New member intro

[janders1957]

Just came across this board, and wanted to introduce myself.
I've long known my grandfather John Carricart, was a citizen of some note in the area between Ballarat and Johannesburg. He was in the area from 1890 to his death in 1945. Carricart Lake is named for him (though it's misspelled Carricut).

A chance connection early last year, led to a visit to China Lake the last week of December, where I was able to visit Millspaugh, Junction Ranch where John lived and worked as a caretaker for the Navy 1943-1945, Little Petroglyph Canyon, and Coso village. It was a wonderful trip, and a special moment to be the first Carricart to put boots on the ground at Junction in 65 years.

Grew up in the SF bay area, lived in Grass Valley last 31 years. This was my first trip and exposure to the area and real desert. I know now why my grandfather loved the area so much. Sure wish I could spend a month or two exploring, knowing that would still, barely scratch the surface of what there is to see.

Would love to hear from anyone that might have any information on John Carricart, Domingo Etcharren, Junction Flat, and Millspaugh. Also looking for a suggested reading list for historical information and stories covering these locations, as well as the general regions from Darwin, Panamint City, out to Johannesburg and Randsburg. I've been building a library, but always looking for good reads. Also quite interested in sources for online newspapers from the 1890's to 1945, to search for articles of interest.

I hope to make another trip down later this year, have stops at museums in Independence, Ridgecrest, and Randsburg, where there are varying amounts of info on John.

Regards,

Jon Carricart Anderson

[Aedwards27]

Wow. I would love to hear more about the condition of the areas you were able to visit. Any chance you can elaborate more on any remaining structures around Junction Ranch/Millspaugh? Were you allowed to take any photos?

I would suggest picking up a copy of "Beyond This Place There Be Dragons" by George Koenig, in fact, I will scan in the map tomorrow, which shows the 49ers path across the China Lake area, for you.

Did you make it into any of the other canyons such as Sheep or Big Petroglyph?

[janders1957]

Well, at Millspaugh, there remains only the boiler, mortared into it's foundation as described by Elizabeth Mecham. There is a flat up above the road that looks like the location of a tunnel, but we didn't walk up to it.

At Junction Ranch, the original building burned in 1948 while Pop Lofinck was using it. The Navy built a rather non-descript aluminum building on the same foundation. In Lofinck's book 'Mojave Desert Ramblings' is a picture of the original as well as the replacement building. Out in front of the building about 150 yards or so is an arastra in pretty good condition, considering. Don't think John built it, but certainly used it as he was working a mine somewhere within about 6 miles of Junction. There's fence posts from old corrals but don't know how far back they date.

Oh, folks into the history, researched and recreated mileage markers along the old roads, that was neat to see!

Didn't get to Big Petroglyph Canyon. Did spend a bit of time at the smaller canyon. I have a picture of my grandfather taken there in 1944, along with two Naval officers and some woman. We couldn't find the exact spot, but posed a shot of me recreating the pose as best we could. My host told me John is generally credited with discovering Little Petroglyph, but haven't found that in writing anywhere yet.

In the book Westerners Brand Book 12, the article from Coso to Carricart, there are pictures of the El Conejo mine. There are two buildings still standing as does the head frame. Oh, btw, yes I got pictures, but cannot share them yet. I've submitted them and await clearance. In that picture on page 118, there's a Joshua tree across the road. I shot a pictures of that tree in infrared. Didn't get the book until after getting back, and realized I'd shot the same tree shown in the book!

We didn't make it to Coso Hot Springs, but I have pictures of my grandparents, father, and aunt there around the late 1930's.

Somewhere up along the way to Coso Village, there's a cast iron camp stove about 100 feet off the side of the road. My host thinks it might have been used by John and/or Domingo while out sheep ranching.

At Coso Village, it's amazing what all is still there. Debris everywhere, flattened tin cans, odd bits of metal, etc. The wood buildings are all gone. Plywood walls have been erected to try and hold up the walls of the stone buildings that remain. On page 113 of Coso to Carricart, there's a wood structure built on the side and top of a large rock at Coso Village, described as a loading bin. It's still there, but has collapsed against the rock. I couldn't tell what the heck it was, so was neat to see it in the book.

Some ways past this, was a small non-descript little shack. It had originally been located at Millspaugh, dismantled and moved to Junction, then later again taken apart and hauled clear up past Coso Village to be put back together. Seems little went to waste back then!

I dreamed of visiting Junction Ranch since the early 70's. Mom always said "It's a Navy bombing range, they'll never let you out there".
So it was quite the thrill to finally achieve my dream trip, and more.
For so many years I resented the Navy's having appropriated the land so I couldn't just go visit the site.

After seeing what all is still there, NOTS/NAWS is the best thing that could have happened to the many historical sites there. There are more than a few folks on base that are very into the history, they and the Navy are doing what they reasonably can to preserve or at least arrest decay, of these sites. For sure, if the public had open access, little would remain today.

Ah, as for your last question, I forget the pass we used to access Junction. but it was south of Wild Horse Mesa, which we crossed coming back to the petroglyphs. And not quite sure of the canyon going up to Millspaugh. Outside of those and Etcharren Valley, I wasn't told exactly what the names of the valleys and such were. Not for secrecy far as I know, just that we were talking more about the history than geography.

I just got a real nice DSLR early last year, and added an infra red converted digital as well. Took both with me, and while I'm far from a photographer yet, I got some awesome shots. My hosts also took pictures. Once everything has been cleared, I'll get copies of their pictures too, and can put together a site about my visit. Well, that's IF they get cleared. I always asked before taking a shot, and they are all cleared for range photography, so should be ok, I just have to be patient...

[bigbuilder]

Really interesting posts, some great info here. Sounds like you had a wonderful experience, getting to visit areas your grandfather frequented.