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Coachella Valley, California
Cahuilla, Coahuilla, Conchilla, Coachella?
An uncertain myth: Coachella came originally from the Spanish “conchilla” meaning little shells. The floor of the desert, covered by the ancient Lake Cahuilla is carpeted with tiny shells, which can still be found in areas along the old sea’s shores. In the 1900’s maps were prepared in error and changed “Conchilla” to “Coachella” The early maps show the valley being named for the Cahuilla Indians, who were here when the spanish contacted them in the 1820’s.
These 1830’s maps referenced “Caguilla” and 1845 “Cahuilla” in English.
In 1857, the earliest map for the Pacific Railroad Army Topographical Engineers’s study of potential rail routes use “Coahuilla”. A U.S. Geological Survey reports in 1905 the “Conchilla Desert”. A train stop was labeled “Coachella”.
A U.S.G.S. in 1909 conforms to “Coachella”.
(Image and text courtesy of Coachella Valley Historical Society https://www.cvhm.org/)
City of Coachella
Mrs. John S. Leach
Mrs. John S. Leach
Mrs. John S. Leach
Image and text courtesy of Coachella Valley Historical Society
The John S. Leach family lived in their home (in above picture gallery) when Arabia had a post office, store and cotton gin between Thermal and Mecca. J. Win Wilson operated the valley’s first cotton gin at Arabia. Left to right, Mrs. Herbert Leach (John’s mother from Massachusetts) Mr. & Mrs. John Leach; Mrs. Minnie Magaw; Mr. Lon Harvey (Mrs. Leaches brother) Long time water district director George Leach and sister, Mrs. Creed, grew up here. George Leach grew up here
This home on the Arabia townsite was in this authentic ghost town, located between ave 60 & 61 south of Hwy 111
“There was a store, a post office and the valley’s first cotton gin”Leach recalls. When the store was abandoned in 1920, the end began for Arabia. Promoters built one house in a subdivision and there it stood until it was torn down in 1935 along with the store building…Arabia was no more. Nearly 40 Acres were subdivided and some residents said there were streets mapped with street lamps erected.
Artesian wells flowed in 1906 in the Thermal-Arabia area, where many of the early irrigation development was centered. Mrs. John Leach is pictured next to an artesian well in above gallery.
Jason L. Rector
Mrs. John S. Leach
Mrs. John S. Leach
Image and text courtesy of Coachella Valley Historical Society
Jason L. Rector made Coachella his home. Jason L. Rector, known as the town's founder, established a mesquite wood terminal on a Southern Pacific Railroad siding from where lumber was hauled to market in Los Angeles. This spur or siding was named “Woodspur'' and did a thriving business. The townsite was known as Woodspur for the first three years of its existence. Mr. Rector replaced this work and began his plan of surveying the valley. He put down a well to test the concept that an abundance of water was available for irrigation. Settlement in the area did not begin until Rector, aided by his brother Lon B. Rector, had a well dug on the raw desert four miles east of Indio. This first well tapped an artesian water well (on what is now covered by the intersection of Grapefruit Avenue and Fifth Street in Coachella. (See picture of downtown Coachella above.) The Rectors completed the well in November of 1900.
The Rectors then began laying a townsite on land owned by J. L. Rector. Read more on:
https://www.coachella.org/about-us/history
City of Indio
A.G. Tingman “Father of Indio”
James, Elizabeth and Ortho Moore
A.G. Tingman “Father of Indio”
Images and text courtesy of Coachella Valley Historical Society https://www.cvhm.org/
Mr A.G. Tingman arrived in Indio, with Mrs. Tingman as railroad construction boss and wife in 1877 and later became telegrapher and station agent in 1883; Indio’s first store keeper southwest of depot in 1885, first postmaster in 1888. Homesteaded and purchased 160 acres in 1891 and laid out original Indio Townsite in 1894; Tingman also a prospector; The Lost Horse Mine in Joshua Tree National Monument was found in 1893 when “Dutch Frank” Siebold found the vein and took a sample of the gold-bearing rock back to his partner’s camp Siebold, Ed Holland and A.G. Tingman filed a claim. In 1900 Tingman made some high grade ore discoveries in Pleasant Valley. Many mines were operated in the Monument.
Dr. June Robertson
James, Elizabeth and Ortho Moore
A.G. Tingman “Father of Indio”
Images and text courtesy of Coachella Valley Historical Society https://www.cvhm.org/
In 1903 N. O. Nelson, a Chicago Philanthropist opened what was called the Indio Health Camp on land adjoining the depot. It had tent houses set 20 feet apart, open for air circulation. Eastern doctors suggested that TB patients travel to warm, dry climates. Trains brought the patients to Indio. The sixty acrepiece of land was planted with vegetables and other produce and needed a farm manager. Dr. June Robertson arrived with her husband, John, who had tuberculosis. John was given the manager’s job, they begged Dr. June to become the camp doctor and eventually the doctor for the entire Coachella Valley. An early cemetarylocated near the camp on N. Jackson St. is a sad reminder that TB claimed the lives of many.
She arrived in Indio in 1904, fully intending to be just a housewife. She became the valley’s first resident physician. She left a medical practice in Nebraska to travel with her husband to Indio for his tuberculosis. He managed the Nelson Health Camp, she became the doctor to tb patients, and quickly became the doctor for the entire valley, from Palm Springs to the Salton Sea. She specialized in delivering babies, and tended to all emergencies, sending the seriously ill to the hospital by train. She retired in 1916. Dr. Robertson appointed by Bureau of Indian Affairs to serve the Native American Population, who were not trusting of “white man’s medicine” Robertson found a working partner in Ambrosia, a native medicine man who sought help in treating measles, which affected families greatly and ended often in death. “Doc June” traveled by horse and buggy, then by horseback to travel the sand. She carried a six-shooter. Her husband died in 1914, and she married Frank McCarroll the station agent in Indio. She was involved
James, Elizabeth and Ortho Moore
James, Elizabeth and Ortho Moore
James, Elizabeth and Ortho Moore
Images and text courtesy of Coachella Valley Historical Society https://www.cvhm.org/
James Moore drove a team of horses into the valley with wife Elizabeth and young son Ortho in 1898. When they stayed with Elizabeth’s brother, they were located where the Date Festival grounds is now. At that time, the property was covered with mesquite trees and the house was a shack. When they made their final trip to the valley, they arrived by “immigration Car” from Monrovia, CA, a train car packed with well rig, several tons of hay, lumber, hay, nails, rolls of wire, and a milk cow. They were now in ownership of their homestead.
Elizabeth Moore (1937) was referred to as the “Pioneer Mother of Indio” In 1899 the family stayed with her brother, Lincoln Casebeer, until their own tent house was constructed. The lived in a number of small homes early in their lives in Indio. She reported that the early homesteaders battled continuously against burros, coyotes, jackrabbits, and wild cattle. She could hear gunshots from every homestead. Rabbits were good for stew, but the burros were a nuisance. Prospectors were many and they sent their burros out to pasture in Albert Tingman’s corral, although they escaped. Homesteaders protected their gardens with hay bales and barbed wire, however the animals found their way in. “The homestead was a noisy, dusty place until we drove those tramps out into the desert.” She was an original member of the Altruain Literary Club, started in 1912. This later became the Indio Women’s Club
City of Desert Hot Springs
Cabot Yerxa
Images and text courtesy of Cabot Yerxa Museum for more information, visit https://www.cabotsmuseum.org/
Cabot homesteaded 160 acres in 1913 in Desert Hot Springs for $10 + improvements. He purchased his mule Merry Christmas for $10 as well. Once Merry Christmas saved Cabot’s life in a windstorm in the desert. Cabot was disoriented and could not fine his way in the sand. He left the journey up to Merry Christmas who brought Cabot home.
. Cabot died in 1965 at the age of 81 after spending more than 52 years working to make the desert a better place to live--for him, for others.
City of Palm Desert
Image an Text Courtesy of Historical Society of Palm Desert.
In the 1930’s, William Johnson of American Pipe and Construction Company acquired 320 acres of Gillette Ranch, hired Charles Gibbs Adams, noted landscape architect of the Hearst Castle Gardens to design a residential project. He wanted to duplicate the developing resort in palm springs. It failed with the depression in 1940. Mollin Investment Company bought the property and called it Palm Village. When the army arrived in 1943, several homes were built, as well as a restaurant.
Henderson Brothers
Image an Text Courtesy of Historical Society of Palm Desert.
The Henderson brothers began development of 1,600 acres in Palm Desert. Construction of the Shadow Mountain Club and the Desert Magazine Building began. A new spirit and energy was evolving. At its official opening in October 1948, it housed the printing and publishing offices of “Desert Magazine” as well as Desert Printers. A gem shop and a bookstore were located inside near the entrance. Occupying 17,000 square feet, the imposing structure served not only as headquarters of the prestigious “Desert Magazine” but for other national publications and the first local newspaper. Because of heavy delivery to and from “Desert Magazine”, the federal government authorized a post office for Palm Desert. The Southwest Art Gallery, also located in the Desert Magazine Building. It was a place for local artists to display their works. Art shows were regularly held, making it a center for social gatherings by the early residents.
City of La Quinta
Louise Rodarte Neely
Chauncey Clark and Marie Rankin Clark
Chauncey Clark and Marie Rankin Clark
Content and photos courtesy of Louise Rodarte and the La Quinta Historical Society: https://www.facebook.com/LaQuintaMuseum.
Louise Rodarte Neeley is one of La Quinta’s most notable and distinguished pioneers. She worked as the La Quinta Historical Museum Manager and Coachella Valley Historical Museum and Cultural Center Docent Director. She was born at Point Happy Ranch to one of Coachella Valley’s pioneer families, the Rodarte Family who worked on the ranch owned by Chauncey and Marie Rankin Clark.
Chauncey Clark and Marie Rankin Clark
Chauncey Clark and Marie Rankin Clark
Chauncey Clark and Marie Rankin Clark
Content and photos courtesy of the La Quinta Historical Society:
https://www.facebook.com/LaQuintaMuseum.
Point Happy Purchased in 1922 by wealthy oil man, geologist and philanthropist Chauncey Clarke, husband of Marie Rankin Clarke. They believed conditions at Point Happy were ideal to farm dates and raise Arabian horses. They cultivated the first Deglet Noors-”date of light” -translation; irrigation was handled by artesian well and electric and diesel pumps. Greata Garbo, William Powell, Clark Gable and President Taft were visitors, as well as frequenting the La Quinta Hotel. Marie Clarke was a founder of the Hollywood Bowl and the Indio Womens Club. They had an estate in Santa Fe Springs, California. It is now a historical site. See https://www.santafesprings.org/about/history/clarke_estate/default.asp for more information.
