Hide Article Text (OCR)
before the signing other historical points erf in-of the Declaration of Independ- terest in western Kern Countv,ance, Spanish Commandante we asked Richard Bailey, pastDon Pedro Fages, in pursuit of president of the Kern Countydeserters, crossed the Sierra Historical Tocietv, to accom-and saw' an immense plain cov- pany the scout party. Bailey isered with tules and a gTeat recognized as one of the out-lake.standing authorities on KernFages describes a large In-County history.dian village seven leagues fromthe south end of the valley onthe northwest shore of a greatlake which he promptly namedWe headed west on StateHighway 178 in a new* 1954Crestline Ford Y-S equipped with Fordamatic drive andBuena Vista Lake.Her**, within 44) miles of Bakersfield. is the village site ofTuiamniu which was occupiedfor several centuries bv theTuiamru tribe. This area waspower brakes. The keys to “Bakersfield’s Fastest SellingCar” were turned over to us by friendly Jim Burke, general manager of George Haberfelde,Inc.. Bakersfield Ford dealer atconsidered of such importance1501 Chester Ave.that the Smithsonian InstitutionScon we were rolling throughexcavated the site in 1933-1934. lhlt;* farming community of But-Deciding to visit this and tonwiliaw. At the ButtonwillowElementry School we turnednorth on Buttonwillow Road anddrove a half-mile to the famous old Buttonwillow Tree.This lone tree was a landmark on the old trans-valleytrail. It was for untold years anancient Yokuts Indian meetingplace. The now extinct Tuhohetribe held annual ceremonies atthe “Hahlu” as they called the* Buttonwillow Tree.iMiller and Lux establishedtheir headquarters and storeIhere about 1885, and Buttonwillow became the trading centerJfc * V■ ■ If ** vJy■F' ... . “ r i eiK-X \;* • - # « « * tr* _ a• ■ *lt;r- * .jfcJjH, .. gB . ‘Am a , i .. . , 0 .. \ aip ’ ’ * • • + ■- ?» ' 4*for the West Side. The presentHISTORIC TREE—A landmark on an old trans-valley trail, this lone tree in ancient timestown of Buttonwillow takes itsserved as a meeting place for the now extinct Tuhohe tribe of Yokuts Indians. In 1885 Millername from this old tree.and Lux established their headquarters and store near this tree, and the area became theReturning to California 178, trading center for the west side. The present town of Buttonwillow takes its name from thisw*e drove west to the intersection of 178 and the Low Kernhistoric old Buttonwillow tree.Road. Here we paused while 18G5 and April, 1867, about 4.000 freshwater clams, fish and charge. According to Gradyhistorian Dick Bailey told the gallons of illuminating oil were waterfowl, and in the surround- long range development plansscout party of the Palo F.scrito,or Pe st Office Tree which w is produced there and shipped to ing hills were rabbits, grass- call for a recreation area at thelocated at this spot. People San Francisco by the Buena hoppers, and Tule elk.refuge including picnic areas.traveling north or south could Vista Petroleum Co. RefiningThe tules around the lake camp grounds, and the neces-leave messages nailed to this operations terminated due to were used for fuel, floor mats sary sanitary* facilities. A smalltree, and eventually they wouldreach the party concerned.excessive transportation rates. and house coverings, baby three-acre lake may be re-Taking the Low Kern Road,Returning to State Highway cradles, duck decoys, canoes stored, Grady said.we drove to the site of the his-33, we turned south and drove an(* raf*s’ an^ *he roots were Over a four-year periodtoric Buena Vista Refinervto the world-renowned McKit-used for food. These Indians anticipated that k total of $220.-Eight miles leyond State High- trick Brea Pit.led an uncomplicated life In- 000 will be spentway 33, near the foothills of theHere in this ancient asphal-deed.Returning to U.S. 399, wethis area as a state park.Currently work is progressingCoast Range stood one of Cai- turn seepage hundreds of birds drove east to the Buena Vista on improving a 14-acre perma-fornia’s firct commercial oil anfj animalsrefineries. Between August, 13/I00 to 50.000 vears ago.were trapped Park and Golf Course. This nent pasture for the elk.West Side recreation area isof The Bakersfield Californian-9Following a short tour of thethe entrance to Buena Vistais rapidly becoming one of theNew York HasThe Columbian mammoth, fast becoming one of the finest grounds, the scout party remastodon, sabre-toothed cat, in the countv.turned to U.S. 399 and drove togiant bison, and ground slothThe scout party continued on the l .S. 99 intersection atKern County. Several families New Plan forich in the picnic area, and wes up on the golf course.WAYPoor Drivers—Fromthe city’s problem drivers are go-Anglers Need/iest Tacklerj These sturgeon are around,ing to get “the works’* the scientific wav.Chieftagh said yesterday that all persistent traffic violators will beare just a few of the more than U.S. 399 to Tupman Road where Greenfield, and on into Bakers-40 different kinds of animals we turned north and drove five field.which were preserved at the miles to the entrance to thespeedometerMcKittrick pit.Tule Elk Refuge, now a statehadThis site was first explored in park.scout car indicated we traveled 95 miles on this tour1928 by the University of California with subsequent excavations bv the California InstituteWe were met by genial William Grady, 6tate ranger inpointsin western Kern County.of Technology, Ixs Angeles jCountv Museum, and our ownKern Countv Museum.We continued on State High-wav 33 to U.S. 399 where wechoice—sixINCturned east. We drove to theschoolperformance- too, and big ones! Taking from there—or-! 20 to 30 years to mature and often sPot5 living for 100 years, the sturgeon t runs from 6 to 12 feet in lengthMurtagh said the new school,scheduled to open Oct. 1, will give the drivers “everything,” includ-1 and weighs several hundred lng psychiatric- pounds. A goodly number ofi seven footers have befen observedexaminations, driving lessons and safety lec-l by anglers, and one sturgeon that- w as taken at the mouth of the3 Columbia River tipped the scaletures.The problem drivers, MurtaghHonolulu lease road (routeP271J), turned south, and droveeight miles to a spot overlook-/ing the Buena Vi6td LakeNON!bottom.Tuiamniu, a Yokuts villagew'hich existed long ago on thenorthwest shore of a great lake,was located here. It was a village of considerable importanceexplained, are “the ones whokeep having accldc-.ts, who arefor this was the main settlement of the Tulamni tribe whichchronic offenders, who keep run-e;at 1,900 pounds to set something th h rcd n hu „had control of the Buena VistaLake.The lake provided countlessas low as
Newspaper Details
Bakersfield Californian
Bakersfield, California, US
Sat, Jul 24, 1954
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Michelle B.
CA, USA 18 Oct 2019
Other Publications Near Bakersfield, California
The Berkshire County Eagle
Southern Californian and Kern Weekly Courier
The Weekly Californian
Kern County Californian
Daily Californian
