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W.K.F.L. Fountain of the World
Krishna Venta in the Boulder Shelter
60 Box Canyon
W.K.F.L. Wisdom Knowledge Faith Love
Fountain of the World
585 Box Canyon, for sale $6.2M, 11.3 acres
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From 1949 to the 1960's, the cult "The Fountain of the World", run by Krishna Venta, resided in two places in Box Canyon,
Chatsworth Lake Manor. In 1958 two suicide bombers, former cult members upset by their leader's sexual misconduct,
blew themselves up at the headquarters building, killing Krishna Venta and seven others.
The remains of the site at 585 Box Canyon Road is for sale today, $6.2 million for 11.3 acres.
This presentation will be divided into four parts:
•Krishna Venta's background, born Francis Pencovic in San Francisco in 1911.
•The lower site at 60 Box Canyon, the Boulder Shelter (1950 to 1954)
•The upper site at 585 Box Canyon, The Fountain of the World (1949 - 1970) no mention in newspapers after 1969,
stories that Charles Manson stayed at the Fountain for several months in 1968.
•A 25 minute film made by Callie Shanafelt, a daughter documenting her father and uncle who lived as children at The
Fountain of the World. Her grandparents and their one year old child died in the 1958 bombing.
This presentation will be posted at our website, chatsworthhistory.com, Digital Archives, Presentations.
Introduction
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Introduction
•This program is timely as the Fountain of the World property in Box
Canyon is up for sale. The long-time owner of 585 Box Canyon is
Phil Shiver, who has owned property in Box Canyon since 1967.
He recently sold it to an acquaintance and it is up for sale. 1997-05-04 Ventura County Star pg1
•The article above discusses how newcomers to Box Canyon have brought County Inspectors.
Phil Shiver is quoted as saying "Some people could call it junk, but one man's junk is another
man's treasure."
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Introduction
Box Canyon: When 2 cultures clash
Phil Shiver went to jail for four months as a result of his
violations. He said he would rather serve the time than accept
three years probation and pay the $250 fine the court offered
him.
"I won't take probation for any reason because you're under
contract with the government," he said. "Then all they have to
do is allege that I'm a bad guy and they can jack me anytime.
"If your freedom ain't worth fighting for, you don't deserve it."
1997-05-04 Ventura County Star pg2
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Introduction
Next up: A 2-minute video, "Xanadu"
585 BOX CANYON, Ventura County
PRICE RECENTLY IMPROVED TO $6,200,000
BY HOLLY HATCH AND CHRIS JOHNSON
Welcome to Xanadu, a hidden gem nestled within the breathtaking Santa Susanna Hills of Ventura County. For more than
75 years, Box Canyon has remained a well-kept secret, preserving its rich history of life and love, which is truly unique to
Southern California. Secluded just far enough to provide the feeling of being in the middle of nowhere, yet conveniently
close to everything you need, this pristine landscape awaits a grand transformation.
Upwards of 16.8 acres, and 10 separate APN’s, each with its own story to tell. Explore a mesmerizing terrain adorned with
mysterious caves, intriguing buildings, and a concealed waterfall, multiple artesian wells, all of which add to the allure of
this remarkable property.
Xanadu https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxsaX876N58&t
https://hollyandchrisluxuryhomes.com/box-canyon/
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Introduction
•In 1949, Krishna Venta's cult was living
at 60 and 585 Box Canyon Road, both
properties owned by Floyd and Essie
Berry, early real estate investors in
Chatsworth Lake Manor pgs 30-35
•In the 1950 census, Floyd and Essie
were living at 23300 Valley Circle Drive,
today's Log Cabin Mercantile Co.
•In the 1950 census, Krishna Venta and
his wife Ruth were living at 662 Box
Canyon with their 3 children
Occupation: Teacher of Philosophy
Industry: Spiritual Group
Census Taker notes: This person head of religious cult. Refused to give age & place of birth.
Left an I.C.R. to be sent directly to Bureau of Census.
3 houses also listed under same number, because there is only one "head" the "Master", namely Mr. Venta.
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Introduction
585 Box Canyon Parcel map 7.45 acres in yellow. The other parcels north
of 585 make up the balance of the 11.3 acres for sale.
The headquarters building that was blown up in 1958 was at today's
535/533 Box Canyon (built in 1960 and 1979)
585 Box Canyon Assessor's map, Lot 9, W.K.F.L. circled in red
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Krishna Venta (Francis Pencovic) early timeline
•Francis Herman Pencovic (1911-1958) was born in San Francisco on March 29th, 1911 to Albert
Pencovic (1888-1963), a Jewish immigrant from Romania and his wife Maude Busenbark (1889-1981),
born in Utah. His father remarried in 1914.
•His mother Maude was previously married to Chester Fenner in Reno in 1909. They moved to San
Francisco, Chester ended up in San Quentin, and they were divorced.
•It appears Maude and Albert Pencovic had Francis as an illegitimate child in 1911. At the age of 3 it
appears that Maude gave her child up for adoption in Utah to Maggie Jessen. In 1915 Maude married
Andrew Hansen in Pocatello, Idaho.
•Note: In a 1949 newspaper article, Krishna Venta said Francis Pencovic was the name of a child who
disappeared from San Francisco "miraculously" at the age of 3.
•Maggie Jessen was married to Nephi Jessen in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1905. Nephi died in 1913, before
Francis was adopted. Francis was brought up under the Mormon religion by a single mother.
•In the 1920 census (age 9) he is listed as Frankie Jessen, the adopted son of Maggie Jessen (from Utah)
in Elko, Nevada. In 1927 Frank Jessen is a member of the Elko High School Glee Club.
•In 1930 (19) in El Paso, Frank Jessen is arrested for burglary, sentenced to 90 days in county jail.
•In 1932 (21) in Los Angeles, Frank Jessen is arrested for petty theft, sentenced to 90 days in jail with 60
additional days suspended.
•In the 1940 census Francis Pencovic (29) is married in Berkeley, Ca to Geneva Webster, they have two
children, Peter and Laveta.
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Krishna Venta (Francis Pencovic) timeline
•On March 29th, 1945 (34), Francis Pencovic marries
Ruth Britzell from Utah. (Note: He was married on the
same day as his birthday; in 1945 this was also Good
Friday. All weddings at the Fountain will take place on
March 29th)
•In July 1945 he enlists in the Armed Forces at Fort
Douglas, Utah, and is discharged in December of that
year.
•In 1946 (35), he speaks for the first time as Krishna
Venta, (no beard or robe)….Do You Want Wisdom?
1946-06-27 Krishna Venta Ogden Standard Utah
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Krishna Venta (Francis Pencovic) timeline
•1946-09-21 Krishna Venta Speaks in St. Louis, world
prophecies, from India
•1946-11-14 Speaks in Cincinnati, a prophet from India, no
accent is proof of his mind power
•1947-05-08 Speaks in Florida, Evangelist Philosopher
•1947-06-01 article on Krishna Venta, in Florida writing a
book. He is a tall lean man with monogramed white silk
shirts and white pants. Monogramed in a circle of pale
blue are the four letters WKFL …his creed, Wisdom,
Knowledge, Faith and Love.
•1947-06-20 Speaks in Boston, Philosopher from the valley
of Shangri-la, India.
•1947-08-03 Portland Maine -- Nepal-born Krishna Venta,
descended from Altantians and Shangri-La residents.
1946-09-21 St Louis Post Dispatch
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Krishna Venta (Francis Pencovic) timeline
•1948-02-14 Speaks in Arizona, 15-hour program on world
prophecies
•1948-04-03 Speaks in Denver, on a mission to save the world,
with Florida license plates
•1949-03-02 Man in Denver wears no shoes, protected by an
“aura”, taught by Krishna Venta (the voice)
•1949-03-12 London Bound arrives in New York from Denver,
with wife Ruth for a series of Lectures in Europe. He is
bearded, dresses in shrouds and wears no shoes.
•He leaves for a two month swing through England, France,
Denmark and Italy.
1949-03-12 arrives in New
York from Denver on his
way to Europe
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Krishna Venta (Francis Pencovic) timeline
•In London Krishna Venta has come to bring Britain "into the
fold"
•Krishna Venta means Christ Everlasting. He calls himself the
"New Messiah" and "The Voice". And says he is 1,900 years
old.
•He said supporters were paying for his trip to Britain, and that
he has 80,000 followers in the United States.
1949-03-14 The
London Daily Mirror
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Krishna Venta (Francis Pencovic) timeline
•In London, American Police
tell Scotland Yard that
Krishna Venta is a
convicted burglar.
•In Rome, he arrives in
hopes of seeing the Pope.
Vatican guards thought it
was an April fools joke.
1949-03-21 Police tell Scotland Yard
new messiah is a burglar born in San
Francisco The Daily Telegraph Sydney
Australia
1949-03-31 Krishna
Venta in Rome may
speak with Pope he
hasn't talked to in
1,845 years
1949-04-01 Krishna
Venta turned away
from Pope guards
thought it was an April
fools joke Metropolitan
Pasadena Star News
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Krishna Venta (Francis Pencovic) timeline
•1949-04-27 Krishna Venta
returns to Los Angeles from
his trip to Europe.
•He returned to gather his
flock of 145,000 faithful to a
five-acre plot near Reseda.
•He arrived with a passport
bearing the name Francis
Pencovic.
•Venta said it was the name of
a child who disappeared from
San Francisco "miraculously"
at the age of 3.
1949-04-27 Los
Angeles Daily News
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Krishna Venta (Francis Pencovic) timeline
•1949-06-25 Krishna Venta builds 4,000 sq ft temple-home at 18829
Saticoy Los Angeles Daily News
•1949-07-12 Plane Crash in Simi Hills, 33 die, 15 injured
1949-06-25 Los Angeles Daily News
1949-07-12 Los Angeles Times photo
Krishna Venta, bearded mystic who calls himself "Christ", played a heroic role today by assisting in
the rescue of 15 survivors of the tragic Standard Airlines crash in the Santa Susana Hills.
"I heard the plane flying low over my ranch nearby and then heard it crash" he said. "I ran barefooted
to the scene with a friend and started doing what I could for the injured".
1949-07-13 Los Angeles Times "Krishna Venta, left, self-styled "Christ", who maintains a monastery
in a stone house near crash scene, and Brother Paul, one of his disciples, give aid in carrying one of
the victims to an ambulance. They also helped search for the dead.
The crash site was above Thompson Ave and Bell Ranch Rd/Mesa Dr. 1.6 miles from 585 Box Cyn
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60 Box Canyon, the Boulder Shelter, 1939
•Floyd and Essie Berry owned the home at 60 Box
Canyon.
•They started building the home in the canyon in
1929, 10 years ago, a house that has for its walls,
floors and ceilings the natural rock formations of
Box Canyon.
•The Berry's have not cut into the rocks, but have
built their home around them, utilizing holes and
crevices for bookcases, windows, stairways, doors
and fireplaces.
•A heavy iron cable runs from the sun porch to the
opposite side of the ravine, carrying an elevator car
for freight and passengers.
1939-06-27 Floyd Berry Rock
House Hollywood Citizen News
17
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60 Box Canyon, the Boulder Shelter, 1939
• 1939, A second article…
1939-06-29 Floyd & Essie Berry Rock House
San Fernando Valley Times
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60 Box Canyon, the Boulder Shelter, 1948
•May 1948, Sunset Magazine
features the Boulder Shelter.
•"The house was not built of
necessity, but simply because
its builders, Mr. and Mrs. Floyd
Berry of Chatsworth, California,
fell in love with the large
boulders shown here."
•We contacted the Sunset
Magazine archives at Stanford
University, and they shared with
us the original pictures used in
the May 1948 Sunset Magazine.
May 1948 Sunset Magazine
19
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60 Box Canyon, the Boulder Shelter, circa 1950
•Krishna Venta at carved face in Boulder Shelter Dining Area
•Notice the lighting, angle and backdrop behind the carved face that
brings out the features of the sculpture in the Krishna Venta photo
Dining Area photo
May 1948 Sunset Magazine photo from
Sunset Magazine archives
The detail of the carved face was not
seen in the magazine article, until we
received the original photos.
Circa 1950 to 1954(1)
Krishna Venta at Boulder Shelter
1948 Larger view of
carved face
(1) Sister Helena's diary states that they moved into the Rock House Dec 12, 1950, and left
Oct 6, 1954.
20
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60 Box Canyon, the Boulder Shelter, 1948
Left Entrance Doorway Above Cooking Alcove
May 1948 Sunset Magazine photos from Sunset Magazine archives
21
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60 Box Canyon, the Boulder Shelter, 1948
Above Bedroom Right Looking into Living Room
May 1948 Sunset Magazine photos from Sunset Magazine archives
22
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60 Box Canyon, the Boulder Shelter, 1948
Left Dining Area Right Living Room
May 1948 Sunset Magazine photos from Sunset Magazine archives
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60 Box Canyon, the Boulder Shelter, 1954
CULTISTS PRAY FOR LANDLORD 1954-10-07 Valley Times
Led by "brother" Paul, foreground, members of the WKFL Fountain of the World religious cult prays for Sgt. George Lampson, who forced
them to move from one of their Box Canyon camps for non-payment of a year's rent. Owing $2,600, and with their leader Krishna Venta in
New York, barefoot women and bearded men later trudged up canyon to other home, which they own themselves. --- AP Wirephoto
24
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60 Box Canyon, Cave Falls, 1963
1963-03-12 Cave Falls Fountain
of the World LA Times pg1
•March 1963, it is owned by
Marvin Rubin and Bill Tara.
•Caption on the photo reads:
Weekend outing in Cave --
Artistically inclined group meets
Saturday and Sunday
afternoons for a bit of music in
the main room at Cave Falls,
the former home of the Fountain
of the World cultists.
25
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60 Box Canyon, Cave Falls, 1963
1963-03-12 Cave Falls Fountain
of the World LA Times pg2
•Jerome Bixby is resident
manager
26
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60 Box Canyon, Cave Falls, 1964
1964-10-17
LA Evening Citizen News
•Per owner Marvin Rubin, the original house
took more than 20 years to build, and much of
the work was done by Floyd's wife Essie
Berry.
•Rubin said Essie, a mystic, built all of the
original rooms out of fire-seasoned wood
"because she preferred the wood cleansed of
any former association".
•Krishna was a friend of the Berry family.
Essie Mae Berry
died in 1966 and is
buried at
Oakwood Cemetery
27
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60 Box Canyon, Cave Falls, 1968, 1974
1968-09-10 Valley News
and Green Sheet
•1968 Advertisement at right
•Circa 1974, Below, old sign from current owner, advertising Fall Session art
classes, Hugh Merry Jr. Instructor
•Hugh Merry owned 60 Box Canyon from 1974 to 2006
28
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60 Box Canyon, Cave Falls, 2015
Ann Vincent, Curt Brock, Gloria DeMuri
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60 Box Canyon, Cave Falls, 2015
Ann at carved face, erosion effected
30
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60 Box Canyon, Cave Falls, 2011
A screen shot from 2011 "The Fountain"
Dick Shanafelt sweeping the steps
31
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60 Box Canyon, Cave Falls, 2015
Top panorama of Ann in the dining area, above carved face
Lower photo shows remains of roof
32
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60 Box Canyon, Cave Falls, 2015
Ray at Entry door Gloria at the entrance looking into the living room
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585 Box Canyon, Fountain of the World, 1950's
"Ye who enter here enter in upon Holy Ground"
The Main Entrance to Fountain of the World Leads to Monastery
Sign at left of photo points to WKFL Headquarters
Today's 585 Box Canyon Road
Headquarters Sign outside of the Headquarters building that was
blown up in 1958
Today's 535/533 Box Canyon
34
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585 Box Canyon, Fountain of the World, 1969
1969-12-11 Hollywood_Citizen_News, pgs 1 & 3
•The Fountain now houses 15
men, women and children.
•The Manson Group first
visited in October or
November 1968.
•The Fountain group asked
the Manson family to leave,
and when they refused, they
went across the street to the
Ventura County Fire Dept
Station and summoned a
county sheriff.
35
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585 Box Canyon, Fountain of the World, 1969
1969-12-11 Hollywood Citizen News, pgs 1 & 3 article words
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585 Box Canyon, Fountain of the World, 1969
1969-12-11 Hollywood Citizen News, pg 3
37
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585 Box Canyon, Fountain of the World, 1992 memories
1992-06-04 Krishna Venta barefoot cult memories Simi Valley Star Enterprise pg1
Retired fire captain Audie Callaway liked Venta well enough, but saw the
religious leader as taking advantage of his position and earning a
reputation as a hypocrite.
Venta, according to Callaway and others, was a gambler and womanizer.
According to Callaway, during fire emergencies Venta slept in a car with a
different woman every night.
38
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585 Box Canyon, Fountain of the World, 1992 memories
1992-06-04 Krishna Venta barefoot cult memories Simi Valley Star Enterprise pg8
39
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Next….. A 24-minute 2011
documentary
"The Fountain"
By Callie Shanafelt
When Callie Shanafelt was six years old she
learned that her father grew up in a religious
cult near Los Angeles where her grandparents
were killed by suicide bombers in 1958.
Before their death her grandparents followed
Krishna Venta, a man claiming to be the
second coming of Christ. To demonstrate their
beliefs they pledged to live communally, go
barefoot, wear color-coded robes and grow
their hair long until peace and brotherly love
spread throughout the world. Callie’s father
tried to answer her questions about the
Wisdom, Knowledge, Faith and Love Fountain
of the World cult but he blocked out most
memories of his childhood and the night of his
parent’s death. The Fountain is a
documentary following brothers Fred and Dick
Shanafelt as they come to terms with their
childhood while helping Callie on her quest to
understand why her grandparents would join a
cult in an era of crew-cuts.
Available on Vimeo to rent ($1.99)
or buy ($4.99)
https://vimeo.com/ondemand/thefountain
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Sources and Acknowledgements
References:
•Special thanks to Gloria DeMuri, Chatsworth Lake Manor resident and Historian
•A 2011 Documentary by Callie Shanafelt, "The Fountain"
•Title Search data on 60 and 585 Box Canyon from Jennifer Romero
•Prepared by Ann & Ray Vincent in April 2024
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Appendix
The WKFL Crest Insignia, as seen on the
Headquarters Sign outside of the Headquarters
building that was blown up in 1958
Embroidered on all robes
WKFL in the center,
Wisdom, Knowledge, Faith, Love
On the Banner KV for Krishna Venta
In the center of the Banner
"Christ Immortal", written in Greek
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Appendix
1920 Census
Elko, Nevada
Row 13 Frankie Jessen,
adopted boy age 9
Mother Maggie Jessen
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Appendix
1940 Census
Berkeley, CA
Row 36 Francis Pencovic
Wife Geneva
2 children
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Appendix
1950 Census
Box Canyon, Simi Valley
Row 18 Krishna Venta
Wife Ruth
4 children
Occupation: Teacher of Philosophy
Industry: Spiritual Group
Census Taker notes: This person head of religious cult.
Refused to give age & place of birth.
Left an I.C.R. to be sent directly to Bureau of Census.
3 houses also listed under same number, because there is
only one "head" the "Master", namely Mr. Venta
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Any
Comments,
Questions, Memories?
