John G. Dana has embarked upon a most noble task: he's attempting to restore his father's 1939 lecture-travelog, consisting of 2,500 photographs in 4 film sizes, letters, notes, diary entries, and 1,800 feet of 35mm movies, as it once existed in the past.

Judging from the 'Forward' of the travelog as shown below, which John has been extremely kind to share with us here, and the photos that John has also generously contributed, it seems to have originally been a fascinating & historic account of his father's extensive travels in Venezuela. It's a portrait of Venezuela in 1930, as it existed during those years.

I think John's father would undoubtedly be proud of his son's efforts. After reading just this portion of his work, and seeing the photographs that accompanied it, I for one am hoping that I'll have the opportunity of reading the entire account when John is finished.

UPDATE August, 2005

Below the journal intro & photos, see John's additional entry which I received in August of 2005. It's a fascinating account of a visit to Maracaibo by Charles Lindbergh.

 
The photos below “...show the village of Lagunillas in it's pre-1928 appearance, when many huts were still thatch-and-reed. In June of 1928 (see newspaper clipping below), a fire started in a Chinese laundry, and since the lake was covered with oil, the whole place burned.”

Additional comments from Edward Dana with reference to the 1928 fire indicates that the town had been (afterwards) rebuilt with wood and tin rather than the reed-and-thatch of before; and also said that fires were fairly frequent due to oil on the water- a dropped match, careless cigarette, or cooking fire would sometimes start a blaze.
All photographs by Edward B. Dana, courtesy of John G. Dana.
 

“An oil rig in the Santa Rosa field.”

 
“ 'The Sherbet Man' in Caracas (my favorite photo- that poor burro looks like he's bored out of his mind!)”
“A couple of photos of the Goajiro Indians that visited Maracaibo. My father spent his spare time photographing the natives doing their daily tasks - spinning thread, weaving hammocks, cooking, etc.”

Lagunillas, 1929

Additional excerpts about Lagunillas well fires from Edward Dana - some having to do with fires in 1929 (see photos below), almost exactly 1 year after the big 1928 fire:

•   “…There is a big oil fire at Lagunillas that has been burning since last Saturday. A two thousand barrel well fire makes a very spectacular scene.

“Tomorrow night I shall probably go down and give the place the once over. Never have seen an oil fire before.

“Had a very interesting trip to Lagunillas. McDermott and I got Saturday morning off. Arriving there in the afternoon, we visited the well which was still burning after being on fire for one week.

“At the beginning the fire was quite large, and threatening to destroy the entire village and probably the Gulf camp. Two wells were burning, all large producers. Fire spread out into the lake by oil from a broken pipe line resulting in the shore line for some distance forming a very large fire. The fire was put out early Sunday morning by placing two steam jets at the mouth of the well, about seven boilers furnished the steam. After the oil about the mouth of the well was extinguished only a few seconds was necessary to finish the job with the steam; it was all very interesting and I was glad I got to make the trip although I didn't get to see them put the fire out…”
•   “… Lagunillas had another fire. About 40 houses were destroyed (over two blocks.) The company was going to send me down to take movies, but called it off so I didn't go The town had been rebuilt since I was there last fall. Very little remains of the old thatched huts, all the new structures are of box wood corrugated roofing and what not. Another part of the town was destroyed by fire not so very long ago. It is probably one of the most unique oil town in existence.

“Most interesting. Just like a circus day all the time. A small carnival company was setting up a merry go round during our visit. It is all most interesting. The fire at night afforded opportunity for light pictures. A speed boat was waiting on a party of us at the dock. At the last minute I learned a well was 'running wild' at Lagunillas, oil going 150 feet in the air. Another chance for a movie. We made our boat; It took us to Cabimas.

“There we learned the well was closed in, so there our expedition ended. I stayed in Cabimas, while the rest of the party returned to Maracaibo. Sunday morning after calling on a number of friends and taking a few pictures, it was mail boat time. Stayed over and came in on a native boat that night…”
 
 

 

John recently came upon this photo, a copy of an envelope sent during the flight mentioned below. The date of the photograph is October 29, 1929. John advises that the actual date of the “visit” was October 3, 1929. He also advises that the current whereabouts of the envelope is unknown as his father gave it to a friend. If anyone has ever seen it, please let John know!