The earliest inhabitants of the Pinon Hills date back to approximately 4,000 years ago, aboriginal
peoples occupied the higher elevations of the San Bernardino Mountains. The earliest uses were as gathering sites for food,
both plants and animals. The Serrano Indians, approximately 1000 - 1,500 years ago, established permanent summer camps, coming
down to the lower elevations in winter. The Shoshonian, primarily mountain Indians inhabited the Jaw Bone Canyon. For many
centuries they used a trail which was later known as the Fort Tejon Road. The Barrel Springs received its name from the Indians
who lived in the canyon because they would fill their barrels with water for the stagecoaches that came through the area.
The first white man in recorded history appeared in the Mojave Desert in March 1776 when Francisco Garces, a Spanish Franciscan
priest, followed an old Indian trail along the Mojave River looking for a practical route from Arizona to Northern California.
In 1851, under the direction of Charles C. Rich, Mormon colonists from Utah were sent to found a settlement around this area
Tails A Lost Gold Mine of Pinon Hills
In
the early 1700's several priests of the Jesuit Order discovered one of the richest gold mines of the southwest. This mine
was said to be located somewhere between Pinon Hills and Littlerock, and great quantities of gold were taken from it. When
the Jesuit priests were recalled in the 1730's they caused a landslide to cover the mine, and it has never been found.
A Town With Five Names (a.k.a. Pinon Hills)
An old map, printed before Highway
138 came through as a dirt road, showed the name of the town to be Border Town as it was located on the San Bernardino-Los
Angeles county line.
Later
the town was called Horine Springs for Merrie Horine who homesteaded the foothill region east of the county line. The Horines
let people dip water from the end of the water line at their house and did not charge for dipping. A man named Smithson' ran
cattle over most of the area, and the water company later created at the springs by Alfred Mondorf was named Smithson Springs
Water Company. Naturally, the town inherited the name for a while. But the residents didn't like all the s's, so they changed
the name to Desert Springs and they obtained a post office under that name. Winifred E. Ellison was their first postmaster.
There
was trouble in the wings for Desert Springs. The San Bernardino Post Office mail sorting division, threw the mail too fast
and letters directed to Desert Springs went to Desert Hot Springs much too frequently (today, the zip code method would keep
that from happening - anyone want to go back to Desert Springs?)
The
Area Receives its Final Official Name, PINON HILLS. After a secret ballot by settlers at the Chamber of Commerce building
the name Pinon Hills was the winner.
There
aren't too many other locations with the distinction of having had five names in 20 years. The name Pinon Hills comes from
the Pinus monophylla (pinyon pine) that dominate the desert-facing slopes.
Stagecoach Route
The
Butterfield Stagecoach Route was an important stage line in the 19th century. It would stop at the old mailboxes on the Fort
El Tejon Road, which ran through the Frontier Ranch. Catherine Schneider, aided by her father J.G. Schneider homesteaded the
Frontier Ranch. In 1926 the 320-acre ranch was a frequent stop by school age students for the pear pies baked by Catherine's
mother. The cement slab where the coach halted is in place today.
A
few of the early homesteaders of the area were the Grettenbergs, Hale, Kunzel, Schneider and the Detless family. Forty acres
on the northwest corner of Smoke Tree and Sheep Creek Road was purchased by Maud Grettenberg, and was known for many years
as the Grettenberg Ranch. William Schwarts purchased the Smithson Springs Water Company, along with the Grettenberg Ranch
and he was the sole owner of both for many years. Six hundred, forty acres where Deerhaven is now and where the Yucca Inn
was permanently located. Mrs. Mabel Beekley, daughter of the Detless family and her husband, William Beekley built the Yucca
Inn. Henry and Winnie Ellison, homesteaders, built the houses on Tamarack Road, east of Mountain Road. They also built the
market building on Mountain Road and Highway 138.
In
the 20's, Joseph Walker and Henry Anthony, Sr., were pioneers on Spring Road. Joe used to say that he could sit there on the
hill and count 31 stills down on the flats during prohibitions. The settlers were in good shape until 1924, when dry years
and the Depression forced many of the homesteaders out of the area.
When
George Air Force base opened in the 40's many new people were once again attracted to the area
The First Chamber of Commerce
A World War II Quonset hut, north of Highway 138
on the homestead of John and Nettie Jane Hale was used as the first Chamber of Commerce. In 1934, people wanted something
on the more populated south side to the highway so they wouldn't have to risk their necks getting across Highway 138. So the
property was sold and Fred and Maude McGee donated land for anew building on Mountain Road. It took many years before contributions
of money and muscle finally saw to the completion of the building in the late 1950's. Children living in Pinon Hills were
educated in the Phelan School; a wood framed building now used as the Community Building.
