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F.
C. SKINNER. — The right kind of a
man can carve any manner of fortune for himself out of circumstances
which to others would oflfer no opportunity whatever. The love of
adventure must be in his soul, the willingness to take a chance at big
odds, and the determination to make good no matter at what cost to
himself. These are some of the characteristics which have enabled F. C.
Skinner, manager of Pine Knot Lodge, to make an overwhelming success of
his life, and, while acquiring a fair measure of prosperity, to assist
in building up Big Bear Valley, the play-ground of Southern California,
an ideal location, 6,800 feet above the sea level, surrounded by three
commanding peaks, San Gorgonio, or Greyback, 11,485 feet in height, and
San Bernardino and Sugar Loaf Peak, both over 10,000 feet in height.
Prior to coming to the Valley, however, Mr. Skinner had accomplished
much, passed through many experiences, and made numerous friends, but he
regards what he has accomplished since his arrival at Pine Knot Lodge as
the most noteworthy of his achievements.
F. C. Skinner was born at
Dixon, Nebraska, August 1, 1872, a son of H. D. and Mahala Skinner. H.
D. Skinner was born in Scotland, while his wife was a native of England.
Both came to the United States with their parents^ he when four years
old and she at the age of nine years. They were married in Michigan, and
in 1869 migrated to Nebraska, making the long trip overland with oxen.
When they located at Dixon the entire region was a wilderness, and for
some years their home was in a sod house. They experienced many
hardships, but lived to see their section of the state vastly improved.
F. C. Skinner had an elder sister, Minnie B., who was born and died in
Nebraska, these two being the only children of their parents.
The
boyhood of F. C. Skinner was spent much as that of any lad on a Nebraska
claim in the 70s and '80s, and he acquired what educational training he
received in the neighborhood schools. In 1893 he made a trip to
California, but left it for Denver, Colorado, that same year, and lived
in that city until 1899, when he went to Spokane, Washington. In the
meanwhile, however, he had enlisted for service in the Spanish-American
war, and served as quartermaster sergeant of Company F, First Idaho
Volunteer Infantry, and after the close of the war was sent to the
Philippines, where he remained for a year, in all being in the service
for eighteen months. He was mustered out at Fort McAlister, San
Francisco. With the discovery of gold in Alaska, he decided to seek his
fortune, and in 1900 went to Nome Beach, Alaska, and for the subsequent
two years had the regular gold man's luck, winning and losing. This did
not discourage him from being one of the Goldfield rush in 1904. After
reaching Guldrield he decided that there was more money for him in the
hotel business than in prospecting, and he conducted a hotel there, and
later one at Rhyolite.
Returning to Denver, he matched Jack Squires against Jim Jeffries,
but this match was broken. Mr. Skinner then became manager of the Denver
Country Club, which position he held until November 2, 1912, when he
came to Los Angeles, California, and conducted a cafe at Ocean Park
until February 15, 1915, when he signed the contract to take charge, as
manager, of Pine Knot Lodge, Big Bear Valley, and entered upon what has
been for him the most constructive period of his life.
In the spring of 1915 he came into the Valley, and at that time
there were not accommodations for over 250 or 300 people in the entire
Valley, in camps and private homes altogether. In 1921 such progress has
been made that there are over 700 private homes and thirty-two camps,
each one of the latter having accommodations for from 40 to 250 people.
Pine Knot Lodge is a world-famed resort, and although situated in what
was once an almost inaccessible valley, is now reached by the Mill Creek
and Clark's Grade road and the Crest Route combined, which make what is
known as the "Rim-of-the-World Highway," recognized to be one
of the genuine wonders of the country, if not of the world. The Lodge is
most modern in every way, and the management has an individual lighting
and ice plant, and operates a store in connection with a modern hotel
and bungalows.
Mr. Skinner has lived a busy life, and since coming to the valley
has exerted himself to the utmost. Coming to Pine Knot Lodge practically
a poor man, he soon saw that here was his opportunity, and set to work
to develop it. Today he is known all over the civilized world for his
expertness as a host and his knowledge of the hotel business, which
enables him to attract to his resort the most seasoned travelers. Some
idea of the affectionate esteem in which he is held may be gathered from
the fact that, although in the very prime of vigorous manhood, he is
called by his many guests "Dad" Skinner. He has acquired large
interests in numerous holdings in Big Bear Valley, among others being
the valuable North estate. In July, 1921 he organized the corporation
known as the Big Bear Amusement Association, with a capital of $150,000,
the officials of which are: Alfred L. Brush, president; F. C. Skinner,
vice president; G. M. Bartlett, secretary; J. H. Lowe, treasurer, and
these gentlemen, with James Ervin, R. R. Woodward and G. R. Siler, form
the Board of Directors. The association has taken over all of the dance
halls, pleasure boats, picture theatres, golf club grounds, and all
indoor and outdoor sports in the Valley.
Mr. Skinner belongs to the Chamber of Commerce in Big Bear Valley,
one of the most active organizations in San Bernardino County. He is a
member of the Masonic fraternity and the Benevolent and Protective Order
of Elks, both of Redlands, the Jonathan Club of Los Angeles, the Tuna
Club of Catalina Island, the largest fishing club in the world, and has
always taken an active part in clean athletic sports and recreations.
On July 29, 1896, Mr. Skinner married Evelyn Andis, who was born
in Nebraska in 1881. They have one daughter, Helen, who was born at
Denver, March 4, 1899. She is a graduate of the Denver High School, and
for a time was a student of Saint Mary's School of Denver. She is now
the wife of R. L. Shouse, a successful automobile dealer of Los Angeles.
Mr. Skinner is a man of delightful personality, and his many
experiences have given him a vivid hold upon life, and an appreciation
of the best in it. He appears to have a natural appreciation of just
what a hotelman should be and to carry out his ideas completely and
capably. Yet, while he is sincere and genuine in his warm friendships,
he is none the less an astonishingly good business man, whose
quick-acting mind can reach out and grasp the possibilities of a
project, as is evidenced in his recent amalgamation of the various
pleasure-giving activities of Big Bear Valley, which promises to be one
of the most important ventures of the entire valley. So sanguine is he
of the further opportunities of this wonderful region that he looks to
see many other projects developed along numerous lines, and it is safe
to say that if he has anything to do with such development the ventures
will be successful.
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