anaheim-bulletin 1959-04-18

LAKE HUGHES — Picnic tables and rental boats are available to the visitor. Lack of rainfall this year showed in the low water level of the lake. A few wildflowers were beginning to show their multi-colored petals. CASCADE — Near the junction of Highways 99 is part of the water system serving the Los Angeles basin. Water may be seen pouring down the hillside. It 1959 Mercury Motorlog Goes To Lake Hughes By JOSEPH E. McGREAL When spring comes it usually means the bursting of wild flowers on the California scene, and thousands of motorists are usually found traveling to look over the lovely fields. The Anaheim Bulletin Motorlog party sought to find some wild flowers in the Antelope Valley area. We secured a 1959 Mercury donterey two-door hardtop Cruiser through the courtesy of R. W. Marcellus and the Southern California Lincoln - Mercury Dealers' Association. We found few wild flowers, either because it was too early or because of the lack of rain this winter. However, the drive through the canyons of Antelope Valley was a pleasant Sunday afternoon excursion. It was hard to believe that the car we were driving is the cheapest in the line. The appointments and fabric were handsome and the car was completely power-equipped. The doors on the new Mercury have been redesigned to make entry and exit very easy. Pipes through which Los Angeles water is passed crawl up and down the hills like giant silver snakes. A good portion of this trip is within the limits of Angeles National Forest and smoking is forbidden. Low Water Level There are four bodies of water in this area; Bouquet Canyon Reservoir, Lake Elizabeth, Munz Lake and Lake Hughes. We drove past the two lakes to Lake Hughes where we visited the recreational area. The water was quite low and only a few boys were fishing from rowboats in the lake. The many picnic tables were unused. The three lakes are near Pine Canyon which was once the route of the Fort Tejon stage coach to Bakersfield. Horses may be rented at Munz Lake and other places to enjoy the scenic trail of the vicinity. Hunting of small game in season is popular. We took the Willow Springs Canyon road to Shea's Castle. This unique structure stands all alone surrounded by miles of rolling hills and meadows. It is supposedly an While our Sunday motoring trip was a bit of a failure in finding acres of wild flowers, it was a complete success in enjoyment. Although the flowers were few, the fruit trees were bursting with various colored blooms all through the Antelope Valley. Lapse in Attention Blamed for Accidents "Most motorists are capable drivers most of the time — it's the momentary lapse in attention and alertness that is usually responsible when these drivers get into trouble," declared Captain F. E. Winchell commander of the California Highway Patrol's Anaheim Area, today. "We know that the great majority of traffic accidents result from a violation of the law. In most cases the violation was knowingly committed — the driver knew he was exceeding the post- We found few wild flowers, either because it was too early or because of the lack of rain this winter. However, the drive through the canyons of Antelope Valley was a pleasant Sunday afternoon excursion. It was hard to believe that the car we were driving is the cheapest in the line. The appointments and fabric were handsome and the car was completely power-equipped. The doors on the new Mercury have been redesigned to make entry and exit very easy. There is no knee and elbow bumping on the wrap-around window. In addition a third person may sit in the center of the front seat without being hunched up on the transmission hump. The transmission has been relocated giving much more floor room in the front. New Marker The Motorlog Party went up the Santa Ana Freeway, drove out Foothill Blvd., past the Hansen Dam recreational area, to Highway 10. Here we stopped to inspect the new historical marker which has been placed calling attention to the flow of water which cascades down the hillside. This is a part of the water system of Los Angeles. Further north, after making the turn onto Highway 6, three markers all attention to the Oak of the Golden Dreams, the Pioneer Oil Refinery and Newhall Pass. The old road which once challenged early-day motorists is little more than a big ditch next to the modern highway. We took the turnoff from Newhall and Saugus and stopped for a while while at the William S. Hart Park which is on the outskirts of Newhall. At Saugus we turned down Bouquet Canyon. Looking for wildflowers, we turned left to San Francisco Canyon and took a peaceful lonely drive through this lovely canyon. The end of the canyon road which eventually leads to Fine Canyon Road is only a dirt road barely wide enough for two cars to pass. It winds through the San Gabriel Mountains amid forests and ravines. The huge metal rowboats in the lake. The many picnic tables were unused. The three lakes are near Pine Canyon which was once the route of the Fort Tejon stage coach to Bakersfield. Horses may be rented at Munz Lake and other places to enjoy the scenic trail of the vicinity. Hunting of small game in season is popular. We took the Willow Springs Canyon road to Shea's Castle. This unique structure stands all alone surrounded by miles of rolling hills and meadows. It is supposedly an authentic copy of a Scottish castle and is complete even to the moat which surrounds it. The moat is dry at present. The property is completely fenced and the visitor can get only a distant view of the building. There were a few California poppies blooming in the fields, but none of the other wild flowers. Blooming Popples The party returned to Pine Canyon Road and took it to its terminus at Route 138. Here also were found a few fields of bright poppies. Route 138 joins Highway 99 at Gorman and at the junction we found the hillsides covered with poppies with just a little lupine showing. Many cars on the way over the Ridge Route had stopped to permit families to enjoy the fine floral display. We drove a few miles north of Gorman to see if any changes had been made in the famous Grapevine. The old Emery Whilton Florafaunium is gone from Lebec and only the foundation remains. Additional widening of Highway 99 is taking place at the Grapevine and we noticed that the entrance to Fort Tejon was obscured and a little hard to reach. Old Fort Tejon, in Tejon Pass, was built in 1854 to defend the pass against hostile Indians. It was an important army post in the early days of the American occupation. Later it was a station of the Butterfield Overland Route. It has the distinction of having had six different national flags flown on the property which is now the fort. An excellent restoring project has been about completed. "Most motorists are capable drivers most of the time — it's the momentary lapse in attention and alertness that is usually responsible when these drivers get into trouble," declared Captain F. E. Winchell commander of the California Highway Patrol's Anaheim Area, today. "We know that the great majority of traffic accidents result from a violation of the law. In most cases the violation was knowingly committed — the driver knew he was exceeding the posted speed limit, for example. But in other cases, the violation was unintentional, the result of a brief period of distraction from the business of driving caused by any one of several reasons. Even good drivers are liable to have these distractions unless they constantly guard against them." Captain Winchell noted that a skilled driver always drives defensively and thus is prepared to meet any emergency caused by another person's negligence or unlawful action. "He knows that the responsibility for safety is pretty much up to him alone and that he cannot rely on the other fellow always to do the right thing." The Bulletin Auto Tour Your Guide to Places of Interest Saturday, April 18, 1959 Anoheim (Col.) Bulletin—A-7 ROAD SCENE — The rolling hills o road near Willow Springs Canyon Shea's Castle are a welcome chang SAN FRANCISQUITO CANYON — Not recommended for the nervous driver is this dirt road which winds in and out of San Francisquito Canyon near Lake Elizabeth. Here the Mercury motorlog car is contrasted to the huge pipe which carries water to Los Angeles. "MEET THE MAN WHO KNOWS YOUR BUY YOU R. W. MARSELLUS IMPORTS 12961 Harbor Blvd.—JE 4-1500 R. W. MARSELLUS IMPORTS 12961 Harbor Blvd.—JE 4-1500 Garden Grove HARDIN OLDSMOBILE Sales and Service 252 N. Los Angeles KE 5-721J Consult the Classified Pages of The Anaheim Bulletin for Dependable Used Cars— Buy Your USED CAR From A REPUTABLE DEALER Saturday, April 18, 1955 Anocheim (Col.) Bulletin—A-7 GENE — The rolling hills of this country or Willow Springs Canyon which passes castle are a welcome change of scenery for the motorist. Few cars are seen in the area and the paved roads are only two lanes wide. L PASS — Tour books of 1906 listed as a 20 per cent grade. The modern freeway which now passes beside the old pass provides an interesting contrast. A historical marker indicates the spot on Highway 6. AN WHO YOUR CAR BEST" Your ROBERT H. BONEY DODGE PLYMOUTH Soles and Service Your SED AR om A UTABLE ALER ROBERT H. BONEY DODGE PLYMOUTH Sales and Service 328 W. Center St. KE 5-2113 MC COY MOTOR FORD Sales and Service 320 N. Los Angeles KE 5-2288 "If you don't know the car, know the Dealer"