News and Updates

POSTE HOMESTEAD DEDICATED NOVEMBER 22^nd 2008.

Poste Homestead Historic and Natural Area:

Local groups and the BLM collaborate to protect a special place.

(Wonder Valley, California) -- A coalition of community groups have joined with the Barstow Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to protect an invaluable historical and natural resource in Wonder Valley.

The Poste Homestead Historical and Natural Area contains the adobe ruins of a 1923 homestead occupied by local historical figures David and Anna Poste, owners and operators of the Virginia Dale Mine. In 1952, a commercial hog ranch was built at the site and the area became known as "The Pig Farm." The expanse of sand dunes are home to a variety of desert creatures and is famous for its magnificent displays of wildflowers in the spring.

"The Bureau of Land Management, Barstow Field Office is looking forward to the posting of the interpretive signs at the Post Homestead on November 22nd. This area is of historical importance to many in the 29 Palms and Wonder Valley area. I would like to thank our partners the Mojave Desert Land Trust, Morongo Basin Conservation Association, 29 Palms Historical Society and Community ORV Watch for their work in this endeavor. The Bureau of Land Management places great importance on creating partnerships," said Jim Shearer, Bureau of Land Management Archaeologist.

A press conference was held at the site at noon on Saturday, November 22nd and featured speakers from the BLM and the coalition of organizations formed to protect the area. Speakers included: James Shearer, Archeologist, Bureau of Land Management; Al Gartner from the 29 Palms Historical Society; David Fick from the Morongo Basin Conservation Association; Nancy Karl from the Mojave Desert Land Trust; and, Phil Klasky from Community ORV Watch. Interpretive signs educating the public about the natural and historic features of the area were unveiled at the press conference.

"The dedication of the Poste Homestead Historic and Natural Area is an excellent example of the successful collaboration between federal land use management agencies and the community. This beautiful site is certainly a place worth protecting," said Nancy Karl of the Mojave Desert Land Trust, a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection and stewardship of natural areas in the Mojave Desert.

The Poste Homestead site currently suffers from dumping, vandalism and illegal off-road vehicle damage to both the historic ruins and the surrounding vegetation. ORV riders continue to remove signs closing illegal routes and breach barriers placed to protect the sand dunes. Stewardship of the site by the Mojave Desert Land Trust and the community will help ensure its continuing protection, and increased patrol by local and federal law enforcement will help save this invaluable public resource for generations to come.

"We applaud the BLM for their support in establishing this historic and natural resource. Poste Homestead has become an illegal ORV open area with a spider's web of illegal routes through fragile sand dunes. Riders have even damaged the adobe ruins, an invaluable historic resource that should be preserved for everyone," said Phil Klasky from Community ORV Watch, a local group of residents and businesses working to stop ORV abuse of private and public lands.

The Poste Homestead has been selected by the Bureau of Land Management as the next site for a massive clean-up, closure of illegal routes and repair of off-road vehicle damage as part of the 2009 National Public Lands Day.

Driving Directions to the Poste Homestead Historic and Natural Area

From downtown Twentynine Palms (Hwy 62 and Adobe Road) drive 7 miles East on Hwy 62 to Godwin Road. Turn left on Godwin, drive 2 miles to Amboy Road. Turn Right on Amboy and continue for 5 miles to the Palms Bar &a mp; Restaurant (look for the buffalo on the sign). The last mile of travel to the Poste Homestead is on an unpaved road with loose sand, so four wheel drive vehicles are recommended.

From the Palms Bar & Restaurant, continue east 4.3 miles to Chadwick Road. The county may not have replaced the missing street sign, so watch for a yellow flag. You will pass Midway Road a mile before you reach Chadwick. Turn right on Chadwick Road (this is where the sand starts) and drive almost a mile to a smaller road branching to the right. Follow this road about 1/4 mile to the grove of trees.

THE 2008 WEED SHOW WAS A GREAT SUCCESS.

Click to see a list of Weed Show 2008 Winners

Hastie Bus restoration project is underway.

For current updates clickhere.

REGULAR HOURS RETURN SEPTEMBER 10

 

The Old Schoolhouse Museum will return to regular hours for the fall, winter and spring season. We will be open Wednesday through Sunday from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Those wishing to do research in the new  library are asked to call the museum at 367-2366 on Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. to make an appointment.

Docents needed!

If you enjoy history and meeting interesting people consider volunteering as a docent at the Old Schoolhouse Museum. Learn more about the Indians, miners, and homesteaders and help the museum in its mission to preserve the history of 29 Palms and the greater Morongo Basin.

Contact the museum at (760) 367-2366 and ask for Marilyn Collier or Joyce Tisdale.

 

Thank you!

 

Images of America:

Twentynine Palms

 

by Vickie Waite, Al Gartner and Paul F. Smith

Published by Arcadia Publishing

 

The book is now available in the Old Schoolhouse Museum Gift Shop for $19.99 + tax

or can be ordered by mail

Click on Our Bookshop

Text Books Needed

 

Marion Gartner is collecting children's textbooks during the era that the Old Schoolhouse was in operation as a public school: 1927-1954.

Donations of California State Series in any subject matter as well as children's classics in good condition would be preferred. Please help us fill the library shelves of the Old Schoolhouse Museum. Please contact the webmaster of this site by clicking here.

 

 

PHOTOS NEEDED

 

The Society is always looking for early photos of 29 Palms for its archives. If you have old photos of your families homestead, the town, surrounding area, or the inside of the schoolhouse when it was in operation as a school and would like to share them, please call Al Gartner at (760) 361-1202 so arrangements can be made to copy them or send copies or originals to:

29 Palms Historical Society

P.O. Box 1926

29 Palms, CA 92277

 

Any originals sent for copying will be promptly returned. We are also looking for vintage photos of the Old Schoolhouse taken both inside and outside.

 

Museum joins "Time Travelers"

Due to the efforts of former Vice President Jeff Ohlfs your Society has recently joined Time Travelers, a program of the Missouri Historical Society which allows participating organizations to receive benefits when visiting other member museums throughout the United States by using your Historical Society membership card.

To see what museums you might be visiting during your travels and what benefits are offered click here to view their website.

If you have not received yours yet, please contact Pat Heumann (membership chairperson) and one will be mailed out to you.

EL OASIS YEARBOOKS NEEDED

 

We need only three more 29 Palms High School yearbooks to complete our collection for the library at the Old Schoolhouse Museum. This is a very popular collection. Years needed are: 1956, 1988, 1997.

Please drop them off at the museum during regular hours or on Wednesday morning from 9-noon. Or if you are out of the area please contact the museum at (760) 367-2366.

 

BUTTONS NEEDED

 

We are missing the following Pioneer Days buttons: 1947, 1956, 1959-64, 1966-67 to complete our set.

If you have any of these and wish to donate them please drop them off at the museum during regular hours or any Wednesday between 9:00 and Noon.