MILES STARTING FROM VISTA AND HELENDALE ROAD
1.0 National Trails Hwy and Vista. (turn right)
1.2 Cement slab (on right) immediately south of The Gables is the remains
of a gas station.
2.0 Building (on left) Union gas station and garage.
2.4 Cardoza Dairy (on right across tracks) was the old Pete Herlick
ranch. Later owned by Harold and Jackie Smith.
3.0 White Orange Cafe (on left) built during the depression. White Orange
had something to do with "coat of arms" belonging to the original owner whose
name was Blaine.
3.0 Minnie Von Dettum (on right). If you can pick out the tank house and
adjoining small building amongst the trees. This is where Minnie lived up into her 90's.
She slept in the tank house and cooked in the adjoining building.
3.1 Sage Brush Inn (on right) Beer joint and Texaco gas station. Domain
of the famous SAGE BRUSH ANNIE.
4.1 Bill and Alice Potopov on right. Bill sold gas and repaired cars
while Alice sold Lemonade in a yellow stand during the summer. Also had three rock
"auto courts".
4.1 Lola's place (on right). This was a cafe belonging to the Potopov's
but leased out to Lola. Now a private home.
4.7 Jim's Package Store (on left) Owned by Alma Brooks and named after
her boy friend Jim who died. She was a canasta fiend and had a card game going every day.
She sold beer, wine, tobacco and, a few staples. The Health Dept. tried to close her down
for only having an outhouse for a place of business but she fought back and won under the
"grandfather clause". Note how the new owners have cluttered up the yard and
demolished her old stone home.
5.0 North Bryman Road (on right) and cross tracks stood the oid
"talc tower" where they converted talc mined in the hills into baby powder, etc.
5.7 Cement slab (on right) All that's left of the home of "Dirty
Girty". He raised pigs and when the wind blew just right the whole country smelled.
6.6 South Bryman Road
6.9 Notice outcropping on hills to the left. Christine Love lived close
by them.
7.0 Frank New owned this cluster of little buildings. He moved away 15 to
20 years ago. Claimed he was a Hindu. (on left)
7.4 La Delta (on right) was a gas station and Greyhound Bus stop. The
small reservoir and water tower is about all that remains. It was run by a one legged
lady. Note small 'auto courts' in rear.
7.4 Robinson Road (on right) this is where Judge Bill Robinson lived. My
Uncle (Chris Beck) worked for him when he arrived in Oro Grande in 1907. Judge Robinson
ran cattle on the high desert and also had a farming operation here.
8.0 Lost Hog beer joint (on right). Every time it gets a new owner it
acquires a new name. It's been called Bit and Spur, Hawks Nest, Wagon Wheel, etc.
8.5 Danny's Place. A beer joint (on left). It is the square, flat roof
building. Now a private home. Also on the highway here Sage Brush Annie's favorite
boyfriend met his demise one night when he drove head on into an 18 wheeler.
END OF TOUR
In the early days the Greyhound Bus would leave off passengers in front of their homes
if they were fortunate enough to live along the highway. By the same token they would also
pick you up at most any gas station. Sage Brush Annie would hang a red bandana on a stick
and that was the signal for the bus to stop. Consequently many of the farmers along
Highway 66 could ride the bus back and forth to Barstow or Victorville and do their
shopping.
