Got to warn you up front — we’ve got an all-time villain waiting ahead on the backtrails of local history: the devil, himself.
And certainly, there are some lower-case scalawags lurking, too, along with heroes, innocent bystanders and general gee-whiz information.
We’ve got floods, heat waves, giant birds and perhaps the most significant date in Santa Clarita Valley history.
Don’t groan when you swing up into the saddle. It tends to give away your age …
WAY, WAY BACK WHEN
SO WHOSE FAULT IS IT? — The San Andreas Fault runs under Lake Elizabeth and a couple other minor ones are dangerously close. The body of water near the north end of Bouquet Canyon was called Rabbit Lake up until the early 20th century. Before that, it was known as La Laguna del Diablo — Devil’s Lake. Part of the reason was that because of the San Andreas, sulfuric gases emanate from the waters.
The story goes that the controversial Father Junipero Serra and a party of soldiers were jumped by Indians in October 1780. An Indian neophyte was sent all the way to San Gabriel for help. A Lt. Pico and some men rushed to the rescue, but were lost.
As legend has it, Pico swore that he would give his soul to the devil himself if he could find a road to reach Serra.
Now I’m not sure how darn accurate this is, but the legend is that the devil himself DID appear and pounded a highway for Pico to reach Serra.
The devil kept his end of the bargain but the young lieutenant welched, holding up his sword as a crucifix and driving Satan back into the ground. From the spot, the lake formed.
WHEN THE CAFETERIA, AUDITORIUM, GYM, CLASSROOM AND DETENTION WERE ALL IN THE SAME ROOM — The Mitchell and Lang families, on Sept. 16, 1872, started the second oldest school district in Los Angeles County. The families would just split up the year, holding classes in each other’s kitchens.
THE MISSING CLASS OF ’78. — That’d be, 1878. While the record books officially state that Newhall Elementary was founded on Sept. 17, 1879, it may not be the case. Some old-timers claim that the school first officially opened on the old Lyon Ranch in a bunkhouse a year earlier. It’s hard to say. Adai Lyon, one of the school’s first pupils, said that the school was at his ranch in the fall of 1878, but that he had moved back east to Maine for a year. The question arises: Why would they build a schoolhouse near what today is Stevenson Ranch when Mentryville, just a couple of miles down the road, had its own, thriving school? Any of you old-timers, who knew some old-timers, have any insight, give the Time Ranger a jingle.
BEALE HAD ZEAL — On Sept. 19, 1863, Gen. Edward Beale, the guy with the camels, took over an existing contract and continued digging what would be later named Beale’s Cut — the major north-and-south road linking southern and central California via Newhall.
MICHEL-MONTANA? — A little trivia: World-famous cowboy Montie Montana’s real name was Owen Harlan Mickel. He was born in Wolf Point, Montana, on July 4, 1925. He earned the handle of Montie at a rodeo when the announcer blew his name, calling him, “Er, uh, Montie of Montana, Montie Montana.”
SEPTEMBER 20, 1925
A CAR WRECK MOST WRETCHED A CENTURY AGO — There was just an absolutely horrendous accident on the old Ridge Route on this date. Family members transporting thoroughbred horses were making their way down the winding, dangerous road. The horses spooked, causing the trailer to overturn atop the car. In the mayhem, an 11-year-old girl was kicked to death and her brother and mother seriously injured. The father, driving the rig, was uninjured. The family was headed toward the Ventura County Fair to the horse races.
SEPTEMBER 20, 1935
THE THINGS WE TAKE FOR GRANTED — Most of us are hooked up to cable and satellite dishes that provide us with literally thousands of entertainment and information choices on any given day. Back on a Friday night, Sept. 20, 1935, the French Village was the talk of the town. The night club/auditorium was hosting a double feature: “The Phantom Express” and a comedy, “Nine Nights in a Barroom.” Two movies in one night, for the whole month. Wow.
HAND IT TO NEWHALL LAND FOR SHOPPING LOCAL THEN — They hired Tommy Frew II to build a 40-foot iron grader to be used in making roads on the ranch.
SEPTEMBER 20, 1945
GOVERNMENT TRAPPER, A JOB DESCRIPTION YOU DON’T HEAR MUCH THESE DAYS IN VALENCIA — This is one of my favorite stories. It has suchness. While making his rounds, government trapper E.L. Pineau was fired on from the other-worldly crags of Vasquez Rocks. Pineau reported someone shot his government truck — right in the logo — then added a few other bullets to the jalopy for good measure. A mounted posse, led by local ranch foreman Charles Costler, searched the back hills of Agua Dulce and Acton for several days, looking for the mystery sniper. There are a lot of suspicious minds with that much law enforcement and one of the posse members did a background check on Costler. Turns out the young foreman was the would-be assailant. He was also wanted on a variety of other charges and tragedy (or not) was he left a young wife and baby when he went to the pokey.
HAVING PITY ON THE CHP — Have to pity the Highway Patrol. When World War II ended, gasoline was de-rationed. That meant a flood of old cars with old, unsafe parts, speeding on the highways. Worse, the CHP was under strict budget cuts. Officers could only fill up with cheap gasoline and sometimes monkeyed around with additives (like kerosene) to spice it up. Worse still, officers could only use the phone for “dire emergencies.”
GENE DOTY, DOGGONE IT. STILL MISS YOU! — Special howdy to my pal, Gene. Mr. Doty arrived back in town on this date 80 years back after serving in Italy during World War II. His father founded the first car dealership and garage in the SCV. Gene would later start the Newhall Tennis Club. The dear fellow went to his reward in 1994 at the ripe age of 93.
SEPTEMBER 20, 1955
TOO DARN HOT! — Here we are, enjoying a mid-September more like a November, with even some healthy rain a couple days back. But in 1955 on this date? It was pure, unadulterated heck 70 years back. We continued to baste in temperatures above 108.
A BOY NAMED ‘SUE?’ — William S. Hart Jr., who sued the county over the disposition of his famous father’s will, did it again. Nearly a decade after showing up at his father’s cremation with a court order demanding the silent film star’s brain, Hart Jr. reopened his series of lawsuits against the county. Hart Sr. had left most of his massive estate to Los Angeles so they could open a park and museum. Hart Jr. would eventually lose this one, too. The younger died last year. Ironically, he spent much of his adult life, working in the SCV as a real estate appraiser. Imagine. Driving by a piece of property that should have been yours and was worth millions, even in saner markets.
OUT-OF-TOWN TEEN PUNKS — A quartet of vandals were apprehended, but only after a wild chase along the backroads where speeds exceeded 110 mph. The punks had earlier ransacked a house belonging to future Saugus High principal, “Merciless” Myron Sproul. They also savaged the car of future COC trustee Bruce Fortine. The gang also wrecked the home of Irvin Shimmin, superintendent of the William S. Hart Union High School District. Odd. The group was from Fresno. The punks went to jail. Bruce went to Pepperdine.
SEPTEMBER 20, 1965
HORRENDOUS FAMILY ACCIDENT — We truly are fortunate that the cars and highways are safer these days in Santa Clarita. From the 1920s to 1970s, there were horrendous accidents on our roads. On this date, a 7-month-old infant was the only survivor in her family. Her father fell asleep at the wheel on Highway 99. He died, along with his wife and their other two small children.
THE GREAT FRIENDLY VALLEY DAM DISASTER OF 1965 — We had another dam disaster on this date, but not quite as big as the St. Francis destruction from 1928. An earthen reservoir above Friendly Valley gave way, sending a flash flood of 2 million gallons of brownish water along Sierra Highway. The metro papers first played it up as an epic disaster. But no one was injured. Ten new houses were damaged from mud and debris.
RE: THE ABOVE — Oh. Mud & Debris? That’s the destructive river of silt, not the Castaic law firm …
SEPTEMBER 20, 1975
A FATAL FAMILY ARGUMENT — The second suicide by hanging happened within two weeks. A 63-year-old man, after a fight with his son, hung himself in his closet. Paramedics were unable to revive him.
BIG BIRD — Condors in the wild are making a comeback but not so 50 years back. Their numbers dropped in the Sespe from 60 to 43.
IF IT’S GOT CONCRETE ON THE BOTTOM, IT AIN’T A RIVER, IT’S A DRAINAGE DITCH — The Army Corps of Engineers yanked a $60 million plan to concrete many rivers and creeks. ACE went back to square one by holding information meetings with locals on how to solve the flood problem. The valley was pummeled with millions of dollars in damage from the epic storms of 1968 and 1970.
FROM THE SCV IRONY DEPT. — When the Army Corps of Engineers announcement to pull the plug on their flood control plan, the featured movie at the old Mustang Drive-in was “Tidal Wave.”
SEPTEMBER 20, 1985
COKE. NO JOKE. — This is my own personal and dearly cherished prejudice, but there’s nothing lower on the planet than a Pepsi fan. This date is of highest priority in my history rankings. Forty years ago, the Coca-Cola Bottling Co. brought back Old Coke to the SCV’s shelves. Earlier in the year, knuckleheads at Coke yanked the classic in favor of a less bubbly, sweeter version. Sales tanked. Interestingly, no one at the company was lynched for the decision. Pity.
HART-BREAK ENDING — Canyon High’s “Streak” continued. They held Hart in the final second of the game at the 6-inch line to take a 6-3 victory and keep their unbeaten streak of 25 intact. That amazing string of victories would make it all the way to 46. Way to go to my buddy, then-Canyon coach Harry Welch …
• • •
Thank you all for sharing your weekend morning with me, dear saddlepals. I’m going to mosey back to my quiet digs, have a pop (Coke, not Pepsi) and a cigar and take a nap under the oaks. I surely look forward to another trail ride through local history with you next week. Until then, be good to one another and — vayan con Dios, amigos!