A few weeks ago Linda Cunningham Monroe send me a story written by Leon Emo, It was called the The Sites and Smells of Trona. Leon gave me permission to reprint his story on Trona on the Web. It is based on his impressions of Trona while driving through on his way to Death Valley over the years and from an interview with Pam Gorden Sanders who lived in Trona until she was in the eighth grade. She is not listed in the Alumni Registry so I don’t know how old she is but I’m guessing that she moved about 1955.
Leon’s story is a pretty accurate picture of the way I remember Trona. There are some differences, I know Joe Bangwin’s name. This is something Leon didn’t know until this week. I know that grass will grow in Trona if you can afford to waste the water. Even here in Minnesota, The Land of Ten Thousand Lakes, people are starting to rethink the wisdom of the stress it puts on water sources to keep lawns green.
AP&CC had a lawn in front of the plant for a while and they watered the oleander bushes around Austin Hall and the Club House with fresh water to keep them healthy. David Pillot grew what he called devil’s grass while they lived in Trona and I know he also grew grass in their yard out at Valley Wells. There were always roses in the circle in front of the school auditorium.
For a desert town Trona actually had a lot of trees. Many of the old salt cedar trees are gone now but there are still enough of them left to give Trona a distinctive look. They were watered with the salt water from Valley Wells. Now someone has discovered that palm trees can be grown very in Trona. I’d like to know what the requirements of their care are.The executive quarters had a large assortment of plants in it’s garden to be enjoyed by guests and out of town executives.
Leon mentioned that the population of Trona is now about 2,500. Considering that from the 1930 to 1960s the official population was about 2,000 the 2,500 number doesn’t seem so bad. 150 high school students doesn’t seem that bad either when you consider that during the 1950’s there were only 200.
This site is the way I try to tell my Trona stories. Doug Polly told it with with his Upinflames web site that I have preserved. Jess Dominguez tell his stories with his art. Some people tell their stories by way of donations to the Trona Museum or by volunteering to work there. Others are on alumni committees. Some people do it by asking me question or sending me pictures and stories of Trona that I add to this site. My sister does it by preserving our family history.
I’m sure George Pipkin probably holds the record and has written more stories about Trona and the surrounding area than anyone who ever lived. You cannot live in Trona without having a story to tell.
I remember going to Trona at night time and when I saw all the lights there I thought it was so cool then when I got up the next day, I was looking around thinking this can’t be the same place lol I ended up living there for over 15 years had some wonderful great times out in that desert Lived in a little shack for 14 years love the town love the desert love the scenery. Wish I could still live there, I used to ride my quad all over the desert would leave in the morning and will come back in the evening, just enjoying the desert came back a couple times and lived there for a year or two
but there is also so many bad memories not the desert’s fault not Trona’s fault
Hi question. Does anyone remember the car junk yard in I think west end and it might have been by the old dump. But not sure. Does anyone remember Jack Taylor and his German Shepherd? Please. Thank you
My sister was born in Trona in1943 on October 13. We moved in 1949.
I want to go visit Trona especially the horse corrals.
I lived in a little White House right across the horse corral next to the mountains lol for 14 years
Hi we use to live in the pink house across the street from the corrals
I remember living in Trona and it was hot and some girl moved here from New York. She got so hot she passed out by the door. I hope she’s ok now. I think this was in the 1970s
I lived in Trona in 1964-65. Went to Trona H/S. I’m now approaching my seventh decade of life. Trona left a remarkable impression on my list of memorable things & places. I think 1965 was probably the end of a golden era in Trona.
There was so much pride in the High School Marching Band. I fondly recall the Band mentor, Mr. Pitcher. We faired well in several competitions, even vs. my previous school Redondo Beach H/S with an enrollment over 2K students. I can recall marching by the plant & the workers all lined up to watch us. The teachers, in general, were of the highest caliber.
Desert adventures were many. Tales of shady ., illegal car rides , etc. I know did occur. No cops to speak of, save a town constable, “Tiny” Fare (sp. ?)
Hot as heck in summer, cold as the klondike in winter. And those winds, Tornados…Trona Tornadoes, that is.
Most of all, Valley Wells, a true-to-life desert oasis. A really neat place to escape the incessant summer heat.
So many great memories in one great year of my life!
I’m not sure if this website is still running but I’ve been trying to find out if there are still people being born in Trona? I was born at the Trona clinic in 1986 because my mom worked there for Dr. Clark. Has anyone been born there since? I’d be curious to find out if I was the last person to be born there or others came after me.
There hasn’t been a hospital in Trona for many years but you cannot rule out home births or births in a car headed for the hospital in Ridgecrest.
Hi 🙋♀️ I remember when I had a accident in Trona we had to go to the emergency 🆘 🚨 room in Ridgecrest. I think it was the 70s I hope you stay safe and well
My name is Dana Renee Saiger I lived in Ridgecrest and I was born in Trona. According to my parents the bulldozers were outside waiting for me to be born because I was the last baby born in the Trona Hospital on March 13th, 1969 before they torn it down. Our family did visit the dirty socks hot springs for many years after. I love where I’m from and love the fact that most people, even those from California, don’t know where or has ever heard of Trona.