Indio in Riverside County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Dr. June Robertson McCarroll
Photographed By Michael Kindig, January 13, 2011
1. Dr. June Robertson McCarroll Marker
Dr. June Robertson McCarroll was born June 30, 1867 in the Adirondacks and began her medical career in Chicago. She left a promising practice for Indio in 1904. Becoming the sole practicing physician for the entire Coachella Valley. She traveled by horseback, horse and buggy, and automobile to provide medical care throughout the valley under very primitive conditions.
An encounter with a large truck on a narrow road in 1917 resulted in her Model T abandoning the road for a sandy ditch. This led Dr. June to the idea that a white stripe painted in the center of the road would make automobile travel safer. She personally painted the first known stripe in California on Indio Boulevard, then part of Highway 99, during 1917. A letter writing campaign intitiated by the Indio Women's Club eventually led to adoption of the practice by the California Highway Commission in 1924.
Dr. June also started the first library in the Coachella Valley. She died on March 30, 1954. A nearby portion of the freeway was named in her honor on April 24, 2002.
Erected 2003 by Billy Holcomb Chapter No. 1069, E Clampus Vitus in cooperation with the City of Indio. (Marker Number 116.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work
this page online
Location. 33° 43.26′ N, 116° 13.04′ W. Marker is in Indio, California, in Riverside County. Marker is on Indio Boulevard east of Smurr Street, on the right when traveling south. Marker is located approximately 250 southeast of the intersection. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 82921 Indio Boulevard, Indio CA 92203, 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. History of Electricity in the Coachella Valley (approx. 0.2 miles away); Smiley Place (approx. 0.3 miles away); USS Liberty Tree - USN Captain William L. McGonagle (approx. 0.3 miles away); Jimmy Swaggart's "Date" (approx. 0.9 miles away); Veterans Remembrance Memorial (approx. 3.6 miles away); Water Trough (approx. 3.7 miles away); The Bradshaw Trail / Point Happy (approx. 4˝ miles away); Carl G. Bray, Smoke Tree Painter (approx. 5.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Indio.
Regarding Dr. June Robertson McCarroll.
Photographed By Michael Kindig, January 13, 2011
2. Dr. June Robertson McCarroll Marker
Also see . . . Dr June McCarroll: The rebel doctor armed with a paintbrush who defined our roads. Car Advice website entry. Excerpt:
As she later recalled of the incident, “My Model T Ford and I found ourselves face to face with a truck on the paved highway. It did not take me long to choose between a sandy berth to the right and a 10-ton truck to the left!”(Submitted on May 29, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
With the truck disappearing into the distance, the Model T was buried in sand at the side of the road with a fuming Dr McCarroll behind the wheel and plotting her next move.
“Then I had my idea of a white line painted down the centre of the highways of the country as a safety measure,” she added.
Photographed By Bill Kirchner, March 29, 2015
3. Dr. June Robertson McCarroll Marker
Photographed By Jackson Musker
4. Dr. June Robertson McCarroll
Credits. This page was last revised on July 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 20, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. This page has been viewed 1,796 times since then and 193 times this year. Last updated on November 3, 2014, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. It was the Marker of the Week July 30, 2023. Photos: 1. submitted on December 20, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. 2. submitted on December 25, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. 3. submitted on April 4, 2015, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. 4. submitted on December 20, 2011, by Michael Kindig of Elk Grove, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
