The San Bernardino Historical and Pioneer Society will be sponsoring a field trip for our members to the beautiful and historic Arrowhead Springs on Saturday, February 25. We will meet at the entrance of Arrowhead Springs at 9:30 AM. There will be a locked gate, which will open for us.  Those attending this fun event are asked to donate $10.00 per person that will contribute as a fundraiser for the Society. 

A visit to San Bernardino's Red Light District

Phil Kassel, life time Inland Empire resident and long time San Bernardino attorney, will talk about the history our city’s notorious D Street “Red – Light District.” This colorful, but bawdy part of our city’s past began shortly after the Mormon recall in 1857 and prevailed up until the early 1940’s, when plans were being finalized for establishing what would become known as Norton Air Force Base.

Most history buffs know of the building of the transcontinental railroad by the Union Pacific and Central Pacific railroads which culminated in their 1869 junction at Promontory Summit, Utah Territory. During this construction, the survey of a second transcontinental was underway, one by the Union Pacific-Eastern Division. Although more than one route was investigated, the company leaders let their preference for the alignment along the 35th Parallel be known in early 1868.

A reporter for an eastern newspaper accompanied the survey team and wrote back periodic accounts of its progress. Those letters pertaining to San Bernardino County were published by Tales of the Mojave Road Publishing Company under the title, The Letters of Alfred R. Calhoun, Mojave Desert, 1867-1868 (Goffs, California, 2011.)

John Marnell edited these letters and designed the book. He provided photographs of the people and places along the route, and some of the photos are exceedingly scarce. John did extensive research on the people who are mentioned in Calhoun's missives, much of which, of course, falls outside the scope of the survey project. He has agreed to give a talk using this data with an emphasis on those persons connected to the City of San Bernardino, Cajon Pass and Mojave River areas.

     To Be Announced