David Purington Reminiscences of Sleepy Hollow, Part Two

When Sleepy Hollow was established in 1923 by Cleve Purington and fellow investors, the main infrastructure issue to deal with was a reliable water supply.  Sources from the immediate neighborhood were tapped first, then other locations within the canyon were located.  Eventually, outside water had to be imported, especially as the community became largely one of full-time, rather than part-time/vacation, residences.

In recent decades, we've taken it for granted that there was enough water to supply local needs and wants, but that is going to have to change given current conditions of sustained drought.  That's why reading the recollections of Purington's son David about the water history of Sleepy Hollow has interest and relevance.

These documents, provided by long-time residents of the neighborhood, were scanned, but the originals had some fading and there are a couple of areas that are difficult or impossible to make out.  Still, they provide us a rare look into the history of the community.

To see them in separate windows in an enlarged view simply click on any of the images and you can review them all and get more detail.  Enjoy!

Note:  The original water wells were drilled along Carbon [Canyon] Creek between what was most recently Party House Liquor #2 on the west and the Purington home, which still stands, next to the former community church and across from the intersection of Carbon Canyon Road and Rosemary Lane on the east.  The later well, mentioned on page four, was on land leased from the Oasis Country Club.  This club, which opened in the mid-to-late 1920s and appears to have lasted for a few decades, is where the Western Hills Oaks subdivision is situated, south of Carbon Canyon Road and across from the Western Hills golf course.  Lookout Ridge is the steeper area of the hills at the north side of Sleepy Hollow.  A water tank is still standing at the highest point of the ridge.