Lake Hughes Local History

Lake Hughes Local History. . , The Founding of Lake Hughes , 1858 · Butterfield Overland Mail: , The Butterfield Overland Mail Co. transported mail from San Fransisco to the East Coast. The route ran by Hughes Lake and through San Fransisquito Canyon. , 1869 · The Lakes One Room School House: , The one room school near Lake Hughes (now the HELUS School) was the only one between L.A. and Bakersfield at the time. On the left is a class and their teacher from 1935. , 1911 · Los Angeles Aqueduct (Elizabeth Tunnel): , The 5 mile tunnel beneath Lake Hughes was completed in 1215 days. This was the largest construction phase of the controversial First L.A. Aqueduct, a project started in 1905 by William Mulholland and L.A. Mayor Fred Eaton. , 1920 · Naming Lake Hughes: , Previously West Elizabeth Lake, the town was renamed Lake Hughes after Judge Griffith Hughes, who homesteaded here in the late 1800s. , 1926 · Clarence Austin's Vacation Homes: , Austin, a real-estate developer, purchased 40 acres near Lake Hughes to build vacation homes. These getaway spots helped Lake Hughes become a resort destination. , 1949 · The First 49ers Day Celebration: , Austin threw a birthday party for Trading Post owner Joel B. Hurd in 1949. This began the Lake Hughes annual 49ers Day Festival, celebrated each summer to this day. , , Civilian Conservation Corps (1935) , The building that is now the Lakes Community Center originally served as a mess hall and barracks for the Civilian Conservation Corps (image on the bottom right). President F.D. Roosevelt established the CCC in 1933 to maintain public lands, and to provide jobs during the Great Depression. Across the country the Corps built and maintained transportation and communications infrastructure, managed water resources, and worked on forest care and wildfire protection. On the left are members of the CCC in the Lake Hughes area, and the historic CCC badge they would wear. , , Hollywood Stars in Lake Hughes , · Silent film and "talkie" actress Anita Page bought a house in Lake Hughes in the 1930s (below). Film stars were frequent visitors of the town around this time. , · Movie stars Dale Evans and her husband Roy Rogers purchased a retreat at Lake Hughes in 1947. They named it "Sky Haven Ranch" and it is still called this today. , · German-Canadian actor Paul Koslo and his family purchased and renovated the Rock Inn (previously the Lake Hughes Trading Post) in 1973. , · Actor Paul Newman founded The Painted Turtle in 1999 with Page and Lou Adler. The camp near Lake Hughes opened in 2004, providing a summer camp experience for children with special medical needs. , , By the 1940s Lake Hughes became a popular camping, boating, and weekend retreat destination. This image is a "real photo postcard" from that time, a unique original photograph printed on postcard stock. , , Community Highlights , , The main wash that fed Lake Hughes was redirected in the 1960s to control devastating floods that threatened the community. In 2013 water from the lake was used to help put out the Powerhouse Fire. These circumstances, but especially the historic drought from 2013 onward led to the lake drying out. , , The Rock Inn , Built in 1929 as the Lake Hughes Trading Post: a post office, store, and hotel. The first Lake Hughes 49ers Day took place here in 1949. , , Lakes Community Center , Built as barracks for the Civilian Conservation Corps, the building currently provides space for a local museum and Lakes Town Council meetings. , , Elizabeth Lake , Elizabeth Lake is a perennial sag pond that lies atop the San Andreas Fault. The lake can dry out due to extended drought. , , Hughes Lake , This perennial sag pond has been a camping and recreation destination (this photo shows a 1947 family camping trip). , , The Painted Turtle Camp , The facility provides a summer camp experience for children with special medical needs. , , Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) , The renowned Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail (PCT) runs 2,650 miles from the Mexican border to the Canadian border. , , San Fransisquito Canyon , San Fransisquito Canyon is located South of Lake Hughes, within the Angeles National Forest. The canyon is characterized by unique geology and a perennial creek that hosts sensitive plant and animal species. The Los Angeles Aqueduct transports water through the canyon. Two hydroelectric power plants have been producing electricity for Los Angeles since 1917. The canyon is also the site of the 1928 St. Francis Dam disaster, a tragedy which claimed hundreds of human lives. Many designated roads and trails within the canyon are popular among hikers, cyclists, and OHV enthusiasts.