C.O.C.A. Times

AN IMPORTANT STOP FOR HISTORIANS
The Erection of a Historical Marker in a City Known for the Unusual - Marshall Fey
What do you do if your goal is to preserve a historical site and city government denies permission? Complicat-
ing the problem is that the chosen location is on San Francisco's busiest downtown commercial thoroughfare.
First, we will start with the unique organization that placed the marker. Dubbed the "Ancient and Honorable
Order of E Clam pus Vitus," its name lacks definition and that is all part of the mystic of the organization. Their
motto is "Credo Quia Absurdum," which means : I believe Because it is Absurd. "The "Clampers" date back to
the mining camps of the gold rush era where they were a benevolent society for the miner's widows and orphans,
but foremost a frolicsome club for the membership. The order died out when the mining "boom" ended and was
resurrected in San Francisco in 1931 by respected historians as a vehicle to preserve history while having a good
time. The popularity of the E Clam pus Vitus mushroomed throughout the western states with numerous chapters
placing thousands of historic plaques.
In 1979, Earl Schmidt, X-Noble Grand Humbug (Past President) of the San Francisco Chapter, knowing that
Grandpa was the inventor of the slot machine, suggested to the author (X-Noble Grand Humbug of a Nevada
Chapter) that we place a plaque on the location where the Liberty Bell slot was invented and first manufactured.
Excited by the possibility, the author went to various commissions in San Francisco to obtain permission to place
a monument. Each city department contacted referred the author to another with approval finally ending up with
the Art Commission. Two weeks later they phoned the author and denied their blessing. The author notified
XNGH Schmidt and he said, "lets do it anyway." "What ifwe go to jail," I asked? He replied, "I will go with you."
A small consolation for a worried mind.
Soon there was enthusiasm and intrigue generated among the clamper brethren for secretly plotting the erection
of a monument on the main street in San Francisco. A bronze plaque was cast and mounted on a stone so all that
had to be done to complete the scheme was to set the marker in cement on the site. The Clampers wore hard hats
to give themselves the impression of a professional construction crew. This illusion was obviously discredited
when the workers brought cement and water in containers and began mixing them together in a wheelbarrow. The
operation commenced at 6 PM during the rush hour on a Tuesday evening. Pedestrians passing by gawked not
believing city workers would be working overtime and mixing cement in a wheelbarrow. Some stopped to read
the plaque and others asked what in the heck we were doing, while a few police cars drove by, cast a glance, and
continued on.
There were no applications applied for or permits grant-
ed for the marker and the city authorities appeared oblivi-
ous to the clandestine erection in the busiest section of the
city. There seemed to be no ramifications, even though,
a small article appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle
shortly afterwards and later a feature story shown on the
next page ran in the San Jose Mercury News- that city's
largest newspaper.
ORIGINAL SLOT MACHINE
THE FIRST SLOT MACHINES WERE MANUFACTURED
BY THE INVENTOR CHARLES FEY JUST WEST OF THIS
SITE AT 406 MARKET FROM 1896 TIL THE FACTORY WAS
DESTROYED IN THE 1906 EARTHQ UAKE AND FIRE. FEY,
A BAVARIAN IMMIGRANT, DUBBED HIS INVENTION TH E
" LIBERTY BELL" IN HONOR OF THE FAMOUS SYMBOL OF
FREEDOM . ULTIMATELY TH E SLOT MACHINE BECAM E
THE MOST FAMOUS GAMBLING DEVICE OF ALL TIM E.
DEDICATED 1980
E CLAM PUS VITUS
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