Imperial Valley press., 1934-04-28
BY BELLE EOVEY
Chamber of Commerce

Tomorrow the people of Imperial
Valley will join with representa-
ives of San Diego in celebration
which marks the beginning of res
soration of the old Vallecito stage
,tation, which lies to the west OF
Imperial county in Vallecito valley,
an oasis in the desert and noun
aims which surround it. The group
will follow a route older than I'M
1erial Valley, older than most of
hose in attendance. the old But
.erfield stage route. now known as
he Imperial Highway.
Tomorrow trip will be merely
lays outing, Sc miles each way,
and half Of this paved, but the
travellers who made the Vallecito
jtage station their goal IS years
lgo found the trip more difficult,
Judging from the following ac-
count taken from the diary of a
member of an early wagon train:
A stop of a month was made at
Fort Yuma to give the cattle time
% rest and gain strength for the
ast squirt into the promised land.
When the final start was made 1t
vas deemed best to leave behind
lalf the wagons. A sand storm ragged
when Indian Wells was reached
md it was discovered TO the hor-
-or of all that the scooped out well
n the sand had been filled IN with
,ebris. The only water remaining
vas in barrels fitted to the sides OF
he wagons and Vallecito was 40
miles distant. The remainder OF
he trip was with worn oxen, thirS-
Y and hungry. every member of
he party walking TO tighten the
0xens' burden. For two days and
nights that train slowly moved
westward with water brought back
oy riders to sustain man and beast
Until running water could be
cached
The Vallecito stage station was
quilt about 1853. and was a regu-
lar stopping place Of the Butter
.ield stages, and one Of the most
attractive because of its green SET
ing against tall mountains. When
he stage line was discontinued the
station was abandoned and appar-
entity forgotten until 1929 when the
El Centro Chamber Of Commerce
became interested in the develop
nent Of the Imperial Highway,
which runs past the station, and
found this historic old building with
IS sod walls crumbling and its roof
Of hand hewn beams tied with raw
aide collapsed.
The chamber staff and directors
nave appealed for several years to
various agencies TO protect this
building from the elements, Imper-
ial county having no authority TO
10 so as the building is in San Di-
ego county, but it was not until
the past winter that interest was
aroused in the old landmark, when
members of the San Diego HiStor-
ical society visited Vallecito
and Immediately made plans to ac-
quire the property and restore the
building. The property now be-
longs TO San Diego county and pic
lures have been obtained showing
the stage station as it originally
appeared. These will be used as
guide for restoration work and to-
morrow's celebration will be held
TO mark the beginning OF this I'M
portant step.
Those making the trip to the
Vallecito station from Imperial Val
ley will drive over Highway U. ..
80 beyond Ocotillo, turning at that
point toward the Dos Cabezas road,
which leads on TO Vallecitos valley,
80 miles beyond Ocotillo. The Ell
Centro group will be under the
leadership of Henry A. Harris who
is acting as guide at the request
of the FL Centre Chamber OF Com
merce. The cars will meet at the
Ell Centro Chamber of Commerce
at Q 0 clock tomorrow morning and