALK OVER HERE.

THIS IS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL... VIEW UP HERE?

IT IS; IT'S JUST BREATHTAKING.

THE MORE WE COME BACK TO IT, THE MORE WE REALIZE JUST HOW SPECIAL HE WAS TO SEE ALL THIS IN HIS MIND'S EYE AND CREATE ALL THIS FOR GENERATIONS TO COME, REALLY.

HUELL YEAH.

WELL, ONE THING GOOD ABOUT THE FACT THAT IT'S MADE OF IRON, IT'S GONNA BE HERE?

RIGHT, EXACTLY.

IT IS.

THIS IS A BURL OUT OF A TREE THAT LOOKS LIKE THE HEAD OF A BEAR.

HE FOUND THIS HAT FROM THE FORESTRY, TIN HAT, PUT IT ON AND MADE THE SIGN "SMOKEY THE BEAR," AND THEN HE USED HIS BEAR TRAP AND DISPLAYED THAT RIGHT NEXT TO SMOKEY THE BEAR.

HUELL OH, WOW.

HE LOVED TRAPS.

HE USED TO PICK UP EVERY TRAP HE COULD FIND.

HE LOVED ALL THE ANIMAL TRAPS.

HUELL UH-OH, YOU FORGOT TO CLEAN OFF THE COBWEBS.

CLEAN OFF THE COBWEBS.

HUELL WHAT'S THIS ALL ABOUT?

I JUST LOVE THE WAY HE FIXED THIS FENCE BECAUSE TRACTOR SEATS ARE LIKE SNOWFLAKES.

THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT KINDS.

HE'S JUST TAKEN THESE IRON TRACTOR SEATS IN THIS COLLECTION, AND HE HAS ALSO TAKEN THE TRACTOR SEATS AND WELDED THE STEERING WHEEL ON THE BOTTOM FOR PATIO CHAIRS.

HUELL THESE ARE ALL DIFFERENT TRACTOR SEATS, EVERY ONE OF THEM, YEAH, DIFFERENT COMPANIES.

LOOK AT THIS.

WHO WOULD EVER THINK OF MAKIN' A DISPLAY OF OLD TRACTOR SEATS?

NOW, WE'RE BACK UP BY THE HOUSE?

AND EVERY SPACE AROUND THE HOUSE ON THE PORCH HERE, YOU CAN SEE THERE'S JUST A COLLAGE OF COLLECTIONS OF IRON IMPLEMENTS, TOOLS, DECOR ITEMS, JUST A PIECE OF IRON THAT HAD SCROLLS ON IT.

HERE'S HORSESHOES.

EVERYTHING WESTERN, BIG WAGON WHEEL.

HUELL LOOK AT THIS!

OH, THIS IS BEAUTIFUL RIGHT HERE, THE WAY HE'S GOT THEM ALL DISPLAYED.

LOOK AT HIS WRENCHES OVER HERE.

HUELL OH, LOOK AT THIS DISPLAY OF WRENCHES.

THIS IS GREAT.

LOOK AT THIS DOOR HANDLE HERE.

IT'S A HATCHET.

HUELL AH.

IRON HATCHET.

SEE.

EVERYTHING HE HAD, HE TRIED TO DO SOMETHING WITH IT WHERE IT WAS USED FOR A DECOR ITEM.

HUELL AN OLD SUN DIAL, LADLES OR WHATEVER, WHAT WOULD YOU CALL THESE?

LADLES, YES, LADLES.

IS THIS A BRANDING IRON?

BRANDING IRON.

HUELL BRANDING IRON.

WHAT IS THIS?

WE DON'T KNOW, WE'D LIKE YOU TO TELL US.

[LAUGHTER] WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT YESTERDAY.

WHAT IS THIS NOW?

HUELL YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS IS?

NO.

HUELL DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY IDEA?

WE'D LIKE SOMEBODY TO WRITE US OR TELL US WHAT THAT IS.

HUELL COULD IT HAVE BEEN A HITCHING POST?

MAYBE.

HUELL "UNDER THE SPREADING CEDAR TREE, THE VILLAGE SMITHY STANDS... AND LOOKS THE WHOLE WORLD IN THE FACE, FOR HE OWES NOT ANY MAN."

ONE OF YOUR DAD'S EXPRESSIONS?

YES; HE BELIEVED IN WAITING UNTIL HE HAD CASH... TO BUY SOMETHING.

DIDN'T WANT ANY BILLS.

HUELL NO BILLS.

NEVER OWED ANYBODY ANY MONEY?

HE ALWAYS PAID.

HE LOVED ANVILS, HE LOVED TO COLLECT ANVILS, AND HE LOVED TO WORK ON THE ANVILS BECAUSE HE HAD THE CREATIVITY, HE HAD SUCH A STRONG PERSONALITY THAT HE COULD TAKE IRON AND MAKE IRON DO WHAT HE WANTED IT TO DO.

HUELL WAS HE A BLACKSMITH?

NO.

NOT BY TRADE.

HE HAD TO BECOME AND LEARN HOW TO DO IT IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH AND GET ALL OF THESE PIECES PUT TOGETHER.

HUELL HE WOULD HAVE BECAUSE THIS IS ALL PUT ON HERE?

RIGHT.

HE USED TO WORK AT INTERNATIONAL HARVESTRY, THAT'S THE BEGINNING OF THE IRON WORK BECAUSE THEY MADE TRACTORS.

AND HE WOULD HAVE TO STAND IN FRONT OF THESE INTENSE, HOT FURNACE AREAS, WHERE THE HEAT WAS...

HE WORKED ON A FORGE.

HE WOULD MOLD THE PARTS, HE WOULD POUND ON THEM AND THEN THEY'RE WOULD PUT THEM IN THE FURNACE TO HEAT THEM AND THAT, I THINK, IS WHERE IT STARTED.

HE ENJOYED THAT.

HUELL WOW, SO HE WOULD HAVE DONE ALL OF THE WORK TO PUT ALL OF THIS ON THIS AND MAKE IT INTO A PIECE OF ART?

EXACTLY.

HE LOVED WHEELS.

HE LOVED BELLS.

HE LOVED BIG, HUGE BUCKETS.

THERE'S A BIG ONE RIGHT THERE.

RIGHT, RIGHT.

HUELL WHAT WAS THIS?

THIS WAS A BIG...

PROBABLY IN THE MINING FIELDS OR...

I'M NOT SURE.

THERE WERE SO MANY DIFFERENT USES FOR THEM.

HUELL AND YOU HAVE A BIRD HOUSE OUT HERE?

NOW, THAT'S MADE OUT OF WOOD.

HOW DID THAT GET?

HE USED TO BUILD BIRD HOUSES, TOO.

HE LOVED BIRD HOUSES.

AND HE MADE ALL THE ARCHES FOR THE BELLS.

ALL THE DISPLAY RACKS THAT THE THINGS ARE PUT ON, OF COURSE, HE MADE.

HUELL, I JUST THOUGHT OF ANOTHER INTERESTING PIECE I'D LIKE TO TELL YOU ABOUT.

THIS IS...

I THINK I SHOULD LET YOU GUESS.

HUELL ALL RIGHT.

COULD YOU GUESS WHAT THIS IS?

HUELL OH, LOOK AT THIS.

LOOK AT THIS, LUIS.

WHAT IN THE WORLD... IS THAT?

I DON'T KNOW.

HUELL WHAT IS IT?

THAT IS A HANDMADE HATCHET THAT WAS USED DURING THE PROHIBITION DAYS, LIKE CARRY NATION AND THE WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE USED TO BUST THE MOONSHINE AND THE WHISKEY BOTTLES IN THE SALOONS.

HUELL REALLY?

YES.

HUELL NOW, DID HE GET THIS?

PROBABLY IN AN OLD JUNK SHOP SOMEPLACE THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS EITHER.

HUELL AN OLD HATCHET FROM THE PROHIBITION DAYS?

YES.

HUELL GOODNESS, GRACIOUS.

I THOUGHT YOU'D... HUELL I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, I WOULD RATHER HAVE CARRY NATION COME AFTER ME WITH THIS, THAN WITH THIS.

[LAUGHTER] HUELL THAT WOULD DEFINITELY CLOSE THE PLACE DOWN, RIGHT THERE.

THIS IS WONDERFUL STUFF.

IT IS.

IT GOES ON AND ON.

IT JUST GOES ON AND ON.

IT'S JUST WONDERFUL.

IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF THE FINEST IRON COLLECTIONS...

ANYWHERE.

HUELL NOW, DOES IT HAVE THAT REPUTATION?

WELL, WE'LL GIVE IT THAT REPUTATION.

HUELL AND LOOK HOW THE SUN IS REFLECTING ON THE BOTTLES UP THERE.

COBALT BLUE BOTTLES.

THAT'S MOTHER'S CONTRIBUTION TO THE DISPLAY.

HUELL AND THE FACT THAT IT'S ALL NESTLED IN HERE AMONG THESE BEAUTIFUL TREES.

IT JUST ADDS... AMBIENCE TO IT, IT REALLY DOES.

HUELL THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MOST PEOPLE, A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD NEVER SEE ANY OF THESE ITEMS?

THAT'S RIGHT.

NOT ON ONE PIECE OF PROPERTY LIKE THIS.

THERE'S SUCH A VARIETY HERE.

IT'S ALL PART OF AMERICANA.

THAT'S WHERE MY FATHER'S HEART WAS.

HE LOVED THIS NATION AND EVERYTHING CONNECTED WITH IT.

AND IT JUST MADE HIM FEEL GOOD TO PRESERVE IT.

BUT IT'S AN UNBELIEVABLE...

AMOUNT OF WORK THAT ONE MAN AND ONE LITTLE TINY WOMAN COULD DO...

IN THEIR 60s TO START.

HUELL YEAH, SO THEY DIDN'T EVEN START THIS UNTIL THEY WERE IN THEIR 60s?

YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

HUELL AND YOU TOLD ME THAT YOUR MOTHER IS REALLY BEING TOO MODEST ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF WORK SHE PUT INTO THIS AS WELL?

THEY WERE SUCH A WONDERFUL COUPLE, MARRIED ALL OF THEIR ADULT LIFE.

AND THEY WERE ALWAYS TOGETHER.

MY DADDY DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO GO DOWN TO THE POST OFFICE TO PICK UP THE MAIL WITHOUT MY MOTHER.

THEY DID EVERYTHING TOGETHER.

HUELL IS THAT RIGHT?

UH-HUH.

SHE'S NOT LYING.

HUELL SO YA'LL WERE CLOSE THROUGH EVERYTHING?

YES.

WE NEVER FOUGHT.

WE HAD NO CROSS WORDS BETWEEN ONE ANOTHER OR ANYTHING.

HUELL NOW, WE'VE HAD A GOOD MORNING HERE IN THE GARDEN.

AND IT'S...

BUT THAT'S NOT ALL OF OUR SHOW BECAUSE WE'VE STILL GOT SOMETHING TO DO THIS MORNING, DON'T WE?

YES.

YOUR MORNING?

...WALK.

HOW HAS THAT BECOME PART OF THE IDYLLWILD TRADITION HERE?

PEOPLE KNOW MY MOTHER BECAUSE OF HER WALKING.

SHE IS 91, BUT SHE IS IN EXCELLENT PHYSICAL CONDITION.

THE AIR IS WONDERFUL UP HERE.

THE ALTITUDE IS WONDERFUL FOR HER.

AND SHE WALKS ABOUT...

IT'S ABOUT A MILE AND-A-HALF TO THE VILLAGE.

A LITTLE OVER A MILE.

AND SHE WALKS TO THE VILLAGE EVERY DAY, SOMETIMES TWICE A DAY.

HUELL AND BACK?

WELL, SOMETIMES PEOPLE WILL GIVE HER A LITTLE LIFT HOME?

I DON'T REFUSE RIDES.

HUELL YOU DON'T REFUSE RIDES?

IF I GET A RIDE, I JUMP IN THE CAR TO TAKE ME HOME.

HUELL BUT YOU'RE HIKIN' DOWN THERE EVERY DAY?

UH-HUH.

HUELL GOODBYE.

NOW, YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN, RIGHT?

YOU WANT TO BE HOLDING ON OR YOU WANT TO BE ON YOUR OWN?

BOTH WAYS.

[GIGGLING] HUELL HERE WE GO, DOWN THE HILL.

AND HOW FAR ARE WE GOING?

HOW FAR DO YOU WANT TO GO?

HUELL I THINK I'LL TRY TO KEEP UP WITH YOU?

TO THE POST OFFICE.

HUELL YEAH.

NOW, WE'VE STOPPED BECAUSE YOU WANTED TO SAY HELLO.

TELL ME ABOUT ANNA?

SHE WALKS EVERY SINGLE DAY, PROBABLY TWICE A DAY.

AND WE WORRY ABOUT HER-- NO!

DON'T WORRY.

WE DO.

IF WE DON'T SEE HER, WE SEE IF SHE'S OKAY, BECAUSE SHE WALKS THROUGH THE SNOW, SOMETIMES TWICE A DAY.

AND SHE DOESN'T WANT US TO PICK HER UP BECAUSE SHE WANTS TO WALK.

HUELL YEAH.

YOU HAVE BEEN PLAYING THE BELLS THIS MORNING.

HUELL YEAH.

YOU HEARD THE BELLS?

OH YEAH!

HUELL ALL OVER TOWN.

SHE HAS TO HAVE A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PEOPLE OVER THERE TO RING THE BELLS, DON'T YOU ANNA?

HUELL YEAH.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT IS.

HUELL YOU KNOW, ANNA'S WALKIN', YA'LL ARE DRIVIN'?

YEAH, BUT SHE'S A LOT SPRIER THAN WE ARE.

HUELL NICE TO SEE YA'LL, BUT WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE OUR WALK.

COME ON, ANNA.

SO YOU LIKE MY BOYFRIEND?

[GIGGLING] I GUESS MY DAUGHTERS DON'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK.

"OH, MOTHER'S CRUISING AFTER HER BOYFRIEND."

HUELL WELL, THIS HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL DAY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INVITING US TO COME SHARE YOUR IRON GARDEN.

IRON GARDEN.

HUELL IT'S JUST BEEN WONDERFUL.

THIS HAS BEEN A TRULY WONDERFUL DAY.

AND WE'VE STILL GOT ABOUT... A MILE TO GO.

IT'S JUST A LITTLE OVER A MILE.

YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO WALK ON THIS SIDE.

HUELL I'M SORRY.

AT HOME, WE GO ON THAT SIDE... CAPTIONED BY THE LLOYD E. RIGLER & LAWRENCE E. DEUTSCH CAPTIONING CENTER AT KCET.

"VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER" IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM: