One of the biggest events in Morongo Valley’s history happened 74 years ago. Managing editor Tami Roleff takes a look back in a continuation of a series on the history of the Morongo Basin…
Probably one of the biggest events in the history of Morongo Valley was August 7, 1946, when Harry Hess, the “father of Morongo Valley,” pushed a switch that turned on electricity in the small town, according to an article in the Desert Trail newspaper. Residents in Morongo Valley had been waiting for more than a year to get electric power. The delay was attributed to a shortage of workers and material. Twentynine Palms and Yucca Valley had power for several years already by the time it came to Morongo Valley.
