Table of Contents
Vintage Bus Trip to Old Calico Ghost Town
Nuggets From Needles by Maggie McShan
Azusa Paloosa by JoAnna Bannana
Get Your Kicks Fair
Azusa, Everything From A to Z in the USA by Richard Amadori, Jr.
Ballot Initiative Targets Bolo Dump
Is This Road Really Closed? by JoAnne Willis
Do You Have Any Maps? by Geoffrey Willis
Route 66 Revisited by Karen Hewson Nelson
VINTAGE BUS TRIP TO OLD CALICO GHOST TOWN
Saturday, June 10, 1995, California Historic Route 66 Association is hosting a day trip
to old Calico Ghost Town in an air-conditioned vintage 1954 former Greyhound Scenic
Cruiser.
The Scenic Cruiser will travel historic Route 66 from Fontana to Bartow. Point of
interest such as the Wigwam Motel, the California Theater, scenic Cajon Pass, Hulaville,
El Rancho Motel in Barstow and relics along the Mother Road will also be seen. Time
allowing we will visit the Barstow Depot and the former Harvey House, currently being
renovated.
After Barstow, our featured destination is Calico Ghost Town, just a few miles off
Route 66. Calico is a restored 1880s mining town and the home of Tumbleweed Harris and the
Legendary 1883 Mail Dog "Dorsey", Calico still has some of its original
buildings including Lil’s Saloon, the town office, Lucy Lane’s house and a
couple of stores. The wooden boardwalks down the one-street town are lined with versatile
shops, restaurants, and other attractions such as mine tours, a tram ride, the shooting
gallery, museums and the Calikage Playhouse, where you can still boo the villain. You can
even pan for gold, although Calico only boasted the richest silver strike in California
history. It is exactly the kind of family tourist attraction that has always enticed
vacationers on Route 66.
Our tour begins on Route 66 at 9:00 a.m. at Bono’s Deli & Restaurant
(presently being renovated), 15395 Foothill Boulevard in Fontana, between I-15 and I-215.
Plan to arrive early for coffee and donuts. Riders will also be offered a sneak peek at
our newly acquired "Mojave 66" photo exhibit , under restoration. Route 66
memorabilia and literature will be available for sale, a good opportunity for you to
acquire a Route 66 hat for that day at Calico Ghost Town.
The return trip to Bono’s will be about 7:00 that evening.
Join the fun in rediscovering America’s Main Street and Calico Ghost Town. $25.00
per person includes round-trip on the vintage bus and admission to Calico. You do not want
to miss the opportunity to swap tales with the local prospectors.
NUGGETS FROM NEEDLES by Maggie McShan
"Old 66 Nature Trail" is the latest addition to Mother Road attractions at
Needles. Look for small signs and trail guide box across from KOA, located on mesa a short
distance from Park Road, the most westerly I-40 off ramp out of Needles. This is our first
nature trail although we’ve talked about such an attraction for years. It is
"real cool" as the kids say, that it is tied into our historic road. Here’s
how it came about.
Jim Lambert, of Spike’s Realty, along with some associates, acquired 21 acres of
land that lies between 66 and I-40, and directly opposite the noted campground. They
planned an RV and boat storage facility for the property, and duly appeared before the
planning commission, where some objections were made by their neighbors across the road on
the grounds that a storage facility of that type might detract from one of the most
beautifully maintained KOA’s in the country. Promises of some screening shrubbery,
fencing, etc. got the proposed project past the PC and city council, but certain
environmental concerns had to be met, including surveys for desert tortoise, and Indian
artifacts. I was invited to do the latter.
Some ancient artifacts were found and collected to be placed in the Needles Regional
Museum, but I became even more fascinated with the diversity of native plants on the land.
Having heard both sides of the mild controversy over the development, I suggested to
Mr. Lambert that he allow John Hohstadt, local desert botanist, and I to lay out a nature
trail which would provide a fine mitigation measure and meet a need. There are four RV and
mobile home parks in the area, and as the study was being conducted many people were noted
walking along the road for exercise. Sometimes they would stop and ask me about plants. An
interesting walking path, away from traffic, was definitely needed. The developer agreed,
hesitantly at first, but soon realized the benefits and urged me to take some flower
photos for a nice brochure.
Mr. Hohstadt, a fine naturalist who doesn’t let grass grow under his feet when he
gets into a project, soon had the trail walked out, and perennial plants marked with
numbered posts. He built and erected a small sign, and attached a box to contain trail
guides. This is at the beginning of the trail, across the road from and almost opposite
the KOA entrance.
The trail winds over mesa and arroyo terrain, and is marked by red ribbons on bushes
plus rock cairns. About an hour is consumed in my moseying along the full length, and it
is delightful. Old friends such as desert lavender, the yellow flowered encelias, various
cacti, and that curious shrub, desert ratany are revisited. This is basically creosote /
bursage habitat and those two plants are profuse all along the trail. There is only one
ocotillo but it stands as a sentinel on a high spot at the most southerly part of the
trail. The two kinds of milkweed that exist here are present. They are ajamete or
bedstraw, and rope star, and they are plentiful. I found a small stand of wolfberry, which
produce small red berries that a Mojave lady once told me was used to make a cooling
drink. Annuals abound, but because of their transient nature were not marked. Among these
are two kinds of poppies, the delicate little minutiflora and California gold. A list of
annuals will be made later for the trail guide box along with the numbered guide to
shrubbery and cacti.
This was a personally enriching project.
AZUSA PALOOZA by Joanna Banana
The Azusa Foothill Drive-In Theater’s dynamically lit marquis says this is one
drive-in that hasn’t bit the dust! It is fitting that this is the setting for Azusa
Palooza, not just an event, but the entertaining results of a Los Angeles breed of young
people who bring cult status to "what is old is new again". Azusa Palooza is
their tongue-in-cheek tribute to cold war era culture.
The live entertainment celebrates the release on 45 rpm the steak and cocktail sound of
THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF JOEY featuring turbaned organ guru Korla Pandit. Pandit was popular
on 50s TV and recently appeared in the cult film Ed Wood. Also appearing: THE
RINGLING SISTERS, an alternative kind of Lennon Sisters act. The twangy, early sixties
sounds of the PHANTOM SURFERS and the AZUSA SENIOR MERRY MAKERS, famous for their pots and
pans percussion and Azu, Azu, Azusa song, will keep the fun coming.
GREAT AUTOS FROM YESTERYEAR will tool around the lot and forgotten mid-century fashions
courtesy of JET RAG will complete your cultural re-education. Retro film clips will
flicker on the big screen throughout the musical program, followed by a double bill of
campy drive-in classics. CHR66A will have a booth.
Be there. Saturday, June 17, 1995, 7:00 p.m. to midnight, AZUSA FOOTHILL DRIVE-IN
THEATER, 675 E. Foothill Blvd. (at Alosta).. Food: Snack bar has usual treats including
fresh Mexican fare.
GET YOUR KICKS FAIR The annual San Bernardino County Fair, Victorville, has
officially changed its name to the Get Your Kicks Fair. CHR66A’s premiere
showing of our 24-panel Mojave 66 photo exhibit will be featured in the photography
building with other displays. Our booth will be located near the "filling
station", a beer garden in the guise of an old fashioned gas station.
The fair runs from July 29 to August 6, 1995, and begins with a parade involving some
200 vintage cars. Ranks start at George Air Force Base and at 11:00 a.m. follows Historic
Route 66 to the fairgrounds on Seventh Street in Victorville.
AZUSA, "EVERYTHING FROM A TO Z IN THE USA" by Richard Amadori, Jr.
Some time ago, in response to a caller’s request, I was asked to find out whatever
became of the old monolithic Azusa sign on Route 66. However, after research and writing,
I still did not have a photo.
Well there I was at the Summit Inn having dinner with the other members of our
association who had gone on this vintage bus trip through the Cajon Pass. I was browsing
through the Inn’s reproductions of vintage post cards when, lo and behold, there it
was: A post card of the Azusa sign. This was the only one in the entire rack. In fact, it
was tucked away in the middle of some other completely different post cards. Go figure!
The Azusa sign has quite an interesting history. It was erected in 1923 as a war
memorial monument dedicated to the three men from Azusa who died in World War I. It only
stood for 23 years, though, because as traffic increased through the intersection of
Foothill Boulevard (then known as Center Street) and Azusa Avenue, the monument went from
being a landmark to be viewed, to a landmark to be cursed by the local residents.
Moreover, traffic on Azusa Avenue went in both directions at that time, as opposed to
one-way traffic as it flows today. It literally became a traffic hazard! Imagine running
into this thing at 35 or 40 miles per hour! Thus, the landmark was demolished in 1946
after a vote by the people.
However, today if you walk to the corner of Azusa Avenue and Foothill Boulevard you
will see a large round circular pattern in the middle of the intersection. It was right
here that this sign once stood. It had the words "AZUSA The Canyon City" across
the top with a brass commemorative plaque near the bottom. Now only a replica exists in
front of Azusa City Hall and photographs similar to the one shown here are on display at
the Azusa Heritage Museum.
Originally, the following article was supposed to be about the landmark sign only.
Obviously I had no idea what I was getting myself into. As I found out more about this
monument I found out more about Azusa too, (which happens to be where my family’s
business is located).
Azusa is one of the many cities you pass through while traveling between San Bernardino
and Los Angeles having many of its Route 66 landmarks remaining. The city sits right in
the heart of the San Gabriel Valley and is the gateway to scenic Azusa Canyon.
The name Azusa has different origins depending on whom you talk to. One origin comes
from the Gabrielino Indians who used the word azusa for "a place of
water". Anther comes from an Indian Village called Asuksanga (pronounced Azusanga)
which was known to exist at the mouth of the Azusa Canyon. Legend has it that azusa
was an Indian word for "skunk". For quite some time the Azusa Chamber of
Commerce used to promote the name as meaning "everything from A to Z in the
USA".
Azusa began an Rancho Azusa de Dalton. Henry Dalton bought it from previous owner
Donald Luis Arenas in 1844. The ranch extended as far east as what is now Pomona and as
far west as what is now Arcadia. Dalton bought this vast ranch for only $7,000. He lost
title to it in 1881 to banker Jonathan Slauson of Los Angeles. Unless you want to consult
the history books of all the towns which developed from this vast ranch, I think it would
be safe to assume that after 1881 the land was sold in smaller sections and the towns were
founded and developed. One of those towns was Azusa.
There was a bridge which carried travelers across the San Gabriel River from Azusa to
what is now known as Duarte. The bridge, built at the turn of the century, was constructed
primarily of wood. When the San Gabriel River was at a high water level, the bridge was
considered unsafe. Travelers would have to detour south to the nearest bridge which was
located in an area now known as El Monte. This bridge was wiped out during the Great Flood
of 1910. The alignment to replace the bridge was moved slightly south from its original
site and eventually became Route 66. It is still being used by travelers today.
There are many historic places to visit in Azusa. One of them is the Azusa railroad
depot. This is the second depot built in Azusa. The first was built in 1887 when the Santa
Fe Railroad was first coming through the San Gabriel Valley. The first building resembled
the depot in Flagstaff, Arizona which still stands today. Unfortunately, Azusa’s
first depot was deemed too old or unsafe and was torn down in 1946 (same year as the sign)
and replaced with a more commercial looking freight type building still being used by
Santa Fe.
Also while in Azusa check out Leo C. Nasser’s men’s clothing store near the
corner of Azusa and Foothill (right next to the Wells Fargo Bank). It’s a "66
Original" with the old glass bricks and "66 style" neon signs. Leo’s
is one of the few "mom and pop" stores around where you can still purchase
genuine Pendleton flannel shirts and hats. The 66 stories of "how it used to be
around here" are on the house.
Azusa is also the home of the Foothill Drive-In, one of the few drive-in theaters along
66 that is still in operation today. Just to the west of the site is what was one of the
original McDonald’s hamburger stands, Number 5, in a series of many. Until just
recently part of the golden arches and red and white tiles could still be seen. Now even
that has been stripped away to reveal what is just a skeleton of wood and metal.
East of the Foothill Drive-In is historic Citrus College, founded in 1915 as Citrus
Union High School.
After all that sight-seeing, I’m sure you’ll be hungry. Though no historic
restaurant exists anymore in Azusa on Route 66, you might want to try Corky’s Place
at 1050 West Foothill Boulevard. Once the Bright Spot Tavern around twenty years ago, they
now serve a delicious meal in an atmosphere that has all the feel and flavor of a genuine
Route 66 diner.
I would like to thank Adolph Sotis, Azusa City Clerk, and Jack William of the Azusa
Historical Commission for assisting me in my research. Both men have been residents of
Azusa since it was only a few houses and hundreds of citrus groves.
BALLOT INITIATIVE TARGETS BOLO DUMP
Former Assemblyman Paul Woodruff is spearheading the newly formed Clean Desert
Water Coalition, fighting the proposed Bolo Station Landfill near Amboy, California. This
so-called "landfill" (as reported in our past two newsletters) in truth would be
a massive trash heap far greater in size than the neighboring Amboy Crater. The dump
threatens the huge underground reservoir of clean water currently used by agriculture and
which is a potential source of future drinking water for Southern California. In many ways
the dump threatens the environment of the East Mojave.
The Coalition has drafted an initiative prohibiting any dump within 10 miles of
underground drinking water. They are currently circulating a petition to San Bernardino
County voters to put this initiative on the March 26, 1996 presidential primary ballot.
They must gather 35,000 valid signatures and submit them by mid-September of 1995 in order
to accomplish their objective.
All citizens of San Bernardino County who are concerned with the future of the Mojave
Desert and its reserves of potable water should seize this opportunity to speak out.
IS THIS ROAD REALLY CLOSED? By JoAnne Willis
Essex - As good natured as Jack Howard is, this is one question he’s sick of
hearing. Jack is the Postmaster of Essex on National Old Trails Highway aka Route 66.
Essex is near where the bridge is out, has been for over a year. Barricades are up and a
barrage of signs yards apart relay a number of instructions: Road closed between Essex
& Kelbaker Rd. and Detour I-40 are the most important. (This is what you encounter
east to west on old 66 in the Mojave desert.) For the locals there is a section of
pavement through the wash. It delays the school bus an extra five minutes each way. Since
the locals have to use it and determined 66ers want to "do their thing" it
tempts some to go around the barricade which could command a hefty fine, thus the
bewildered tourist and frustrated "locals" stop to see what the Postmaster has
to say.
Now Essex has three things: A post office, a K-6 school and a Caltran’s yard, so
when Jack Howard goes home for the day and is trying to eat his dinner, there’s often
a knock on the door, and what do you suppose they ask? What’s more, almost daily, and
sometimes twice a day, motorists are stranded without gas. This means the Howards give new
meaning to the term good samaritan, like some ordained title, or station, or curse; but
from the tourists’ perspective, a God-send. Naturally, I surmised that many of these
tourists were foreigners. Howard says in the last three or four years Germans are
outweighing the percentage of Europeans and Asians, but recently an amusing first was
trying to communicate with three Chinese nationalists.
Important note: The Howards report Goffs Road to be bad. 66ers take this loop drive off
National Old Trails between Essex and Needles to see the old Goffs Schoolhouse and to
drive the original 1926 alignment. It has no roadbed. It’s just paved-over dirt.
Trucks who shouldn’t be on it make it worse for wear. There are no bridges, thus
running washes when it rains make this road inadvisable during such conditions.
For the east to west traveler then, at Essex, our advice is to take Essex Road north to
the I-40 detour. The drive should be pleasant and you might even turn this liability into
an asset.
Just north of I-40 are the Providence Mountains with a state recreation area at their
base. It includes Hole in the Wall campground (free), self-guided nature trail, old site
of Providence mining camp and Mitchell Caverns.
Amboy - I-40 west the detour ends at Kelbaker Road south down to Amboy, site of
Amboy Crater, but its famous landmark is Roy’s Café. Time has weathered this Jetson’s
space-age looking oasis with adjoining empty motel The café and gas pumps operate. A
mileage chart on the back of Roy’s Café business card shows Needles 73 miles to the
east and another 78 miles west to Barstow. I had asked Jack Howard back at Essex, when did
he last remember seeing Roy’s dynamic neon sign light up the desert sky? That got a
long pensive laugh.
Here the questions and the problems are the same as on the other end of the barricade.
I really enjoyed talking to proprietor of Roy’s and owner of Amboy, Buster Burris.
Had the detour hurt his business? He reports some days are dead, but in mid-April on
several attempts to catch him he was busy, especially when a thunder of motorcycles blew
in. Buster says besides the detour questions, the roads are bad and the signs are
confusing. One example he mentioned was about the tourists coming up from 29 Palms. Signs
pointed them to Amboy where they are expecting to find 66. When they get there the sign
reads National Old Trails Highway. Not knowing it’s 66, they drive all the way back
down a poor road, as is the condition of 66 west to Ludlow. (Obviously tourists would
benefit from our association’s guide, and where a sign committee when you need one?)
Desert Graffiti - By going up to the barricades just east of Amboy at Cadiz, you
will see "desert graffiti" on the berms on the edge of the road…The locals
don’t call it that, we do. For some 20 miles, mostly camouflaged rocks spell
"Jim & Sue" or "Earth Day" and so on. In 1992, only "Route
66" stood out in white rocks which you can see near Cadiz, but most of the graffiti
is in the miles between the barricades.
Ludow - From Amboy the washboardy road heads northwest to Ludlow at the junction of
National Old Trails and I-40. It’s also a one-man owned town (John Knoll and family)
with a 24-hour Chevron station. Calling the Ludlow Coffee Shop, could we be far enough
west to stop hearing about the detour? We talked to Bill, the cook there. With Old Trails
and 40 being absolutely parallel, even the locals use the interstate. Bill won’t take
his new car on it (66) west to Lavic Road because of one-inch-wide splits in the pavement.
The stretch in Newberry Springs is newly paved and everyone agrees it didn’t need
work like east of there. He also reports that travelers get confused when trying to stay
on Old Trails west out of Ludlow. There needs to be a sign pointing 66ers to the left
after Old Trails goes underneath I-40.
So, Bill, "What is the most frequently asked question regarding 66 at the coffee
shop" Bill: "Why is it taking so damn long to fix the bridge?"
WHY? CHR66A gets the same explanation we reported back in Fall 1994. Being that
National Old Trails Highway is a federal artery collector (major highway), the county and
state appealed to the federal government for repair funds. Since their fiscal year
doesn’t even begin until July 1995, unfortunately we can assume that the road will be
closed all summer! … and maybe longer.
"DO YOU HAVE ANY MAPS?" by Geoffrey Willis
As we enter a new travel season, the most commonly asked question to us is, "Do
you have any maps?" The clamor for maps has resulted in the appearance of numerous
guides meant to take some of the confusion out of Mother Roading". As you might
suspect, short of a volume the size of War and Peace, it is virtually impossible to
create a truly complete guide, due to the many different alignments assigned to Route 66.
Thus the best any author can do is piece together a version pleasing to him or her,
publish, and let the debate begin.
Here It Is! Route 66, The Map Series by Jim Ross (author) and Jerry McClanahan
(illustrator) is the first state-by-state fold-out map set tracing Historic Route 66. The
graphics are fun and capture the spirit of adventure that typifies the road. Although the
actual maps are a little crude, they provide a coherent visual representation of the route
by connecting various surviving segments and interstate detours. An accompanying sidebar
gives precise instructions to the motorist.
Each map contains a summarized history of Route 66 and its significance in American
life. A cartoon style illustration of the entire road provides a quick reference for its
geographic location in each state. Some historical background on the road specific to the
individual state is also included in each map.
Not surprisingly, important landmarks have been overlooked. Santa Anita Racetrack in
Arcadia, CA isn’t mentioned, nor is the recently restored Colorado Street Bridge in
Pasadena.
However, providing the easiest to follow set of historically reliable directions is the
primary objective here. On that score, I personally recommend this map series as the best
end-to-end Route 66 guide to date. To order, send $14.95 (add $2 S&H) to Ghost Town
Press, 13100 E. Old Hwy 66, Arcadia, OK 73007.
No discussion on Route 66 guides should overlook Bob Waldmire’s Nostalgic
Bio-regionally-Flavored Bird’s Eye View Map of Old Route 66. It consists of a
six-page numeric legend to be used in conjunction with an accompanying ten-page fold-out
map. However, the word map hardly does justice to what you will find. I describe it
as a free-hand pen and ink folk art extravaganza.
This really is not a definitive "how to" instruction manual. Rather, it is a
study of the road, its communities and its geographic regions. The map is not precisely to
scale, but is painstakingly detailed in its artwork of the various landscapes and
landmarks connected by Route 66. Many of his drawings have the look and feel of Civil War
era illustrations, bringing a charming style to this work.
Crammed with historic and environmental data, and an occasional dose of humor, this
map-guide-nature study-artwork thing is very unique and indispensable. It should be a part
of any serious 66er’s personal library.
To order, send $5.00 plus $1.50 S&H to Route 66 Clothing and Goods, PO Box 2875,
Orange, CA 92669.
Of course, I would be remiss in not mentioning that the California Historic Route 66
Association’s Guide to Historic Route 66 in California by Vivian Davies
and Darin Kuna is now in its third edition. It is still the best mile by mile handbook on
following the Mother Road through the Golden State.
To order, send $10.00 (includes S&H) to CHR66A, 2117 Foothill Blvd, #66, La Verne,
CA 91750.
Those preferring the pedal power over the horsepower can obtain Dan Mahnke’s Bicycle
Guide for Route 66 send $9.00 plus $2.50 to CHR66A, 2117 Foothill Blvd, #66, La
Verne, CA 91750
Route 66 A Guidebook to the Mother Road by Bob Moore and Patrick Grauwels
is certainly the most visually appealing book of its kind I have seen. Packed with
beautiful color photos by Yannis Argyropoules and snappy artwork by Michael Croes, this
guide makes a nice gift for a beginning road enthusiast. It is laid out to be followed
either east to west or vice versa. The authors have been thoughtful enough to refer the
reader to other publications about Route 66. Unfortunately, there are no instructions on
how or where to find them. Information on how to contact Route 66 Associations is another
considerate touch but is incomplete.
Historical profiles on many Route 66 towns and a sampling of better known points of
interest are included throughout. Disappointing to me, however, was the omission of the
Aztec hotel in Monrovia, CA, a significant historic landmark on an early alignment. The
Colorado Street Bridge in Pasadena, CA didn’t make it in here either.
A turn by turn account navigates you over the old road. However, his directions from
Pasadena to Los Angeles are, according to reputable authorities, completely inaccurate.
There are three well known alignments for this stretch which are not even mentioned. There
are numerous other points of contention as well. Perhaps part of the fun of chasing a
ghost is debating where it is.
This guide also has 20 tear-out stamps with landmark depictions to set in place. To
order: Send $19.95 plus $3.00 S&H to Route 66 Magazine, 126 W Route 66,
Williams AZ 86046. This offer good only through May 31, 1998. Regular price after May 31
is $21.95 plus S&H for an updated new edition.
ROUTE 66 REVISITED by Kara Hewson Nelson
My folks took my two-year old sister and me, age 6, from the Los Angeles area to
Fayetteville, Arkansas in 1942.
It was very dark and cold outside the morning we left. Mother said something about
having to get across the Cajon Pass before it got too hot. Katie and I went back to sleep
after the car started and when I woke the sun was just coming over the mountain tops ahead
of us. The sun was in our eyes for a long, long time that morning. The car became warmer
and warmer and Daddy finally put down his window while he drove, but at least the sun
wasn’t in our eyes anymore.
One afternoon we drove up a long, long hill in a desert. The car started acting funny
and my mother started saying not nice things to my daddy about the car.
"The tires are good, Meredith," Daddy replied, blowing cigarette smoke out
his open window. The smoke blew right back into the window behind him, where I was
sitting. It smelled like Daddy.
"Well, there’s something else wrong!" Mother continued.
The car started going slower and slower and then steam started coming from under the
car hood. We finally got to the top of that mountain and lo and behold! What good fortune
we had! There was a filling station at the top of the mountain.
Well, Katie and I got to get out of the car and walked over to the edge of the asphalt
area and looked way, way across the valleys to lots of other mountains. We couldn’t
go too far for Mother would call to us when we got too close to the edge.
Daddy took a water hose that belonged to the filling station and put it right into the
fill hole of the radiator and poured a lot of water into the car while the motor was
running. Bees and bugs and all sorts of ooglies tumbled out when the radiator got full of
water.
It was a lot cooler on top of that mountain while we were at that filling station, and
Daddy bought a Coke for Katie and me to share. We got to go potty while we were stopped
and, before we got back into the car, Mother washed our hands and faces with the same hose
Daddy used to flush out the radiator. She said we didn’t need a towel — the
desert heat would dry us real fast. Sure enough, my hands were dry before I got back to
the car.
I remember taking one last, long look before we left at all those beautiful mountains
that we could see from that very high place.
We drove for days, it seemed like, before we got to my grandmother’s home. Time
passed, as it does.
Some thirty years later, I was vacationing with friends near Bullhead City, Arizona
when they decided to "wander over to the old ghost town". We drove into the
little, almost deserted village, parked the car and did the tourist things in the shops.
"There’s a beautiful lookout about a mile up the other direction. Want to
take it in before we head back?" We agreed and were there in just a few minutes.
I had never experienced so-called déjà vu — but somehow I knew I had been
there before. We got out of the car and wandered around the top of the mountain. I walked
over to the edge of the asphalt area and looked way, way across the valleys to lots of
other mountains. Remnants of an asphalt paving, the brief outline of a building
foundation, and a portion of a gasoline advertising sign were all that clustered the wide
place in the road.
I guess it was the sign that did it. I suddenly was six years old and the building was
in place, the cars were there, the water and bugs and bees were all running over the
asphalt.
"I’ve been here before," I told my companions. They laughed. "It
was a long time ago."
The Oatman Grade had seemed so long and steep in 1942 when traveling in a 1930 Buick.
