Dale Hiner: Bringing History Back

Paso People • Dale Hiner

‘Bringing the History Back’

Paso Robles Treasure Hunter Dale Hiner

By Camille DeVaul

Dale Hiner was once one of the best shots in the Paso Robles Police Department. He was one of the first detectives there and even outsmarted and outshot an FBI agent. A friend of Dale’s suggested he write a book. But, Dale says, “That’s history. I don’t even care about it.”

What he means is that he had no interest in retelling his history. Rather than roll on about his personal good times and stories, Dale would instead unearth artifacts tied to local history long before his time. So, about 24 years ago, Dale started a new hobby, treasure hunting.

After meeting two like-minded men, Bob Ellis and Jimmy Wilkins, the three formed The Hiner Group (Dale insists he was outvoted two to one on the group name). Together the men have unearthed historical treasures throughout North County, including time capsules, various coins, and more. Their goal is to bring artifacts back to the people of North County that they knew about but have never seen.

“[We’re] bringing the history back,” Dale explained.

As Dale goes through the Hiner Group’s exhibit in the Paso Robles Area Historical Society (PRAHS) Museum, explaining their finds, he stops to say, “There’s a lot of history here (in Paso Robles).” Dale’s most recent find was a volcanic rock estimated to be a million years old. Twenty years ago, Dale unearthed the geode rock from the North County property only to lay it as yard art at his home. It wasn’t until a month ago that his wife decided to clean the rock to discover a variation of minerals and an almost perfect figure of a bird. “I asked her who painted it,” said Dale, who thought the bird was painted onto the rock. Now intrigued by the rock, Dale consulted with a friend at the Santa Lucia Rockhounds, a nonprofit club dedicated to promoting the study of rocks, minerals, gems, and fossils. It was explained to Dale that the rock was formed from a volcanic

The volcanic rock features a naturally made picture of a bird and minerals unique to the Paso Robles region. The dark circle in the middle of the rock results from escaping gasses. Photos by Camille DeVaul

eruption deep in the Earth over 1 million years ago, forming the mountainous ridges of the Paso Robles region. The color minerals displayed in the rock are also said to be unique to the Paso Robles region, another indicator that the geode is a small remnant from the birth of our terrain as we know it.

“In addition to being a million years old, the geode is one of a kind,” said Dale, still amazed by the perfect bird figure.

Dale’s interest in history began early in life. Growing up in San Miguel, Dale was a former student of Robert Rader. Robert was a member of the Easy Company 2nd Battalion of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, better known as the Band of Brothers from the namesake HBO series. The Thirteenth Street bridge in Paso Robles is named after him.

One could say that it was his interactions with Robert that led Dale to build his collection of military artifacts. Overall though, his favorite finds are connected to people or events that bring local history alive, “I want to find something with a history of the North County.”

Many of The Hiner Group’s finds are displayed in local museums, including the Paso Robles Area Historical Society and Museum, Nacitone (Lockwood) Museum, Templeton Historical Museum, and more. However, his greatest collection remains at home as his personal treasure trove. Paso Robles Magazine | May 2022

Memorial Day

By Camille DeVaul

For 153 years, Americans have devoted the last Monday of May to honoring and remembering men and women who lost their lives in service to our country. The first Memorial Day was on May 30, 1868, so we once again find ourselves observing our soldiers’ sacrifices on the same day it began, over one century later.

However, somewhere along the way, Memorial Weekend has become the kick-off to summer. It’s the weekend we break out the barbecues, sunblock, and popsicles. I’m not sure if this is what General John A. Logan had in mind when he issued a decree in 1868 that May 30 should become a nationwide day of commemoration for more than 620,000 soldiers killed in the Civil War.

The Civil War may have ended on May 5, 1868, but the division among Americans has continued to plague us throughout the years for one reason or another. Perhaps living in a melting pot of varying cultures is a blessing and a curse.

But in the end, the freedom to be a melting pot, to have our own opinions and share them, to be our own person is what many of our soldiers were fighting for. So, in the end, we observe Memorial Day to honor those very people who paid that ultimate price, giving us the freedom to eat those popsicles and get sunburnt or do whatever we want on the last weekend of May or any other day.

Paso Robles Memorial Day Ceremonies Paso Robles District Cemetery will be bringing back its annual Memorial Day Ceremony. The cemetery began its memorial ceremonies in 1980 when patriotic District Cemetery board members wanted to honor veterans on Memorial Day and Veterans Day. Their annual ceremonies took a break the last two years for COVID-19-related issues, but now they are ready to bring back the greatly anticipated event.

“There are many hours over several months to put the ceremony together,” said Tom Flynn, the cemetery manager. “The reason we had to cancel the ceremony the last two years was due

to COVID restrictions at the time we needed to start planning the event.”

The Avenue of Flags lining the cemetery driveway will be in place and ready on May 28, 29, and 30. Flags will be going up at 7 a.m. and will be taken down at 3 p.m. and volunteers are welcome to help. In addition, local Boy Scouts, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. (VFW), American Legion, the Elks Lodge, Moose Lodge, and LIONS Club will be placing small flags on each veteran’s grave on Saturday, May 28 at 9 a.m.

On Monday, May 30, the program will start at 11 a.m. with the Estrella Warbirds doing a flyover followed by the national anthem. Then the Invocation will be followed by patriotic music, guest speakers, a closing prayer, 21-gun salute from the Honor Guard, and a playing of taps. The American Legion then raises the flag to conclude the ceremony.

Tom shared his excitement to get back to the

cemetery’s anticipated ceremonies.

“The people of Paso Robles really enjoy the ceremony and take great pride in all of the flags honoring the many veterans,” he said.

The Cemetery Board of Trustees will be handing out cookies, coffee, and lemonade after the ceremony. In addition, the Paso Robles Fire Department ladder truck will be flying its large American flag over the cemetery entrance on Memorial Day.

For more information on the Paso Robles District Cemetery, visit pasocemetery.com

By CamilleDeVaul

The Golden State Classics Car Club returns to Paso Robles for their 14th Annual Car Show on Memorial Day Weekend, Friday, May 27, and Saturday, May 28.

After a two-year break, car enthusiasts are ready to come back to the show. Dave Silva is getting his 1934 Ford coupe ready for Paso’s big car show.

“Our car club is ready to go after two years of putting off the show,” Silva said. “I think there is a lot of pent-up enthusiasm. I know I’m excited.”

New this year is a Pre-Show Party on Friday night in lieu of a cruise on Spring Street. The Pre-Show Party is May 27, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., with a complimentary buffet, no-host bar, raffle, 50/50, and live music by The Wavebreakers Band. The event will be held at Estrella Warbirds Museum, Hangar 1, 4251 Dry Creek Rd, Paso Robles.

The Golden State Car Club started in 1987. President Scotty Smith joined the club four years after retiring. Like many others in the club, Scotty has had a lifelong enthusiasm for rebuilding cars.

The car show registration includes the Pre-Show Party.

“Show cars will be able to park by the hangar and the planes. We think everyone will enjoy the experience,” Smith said. “However, there is a cap at 200 people on Friday night, so I suggest buying tickets soon.” The club was unable to present the downtown show in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “We appreciate that our sponsors stayed with us, including our title sponsor Kings Oil Tools,” added Scotty. “I would like to thank them all for hanging with us. A lot of these sponsors joined up two years ago. They’ve allowed us to keep that money and move forward.” The show will start Saturday, May 28, going from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Downtown City Park, 12th and Spring streets, Paso Robles. There will be a raffle, 50/50 drawing, food vendors, trophies, and live music featuring Unfinished Business. Another new feature is Manufacturer Row, highlighting local classic car-related businesses. The club is also raffling off Craftsman top and bottom toolboxes valued at $1,200, a prize donated by Lowe’s. The club members made this year’s show more inclusive. “Many car enthusiasts felt left out by our judging classes because the cars had to be old,” said Bob Tanaka, the club’s first vice president. “I have a ‘70 Ford Mustang Boss 302, but lots of people have cool cars that are newer. We made room for them.” The judging classes include early and modern muscle cars, customs, hot rods, special interests, and the traditional classic categories for cars and trucks. Over 150 cars had already been registered by the first week of April. There is sure to be a car there for everyone to enjoy. The show in the park is free for the public. Until May 9, registration is $45 and includes a T-shirt and a ticket to the Friday Pre-Show Party. After May 9, registration is $55 and does not include a T-shirt.

“I think it will be a big summer, and we’re happy about that too,” Smith said. “We want to see the vendors do well and the local businesses.”

Golden State Classics is a nonprofit organization that promotes classic vehicles and supports local charities. To register or learn more, visit goldenstateclassics.org. May 2022 | Paso Robles Magazine pasoroblesmagazine.com | 27

Best of the West Antique Equipment Show Returns

By Camille DeVaul

Celebrate American history and honor the country’s fallen heroes this memorial weekend at the Best of the West Antique Equipment

Show as it makes its comeback after two years.

Starting Friday, May 27, and going through Sunday, May 29, guests are welcome to explore and enjoy the equipment that helped build America into the country it is today. More importantly, the weekend is dedicated to remembering and honoring veterans who have given their lives for our country. The Best of the West Antique Equipment Show is a Paso Robles Pioneer Day Committee and Rossi Foundation event. Santa Margarita Ranch poses as the perfect location to enjoy a family gathering outside and teach the younger generations about the heritage of our area. For two years, the show had t o cancel its celebrations to comply with COVID-19 restrictions. This year the show will be back to normal and getting back into the swing of things as they plan for a bigger and better show in 2023. But they look forward to bringing back the much anticipated weekend of fun.

Tara Tedeschi, a Best of the West coordinator, says, “There are going to be some changes, but everything is positive.”

Many fan-favorite activities will be back at the ranch, including the Farm Bureau’s tri-tip dinners and other food vendors, parades, the Kid’s Corral, and tours hosted by the Santa Margarita Historical Society.

In the Kid’s Corral, youngsters can look forward to some unique activities, including gold panning with the Central Coast Gold Prospectors, vintage water pumps, butter making, model trains and tracks, grain buckets, and roping dummies, giant sand pile, and tire climbing gym.

Each morning the gates open at 8 a.m. and close that evening at 5 p.m. At noon each day, all operations will pause for a military salute and flyover.

“The main focus of the show is to make sure that we are honoring our veterans and having Memorial Day as the main purpose,” said Tara. Throughout the day, guests can enjoy a tractor parade, earthmoving demo, plowing demo, blacksmithing, and so much more. A favorite crowd activity is taking a ride on the train. The steam engine holds plenty of history itself. It was featured in the TV show “Dr. Quinn Medicine

Woman” and was one of the passenger coaches from Santa Fe and Disneyland Railroad from the 1950s. Of course, the crown 

Paso Robles Magazine | May 2022

Best of the West Antique Equipment Show Returns

jewel of the show is the wide variety of working antique equipment. Locals from around the county and even folks from across the nation bring equipment and tractors from various decades. It ends up creating a timeline of the mechanized progress of 20th century America. This year the show has booked more exhibitors ready to showcase their piece of American history.

“A lot of this equipment is unique, and there are only one of two operating versions of that model of tractor equipment that’s out there,” added Tara, “They like to showcase it, which is cool that we are on that map for that.”

The first show made its debut in 2010. Since it was so well received, it came back in 2015 as an annual event.

“I’m looking forward to getting back to some normalcy and getting everyone in the community together,” said Tara, “It’s a place where people can come see machines and equipment from the past and present.”

Best of the West annually happens at the historic Santa Margarita Ranch. Before being settled by Franciscan missionaries in the 1770s, the ranch was home to Native Americans for thousands of years. The land’s fertile soil, mountain forests, and abundant water and wildlife made it the perfect home for Salinan and Chumash tribes.

Joaquin Estrada was granted the ranch in 1841. Known for being a colorful ranchero, Joaquin frequently hosted grand fiestas and rodeos — setting the tone for generations to come at the ranch. Since Joaquin, the ranch has been home to many longtime local ranching and winegrowing families, including the Filipponis, Rossis, and Wittstroms.

The ranch is home to many landmarks serving as proof of its rich history. Here, people can find the origMay 2022 | Paso Robles Magazine

inal El Camino Real, the Asistencia building, the Wells Fargo building dating back to the stagecoach days, and mission vineyards.

Over the years, it has become a community effort to put on the show. Entirely run by volunteers, the show is becoming a tradition that many look forward to every year. Volunteers are always needed and welcomed to help at the show.

This year, the camping area has been extended to allow for more weekend campers. Weekend campers will receive two adult weekend passes to the show.

Tickets are now available online or can be purchased at the gate. Weekend passes are $25, and day passes are $10, with children ages ten and under free. Guests can also opt to camp at the grounds for an additional fee.

For more information on tickets, trailer camping, volunteering and all the show has to offer, visit bestofthewestshow.com 