header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
March 29
1928 - Little dam victim, thought unidentified & buried in SCV, actually ID'd & buried in Chatsworth [story]
Newhall Cowboys


Now and Then in the SCV | Commentary by Darryl Manzer
| Wednesday, Feb 11, 2015

darrylmanzer0215The other night the Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society was host to the SCV Photographers Association’s meeting in the freight room of the old Saugus Train Station. I had the pleasure of seeing many photographs being judged in a digital photography competition. Once again, the talents of our little valley far exceeded the expectations of this writer.

I’ve been busy at “the Junction.” You know, the part of William S. Hart Park in Newhall that has the railroad station, train engine, some old houses and a few volunteers who seem to accomplish miracles each and every day.

The Historical Society is getting ready for the Cowboy Festival from April 17-19. Yes, it will be at Hart Park and Heritage Junction. Yes, the Junction will have entertainment, food trucks, vendors and Civil War battles in addition to the usual historic items.

The Cowboy Festival won’t be at Melody Ranch this year because that place is being used as movie studio. Imagine that: A studio being used as a studio. Who would have thought that could happen? Now if you go to Heritage Junction you can see buildings that have been used as a movie set, but all of them had a real function before and after the movie was made.

As a movie set, the buildings are a lot older than the movie ranches around the SCV. Charlie Chaplin used the Saugus Train Station, as did Frank Sinatra. The Newhall Ranch House and the Pardee House both appeared in a couple of films, and if you look closely, I’m sure you could find the Edison and Kingsburry homes in some old films, too.

Real cowboys lived and worked around all of the buildings at Heritage Junction at some time in their history. The Historical Society could place some hitching posts near those buildings, and some cowboys of yesteryear might not see a difference.

William S. Hart, Tom Mix, Harry Carey and all of the other old movie cowboys would feel right at home in the buildings and on the grounds. They might comment that the buildings aren’t in the right place anymore.

For entertainment during the Cowboy Festival, the Historical Society will be hosting a wonderful local singer, Marie Wise-Hawkins, who will take the stage Saturday night, April 18. There will be a dinner served along with the entertainment, plus Wolf Creek will be selling some adult refreshments.

The Buckaroo Bookshop will be located this year in the Pardee House. Bobbie Jean Bell will have books and CDs and just about everything Western from her store, OutWest. You can get an book autographed by one of the authors inside.

During the day, there will be various musical groups on the train platform for you to listen to while you have a sumptuous meal from one of the food trucks near the train engine.

Lots of vendors will be around the grounds and in the Newhall Ranch House, too. Of course, the Saugus Station and the historic homes will be open all weekend. Kids can ring the bell on the train engine and at the chapel, too. The Placerita Nature Center docents will bring some critters along and will be located near the gold panning area where your kids might be able to make you rich. The Historical Society folks are making more “gold nuggets” every day.

The Historical Society hasn’t hosted an event quite like this before. Neither has Hart Park, and neither has Old Town Newhall. Nearly three days of fun and frivolity all because we are in a valley that once was filled with cowboys and a few cowgirls, too. Mostly of the movie variety but lots of real ones who made sure the actor stayed on the horse and kissed the girl.

I can’t tell you how excited I am about this opportunity to get more folks to see what there is at Heritage Junction. Maybe someday the place will have even more buildings to complete the idea of a whole village at the south side of Hart Park. It is hoped that one day its quality will rival that of Williamsburg, Va.

Doing all of what the SCV Historical Society wants to do will take a heap of money and a lot of dedicated members from the community. The society can always use more volunteers and members.

Stop by the old Saugus Train Station and become a member. Or maybe you’ll find a volunteer opportunity that inspires you.

Oh, the SCV Photographers Association will be roaming the grounds during every event at Heritage Junction during the festival. They will capture history for our “family album.” Come visit and become part of the family.

 

Darryl Manzer grew up in the Pico Canyon oil town of Mentryville in the 1960s and attended Hart High School. After a career in the U.S. Navy he returned to live in the Santa Clarita Valley, where he serves as executive director of the SCV Historical Society. He can be reached at dmanzer@scvhistory.com. His older commentaries are archived at DManzer.com; his newer commentaries can be accessed [here]. Watch his walking tour of Mentryville [here].

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

1 Comment

  1. mboron says:

    Tickets at the gate???

Leave a Comment


Opinion Section Policy
All opinions and ideas are welcome. Factually inaccurate, libelous, defamatory, profane or hateful statements are not. Your words must be your own. All commentary is subject to editing for legibility. There is no length limit, but the shorter, the better the odds of people reading it. "Local" SCV-related topics are preferred. Send commentary to: LETTERS (at) SCVNEWS.COM. Author's full name, community name, phone number and e-mail address are required. Phone numbers and e-mail addresses are not published except at author's request. Acknowledgment of submission does not guarantee publication.
Read More From...
RECENT COMMENTARY
Wednesday, Mar 27, 2024
Remo, Inc. is is the world's leading manufacturer and developer of synthetic drumheads and shells. They’ve been in business for 60 years
Tuesday, Mar 26, 2024
Springtime in Santa Clarita brings not only vibrant blooms and opportunities to embrace the outdoors with warmer weather, but also an array of free, family-friendly events and this Saturday is no exception.
Thursday, Mar 21, 2024
Did you know that each year, Main Street in Old Town Newhall undergoes countless makeovers for different events, such as Light Up Main Street and the Fourth of July Parade?
Thursday, Mar 21, 2024
Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, whose Fifth District includes the Santa Clarita Valley, issued the following statement Thursday in response to an announcement by Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel of a proposal to change how calls to the 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline are routed.
Monday, Mar 18, 2024
Unlike our children who enjoy a week-long spring break, we adults no longer have that luxury.
Friday, Mar 15, 2024

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
1928 - Little dam victim, thought unidentified & buried in SCV, actually ID'd & buried in Chatsworth [story]
Newhall Cowboys
Los Angeles County Public Works is updating the Los Angeles County Bicycle Master Plan.
April 16:  County Bicycle Master Plan Virtual Community Meeting
College of the Canyons mens golf got back on track during its return to conference play on Monday, carding a five-man score of 370 to top the eight-team field at Brookside Golf Course and maintain its unblemished conference mark.
Cougars Win Again, Keep Conference Streak
Los Angeles County Treasurer and Tax Collector, reminds property owners that the second installment of the 2023-24 Annual Secured Property Taxes becomes  delinquent if not received by 5 p.m. Pacific Time or United States Postal Service postmarked on or before Wednesday, April 10, 2024.
County Treasurer Reminds Property Owners of April 10 Due Date
Local nonprofit Fostering Youth Independence is seeking “Allies” to support Santa Clarita youth who are aging out of the L.A. County foster care system.
April 16: FYI Seeks Volunteers To Pair With Local Foster Youth
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health today unveiled the latest L.A. County Health Survey, which gathers vital data on health behaviors, conditions, neighborhood settings, and the needs of L.A .County residents, informing future public health policies and programs.
Public Health Unveils the 2023 L.A. County Health Survey Findings
Due to the projected rain forecast, Eggstravaganza will now be held indoors at the Canyon Country Community Center beginning promptly at 10 a.m. on March 30.
March 30: Eggstravaganza Now Being Held Indoors at Canyon Country Community Center
To support the mental health of California's young people, the California Department of Public Health awarded $25 million to 28 tribal and community-based organizations across the state.
California Announces $25 Million in Awards for Youth Mental Health
The College of the Canyons Athletic Department will host a dedication ceremony to unveil the Michele Jenkins Softball Team Room in honor of the longtime board member and ardent softball program supporter’s nearly 40 years of service to the district.
April 16: COC to Host Michele Jenkins Team Room Dedication Ceremony
PFLAG Santa Clarita has announced the establishment of the Peggy and Jeff Stabile PFLAG SCV Scholarship. The scholarship will provide financial assistance to LGBTQIA+ students pursuing higher education and committed to advocating for LGBTQIA+ rights and promoting diversity and inclusion.
PFLAG SCV Announces Stabile PFLAG Scholarship
1934 - Bouquet Canyon Reservoir, replacement for ill-fated St. Francis Dam & reservoir, begins to fill with water [story]
Bouquet Reservoir
The California Department of Public Health launched the “Never a Bother” campaign, a youth suicide prevention public awareness and outreach campaign for youth, young adults, and their parents, caregivers, and allies.
California Launches New Youth Suicide Prevention Campaign
The Santa Clarita Master Chorale invites the community to "Let the Sunshine In," a delightful evening of food, wine and song at the annual Cabaret & Cabernet fundraising benefit.
April 20: Santa Clarita Master Chorale’s Cabaret, Cabernet Fundraiser
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health cautions residents who are planning to visit the below Los Angeles County beaches to avoid swimming, surfing, and playing in ocean waters:
March 27 Ocean Water Warning
As an integral ingredient necessary to help the Santa Clarita Valley to flourish, feedback from the business community is the secret sauce for achieving great things.
SCVEDC Asks For the Business Community’s Opinion on Santa Clarita
Raise your heart rate while raising funds for the Santa Clarita Sister Cities Dollars-for-Desks campaign to provide school desks for students in Sariaya, Santa Clarita's Sister City in the Philippines.
April 13: Sister Cities Zumba-thon Fundraiser
Remo, Inc. is is the world's leading manufacturer and developer of synthetic drumheads and shells. They’ve been in business for 60 years
SCVEDC Company Spotlight: Drumming Up Big Business with Remo, Inc.
California State Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo (D-Chatsworth) and Assemblyman James Ramos (D-Highland) have introduced AB 3074 the "School or athletic team names: California Racial Mascots Act."
Schiavo Introduces Bill to Prohibit ‘Derogatory’ School Mascot Names
Los Angeles County’s Justice, Care and Opportunities Department  in collaboration with Local Initiatives Support Corporation Los Angeles is proud to announce the 2nd Annual Pitch Competition for the cohorts of JCOD's Incubation Academy.
March 28: JCOD Incubation Academy Helps Grassroots Non-Profits For the Second Year
Children’s Bureau is seeking foster families and now offers two virtual ways for individuals and/or couples to learn how to help children in foster care while reunifying with birth families or how to provide legal permanency by adoption.
April 18: Children’s Bureau Hosts Virtual Orientation
The Sunburst track was constructed in 1887 by the Southern Pacific Railroad and was a part of the main line running between San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Enjoy Spring With a Ride On The Sunburst Track
California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond hosted a Personal Finance Summit today where he announced his support for Assembly Bill 2927 (McCarty), legislation that would require a personal finance education course for California high school graduation.
State Superintendent Announces Support for Personal Finance Graduation Requirement
1847 - Probable birth date of Pico Canyon oil driller Charles Alexander Mentry [story]
C.A. Mentry
SCVNews.com