Posted by Charles Griffith on September 27, 1999 at 16:43:07:
In Reply to: Ft. Irwin / Historical Site posted by Joel Briggs on September 24, 1999 at 11:42:02:
I GOT THIS IN MY EMAIL. THOUGH I WOULD PASS IT ON.
I called him and we spoke for several hours. He is 94
years old and lives in a retirement home in Newport Beach.
He has met Scotty and several other historical names
associated with the Mojave Desert.
HERE IS HIS EMAIL.
Dear Joel Briggs,
The area you speak about was once a repair station
for a long ago forgotten railroad line. I once worked
on that line as a surveyor. Just northwest of that
site you will find an abandon sunken water well. On the
foundation of that well you will find the initials
CG, WK, and LT 1931. CG is my initials, WK - William
Wild Bill) Kelso, and LT - Lawrence Tomlison. WK was
one of the best steam locomotive operators around.
LT was a surveyor and we worked together. When this
line was abandon, we worked on the Barstow to San
Bernardino line until WWII. Both Bill and Lawrence
have since passed away.
There were once 5 buildings on this site. I'm glad
to hear a few are still standing. Two of the buildings
belong to the government, one belonging to US
Geological Survey Department and the other, the
county.
I can remember one wet windy evening a car drove
up and the occupants seemed very confused and lost.
They were looking for Barstow. The occupants, a
four star and a three 3 general. They were planning
to board a train back east. They ended up staying
two days until the storm blew over. A year later,
the army surveyed much of the land around us.
The rest is history.
If you are planning to go visit this long ago place,
I ask that you please snap me a few pictures and
forward them to me. I will gladly pay your for your
troubles. The last time I visit this place was back
in 1952.
It would be a real pleasure to speak with you and I asked
that you please call me at ***-***-****. You many call
collect if you wish.
CG