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If you were lucky enough to visit Bodie back in the 1950s, you may remember the stuffed magpie propped in the front window of the Cain house. Visitors peering into the window often questioned, “Why on earth would someone stuff a magpie and put it on display?” Some remarked, “How odd, but what a pretty bird.” Unbeknownst to them, others would surmise correctly, “It must have been someone’s pet.”

Arena Bell was the second youngest in her family of four children, all of whom were born in Bodie. In fact, her father, Lester was also born in the California mining town after his parents arrived there in 1879. These mining camp children were very resourceful in finding ways to keep themselves entertained. Stories linger of summer days spent digging holes to find buried treasure or sneaking off to the sheep camp to eat exotic stew with the herders and play with the puppies, or haltering up the old mare to ride bareback around the overgrown racetrack.

Another source of amusement was the wildlife. Arena’s brother, Bobby loved animals and he had a real knack with them. He was always bringing home animals he had trapped or injured ones he had rescued. His intentions were good, just wanted to have them around for pets. Bobby doctored those who needed it, found homes for some, kept others and freed most. He was known to bring home coyote pups, baby birds, a young bobcat, abandon dogs, feral kittens, and one time, to his mother’s dismay, a very angry badger. Needless to say, the badger was promptly released.

When Arena was about twelve years old, Bobby rescued a young magpie that had fallen from the nest. He was quite excited for he had heard of the intelligence of magpies; he knew that if he was gentle and diligent, he could teach the bird to mimic a few words. The name Maggie fit her perfectly. From across the room, Arena would sit quietly and watch her brother patiently coddle and talk to Maggie, hoping to get some kind of response. Maggie would sit on her perch, cock her head from side to side, and then take off to settle closer to Arena. After a week or more, Bobby gave up and told his sister that she could have the stupid bird. Much to his surprise, less than a week later, Arena proudly strutted around the house with Maggie on her shoulder spouting “Magena-Magena”. That day marked the beginning of an unusual kinship between Maggie and Arena.

As the summer months flew by, Arena’s pet was growing up to be a beautiful glossy, bossy bird. She continued to learn new words, “Pretty Girl”, “Go Home”, “Bobby Blue” (sounded like Obby- Oooh) and “Bossy Bird”. Children and adults alike came to the house to see Maggie. Every time there was a knock on the door the dog barked. It wasn’t long before the bird was barking too. The dog in turn would bark at the bird (and bird bark back at the dog!) She also learned to meow like the cat but her favorite pet to pester was the dog. The day that Maggie started barking was the day that Arena knew that this bird was going to be a lot of fun or a real pain.

Although Bobby talked about clipping her wings, it wasn’t necessary as Maggie never tried to escape. He was dumbfounded that his sister could stroll outside and down the road with Maggie contently perched on her shoulder. Arena and Maggie were the talk of the town! The two were inseparable. As fall drew near, Arena worried about what she was going to do with her feathered friend while she was in school. As it worked out, Maggie simply found a perch near the school door or on the fire house bell and waited for her girl to come out. At the end of class, the two friends would be seen walking home together.

Maggie became very protective of Arena. One crisp morning, while the kids were waiting for the school doors to open, a fight broke out between two boys who were standing near Arena. In a black and white flash with talons drawn, Maggie screeched and growled and flew into their hair, pecking at their ears, until both the boys ran off screaming in different directions. After that episode, if either of those boys got too close to Arena, a growl would rise in Maggie. There were others too that Maggie didn’t take a liking to. It became common knowledge that nobody messed with Arena!

One day, Maggie followed the kids inside the schoolhouse. Mrs. Ella Cain was the teacher and of course she was not about to have a bird interrupting the days lesson. The kids were laughing and trying to catch Maggie which was making matters worse. Maggie flew into the walls and windows while Arena tried her best to calm everyone down so she could collect her bird. As Maggie darted in and around the room, Mrs. Cain smacked her with the broom. Maggie fell with a thud to the floor. The silence was broken with a whimper from Arena as the ugly moment was realized. Arena dropped to the floor. The children rushed to her side to see for themselves. Mrs. Cain was horrified that she had just killed Maggie in front of the children. She only intended to scare the bird out the door. Using her apron, Arena gently cradled Maggie’s limp body, her black shiny head drooping loosely to the side. Big crocodile tears streamed down her cheeks as she gently rocked the dead bird. Bobby pushed his way through the kids to kneel by his sister. He took a close look and shouted, “Wait! She’s still breathing!” The class erupted in joy when Maggie woke up. Bobby made a quick assessment and ruled that Maggie had survived her near death experience with no injuries. Mrs. Cain was greatly relieved and to show her concern, she allowed Maggie to stay for the day, as long as she remained on a perch that the kids had happily created.

Maggie lived for several years in the old town of Bodie. She seemed to enjoy puzzling visitors as she barked from atop the fire house bell. Residents would just smile when strangers would spin around and around looking for a dog. Some never did figure it out while others will never forget the barking magpie of Bodie.

On a cold winter day, Maggie went missing. Arena, accompanied by Mrs. Cain and the entire class, went on a search and came up empty. The next afternoon, an employee found Maggie on the floor of the Hydro-electric building. It was surmised that she was electrocuted while searching for a warm place to perch. Wrapped in a cloth, her body was delivered to Mrs. Cain who had the heartbreaking task to tell the worried children. Needless to say, everyone grieved with Arena.

Mrs. Cain wanted to memorialize this special bird and hired the local taxidermist. For years, Maggie would be seen in the window of the Cain house. When the Cain’s were clearing out of Bodie, Maggie moved to the front window of the General Store in Bridgeport. The story of Maggie would be told to curious people who wanted to know “Why in the world do you have a stuffed magpie in the window?”

Written in loving memory of Arena Bell Lewis 1917-2010 and Bobby Bell 1914-2003