Mt. Whitney and Lone Pine in the early 1900s

All photo cards on this page courtesy of Rich McCutchan archives unless otherwise noted. See USE NOTICE on Home Page

Group of men in front of the Lone Pine, CA post office - circa late 1800s (Photo courtesy of the Eastern California Museum)

The March 26, 1872 Inyo County Earthquake in Lone Pine, CA Magnitude 7.6 - 8.0 at approximately 2:30 A.M.

Inyo Earthquake - April 1, 1872 Report

Inyo Earthquake - April 3, 1872 Report

Inyo Earthquake - April 13, 1872 Report

A Trip to God's Country
by E. J. O'Keefe
(Story provided to me by Irma Cline)



ATTENTION: Be sure to read Kathleen Haun's Book - "Dear Carrie"
Her book is a MUST READ about early life in Lone Pine in the late 1800s

"Valley Revue of '52" courtesy of Kathy Larsen
Other view

08/22
Early History of Lone Pine, Most Colorful of Owens Valley Towns
by Dorothy C. Cragen


08/22
Vintage Sportsman's Cafe Menu

Meysan Store in Lone Pine Circa the Late 1890s   Just in case you ever wondered where those lakes in the canyon just to the south of Whitney Portals got their name!

Early Lone Pine was more lively and colorful than other valley towns. The mines of Cerro Gordo, Panamint, and Darwin brought Lone Pine a floating population of many nationalities, notably miners from Wales, Cornwall, and Mexico. For many years September 16, the anniversary of Mexico's liberation, was Lone Pine's most celebrated feast day -- with guitars, dancing,and cock-fights. Among the earliest families who came to stay were the Charles Meysans from France. They opened their store in 1869 and rebuilt after the 1872 earthquake.

Main Street Lone Pine Circa 1947

Whitney Observatory on the summit of Mt. Whitney circa 1912

Lone Pine Saloon - Courtesy of Barb Laskey Owner - Edward Lasky from the collection of Frank I. and Lena L. Lasky, Lone Pine, CA. Original donated to the Eastern Sierra Museum, Independence, CA.

Lone Pine Saloon where Fashbaugh’s store stands today. Front left to Right: Hillario (Larry) Arambula, John Hamilton, Artie Lubken, Fred Burkhardt, Horace Elder, Mike Selzer, William Harry Jenkins, Frank Olivas. Back left to right: Harry Reynolds, Henry Burkhardt, Willy Miller, Teho (sp?) Diaz, Bobbie Harry, Albert Sainz, and the last person’s name is really uncertain (Ala-Hambra-Chips-Remro-half ----).

Jeremy Warner writes: Hey Raymond. I was looking at your website - Cerro Gordo page 3. I came across your article of The Battle for Burgess. My Great Great grandfather is Albert Sainz mentioned in the article. He is also in a bar picture in your early Lone Pine section, from cousin Barb Lasky. Albert was a prospector and miner in Darwin and Cerro Gordo. He was born in Virginia City, 1868, and moved to the OV with this family cira 1874. August 2024

The Tuttle Creek Ashram Recent Photographs of the Ashram

Tuttle Creek ashram construction crew (Photo courtesy of Dave Woodruff - Tales Along El Camino Sierra)

Franklin Merrell-Wolff Tuttle Creek ashram followers (Photo courtesy of Dave Woodruff - Tales Along El Camino Sierra)

Franklin Merrell-Wolff Tuttle Creek ashram - July 2017 (Photo courtesy of Ray DeLea)

07/24 Max Rosan writes: I have been to the Ashram many times, mostly in the early 1980s. I knew Dr. Wolff. On Sundays, after his philosophy lecture, me and his then personal assistant would play piano cello duets (me on cello). I told Dr. Wolff that there was some local interest in re-roofing the Ashram, which it really needed as most of it had blown off (roll roofing). He thought the idea was nuts. But, I pressed my point, and he gave our rag-tag team permission to re-roof. We had some lugging the 90-lb. rolls of roofing from the end of the road to the Ashram (around 1983), with different folks contributing to the cause in their own ways. I was the transport, in my old 1961 IH Scout. From Gardener's hardware to the Ashram it went, until we had a new roof thanks to all the volunteers. As one can see in the above photo, the current roof needs to be redone. The roofing lasts for around 5 years or so, then needs to be renewed. I hope there is another rag-tag group keeping an eye on the roof. July 2024

On the Mt. Whitney Trail
On the trail to Mt. Whitney	On the trail to Mt. Whitney
Packing wood to the summit of Mt. Whitney	Mt. Whitney
Packing wood to the summit of Mt. Whitney
On the summit of Mt. Whitney
Lone Pine Lake on the Mt. Whitney trail.	Crabtree Meadows and the west side of Mt. Whitney in the distance.
Pack train on the Mt. Whitney trail.	The dirt road to Whitney Portal

On the summit of Mt. Whitney with a load of wood.	Nearing Trail Crest Pass at 13,777 ft.	On the summit of Mt. Whitney.
	Pushing mules on the switchbacks headed towards Trail Crest Pass at 13,777 ft. This trail found out what you were really made of as a packer.

"An Invitation to Catch Golden Trout"
by Phil Pister

Golden Trout from Cottonwood Lakes. A bygone era when there was no such thing as a "limit" on the amount of trout you could catch in a day.	Trail crew having lunch on the summit of Mt. Whitney in 1931.
Clearing the Mt. Whitney trail of rockslides in 1931.	Mt. Whitney Pack Train heading over Old Army Pass.
Upper Cottonwood Lakes and Old Army Pass	Horsemen at the upper Cottonwood Lake and Old Army Pass
Mt. Whitney Pack Trains riding over Old Army Pass. Cottonwood Lakes in the distance.	Rock Creek Lake with the peaks of The Miter Basin in the distance.
Mt. Whitney Pack Trains riding over Old Army Pass. Cottonwood Lakes in the distance.
Rocky Basin Lakes	Cattle being driven over a mountain pass (unknown) to summer grazing pastures from a postcard that mentioned Nellie McGovern. According to Barb Smith, Nellie McGovern was the daughter of Augustus and Annie McGovern. In 1910 they lived on "County Road between Independence and Georges Creek" according to the census. Their daughters were Viola, Angie, Nellie, Gussie, Geneivieve, Lori and Frankie (ages 18-2). Looks like she was married to someone named Young. Name: Nellie Valentine Young Mother: Kispert Father: McGovern Birth: California 14 Feb 1897 Death: 16 Jan 1996 Inyo
Ranch in Owens Valley near Lone Pine, CA.	Golden Trout Creek in Big Whitney Meadow.
Golden Trout Creek in Big Whitney Meadow.	Group of hikers somewhere in the Sierra Nevada overlooking the Cottonwood Lakes.

Golden Trout Camp and Old Army Pass

On the trail up to the summit of old Army Pass. Snow banks like this one made a packer's summer! Who else but he was going to clear the trail of all the snow?

A pack train heading east across Mulkey Meadows (more of mile long sandy flat) on the way to Mulkey Pass and Horseshoe Meadow.

(Department of Fish and Game photo) Planting golden trout the new way with planes, and helicopters.

Gilmore Gasoline Station - photo courtesy of Jeremy Gilmore

Mt. Whitney - Circa 1913 by J.W. Bledsoe (photo courtesy of Charles Delwiche)

Lone Pine (photocard courtesy of Bob Pilatos)

Lone Pine (photocard courtesy of Bob Pilatos)

High Sierra Motor Freight (photocard courtesy of Rich McCutchan)	Lone Pine - 1873 - When the El Camino Sierra was still dirt. (Courtesy Eastern California Museum)
Southern Pacific Railroad Station in Lone Pine - 1940s (photocard courtesy of Bob Pilatos)	Southern Pacific Railroad Station in Lone Pine - 2016 (photo courtesy of Ray DeLea)
Lone Pine Safeway Store (Fotocard courtesy of Inyo County Sesquicentennial)	Horseshoe Meadow Road construction (Fotocard courtesy of Inyo County Sesquicentennial)
Lone Pine in the 1920s (Foto courtesy of Inyo County Sesquicentennial)	Lone Pine Bakery in the 1930s (Foto courtesy of Inyo County Sesquicentennial)
Cattle being driven down mainstreet Lone Pine (Foto courtesy of Inyo County Sesquicentennial)	Lone Pine circa 1934 (Fotocard courtesy of Inyo County Sesquicentennial)

Horseshoe Meadow Road (Photo courtesy of Tales Along El Camino Sierra)

A Murderous Superstition
Inyo Indepent - April 26, 1890
(Article courtesy of Hal Eaton)

Diaz Lake and Lone Pine photos from "Men, Medicine & Water" by friends of the LACMA Library Photos were taken by Raymond G. Taylor, M.D. on the occasion of the construction of the Los Angeles Aqueduct

South Diaz Lake, Owens Valley, November 1909

Lone Pine and Mount Whitney, November 1909

Main Street (U.S. 395) Lone PIne, CA on January 22, 2017 - Photo courtesy of Indigo Hernandez ©Indigoverse Productions. All Rights Reserved.

Lone Pine Matchbook Covers (Courtesy of Rich McCutchan archives)

11/24 Matchbook cases from Ebay

Matchbook cases courtesay of Rick Olson

Chuck Short is the competent and popular Rec. Aide at the Whitney Portal Rec. Area, jumping-off place for the 13-mile hike to Mt. Whitney. He's a veteran of 16 years service, loves his work and the country so well that it's contagious, and helpful to both visitor and the Service. Here, he talks to two visitors at the Whitney Portal registration board. July 1958 (Poto courtesy of Hal Eaton) (U.S. National Archives Photo)

1928 Sierra Club trip to the summit of Mount Whitney	1928 Sierra Club trip to the summit of Mount Whitney
1928 Sierra Club trip to the summit of Mount Whitney	Packers heading up the Mount Whitney trail
Packers heading up the Mount Whitney trail
One hour's catch in Ramshaw Meadows	1928 Sierra Club trip to the summit of Mount Whitney
1928 Sierra Club trip to the summit of Mount Whitney	Early Lone Pine before the streets were paved - circa 1908

Offerings Gleened off of Ebay
Lloyd's Shoe Store, Lone Pine, CA	Southern Pacific Railroad - passenger and flatcar, Lone Pine, CA.
Ralph Fear's Chevron Service Station, Lone Pine, CA - circa 1954	Mt. Whitney summit with Smithsonian building
Mt. Whitney from the CCC Camp.	Southern Pacific Railroad depot, Lone Pine, CA.
Mt. Whitney from the Whitney Portal highway	Southern Pacific Railroad depot, Lone Pine, CA.
Lone Pine in the Movies with Roy Rogers	Andrews Service - Somewhere on Highway 6 between Bishop and Benton - 1941. Per our local sleuth (Hal Eaton) - "You may have stumped me on this one, but I have possible clue. Date of picture is June 1941 according to LOC source. Lee Joseph Andrews (1913-1959) was a Body & Fender man working for Howard L Miller who was the proprietor of Singer Garage and Service which was also a Chevrolet dealer in LONE PINE. Andrews wife died in 1942 and he moved back to LA, He is only person named Andrews who worked in Gas Station business in Inyo at that time. Location would be North Western part of Lone Pine on west side of highway. Possilbly where the current Shell Station is by the park. Kreiger gas changed name to Douglas in 1943." . (Photo courtesy of eBay)

Elder Brothers Token (Courtesy of Rick Olson)

Inyo National Forest entry sign - circa 1930 (Photo courtesy of USC Libraries Special Collections)

California State Fishing License - 1914 (Photo courtesy Mike Vredenburg)

California State Hunting License - 1915 (Photo courtesy Mike Vredenburg)

11/22 Sierra Nevada, CA - July 14, 1932 A Crtiss "Condor" bombardment airplane over Mt. Whitney (lower right) (Photo courtesy Mike Vredenburg)