Escapees May-June 2024

skpstops

Southern California’s Richest Silver Strike Calico, California 36600 Ghost Town Road, Yermo, CA 92398, www.calicoattractions.com

We know silver has many uses—from coins and jewelry to tableware and tea sets. And, it is even the best conductor of electricity, although copper is cheaper to use. And, it was silver that made Calico, California, famous. The town is now o ffi cially a San Bernardino County Regional Park, open daily except Christmas. But in its heyday, it had over 3,500 residents, miles of mines and a thriving commercial district. Today, it’s known as a ghost town, but it’s far from inactive. C alico is located about 10 (paved) miles east of Barstow along Interstate 15. Dominating the townsite is a tall hill on the top of which is painted the name “CALICO.” Every few years, Calico’s permanent population re-paints that sign so that it’s easily visible from Interstate 15. Calico got its start with three prospectors—Charlie Mecham, Johnny McBride and Larry Silvia who had heard there might be silver in the hills east of Barstow. No doubt, like competent prospectors of the day, they

The view from the top of Calico’s Main Street, looking out to the dry lake where the town’s stamp mills were once located. PHOTO BY STEPHENIE SLAHOR

out fi tted themselves with the necessities—a donkey or two, fl our, sourdough leavening, beans, bacon fat, salt, coffee, canned milk and grain for the donkeys. They probably had bedrolls, canteens, fi rearms, a couple items of extra clothing, rope, picks, hammers, shovels, candles and matches. They were ready for a long trek searching in those hills in the spring of 1881. But it took only four days for them to fi nd a rich deposit of silver. They staked their claims and celebrated their new “Silver Lead Mining Company.” And they told others of their good fortune and that brought many more pros pectors to the area. The rush was on! As more miners staked new claims, the area saw the growth of a few saloons, gambling houses and stores. It needed a name and a few miners gathered at the general store, considering such names as Silver Gulch, Silver Canyon and Buena Vista. No agreement was reached so they decided to meet again another day. At that second meeting, Silver Gulch almost won until a miner named Shorty Peabody happened to mention that the colorful hills of the region reminded him of a lady’s calico skirt. And that name was the easy winner.

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ESCAPEES Magazine May/June 2024