2 Desert Discoveries: Fascinating History I Found in Palm Desert

My writing has been sparse for the last few weeks- because I was in Palm Desert, California.

For all of you familiar with this What American History Is About blog, you know I live in Williamsburg, Virginia. So why California? You may have read this post sharing my situation- helping out my parents after a health issue. It's a blessing I was able to be there for seven weeks while they needed me.

The inspiration of a whole different "everyday" experience in American history is still with me. While I haven't been focused on writing, I've been listening, learning, and taking notes, creating post outlines....all of it!

I thought I'd start here. With two bits of fascinating history I picked up while in Palm Desert, located in the Coachella Valley and only minutes from iconic Palm Springs.

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Street sign in the iconic Old Las Palmas neighborhood.

Fascinating History Bit Number 1: People in history

A woman in Indio created the white dividing lines we see painted on the road.

While wandering the Palm Desert Historical Society, I learned about a lady who was first in many ways. I read a display about a woman named June McCarroll who lived in Indio (also located in the Coachella Valley).

Born in the Adirondacks in the late 1860's, June moved westward with her family as a child. As a young woman, she entered medical college in Chicago and began on the path of exploration, adventure, and support of her fellow humans.

June was a doctor from the east whose concern over what I'd term "rural access" to healthcare drove her ambition. She went west. She'd already lived there with her husband prior to his passing- and she knew the scarcity of medical care in the region.

So back and forth, mid-west to California. In 1917, she jumped into her Model T and drove the long road to the Coachella Valley - alone.

Dr. McCarroll display, HSPD

After a jarring experience with a truck, she realized a need: a dividing line in the road. She grabbed a paintbrush and painted one. And the dividing line we see today was born.

But wait- there's more. Some people think the dividing "white line" was actually started in Michigan. Maybe?

My dad broke it down pretty quickly: good ideas could happen in multiple places around the same time. It's that whole 'necessity is the mother of invention' thing. So really, isn't credit just about submits an application to the patent office first?

Here's what simultaneously angered and saddened my history-lovin heart: when I went to visit her historical marker (found on Explore Here of course), it was surrounded by concrete, basically in the parking lot of an abandoned building.

• Near an underpass.
• Not noticeable from the road.

I'd never have known about or found it without using Explore Here and clicking the coordinates they provide for GPS. Therefore, I had to bring Doc June and her efforts to light in this blog. Read more about her and the Michigan controversy by opening a new tab here.



June McCarroll historic marker, Indio, California

Fascinating History Bit Number 2: Art and music (Old Hollywood!)

Palm Springs became a big deal because of studio contract guidelines.

I already knew that Palm Desert was utilized for training during WWII. Click here to read my first post about the area. And it really built up from there.

Palm Desert is actually east of Palm Springs, which was already a mecca for celebrities. It turns out that in our Golden Age of Hollywood, there was a "two-hour rule."

The bottom line: work agreements for the "talent" mandated that while in production, they stick close; no further than two hours from L.A. [Los Angeles, California].

Nowadays, the government actually has a page online about what "studio zones" means in the 21st century. Click here to open it up in a new tab.

In addition to film stars like Clark Gable and wife Jean Harlow, musicians and artists joined in building/buying homes in Palm Springs. As the post-war housing boom in the desert took hold, so did the celebrity sprawl. From residences to final resting spots, the rich and famous (even the politicians), moved east.

It's where my mom and I were able to visit the gravesite of legendary singer Frank Sinatra at the Desert Memorial Park in Cathedral City.

And believe me- there are so many things to learn about because of the studios' impact on bringing the desert into a new era after WWII. From architecture and infrastructure to music, food, and the daily life of those who lived there.

Frank Sinatra gravesite, Cathedral City, California

Closing words from history.

From the resident of the beautiful (now pink) stucco house in the Old Las Palmas neighborhood of Palm Springs, Clark Gable. In this excerpt of a letter to his dad, he talks about his plans. Click here to read it full.

Gable is in New York at the time of this later, simply dated:

Sunday Morn

Dear Dad:

....

If I have any luck at all this winter I should have three or four thousand dollars by next May. I will then come out to California next summer and see if we can't start some sort of a little business together, and I will help you during the summer and then get back into N.Y. for the fall season. That would give us both something to rely on in case of a slip up in the show business.

Of course that is only a rough outline of my idea but you can see that it is plausible and practical. It may be that things will be hard here this winter and I won't have the money next summer, but it is at least worth trying for. I know Southern California pretty well and I think you will like it very much. If I should make a hit here this winter will try the pictures again next summer and that game is unlimited if you can click. I will send you a set of pictures tomorrow so you can see what kind of a looking son you have. Nothing to brag about, but at least I am a man like my Dad. Now remember, write to me every week, and I will keep you informed how things are going here. Of course, my plan may be only dreams but there's nothing like trying. Lots of love Dad and don't forget to write every week.

Entrance to Clark Gable and Jean Harlow's residence.

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There is a huge practical disclaimer to the content on this blog, which is my way of sharing my excitement and basically journaling online.

1) I am not a historian nor an expert. I will let you know I’m relaying the information as I understand and interpret it. The employees of Colonial Williamsburg base their presentations, work, and responses on historical documents and mainly primary sources.

2) I will update for accuracy as history is constant learning. If you have a question about accuracy, please ask me! I will get the answer from the best source I can find.

3) Photo credit to me, Daphne Reznik, for all photos in this post! All photos are personal photos taken in public access locations or with specific permission.