Located along the Mojave River, the vicinity of Oro Grande was the location for Native American settlements hundreds of years. The river was also the part of a trade route from the Colorado River for tribes in the southwest with those on the coast of Southern California, what was called the Mohave Trail. Followed by Spanish padres and soldiers, and later American fur trappers and New Mexican traders the Mohave Trail became part of the Old Spanish Trail between New Mexico and California from 1830. After the Americans acquired California in the Mexican American War, Mormon pioneers developed a wagon road from Salt Lake City to Los Angeles on the western part of the Old Spanish Trail crossing the Mojave River here just below the Lower Narrows of the Mojave River. In 1859, Aaron G. Lane established the a ranch and store for travelers on the road at this crossing, that came to be called Lane's Crossing. This was the first settlement on the Mojave River. He sold out in 1865 and moved down river to establish a ranch at Bryman, and others took over his old ranch.In January, 1873, a strike found ore that ran $160 in gold and $18 in silver per ton at Silver Mountain east of Lane's new ranch, led to the organization of the Silver Mountain Mining District. In 1880, other strikes found $2,000 a ton in silver and $18,000 per ton in gold to the southwest led to the organization of the Red Mountain Gold and Silver Mining District and the construction of the mining town of Oro Grande almost 2 miles below Lane's old crossing east of the river. It was named after the first mine found, the Oro Grande Mine. The first houses were built and a post office established called Halleck in January 1881. A stamp mill for these mines was installed on the river, and later used for those of Calico. From 1887, limestone quarries opened and two kilns were produced lime for cement. From 1907, cement was made in Oro Grande. Marble was also mined. On May 25, 1927, the post office officially was renamed as Oro Grande. Nearby is the World War II Silver Peak Light Annex.
Like many towns located along Route 66 Oro Grande is mere shadow of what it used to be. With the exception of the handful of antique stores and a pizza restaurant the businesses along the old highway now sit abandoned. Since the construction of the I15 freeway several miles away there simply wasn't a need for the gas stations and motels anymore so they simply faded away.
Nostalgia seekers who venture down old Route 66 will be rewarded if they discover these truly wonderful and unique shops baking in the hot and dry California desert sunshine.
As a side note if you love trains Oro Grande is a spot where you can enjoy train after train as they roar past. They really fly through the area and they make the windows in the shops rattle as they pass. It's really something fun to experience.
Map:
Photos:
No comments:
Post a Comment