Comments on: About the Author

By: Arnold V.

Arnold V. — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 03:45:32 +0000

love the work you do, Michael .. especially the history of California highways and the historical maps you’ve posted and collected .. truly and totally awesome stuff!

By: Stefan Economou

Stefan Economou — Thu, 02 Jan 2020 18:50:27 +0000

Michael, just want to thank you… I stumbled on your “old” site in the late 90s and because of it I was able to ride my Yamaha XS11 (!) on the Ridge Route from Castaic to Gorman prior to its closure in 2005. (This was a highlight of a cross-country solo trip.) I think I still have a photo of by bike in Swede’s cut. Glad to see you’re still exploring on 2 wheels, your site is even more fascinating now! Best wishes for 2020.

By: Louise Elena Hoff

Louise Elena Hoff — Sat, 23 Nov 2019 22:55:50 +0000

HI Michael, I cam across your trip to (old) Isabella and some photos and asked my mother, who had grown up there, to let me write down all she could remember and I have completed a monograph with photos about the 40 people who lived there 1924-1932. If you are interested (mostly photos), I will email it to you. Thanks! Louise Hoff

By: Doug Reeder

Doug Reeder — Thu, 03 Jan 2019 04:36:09 +0000

Hi Michael,

In viewing your wonderful website I was inspired to contact you regarding a couple of historic fact finding missions I am currently on.

I grew up in north Corona, Norco, in the 50′ and 60’s, As a tyke I used to go with my family to the beach, Knott’s and Disyneyland through the Santa Ana canyon. It was a wonderful and mysterious journey down the canyon back then before the new 91 freeway. A lot more vegetation on both sides of the road and amazing rock formations on the south side in places.

I remember a place on the right as you left Corona called Lasky’s, or Lasky Camp. The name, I’ve discovered, comes from the 20’s era when film producer Jesse Lasky had a ‘camp’ in the canyon. I believe it was a staging area from which they shot movies in the canyon.

What I remember is an establishment, like a cafe or truck stop with the name Laskys on it. We never stopped there but I definitely remember it.

So, I’m trying to dig up any old photos of the east end of the canyon that my show the place, or even photos of it proper.

I’d appreciate any advice on where I might look.

Thanks,
Doug

By: Ronald Black

Ronald Black — Sun, 25 Nov 2018 19:21:33 +0000

I’m looking for a highway map of the original Route 6 of the Grand Army of the Republic Highway from Bishop to Long Beach, with another current map along the same route. I am interested in exactly where it passes through certain streets. Do you have any links directly to those maps?

By: Michael F Ballard

Michael F Ballard — Sun, 25 Nov 2018 18:41:13 +0000

In reply to Ronald Black. I have maps that would cover that. Any particular section of interest? The routing through Los Angeles didn't change much. It mostly ran along San Fernando Road and Figueroa Street to Pacific Coast Highway.

By: Andy Alison

Andy Alison — Mon, 05 Nov 2018 09:30:50 +0000

My great-grandparents, Dr. & Mrs. James Hovey Bullard, collected large rocks from Mint Canyon in 1910-1920’s for their garden in Echo Park. I have his diaries and recently was traded copies of their historic photos for nearly 1 ton of these beautiful rocks they collected from the current owners of the home that is being re-landscaped. We just placed them in our garden 100 years after they originally collected them. Would appreciate sharing our photos, diaries and learning more the geology of these beautiful stones.

By: Steve Shaw

Steve Shaw — Mon, 26 Mar 2018 19:12:50 +0000

Interesting formation in the Mojave desert in Calif City area.
Cadillac Butte, 2,500 year old raptor nesting sites along the ledges.

By: Michael Ballard

Michael Ballard — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 16:43:27 +0000

In reply to Pamela Neal. Those are composed of the Texas Canyon section of the Oligocene Vasquez Formation. The rocks outcropping are steeply dipping sandstones and conglomerates which are more resistant to erosion, hence their presence.

By: Pamela Neal

Pamela Neal — Sun, 25 Mar 2018 15:47:09 +0000

In my search to find information about the geological history of Santa Clarita, I found your website. The information is very informative, and I thank you! I am searching for information about a series of domes used for rock climbing off Rush Canyon Road, near the Rowher Flat OHV area. USFS calls these formations Table Rock. The climbers call it Texas Canyon. Please let me know if you have any information.