File talk:Color Postcard of Little Lake Hotel (circa. 1950s).jpeg

May 17, 2014

To Whom It May Concern:

My name is Burl Baxter Matheny Jr. From July 1954 my parents Burl Sr and Isabelle Matheny were the owners/operators of Little Lake Hotel and Cafe who brought the business to its greatest glory before diversion of Hwy 395 ruined its business, and in 1955 they engaged (paid) Merle Porter, who had Royal Pictures of Colton CA, to produce the subject of this file--the first ever color postcard of Little Lake Hotel and Cafe. At the same time as this one, Burl and Isabelle Matheny had Porter produce a second color postcard showing Little Lake as seen from a nearby mountain. To the present day I own a considerable number of the first image, and just one of the second.

I had been dismayed that despite existence of these postcards and this and other views of Little Lake Hotel and Cafe I have by other photographers including my uncle, all were almost unknown. Two web sites with Little Lake discussion forums--Facebook and Rock Creek Lake--and in addition the print book "The Zig Zag Post Office," were discussing Little Lake extensively without depiction of or reference to these and other views of Little Lake Hotel and Cafe! I felt the views which are the very best, were being wasted or lost to history.

The creator of this first ever color postcard of Little Lake Hotel and Cafe--Merle Porter--now being long deceased, I, Burl Baxter Matheny Jr, hope as the son of parents who paid Porter to produce said color postcard, that I will be considered if not owner of the image then definitely the go-to person possessing best knowledge of the origin and history of said postcard--in order that this wonderful image will be permanently available to everyone for free use to illustrate news, articles, etc., about Little Lake. Be it known that it was me who submitted this first color postcard and my other views of Little Lake Hotel and Cafe to Rock Creek Lake's and Facebook's Little Lake pages to get them onto the Internet as shown by letters of mine that accompany the pictures on those pages. I therefore am the source for Wikipedia' s file notice.

B.Baxter Matheny