Labor Day’s behind us and lovely, lovely Santa Clarita autumn is ahead. Positively amazing how time just keeps slipping. It’s almost 2026.
I suggest we need a gallop into yesterday to revive ourselves.
This fine, Saturday Santa Clarita Valley morn, we’ve a most interesting trek ahead, filled with giant apricots and, of all things, plagues of crickets.
Relax. We’ll ride around them. Way around them. Everybody got their bug repellent?
WAY, WAY BACK WHEN
MOMENTOUS DAYS IN SEPTEMBER — On Sept. 1, 1887, the town of Saugus was founded. Same day, they held the grand openings for the train stations of Saugus and Castaic. Then, on Sept. 5, 1886, millionaire banker and railroad mogul Charles Crocker drove the golden spike at Lang Station in what would later be Canyon Country, linking the railroads from East to West. Next day, the Newhall Train Station opened.
APRIPOS APPRICOTS — The largest apricot tree in the world was right here in Newhall. It rested on John Gifford’s yard and was planted in 1883. It grew to 26 feet in height and had a circumference of 63 inches. That’s a lot of apricots.
OUR INDIAN WALGREEN’S — Speaking of things ancient, the Tataviam used to use a variety of local plants for salves and remedies. Balsam sage was used to help cure kidney problems and fever. Juniper berries were used for stomach, liver and blood treatments. Manzanita bark was used for treating constipation, and rather strangely, also for dysentery. The cochineal bug was crushed and used to create a bright red hue for face paint (some early settlers used it for decorating cakes!). Snakeweed, appropriately, was used for treating rattlesnake bites.
AND? BONUS? NO HOAs — Way, way back when, the Tataviam lived in reed corrales. These summer homes were more windbreaks and were open to the sun. When the homes got too buggy, the SCV’s Indian population didn’t call an exterminator. They burnt their dwellings and built new ones. This wasn’t exactly a labor-intensive job. It only took a half-day to construct one of these lean-to’s and about a day to build a winter’s wickiup.
WE REALLY TRULY NEED A PI’IDHUKU BLVD. — For those of you looking for that valuable extra credit on your report cards, jot down these names. They are the names of old Tataviam villages from the northern part of the valley. From the Piru area: Kouung, Hufant, Etsent, Akauaui, Kashtu, Pi’idhuku and Kamulus. From around the old pre-dam Castaic Lake: Sabau; Auuapya and Kashluk. From near Castaic: Kashtuk and Tsawayung. OK, smarty britcheses-eseszzz. Repeat that back.
SEPTEMBER 6, 1925
I’M SORRY. I DIDN’T UNDERSTAND YOU. YOU SOUND A LITTLE, ‘HORSE’ — World famous sculptor C.C. Cristadoro was in town, making a life-size bronze statue of William S. Hart and his horse, Paint.
ROUND & ROUND & ROUND WE GO — Steam shovels and men were sweating mightily, improving the Ridge Route. Their goal was to take out all the blind curves in the historic road and boy howdy, there sure were a lot of them. Between Castaic and the San Joaquin, there were enough to make 97 circles. Seriously. Think about that one…
STAN & GERTRUDE — A little Presbyterian trivia for you. The first marriage in the new church was held on this date. Miss Gertrude Edna Markley of Saugus married Stanley Paul Konik, of the city. Wonder if they’re still wed?
SEPTEMBER 6, 1935
I SAY. CRICKET, ANYONE? — We had an Old Testament plague of crickets 90 years back. In spots around the valley, they were in such large number, they darkened the sky. People were killing them by the thousands only to have thousands more pour in. Wrote Signal editor A.B. Thatcher: “The crickets are everywhere, day and night, soft, mushy, noiseless, creepy, flying little devils that get on the nerves of jumpy people and rather disconcerting for the callous ones.”
JIM NEVER CAME HOME — James Hudson’s wife had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach when her husband didn’t come home. A search party found the hunter’s car in Pico Canyon. Later, they found Jim. He had fallen off a cliff in Pico Canyon and was badly mangled. Before he died, he pulled off all his clothes except for his underwear.
SEPTEMBER 6, 1945
IT’S TOUGH BEING US — It’s tough being us. Local congressman Harry Sheppard spoke before a local Kiwanis gathering. Home fresh from a tour of war-ravaged Europe, he noted that except for Australia and New Zealand, pretty much every country on the planet didn’t like us. Also, he predicted that the European continent would start going to the left in future years. Interestingly, he spoke at the French Village club on San Fernando Road back then, Newhall Avenue today.
LITTLE ITTY-BITTY CARS GO FAST-FAST-FAST — Here’s another seemingly innocuous tidbit that is actually a big cultural marker for this valley. On this date, the first “midget” auto races were held at the Bonelli Stadium. During the war years, the grounds were quiet. Prior to that, it was the home of many world-famous rodeos drawing tens of thousands. In 1946, the horses and steers were replaced by figure-eight racing. Later, the place would change its name to the Saugus Speedway. And, as we speak today, the historic Saugus Speedway is being bulldozed to make room for more Taco Bell-esque stores and condos …
SEPTEMBER 6, 1955
SPEAKING OF THE PREVIOUS DECADE — Southern California was growing by leaps and bounds. In the San Fernando Valley, scores of butt-ugly tract homes were erupting like acne. The SCV had a boom, too, but entirely of custom homes.
THE SILENT TRUEBLOOD — On this date, silent partner of The Mighty Signal, Mark Trueblood, died. He had been behind the paper since 1938 when the Trueblood family took it over from A.B. Thatcher. Mark was a prominent Los Angeles insurance executive. He died preparing a family barbecue.
SEPTEMBER 6, 1965
NO MORE BLEACHER CREATURES — For decades, Newhall Elementary was the site of many a baseball and softball game. On this date, the district took the lights and bleachers and sold them to the Mint Canyon Little League to make way for more buildings on the campus.
SEPTEMBER 6, 1975
¡CALAMBRE! — For the second Monday in a row, the cold deep waters of Pyramid Lake claimed a life. Guillermo Peredo, after several beers and a heavy meal, decided to jump in a no-swimming zone. He started splashing and screamed “Calambre!” which means “Cramp” in Spanish. His relatives couldn’t save them. They couldn’t swim. A week earlier, a Bakersfield man sunk to the bottom after his boat capsized. He was never found.
SEPTEMBER 6, 1985
GREYHOUND WENT TO THE DOGS — I can’t resist. I’m going to have to ask my dear pal and SCV mover & shaker Bruce Fortine if he missed the bus. On this date, the old Greyhound Bus terminal (which was next to the American Legion Hall today) closed its doors for good. Bruce’s parents, Dough and Vella, ran the depot since just about the birth of the internal combustion engine. Well. Thirty years. The new owner, Rhoda Sanchez, just couldn’t make a go of it. Rhoda pert near summed it up: “When you can take a plane to New York for $99, who would want to go by bus?” I don’t know. Ralph Cramden?
WOULD YOU GUYS SETTLE FOR A BUGS BUNNY HOODIE? — It sure was a costly refund for Magic Mountain. On this date, they had to cough up $150,000 to pay for injuries to a couple who had more than a bumpy ride on the Mountain Express. The amusement park yanked the attraction.
HERE’S A BIG TIP: ON THE LAM? DON’T GO ON A NATIONALLY TELEVISED GAME SHOW — After seven long years, Faith Canutt of Valencia was reunited with her two daughters. Their father, Ron Whitelaw, took them, changed his and their names and had been living in a small Oregon town. The mother moved to Hawaii, but continued to call the Valencia sheriff’s office every two weeks for years. How were the girls finally discovered? Canutt had appeared on the TV show, “Hour Magazine,” with photos of her girls. A school bus driver in the Oregon town recognized them and alerted authorities. Whitelaw was arrested for child abduction and unlawful flight.
• • •
Happy first weekend of September, dear saddlepals, old and new friends and wonderful neighbors. Autumn is sneaking up on us! See you back here at The Mighty Signal hitching post next weekend with another exciting Time Ranger adventure. And, until then? Vayan con Dios, amigos!
Local historian and the world’s most prolific satirist/humorist John Boston will be soon launching a new eclectic bookstore and multimedia/commentary website on writing — johnboston-books.com. Look for “Naked Came the Novelist,” his long-awaited sequel to “Naked Came the Novelist,” coming this fall.
