Vroooom to the past!
Hey there, fellow adventurers! It’s me, Orangie the Jeep, your favorite off-roading, history-loving, four-wheeled companion! Today, I want to take you on a totally far-out journey through time to Old Borego, where we’ll cruise along with Eddie DuVall and his family. So buckle up, because we’re about to hit the dirt road and dive into the groovy history of this rad valley!
The Borrego Valley was a real hidden gem back in the day, with the first homesteaders rolling into town around 1910. I mean, can you imagine going on a five-day round trip just for supplies? Talk about a road trip! It was a slow start, but by the mid-1920s, the valley began to grow, attracting more settlers and establishing a bustling little community.
Now, let’s talk about our main man, Eddie DuVall! Eddie was the groovy younger brother of Glenn DuVall, who was the postmaster and storekeeper of Old Borego. When Glenn decided to split in the summer of ’36, Eddie took over the store and postmastership, and man, was he cool under the desert sun! Eddie’s wife, Alta, was a hip chick who first came to the valley on a Sierra Club field trip. She taught school in Los Angeles for most of the rest of the decade, but she sure brought some flower power to the valley when she was around!
As for the rest of the valley, it was full of far-out developments! Frank Osborne built a store and trailer camp near DuVall’s, and across the way, Noel Crickmer opened the valley’s first hotel, the Desert Lodge, which later became the groovy La Casa del Zorro. The Borego Post Office survived until 1940, and Eddie DuVall kept the store going even after the post office closed. Can you dig it?
And let me tell you, Eddie’s son Denny – well, he’s the father of my buddy, Henry the Truck! Denny remembers the days when Eddie would take his ’35 Ford and haul a trailer out to San Diego to load up on merchandise for the store. That’s some serious dedication to keeping the valley stocked, man!
After World War II, things in the valley started picking up again, with the center of activity shifting to Christmas Circle. But Eddie DuVall stayed true to his roots, keeping his “Borego” Store open until the late 1950s and resisting the new spelling of “Borrego” like a real rebel.
Eddie DuVall finally rode off into the sunset in 1973, but his legacy lives on in Old Borego. Many of the historic buildings still stand, serving as a reminder of the pioneer heritage that forms the foundation for modern Borrego Springs. So, next time you’re cruising through the valley, don’t forget to tip your hat to Eddie DuVall and his groovy, off-the-beaten-path adventures!
Stay cool, and keep on wheelin’, friends!
Peace and love, Orangie the Jeep
