California Historic Route 66 Association

Oasis

by Bill Smith, Newberry Springs

For as long as I can recollect, whenever any of my family and friends get together, the conversation always seems to turn to their memories of Newberry. This memory comes from my cousin Bob Kimmell, who as a child (1929-1937) in the depression, lived with his mom and dad and brother in a small tar paper covered shack, four miles east of Newberry School.

In 1933 or 1934 the highway through Newberry was a flurry of activity, most of it headed west bound. This was the time of the great dust bowl in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Northern Texas and Southern Nebraska. These poor people, most of them small farmers and share croppers, had literally seen their land and livelihood blow away after years of drought. Their determination to survive as families and the news of work to be found in the citrus groves of California, created a vast exodus west.

They piled their early 20's vintage autos and trucks high with as many belongings as possible. The remainder they sold at a pittance for travel expenses. The family members from grandmas to toddlers would ride wherever they could squeeze in and hold on.

Most of these people had very little education and likely had not ventured more than a few miles away from the familiar surroundings of home in their lives. You can imagine how they must have felt after leaving the Colorado River with its water and trees to journey West. At first elated that they had made it to California, soon their dreams were dashed. Surely this can't be the California they had heard of.

After traveling all day, mile after barren mile of waterless dry desert. They top a rise in the road surrounded with black lava rock to look across a vast valley. In the right foreground is another of those dry lakes, but far up ahead, the normal shades of desert brown give way to green. The first trees and water since the Colorado River.

This place is called Newberry. People are camped in every patch of shade. The hub of the camps seems to be under the big cottonwood trees at the springs. It is protected from the West wind by the small hill on the North side of the road. The wild grape covered mesquite trees that spread out from the springs have their share of campers also. Mothers are yelling "stay out of the road" as youngsters burn off the days pent up energy. Hoods are up and tools are shared, flat tires on wooden spoked wheels are patched. The water is cool and sweet and makes fast work of washing off the road dust. As darkness falls the heat of the day vanishes. Fires are lit, the camp takes on the look of a small town.

California isn't going to be so bad after all.

Copyright 1995, William E. Smith, All Rights Reserved

Newberry Springs Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 116
Newberry Springs, CA 92365
Phone: (760) 257-1072

 

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