A Nostalgic Journey through Borego’s First Post Office and Store

The Early Days of Borego Valley’s Social Hub

Borego Valley, a quaint, rural community, once revolved around a simple yet essential establishment: the post office. Today, we’ll take a nostalgic journey through the early days of Borego’s first post office and store, exploring how this central hub helped shape the valley’s social life and identity.

Eslie Wynn and the First Borego Post Office

On March 1, 1928, Borego Valley received its own post office, with Eslie Wynn appointed as the first postmaster. Wynn’s homestead was strategically located along the valley’s southern side, close to where the old Hogback Road from The Narrows entered the valley. He built a solid, half-rock home with a hand-dug well that reached down just a few feet to find good water.

Around the same time the post office opened, Wynn began carrying a small stock of groceries, creating the valley’s first store. As demand grew, he built a separate building across from his home, moving both the store and the post office there.

Mail Delivery and the Community

Borego’s mail was delivered by truck from Julian three days a week. Milo Porter, a local resident, won the contract to haul the mail, earning $60 a month and providing his own transportation and gasoline. Porter also purchased groceries, feed, and other necessities for local homesteaders while in town, adding a personal touch to the mail delivery service. He carried the mail from 1928 to 1930.

Wynn served a full four-year term as postmaster, stepping down on March 1, 1932. James Thomson is listed as postmaster from 1932-34, but he apparently didn’t live full time in the valley. It’s likely that Wynn continued to shoulder most of the responsibility.

Wynn’s Unexpected Passing

In 1934, Wynn secured the mail route contract once again. However, a tragic event occurred in 1935. Lelah Porter, Milo’s widow, recalled people gathering at the post office when the mail arrived around 4 PM. It was a meeting place where everyone could catch up with one another. On that fateful day, Wynn asked Milo to accompany him as a witness, as some men had rented burros from him but never paid.

As Milo recounted, the situation escalated quickly when Wynn confronted the men. Despite Milo’s attempts to defuse the situation, tempers flared, and a physical altercation ensued. On their way back to the post office, Wynn suffered a seizure and passed away, leaving a void in the community.

Milo Porter stepped in and resumed the mail contract, which he held until 1938. The Borego Post Office survived until July 31, 1940, when it was discontinued along with several other smaller post offices. For the next few years, homesteaders received their mail via the Borego Star Route, delivered from Julian.

The DuVall Brothers Take Over

In December 1934, Glenn DuVall became Borego’s postmaster. After Wynn’s passing, Glenn and his brother, Edward “Eddie” DuVall (1905-1973), purchased Wynn’s store. In 1936, Eddie took over both the store and the postmastership. Around 1940, he built a garage and service station nearby, later adding an addition connecting it to the original Wynn store building. He ran the Borego Valley Store (with just one “r”) well into the 1950s.

Memories of the Borego Valley Store and Post Office

Denny DuVall, Eddie’s son, fondly recalls people hanging out at the store and post office as if it were the center of Borego’s social life. It was a place where friendships were forged, news was shared, and the community came together.

In a recent conversation with Denny, he reminisced about how the post office and store played a crucial role in the community’s daily life. It served as a social hub where people could catch up on local gossip, discuss important issues, and simply enjoy each other’s company.

The Legacy Continues: Christmas Circle

The original Borego Post Office may have closed its doors in 1940, but its spirit lives on in the modern-day gathering places that continue to bring the community together. Today, Christmas Circle serves as the valley’s central hub, a place where residents can connect and share their lives with one another, just as they did at the post office and store in the early days of Borego Valley.

The New Borrego Springs Post Office

It wasn’t until 1949 that a new post office opened in the town of Borrego Springs, carrying on the legacy of the original Borego Post Office. The new post office continues to serve the community, providing essential mail services and fostering connections among its residents.

Conclusion

The story of Borego’s first post office and store is a testament to the importance of community and shared spaces in our lives. It’s a reminder of how even the simplest of establishments can become the heart and soul of a community, bringing people together and fostering a sense of belonging. As we go about our daily lives in the modern world, let us not forget the value of community hubs like the Borego Valley Store and Post Office, which have played such an important role in shaping our history and connecting us with one another.