Yermo in San Bernardino County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Lucy Bell Lane

Photographed By Syd Whittle, March 16, 2006

1. Lucy Bell Lane Marker

Inscription. Calico’s most distinguished and long time resident was Lucy Bell Lane (1874-1967). Known at one time as the “Queen of Calico”, Lucy lived at Calico for nearly 67 years. Of her many gifts, she is most remembered for her warm hospitality and vivid storytelling of the historic Calico silver mining camp. Lucy was indeed part of the history of Calico and was an accomplished prospector. Lucy Bell King arrived at Calico with her parents, her two brothers and sister in 1884, three years after the initial discovery of silver. In 1892 at the age of 18, she married John Lane. They bought a grocery store which briefly prospered but then quickly declined as a result of a slumping silver market. The Lanes’ left Calico in 1899 and returned for good in 1916, making the Lane’s store building their home. In 1920, the Lanes’ moved into the old courthouse & post office building, which would be Lucy’s home until 1965. John Lane died in 1934 & Lucy died in 1967 at the age of 93.

Erected 1989 by The Calico Concessionaires Association, D.V.T., The County of San Bernadino Regional Parks Department and Regional Parks Foundation, and the Billy Holcomb Chapter of the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitas (May 7, 1989). (Marker Number 56.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed

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in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers • Women. In addition, it is included in the E Clampus Vitus series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1884.

Location. 34° 56.979′ N, 116° 51.9′ W. Marker is in Yermo, California, in San Bernardino County. Marker is on Ghost Town Road, 4 miles north of Interstate 15. Marker is located to the right of the Lucy Bell Lane Museum on the main street of Calico. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Yermo CA 92398, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Town of Calico (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Calico Lives Again (about 500 feet away); Calico’s School House (about 600 feet away); Liberty Sculpture Park (approx. 3.2 miles away); Statue of Li Wangyang (approx. 3.2 miles away); Original Del Taco (approx. 4 miles away); Daggett (approx. 5.9 miles away); Daggett Garage (approx. 6.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Yermo.

More about this marker. Through Lucy's recollections

Lucy Bell Lane Museum image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Syd Whittle, March 16, 2006

2. Lucy Bell Lane Museum

Marker is in front of the building.

and photographs, Walter Knott of Knott's Berry Farm, was able to piece together and rebuild the old silver town during the early 1950's. At one time, Doresy, a black and white colie dog, carried the U.S. Mail in sacks slung over his back, from Bismarck to the Post Office at Calico. The mail was never detained and no holdups ever took place while Dorsey worked the route.
SOURCE: Billy Holcomb Chapter 1069 35th Anniversary Plaque Book by Phillip Holdaway

Regarding Lucy Bell Lane. Calico is part of the Calico Regional Park.

Also see . . . Lucy Belle King Lane (1875 - 1967) - Find A Grave Memorial. (Submitted on December 20, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California.)

Photographed By Syd Whittle, March 16, 2006

3. Lucy Bell Lane Museum

Plaque on Building Behind Hitching Post image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Syd Whittle, March 16, 2006

4. Plaque on Building Behind Hitching Post

Commemorative Pin image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Michael Kindig, May 7, 1989

5. Commemorative Pin

Lucy Bell Lane - May 1989
The Queen of Calico
ECV - 1069
E Clampus Vitus - Billy Holcomb Chapter

Credits. This page was last revised on February 29, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 21, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. This page has been viewed 3,421 times since then and 197 times this year. Last updated on November 3, 2014, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. Photos: 1. submitted on August 21, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 22, 2008, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 5. submitted on August 8, 2016, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.