18 December 2008

Carbon Canyon Historical Artifact #10


Here is another old real photo postcard of the La Vida Mineral Springs resort, probably dating to the early 1930s.

The view looks west from what would be the motel location across Carbon [Canyon] Creek from the cottages (some of these can be seen through the small trees at the lower right corner) and bathing facilities. At the bottom center of the photo is a concrete sidewalk, the remains of which are still on the site today, leading to the steel bridge that crossed the creek and led visitors to the motel. That bridge is almost certainly the same one from the first of the historical artifact postings (from 7 July) on this site. Moreover, the large trees in the photograph are almost certainly eucalyptus, of which several trees are still standing, although they were charred in last month's Triangle Complex fire and who knows whether they will survive. The caption at the lower right reads "Picnic Grounds at La Vida Mineral Springs" and there are tables and benches underneath the trees. The black lines at the upper corners are the remains of the old mounting corners used to secure photos in the album.

As with any other image on this blog, double-clicking on it will give an enlarged view for better seeing detail.

This item is 2008.9.1.3 of the Carbon Canyon Collection.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Paul -

I truly enjoy reading your blog. It contains a treasure chest of information about the history of Carbon Canyon. It also points that this unique and beautiful canyon is fragile and needs our support. I hope your holidays are filled with the warmth of family and friends and that your dreams of preserving all tht is good about the Canyon and its way of life are fulfilled in 2009. Keep writing!

prs said...

Hello CanyonNative, thanks for your kind comments and I'm glad you enjoy the posts about Carbon Canyon's history. That history shows that what made the Canyon attractive in decades past is being compromised. There are some crucial landuse decisions to be made in 2009 (Canyon Crest and Stonefield housing tracts chief among them) and the economy will certainly delay any approved or incomplete (Pine Valley Estates) projects. Moreover, the recent fires reveal the fragility you noted, including the threat of post-fire mudslides. I don't want to halt all development forever, but there have to be limits or you lose the attractions and amenities of the Canyon. Thanks again and best wishes for the holidays and the New Year (the Canyon and just about everywhere else outside it will need it!)