Kelso in San Bernardino County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Kelso Jail
Mojave National Preserve
Photographed By Don Morfe, September 22, 2007
1. Kelso Jail Marker
Inscription.
Kelso Jail. Mojave National Preserve. After several decades, the infamous, two cell, metal jail is in its original home near the Kelso Depot Visitor Center in Mojave National Preserve. Twelve years ago, officials at the Barstow office of the Health Department wanted it removed from their grounds. Barstow residents, Kay Mahoney and her husband, took it off their hands. In the fall of 2005, Mahoney donated the Kelso Jail back to the Mojave N.P., Bureau of Land Management Maintenance Foreman, Mike Trost, skillfully extricated the Jail which was surrounded by trees, fences and woodpiles. From the Mahoney yard, Trost and crew loaded the Jail onto a flatbed and transported it to Kelso., World War II era Kelso resident, Richard Klepper, remembers around 1944, when the jail first arrived in Kelso, “Before that, the constable used a reefer car for a jail,” Klepper said. “In those days,” he added, “Kelso was loaded with drunks from both the Kaiser (Vulcan) Mine and Union Pacific.” A night spent in the Kelso Jail might encourage sobriety.
After several decades, the infamous, two cell, metal jail is in its original home near the Kelso Depot Visitor Center in Mojave National Preserve. Twelve years ago, officials at the Barstow office of the Health Department wanted it removed from their grounds. Barstow residents, Kay Mahoney and her husband, took it off their hands. In the fall of 2005, Mahoney donated the Kelso Jail back to the Mojave N.P.
Bureau of Land Management Maintenance Foreman, Mike Trost, skillfully extricated the Jail which was surrounded by trees, fences and woodpiles. From the Mahoney yard, Trost and crew loaded the Jail onto a flatbed and transported it to Kelso.
World War II era Kelso resident, Richard Klepper, remembers around 1944, when the jail first arrived in Kelso, “Before that, the constable used a reefer car for a jail,” Klepper said. “In those days,” he added, “Kelso was loaded with drunks from both the Kaiser (Vulcan) Mine and Union Pacific.” A night spent in the Kelso Jail might encourage sobriety.
Erected by National Park Service-United States Department of the Interior.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 2005.
Location. 35° 0.75′ N, 115°
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39.216′ W. Marker is in Kelso, California, in San Bernardino County. Marker is on Kelso Cima Road. The marker is attached to the Kelso Jail and is located on the grounds of the Kelso Depot Visitor Center in the Mojave National Preserve. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Baker CA 92309, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 2 other markers are within 14 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Kelso Depot (within shouting distance of this marker); The Mojave Road (approx. 14 miles away).
Photographed By Don Morfe, September 22, 2007
2. Kelso Jail Marker
Photographed By Don Morfe, September 22, 2007
3. Kelso Old Post Office
Photographed By Don Morfe, September 22, 2007
4. Kelso-Foundation of a burned out house
Photographed By Don Morfe, September 22, 2007
5. Mojave National Preserve
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on April 13, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 443 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on April 13, 2015, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
