Hesperia Homes For Sale
Hesperia's History
 The history of Hesperia is the history of the American West as reflected by it’s name which is reported to be Greek for “Star of the West”. It is probable that the Native Americans were the first to settle in the area, the first tribe believed to be the "Mohahve" Indians, probably a phonetic misspelling of Mojave. The area they called home extended from the Colorado River on the east, the Tehachapi Mountains on the west, Death Valley to the north and the San Bernardino Mountains on the south. Evidence suggests that their tribal headquarters were built in close proximity to the headwaters of the Mojave River in a southeast section of what, today, is Hesperia. The first white man to pass through Hesperia is thought to be a Spaniard called Father Francisco Garces. Having become familiar with the area, Garces acted as a guide to Juan Bautista de Anza, who had been commissioned to lead a group across the desert from a Spanish outpost in Arizona to set up quarters at the Mission San Gabriel near, what today is Pasadena, California. This is the first recorded group crossing of the Mojave Desert, and according to Father Garces journal, the group rested at the headwaters of the Mojave River, one night less than a day's march from the mountains. Today, this is estimated to have been approximately 1 ˝ miles southeast of Hesperia. During the period of 1826-27, a guide by the name of Jebediah Smith pioneered the Mormon Trail, a route that extended across the desert from what today is Needles, a city at the California and Nevada border. As the trail wound westward toward its terminus at Mission San Gabriel, the Mormon Trail passed through Hesperia and was the route that General John Fremont and Kit Carson took in 1842, when they lead an Army party exploring the west. Fremont's journal specifically tells of the camp at the headwaters of the Mojave River, of the hundreds of Joshua trees everywhere and of the “disappearing waters” where the river flows underground. By 1845, the Mormon Trail was a well established east-west crossing with records reflecting that as many as 300 to 500 people per year traveled the trail; numbers that only increased as California became a part of the United States. The first wood building in Hesperia was erected in 1857, and consisted of a stable, bunk beds, watering troughs and a small general store. Operated by a journeyman named Hanbrier, the use of the hostelry grew steadily as Easterners continued to flock to the west. In 1847, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad ran the first tracks through the area and upon completion of the depot in 1885, the area was officially named "Hesperia". Also in 1885, a gentleman named Joseph Widney acquired the township of Hesperia and shortly thereafter, he formed the Hesperia Land and Water Company for the purpose of creating a town. His subdivision crews laid out what was known as the Old Town Site and Hesperia became a reality. Having laid out the Town, Hesperia Land and Water Company moved quickly to establish water rights with the County of San Bernardino and this initial water appropriation was, ironically, in an amount sufficient to service a population of 56,500 people; only slightly less than the present day population of Hesperia. During time between 1870 and 1882, the agricultural crops of early ranchers Mrs. C.B. Shaw, Mrs. Fleming and Mr. Sefton received growing interest.. The Shaw ranch employed 60 men and harvested 180 acres of grapes which were tray-dried and shipped as raisins. It was Sefton, however, that brought the most fame to Hesperia with the wine created from his grapes being shipped throughout California and to the east coast. Hesperia's first store was located just off of Main Street, near Santa Fe Road and was built in 1887 at a cost of $4,000. The store, according to records, carried a variety of sundries and dry goods "designed to meet the needs of the discerning purchaser. Aside from grape production, Hesperia's first real industry was established around 1890, when an enterprising businessman saw commercial possibilities in the large Juniper bushes that dotted the Hesperia landscape. Contracting with Los Angeles bakers he began supplying them with wood as fuel for their bakery kilns, shipping 7 to 10 carloads of Juniper cuttings to Los Angeles daily. Unfortunately, the juniper industry in Hesperia was short-lived as oil became the principal fuel for baker’s kilns in the early 1900's. In 1887, Joseph Widney began construction of the Hesperia Hotel, a three-story brick building consisting of 48 rooms and hot and cold running water, baths and a water closet on each floor. The hotel, which took 2 ˝ years to build, even had communication tubes between floors; thus enabling room service. The rate for hotel services was 25 cents for a bed and 25 cents per meal, helping the gaudy red hotel enjoy a long history until 1960, when it was finally demolished because it could not meet earthquake standards. During the early 1900's, cross-country automobile travel brought visitors directly through Hesperia, the last major stopping point for automotive needs prior to crossing the dreaded Cajon Pass, with its narrow hairpin turns and steep roads. Unfortunately for local business, Highway ("Route 66”) was realigned to the west of Hesperia in 1924.. As it is today, Hesperia became known in the 1950”s for it’s affordable land (lots usually sold in increments of $50 each), which attracted many investors and the average dreamer wanting to invest in land. It wasn’t until 1988, when voters approved incorporation and the City of Hesperia was born. The first City Council consisted of founding fathers Percy Baker, George Beardsley, Bruce Kitchen, Howard Roth and Val Shearer. Having celebrated fifteen years as a City, Hesperia has faced many challenges such as flooding, deteriorating streets and a small tax base. But throughout the “growing pains” of early city hood, the residents have continued to show a strong civic pride and community involvement that makes it unique in the High Desert. It is, in fact, during times of adversity that they demonstrate the spirit that carried their forefathers across the Mojave Desert to the place they call home. Source: Myra McGinnis |
