Have you ever wondered who named the roads you travel? Where the names came from or why? The folks at the Morongo Basin Historical Society also want to know and have issued a challenge to come up with the answers. Here’s reporter Mike Lipsitz with the details…
Help Morongo Basin Historical Society research and identify why or how area roads were named. Old Woman Springs Road is named after the historic ranch of the same name, but back in the day, it was known as Victorville Road if you were heading out of Yucca Valley, and Yucca Valley Road for those traveling from Victorville. MBHS wants to establish why a Yucca Valley neighborhood’s roads are all named after area mines. Do you know? Some roads were named in convoluted ways, others are mysteries. Morgan Reche, whose father homesteaded in early Landers, says Reche Road in Landers should be called Belfield and Belfield Road should be called Reche, but heck if he knows how it got mixed up.
Hilton Avenue, Court, Road, and Lane in Yucca Valley are likely named for the artist John Hilton and Paxton Road, Lane and Court are named after local author and poet June Le Mert Paxton. Lanning Road in Morongo Valley was named after the Lanning family. Who were they and when did they live in there?
Old timers, youngsters, churches, realtors, businesses—everyone is invited to join the Great Street Name Challenge to help research and identify the history behind local street names. If you know why a road was named email [email protected]. Any relevant photos of are welcome.
