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    Needles
    Needles
    Needles
    Ebook187 pages49 minutes

    Needles

    By James M. Conkle and Linda Fitzpatrick

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    About this ebook

    Needles is located at the borders of California and Arizona on the west bank of the Colorado River, once serving as an important transportation hub in California. During the mid-1800s, the steamboat trade flourished here as gold, silver, goods, and passengers were transported along the Colorado River. The Atlantic and Pacific Railroad, now known as the Santa Fe, replaced the steamboats when tracks were laid through the area starting in 1883. The charter city was founded in 1913. America's "Mother Road," Route 66, built through downtown Needles in 1926, spurred growth as new businesses opened to serve travelers. Needles was named for its striking rock formations and is famous for its summer temperatures, but it is ultimately known and remembered as a living icon of an early 20th century town on historic Route 66.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherArcadia Publishing
    Release dateSep 18, 2012
    ISBN9781439640203
    Needles
    Author

    James M. Conkle

    Linda Fitzpatrick is retired from the real estate industry and a recipient of the Needles 2007 Chamber of Commerce Humanitarian Award. Jim Conkle is the CEO of the Route 66 Preservation Foundation, chair for the Route 66 Alliance, and editor of the Route 66 Pulse newspaper. Both are charter members of the Needles Downtown Business Alliance and founders of the Friends of the Needles Theatre.

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      Book preview

      Needles - James M. Conkle

      Art.

      INTRODUCTION

      Needles became known as an oasis along the journey from Chicago to Santa Monica on U.S. Route 66; a welcome reprieve from the long drive. The daily temperature in Needles often made national news, all the more reason to enjoy the cool Colorado River that embraces the town.

      Needles was named after the needle-like mountains in the southwest, at the Arizona-California border, by Lt. Amiel Weeks Whipple. Lieutenant Whipple was conducting a government survey for the railroad in 1854 when he came upon the distinct mountain peaks. The community of Needles was first located on the Arizona side of the river and later moved to its current location on the California side. The town was founded in 1883, and the city charter was adopted in 1913.

      The area’s early inhabitants were a variety of Native American tribes; the most enduring was the Mohave tribe or Pipa Aha Macava (People by the River), known today as the Fort Mohave tribe. Archaeological records show the tribe was in the area thousands of years ago, as evidenced by petroglyphs and pictographs and the Mystic Maze, a series of windrows carefully placed in a geometric pattern, a place where warriors paused for purification as they returned from battle. Many of the modern-day residents in Needles are descendants of the Fort Mohave tribe. The city celebrates the tribe with an annual parade, Fort Mohave Indian Days, and appearances throughout the year by the Fort Mohave Band.

      Most people do not think about paddle wheelers in relationship to Needles, but in fact, the early history shows that Needles was an important part of the steamboat trade routes, carrying gold, silver, and ore along the Colorado River. The St. Vallier was built in Needles in 1899 by the Santa Ana Mining Company, but litigation kept it tied up until 1900 when Capt. John Babson took command of it. Another steamboat, the Mohave Searchlight, was built in Needles in 1902 by F. L. Hawley. Regular service began in 1903. River crossings were initially done by ferry; later three bridges were built across the Colorado—including a drawbridge in 1884. Each washed away until the present-day bridge was completed in 1890.

      The Atlantic and Pacific Railroad, later known as the Santa Fe Railroad, began laying tracks in 1883. Some of the workers (known as the Big Hat Brigade for their large sombreros) came to Needles from Mexico. Additional crews were made up of Chinese workers (some of whom opened a Chinese washhouse along Front Street) and members of the Fort Mohave tribe. For some of these men, working on the railroad meant shoveling coal into the steam engines in temperatures above 100 degrees.

      The railroad brought a new hotel. Located inside the train depot was the Harvey House, a part of the Fred Harvey chain of hotels. It was named El Garces in honor of Fr. Francisco Garces, the missionary who first made contact with the Mohave Indians in 1776. The original wooden Harvey House burned down and was rebuilt from 1906 to 1908. It was known for its elegant dining and hotel accommodations. Women known as Harvey Girls served the visitors and lived in the hotel. These women had to promise not to marry for the first year of their contract, or forfeit half of their base pay of $17.50 a month. Many famous people stayed at the El Graces, including Wyatt Earp, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, Gen. George S. Patton, and Judy Garland. The hotel closed in 1949. Much of the building was then used for offices by the Santa Fe Railroad until 1988, when it closed completely. The El Garces is currently under restoration, soon to return to its place as the crown jewel of the Harvey Houses. When reopened, it will again provide fine dining and lodging and will feature a historical museum.

      Needles played a part in World War II, with an army field hospital and a prisoner of war camp both nearby. The largest combat-training facilities in the country, known as the Desert Training Center, consisted of 18,000 square miles that stretched from Pomona to Phoenix, south to the Mexican border, and north to Boulder City, Nevada. Ten division camps (or auxiliary camps) were located within the center. The auxiliary Camp Ibis was located 21 miles northwest of Needles.

      Route 66 was completed through Needles in 1926. Travelers coming and going from all points east and west drove through Needles on the two-lane road. As a result, the town began to grow with the construction of motels, restaurants, gas stations, a drugstore, and a new and larger Claypool’s, which sold everything from spaghetti to Skilsaws.

      Nearby communities looked to Needles for their entertainment and weekly shopping. The Needles Theatre opened in March 1930 and was a favorite spot for visitors and locals as well. It boasted of the most modern talkies and was equipped with a pipe organ. Its water-based heating and cooling system was the height of modern technology.

      One of the early moviegoers was future cartoonist Charles Schulz, who arrived in Needles in 1929 and attended the second grade at the D Street

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