a walk down the business path of kern river valley through ... · in 1848, gold was discovered . in...

1919-2018A walk down the business path of

Kern River ValleyDown Through the Years 2018

Down Through the Years 2018

Down Through the Years is a publication of the Kern Valley Sun ©2018 • www.KVSun.com

1964 ~ Store Opening1969 ~ McCollough Became Sole Owner1977 ~ Completed Present Building1983 ~ Major Addition1985 ~ Computer System Installed1986 ~ 2-Story Addition

1987 ~ Became Member of Ace Hardware1995 ~ Devastating Fire1996 ~ Drive-Through Warehouse Addition1997 ~ Store Front Remodel1998 ~ Ace 2000-Partnership Award

1999 ~ Receiving Room Addition2000 ~ Expanded Services Small Engine Repair Shop Rental2004 ~ Roofing and Glulam Warehouse Addition

2008 ~ Building Addition and Remodel New State-of-the-Art Computer System2012 ~ Ace Exclusive... Craftsman Tools2014 ~ New Product Valspar Paint

1964Originial Location

Chain Ave.

1977Moved To Current

Location

1997 StoreFront Remodel

L&M Lumber Celebrating 54 Years4700 Lake Isabella Blvd. • Mon. Fri. 7-6 ~ Sat. & Sun. 8-5

www.lmlumber.com ~ [email protected]

Kern Valley Sun

Down Through the YearsThe thriving merchants of the Kern River Valley have been here for us from the very beginning. Some have a long valley history, and others are fairly new in comparison. As you look through these next few pages and see the familiar names of your friends and neighbors, take a moment to reflect on their many generous contributions to our community. New and old, the ones that have endured have discovered a winning formula: take care of those who take care of you. The successful enterprises of our valley may well see the next century and beyond.“Down Through the Years” is a chronological snapshot of the valley’s expanding businesses.

Show your support by patronizing these hard-working local businesses who have solidified the foundations

of their establishments in the Kern River Valley.

Down Through the YearsKern Valley Sun Staff

Publisher ..................................................................Marsha SmithGeneral Manager .....................................................Natalie BrownManaging Editor ........................................................Ashley LozaCoordinating Editor ............................................ Shannon RaposeSports Editor ...............................................................Ray ConnerProduction ............................................................ Sarah RooffenerProduction Assistant........................................................Seth FikeAdvertising Sales .....................................................Michele LynnAdvertising Sales ..................................................... Tam HartmanCirculation ...............................................................Steve RinehartClassifieds ............................................................ Christina Denys

Kern Valley Sun ©2018 Down Through the Years 3

1919 1929Sierra Gateway

Markets

760-376-242413432 Sierra Way, Kernville

760-378-220714606 Hwy 178, Southlake

760-376-1315Hwy 178, Southlake

88Years!

1964Camp Kernville

OPEN year ‘round“The Only Private Beach On The Kern!”

Full Hook-Ups • Tent Camping • RV Rentals • On Site RV Storage

760-376-1000campkernville.com24 Sirretta Street

Kernville, CA

1962Mt. MesaMarket

760-379-286712324 Mountain Mesa Rd.

Mt. Mesa

4 Down Through the Years Kern Valley Sun ©2018

1954

760-376-2411125 Buena Vista Dr.

Kernville

2014 Ewings Re-opened as part of the

Sierra Gateway family.

1956Paradise Cove Lodge

Steakhouse & MotelLake View Rooms

Steak • Seafood • CocktailsDinner Wednesday-Sunday 5 - 9

NOW HANDICAP ACCESSIBLE!

760-379-2719paradisecovelodge.com

10700 Hwy. 178 • 3 miles e of dam

Havilah School Photo Submitted

Mariners Boat & Trailer Storage in Lake Isabella Photo Courtesy of Dick Blomgren

1964L&M Lumber

www.LMLumber.com

54 Years!

760-379-46314700 Lake Isabella Blvd.

Lake Isabella

1966Kern ValleyVeterinary

Clinic

760-378-248614934 Hwy 178

Southlake


1959

760-379-3667www.KVSun.com • Fax: 760-379-43436416-A Lake Isabella Blvd. (Sun Plaza)P.O. Box 3074, Lake Isabella, CA 93240

59YearsStrong!

- Founded in 1959 -

- 1960 -Adjudicated by F.B. “Jim” and Margie Page

- 1961 -Purchased by Everett L. “Toby” Sears

- 1972 -Purchased by Wick Publications

and Clifford Urseth

- 1986 -Urseth shares purchasedby Wick Communications

- 2011 -Purchased by locals Ron and Marsha Smith

Hobo Hot Springs Resort Photo Submitted

1968Kern Valley

Healthcare District

760-379-26816412 Laurel Ave

Mt. Mesa

“Where Healthcare and Community Connect”

Kern ValleyHealthcare District

1970Kern Valley

Asphalt Services

760-417-04113168 Shadow Mountain Dr. L.I

Dick BlomgrenThe guy who

does things right!

a.k.a. Kern AsphaltPaving & Sealing

Lic.# 812686

1972Kern Valley

Sweet Adelines

Do you Sing?Looking for new members!

Rehersals: Thursdays atSenior Center L.I. 6:30pmwww.KernValleyChorus.org

Celebrating 46 Years!

1972Kelly Gonzales

Concrete

760-379-4284661-301-6409 (Cell)

Serving the Kern River Valley

Licensed ContractorLic.# 323227

Commercial & ResidentialWorkman’s Comp • Liability Insurance

1972Lanny Borthick

760-379-7832P.O. Box 910

Kernville

General ContractorLic.# 269081


Photo Submitted

Construction of the Freeway Photo Courtesy of Dick Blomgren

Photo Courtesy of KernValley.com

1972

Proudly ServicingThe Kern River Valley

For Over 40 Years!

760-379-26182000 Chain Ave.Lake Isabella

www.ThomasRefuse.com

1973

760-379-36846069 Lake Isabella Blvd.Downtown Lake Isabella

Century 21Real Estate


1976Nelda’sDiner

Same Family OwnedProudly Serving The

Kern River ValleyFor 42 Years!


Lake Isabella

1979

760-376-2216Circle ParkKernville

The DrugStore

1980Gro-Tech

LandscapingSpecializing in drought tolerant landscaping

Dave Prior • Lic.# 775052

760-379-2735760-379-7888 (Cell)

Artificial GrassLow Water Use Irrigation

Drip Systems • SodRock Landscapes • Sprinkler

Weed Control CA State License #Qual 99302

The Bakersfield Californian, Tuesday, May 16, 1967

The Kern River Valley’s first general hospital is 23 per cent completed, according to Construction Inspector Glen Hall, of Bakersfield.Top photo is interior looking toward storage, kitchen, administration and maintenance facilities. Lower photo shows concrete work and cement block construction from exterior. Mrs. Beryl Neeley, hospital administration, and the hospital district’s di-rectors are preparing for the not too distant opening.

South Fork School Photo Courtesy of KernValley.com


1990

Valley’s OnlyFull Service Agency

Judy BatesDebra Wiruth

760-376-6006P.O. Box 69 Kernville, CA 93238

SOT 2018020-40

1990Diana P. Wade

760-417-2390Lake Isabella

DisabilityAdvocateand

Representative

1985Cheryl’sDiner

760-376-613111030 Kernville Rd.

Kernville

Owner, Cheryl BorthickChosen 2010

Small BusinessPerson of the Year

1985R.J. Smith

Construction

[email protected]

Your Valley ContractorNew Homes • Room Additions

References • Free EstimatesInsured • Lic.# 333664

1992Skilled Nursing

Center

760-379-26816412 Laurel Ave

Mt. Mesa



The Kernville Airport, high water year

The Kernville Airport, high water year

Paradise Cove Photo Courtesy of Pam Smith


1994The Burlington

New Owners 2004

760-376-647413 Sycamore

Wofford Heights

1994Mesa Clinical

Pharmacy

760-379-610612608 Mt. Mesa Rd., Mt MesaMonday thru Friday 9am-6pm



The Kern River Valley is bor-dered by subranges of the Sierra Nevada: the Kern Plateau to the northeast, the Piute Mountains to the southeast, Scodie Mountains to the south and the Greenhorn Mountains to the west.

The Kern River flows through the valley. A dam was completed in 1953, creating the recreational Lake Isabella reservoir.

Towns in the valley include:Kernville • Lake Isabella • Wel-

don • Wofford Heights • Bodfish • Mountain Mesa • South Lake • Riverkern • Onyx • Canebreak

Road to discovery of the Kern River Valley.

The first non-Native American traveler who entered the Kern Valley came from the east along the South Fork of the Kern River. Capt. Joseph Reddeford Walker entered the Kern Valley in May, 1834. Walker was looking for the northernmost pass through the Sierra that was relatively snow-free. The pass he came over, which is now named Walker Pass in his honor, was exactly what he was looking for at only 5,200

feet elevation.Capt. Walker made another trip

through the Kern Valley in 1843. He was working as a guide for a wagon train coming to California from Missouri. The emigrants passed through the Kern Valley on their way to the coast.

In the winter of 1845-1846, Capt. Walker led yet another party through the Kern Valley. This was an expedition of artist Edward M. Kern, for whom Kern County, Kernville and the Kern River Valley are all named. The party camped where the north and south forks of the Kern River joined, a spot which is now deep under the waters of Isabella Lake.

In 1848, gold was discovered in Northern California, and the tide of gold-seekers soon be-came a flood. Many people used the Kern Valley route as a pass through the Sierra, and then con-tinued to the gold fields up north. But gold fever caused explora-tion of streams and rivers in the Kern Valley as well.

A Tid-Bit about the Kern River Valley

Photo Courtesy of Joe CollinsDo you know where this is? If you do, let us know. [email protected]

One Stop in Kernville


By day, you are welcomed by a brilliant blue sky and at night you are greeted by a dazzling show of stars, constellations, and planets. A star-studded sky is yours to revel in the peace and quiet of a night.

There is so much to take in with the myriad of world-class outdoor recreational opportunities.

Everywhere you look, you will behold the rugged natural beauty. You are surrounded by pristine scenes of the Sequoia National For-est, the rugged beauty of the South-ern Sierra Nevada Mountains, the sparkling Kern River, and the in-viting waters of Isabella Lake. You can do nothing, but relax or you can fill your days with adventure and excitement. The Kern River Valley offers it all.

The valley is unique in its peace and quiet. Even during the busy summer season, they roll up the streets at night and a chorus of crickets and frogs can be heard from just about everywhere. There are only two traffic lights, which is special in itself!

The seamless transition from eclectic small towns and the splen-dor of the wild flowers that adorn the nearby countryside will amaze you.

A special feature of the valley is the historic collections housed in the Kern Valley Museum in Kernville, and Nuui Cunni Native American Cultural Center at French Gulch Recreation Area on Hwy. 155. The valley is filled with histo-ry dating back to 100 AD when the Native Americans called it home. It has seen gold rushes, floods, new roads, a dam, and fires, but it has retained its uniqueness and calls to those who return for a journey only the Kern River Valley can give them.

Today the historic Keyesville town site is not much more than a ghost town, but a few generations

ago, it played an important role in the settlement and early mining of the Kern River Valley.

In 1851, gold was discovered on Greenhorn Creek near the Kern River just a few miles Northwest of the community of Lake Isabella. The first gold rush on the Kern Riv-er happened in 1852 when Rich-ard Keyes discovered lode gold. Keyesville is a California historical landmark. Even though the actual site is on private land, there are many historic resources in the sur-rounding area that can be enjoyed, including Native American mortar rocks, placer and hardrock gold mines, the Walker cabin, Keyesville village, the old Keyesville Fort, and the cemetery.

Some of the valley’s most historic structures are featured in the Silver City Ghost Town village. The vil-lage that was created to preserves the essence and serenity of days gone by. The buildings date back to the 1800s when the valley was in its early stages of existence. The Apalatea/Burlando house is said to be the oldest standing structure in the valley as it originally stood on the Apalatea/Burlando Ranch, which is now the community of Kernville.

The beautiful historic Kern River Valley

1997

760-379-80002202 Crestview Ave

Lake Isabella

The APPLIANCE Center

1997Kern Village

760-376-673332 Burlando Rd. Kernville

Celebrating21 Years!

The first Johnsondale Bridge

Flood of 1966 left 3 foot deep mud in places, Kernville


1999Harry P. Thal

Insurance Agency

760-376-210011006 Kernville Road #1

Kernville

Health Insurance SpecialistCA Lic.# 0621106

Serving California Since 1982

1996Mountain View Health Center

760-379-17914300 Birch Ave., Mt. Mesa

Monday thru Friday 7am-7p



2001Kernville

Animal Hospital

760-376-119232 Tobias Street

Kernville

Vicki L. Boyer, DVM

2004Able PropertyManagement

Lic.# 00982861Serving the Kern River Valley


(Post Office Center)Lake IsabellaAblePM.com

Old Kernville

Paradise Cove Photo Courtesy of Pam Smith

Flood of 1966, Kernville



Celebrating 50 Years of Service to Our Local Community

760-379-2681 Skilled Nursing Center6412 Laurel Ave., Mt. Mesa

760-379-6106Mesa Clinical Pharmacy12608 Mt. Mesa Rd., Mt MesaMonday thru Friday 9am-6pm

760-379-1791Mountain View Health Center

4300 Birch Ave., Mt. MesaMonday thru Friday 7am-7pm

6412 Laurel Ave. • Mt. Mesa • 760-379-2681

• 25-Bed Acute Care Unit• 74-Bed Unit Skilled Nursing Unit• 24-Hour Emergency Department• Rehabilitation Services• Surgical Services• Radiology• Laboratory• Cardio/Pulmonary• Retail Pharmacy• Rural Health Clinic

We have grown. Kern Valley Healthcare District’s Rural Health Clinic not only has expanded hours from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm Monday through Friday, we are in the process of changing our name from Rural Health Clinic to Mountain View Health Center. Walk-ins are accepted upon availability. You may choose to see Dr. Carlos Montes, M.D., Greg Davis, PA-C, Miranda Everett, PA-C, or Bryan

Batdorf, PA-C. In the not too far off future we will be adding another physician. Our building renovation is just about complete. Stop by and see our new lobby.

The future is looking brighter than ever at KVHD.

2018March 1978

The hospital was constructed and commenced operation in May 1968. During the first year and a half of operation, 1,000 patients

were admitted and some 4,500 emergencies cared for.

a walk down the business path of kern river valley through ... · in 1848, gold was discovered . in...

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