area of San Bernardino County in Southern California, and to expand the
involvement of the public in collecting artifacts and preserving local history.
The Highland Area Historical Society
Home Page
Upcoming meetings and events
Meeting dates for 2024:
January 25
March 28
May 23
July 25
Sept.
26
*Nov. 21
The*November meeting will be held the third Thursday of November because of Thanksgiving.
The Highland Area Historical Society will be hosting its November meeting Thursday, November 21 at 7 PM. The meeting will be held at the newly renovated Highland Senior Center located on Highland Avenue at the entrance to the Patton State Facility.
Our guest speaker is retired Air Force Colonel Gary Underwood. He was the base commander during the closure of Norton Air Force Base. Gary will provide us with a PowerPoint presentation showing the steps involved in the closure. He will also give us a history of the base and highlight its significance over the decades.
We hope you will join us for this very insightful presentation. Admission is free. Please bring a friend or neighbor to this very popular presentation. Refreshments will be served.
We look forward to seeing you at 7 PM next Thursday. if you cannot attend in person, please sign on the Zoom session to enjoy this presentation.
HAHS General Membership Zoom Meeting
Time: Nov 21, 2024 06:45 PM Pacific Time
Meeting ID: 860 9806 7635
Passcode: 146420
Reminder: Yearly Dues are for the calendar year - January 1st to December 31st.
Memberships can be mailed to:
The Highland Area Chamber of Commerce
Highland Area Historical Society Book Price List
$40.00 - A Pictorial History of Highland by William Bill Calvert
$40.00 - Vol I"A Look Back by Kay Beattie
$40.00 - Vol II A Look Back by Kay Beattie
$20.00 - The History Behind Highland Area Street Names
by Nancy Alexander
$12.00 - A Guide to the Highland Historic District
by Nancy Alexander
Bill Calvert has been collecting Highland photos and artifacts for 25 years.
An idea began to take shape to chronicle the history of Highland from its early
days, when it was known as Messina, to 1987 when Highland was incorporated as
a city, through the use of photographs. The late Kay Beattie, who wrote the Looking Back articles for the Highland
Community News, was to collaborate with Bill on this project, but it became
too much for her. With her encouragement, Bill pressed on with the project. The Historical Society offered to “self-publish” this one-of-a-kind
book consisting of 207 pages of photos and historical narrative. Copies
of
Highland Area Historical Society meeting
Thursday, Nov 21, 2024
7:00pm PM (PST)
Memberships are $20 for individual or family and $75 for Sustaining Membership.
Highland Area Historical Society
P.O. Box 353 Highland, CA 92346
All Highland Area Historical Society Books are available at
The Highland Area Chamber of Commerce:
https://www.highlandchamber.org
Stop by their office M-TH 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
27255 Messina St., Highland, CA 92346
Phone (909) 864-4073
Fax (909) 864-4583
A Pictorial History of Highland, by
Bill Calvert
Contents
Before Highland... The Serranos
Page
1
Messina
Page
9
Highland Views
Page
13
Highland Business District
Page
23
East Highlands
Page
57
Churches
Page
65
Schools
Page
73
Trains, Street Cars & Depots
Page
81
Home Sweet Home
Page
91
Packing Houses
Page
123
Harlem Springs
Page
149
Molino
Page
153
Patton
Page
157
City Creek Road
Page
163
Fredlaba
Page
173
Highland Faces
Page
185
Annexation vs Cityhood
Page
195
More EL Rancho
Page
204
To order call:
The Highland Area Chamber of Commerce at (909)864-4073
and A Look Back...
By Kay Beattie
Vol.1
are available at:
The Highland Area Chamber of Commerce
Stop by their office M-TH 9:00
a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
27255 Messina St., Highland, CA 92346
Phone (909)
864-4073
Fax (909) 864-4583
Kay Beattie's A Look Back columns, (originally published in the Highland Community News), as part of a fund raising project.
Kay spent many, many hours pouring over old newspapers, visiting the Highland Library, the Smiley Library in Redlands, the San Bernardino Feldhym Library and the San Bernardino Historic Archives, as well as her father-in-law's, George W. Beattie, work, to find information for her "stories".
This body of work is an invaluable resource for the history of Highland and the surrounding area, and is deserving of being preserved in enduring and readily available format. It would be impossible to include all her columns in a single volume, so they have been divided into several.
The collection was compiled, edited and indexed by Nancy Alexander, President of the Highland Area Historical Society and City Historian.
The first volume is available now and will make great gift for anyone who is interested in Highland's rich history.
The cost is $40
"The History Behind Highland Area Street Names”
by Nancy Alexander
The History Behind Highland Area Street Names
by Nancy Alexander - $20.00
2024
Highland Area Historical Society meeting
Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024
7:00pm PM (PST)
Highland Area Historical Society Board Meeting and the General Meetings are canceled.
Hi All - After talking to Pat Sanford, we will be canceling our HAHS meetings for, September 26th.
This will include both the Board Meeting and the General Meeting.
Four of our Board members including Pat could not be there, and three different speakers have either not responded or cancelled. So I suggested to Pat, and he agreed, that we should just cancel for September 26th and resume with our next Board Meeting in October.
Thank you for your understanding.
Jeff Staggs
Charles (Chuck) Jojola
The guest presenter was Charles (Chuck) Jojola. Chuck has been a longtime resident of the area retiring from the Norton Air Force Base. He has conducted archaeological digs throughout Southern California and is very familiar with the significant land sites of historical significance.
Chuck currently spends his weekend conducting live demonstrations of Gold Panning for school children at events, including the Citrus Harvest Festival. He has also mined for precious rocks and stones throughout the area. He will be bringing some of the items he has found along with photos of significant finds. His presentation gave insight of the inhabitants of the land before the cities were built.
We also did a quick presentation of our entry into the Fourth of July parade in Highland.
Suzie Sopke about two very different weather events that occured during the Depression years that had a very big impact on Highland and surrounding communities. The Big Freeze in 1937 and the Great Flood of 1938
Suzie Earp, now retired, was the long time Water Historian and Archivist at Cal State San Bernardino Water Resources Institute and served as the Director as well. The Water Library she helped create is home to the largest collection of historic materials related to the Santa Ana River and watershed.
Jeff
San Bernardino Santa Fe Depot,
History Day at the Santa Fe event
Highland Area Historical Society meeting
Thursday, July 25, 2024
7:00pm PM (PST)
Program: Our speaker for the July 25, 2024 General Meeting
Highland Area Historical Society meeting
Thursday, May 23, 2024
7:00pm PM (PST)
Program: Suzie Earp weather events
History Festival at The Santa Fe Depot
9 am to 3 p.m. Sat. April 13, 2024
1170 W 3rd St, San Bernardino, CA 92410
San Bernardino had a huge party. Just in case you haven't heard, the citys historic Santa Fe Depot hosted the Inland Empire History Day at the Santa Fe.
The extravaganza, which is free, is planned from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 13. It should be great fun as well as an interesting way to learn about the regions colorful past.
There wase historical societies from San Bernardino and Riverside counties with displays in the depot lobby. Several local history authors were there ready to "talk history" as well as have copies of their work for sale.
The day will also featured interactive pioneer living history demonstrations and gold panning opportunities for families, folk/bluegrass music and a food vendor.
26th Annual Citrus Harvest Festival
March 30, 2024, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm POSPONED ONE WEEK DUE TO RAIN FORCAST
Location
Palm & Main Street, Highland CA,
6956 Palm Ave, Highland, CA 92346-4951,
United States,Highland, California
Highland Area Historical Society meeting
Thursday, March 28, 2024
7:00pm PM (PST)
Program: A Trifecta of Citrus Harvest Festival Speakers
There was a trifecta of speakers about The City of Highland's Citrus Harvest Festival.
City of Highland Assistant Development Director Kim Stater discussed the history of the Citrus Harvest Festival which is She gave an overview of the history of The City of Highland's Citrus Harvest Festival the activities the festival offers. One of the activities is the car show.
Car owner Larry Galvan has won many awards for his vehicle. He spoke about the commitment to maintain and show a classic car.
HAHS VP Jeff Staggs elaborated about the car show.
Highland Area Historical Society meeting
Thursday, Jan.25, 2024
7:00pm PM (PST)
Program:
Our speakers for the January General Meeting was Chris Wilhite, the San Bernardino County Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk, and Genevieve Preston, County Archivist.
Assessor Wilhite has more than 36 years of appraisal and real-estate related experience. Prior to joining the San Bernardino County Assessor’s office in 2000, he was a fee appraiser in the private sector. He joined the Assessor’s office as an Appraiser Trainee and moved throughout the ranks as an Appraiser, Supervising Appraiser, Principal Appraiser, Assistant Assessor and in his most recent role as Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk.
Chris Wilhite Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk
Genevieve Preston has been the county archivist for the last 15 years. Before this she was in charge of the print and drawing room at the Huntington Library and Art Museum.
The mission of the San Bernardino County Historical Archives is to identify, collect, preserve, maintain, and make available records and historical materials relating to the County of San Bernardino.
The Archives serves as both a repository for these unique documents and as a resource center open to the public and county staff.
If you are interested in donating items, our acquisition policy, or would like to schedule a lecture, or tour, please telephone 909-387-1001, or email ARC-DLRecArchive@arc.sbcounty.gov Lectures, Tours and the Collection
The San Bernardino County Archivist is available, by appointment, to talk about Archives, or the History of San Bernardino County Government.
If you are interested in donating items, our acquisition policy, or would like to schedule a lecture, or tour, please telephone 909-387-1001, or email ARC-DLRecArchive@arc.sbcounty.gov
SBC Archives-Genealogical Resources
San Bernardino County (.gov)
https://arc.sbcounty.gov/archives/
The San Bernardino County Historical Archives has copies of Birth and Death records from 1873 to 1926 that can be viewed in-house.
Check out their Viddeo
The Story of Highland, CA
https://youtu.be/BPUjc9lFwFE?si=7r26VrnG3dllWnGE
2023
Highland Area Historical Society meeting
Thursday, Nov.16, 2023
7:00pm PM (PST)
Program:"Highland Women's Club Celebrates its 125th Anniversary 1898 - 2023"
The speaker for the evening will be Jeannie Lindberg.
She is the current Secretary for the Highland Women's Club.
Research for this presentation was obtained from the Smiley Library, 100 years of newspaper articles from newspapers.com, and the Highland Area Historical Society.
Highland Area Historical Society meeting
Thursday, Sept.28, 2023
7:00pm PM (PST)
Program on the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department Museum.
Our program for Thursday September 28, 2023 was on the History of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department. The program was presented by Jim Munding and Larry Brown who organize and operate the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department Museum. In addition to the presentation they brought with them their fully restored 1950 Ford Sheriff's Patrol Car.
Five free Inland Empire event, Saturday, Sept. 9,
as part of Doors Open California, a statewide historic preservation event.
The event is one of five Sept. 9 events at historical sites in the Inland Empire, with others in Redlands, Banning and San Timoteo Canyon. https://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/
A History Hangout at Loma Linda’s Heritage Park is one of five free Inland Empire events planned Saturday, Sept. 9, as part of Doors Open California, a statewide historic preservation event. The public is invited to visit Heritage Park, 25976 Mission Road, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. for activities including guided tours of the park where there are four historic homes and a locomotive. Activities for children will include adobe brickmaking, leathercrafting, an orange packing game, a smudge pot game and a history timeline puzzle, according to a news release.
The Loma Linda Area Parks and Historical Society is conducting the History Hangout in conjunction with Doors Open California, an event intended to introduce the public to historic buildings and places not usually accessible.
The Loma Linda Area Parks and Historical Society also invites people to bring photos, documents or items related to local history to the event. Volunteers will scan and inventory items and return the originals to their owners, according to the news release. Donating use of the images will allow the Historical Society to make them available to researchers studying local history.
Guided tours of Heritage Park will start at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. Adobe brickmaking begins at 11 a.m., followed by the history timeline puzzle at 11 a.m., leathercraft at 1 p.m., a talk about the old locomotive at 1:30 p.m. and citrus packing game at 2 p.m.
Other events are 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Asistencia, 26930 Barton Road, Redlands; 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at the San Timoteo Canyon Schoolhouse, 31985 San Timoteo Canyon Road, Redlands; 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Gilman Historic Ranch and Wagon Museum, 1901 W. Wilson St., Banning; and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Malki Museum, 11795 Malki Road, Morongo Reservation, Banning.
The event at the Asistencia, a re-created adobe estancia of Mission San Gabriel, is presented by the Redlands Conservancy and Two Canyons Parklands. There will also be a side trip on San Timoteo Canyon Road to Gateway Ranch, 31313 Live Oak Canyon Road.
The San Gorgonio Pass Historical Society and Riverside County Regional Park and Open Space District present the event at the San Timoteo Canyon Schoolhouse, with an 1800s schoolmarm teaching about 1800s reading, writing and ‘rithmetic. There will also be a railway exhibit.
Visitors can ride a stagecoach and more at the Gilman Historic Ranch and Wagon Museum event, preceded at 10 a.m. by the Banning Stagecoach Days parade along Ramsey Street beginning at 10 a.m.
Activities at the Gilman Ranch include museum tours, face painting, gold-panning and games. At the Malki Museum, visitors can see baskets, artifacts and exhibits and see how native plants are used as foods, medicines and more.
Our speaker for our General Meeting, on July 27th, 2023, was Anthony Ortega Hospital historian and supervising social worker at Patton State Hospital.
Mr. Ortega presented a photo history of Patton State Hospital, which is the fifth state hospital established by the state of California to care for the state’s mentally ill. It was established in 1890 and named Patton State Hospital in 1927 after a member of the board of directors.
City of Highland Fourth of July parade
The Highland Area Historical Society will be participating in the City of Highland Fourth of July parade for 2023 with an homage to the citrus history past and the importance the railroad played!
You will you see our president, Patrick Sandford, with the fruit picking bag placing oranges into a crate. That is how fruit has been picked for the last hundred years. Please look at the new artwork on the retaining wall of the 210 freeway at the westbound on ramp of Baseline Street. Patrick will be demonstrating what the artwork represents.
After picking fruit would be cleaned, sorted and created up at the packing houses and loaded on train cars to start their journey to market in places as far away as the East Coast, Europe and the Far East.
Along the train route through Highland that was know as the “Kite Loop” the Highland Train Station, in Various renditions and configurations stood at the North, East corner of Palm and Pacific where to this day you can see most resent stations foundation.
Civic leader and Highland Area Historical Society member Jody Scott will be helping out with keeping the train of progress moving forward while honoring our community history.
We hope to see you along the parade route on Baseline Between Palm and Central to the YMCA.
Highland Area Historical Society meeting
Thursday, May 25, 2023
7:00pm PM (PST)
Program: Joe Frink, the second part of his story about the Frink Adobe
Hi All,
Our speaker for our General Meeting on May 25th will once again be Joe Frink, who will bring us the second part of his story about the Frink Adobe and his relatives who lived there.
Highland Citrus Harvest Festival
March 25, 2023
10:0 AM to 3:00 PM
Citrus Harvest Festival
The Highland Area Historical Society sponsored the Citrus Harvest Festival Car Show this year. The Highland Kiwanis Club who has sponsored the car show in the past has ceased existence.
The Historical Society also be displayed historical artifacts and information at their booth at the corner of Main St & Palm Ave. Highland, CA 92346.
Highland Area Historical Society meeting
Thursday, March 23, 2023
7:00pm PM (PST)
Zoom Session and at Highland Senior Center
Program:
Joe Frink and Jim Shipp were at our general meeting on March 23rd to tell us about the Frink Adobe.
They shared the story of the adventurous Horace Monroe Frink, the Frink Family legacy, and the recent history of the Frink Adobe, the only structure in Loma Linda to be listed on the State Register of Historic Places. Plans are afoot to preserve, restore and dedicate the Adobe to living history programs.
Frink is a Two Canyons Conservancy board member whose family built the adobe and Shipp is president of the Loma Linda Area Parks and Historical Society.
Highland Area Historical Society meeting
Thursday, January 26, 2023
7:00pm PM (PST)
Zoom Session and at Highland Senior Center
Program: the East Valley Water District presented the History of water in the greater Highland area.
Guest speaker was Michael Moore, the East Valley water districts new general manager and chief executive officer.
Moore succeeded general manager John Mura in that role. Moore has spent 30 years in the water industry. He earned his Bachelors degree in civil engineering from California State University, Fullerton and his masters from Pepperdine University.
He has worked for the Goleta Water District and the city of Anaheim as its assistant general manager of water.
East Valley Water District was founded in 1954 and today serves 105,000 residents in a 30 square mile area.
We discussed the History of water in the greater Highland area, and what is being worked on for the future.
We also did swearing in of the HAHS Board of Directors.
Highland Area Historical Society meeting
Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022 * The *November meeting will be held the third Thursday
of November because of Thanksgiving.
7:00pm PM (PST)
Zoom Session and at Highland Senior Center
Program:
Bob Chaparro - A Brief History of the Southern California Citrus Industry With A Look At Highland, CA
Bio: Bob Chaparro
Bob is the owner/moderator of the Railroad Citrus Industry Modeling Group, an internet group for model railroaders and historians.
He has been a model railroader since 1967 and that developed into an interest in railroad history with an emphasis on the citrus industry.
He was born and raised in Southern California, has a BS in sociology from California State University/Fullerton and is retired from a thirty-four year management career with the County of Orange.
He resides in Hemet and is on the board of the Hemet Heritage Foundation, which owns and operates the Hemet Museum in the Historic Santa Fe Depot.
Reminder - the *November meeting is held the third Thursday of November because of Thanksgiving.
Highland Area Historical Society meeting
Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022
7:00pm PM (PST)
Zoom Session and at Highland Senior Center
Program:
9-22-22 - Jeff Staggs - Remembering Kaiser Steel
Highland Area Historical Society meeting
Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022
7:00pm PM (PST)
Zoom Session and at Highland Senior Center
July 28th 2022, Jody Scott talk on:
The Path to Cityhood for Highland
Highland Area Historical Society meeting
Thursday, May 26, 2022
7:00pm PM (PST)
General membership meeting May 26, 2022
Zoom Session and at Highland Senior Center
Charles Hepperle on The Santa Fe Depot at San Bernardino
Charles Hepperle was our presenter at the May (Thursday May 26 at 7:00 pm) meeting of the Highland Area Historical Society. He will be presented significant images and information he has obtained from the museum at the depot, the Western Archives of the Santa Fe Railway and Historical Society and many other sources.
He has a background in journalism, photography and model railroading. Nearly every Saturday he can be found cataloging photos for the Western Archives located at the San Bernardino depot museum.
Many decades ago one could follow the railroad tracks in either direction from Highland and arrive at the the Santa Fe depot at San Bernardino. This was where the famous Kite-Shaped Track joined the transcontinental main line between Los Angeles and Chicago. Learn about the two depots that were located at the site and see pictures of the buildings, famous visitors and other activities there from the past and present.
Highland Area Historical Society meeting
Thursday, March 24, 2022
7:00pm PM (PST)
by Zoom online meetings Thursday, March 24, 2022
7:00pm PM
Program:
The Highland Area Historical Society went back to in person meetings at the Highland Senior Center located on the grounds of Patton hospital. WE broadcast on Zoom from the center for this meeting.
Our presenter was Nick Cataldo. He discussed the Cajon Pass. This presentation was different information than what has been shared previously. Nick shared significant history along with the latest updates of what's going on with camp Cajon.
Highland Area Historical Society meeting
Thursday, January 27, 2022
7:00pm PM (PST)
by Zoom online meetings
The MacLean Ranch, 130 years and counting by Charles Kiel
Charles Kiel, a lifelong resident and fourth generation citrus grower on the MacLean Ranch (established - 1892) will reflected on his memories of growing up in the Orange Groves of East Highlands.
2021
Highland Area Historical Society meeting
Thursday, November 18th, 2021
7:00pm PM (PST) The speaker for our November 18th meeting was Shannon Wray
Shannon, who lives in Mill Creek is the author of a new book "Pioneers of Mill Creek Canyon" and has stories of interest for us here in Highland.
Shannon Wray bio:
Shannon Wray is a history columnist and former television producer. She grew up in Mill Creek Canyon as a descendent of early pioneers there. Her great-great-grandfather came to the area in 1847 as part of a U.S. Army detachment assigned to fall trees for a flagpole for Fort Moore in Los Angeles. Her fascination for the canyon and its many characters ⎯ miners, loggers, inventors, outlaws and more ⎯ came from hearing the stories told by the pioneers’ descendents still living in the canyon, and exploring many of the sites and remaining structures tied to those stories. When Wray returned to the canyon to raise her family after a broadcast journalism career, she began to research those old stories she heard as a child and began writing a column for the Bear Facts in Forest Falls. Wray has recently authored a book, Pioneers of Mill Creek Canyon, which offers insight into the variety of characters and activities that brought life to Mill Creek Canyon and those early communities surrounding it. Many fascinating photographs aid readers in understanding the pioneers and their historic Mill Creek environments.
Highland Area Historical Society meeting
Thursday, SEPT 23, 2021
7:00pm PM (PST)
Highland Area Historical Society meeting program:
Author, historian and architectural draftsman Jean-Guy Dube
was our guest speaker for the "Zoom" general meeting of the Highland Area Historical Society.
His presentation was on Depots of the Southern Pacific Railroad's Inside Track and Santa Fe Railroad's Redlands Loop.
Our presenter explained how Santa Fe promoted and advertised the "Kite Shaped Track" (which included the Redlands Loop)
through round-trip day excursions which passed through or area.
He will also discuss how Southern Pacific advertised their competing route called "The Inside Track", which was short-lived.
Jean-Guy highlighted those depots that have been saved and preserved, and some that have not.
Highland Area Historical Society General Membership Meeting
Time: July 22, 2021 07:00PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Highland Area Historical Society meeting program:
A brief history & update on the Camp Cajon Project
Update from Mark Landis on accomplishments, challenges and future projects at the Camp Cajon Monument.
Mark gave his last update at the Highland Area Historical Society meeting Thursday May 23, 2019, Mark Landis presented a program that included the history of the roads and trails through the Cajon Pass,
and the famous Camp Cajon, a landmark rest stop built by Highland resident William Marion Bristol in 1919 to welcome weary motorists traveling into Southern California on Route 66, "America's Mother Road."
At the upcoming Thursday, July 22, 2021 7:00pm PM (PST) Zoom online meeting, we look forward to an update from Mark Landis on the accomplishments, challenges and future projects at the Camp
Cajon Monument. Mark will be including details of the process of researching its history, obtaining the permissions, setting and funding the budget, arranging and attending the team meetings in
order to successfully move an original Camp Cajon picnic table.
Thursday, May 27, 2021
7:00pm PM (PST)
by Zoom online meetings
Speaker - Paul Prado
Topic: Paul Prado presented the history of fires in the Highland area.
Paul had numerous photos of recent fires.
He also discussed fires from over a century ago.
Highland Area Historical Society meeting
Thursday, March 25, 2021
7:00pm PM (PST)
by Zoom online meetings
Speaker - Jeff Staggs
Topic: What Happened to the Railroad Tracks in Highland
Time: March 25, 2021 07:00 PM
Highland Area Historical Society meeting
Speaker - Paul Prado
Program - Landmarks - Hidden Gems.
Program: The topic will be the history of Highland Weather. The presenter is Jeff Staggs.
Program by - Jonathan L. Friedmann, Ph.D. Director,
Topic: The early Jewish history and settlers in the San Bernardino Valley.
Program: By Gary Smith historian and researcher on Cajon Pass and Camp Cajon on:
The July 4, Camp Cajon Monument Dedication Celebration was a patriotic commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the old Cajon Pass rest stop on historic Route 66. There was a dedication of the reconstructed Camp Cajon Monument, and the program featured guest speakers, the
Camp Carleton Cornet Band and refreshments by Albert Okura's Juan Pollo rotisserie chicken.
It was from 10 a.m.� 1 p.m. at the end of Wagon Train Road, near the junction of Interstate 15 and Highway 138.
For more information on THE PROJECT TO REBUILD THE CAMP CAJON MONUMENT visit the Camp Cajon Facebook page:
Camp Cajon
Camp Cajon Flag pole built by William Marion Bristol of East Highland.
Mark Landis presented a program on the history of the roads and trails through the Cajon Pass, and the famous Camp Cajon, a landmark rest stop built by Highland resident William Marion Bristol in 1919 to welcome weary motorists traveling into Southern California on Route 66, "America's Mother Road."
The program chronicled the evolution of travel in the Cajon Pass from foot paths, to wagon roads, to today's modern freeway. The program also highlighted the construction and opening of Camp Cajon which became nationally known as "the gateway to Southern California." The audience was treated to historic photos and maps illustrating travel through the pass on National Old Trails Road which became Route 66 in 1926. Details of an exciting new project to build a replica of the stone monument that greeted guests at the entrance to Camp Cajon were also be provided. The new monument is being built near the former site of Camp Cajon, and the dedication ceremony is planned for July 4, 2019, to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the camp�s opening in 1919.
The purpose of these annual events is to promote Highlands community trails system, and to engage everyone in a healthy and beneficial outdoor activity.
This years selected hiking and biking trail route will start from the trailhead in Aurantia Park going north to the new segment of the Aplin Trail, which connects to the Red Hill Trail behind Cram Elementary School. Hikers will then head east on a loop of trails including the North Fork Trail, a portion of the Shelton Trail, then back onto the Red Hill Trail, returning to the Aplin Trail and back to the park. This loop is approximately 3.5 miles long and includes easy to moderate elevation gains.
Along the North Fork Trail hikers have the option of visiting Plunge Creek and the Natural Parkland Trails, adding a short, yet moderate to strenuous trail loop, for a longer and more invigorating hike. This extra excursion would add approximately 0.8 miles to the hike for an overall total of 4.3 miles.
Along the Shelton Trail segment there will be an opportunity to attend an open house event at Fire Station 2 in conjunction with the Community Trails Day Event. All are welcome to stop in.
Copyright 2019 HighlandNews.net
The Citrus Harvest Festival is a family-friendly street fair that includes vendors, food, live entertainment, a car show, historic walking tour, historic demonstrators and more.
The Highland Area Historical Society had a display featuring the history of Laundry and Dry Cleaners in Highland at the north East
corner of Palm Avenue and Main Street.
Program: "Trails and Tales of the Cajon Pass"
Mr. Cataldo's presentation was on the array of pioneers who followed the mule caravan trade route known as the Old Spanish Trail as it extended from the Mojave Desert through Cajon Pass to the communities of Agua Mansa and La Placita.
Program: By Gary Smith historian and researcher on Cajon Pass and Camp Cajon on:
On Thursday January 24, 2019 Gary told the story of William Marion Bristol's founding of Camp Cajon, the history of the camp and the current effort to rebuild the landmark stone monument that stood at the entrance to Camp Cajon, the historic "Gateway to Southern California" built in 1919 by William Marion Bristol of East Highland.
This meeting and fundraising event was be held to discuss the current progress of the Camp Cajon Monument Project, next steps, and to raise funds for the construction of the monument.
A group of local historical societies and history fans have joined forces to rebuild the landmark stone monument that stood at the entrance to Camp Cajon, the historic "Gateway to Southern California" built in 1919 by William Marion Bristol of East Highland.
The kickoff of the 100th anniversary of the camps opening was a great success, with $1,786 raised for the monument's construction!
For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/173414490268407/ or
Highland Area Historical Society meeting
Memories to Memoirs the importance of preserving your story,
She will discuss why memoir and the importance of individuals writing about moments or events that took place in the subject's life.
Marilyn will talk about some of the experiences she had from childhood the present living in Highland and how they have helped shape her long and successful writing career.
A book signing of any of many books you may own will be held following the program.
*November meeting was be held the third Thursday of November because of Thanksgiving.
You can find more information on the OST at
The six states that the Old Spanish Trail traverses will each be represented as a booth.
Representatives of the Highland Area Historical Society wase manning the Nevada Booth.
Thursday, January 28, 2021
7:00pm PM (PST)
by Zoom online meetings
The presentation will cover historic locations you pass every day but you don't know their historic value.
Paul will be discussing various locations in the greater Highland area talking about their historical significance.
Highland Area Historical Society meeting
Thursday *Nov. 19, 2020
7:00pm PM Pacific Time (US and Canada) by Zoom online meetings
Highland Area Historical Society meeting
Thursday September 24, 2020
7:00pm PM Pacific Time (US and Canada) by Zoom online meetings
Jewish Museum of the American West and the President of the Western States Jewish History Association.
The program is free and open to the public so invite your family and friends that might be interested!
Highland Area Historical Society meeting
Thursday July 25, 2019
7:00pm at the
Highland Senior Center
3102 Highland Ave.
1 � Recap of Camp Cajon Monument July 4th dedication
2 - Introduction of the next Historic Camp Cajon project � Selecting, acquiring and reinstalling at the Camp Cajon Monument area an original William Bristol designed Camp Cajon Picnic table.
His discussion will include a background history of the Camp Cajon Picnic tables and information on the other Camp Cajon style tables found elsewhere in the US (Michigan, Texas and Fallbrook).
3 � Discussion and suggestions for possible fundraising activities and ways we can continue to support the efforts to preserve the history and memory of Highland resident William Marion Bristol and the Historic Camp Cajon project.
Here's an article by Paul Prado from the Highland Community News about the pioneers who blazed the trails through the Cajon Pass.
https://www.highlandnews.net/news/in-memory-of-the-trailblazers-of-southern-california/article_94aaf334-19e4-11e9-a338-0bb45823f2f0.html
From the Camp Cajon Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/campcajonmonument/
Highland Area Historical Society meeting
Thursday May 23, 2019
7:00pm at the
Highland Senior Center
3102 Highland Ave.
Take a hike. Hit the trails and see Highland.
That is this years theme for the 25th annual Community Trails Day.
This event will be held 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on
Saturday, April 13, 2019 beginning at Aurantia Park on Greenspot Road.
Highland Citrus Harvest Festival
Saturday, March 30th
10:00am - 3:30pm at the
Highland Historic District, at the intersection of Palm Avenue and Pacific Street
Highland CA 92346
Highland Area Historical Society meeting
Thursday March 28, 2019
7:00pm at the
Highland Senior Center
3102 Highland Ave.
Speaker: Nicholas R. Cataldo on "The Old Spanish Trail from Cajon Pass to La Placita de los Trujillos."
Highland Area Historical Society meeting
Thursday January 24, 2019
7:00pm at the
Highland Senior Center
3102 Highland Ave.
Highlands connection to Camp Cajon
Camp Cajon Monument Meeting and Fundraiser
Sat Nov. 17, 2018 - 1 - 3 PM
At the present-day site of Camp Cajon - located on Wagon Train Road,
just east of Interstate 15, and south of Highway 138, in the Cajon Pass.
It is approximately 1,000 feet south of the existing McDonalds.
https://www.facebook.com/campcajonmonument/?eid=ARBWDTcuUyu5ZdnPRznQ3CvtS9DEF8vPkbkWPj_iD16-KNd0XFlTbUO2KvGtdlSf4Tx0cOe3NIjwGLVv
Thursday *November 15, 2018
7:00pm at the
Highland Senior Center
3102 Highland Ave.
by renowned local author Marilyn Cram Donahue.
She will explain the difference between genealogy, autobiography and memoir
A limited amount of When the Crickets Stopped Singing Marilyn newest book released earlier this year will be available to purchase after the program or bring your own copy.
Old Spanish Trail Day event was on 10/6/18
$5.00 entry to the event
Agua Mansa Cemetery, 2001 West Agua Mansa Rd, Colton, CA
The gate was opened at 11am. - Craft booths will be open (rope braiding, weaving, and rock painting).
Welcome at 11:30 AM
Mule packing demonstration was at 11:30
Station walk re-enacting the six state walk was at noon.
Walkers reached California station approx. 12:30--Music/dancing begin
Event ends at 2pm.
www.oldspanishtrail.org ,
or www.spanishtownhf.org .
They are New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Nevada and California.
This was a fun and informative event regarding early history of our area.
Highland Area Historical Society meeting
Thursday September 27, 2018
7:00pm at the
Highland Senior Center
3102 Highland Ave.
The program was by local author John Howard Weeks about his new book "The Healthiest People on Earth."
MR. Weeks chronicled his growing up in Loma Linda and San Bernardino, a place he calls the "X spot where the world capital of health food butts up against the world capital of junk food."
John charted the contrasting stories of how San Bernardino became the birthplace of the fast food revolution, while Loma Linda became one of the world's five Blue Zones where people live 10 years longer than average, according to National Geographic-funded research.
He also told the five simple secrets of how anyone can create a Blue Zone of their own, wherever they live.
After his presentation, John signed copies of his book, "The Healthiest People on Earth."
Highland Area Historical Society meeting
The program was presented by:
Ian Gilbert - curator of Earth Sciences at the San Bernardino County Museum.
Highland Area Historical Society meeting
The program was presented by: Bob Edwards, Director of the Norton Air Force Base Museum.
"To Preserve, Honor & Promote the history of the Norton Air Force Base" is the Mission of the Norton Air Force Base Museum which opened in March of 2013.
Edwards discussed the history of Norton Air Force Base and the Norton Air Force Base Museum.
Mr. Edwards touched on some of the notable personalities associated with Norton AFB such as Chuck Yeager. Norton served as the last assignment for Yeager. He retired at the base on 1 June 1975.
Mr. Edwards has 39 combined years of aircraft experience in various capacities including 20 years in the U.S. Air Force and 19 years as an aerospace contractor.
Located within the former NCO Club Building, the Norton AFB Museum has continually been improved and grown into a most noteworthy attraction within the Inland Empire.
Highland Area Historical Society meeting
Program: Label that house - the branding of citrus packing houses in Highland CA by Tom Hooker
Mr. Hooker discussed the history of citrus packing, from private packing ventures including the Cram family through the early commercial packing houses and use of citrus crate packing labels.
The 22th Annual Highland Citrus Harvest Festival
The Highland Historical society had a booth at the corner of Palm and Main and shared memories of Highland and showed our selection of books for sale about Highland.
This fun family day included live entertainment.
Highland Area Historical Society meeting
Program: John Mura on a Community Partnership Opportunity
As part of EVWD commitment to stewardship to the community John Mura, General Manager/CEO of East Valley Water District gave a PowerPoint that highlights an opportunity to preserve local history through the Sterling Natural Resource Center.
Mr. Mura will be introducing an effort that seeks to recognize important historical events and members of the community through the milestone celebrations of the project.
The Sterling Natural Resource Center will produce recycled water while creating a public center that will benefit local residents. This includes providing educational opportunities, a space for community functions and neighborhood enhancements.
The *November meeting was held the third Thursday of November because of Thanksgiving.
Program:
The *November meeting was held the third Thursday of November because of Thanksgiving on the normal meeting time of the fourth Thursday.
Most residents of Highland and many from the surrounding area know or have heard of Cram Elementary School, but how much do we know about the pioneer family the school is named for?
At the Thursday November 16th meeting of the Highland Area Historical Society, we heard from our speaker Tom Hooker about his extensive research of how the Cram Family came from woods of Illinois to the area that would become Highland.
Tom shared insights from the Journal of John Cleminson into the 1851 1858 wagon train trip across the wilds of the South West Desert and the rigors of the journey.
The Crams arrived in San Diego by covered wagon in 1852, but it took until 1858 to work their way and wagons to Highland.
The Highland Area Historical Society had a booth at:
Program - Highland Area Historical Society Treasurer and past State President of the Native Sons of the Golden West talked about the historical significance of (September 9) and why Highlanders and all Californians need to become more knowledgeable of this highly important, yet often overlooked holiday.
Jasmine Orozco, Education Coordinator at the Inland Empire Resource Conservation District (IERCD).
The IERCD is a local public agency that encourages environmental stewardship within the community through various educational programs.
The program was devoted to promoting water conservation and public education on water issues, informing residents and businesses about water-use efficiency.
The presentation featured a PowerPoint on water use efficiency, water conservation, and California native plants.
These programs are funded by San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District.
There was a native plant raffle for attendees.
Graduate students Megan Suster and Steven Moreno-Terrill presented a program on Minorities Involved in the Citrus Industry
Suster, a doctoral candidate at UCR, has worked at the California Citrus State Historic Park for a year as a program coordinator and is now the public humanities fellow for the California State Parks Relevancy and History Project.
She is interested in recording the history of minority participation in the local citrus industry and will bring a PowerPoint program of her discoveries.
Moreno-Terrill is a graduate student at UCR studying Chicano/Latino history.
He was recently a Smithsonian Latino Museum Studies fellow and has studied segregated Mexican-American education in the Inland Empire. He wants to study the Bracero Program that occupied Cone Camp in the Mill Creek wash from 1942 to 1975.
Highland was the focal point of the citrus industry in the area and employed Native Americans, Chinese, Koreans and Japanese and, in the 1920s, immigrant laborers from the Philippines.
People who can provide historical information about minority involvement in the citrus industry are especially invited to attend.
The 21th Annual Highland Citrus Harvest Festival
Despite earlier predictions of rain, the 21st annual Citrus Harvest Festival was held Saturday, March 25, on a beautifully mild day that invited many to enjoy the day's many historically-themed events and exciting entertainment. Highland Community News photo by Hector Hernandez Jr.
Charles Kiel, of the Highland Area Historical Society, invites festival goers to learn more about Highland's history and citrus industry at the society's booth where it sponsored the annual historic costume contest.
by Andy Walters Principal Architectural Historian
Last summer the Highland Area Historical Society was contact by Andy Walters, Principal Architectural Historian - Caltrans District 8 regarding fulfilling the historic property mitigation requirements for a Caltrans project to replace the rails on the City Creek bridge and East Fork City Creek
bridge on SR-330.
As required by the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), Caltrans has consulted with the State Office of Historic Preservation (SHPO) and has determined that the project will have an adverse effect on both bridges, which are eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
Caltrans has solicited the Highland Area Historical Society�s input in regard to the project.
As part of the effort to mitigate the adverse effects of the project on the bridges, Caltrans is conducting outreach to interested parties to obtain the best public benefit from the mitigation proposals.
To that end MR Walters has:
1. Provided historical information (history, photographs, plans) on SR-330, the City Creek Bridge and East Fork City Creek bridge which is included in the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA).
We have placed a copy of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on the Highland Area Historical Society website:
2. MR Walters will provide a presentation on the historical information on SR-330, the City
Creek Bridge and East Fork City Creek bridge at the Thursday, January 26th Highland Area Historical Society�s meeting.
The public is encouraged to come and learn about the history of SR-330 and the City
Creek Bridge and East Fork City Creek bridge projects.
What was happening in The Inland Empire in the 1850's? "In the fall of 1851, the San Bernardino Valley was
transformed from a Mexican rancho into the largest predominantly Anglo-American
settlement in the California southland..." according to Marilyn Mills of the
Heritage Trails Association. Marilyn will be the speaker at the Highland Area
Historical Society meeting on Thursday November 17, 2016 Marilyn has done extensive research, written many articles and given
presentations for young and old alike through the years. The Highland Area Historical Society had a booth at the:
Saturday, October 15
On Saturday, October 15 from 3:00 PM until 6:00 PM, the San Bernardino Historical and Pioneer Society in conjunction with Mt. View Mortuary and Cemetery held the 3rd annual Historic Tour of Mt. View Cemetery.
All proceeds will contribute as a fundraiser for the San Bernardino Historical Society.
They had two trams that to accommodate most of the attendees.
Mt. View Mortuary and Cemetery is located at 570 E. Highland Ave. in San Bernardino.
Paakuma� Tawinat presented �The History and Culture of the Serrano Indians� at the meeting of the Highland Area Historical Society on September 22.
Paakuma wtalked about both the traditional and contemporary aspects of Serrano culture, music and way of life.
Paakuma is a member of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians and a cultural presenter working with the San Manuel Education Department to educate the broader community about the Serrano, the indigenous people of the San Bernardino highlands, passes, valleys and mountains.
Presented by:Anthony Ortega, senior licensed clinical social worker and hospital historian.
Anthony talked about the History of Patton State Hospital which was built in 1893 and originally called the �Insane Asylum�. Patton is a major forensic mental hospital operated by the California Department of State Hospitals as well as a major employer in the Inland Empire for over a century.
Anthony also talked about the Patton State Hospital Museum:
Anthony arranged to have a private opening of the museum on Sunday May 29th for limited number of our members and guests.
The 20th Annual Highland Citrus Harvest Festival
This fun family day will include live entertainment, historic home tour, antique and classic car show, lots of unique vendors and great food!
Historic artisans will be displaying crafts such as rope making, panning for gold and blacksmithing as well as exhibits of antique farm engines and historic orange crates.
Kids will have an opportunity to enjoy games and activities and are welcome to enter the annual pie eating contest and get a little messy!
The Festival will be held from 10:00 am to 3:30 pm in Highland's Historic District located at the intersection of Palm Avenue and Pacific Street.
To be a vendor, please download the application form.
The Highland Area Historical Society will have a display at the north East
corner of Palm Avenue and Main Street.
Presented by: Arianna Huhn, Ph.D.
We continued exploring innovative ways of brining the past and present together for the future of our community in Highland.
At thus program we learned about the Anthropology Museum and the Museum Studies Certificate program at California State University, San Bernardino.
The CSUSB Anthropology Museum was established in 2000 within the then-new Social and Behavioral Sciences Building. The primary mission of the Anthropology Museum is to serve as a teaching laboratory for Museum Studies Certificate students to gain hands-on experience in collections management, exhibition development and design, curatorial work, and museum administration.
Dr. Huhn talked about what it takes to put together a museum exhibition.
She used the example of the upcoming exhibition at Cal State San Bernardino:
Re/Collect: Memories of Childhood, Curated by Dr. Arianna Huhn & student Assistant Curators
This exhibit will display objects saved from childhood, as lent to the Museum from members of the San Bernardino community. These objects will be displayed along with personal stories about what the objects mean to their owners, and what memories they have of the object as a part of their childhood. Visitors will see their own experiences reflected in these stories, and learn about culturally- and biologically-related processes of memory and meaning making. The exhibition will open to the public on Tuesday, May 31st 2016 at 5pm.
The Highland Area Historical Society is enjoyed learning from Dr. Huhn about the art and science of establishing a museum or �Heritage and Cultural Center� for the community of Highland.
Presented by: Redlands Historical Museum Association past 12-year president - Nelda Stuck.
Nelda led the search for a museum building in Redlands beginning in 2000 when the Redlands City Council appointed Stuck and Liz Beguelin to form a committee to study the feasibility of creating a historical museum in Redlands.
Redlands Historical Museum Association recently bought The Redlands Daily Facts newspaper building at 700 Brookside Ave to showcase its growing collection of Redlands-area memorabilia. It will become the museum�s home, where the 2,700 items that the association has collected over the years will be displayed.
Nelda hopes to see the Redlands museum open within four to five years, depending on fundraising. Among the items likely to be on display are a 1927 grove truck, citrus packing crates, a sign from La Posada, a downtown hotel demolished to make way for the now-closed Redlands Mall, an old Linotype machine from Arthur Commercial Press and a clock from the downtown Santa Fe Railway depot.
Author of " The History Behind Highland Area Street Names�
Books by Nancy Alexander were available after the program:
The 19th Annual Highland Citrus Harvest Festival
The Highland Area Historic Society and Highland Area Chamber of Commerce
held the Historic Costume Contest and the Citrus Growing Contest at
this year�s Highland Citrus Harvest Festival.
We also brought back Historic District Walking Tour this
year. For more info on the 19th Annual Citrus Harvest Festival, scheduled for Saturday March 28, 2015
Time:10:00 AM - 5:00 PM.
Visit the Highland Citrus Harvest Festival Page
Guest Presenter: Nancy Alexander, Highland Area Historical Society
The CHEF program focus is designed to help people�s well-being through a comprehensive system based on food. Other than oxygen and water, food is the third necessity for life. However in this area, many struggle with eating healthier. There are many reasons for this phenomenon of unhealthy eating with taste, cost, and time being the most common reasons.
Chef Egger providrd an example of the CHEF system by providing a meal that utilizes fresh local ingredients for those that RSVPed and attend the Highland Area Historical Society�s semiannual dinner and installation of the officers and board members Thursday January 22, 2015.
Chef Gerald Egger attended the Scottsdale Culinary Institute and has worked at the Shamrock Foods Company, the Art Institute, and the Ontario Convention Center. He currently works with TheSoCalChef.com who offers a full range of private chef services. They handle everything from private dinner parties, catering, meal delivery and in home service.
Curtiss Allen, a 4th generation resident of the San Bernardino Valley whose family legacy in this area dates back over a century, gave a talk about �Characterizing Christmas as a child growing up in San Bernardino.�
Curtiss panted a word picture of his of his family�s longtime traditions during the season and his memories� of going downtown for shopping, enjoying the decorations and �window dreaming� of what he might get for Christmas.
Curtiss Allen Sr. grew up in San Bernardino where his family owned Allen & Son Iron Works.
Curtiss later moved to Redlands where he founded the renowned
Fourth-of-July Band in 1981and is still its director. He bought the Morey House on Terracina Boulevard in Redlands in 1968 and helped preserve it while he lived there for about a decade.
Patton State Hospital will be opening a time capsule placed inside the sign at the main entrance of the hospital on December 22, 1964. The time capsule will be opened at the Highland Senior Center, located right inside the gates of the hospital.
The Historical Society had a display at the
Mark Landis gave his presentation on the historic Arrowhead Springs Resort which is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year.
Program: Tom Hooker “The Beginnings of Highland” Tom has done extensive research of early property deeds and other
documentation from the Highland area in preparation for his upcoming book.
He shared some of his insights into how the original business
district of Highland came to be, who some of the early “movers and shakers”
were and how the Kite Loop Train tracks that were so vital to Highland’s
growth and prosperity were paid for. Tom Hooker is a fourth generation Highlander whose roots go back to 1891
in Highland. Well
known historian and author Mark Landis gave an
outstanding presentation
on “The Tail
of the Kite” and how it influenced the area that becomes known as Highland. Mark had copy's of his books
Touring The Eastern Loop of The Kite-Shaped Track
and Arrowhead
Springs, California's Ideal Resort available at the meeting. For more information on Mark and his books go to his web site:
Landis Publications
Author and historian, Marilyn Cram Donahue reminiscences about school
holiday programs and Christmas activities from Highland’s past.
The Historical Society had a display at the Highland Area Historical Society meeting
PRESENTATION DESCRIPTION - At our
September 26th
October 10th , 2013 meeting we
played our version of a
popular TV show! The
researchers’ at the Highland Area Historical Society have been hard at work
developing resources to assist educators in Highland to teach local history.
Fourth grade History–Social Science teachers are responsible for helping
students learn the story of their home state. As part
of our “Home Town History – Local
Schools Series” we are making available information on Highland’s
history including topics tailored to the elementary schools including: How did
their school get its name? How did
the streets on the safe walking route get their names? The
names of the mountains they see around Highland and how they got their
names. Early
inhabitants – including the Serrano Indians Early
explores to the Highland area. Early
industry – cattle, wheat and grains, fruits and drying plants, citrus,
lumber and box plants. Early
notable people of highland We will
make information available on the following schools:
Arroyo Verde Elementary School
Belvedere Elementary School
Cole Elementary School
Cram Elementary School
Cypress Elementary School
Highland Grove Elementary School
Highland Pacific Elementary School
Lankershim Elementary School
Oehl Elementary School We held a good old fashioned study session to learn what the fourth graders will be learning about Highland and
then tried our hand at a game show like quiz.
Highland Area Historical Society meeting
PRESENTATION DESCRIPTION - Bob Smith, author of “Redefining the Inland Valley”, was the guest
speaker at the Highland Area Historical Society meeting. Bob will provided a slide show and talk about his book that includes
driving tours of the Inland area. Autographed copies of his book were
available for purchase. Bob Smith’s “Redefining the Inland Valley” is an update of the book of
the same title published 10 years ago. The second edition comprises many
changes, references and new illustrations in the driving tours section. Redefining the Inland Valley (Second edition)
The 17th Annual Highland Citrus Harvest Festival was be
held on
We were honored to win a First place for best Historical Display this year! Highland Area Historical Society meeting
PRESENTATION DESCRIPTION - The program was presented by Nancy Alexander on “An
Overview of the History of Highland Schools”. It included a PowerPoint
presentation on Highland schools, including Warm Springs, Cram and
Arroyo Verde, and their histories.
January 27, 2013 - 30th Annual Highland Family Run
We staffed one of the water
stations and cheered on the runners at the 30th Annual Highland Family Run
Highland Area Historical Society meeting
PRESENTATION DESCRIPTION Our first meeting of 2013 was a potluck dinner and installation of
the officers and board members for 2013-14. For entertainment, a slide show was presented featuring
highlights from the City of Highlands first 25 years. Good food and comradely was enjoyed by those in attendance . Highland Area Historical Society meeting
The December 6th presentation was "The Harris
Company," by Arcadia Publishing Author Aimmee Rodriguez The Highland Area Historical Society was at the Highland Area Historical Society meeting
The September 27th program was a power point presentation entitled
"Highland, The Journey to Cityhood". It included the beginnings of
incorporation and some of Highland's "Firsts". Also included were the changes
from an agricultural township to a modern city. Highland Area Historical Society meeting
Anne Viricel posted a great recap of the May 24th meeting:
Highland city founders reminisce Founding Highlanders Jim Rissmiller, Jody Scott, Ross Jones, and Dennis
Johnson comprised the ‘Roundtable of Founders’ panel that met at the
Highland Historical Society May 24. Turbulent times preceded incorporation By Anne Viricel Published: Friday, May 25, 2012 4:25 PM PDT Highland Area Historical Society meeting
As part of our celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the
incorporation of the City of Highland, we held a roundtable discussion with
some of the people that made the dream of Highland Cityhood become a
reality. The round table was an excellent opportunity to hear “straight
from the horse’s mouth” about the inception of the idea for cityhood, the
reasons people felt so strongly for and against the idea and the
preparations put in place to make the new City succeed.
Saturday, March 31, 2012 from 10:00 am to 3:30 pm.
The City celebrated its 16th Annual Citrus Harvest Festival. The Historic District
was filled with crafters, delicious food, antique and classic cars and lots of area residents.
There was fun for everyone including live entertainment, kids games and rides, an historic home tour, shopping and much more. For further details, please contact Stater Kim at: The March 22nd program was: A Racy History of Highland
Highland Area Historical Society meeting
Pioneer recipes and some of the "snake oil" curatives, street games and songs and dances
were part of the treasure trove of memories that Mrs. Donahue will shared.
The public was invited to share their memories of this time.
Marilyn has a new book coming out soon (hopefully). It takes place in a town called Messina in 1939. The story is fiction, but the setting is factual.
For those of you who read her first novel, Sutter's Sands (1971) and any of her young adult books, Straight Along a Crooked Road, The Valley in Between or any of her books, you won't want to miss this opportunity to meet the author and hear her share her personal memories of early Highland.
As Always the programs are open to the public. Light refreshments are provided after the program. Highland Community News
Contact Information
Thursday July 26, 2018
7:00pm at the
Highland Senior Center
3102 Highland Ave.
Mr. Gilbert took us back to the Ice Age in our region with a presentation on Evidence of People, Places and Things of Prehistory in our area.
Thursday May 24, 2018
7:00pm at the
Highland Senior Center
3102 Highland Ave.
Thursday March 22, 2018
7:00pm at the
Highland Senior Center
3102 Highland Ave.
Originally citrus was shipped in wooden crates and labels were needed for the ends of each crate to identify its contents, place of origin and to catch the eye of buyers with interesting graphic images.
Examples of the beautifully colored citrus box lithographed labels with their varied themes and slogans each with a specific company name and location have become collectible art pieces.
We learned about the who, what, where, why, when and how of the use of citrus packing labels in Highland.
Date: SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 2018
Time:10:00am - 3:30pm
Location: Highland Historic District
Address: Palm Ave between Fisher St and Pacific Street
Higkland, CA 92346
Thursday January 25, 2018
7:00pm at the
Highland Senior Center
3102 Highland Ave.
Highland Area Historical
Society meeting
Thursday
*November 16, 2017
7:00pm at the
Highland Senior Center
3102 Highland Ave.
Patton, CA 92369
Discover Highland Night
Date: Saturday October 28, 2017
Time: 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Location: Highland Crossing Shopping Center/Lowe's
Address: 27847 Greenspot Rd., Highland
Highland Area Historical
Society meeting
Thursday
September 28, 2017
7:00pm at the
Highland Senior Center
3102 Highland Ave.
Patton, CA 92369
Highland Area Historical
Society meeting
Thursday
July 27, 2017
7:00pm at the
Highland Senior Center
3102 Highland Ave.
Patton, CA 92369
Highland Area Historical
Society meeting
Thursday
May 25, 2017
7:00pm at the
Highland Senior Center
3102 Highland Ave.
Patton, CA 92369
Program: "Minorities involved in citrus industry"
Info. - (909) 864-8732, ext 204
Date: SATURDAY, MARCH 25, 2017
Time:10:00am - 3:30pm
Location: Highland Historic District
Address: Palm Ave between Fisher St and Pacific Street
Higkland, CA 92346
2017 Citrus Harvest Festival
http://www.highlandnews.net/community/citrus-harvest-festival/collection_e81230b2-1330-11e7-9014-734ca3bac9b3.html
History and citrus
Highland Area Historical
Society meeting
Thursday
March 23, 2017
7:00pm at the
Highland Senior Center
3102 Highland Ave.
Patton, CA 92369
Program: �Gone but not Forgotten� � People, Places, and Things of Highlands Past
by Charles Kiel
Highland Area Historical
Society meeting
Thursday
January 26, 2017
7:00pm at the
Highland Senior Center
3102 Highland Ave.
Patton, CA 92369
Program:
Background and history of the City Creek Bridge on Highway 330
and an update on the upcoming Rail Replacement Project
Caltrans District 8
City-Creek-Bridge-MOA.pdf
Highland Area Historical
Society meeting
Thursday
November 17, 2016
7:00pm at the
Highland Senior Center
3102 Highland Ave.
Patton, CA 92369
Program: Marilyn Mills - Heritage Trails Association
She presented a power point that told the story of the first colonists to
settle in California after statehood - their trek, settlement and contributions
to Southern California. The presentation also includeed the story with photos of
the modern-day re-enactment 150 years later of these pioneers coming to San
Bernardino.
Discover Highland Night
Date: Saturday October 22, 2016
Time: 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Location: Highland Crossing Shopping Center/Lowe's
Address: 27847 Greenspot Rd., Highland
Discover Highland Night
The San Bernardino Historical and Pioneer Society
3rd annual Historic Tour of Mt. View Cemetery
Those attending this fun event were asked to donate $10.00 per individual and $15.00 per couple if they RSVP and send in fee by October 1 and $15.00 per individual and $ 20.00 per couple after that date. For children 12 years old and under, the fee is $5.00.
Although not mandatory, everyone was encouraged to dress in "1880's through 1920�s" attire.
Highland Area Historical
Society meeting
Thursday
September 22, 2016
7:00pm at the
Highland Senior Center
3102 Highland Ave.
Patton, CA 92369
Program: The History and Culture of the Serrano Indians � by �Shorty� - Paakuma' Tawinat
Highland Area Historical
Society meeting
Thursday
May 26, 2016
7:00pm at the
Highland Senior Center
3102 Highland Ave.
Patton, CA 92369
Program: �History of Patton State Hospitaland the Patton State Hospital Museum".
http://www.dsh.ca.gov/Patton/Museum.aspx
Highland Citrus Harvest Festival
Citrus Harvest Festival Baking Contest
Date: Saturday, March 26, 2016
Time:10:00am - 3:30pm
Location: Highland Historic District
Address: Palm Ave between Fisher St and Pacific Street
Higkland, CA 92346
To apply for the Car Show, please use this application.
For more information, please contact Kim Stater at (909) 864-8732, extension 204.
Dress in a period costume; have your photo taken at their booth and enter the Costume Contest.
Highland Area Historical
Society meeting
Thursday
March 24, 2016
7:00pm at the
Highland Senior Center
3102 Highland Ave.
Patton, CA 92369
Program: �Communities & Museums: Insights from the CSUSB Anthropology Museum.�
Director, Anthropology Museum
Assistant Professor, Department of Anthropology
California State University, San Bernardino
Highland Area Historical
Society meeting
Thursday
January 28th, 2015
7:00pm at the
Highland Senior Center
3102 Highland Ave.
Patton, CA 92369
Program: �The History of the Redlands Historical Museum, from the inception to the present�.
Highland Area Historical
Society meeting
Thursday
December 3rd, 2015
7:00pm at the
Highland Senior Center
3102 Highland Ave.
Patton, CA 92369
Program: California Christmas Vignettes
presented by Larry Burgess
local historian and past director of the Redlands' A.K. Smiley Library
Highland Area Historical
Society meeting
Thursday
September 24, 2015
7:00pm at the
Highland Senior Center
3102 Highland Ave.
Patton, CA 92369
Program:
Program: �Streets of Highland � The Who, What, Where and Why�.
Presented by Nancy Alexander
The History Behind Highland Area Street Names
by Nancy Alexander - $20.00
A Guide to the Highland Historic District
by Nancy Alexander - $12.00
All Highland Area Historical Society Books are available at
The Highland Area Chamber of Commerce:
Phone (909) 864-4073
27255 Messina St., Highland, CA 92346
Highland's celebration of its rich citrus heritage
Date: Saturday March 28, 2015
Time:10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Location: Highland Historic District
Address: Palm Ave between Fisher St and Pacific Street
Highland Area Historical
Society meeting
Thursday
March 26, 2015
7:00pm at the
Highland Senior Center
3102 Highland Ave. at the entrance to Patton.
Program:
�How Highland Got Watered�.
This PowerPoint presentation with lots of historic photos was a look at the early history of surface water development and how the Highland visionaries were able to bring water from the Big Bear area to the Highland Historic District.
We also covered how zanjeros, miners inches, weir boxes, ditches, flumes, standpipes, diamond slide gates, furrows and even gophers all played a role in the early citrus industry in the Highland area.
Highland Area Chamber of Commerce
Date: Tuesday January 27, 2015
Monthly Networking Luncheon
Time: 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Location: Immanuel Baptist Church (Fellowship Hall Building C)
Address: 28355 Base Line, Highland CA, 92346
Reservation Information: $20 if made on or before January 20. $25 after January 20 and at the door. At the door reservations may not be available.
Reservations can be made by cash, check, M/C, VISA or Discover by calling the business office at (909) 864-4073 or emailing members@highlandchamber.org
7:00pm at the
Highland Senior Center
3102 Highland Ave. at the entrance to Patton.
Program: Highland Area Historical Society�s semiannual dinner and installation officers.
Sponsored by Chef Gerald Egger from the �C.H.E.F.� � Community Health Education Food program.
Chef Egger Business Owner at CHEFEnterprises.com Loma Linda, California
did a program about �C.H.E.F.� � Community � Health - Education -Food that teaches how to prepare nutritious, quick, low cost and easy to prepare meals that are just right for the whole family.
Highland Area Historical
Society meeting
Thursday
December 4th, 2014
7:00pm at the
Highland Senior Center
3102 Highland Ave. at the entrance to Patton.
Program:
Patton State Hospital Time Capsule Grand Opening
Date: Wednesday December 17, 2014
Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Location: Highland Senior Center
Address: 3102 Highland Ave., Patton CA
Discover Highland
Night!
Date: Saturday October 25, 2014
Time: 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Location: Highland Crossing's
Shopping Center/Lowe's Home Improvement
Address: 27847 Greenspot
Rd., Highland CA
Thursday September 25th, 2014
7:00pm at the
Highland Senior Center
Landis is a freelance columnist for the Inland Newsgroup and has written local history articles for more than 10 years. He has written a book "Arrowhead Springs, California's Ideal Resort" on the 150-year history of sanitariums, hotels, resort facilities and spring water at Arrowhead Springs in the foothills of the San Bernardino mountains.
Highland Area Historical
Society meeting
Thursday
May 22th, 2014
7:00pm at the
Highland Senior Center
3102 Highland Ave. at the entrance to Patton.
Program:
Nancy Alexander took us on a
virtual tour of the Highland Historic District .
Highland Area Historical
Society meeting
Thursday
March 27th, 2014
7:00pm at the
Highland Senior Center
3102 Highland Ave. at the entrance to Patton.
Program:
Tom Hooker “The Beginnings of Highland”
Tom was raised at the orange grove in Highland on Atlantic
at Church in his Grandfather’s house. After Tom retired from the Forest
Service, he decided to put together a family history. While doing so, Tom
made contact with Howard Ingham, a grandson of the man who had planted the
Hooker orange grove in 1884. They talked and decided to do a history of the
Inghams and Hookers in Highland. Howard died a couple of years later and the
history project grew to include much more. Tom is still working on the
project today. The title of the book that Tom hopes to publish will be "A
Pioneer History of Highland California and the North Fork Ditch." Most of
the book will deal with the time period of 1852 to 1900. However, a little
of the book will go past 1900.
Highland Area Historical Society meeting
Thursday
January 23rd, 2014
7:00pm at the
Highland Senior Center
3102 Highland Ave. at the entrance to Patton.
Program:
Mark Landis “The Tail of the Kite” and how it influenced the area that
becomes known as Highland.
Thursday
December 5th, 2013
7:00pm at the
Highland Senior Center
3102 Highland Ave. at the entrance to Patton.
Program:
The public is invited to spend the evening with Marilyn hearing her
wonderful memories.
Two of Marilyn’s historical novels (Straight Along a Crooked Road and
The Valley in Between) as well as six of her contemporary books for middle
grade and young adult readers are being digitized and should be available on
Amazon for Christmas.
As always the programs are free and open to the public. Light
refreshments are provided after the program.
For information visit
CRAM FAMILY HISTORY :
http://oldtimetales.blogspot.com/2013/06/cram-family-history.html
Compiled by Marilyn Cram Donahue and Lucile Cram
Whitecotton Suttle
Discover Highland
Night!
Date: Saturday October 26, 2013
Time: 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Location: Highland Crossing's
Shopping Center/Lowe's Home Improvement
Address: 27847 Greenspot
Rd., Highland CA
Thursday,
Sept. 23
Moved to October 10th , 2013
7:00pm at the
Highland Senior Center
3102 Highland Ave. at the entrance to Patton.
Thompson Elementary School
Thursday, May 23rd, 2013 7:00pm at the
Highland Senior Center
3102 Highland Ave. at the entrance to Patton.Redefining the Inland Valley (Second edition)
Author: Bob Smith
www.bsartist.weebly.com
Paperback: 200 Pages
Publisher: Landmark Graphics (2010)
Language: English
Dimensions: 9.9 x 6.8 x 0.7 inches Contents and Detailed Driving Tours of Inland Valley cities.
Chino
9
Fontana
12
Ontario
15
Pomona,
Claremont, La Verne, San Dimas 19
Rancho
Cucamonga, Alta Loma, Etiwanda, Cucamonga 31
Riverside
36
San
Bernardino, Del Rosa 40
Redlands
45
Upland
48
Chronology and time-line
53
Alphabetical History
65
Annotated Bibliography
73
Inland Valley Museums
191
Redefining the Inland Valley: Questions answered in the Text
Why are there two roads named Arrow? (Arrow Route and Arrow Highway) p.
48.
Why is our valley divided into three counties? (LA, San Bernardino, Riv.) pp. 8,
9, 87
How can I be living in Alta Loma and Rancho Cucamonga at the same time? P. 31
Why did Ignacio Palomares move north and build on Arrow Highway ? pp. 20,
48.
What is the significance of Baseline Road and Meridian Street? P. 74
Where and when was the speed of light first measured in the Inland Valley ?
p. 123
Where can I see and touch the SR 71 Blackbird ? March Air Museum,
Riverside p. 193
Where can I see real prize winning race cars ? National Hot-rod Museum,
Pomona, 192
Where can I see examples of historic planes at the “Planes of Fame” Air
Museum? P.11
Where can I see a model of the mule car used to haul passengers to Upland ?
pp. 16, 127
Where can we experience life on a farm of 150 years ago ? pp.36, 116, 192, 38,
193.
Where can I see the “parent” tree of all the navel oranges in the valley ?
Riverside p.37.
Where can I tour a 19th century farm-house, barn and orchards ? Riverside
pp. 38, 193
Where is A. B. Miller’s first Fontana Farms development, “Camp One” ? pp.
12, 123.
Where is the Madonna of the Trail and what are the four trails that meet there?
p. 121.
How many Madonna of the trail statues are there, from California to Maryland ?
P. 121.
Where can I see a statue of a Civil War soldier and list of local men who served
? p. 41,
Where can I see a statue of a WWI doughboy and a list of local men who served ?
p. 24.
Where can I see a statue of the goddess Pomona, as pictured on the cover ?
p.138.
Where can I see a statue of Juan Bautista de Anza and all his followers ?
Riverside p. 68.
Where can I see a statue of Jedediah Smith ? San Dimas p. 159.
Where can I tour a Spanish adobe with authentic furnishings ? Pomona
pp. 19, 192
Where can I see examples of Victorian architecture ? pp. 10, 27, 28, 38,
45, 46.
Where can I see examples of Art Deco style architecture ? pp. 10, 22, 25,
26.
Does the Mission Inn have anything to do with the California Missions ? p.
124.
Where can I see real examples of Abraham Lincoln’s signature ?
Redlands p. 47
Saturday, March 30th.
The theme for our booth was
the "History of Highland Schools".
Historical
educational items and photographs were displayed in the booth.
Thursday, March 28th 2013 7:00pm at the
Highland Senior Center
3102 Highland Ave. at the entrance to Patton.
Thursday,
January 24th 2013 7:00pm at the
Highland Senior Center
3102 Highland Ave. at the entrance to Patton.
Thursday, December 6th, 2012 7:00pm at the
Highland Senior Center
3102 Highland Ave. at the entrance to Patton.
"The Harris Company," was an overview of the business from its
early beginnings to its merger with Gottschalks in the late 1990s.
Aimmee discussed the company's growth from a small store
front in San Bernardino, California to the Inland Empire's premier
department store. Harris' during the Christmas season, and memories of
what made the Harris Company a beloved business, was also addressed.
Aimmee's book was available for sale for
$20. She had a book signing afterwards.
Discover Highland
Night Sat. October 27, 2012 (3-7 pm) in the Lowes parking lot.
The booth
was donated by the
Hampton Inn & Suites Highland, and we thank them very
much!
Thursday, Sept. 27th, 2012 7:00pm at the
Highland Senior Center
3102 Highland Ave. at the entrance to Patton.
Thursday, May 24th, 2012 7:00pm
Thursday, May 24th, 2012 7:00pm at the
Highland Senior Center
3102 Highland Ave. at the entrance to Patton.May 24th meeting -
Roundtable of founders including:
Ross Jones, Dennis Johnson, Jim Rissmiller and Jody Scott.
Highland Citrus Harvest Festival
(909) 864-8732, extension 204.
Highland Area Historical Society meeting
Thursday, March 22nd, 2012 7:00pm at the
Highland Senior Center 3102 Highland Ave. at the entrance to Patton.
Don Harkey presented a “lively” and “spirited” program on the
history auto racing,
racers and race tracks in the Highland area. He
covered topics from the “Ashcan Derby”
to the National Orange
Show Raceways, and a lot in between.
Some of the items covered
are:
1) A bit about Don’s racing career
2) Inland Empire Speedways
Ash Can (Kan) Derby which was on 3rd St. in Highland (1945-1948)
Orange Empire
Speedway (1938-1942) br> Orange Show Stadium / Speedway (1941-2011?)
Riverside International Raceway (1957-1989)
Ontario Motor Speedway
(1970-1980)
3) Highland's Racing Champions (OSS)
4) Notable
Highland drivers (including Swede Savage)
5) A viewing of, a short Super 8 mm
film titled "Orange Show Speedway '71
Thursday, January 26, 2012 7:00pm at the
Highland Senior Center 3102 Highland Ave. at the entrance to Patton.
Marilyn Cram Donahue, daughter of Fred Cram and Nellie Carter Cram; widow of Robert Donahue (son of Leo Donahue) and prolific author shared her memories of Highland in the 1930's and 1940*s, concentrating on the downtown area; the two grocery stores, the drugstore, Hambly's
dry goods store, etc. and some of the social activities, including the Women's Club and the Knitting Club. She also talked about the Canteen that operated during the war years. Marilyn also shared her memories of orange ranching and what it was really like.
Entertainment > Local Events
Now and Then: Hardscrabble Street
1924 Cram School District Map
Use Ctrl
+
& - to zoom after opening.By Nancy Alexander
The great thing about this map is that it shows the names of property owners within the school district and the locations of that property. This is exciting in and of itself, but something leaped out at both Charles and I , and that was a street name. Now, you know that street names are of particular interest to me, so the name Hardscrabble Road really popped out. In addition, New Street was an unfamiliar road.
The first thing was to find out what “hardscrabble” means. It is pretty obvious, but here is the definition: adjective: earning a bare subsistence, as on the land; noun: barren or marginal farmland; also being or relating to a place of barren or barely arable soil.
The next question was, “are there really streets named Hardscrabble?” The answer is yes. A quick on-line search found Hardscrabble Road in New York, North and South Carolina.
The eastern terminus of Hardscrabble Street is at Church Street. Following westward on Hardscrabble, there is a curve to the north, and a continuation to the west. The street that curves north is labeled New Street and it’s terminus is Base Line. This New Street is west of Orange Street which travels south to Redlands, so it is not Boulder Ave. as it is situated today, but may have been the beginning of Boulder Avenue.
It is also noted that New Street/Boulder Avenue does not continue north above Base Line as it does today, as all the land was owned by ranchers.
Comparisons of the 1924 map and more current maps would suggest that Hardscrabble Street was in line with 5th street or Third Street, however you want to draw the line. As you know, 5th street ends about Palm Avenue, and 3rd Street takes a slight jog north, then continues east. The land in this area falls in with the meaning of hardscrabble, being very rocky soil.
A visit to the County Archives is definitely in my future to try and sort this out. But in the mean time, if you love old maps, stop by the Highland Area Historical Society’s booth on Palm Ave. and Main Street at the Citrus Harvest Festival and take a look and tell me what you think.
More on Hardscrabble and New Streets
By Nancy Alexander
After reading the article, Ken took a look at a 1930 ariel map of the same area. With careful comparison to the 1924 Cram School District map, which he feels is not to scale, he came to the conclusion that New Street is now Webster.
“...that location is today’s intersection of Webster (New) and Greenspot (Hardscrabble). If you look at the photos I added, I outlined this section in black and it is clear that this intersection is what the map you have shows. This is before Boulder was constructed. The reason I am so confident is because of the location of the railroad tracks in the map. Also, Church Street location help pinpoint it for me.
This is a cool map because the street names are on it. I have edited the photo showing where Boulder is in relation to this intersection. Another cool fact is that the curve from Greenspot to Webster has made an impact on why when traveling east on Greenspot as you approach Boulder, the road makes a slight dogleg to the right then when you travel through Boulder you make another dogleg to the left. This I believe is the result of the old curve in the map. If you go to that location with a copy of the photo, not the map, you will see what I mean.
The map shows Hardscrabble staying straight west of the curve but the photo shows different.
I have seen several different maps where the road we now call Greenspot was referred to by different names, among them, East Highland Road. The name Greenspot was applied in 1931, after J.S. Edwards purchased the Greenspot Citrus Association.
“In extending the Edwards interests into Greenspot, the East Highlands Orange Company and co-operating growers recently completed a new road linking East Highlands and Greenspot. The county is expected to take this road over and improve it.” (Highland Messenger. Friday Aug. 21, 1931 Front Page, Column 1)
A 1960 road map shows 3rd street going east from Palm Avenue to Church Street, then there is a little jog to the north and it is then labeled East Highland Road. Some way past the railroad tracks to the east, East Highland Road runs into Greenspot Road, which at that junction, continued north to the Santa Ana Canyon Road, which curving northward is called Plunge Creek Road. (It’s all very confusing!)
The 1924 Cram School District map show an approximate location of the Santa Ana Canyon Road, which seems to begin at Manzanita Drive (in the Village), curving north and then meandering eastward, then taking a curve south, finally continuing in a straight line through the American Fruit Growers property.
The roads continue to shift and change with new roads being added and old roads disappearing as the area develops and changes. Come by our booth at the Citrus Harvest Festival and view these maps for yourself. March 30 at Palm Avenie and Main Street.
photo by Charles Roberts
P.O. Box P.O. Box 353
Highland, CA 92346-0353
www.HighlandHistory.org
