1996 09 19 HPCT
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HISTORICAL PRESERVATION COMMISSION
AGENDA
A Regular Meeting to be held in the Session Room at the
La Quinta City Hall, 78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, California
September 19, 1996
3:00 P.M.
I. CALL TO ORDER
A. Pledge of Allegiance
B. Roll Call
II. CONFIRMATION OF THE AGENDA
III. PUBLIC COMMENT
This is the time set aside for citizens to address the Historical Preservation Commission
on matters relating to historic resources within the City of La Quinta which are not Agenda
items. When addressing the Historical Commission, please state your name and address.
When addressing the Commission on matters pertaining to prehistoric sites, do not disclose
the exact location of the site(s) for their protection.
IV. CONSENT CALENDAR
Approval of the Minutes of the Historic Preservation Commission meeting of August 22,
1996.
V. BUSINESS ITEMS
1. Starlight Dunes Archaeology Report
2. Lapiz Energy Archaeology Report
3. Terracina Apartments Archaeology Report
4. CLG Certificate Workshop Update
VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL
Letters to Consultant candidates
,,,,00L'001
HPC/AGENDA
VII. COMMISSIONER ITEMS
Presentation on the seismic retrofit and interior remodeling of Hacienda del Gato
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
....„G1,002
HPC/AGENDA
MINUTES
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEETING
A regular meeting held at the La Quinta City Hall Session Room
78-495 Calle Tampico, La Quinta, CA
August 22, 1996
I. CALL TO ORDER
3:00 P.M.
A. This meeting of the Historical Preservation Commission was called to order at 3:01
P.M. by Chairman Millis, who lead the flag salute.
B. ROLL CALL
Chairman Millis requested the roll call: Present: Commissioners DeMersman,
Puente, Woodard, Wright, and Chairman Millis.
Staff present: Planning Manager Christine di Iorio, Associate Planner Leslie
Mouriquand, and Executive Secretary Betty Sawyer.
IL CONFIRMATION OF AGENDA: Confirmed
III. PUBLIC COMMENT: None
IV. CONSENT CALENDAR
A. Commissioner Woodard asked that the Minutes of July 18, 1996, be corrected to
show that he left the meeting during the discussion on the archaeological study for
the proposed Medical Facility at 43-576 Washington Street - Plot Plan 96-579. There
being no further corrections to the Minutes, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Puente/Wright to approve the minutes as corrected. Unanimously
approved.
V. BUSINESS ITEMS
HPC8-22
A. Consultant Selection Discussion for Historic Survey
Associate Planner Leslie Mouriquand presented the information contained in
the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Community Development
Department.
_uu 003
Historical Preservation Commission
August 22, 1996
HPC8-22
2. Chairman Millis asked staff how much participation Dr. Knox Mellon would
have in the study. Planning Manager Christine di Iorio stated he planned on
being very involved. In his interview, Dr. Mellon stated he would attend all
the City meetings as they wish to make a presence in the Valley.
3. There being no further discussion, it was moved and seconded by
Commissioners Puente/Wright to approve recommendation of the Selection
Committee of Mellon & Associates as the consultants to conduct the Historic
Resources Survey. Staff was instructed to prepare a staff report for Council
with their recommendation.
4. Commissioner Woodard stated he would like to praise staff for their work.
The Commission concurred.
There being no further discussion, the motion was unanimously approved.
B. Certified Local Government Certificate Workshop - Discussion
Associate Planner Leslie Mouriquand presented the information contained in
the staff report, a copy of which is on file in the Community Development
Department. Staff gave further details about the workshop and stated they
would be inviting other locals such as the HPC from the City of Palm
Springs, the La Quinta Historical Society, with an expected attendance of 30
people. This is staff s proposal that had been sent to SHPO.
2. Commissioner Woodard asked if SHPO funded the workshop. Staff stated
no, it was funded by the City and was a budgeted item for the Commission
each year. Commissioner Woodard asked if there were other conferences the
HPC was expected to attend. Staff stated there were none scheduled as of
yet. This workshop will allow the City to present information regarding the
Historic Resources Survey to others in the Valley as well as meet the State
requirements for the HPC to attend a conference each year.
Planning Manager Christine di Iorio went on to explain who the speakers
would be and the topics they would be speaking about.
4. Chairman Millis asked if staff would obtain an RSVP from those invited by
October 1 st so that HPC could know how many will be attending and how
many seats would still be available for locals.
004
Historical Preservation Commission
August 22, 1996
VI. CORRESPONDENCE AND WRITTEN MATERIAL
A. Associate Planner Leslie Mouriquand informed the Commission that a letter had
been received from SHPO relative to the City receiving the CLG Grant for the
Historic Resources Survey.
B. Staff informed the Commission about a letter that had been sent to Mathew J. Segall,
attorney for the Fritz Burns Foundation regarding the historic date garden house ruins
located at the northeast corner of Calle Tampico and Eisenhower Drive.
Chairman Millis asked staff if there were any blocks or tiles still remaining
at the site. Staff stated that the City had demolished the structures due to
nuisance problems. There was nothing left of the adobe but the foundation.
2. Commissioner Woodard asked why was the letter not more direct. Staff
stated this was a letter of introduction only, as there wasn't anything the City
could can do as the adobe had been torn down.
Commissioner Wright commended staff on the letter; it may open up some
conversations with the land owner.
4. Associate Planner Leslie Mouriquand stated there were still partial buildings
on the site that could be included in the Survey. This site is attributed to
having been the first such ranch house built in La Quinta in 1904, and this
contact may afford the City an opportunity to enter into discussions regarding
entering the grounds for the Survey. This may be historic archaeological
information available from the adobe ruins.
C. Coachella Valley Archaeological Society Newsletter - staff informed the
Commission that the Newsletter was just to acquaint the HPC with the organization.
VII COMMISSIONER ITEMS
A. Commissioner Items: None
VIII. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, it was moved and seconded by Commissioners
DeMersman/Woodard to adjourn this meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission to a regular
meeting of the Historical Preservation Commission on September 19, 1996. This meeting of the
Historical Preservation Commission was adjourned at 3:25 P.M. Unanimously approved.
HPC8-22
..�u 005
MEMORANDUM
TO: HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION MEMBERS
FROM: CAROLYN WALKER, OFFICE ASSISTANT
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
DATE: SEPTEMBER 12, 1996
RE: ADDENDUM TO HPC SEPTEMBER 19, 1996 MEETING PACKET
Enclosed are two Cultural Resource Surveys that were inadvertently left out of the meeting packets
that were mailed to you yesterday.
These two reports are supplemental to the appropriate staff reports and should provide you with a
more complete understanding of staff recommendations.
Should you have any questions, or need further information, please call Leslie Mouriquand at 619-
777-7068.
Thank you.
memocw.4
.0 006
ATTACHMENT 1
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
STAFF REPORT
DATE: September 19, 1996
ITEM: Cultural Resources Report: Starlight Dunes Project
ARCHAEOLOGIST: Bruce Love, Ph.D., CRM TECH
CASE NO.: Tentative Tract Map 23773 (Phases 4 through 7)
Environmental Assessment 96-327
OWNERIDEVELOPER: Starlight Estates
LOCATION: Near northeastern corner of intersection of Fred Waring Drive and Adams Street
PROJECT: Division of 21 acres into 101 single family lots
BACKGROUND:
Project Description and History
The Environmental Assessment (EA) 96-327 being prepared for Tentative Tract Map 23773 identified a
need for a resurvey for cultural resources on the 21 acre project site located near the northeast corner of
the intersection of Adams Street and Fred Waring Drive. A previous archaeological survey was conducted
in 1988, by the Archaeological Research Unit, at UCR. No prehistoric or historic resources were found
during the survey. Because the survey was older than five years, and given the changing nature of the
natural desert environment, it is the policy of the City of La Quinta as lead agency for project review, to
require that the property be inspected again for any prehistoric and historic sites that may be present. The
resurvey provides compliance with the City's policies for local cultural resource management. It also
complies with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which must be implemented by the City for
all projects subject to environmental review.
The 21 acre project site consists of minimally disturbed rolling sand dunes in Phases 5, 6, and 7, where
cultural resources would more likely be found, if any. Phases 3 and 4 are not developed, but have been
highly disturbed in the past by the depositing of excess fill dirt, some grading, and the creation of a
construction equipment yard compound . Phase 2 consists of vacant lots, located adjacent to the developed
Phase 1 area and separated from the remaining undeveloped project area, that have been previously
graded, but not developed.
A resurvey of the project site was performed by Bruce Love, Ph.D., of CRM TECH, in August, 1996. The
survey was contracted by the developeriapplicant, as requested by the City, for Phases 2 through 7 of the
project. Phase 1 was previously recorded and is developed with single family homes and street
improvements.
Methodology
The methods and procedures utilized for this investigation consisted of a records search for both
prehistoric and historic sites previously recorded on or adjacent to the property, and a systematic field
reconnaissance survey of the property. A review of the official maps and reports housed at the Eastern
Information Center about previously recorded historic and prehistoric sites was conducted. It was learned
that the property had been a part of a Desert Land claim filed in 1923, by Mary A. Pimpell. However,
there is no evidence that anything was ever done with the land until the first phase of Tract 23773 was
developed about the time the City first incorporated in 1982.
Discussion
There were no resources found during the resurvey. Although there were no resources observed during the
survey, the report contributes valuable information toward the local pattern of prehistoric settlement,
which in turn adds to the development of a regional research design. It appears from several field surveys
conducted in the immediate area of the Starlight Dunes project that there is a zone without prehistoric
occupation, at least from the late prehistoric period. It may be that there are subsurface cultural deposits
from earlier prehistoric periods at deeper levels in this general area, however, that possibility has yet to be
supported with any evidence.
Because of the lack of recored sites within a half -mile of the project area indicating a lack of settlement
activity in the immediate area surrounding the project site, and that no cultural resources were found by
the first or second archaeological survey, no mitigation measures are recommended for this project.
Staff has reviewed the report for content and format and finds that it conforms with the City's required
report format for a Phase I survey investigation, and the methods and conclusions are sound.
RECOMMENDATION:
Acceptance of the report titled Cultural Resources Report: Starlight Dunes Project, prepared by Bruce Love
and Bai "Tom" Tang, of CRM TECH as partial compliance with requirements of EA 96-327 for Tentative
Tract 23773.
Attachments:
1. Cultural Resources Report
Prepared by:
ie J. Mour nand, ssociat lanner
Submitted by:
6 a ! oo�
Christine di lorio, Planning Manager
ATTACHMENT 2
STAFF REPORT
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
DATE: SEPTEMBER 19, 1996
CASE NO: SPECIFIC PLAN 96-028, CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 96-
029, PLOT PLAN 96-590, PARCEL MAP 28422,
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 96-328
ITEM: CULTURAL RESOURCE ASSESSMENT REPORT: PHASE II:
ARCHAEOLOGICAL TESTING AND SITE EVALUATION,
SITE CA-RIV-5832 ON LAPIS ENERGY PROPERTY
OWNER: LA QUINTA DEVELOPMENT OF JEFFERSON & HWY. 111
DEVELOPER: LAPIS ENERGY ORGANIZATION
ARCHAEOLOGIST: BRUCE LOVE, PH.D., CRM TECH
LOCATION: SOUTHEAST CORNER OF HIGHWAY 111 AND DUNE
PALMS ROAD
PROJECT: 1). COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS (CNG) FUELING
FACILITY ON .75 NET ACRES FOR THE DESERT
SANDS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT;
2). MINI -STORAGE FACILITY ON 4.0 NET ACRES, WITH
64,238 SQUARE FEET TOTAL, INCLUDING ON -SITE
MANAGER'S QUARTERS/OFFICE;
3). LUBRICATION AND AUTO CENTER ON 1.7 ACRES,
WITH BUILDING AREA OF 15, 334 SQUARE FEET;
4). A 2,080 SQUARE FOOT FOOD MART/FUELING
STATION ON 1.65 NET ACRES.
As part of the environmental review for the above referenced project, it was identified
that an archaeological survey and testing would be required by the City prior to
completion of Environmental Assessment 96-328. A prehistoric site (CA-RIV-5832)
had been recorded by Bruce Love, Ph.D., of CRM TECH, during a survey of the
project site in June of 1996. It was determined by the City that the proposed project
would have an impact upon the archaeological site and that further analysis was
required. In August, 1996, Dr. Love was retained by Lapis Energy to conduct a Phase
II evaluation and testing of the archaeological site. The attached confidential report
describes the methods and results of this investigation (Attachment 1).
The archaeological site was recorded as being a surface scatter of animal bone
fragments (burned and unburned), with imported rock and a fragment of a mano
(hand-held grinding stone).The methods used to assess the site included surface
plotting, subsurface excavation and screening, laboratory analysis of artifacts, and
Native American consultation.
The archaeological site is located at the 60-foot elevational level which would place
it very near the high point of the ancient lake 42-foot water line. Numerous prehistoric
sites of the Late Prehistoric Period have been found along the shore line area. No
pottery was found at the site which indicates that it may be very old, perhaps from
the Early Prehistoric-- or Archaic- Period. One unburned Olivella biplicata shell bead
and three basalt flakes suggestive of those found in Early Prehistoric Period sites were
recovered during excavation. The shell comes from the Pacific Coast. If this site is
from the Early Prehistoric Period, it is the first such site found in La Quinta, and only
the second such site found in the Coachella Valley.
The report discusses potential research questions for the Early Prehistoric Period in
the Coachella Valley. A description of this period has only been speculated upon thus
far. With the discovery of the Lapis Energy site and another early site discovered in
Indio, by Dr. Love, a basic framework description of the Early Prehistoric Period can
be prepared.
During the surface plotting of the site, burned bone, rocks, and a mano fragment
were found. The subsurface testing consisted of a series of one meter test
excavations dug to hardpan. Additional artifacts were recovered from the test units,
including bone. The bone fragments are being analyzed with preliminary results that
include faunal remains and probable skeletal remains of a human juvenile. As is
required by law, the County Coroners Office was contacted, as was the Native
American Heritage Commission, to report the human remains. Local Native American
consultation concerning the site has also taken place.
�•.
Two alternative recommendations for disposition of the human remains were made
by Mr. Tony Andreas, Native American consultant. One, that the site be preserved
in place if the site can be capped to such a depth that it will not be disturbed by the
proposed development project in any way; or two, that the artifacts and human
remains still within the site be completely salvaged during the grading and
development of the project. The second recommendation includes the requirement for
an archaeological monitor during the grading phase of the project. Reburial of the
human remains and related grave goods may be requested by the appropriate Native
Americans, in which they would be within their rights to do so.
Significance of the Site
The report concludes that the archaeological site appears to meet three specific
criteria set forth by Appendix K, of CEQA. The first criterion is "B", which requires
that the site "can provide information which is both of demonstrable public interest
and useful in addressing scientifically consequential and reasonable or archaeological
research questions"; "C", which requires that the site "has a special or particular
quality such as oldest, best example, largest, or last surviving example of its kind";
and finally, criterion "E", which requires that the site " involves important research
questions that historical research has shown can be answered only with
archaeological methods." The report discusses how the site meets each of these
criteria.
•. . •••• .
It is the City's responsibility to protect or require protection by others of
archaeological sites to the extent possible in compliance with local, state, and federal
laws. Since this archaeological site appears to meet three significance criteria as
defined by the State, it is important that the appropriate mitigation be required if the
site can not be avoided. Native American concerns and issues must be considered,
especially in light of the presence of human remains.
Review of the proposed site plan for the applicant's project indicates that the
archaeological site is located where a parking lot and drive aisle is proposed. The site
is within a depressed area surrounded by sand dunes. The grading necessary for the
project will involve leveling, import of fill dirt, and compaction prior to paving. The
recommendation calls for the capping of the archaeological site, in place, without
further archaeological work being done. It is then to be landscaped in a sensitive
manner with no buildings, parking lots, or drive aisles covering the site. The proposed
plan may not be able to accommodate this recommendation by the Native American
consultant due to the constraints of the applicant's long, narrow parcel combined
with the proposed easement for access through the Lapis Energy parcel to the parcel
adjacent to the east, in order to limit ingress and egress impacts from Hwy. 111.
This may not be possible given the constraints of the easement, parcel size, access
and paving issues.
The second option recommended by the Native American consultant, on Page 17 of
the archaeology report, is to completely salvage the remaining artifacts and human
remains. This option may be the mitigation plan that best achieves the objectives of
not only the Native Americans but also the applicant. It is staff's recommendation
that the project be conditioned with the requirement to have a highly controlled
monitoring and recovery program developed for the site in which all recoverable
artifactual material can be retrieved. The mitigation plan is to be submitted to, and
approved by, the Community Development Department prior to issuance of any
grubbing or grading permit including any geotechnical testing, utility line installation,
or any other disturbance.
Staff will be meeting with the developer, archaeologist, and Native American
consultant to determine what feasible alternatives exist for the treatment of the
archaeological site.
..ud, 011
Ir
FINDINGS:
The following findings of fact can be made for this archaeological investigation:
1. An archaeological investigation was required to complete Environmental
Assessment 96-328.
2. The archaeological investigation resulted in the discovery of subsurface
prehistoric cultural deposits. The prehistoric subsurface deposits appear to date
to the Early Prehistoric --or Archaic --Period.
3. The archaeological site appears to meet criteria "B", "C", and "E" for
significance as set forth by Appendix K of the California Environmental Quality
Act.
4. Because of the artifacts and related cultural deposits found during the Phase
II testing, and because of the indication that additional cultural deposits are
present, compliance with local and state regulations is mandatory.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Adopt Minute Motion 96 to conditionally accept the report, "Cultural Resource
Assessment Report: Phase Il: Archaeological Testing and Site Evaluation, Site CA-RIV-
5832 on Lapis Energy Property...", as partial compliance with the requirements of the
California Environmental Quality Act, and Environmental Assessment 96-328, subject
to the attached recommended Condition of Approval in Exhibit "A".
Attachments:
1. Archaeology Report (Confidential)
2. Exhibit "A" - Recommended Conditions of Approval
Prepared by:
eslie J. Moufiquan
Associate Planner
Submitted by:
0
C_
4,
Christine di lorio
Planning Manager
-%UOt 012
EXHIBIT "All -
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL - RECOMMENDED
SPECIFIC PLAN 96-028
CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 96-029
PLOT PLAN 590
PARCEL MAP 28422
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT 96-328
SEPTEMBER 19, 1996
1. Prior to issuance to a grading permit, or any earth disturbing activity, the
applicant shall have a Mitigation Monitoring Plan prepared for Site CA-RIV-
5832, by a qualified archaeologist for submittal to, and approval by, the
Community Development Department. The Plan shall include provisions for a
highly controlled archaeological monitoring and data recovery program,
including Native American monitoring and consultation, provisions for analysis,
report preparation, curation, and disposition of records and artifacts.
.:,iu" 013
ATTACHMENT 3
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
STAFF REPORT
DATE: September 19, 1996
ITEM: A Cultural Resources Survey for the Terracina Apartments Tract
CASE NOS: CUP 96-023, PP 96-571, EA 96-311
PROPERTY OWNER: USA Properties Fund, Inc.
ARCHAEOLOGIST: Paul Chace, Ph.D. and Charles Reeves, The Keith Companies
LOCATION: West side of Washington Street, north of Calle Tampico
PROJECT
DESCRIPTION: Apartment Complex with 17 multi -unit buildings, parking area,
recreation and open space facilities, and water retention basin
In compliance with Environmental Assessment 96-311 an archaeological reconnaissance survey and
literature search was conducted on the 11.6 acre development site for the above referenced project. No
previously recorded archaeological sites are located on the property and none were found during this
survey effort. The survey consisted of a systematic inspection of the ground surface. No subsurface testing
was performed. The project site is relatively level as it is protected by modern flood control improvements
and surrounding development.
The project site is located on a historically active alluvial flood plain where several natural drainage
channels cut through and along the alluvial fan emanating from the Santa Rosa Mountains, and more
particularly, the Bear Creek area. Mesquite trees, an important prehistoric resource, were usually located
along these channels. Flood events would bring sediment soils down from the top of the alluvial fan to be
deposited in the lower areas and channels. It is possible that older prehistoric archaeological sites may be
present in areas where sedimentation has provided a protective cover. Most late prehistoric archaeological
sites in the area are exposed to the ground surface and are readily observable. Subsurface deposits are
found at relatively shallow depths. Older archaeological sites are only very recently being discovered, with
the second Archaic Period site (CA-RIV-5832) having been identified and recorded on a project site
located to the north and east of the Terracina project site. The first Archaic Period site recently discovered
in the Coachella Valley, was recently found in Indio. It included a camp fire hearth located inside a large
sand dune, near the dune's base.
The issue of whether to require archaeological monitoring for this project is based upon the potential that
older prehistoric archaeological sites have been recently discovered in La Quinta and adjacent
communities; that these sites may be present in areas where previously no archaeological sites were
thought to be located; and that these sites may be found at relatively deep (approximately 2 to 15 feet)
levels. A study of the changing local natural landscape through time will lend clues to older prehistoric
camp sites, resource collection and processing areas, etc., as they relate to episodic and gradual changes to
the local topography.
The Terracina Apartment project is located within an area that has received sedimentation of flood event
deposits. The historic Marshall Lake was located nearby the project site, and may have included the
project site area. Thus, the potential for buried cultural deposits at the project site exists. The project
includes the construction of a retention basin, which will mostly likely result in the deepest level of
excavation into the ground. Archaeological monitoring of the entire project site was required in the
Conditions of Approval for a previously approved apartment project on this same site. The current project
approvals should include monitoring of the entire site with special emphasis on the retention basin and the
potential for older prehistoric deposits. Both on -site and off -site project areas are to be monitored.
FINDINGS:
The following findings of fact can be made for this archaeological investigation:
1. An archaeological investigation was required to complete Environmental Assessment
96-311.
2. The archaeological investigation resulted in no prehistoric or historic cultural resources
being located.
3. There are 26 recorded archaeological sites within a one mile radius of the project site,
indicating that the area of and around the project site is within an archaeologically
sensitive zone.
4. Because there is the potential for subsurface cultural resources archaeological
monitoring of the grading and trenching activities, both on -site and off -site, is required
by City policy in compliance with Appendix K of the Environmental Quality Act.
Adopt Minute Motion 96- to accept the report, "A Cultural Resources Survey for the Terracina
Apartment Tract, City of La Quinta," as partial compliance with the requirements of the California
Environmental Quality Act, and Environmental Assessment 96-311.
Attachments:
1. Archaeology Report (Confidential)
Prepared by: Submitted by:
CIk%� C��l ���N
L#lie J. Mourigr nd Christine di Iorio
Associate Planner Planning Manager
015
ATTACHMENT 4
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
STAFF REPORT
DATE: September 19, 1996
ITEM: CLG Certificate Workshop
BACKGROUND:
A letter was received on August 23, 1996, from Sandra Elder, Coordinator of the CLG Program, at SHPO,
sanctioning our proposed CLG Workshop in November (Attachment 1). The workshop will be held
November 2, 1996, at the La Quinta Hotel from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with a buffet lunch. The three
speakers scheduled are Knox Mellon, Pam O'Connor, and Marion Mitchell -Wilson.
The topics are: Historic Surveys: The Why and How;
Historic Preservation and the California Environmental Quality
Act;
Design Review Issues for Historic Structures
A flier has been designed (Attachment 2) to be mailed out to the attached list of local organizations
(Attachment 3). From the City of La Quinta, the City Council, Planning Commission, Historic Preservation
Commission, and three staff members will be invited. Attendance is only mandatory for those HPC
Commissioners and staff who have not previously attended a CLG training workshop for 1996. A projected
attendance of between 30 and 40 is anticipated.
The cost for the buffet lunch, including gratuity and tax, will be $33.00 per person, for which the City will
pay for Council, Commissioners, and staff. All others attending will be required to pay for their lunch
upon registration for the workshop. An October 15, 1996, registration deadline has been established.
Meeting room rental is $150.00, which has been paid.
The workshop will be the first hosted by the City of La Quinta, and probably the first offered in the
Coachella Valley. It will provide an excellent opportunity to learn about some of the "nuts and bolts' of
historic surveys, environmental requirements, and architectural design issues for rehabilitation and
restoration of historic structures. Attendance by representatives from the local organizations should
provide for a sharing of ideas and experiences and fostering a spirit of understanding for historic
preservation in the Coachella Valley.
.:uu 016
Attachments:
f . Letter from Sandra Elder, SHPO
2. Program Flier
3. List of Organizations Invited
Prepared by:
L
.she Mouriquan , Associat tanner
Submitted by:
Christine di lorio, Planning m nager
017
STATE OF CALIFORNIA-
PARKS AND
P.O. BOX 942896
SACRAMENTO 94296.OMI
August 23, 1996
Ms. Leslie Mouriquand, Associate Planner
Community Development
City of La Quinta
Post Office Box 1504
La Quints, CA 92253
Dear Leslie:
o ECOV
AUG 2 7 1996'
CITY OF LAQUINTA
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
Congratulations on setting up a workshop consisting very
appropriate items. You have also secured excellent speakers for
this workshop. Knox, Pam, and Marion are all very knowledgeable
people in the field of historic preservation and in the Certified
Local Government Program.
Looking forward to receiving the final program and a list the
organizations invited to the workshop.
Sincerel
dinator
Certi �Historic
Government Program
Office o Preservation
�.��; O1s
CLG Workshop - Saturday, November 2, 1996
La Quinta Hotel
La Quinta, California
Organizations to be invited:
1. La Quinta Historical Society
2. Coachella Valley Historical Society
3. Palm Desert Historical Society
4. Palm Springs Historical Society
5. City of Indio
6. City of Coachella
7. City of Indian Wells
8. City of Palm Desert
9. City of Rancho Mirage
10. City of Cathedral City
11. City of Palm Springs
12. City of Desert Hot Springs
13. Coachella Valley Archaeological Society
14. Torres -Martinez Tribal Council
15. Cabezon Tribal Council
16. Ague Caliente Tribal Council
17. Eastern Information Center- SHPO
18. Sandra Elder - CLG Program Coordinator, SHPO, Sacramento
19. Riverside County Planning Department - Indio Office
20. Bureau of Land Management
City Staff/Decision-makers to be invited:
1. City Council (5)
2. Planning Commission (7)
3. Historic Preservation Commission (5)
4. Preservation Staff (3)
Speakers:
1. Knox Mellon
2. Pam O'Connor
3. Marion Mitchell -Wilson
..Uu, 019
INFORMATION MATERIAL
020
CITY OF LA QUINTA
HISTORIC CONTEXT STATEMENT
SUBMITTED TO:
LA QUINTA HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
E. A. "Ned" Millis, Chairman
Maria L Puente
Robert S. Wright
Jim DeMersemen
Stewart Woodard
Thomas Genovese, City Manager
Jerry Herman, Community Development Director
PREPARED BY:
Leslie J. Mouriquand, Associate Planner
SUBMITTED BY:
Christine di lorio, Planning Manager
September 1996
.'J'; 021
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Staff wishes to thank the La Quinta Historic Preservation Commissioners Ned Millis, Maria Puente, Robert
Wright, Jim DeMerseman, and Stewart Woodard for their review and comments of this document. The
expert review and commentary by Advisor to the Historic Preservation Commission Lauren Weiss Bricker,
Ph.D. was invaluable in this effort. In addition, thanks go to Joe L. Maddox of the Coachella Valley Water
District for providing copies of aerial photographs and maps, Mary M. Murphy and Patty Cook of the
Bureau of Land Management for providing information and records on h homesteading, The Coachella
Valley Historical Museum for opening their files, the La Quinta, Riverside Main, and Indio County Branch
Libraries for assisting in the location of historical information, Fred Rice for his review of the draft
document and providing information from his files, and the La Quinta Historical Society for their
abundance of help in this project. Diana Ablard and Celia Arrieta of the Riverside County Planning
Department located and made available County Planning Commission Minutes from the 193O's, Kate
Whitmore of the Riverside County Parks Department for copies of historical site records, Bob Moore of the
La Quinta Country Club for the loan of historical materials, Mr. Rudy Valenzuela for information about his
father, the USGS for historical maps, Tom Kennedy for information about his family, Stan Sniff for
information about the agricultural families and practices, the National Archives in Laguna Niguel for
research advice, and Tom Core of the Big Bear Historical Society for information about Guy Maltby and the
Peter Pan Woodland Club. Ron Barron, a local interior designer, provided information about his uncle, Harry
Kiener. Britt Wilson and Carolym Walker proofread the manuscript.
.'.JU 022 2
Omar
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION
Page
IOBJECTIVES AND METHODS .......................................................................................
6
1.1
INTRODUCTION ....................................
................................................
6
1.2
OBJECTIVES .........................................................................................
6
1.3
METHODS .............................................................................................
7
2. Context 1:
PREHISTORY AND EARLY SETTLEMENT .....................................................................
7
2.1
INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................
7
2.1.1
Definition of Context Theme ........................................
7
2.1.2
Significance Criteria for Properties ...............................
7
2.2
PREHISTORY ..........................................................................................
10
2.2.1
Early Prehistory - Prior to 1,000 Years Ago ...............
10
2.2.2
Late Prehistory - 990 A.D. to 1850 A.D ........................
11
2.2.3
Prato -History - 1850 A.D. to 1900 A.D ..........................
18
The Missions ..................................................
16
Mexican Influences .........................................
16
The Bradshaw Trail ................ ; .......................
17
Railroad Survey and Construction ..................
18
The American Period ......................................
19
Reservations and Culture Change for the
Cahuilla ............................................
19
2.3
LAND GRANTS AND EARLY SETTLERS ...................................................
20
2.3.1
Types and Number of Land Grants .................................
20
2.3.2
Surviving Homesteads ...................................................
21
Adobes...........................................................
21
Homesteaders Houses ....................................
22
2.4
AGRICULTURE ...........................................................................................
24
2.4.1
Date and Citrus Pioneers ..............................................
25
John Marshall Ranch ......................................
25
Point Happy Ranch .........................................
26
Rancho Le Quints ............................................
26
2.4.2
Truck Crops ...................................................................
27
2.4.3
Coachella Canal ..............................................................
27
3
023
3. Context 2:
RESORTINDUSTRY.................................................................................................................
28
3.1 INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................
28
3.1.1
Definition of Context Theme ........................................
28
3.1.2
Significance Criteria for Properties ...............................
29
3.2 LA QUINTA HOTEL
......................................................................................
29
3.2.1
Architect and Architecture .............................................
30
3.2.2
Owners..........................................................................
31
3.2.3
Construction..................................................................
31
3.2.4
Marketing......................................................................
32
3.3 LA QUINTA COUNTRY CLUB........................................................................
32
3.3.1
Architect and Architecture .............................................
33
3.3.2
Owners.........................................................................
33
3.3.3
Construction...................................................................
33
3.3.4
Marketing......................................................................
33
4. Context 3:
VILLAGE AND COVE DEVELOPMENT..................................................................................... 34
4.1 INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................... 34
4.1.1
Definition of Context Theme .........................................
34
4.1.2
Significance Criteria for Properties ...............................
34
4.2 COVE - 1920 TO
1950.................................................................................
34
4.2.1
Subdivision History........................................................
35
4.2.2
Infrastructure................................................................
37
Circulation......................................................
37
Water..............................................................
37
Drainage.........................................................
38
Electricity.......................................................
38
4.2.3
Social Factors................................................................
38
4.3 VILLAGE COMMERCIAL...............................................................................
38
4.3.1
Development..................................................................
39
4.3.2
Economic Factors..........................................................
39
4.4 DESERT CLUB..............................................................................................
39
3.4.1
Architect and Architecture .............................................
40
1 4
e%J1J1024
3.4.2 Construction..................................................................40
3.4.3 Owners...........................................................................40
3.4.4 Marketing.......................................................................41
5. RESULTS...................................................................................................................................41
6. RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS........................................................................... 39
7. REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS............................................................................................39
7.1 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES .............................................. 39
7.1.1 Criteria for Evaluation................................................................... 39
7.2 REQUIREMENTS FOR LOCAL LISTING......................................................... 40
7.2.1 Criteria for Designation................................................................. 40
8.0 REFERENCES CITED................................................................................................................ 41
5
•q.00. 025
I
1. OBJECTIVES AND METHODS rF;
1.1 INTRODUCTION
This Historic Context Statement was prepared to serve as a guide for a comprehensive survey and
assessment of the historic and prehistoric resources within the City of La Quinta. This Context Statement
was prepared by Leslie Mouriquand, Associate Planner, and edited by Christine di lorio, Planning Manager,
for the Community Development Department. Both parties meet the requirements of the Secretary of the
Interior's "Historic Preservation Professional Qualifications Standards', Ms. Mouriquand in Prehistoric
Archaeology, and Ms. di lorio in Architectural History. These standards are in terms of academic
attainment, training, and experience for minimum professional level of competency.
The governing stimulus for the preparation of this report is the requirement of the City of La Quinta
Historic Preservation Ordinance (Chapter 7) which requires that a survey of the City be conducted. Since
the City of La Quinta is a Certified Local Government (CLG) the preparation of this Context Statement
partially fulfills the requirements of certification in the CLG Program.
In 1995, the Historic Preservation Commission for the City of La Quinta determined that the Historic
Context Statement would be prepared by City staff prior to having the survey conducted by a consultant.
Previous to this survey, there had only been cursory literature searches for historic structures and sites
performed by consultants in preparation of the City's General Plan. Other surveys have been conducted in
the past, in conjunction with proposed development projects in various sections of the City.
1.2 OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the project are defined as the following:
1. To prepare a fully developed context statement for the City focusing on contributions in the
fields of prehistory, early settlement, resort industry, and agriculture.
2. To survey and evaluate historic resources within the City of La Quinta and to
classify them in regard to contextual format.
3. To develop goals and priorities for preservation planning in the City.
4. To produce a final document that will
- Enumerate the number of properties within each Context and Property
type in the City
Provide the basis for evaluating all unsurveyed historical properties within
the City through the preparation of fully developed context
statements.
s4.0u 026 6
nx Opp ird 'T5 p h ,T F5'i
1.3 METHODS
After conducting preliminary research, the staff of the Community Development Department presented
possible topics for Context Statements at the La Quinta Historic Preservation Commission meeting in
November 1995. Commissioners offered suggestions for additions and revisions. Rather than developing
fully all topics as separate statements, the staff decided to group them within much broader statements,
treating originally suggested themes as sub -topics.
Staff continued researching on the topics selected and reported back to the Commission in February of
1996 with a draft outline for the document. From February through June of 1996, the draft was
developed. Much of the subsequent discussion focused on the prominent individual settlers and early
developers in each of the Contexts. Every effort was made to assemble information and to make it an
integral part of the appropriate contextual section. In order to determine the origin of certain properties
that were known to be either homesteads or of historic age, the Historical Indices contained at the Bureau
of Land Management, in North Palm Springs, were consulted. This information established the early
settlement pattern, location, and who the pioneers were. A few of the original homestead and land grants
are still extant.
The final three contexts that were decided upon consist of 1) Prehistory and Early Settlement, 2) Resort
Industry, and, 3) Village and Cove Development. These Contexts were developed to reflect the
chronological development of the City, thematic developments over time, and the connection of these
themes to the Cultural Resources which can still be found within the City. These themes have been
extended to the present city limits of La Quinta. Photographs, maps, and sketches of some of the cultural
and historical resources discussed are presented in Appendix A.
2. CONTEXT 1: PREHISTORY AND EARLY SETTLEMENT
2.1 INTRODUCTION
2.1.1 Definition of Context Theme
Prehistory and Early Settlement covers an extensive time period, from the earliest prehistoric periods to the
early homesteaders in La Quinta. This context was developed to reflect the chronological use and
settlement of the La Quinta area. The prehistoric period was included because of the extensive
archaeological resources found in the City. There are many surveyed resources associated with the
prehistoric and protohistoric periods for which the following material has been included by way of
introduction to the first context theme. Although the prehistoric settlement of La Quinta did not continue
to the present day, it provides an important backdrop to the early explorers and homesteaders in the area.
Although there has not been an extensive survey of the City for prehistoric sites, there have been many
project -related surveys of specific parcels over the past twenty years. At present, approximately one-
fourth to one-third of the City has been surveyed by archaeologists in conjunction with specific
7
:Ui; 027
ZIP �
development projects. There have only been very limited surveys for historic resources, usually resulting in
sketchy information at best.
2.1.2 Significance Criteria for Sites and Properties
In discussing significance criteria for the prehistoric archaeological sites within La Quinta, reference is
made to the section on Cultural Resource Management Concerns contained in The Cahuilla Landscape: The
Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains, by Lowell John Bean, Sylvia Brakke Vane and Jackson Young
(1991). After a thorough listing and discussion of various Cahuilla sites the following findings on
significance were established by the above authors. These criteria are a local level method and guide to
significance of prehistoric, historic, and modern Cahuilla sites.
When making decisions on the relative impacts of alternative site use, weight is given to
information from the following sources:
Current testimony from the tribal group in whose territory a site
lies. For La Quinta, this would be the Torres -Martinez Tribal
Council.
2. Information gathered in the course of recent cultural resource
management studies, usually for development projects, and
based upon consultation with the Torres -Martinez Tribal Council.
3. Information from ethnographic, linguistic, historic, archaeological,
and other literature --published and unpublished.
II. The relative impacts of alternative site use with respect to Native American
values on the basis of whether the following conditions are present, and the
location and density thereof.
A site is judged very sensitive to impact if it is sacred. Among the
kinds of places deemed sacred are:
Sources of residual sacred power, cremation sites, and other sites
named after or closely identified with powerful sacred persons or
happenings. This could include mountain tops, caves, rockshelters,
springs, or rock art sites.
2. A site is judged very sensitive to impact if it has ritual associations.
The following kinds of sites are associated with ritual:
Burial and cremation sites; places used for prayer and meditation,
for healing, and for training shamans; places where materials
(plants, animals, or minerals) for sacred use are gathered. The
8
.'.(Ou 028
presence of ritual objects such as quartz crystals, shaman's
bundles, or ground figures indicates that a place is sacred.
3. Also very sensitive are rock art sites that have ritual connotations
when made and are considered sacred by most Cahuilla. These
are particularly vulnerable to impact when anything makes them
more accessible.
4. Sites sensitive to Cahuilla because of association with their
traditional life:
Cahuilla trails, and places where they are known to have passed in
pursuing religious, social, or economic goals, very often all of
these at once.
5. The sites of villages, with the most recent ones most sacred and
sensitive because they have a direct historical connection with
living people. Modern reservations and other places where today's
Cahuilla live are also very sensitive.
6. Collection areas --or micro ecosystems:
Stands of plants, such as pinyon trees, mesquite, palm oases,
cacti, and plants providing food, for the Cahuilla-- and basketry
materials are necessary if the art is to continue. Species that are
endangered or whose ecosystems are endangered are of special
concern to the Cahuilla.
Sites frequented by desert tortoises, desert bighorn sheep, and
other animals are important to the Cahuilla. Species that are
endangered or whose ecosystems are endangered are of special
concern to the Cahuilla.
8. Springs and other sources of water. Hot springs or springs where
healing sites are performed are especially sensitive, having
sacred connotations. It is believed that hot springs are connected
underground with sources of power, which can be dangerous, but
also can be tapped for healing purposes.
9. Sites named in traditional songs and other literature.
10. Sites to which people came to trade, visit, recreate, or process
food.
�.�ii 029
Significant clues to sensitivity include the presence of bedrock mortars and slicks, other groundstone
artifacts, scatters of stone flakes, stone circles, stone effigies, and pottery. Rockshelters and caves may
have deep deposits of artif actual materials, including burials, shaman's bundles, quartz crystals, etc. Areas
with a high density of artifactual materials are more sensitive than those with low density., Contemporary
Cahuilla concerns may be highest in areas which they presently use, or of which they have a direct
historical memory (Bean and Vane 1987)-
The cultural landscapes associated with the Native Californians must retain the integrity to convey the
inseparable link of nature, religion, and philosophy to be significant. Native economic landscapes are a
reminder of how Native Californians enhanced their natural surroundings to make the land more productive.
The State of California mandates significance criteria for cultural resources in Appendix K and
Supplementary Document J of the California Environmental Quality Act for "important archaeological
resources" which:
A. Is associated with an event or person of:
1. Recognized significance in California or American history, or
2. Recognized scientific importance in prehistory.
B. Can provide information which is both of demonstrable public interest and
useful in addressing scientifically consequential and reasonable or
archaeological research questions;
C. Has a special or particular quality such as oldest, best example, largest,
or last surviving example of its kind;
D. Is at least 100 years old and possesses substantial stratigraphic integrity;
or,
E. Involves important research questions that historical research has shown
can be answered only with archaeological methods.
2.2 PREHISTORY
2.2.1 Early Prehistory - Prior to 1,000 Years Ago
No extensive survey has been undertaken to identify prehistoric sites on a city-wide basis in La Quinta.
Gaps exist in the information about the prehistoric period that can only be answered by additional research,
field survey, excavation, and monitoring of earth -moving activities. Filling in the gaps in information will
require a framework to guide archaeologists in designing future research in La Quinta and the surrounding
environs. This document calls for such a framework to be developed by archaeologists conducting research
in the Coachella Valley, and more particularly, in La Quinta.
10
.J.O(i O39
-n C
y�.uF,., CCSiIIEJ
The early prehistory of the La Quinta area cannot be separated from the prehistory of the entire southern
California desert region. The chronology of the early period is controversial; however, convention has
placed the oldest archaeological materials found in the desert interior of southern California to the Lake
Mohave period or the San Dieguito complex (cf. Rogers 1939, 1958; Wallace 1962; Warren 1967, 1984;
Warren and Crabtree 1986). Others refer to this early period under the regional label, the Western Hunting
Culture (Forbes 1982). Evidence of this period of occupation has been found in the Colorado Desert;
however, our understanding of this evidence is relatively minimal. In the Coachella Valley, archaeological
deposits older than two or three thousand years have yet to be fully documented (Sutton and Wilke 1988).
The gaps in our knowledge stem from the limited archaeological research conducted thus far in the valley,
rather than the lack of human presence. Evidence of the early period may be buried deeply under alluvial
and aeolian soils. Archaeological studies conducted in conjunction with development projects have recently
revealed that there are cultural deposits at considerable depths (10 to 13 feet) below the ground surface.
Very few details of the early prehistoric lifestyle are known beyond what was contained in the hunting
tool kit from this period. There are regional variations of this culture, such as the Lake Mohave (7,690 B.C.
to 8,050 B.C.) and the San Dieguito (7,080 B.C. to 5,670 B.C.) manifestations. The tools that have been
identified with the Lake Mohave and San Dieguito variations include flake scrapers, knives, rude
perforators and engravers, choppers, leaf -shaped and shouldered projectile points, hammerstones, and
chipped lithic crescents. Ground stone artifacts are very rare in the artifact tool kits of the early period.
The type of artifacts found thus far point to the reliance on large game animals as the dominant food
resource, with small game, birds, fish, shellfish, and plant resources supplementing the diet when possible.
These people traveled in small groups. They settled in open air sites and possibly used rock shelters on a
temporary basis. It is theorized that the early people migrated from the Great Basin region. The Western
Hunting Culture continued with relatively little change until approximately 5,000 years ago. The desert
area changed little until about 2,000 BY (Before Present).
The second period of the early prehistory features a shift in the type of food resources relied upon. From
approximately 8,000 to 5,000 BY there is a gradual change over to collecting and processing of seed
foods. Numerous food grinding, implements are found. There is a noticeable increase in the size and stability
of settlements which is evident by the middens (trash piles), shell beads, and millingstones found at camp
sites. During this time there was a climatic change which brought drought conditions in parts of southern
California. The drying of the interior valleys resulted in a thinning of the inland population and migration to
the coastal areas.
In the final period of the early prehistory, after about 3,000 B.C., there is an emphasis on diversified
subsistence strategies, or ways of getting food. Large percussion -flaked projectile points become rare, and
mortars and pestles begin to appear. At about this time the climate changed and there is increased rainfall
which once again makes the desert a habitable place to live. Many camp sites with evidence of extensive
use are found in the Pinto Basin and most other desert areas. The tool kits now contain leaf -shaped knife
blades, hammers, choppers, scraper planes, seed grinding implements, handstones, and millingstones. The
economy is mixed hunting and gathering, with the main reliance on hunting.
In summary, the early prehistoric periods were characterized by the expanding utilization of rich and varied
native food resources, technological improvement, overall growth in population, enlargement and increased
stabilization of individual communities, and a gradual emergence of regional cultures (Wallace 1978).
.4.00, 031 11
Ar'
On the coast, the transition from the early prehistoric period to an Intermediate phase, known as the
Gypsum Period, took place between 3,000 to 4,000 years ago. The most noticeable change is in the shift
to a plant food -gathering society in which hunting and fishing played a secondary role. During this
transition period, milling stones used to process seeds and plant foods appear, thus the name "Milling
Stone Horizon' is given to this culture. A horizon is defined as a period with certain predominant
characteristics, such as artifacts deposited over a certain period of time (Eargle, Jr. 1986:5). The telltale
artifacts of the Milling Stone Horizon include deep-basined metates, manos, scrapers and choppers,
hammerstones, and some bone tools. Here in the desert, there is a gap in information about this period in
time.
In 1996, an archaeological site was discovered in La Quinta that probably dates to the Early Prehistoric - or
Archaic Period of the La Quinta area (Love 1996). The site, designated CA-RIV-5832, will contribute
toward the definition of the Early Prehistoric Period in the Coachella Valley.
2.2.2 Late Prehistory- 990 A.D. to 1850 A.D.
The Late Horizon ranges from 500 to 1,000 years ago depending upon the specific region considered. In
the Coachella Valley, the Late Horizon is tagged at about 1,000 B.P. when pottery was introduced from
the Colorado River area. Thus, in La Quinta, pre -pottery sites are considered to belong to the early or
intermediate periods, while sites containing pottery are of the late prehistoric. At about 1,000 years ago,
the freshwater Lake Cahuilla was about a hundred miles long as it extended southward into Imperial Valley.
Along the northern and western lake shoreline, near present-day La Quinta and Bermuda Dunes, are
numerous prehistoric camp and occupation sites. The people that lived in the Coachella Valley during this
time were the predecessors of the ethnographic and modern Cahuilla. The Desert Cahuilla Indians believed
that the La Quinta Cove was the original "Garden of Eden" where human life began on earth, according to
Katherine Siva Saubel, a leading historian of the Cahuilla culture and Cahuilla elder (Rice n.d.).
During the Middle and early part of the Late Horizon, some of the Cahuilla developed a lacustrine (lake
shore) economy and lived along the western and northern shores of the lake. The marsh -like environment
provided rich resources, including water birds and their eggs, fish, water plants, etc. About 500 years ago,
the Colorado River, which fed into the lake, changed its course due to siltation and stopped feeding the
lake. As a result, the lake evaporated, and the people moved their villages and changed their subsistence
patterns to match the changing environment. The Santa Rosa mountains, above La Quinta, provided the
Indians with a wealth of resources to replace those lost by the disappearing lake.
The intermediate period in the La Quinta area, lasted until about 500 years ago. After this point in time,
the distinctiveness of the different tribelets is clearly present. This regional specialization resulted in a
variety of cultural patterns and life styles, especially in southern California. Resources from the local
environment were maximized and supplemented with goods and ideas from neighbors both near and far.
For example, shell ornaments from abalone, olivella, limpet, clam, conus, and other shells were traded in
from the coastal areas (Walker n.d.). Occasionally, these items are found in archaeological sites in the
Coachella Valley. Another example is the Mimbres black -on -white clay pot found during the excavation of a
12
»4.00 032
sewer trench in the WalMart parking lot (northeast corner of Highway 111 and Washington Street), which
was probably traded in from New Mexico.
Sites scattered throughout the La Quinta area point to the existence of a large population of village -
dwellers whose subsistence activities centered on the freshwater lake. Cahuilla villages have been
described as being small, consisting of 100 to 200 persons. Whenever the valley floor was not inundated
by the lake, villages were located on the open desert floor. With the advent of permanent villages, there
was also heightened social, economic and political interactions and a complex inter -regional exchange
system of trade.
Villages were generally located in or near the mouth of a canyon or in a valley, usually within a reasonable
distance between a variety of plant and animal food resources. The Cahuilla moved around in response to
climatic changes, because of pressures and opportunities derived from settlers and because of the effects
of diseases introduced from Euroamericans. The Cahuilla from the villages in Toro Canyon, Martinez
Canyon, and other canyons on the desert side of the mountains, moved into the Coachella Valley after the
lake had dried.
Large settlements were found at Toro and Fig Tree John Springs, south and east of La Quinta, where there
were artesian springs (Heizer and Treganza 1971). To supplement natural springs, the Cahuilla hand dug
walk-in wells to reach the groundwater. Until the early 1900's such a walk-in well existed near La Quinta,
in what is now the City of Indian Wells. Other walk-in wells were located on the Torres -Martinez
Reservation, southeast of the City.
They located their villages near a permanent source of water, either by walk-in wells, springs, and streams.
Mesquite groves and palm oases grew where water was close to the surface. These areas provided
necessary food and water and attracted habitation. Structures found in a typical Cahuilla village included
small brush shelters, dome or rectangular shaped houses, woven granaries, semi -subterranean
sweathouses, and large ceremonial houses. There was no standard arrangement of structures within a
village, rather ecological factors and the desire for privacy determined where they were situated. While the
ceremonial houses were usually centrally located near the spring or well, individual houses could be
scattered around a.spring and spaced some 30 to 60 feet apart. The size and shape of the structures
depended upon the individual or family needs. Caves were occasionally used as living quarters.
The Cahuilla considered the area in and around the village to be the exclusive property of the lineages that
occupied the village. Groups of common lineages comprising a sib ( a group with common ancestors)
claimed specific territories that were arranged to reach into all of the different ecological zones found in
the valley and the adjacent mountains. This provided access to all of the available food resources (Bean and
Lawton 1965). The area immediately around the villages was held communally by the residents of that
village. Uninvited food collection by residents of other villages was cause for a fight (Strong 1929:40).
Bean 0972:74) estimates that there were forty-eight to eighty Cahuilla villages in the Coachella Valley and
all interconnected by networks of trails. Shrines and sacred sites along the trails were marked by
petroglyphs and pictographs representing various villages (Bean 1978:575). There were well-defined trail
complexes between villages. Trails included those for hunting, visiting, personal sib trails, and those for
specific lineages to use. Some of these trails evolved into wagon roads, and modern roadways, and some of
the trails in the nearby hills and mountains are used today by hiking and equestrian groups.
13
a,.0� 033
The major villages in the Desert Cahuilla territory at the time of European contact numbered about twenty.
A large village was located on and around the areas where the intersection of Washington Street and
Highway 111 is located.
The population and occupancy of a Cahuilla village was determined by seasonal activities. The Cahuilla left
their permanent villages during certain times of the year to establish camps in areas where particular
resources were ready to collect or game to hunt. Sometimes family activities or celebrations would require
a short term move from one camp or village to another to participate (Jeffrey 1993:20). The typical
Cahuilla village did not follow any particular arrangement or pattern, except that there were usually houses
clustered together around a reliable source of water.
The traditional building style for the Cahuilla house was a brush dome. Buildings varied in size from brush
shelters to the earlier dome -shaped or later rectangular houses 15 to 20 feet long depending on the
individual family's needs, and ceremonial houses. A communal men's sweathouse and several granaries
were also located within the village, clustered around the ceremonial house or homes (Bean 1978:577-
578). Family dwellings (kish) were usually circular brush shelters built over a scooped -out hollow in the
ground. Later houses, probably influenced by the Mexican jacal, were rectangular and set on forked posts.
Walls were plastered with mud or adobe and the roof was thatched with tules or other plants (Bean and
Lawton 1965). It is speculated that some house floors were prepared with wet clay that was fired, into a
slab -like flooring from the fragments of undefined clay that are sometimes found in archaeological sites
(Jeffrey 1993:21). One such possible plastered floor remnant was discovered during the archaeological
study for the road improvements to Adams Street in the northern section of La Quinta (Mouriquand 1996).
It was not uncommon for two or three closely related families to build their houses in a cluster and connect
them with covered walkways and walls that served as shade structures and windbreaks. Many daily tasks
were performed outside of the kish (Bean 1972: 72-73; Bean and Bourgeault 1989: 41-43).
At times caves and rockshelters fronted with brush served as shelters in the canyons. These canyon wall
shelters provided protection from the intense desert heat and the freezing cold in winter. Rockshelters and
caves were used into historic times. The earliest occupation in the area comes from a rockshelter in the
Tahquitz Canyon which dates at about 500 B.C. This shelter also contains evidence of Cahuilla occupation
during the historic period (Jeffrey 1993:20).
Free-standing structures had thatched roofs of whatever was at hand - palm fronds, arrowweed, willow,
tule, or other shrubbery- and were supported by strong, forked posts set in the earth, and corner and frame
posts. Roofs were slightly peaked and had a hole in the top to allow smoke to escape. Some houses had
simple brush siding, while others had such siding plastered over with mud or banked with sand for
additional strength and protection. Over time the traditional dome -style kish evolved into a rectangular
dwelling influenced by the Spanish (Jeffery 1993:20). Jeffrey explains in her article on Cahuilla structures
that archaeological data from circular house floors discovered in Tahquitz Canyon (Palm Springs) dates to
around 1,500 A.D.
The largest structure in any village was the ceremonial house (Kishumnawat), usually circular in shape
with the floor sunk several inches into the ground, and having a diameter of around fifty feet. The roof
14
�a.�i� 034
�4
N�
f� ❑ 43 1...
slanted upward from the sidewalls and was supported by forked posts. Thatching consisted of palm
fronds, willow, and other shrubs. Centrally located, this was the house of the net (religious leader), and
here was kept the scared ceremonial bundle. With an attached cooking area and outside dance location,
this was the scene of political meetings, curing rituals, recreational activities, and other ceremonial events
important to the life of the clan. The interior was separated into living space, sacred sanctuary (where the
ceremonial bundle was kept), and dance floor for ceremonial dances (Bean and Bourgeault 1989;
Baumgardt and Bowles 1981; Bean 1972; Bean and Lawton 1965).
Another structure of the Cahuilla village was the sweathouse. The sweathouses were mostly subterranean
and sealed with daub or packed soil (Jeffrey 1993:231. They were used mostly by adult males who came
to enjoy the therapeutic comfort of the intense interior heat. The high temperature was provided by fire -
heated stones brought from outside to a special location inside the structure. Because this structure was
used by the men of the clan, it functioned not only as a health center, but also as a place where matters of
concern to the male population were discussed (Brumgardt and Bowles 1981:87-88).
During pleasant weather the Cahuilla spent a considerable amount of time under the shade of a ramada. A
ramada is an arbor made by setting in place four or more stout forked posts to carry a roof of poles and
thatch. The ramadas are said to have shown Mexican influence (James 1960:45).
Basket granaries were commonly found in Cahuilla villages. They were well -constructed and built on tops
of square houses, sometimes on top of ramadas, and sometimes on a low platform of poles set on four, six,
or eight supporting posts. The granaries were used to store acorns, mesquite beans, and a variety of seeds
(James 1960:45). Round or globular -shaped granaries were constructed from arrowweed, sagebrush, and
other brush plant material. It was covered and often plastered with mud (Jeffrey 1993:22).
At present there are no examples of early Cahuilla structures or architecture remaining in La Quinta. It is
possible to see reconstructed examples of these structures at the Living Desert Reserve, the Morongo
Indian Reservation, Andreas Ranch, and the Salton Sea State Park, among other places. Numerous
publications about the Cahuilla have photographs and sketches of these structures.
The principal large game animals that were hunted were the pronghorn sheep (antelope), mountain sheep,
and mule deer. These animals provided food, sinews, and skins. Martinez and Toro Canyons were
frequented by hunters of these animals. Small animals were also relied upon and included rabbits, squirrels,
chipmunks, rats, and mice. The remains of these resources are often found in the archaeological sites in
and around La Quinta. Most indigenous plants were exploited in some manner for economic, medicinal, or
ritual reasons. Some of the plant resources that were use by the Cahuilla included mesquite beans,
screwbeans, chenopodium, agave, yucca, wild plum, dates, acorns, pine -nuts, chia, cactus, and elderberry
(Barrows 1900:306-310).
There is evidence that the Cahuilla of the Late Horizon practiced limited agriculture through cultivating
corn, squash, beans, pumpkin, melons, tobacco, and medicinal herbs (Bean 1972:48; Modesto and Mound
1980:18).. This practice was learned from the Colorado River people. William Duncan Strong, an
anthropologist who studied Indians in southern California, stated that wheat was also raised by the
Cahuilla in small patches (1929:38).
')I 15035
4tir 9-yJ s
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: w•.,
The material wealth of the Cahuilla who lived in and around La Quinta consisted of many items made
locally and some that were brought in by trade. Trading relationships were established with the neighboring
Chemehuevi, Serrano, Luiseno, Mohave, Yuma, Kamia, Diegueno, Halchidoma, and Gabrielino tribelets (Bean
1972:69). Occasionally some of these trade items are found in the archaeological record. Trade with
distant peoples also occurred, such as the Walmart find discussed earlier.
The Cahuilla made good quality pottery in grey, brown, and red local clays. The technology for making
pottery is thought to have been borrowed from the Colorado River Indians at a late date (Barrows
1900:46; Kroeber 1922:19). Some ceramic pieces were decorated with black or red lines in geometric and
circular patterns, while a few pieces were decorated with incised patterns. Items made of clay included
cooking pots, water jars, parching trays, storage jars, ladles, and pipes (Bean and Lawton 1987; Kroeber
1908: 54-57), dippers, and ceremonial bowls (Walker n.d.). The paddle and anvil method was used to make
the various pots and jars. They were fired very hard in an open fire -pit which was much like a kiln. Cracked
vessels were repaired by drilling small holes along each side of the crack and lacing strips of wet willow
and filling the crack with melted asphaltum (Walker n.d.). Cahuilla pottery was made with crushed rock
temper using the paddle and anvil method to flatten and shape the clay. The clay, when baked, took on a
dull reddish color. Clay from local sources in La Quinta was used. There were no corrugated or slipped
wares made by the Cahuilla. Their pottery was generally light weight, but brittle and porous (Kroeber
1922: 18-19). Several fine pottery specimens have been found in local archaeological sites.
The Cahuilla were, and still are, known for their fine basketry. They made shallow trays, storage baskets,
gathering baskets, caps and trinket baskets. The baskets were made of grasses (Epicames rigens), and
reeds (Juncus robustus or Rhus Triiobata). Many baskets had intricate designs woven of various colors.
Large granaries were fashioned of willow, palm leaves, mesquite branches, and other plants. These
granaries were used for storing large quantities of acorns, mesquite beans, or other food stuffs (Bean
1978:578-579; Bean and Lawton 1987). Barrows (1900) offers a detailed discussion on Cahuilla baskets
and basket making, while Kroeber (1908) and Hooper (1920) offer additional information on the subject.
The material culture found in the archaeological record includes stone tools, projectile points, clay vessels,
shell beads, and items of bone, such as whistles. Basketry and wooden items are found only rarely in the
archaeological context as they were perishable. Much of what is known about the Cahuilla material culture
is learned from historical and ethnographic accounts.
Cahuilla society was organized into a moiety structure with two totemic clans, the coyote and the wildcat.
These two moieties formed the essential units of determining marriage rules and conducted ceremonial
functions. The Desert Cahuilla were further divided into at least 44 male lineages. Each lineage seems to
have had a single spot which it claimed as its own, always near water. Most lineage names seem to refer
to ancestral dwelling places. Each lineage had a patriarchal chief, usually the oldest son of the preceding
chief (Gifford 1971:377). Cahuilla religious life was directed by a shaman whose primary function was that
of a doctor. A shaman cured by removing the object that was the cause of the disease through a sucking
ritual, whereby the object was ritualistically sucked out of the patients body. Shamans were both
beneficent and malevolent. The selection of a shaman was through a childhood predisposition for the job
usually by repeated dreams that would indicate that the child was destined to be a shaman (Kroeber
1922).
fiR2�' ar n.r C .Y»t
iit g .. t t lq
The first Europeans to meet with the Cahuilla were a group of Spaniards under the leadership of uan
Bautista de Anza, in 1774. De Anza was looking for a passable route from Mexico northward to Monterey
for faster delivery of goods than was possible by ship. Franciscan Friar Francisco Garces and Father Pedro
Font crossed the valley with de Anza in 1774 and 1776, and may have had contact with the Cahuilla. De
Anza and his men traveled across what is now the Anza Borrego Desert into Los Angeles. (Kaldenberg and
Milanovich 1989). Often the Spaniards roughly treated the Indians which resulted in violence. Hostilities
by the Indians forced the Spaniards to continue sending people and supplies by ship along the coast. Thus,
the contact with the Spaniards during these early years was limited. There were no Spanish outposts in
Cahuilla territory because it was considered too far inland from the coast.
By 1769, the Cahuilla were divided into about a dozen independent corporate politico -religious kin groups
consisting of patrilineal clans. Each clan "owned" large tracts of territory each of which included several
ecological zones so that they could take advantage of a wide variety of resources. Clans were divided into
two or three lineages, with each lineage occupying a particular village. Each clan was organized around a
hierarchical religious and political structure. Each clan had at least one ceremonial unit consisting of an
official ceremonial house, and a ceremonial bundle (Kaldenberg and Milanovich 1989, in Bean, Vane, and
Young 1989).
2.2.3 Preto-History - 1800 A.D.to 1900 A.D
The Proto-Historic Period is defined as the time or events that were formative for the immediate historic
period, usually just before contact with the Euroamericans. The Proto-Historic time found the Cahuilla a
settled people in permanent villages or towns as an independently developed tribelet or autonomous people.
By 1850, the Cahuilla had increasing contacts with the Spanish colonists, the Missionaries and the
Euroamerican settlers. The Cahuilla did not fair well as a result of these contacts.
By 1819, the Cahuilla were trading with the Spanish. Through the contact with the Spaniards, the Cahuilla
obtained new material goods and technology, such as pack horses, cattle, glass beads, woven cloth, china
plates, and metal tools. They learned soapmaking and ironmaking (Bean and Bourgeault 1989)- A trail was
established by the Cocomaricopa Indians across the Coachella Valley in 1821 as they carried mail through
the San Gorgonio Pass between Tucson, Arizona and Mission San Gabriel. Attempts by settlers to
establish similar routes proved either unsuccessful or impractical (La Quinta General Plan 1992:5-17). The
downside to this contact resulted in many Cahuilla deaths from diseases such as syphilis, cholera, measles,
smallpox, pneumonia, malaria, tuberculosis, and typhoid fever (Rawls 1984).
The Missions
During the early 1800's, the Cahuilla visited the Spanish settlements and a few stayed and learned about
Christianity and European ways. Mission records show baptisms of Cahuillas as early as 1809 (Bean and
Bourgeault 1989:81-83). Although there were no army forts or camps in the Coachella Valley, no missions
or asistencias, or pueblos or presidios, contact with the Spanish proved to be a major impact upon the
Cahuilla culture. In addition to transforming the way of life of the Indians in general, the missions also
inadvertently contributed to their destruction. During the mission period, the native population fell
dramatically. Death was caused not only by disease, but by change in diet and dietary deficiencies, poor
sanitation at the missions, lack of medical care, and forced labor. The missionaries developed a system of
17
037
forced labor or peonage, whereby Indian children and adults were enticd to the missions and then
prevented from leaving. If they escaped, the Spanish would hunt them down and return them to the
missions for punishment. The goal of the missions was to convert the Indians to Christianity and eradicate
the Indian culture.
Mexican Influences
When the Mexican Revolution began in 1822, the Mexican colonial government made large grants of land
to Mexican citizens in the southern California area. With the lack of other available labor to the land
owners, the Indians were kept in indentured servitude. The Mexicans did not choose to settle in Cahuilla
territory, however Cahuilla men did work on some of the ranches out of the valley. The Cahuilla took these
wage jobs to supplement their traditional hunting and gathering.
In the Mexican War of 1848, the United States gained control of California. In the same year, the gold rush
began in northern California. Many Cahuilla communities became frequent stopover places for Mexican,
European, and American travelers. The Coachella Valley was the site of the most popular immigration route
to the Southwest, the Southern Immigrant Trail. The Southern Immigrant Trail was traveled by more
settlers than the Oregon, Santa Fe, and Overland Trails combined. Several of the Cahuilla communities
became stagecoach and mail stops (Bean and Bourgeault 1989:88). Travelers across the desert had
become dependent upon the Indian villages to supply them with feed for their livestock (Thompson 1996:
138).
The Bradshaw Trail
During the late spring of 1862, word of a gold strike near La Paz, Arizona, had spread across the region.
Henry De Groot, a young assistant geologist for the California State Mining Bureau, took an interest in the
strike and set out to investigate the stories of fabulous wealth obtained by the miners. In February of
1862, most of the interest in the strike existed mainly with the Hispanic community. By April and May of
that same year, samples of large nuggets and great quantities of gold dust had reached the City of Los
Angeles, and the gold fever exploded. As miners left the Los Angeles area toward the gold fields near La
Paz, there were numerous deaths of those who tried to cross the uncharted waterless desert. The need for
exploration and trail blazing was evident. Henry Be Groot was hired by the San Francisco Bulletin to
represent them in the investigation of the placers at La Paz. He was teamed with J. H. Riley, a writer for
the rival newspaper, Alta California (Thompson 1996:131-145).
De Groot described the nature of the early months of the Colorado River gold rush which included notes on
geography, distances, water holes, and fodder for livestock. Riley wrote many stories in his diary. As De
Groot and Riley departed on their journey they left San Bernardino with the news that William Bradshaw
had opened a new, shorter route to the mines. Bradshaw was thought to have learned of the shorter route
from a Maricopa Indian living with the Cahuilla at the Toro Village ( located southeast of La Quinta). The
trail ran from the Ague Caliente Village (Palm Springs] to the Pima Villages, near La Paz. Bradshaw claimed
that this new route would save 200 miles and ten days of travel. Over half of the route ran through the
Coachella Valley, and at one point through the northern section of La Quinta, by the homestead known as
Point Happy Ranch. As De Groot and Riley traveled across the Coachella Valley, they stopped at night at
the Indian Villages in Palm Springs, passing through Indian Wells and La Quinta to the Rancheria de los
�.J18. 038
Toros (Toros Indian Village), stopping briefly at the Martinez Village and Lone Palm (Soda Springs), to
Dos Palmas (near the modern day Salton Sea) where potable water was available. They traveled on
through Tabaseca and Chuckawalla, through the empty desert to La Paz (Thompson 1996:138-139). It
was 25 miles from the Ague Caliente Village to the Toro Village with soft sand in between that made for
an eight hour trip for loaded wagons heading for the gold fields. La Quinta's role on the Bradshaw Trail
was an important one as a place to obtain potable water, an overnight camp spot and place of shelter
from wind storms and flashfloods, and livestock fodder along the route.
The Bradshaw route was officially recognized and Congress authorized a U.S. Mail contract to James
Grant to carry mail from Los Angeles through San Bernardino, La Paz, Prescott, and on to Santa Fe, in
1868 (Bureau of Land Management:: n.d.; Nordland 1978:112). Grant claimed to have pioneered the same
route. However, Grant's report in a letter to the Los Angeles Southern News was less detailed than
Bradshaw's, thus, Bradshaw's name stuck for the route (Thompson 1996: 136).
An increasing number of prospectors and settlers seeking California fortunes, prompted San Bernardino
County to dig a well for travelers' convenience at Indian Wells as the hand dug Indian well located near the
stage stop was unreliable. The Bradshaw Stage Line passed through the northern section of La Quinta until
1877. When the gold fields played out and it was easier to travel by rail and steamboat, the stage line
went out of business (O'Reilly and Bailey 1988). The segment of the stage line that passed through La
Quinta was replaced by a graded gravel road in 1915.
Railroad Survey and Construction
In 1852 and 1853, Congress authorized the Secretary of War to employ engineers to find the most
economical and practical route for a railroad to the Pacific from the Mississippi. The first group was a
detachment of the Army's Corps of Topographical Engineers under Lieutenant John G. Parke. William
Blake was a geologist assigned to Parkes detachment which surveyed the valley in 1853. These men led a
large party through the valley, discovering the San Gorgonio Pass as the best low-level pass on the entire
Pacific slope. Blake named the desert "Colorado' giving it the name for the first time. He noted the old
beach line above sea level at Coral Reef (in La Quinta) and Travertine Point as well as tiny spiral shells at
the base of the mountains, and on the valley floor. Indians indicated to Blake the last time water rose to
the ancient shorelines was about 500 years earlier. For many years the occasional small body of alkaline
water in the Salton Sink was known as "Blake's Sea". Blake, however, referred to the ancient sea as
"Lake Cahuilla" (Nordland 1978: 111; Johnston 1972: 617; Robinson 1948:149).
In 1865, the Southern Pacific Railroad organized to build rail lines from San Francisco to San Diego and
eastward to meet rails lines being proposed to reach westward from New Orleans. A government survey
had been conducted by Lt. R. S. Williamson in 1853 which recorded for the first time the San Gorgonio
Pass, the only one on the entire Pacific slope (Nordland 1978:12).
A depot was constructed in Indio, as it was half way between Yuma and Los Angeles. Indio was at that
time called Indian Wells. A lively town sprang up there to provide services to travelers and railroaders.
"The construction of the railroad was slow and required intensive labor. Builders used horse drawn wheel
scrapers and men used picks and shovels. Huge crews were organized and worked with remarkable speed.
19
_�1;i �3,9
The sub -grade was built with the scraper, then ties were placed, rails laid and spiked by hand labor with
spike and maul. Then imported screened gravel was placed between the ties, and now the 'gandy dancers',
a nickname for the men operating the tamping iron bars, completed the road", says Nordland (1978) in his
description of the construction effort.
It was a tremendous effort just keeping the crews supplied with material and food. Water had to be
brought in from the Snow Creek area by wagon and team. Water storage tanks were provided at Cabazon,
Whitewater, Seven Palms (Garnet), and Indian Wells (Indio) as the rail line became operational.
While the rail line was under construction, two stage lines ran three times a week (Mondays, Wednesdays,
and Fridays) from the railroad terminus to Ehrenberg. The stage coaches provided continuous
transportation to Ehrenberg from wherever the railroad ended. The two stage lines were the Wells Express
and the Arizona and New Mexico Express.
Local Indians were hired to work shoveling burning coal into buckets to be hoisted into the locomotive
tenders. It was thought that the Indians could tolerate dealing with the hot coal during the summer heat
much better than the Euroamericans, and thus were sought out for those jobs. At that time there were
three Indian reservations in the lower valley from which there was a ready supply of labor. The Indians also
provided a steady source of fuel wood for the railroad. It is interesting to note that at the time that the
railroad was under construction, the valley was covered with a heavy growth of mesquite and greasewood,
indicative of a wetter climate. In order to transport the wood to the railroad, a spur was built from the
reservation, (near Coachella) to the main rail line. This spur was called Woodspur (Nordland 1978:12-14),
later to be renamed Coachella.
The American Period
At the end of the first half of the 1800's, the rush for land was intensified as the missions declined and
immigrants arrived. As most of the missions were secularized, they were abandoned, and former mission -
controlled lands were divided up into both large and small ranchos. There were no such Mexican -controlled
lands in the Coachella Valley, thus there was much less of an impact upon the Cahuilla as there was upon
other Indians. The Cahuilla, being an inland desert people, were essentially left alone for awhile. With the
onset of the American period in California, a system of apprenticeship was instituted in 1860 when a
system of involuntary servitude was legalized. In theory, this law required the approval of the apprentices
parents to enter the system. However, in practice, this law made slaves of the California Indians. The
extent to which the Cahuilla were apprenticed is not known. Copies of indentures were to be filed with the
county recorders office. The most important use of California Indian labor in the early American period was
in agriculture. In 1856, Indians were the main labor force on the southern ranches in San Bernardino and
Los Angeles Counties. The Indians were essentially held in a state of peonage identical to their status
under Spanish control.
Between 1862 and 1864, the Great Drought hit California and put an end to cattle raising as a distinctive
industry in California. After the drought, large tracts of land began to be divided into smaller parcels for
farms and small ranches. With the decline of the cattle ranches came the decline for the need for adult
Indian labor. As settlers moved in, irrigation projects were initiated to bring water to the newly created
Q
.,O.Ull( 040
parcels. As former miners (Euroamerican and Chinese) glutted the labor market in the late 1850's, the
demand for Indian labor was further diminished (Rawls 1984:109.110).
Reservations and Culture Change for the Cahuilla
Although the Cahuilla were relatively isolated from the forced labor and slave trade of northern California,
they were being pushed off their traditional lands by Euroamerican settlers. To stop the theft of Indian land
and water on the national level, the Indian Rights Association was created in 1870. This group
recommended a system of reservation land grants to the Indians. In 1875, President U. S. Grant
established the first reservations for the Cahuilla. Established were the Cahuilla, Torres -Martinez, Cabazon,
and Morongo Reservations. Later, the Augustine Reservation was established. The now uninhabited
Augustine Reservation is two miles east of the eastern boundary of La Quinta. The Cabazon Reservation is
approximately three miles to the northeast of the City, while the Torres -Martinez Reservation is located
just a few miles to the southeast.
Initially, the boundaries of the first reservations were not clearly defined which resulted in lawsuits by
settlers to challenge the reservation grants. In 1852, the Cahuillas were to be given a strip of land that
was 30 miles wide and 40 miles long, however, Congress failed to ratify the treaty (Nordland 1978:111).
The strip of land would have included the La Quinta area. In 1887, Congress passed the Dawes Act which
allowed the division of reservation land into separate tracts allotted to individual Indians. Conflicts over
land ownership and allotments went on for years. To resolve these disputes the Act for the Relief of
Mission Indians was enacted in 1891, which established reservations in southern California according to
the recommendations of the Smiley Commission. This act clearly defined the boundaries of each
reservation. However, as a result of the settlers lawsuits, the designated reservation lands were reduced
by one-third of what was originally designated.
Reservation life changed Cahuilla traditions more than contact with Spain or Mexico. The confinement to
relatively small areas of land, impacted the seasonal cycle of food gathering activities and migratory
freedom the Cahuilla formerly enjoyed. Children were sent away to distant boarding schools. The Cahuilla
language was forbidden to be spoken in the public schools. Missionary influences resulted in the
replacement of their native religious practices with various forms of Christianity. Compared to other Indian
groups, the Cahuilla have been able to remain on lands that have been part of their traditional territory
during more than 200 years of Euroamerican contact. Through the centuries, the Cahuilla have used
different strategies to deal with Euroamerican and have maintained a degree of political and economic
autonomy (Rawls 1984: 215).
Today traditional foods are still used by the Cahuilla at ritual or social events. Kin relationships remain
important. Precontact songs and dances continue to be performed, traditional practices are common at
funerals, and personal rituals are still observed. There is also a renewed interest by the younger Cahuilla to
learn and maintain their native language.
21
2.3 LAND GRANTS AND EARLY SETTLERS
DR,ir
2.3.1 Types and Number of Land Grants
Homesteading in the Coachella Valley began in the 1880's, mostly around Palm Springs when public land
was opened for settlement under the Desert Land Law of 1877. Non -railroad lands were opened to
homesteaders in 1885. Few homesteads, however, were established until the late 1890's. With the
advent of deep well drilling in 1894, the Coachella Valley experienced rapid growth for agriculture and
tourism (La Quinta General Plan 1992:5.18; Coachella Valley Water District 1978:113).
Prior to 1900 the only documented settlement in or near the City of La Quinta was a small Indian village in
what is now the City of Indian Wells. The village was observed and documented in 1856 by U.S. Army
surveyors. The earliest archival evidence of Anglo-American settlement in the La Quinta area comes from
1900, when a few desert land claims were filed with the Government Land Office on two parcels in
Section 22 of Township 6 south, Range 7 east. Two years later, the first homestead claims in the area
were filed in Section 30 of Township 5 south, Range 7 east and Section 10 of Township 6 south and
Range 7 east. However, the 1904 USGS topographical map indicates no standing structure in the area
now included in the City boundaries (La Quinta General Plan Master Environmental Assessment 1992:5-
18).
For the La Quinta area, the first applications for government land were made at about the turn of the
century. The types of land grants in La Quinta consisted of Desert Land Entries, Homestead Entries,
Railroad Grants, Cash Entries, Reclamation Homestead Entries, State Grants, and properties acquired
through the Indemnity List. There were numerous attempts to homestead and acquire free government
land, however, only a small fraction of all of the attempts reached the patent status. The Bureau of Land
Management Historical Indices record each of the attempts and those that reached a patent. Many of the
granted lands were later sold. However, there are a handful of original homesteads in La Quinta that are
still extant. One such homestead site is still. owned by the same family. The Burkett Homestead was
located on Washington Street, south of Highway 111. Five generations of Burketts are said to have lived
on the homestead. Other existing homesteaded properties include Point Happy, and Rancho Xochimilico.
Master Title Plats for the existing homesteaded properties are on file in the Community Development
Department.
The Homestead Act was passed by Congress on May 20, 1862. This act gave settlers the right to enter a
claim on as much as 160 acres and receive title after 5 years of residence and cultivation. Heads of
households, widows and single persons over 21 years of age could make application for a homestead under
the preemption clause. If a homesteader did not want to wait until the 5 year requirement has passed, it
was possible to commute their claim to a cash entry paying the minimum price per acre for their land. by
1916, a homesteader could apply for up to a full section of land. The Government Land Office (GLO) was
the agency responsible for the review of land grant applications. The GLO later became the Bureau of Land
Management (Muhn and Stuart 1988:278).
In the same year, the government provided for railroad grants to encourage railroad construction. The odd
numbered sections of public land were reserved for the railroads with 5 alternate sections per mile on each
22
•.:) , O42
side of the rail line, to 10 miles each side of the line. In 1864, the railroad grants were increased to 20
alternate sections for each mile of track, thus reaching far from the rail line. In 1871, Congress stopped
issuing railroad grants. Three years after the railroad was completed unused lands could be sold at $1.25
per acre for settlement and preemption (Robinson 1948:151). Preemption was the right of settling on and
improving unappropriated public lands and, later, of buying them at the minimum price without competition
(Robinson 1948:1671. The property known as the Marshall Ranch (Hacienda del Gato) located at the
southern terminus of Washington Street, was originally purchased from the Southern Pacific Railroad, in
1903, by John Marshall.
The interest in homesteading tapered in 1917, when the impacts of World War I are said to have "busted"
homesteading after the war. Primarily, the interest waned due to the lack of available building materials
(Bricker: Personal Communication). Drought and the economic collapse of agricultural products and
livestock, along with little good farm land remaining contributed to the end of the race for free land.
The author has been able to plot the following types and numbers of patented grants within the City of La
Quinta:
State Grants- 1
Desert Land Entries - 9
Homestead Entries - 26
Railroad Grants - 17 Sections
Cash Entries - 16
Railroad Homestead Entries - 3
National Forest Grants - 1 Section
2.3.2 Surviving Homesteads
Adobes
The Riverside County Historic Resources Survey records of 1981 indicate that the oldest ranch house in La
Quinta is the Hunts Date Garden adobe house located south of Avenue 50 between what is now
Eisenhower Street and Desert Club Drive, on Calle Tampico. The Riverside County Architectural Survey
Form Number is 16-10-06-06, dated April 24, 1981. The house is described as vernacular adobe hacienda
style typical of the period 1900 to 1950. The flat -roofed house was constructed of adobe brick in 1904.
There was a low garden -type of wall around the house. Also constructed were workers housing, a storage
building, and a cistern. The record indicates that local residents attended community meetings on the patio
at the house in the 1940's. All that remains of the adobe are the foundation footings. It is not known when
the adobe was torn down, but sometime after 1982. Foundation ruins of the adobe house still exist. The
structure needs to be more completely documented and recorded.
There were few early adobe houses built in la Quinta. Of the three adobe houses known of one existed
behind the La Quinta Hotel, one on the Hunt's Date Garden ranch located northeast of Calle Tampico and
Eisenhower Drive, and a third adobe ruin behind the Laguna de la Paz development northwest of
23
.%fjo, 043
Ari
Washington Street and Eisenhower Drive. Later, there were adobe bungalows built in the Cove subdivision
which date back to 1935.
The only documentation on the adobe behind the La Quinta Hotel is a newspaper article published by the
Riverside Enterprise, May 2, 1970, in which there is a photograph of the adobe ruin. The ruin is stated as
being built and lived in by five priests that came to the valley. The priests called themselves "The Five" - La
Quinta. No additional information is known about the priests. The photograph shows a roofless adobe brick
structure that appears to be a four -walled house. No windows are visible in the photograph, and no definite
doorway is observable. One wall is partially missing. However, the article states that the adobe was still
standing on the western perimeter of the 1000 acres of the hotel property. No date is attributed to the
adobe.
The second adobe known of is the ruin of an adobe house on the Hunts' Date Garden located at the
northeast corner of Eisenhower Drive and Calle Tampico, in the center of the date garden. Foundation
ruins exist that outline the footprint of the house, along with a cistern. No documentation of the house has
been conducted except for the recordation by the Riverside County Parks and Recreation Department who
conducted a survey of the property in 1981. The recordation form describes the house as vernacular adobe
of the style dating between 1800 and 1950, of hacienda style out of adobe brick. It was noted that the
house was deteriorated at that time and was the oldest ranch house in La Quinta. The photograph
accompanying the recordation form does not clearly show the house. Thus exact architectural features are
not known. The date garden can be considered a cultural landscape, and as such should be documented as
such.
The third adobe house in La Quinta is also in ruins, as only the foundation exists today. It is located within
a cluster of tamarisk trees next to the base of the mountains, behind the Laguna de la Paz development. No
documentation is known about this structure. During an interview with Councilman Stanley Sniff, the
house was noted to have been built by a Mexican -American man for his family who attempted to farm the
property on which the adobe was constructed.
In all cases, the three adobe structures appear to have been small, and square or rectangular in shape.
Future research into the Hunt adobe ruin and the adobe ruin behind Laguna de la Paz should include
archaeological recordation, and limited excavation to acquire additional information about the structures
and their occupants. These investigations should be performed by qualified professional historical
archaeologists.
Adobe house architecture was described in some detail, in 1878, by Ludwig Salvator, a promotional
writer, in the following passage: "The adobe houses are built after an old Mexican type and, if they are
not always beautiful, they still, however, deserve respect as comfortable and appropriate for the climate.
They are one-story and are composed of only one row of rooms, even though the owner might be very
wealthy. The roofs are either flat, made from asphalt mixed with coarse sand and fastened all around with
narrow boards through which are carried small, usually wooden, drains; or the roof is made from hollow
tile. Around the house run wide verandas, which are supported by wooden posts. All rooms have a door
opening upon the veranda... inside the rooms are very simple, in many houses with bare clay floors which
however are without exception extremely clean' (Weitze 1984:20). Whether the La Quinta adobes
resembled the above description is not known.
a�.14 014
,I 11 � k 4• i w� �-
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Adobe architecture is also described by Karen J. Weitze 11984) as having for the most distinctive
components - one-story height, exterior arcades, and exterior patios.
Homesteaders Houses
As discussed previously, there were numerous attempts to homestead land in the La Quinta area. Only a
fraction of those who attempted, were successful in obtaining a patent on their claims. To obtain a patent
on a homestead, a home was required to be built and lived in for a period of five years while a minimum of
one -eighth of the land was farmed and improved. The houses there were constructed under these
requirements were often small, single wall construction with wood siding.
Architectural design requirements were not specified, however most existing homestead houses were built
in a rectangular shape with a gable type of roof. Building materials appear to have most commonly been
wood frame with wood siding, with wood framed multi pane glass windows. Occasionally a fireplace was
constructed.
One of the last examples of a homestead house in La Quinta was the Burkett Homestead house, demolished
in March of 1996, without benefit of recordation or documentation. The property is located approximately
one mile south of the present day State Highway 111, on the east side of Washington Street. Manning
Burkett brought his family from Maine to Long Beach in 1905, then on to La Quinta for his son's health.
Five generations of the Burkett family have lived on the property. From observation, the two houses on the
ranch were built many years ago, one older than the other. In 1917, Burkett homesteaded the property, so
it can be assumed that the first house was built in 1917 or shortly after as per the requirements for
homesteaders. The smaller house (probably the oldest house) was single -story, wood -frame construction,
with wooden siding. The larger house was a single -story, wood -frame structure with stucco exterior finish.
There is no documented information about the architectural details of the structures, or a site plan of the
property. A fire occurred in the kitchen of the larger house sometime in early 1995. A demolition permit
was issued for the burned house, however, both houses were demolished. In March of 1996 the remaining
structures were torn down. Horse corrals still exist on the ranch. The ranch has not been recorded by a
historian or surveyed by an historic archaeologist. As of this writing, the property is still owned by
Routhford and Gladys Burkett, of Mecca.
The first house built on the John Marshall Ranch was a homestead house. It is described as small and was
built in 1910. A pamphlet published by the La Quinta Historical Society, in 1996, mentions the small house
but does not give any details. After the large hacienda style house ( Hacienda Del Gato) was built, the
smaller house was relegated to the ranch caretaker. The houses on the Marshall ranch have potential for
local historic significance.
The Point Happy Ranch was homesteaded by Norman "Happy" Lundbeck at the turn of the century. It
was a distinct development from the other homesteaded properties. The ranch included a one -room grade
school, built in 1916, primarily to serve the children living on the ranch (Wolff 1985). One teacher was
hired for the school. The school building was simple, with a gabled roof, and constructed with wood -frame
and wood siding. A school district was formed which served the area between Palm Springs and two miles
east of Washington Street. A few years after it was built, the school was relocated to Indian Wells. The
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school district boundaries included over 190 square miles and included present-day Palm Desert, Indian
Wells, and La Quinta, as well as a swath eight miles wide that extended across the Santa Rosa Mountains
to the southern county line (Gunther, after Fulmor 1916: 119). On July 1, 1929, the Point Happy School
merged with the Indio School District (Nordland 1978:31).
The Point Happy Ranch had a stable and a small store where the Santa Rosa Mountain spur reaches out
into the desert. The ranch was in the path of the Bradshaw Stage road. Only a few hundred yards to the
west of the ranch, in Indian Wells, was a stage stop and watering hole (La Quinta Historical Society n.d.).
The ranch was purchased in 1922 by Chauncy D. Clarke, a noted philanthropist. He also acquired several
adjoining parcels totaling 135 acres. Mr. Clarke named the property the Point Happy Date Gardens. Mr.
Clarke planted a large portion of his initial 134-acre property in Deglet Noor date palms. His ranch became
a great success, known not only for it dates but for prized Arabian horses and lavish gardens. Mr. Clarke
died on August 22, 1926. Prior to his death, Mr. Clarke sold his Arabian horses to the Kellogg Ranch in
Pomona, now the site of the California State Polytechinic University, Pomona. Marie Clarke, Chauncy's
wife, was instrumental in founding and financially underwriting the Indio Women's Club. Mrs. Clarke died
on October 30, 1948 (La Quinta Historical Society n.d.).
The structures on the ranch, which stretched back to the La Quinta Hotel, include an Old California style
house, a guest house, two swimming pools, an archery course, bridle paths, gardens of rare trees and
flowers, and a worker's village with Mexican, Japanese, and American families. These structures still exist
on the property. Each home in the village was air conditioned and supplied with a radio (Young, n.d.). The
houses and structures on the Point Happy Ranch have potential for local historic significance and should be
documented in detail.
The Point Happy Date Garden was later sold to Mr. William DuPont, Jr., a member of the famous DuPont
family. He built a home astride a mountain saddle in the Santa Rosa Mountain spur that overlooked the
Point Happy Ranch. The home is a single story, single family house of red brick construction. There is a
built-in swimming pool and patio deck on the east side of the house. Below, in the date garden, DuPont
built a Mediterranean period style home, in 1965, for Miss Alice Marble, a tennis celebrity in the 193O's,
with a pool and tennis court. There are several workers houses on the ranch as well as equipment sheds
and carports. Mr. DuPont died on December 29, 1965. Portions of the ranch were sold off to subdividers.
The ranch is owned today by Dr. Earl R. Kiernan, from Tustin, California. (La Quinta Historic Society n.d.).
The ranch grounds should be documented as a cultural landscape. There is potential for local significance
for the Point Happy Ranch.
2.4 AGRICULTURE
In 1849, Dr. Oliver M. Wozencraft, an Indian Agent for the government noted that the Indians in the desert
were successfully cultivating plots around springs and water holes (Nordland 1978: 110-111). In 1888,
Stephen Bowers traveled through the Coachella Valley and observed that the Indians raised alfalfa, wheat,
barley, corn, tomatoes, melons, and other crops. The Euroamerican settlers were growing grapes, semi-
.�u26046
tropical fruits, and melons. He also noticed that the date "trees planted in Indio are growing rapidly and
promise much for the future."
With the arrival of the early homesteaders came the beginning of agriculture as an industry in the La Quinta
area. One of the requirements of homesteading was that the land must be under cultivation for a period of
time, usually five years, prior to the patenting of the applicants' claim. There were a great many attempts
to claim land and meet the requirements, but relatively few applicants were able to obtain patents on their
claims as indicated by the Bureau of Land Management Historical Indices. The failures were usually due to
not being able to obtain a permanent source of water, such as a well, on the land and then being able to
farm it for five years.
The La Quinta climate was ideal for growing dates, sweet corn, Bermuda onions, and Thompson seedless
grapes. The high temperatures resulted in rapid growth of crops. With the Southern Pacific Railroad depot
located in nearby Indio, farmers had an easy way to ship their crops to the Los Angeles and San Francisco
markets (La Quinta Historical Society n.d.). Cash buyers came from outside the valley to buy dates and
citrus. The produce was distributed by rail all over the country, as well as Canada and Europe. (Sniff,
Personal Communication). Dates proved to be best suited to the climate and soil conditions of the La Quinta
area.
Dates were first introduced in the United States in 1888 by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, although
they had been first introduced to the Western Hemisphere between 1720 and 1731 by Spanish Padres in
Mexico. By 1921, there were three date experimental stations in the Coachella Valley. Three varieties of
commercial dates were grown: Deglet Noor (date of light), Saidy, and Thoory. Dates brought a better
return per acre than any other branch of agriculture or horticulture. It takes about five years for a date
garden to establish itself for production (International Festival of Dates Association 1921). It usually
requires from 5 to 10 years for an offshoot to develop a root system of its own, at which time it is safe to
remove it from its parent and plant it in the garden. After it is planted it requires an additional 8 to 15
years to bring it into full bearing. It has been stated that financial returns on a date tree under 20 years old
are not to be expected (Shields Date Gardens 1957:26).
The ideal date growing summer temperatures range between 105 to 125 degrees (F). Dates can be grown
from seed but the most dependable commercial fruit is produced from proven offshoots or suckers of
known varieties. A young palm will produce dates at six years and be in full bearing at ten years. Date
palms are not self -pollinating. Pollination must be done by hand or the fruit will not develop and mature.
This created a need for farm laborers in the valley. In 1919, the Cal Date Growers Association was
formed.
The soil conditions in La Quinta in historic and modern La Quinta include soil types from three main soil
series: Coachella Series, Gilman Series, and Indio Series. A series consists of a group of soils that formed
from a particular kind of parent material and have horizons, that, except for texture of the surface soil, are
similar in differentiating characteristics and in arrangement in the soil profile. Among these characteristics
are color, texture, structure, reaction, consistence, and mineralogical and chemical composition. Each soil
series includes variants featuring silt loam, fine sands, or sandy loams. The Coachella Series consists of a
well -drained alluvium ideal for truck crops, citrus, grapes, dates, and alfalfa hay. The Gilman and Indio
Series are also excellent for truck crops, hay, and cotton (USDA Soil Conservation Service 1974). Thus,
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soil conditions in historic La Quinta were ideal in many areas for the type of farming that was attempted
by early homesteaders and ranchers. Erosion, clay content, lack of water, and microclimatic factors were
the primary reasons for particular problems or failed attempts at farming in La Quinta.
After World War II, the date industry collapsed. Date palms were taken out and replaced with citrus trees
on many ranches. About 1950, there was a boom in citrus growing, especially grapefruit and tangerines.
However, many acres were planted in citrus for the tax -write-offs available. Absentee land -owners,
including ranches owned by celebrities, such as that formerly owned by Burt Lancaster on Avenue 50 (now
part of the Rancho La Quinta project) increased as the citrus tax shelter became popular. Unfortunately,
inferior trees were frequently planted on some of the absentee -owner citrus ranches which lowered the
quality of the fruit while volume production took priority (Sniff: Personal Communication).
2.4.1 Date and Citrus Pioneers
John Marshall Ranch
In 1902, John Marshall and his brother-in-law, Albert Green, acquired 320 acres from the Southern Pacific
Railroad located at the southern terminus of Washington Street and Old Avenue 52 (BLM Historical
Indices). They divided the land evenly, with Marshall taking 160 acres west of Washington Street, and
Green the east 160 acres. The Cove area soon became known as Marshall's Cove, and Washington Street
was called Marshall Road at that time. Mr. Green sold his 160 acres almost immediately, as he was not a
rancher. The Green property was not developed until 1961 when Howard Ahmanson, President and
Founder of Home Savings and Loan Association and art patron, built the existing ranch house, guest house,
manager's house, several outbuildings, and a 9-hole golf course. The main residence is a 3-bedroom
hacienda -style adobe block house of Mr. Ahmanson's design, with Spanish tile roof I Desert Sun May 9,
1980:13-1). It is situated in an outcropping of the Santa Rosa Mountains and named Rancho Xochimilco.
Mr. Marshall, on the other hand, kept his land and planted a citrus orchard.
In 1920, a large hacienda -style house was constructed on the Marshall Ranch by a Mr. Swanson. A smaller
adobe house and shed had been built in 1910. Worker's cottages were also constructed. A large swimming
pool located next to the large hacienda also served as an irrigation reservoir.
Eucalyptus trees were planted in front of the property, along what is now Old Avenue 52. These trees still
exist and are part of the cultural landscape on the ranch and should be recorded as such. The grassless fan
palm in the driveway island is thought to possibility be the oldest of its kind in the valley. It was
transplanted by Rosecrans when it was already 35 years old. In addition, there are two identical fan palms
located south of the swimming pool that were planted by the Southern Pacific Railroad in the late 1880's
(La Quinta Historical Society 1996).
The Marshall Ranch was actively farmed through the 1980's. There was a succession of owners since the
ranch was originally sold by Marshalls' son. Past owners have included William S. Rosecrans (Los Angeles
real estate developer and oil tycoon), Kelly McBean, James T. Holmes, Fritz Burns, Bill Young, and
Landmark Land Company. The current owner of the property is Sienna Corporation of Minnesota, who
plans to develop a housing and golf course project on the estate.. The ranch is said to have been
28
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prosperous in its farming production. When Rosecrans owned the ranch there were date palms planted in
the north end, but after James Holmes bought the ranch the dates were removed and citrus planted as the
date trees were dying. Although there is little information recorded about the history of the ranch, it is
known that Rudolph Valentino spent time at the ranch in the 1930's, and that John F. Kennedy was, at
some time, a guest at the ranch (La Quinta Historical Society 1996 ; Desert Sun, Dec. 6, 1990). It is also
suggested that Marilyn Monroe had visited the ranch.
John Marshall made a significant impression in the local area as evidenced by the naming of the
intermittent Cove lake that existed south of the La Quinta Hotel property as the Green/Marshall Lake, and
the naming of Marshall Road (now Washington Street). It is said that ducks were hunted on the lake up
until 1923 when the Green/Marshall Lake dried up (Rice n.d.). The lakebed has been developed with single
family residences. The lake was located at the base of the huge Cove alluvial fan and filled with water
when flash floods came roaring down out of the Santa Rosa Mountains (Press -Enterprise, Feb. 3, 1982:B-
4).
Point Happy Ranch
The Clarke family, who purchased the Point Happy homestead in 1922, planted a large portion of their
134-acre holding in Deglet Noor date trees. The ranch became a great success (La Quinta Master
Environmental Assessment 1992:5-18). The ranch was called the 'Point Happy Date Gardens." Mrs.
Clarke died in 1948, and sometime thereafter the Point Happy Date Gardens were sold to Mr. William
DuPont, Jr. The date gardens and citrus have been actively farmed since Mr. Clarke initially planted the
first trees. The varieties of trees on the property include pecan, tangerine, lemon, fig, apricot and mulberry
(Press -Enterprise Nov. 6, 1966). Avocado trees and orange trees had also been planted among the date
groves of the original ranch. Later, grapefruit trees were planted (Daily News 1968:3).
Rancho La Quinta
Fred Ickes, who came to the Coachella Valley with Walter Morgan in the early 1920's, chose to establish a
ranch to produce dates and citrus fruits. The ranch existed for many years as one of the most successful
ranches in the Valley and is known as the Rancho La Quinta (Anonymous 1951).
In 1932, Harry Kiener, of the Big Bear Land & Water Company, purchased several thousand acres, a part
of which was Rancho La Quinta. By 1943, Rancho La Quinta (not to be confused with the modern
development of the same name located east of the intersection of Washington Street and Eisenhower
Drivel had been developed with rare Deglet Noor dates and Marsh Seedless grapefruit trees. Record crops
of premium fruit are said to have been produced on the ranch. In a brochure titled, "Presenting La Quinta"
prepared by the Palm Springs Land and Irrigation Company (Reprint 1991 - La Quinta Historical Society),
there are several photographs of Rancho La Quinta, which was located north of the La Quinta Hotel, and
west of what is now Eisenhower Drive. The brochure describes the "agricultural potentialities of the
Coachella Valley; the completion of the All -American Canal and the Coachella Branch Canal; the natural
advantages already present in La Quinta, plus a future which will undoubtedly witness additional
community developments, combine to make this area,... one of the finest desert income -producing
properties." The ranch also became known as the Harry Kiener Estate, and most recently as The Enclave, a
custom home development.
--.:J39 049
2.4.2 Truck Crops
As mentioned previously, sweet corn, Bermuda onions, and Thompson seedless grapes were grown in the
La Quinta area. Truck crops were limited to the flat areas of La Quinta. In many places there was too much
clay in the soil to grow many crop varieties. The lack of water coupled with undesirable the soil conditions
forced some farmers to abandon their holdings (Sniff: Personal Communication).
The Raymond Pederson Ranch, located where the Lake La Quinta development has been constructed on
Washington Street, at one time grew gladiola flowers. Mr. Pederson attempted to grow dates, but they did
not do well on his property. Often there was difficulty in farming due to the soil type, microclimate factors,
and availability of water. There were no natural artesian wells in La Quinta (Sniff: Personal
Communication). The Pederson Ranch site was recorded in 1981, for the Riverside County Historic
Resources Survey. Structures on the ranch consisted of an early 1920's vernacular ranch house and shed.
A photograph taken in 1981, shows a date garden on the property. A lakeireservoir served to irrigate
crops. Aerial photographs, taken by the Army Corps of Engineers in 1938 and 1949 show the Pederson
Ranch and the others in the area.
John Marshall and his son Harry, of the Marshall Ranch, first planted cantaloupe and onions for a summer
crop.. It is stated in a brochure written by Patricia Mastick Young, and published by the Palm Desert
Historical Society, that the Marshalls farmed their ranch with the help of men from the dust bowl states.
Oates had also been planted on the ranch. The date trees served as a landmark as they could be seen from
miles away. In 1921, when heavy rains came to the area, the Marshall Ranch was flooded. Marshall
decided to quit farming after finding his ranch entirely under water ( Young, n.d.).
Manning Burkett, who homesteaded the Burkett Ranch, is said to have farmed "sidewinders, sagebrush,
and grapefruit" on his ranch (Young, n.d.). A citrus orchard is visible in the 1939 aerial photograph of the
area.
Walter Morgan, who developed the La Quinta Hotel, planted alfalfa and dates behind the hotel.
Other farming families include the Kennedy family who grew cotton and row crops on land they purchased
from a homesteader. The family spent large sums of money to level the sand dunes on their property in
order to farm it. The property was sold to Landmark Land Company which built the P.G.A. West golf resort
on the Kennedy farm located south of Avenue 54, straddling Jefferson Street. The developers of the resort
utilized many earthmovers to build the dunes, hills, fairways, sand traps, and greens back into the
landscape (Rice n.d.).
2.4.3 Coachella Canal
In the 1920's, a Dr. S.S.M. Jennings championed the push for construction of the All -American Canal to
bring water for irrigation from the Colorado River to the desert valley. The arrival of the canal into the
Coachella Valley had tremendous impact on the valley's agricultural economy. Crop patterns changed over
the years with the availability of supplementary canal water. The Coachella Branch Canal was
constructed as an unlined main canal and underground distribution system. The war years produced only
token work on the canal and distribution system. The branch canal began at Drop 1 on the main canal and
30
05
continues 123.5 miles to the Lake Cahuilla terminal reservoir within the City of La Quinta. The first water
deliveries from the canal were in 1948. Improvement districts were formed by the Coachella Valley Water
District to pay for the canal improvements. From June 26, 1948, when the Coachella Branch of the canal
was completed, expansion of the irrigated areas was rapid (Nordland 1978). The canal is capable of
irrigating more than 80,000 acres of farm land in the Coachella Valley (de Stanley 1966:48).
The Coachella Branch Canal loops through the City on the west side of Lake Cahuilla County Park and PGA
West, and received its water from the Imperial Reservoir on the Colorado River north of Yuma, Arizona. It
provides a non -potable source of water. The canal water benefit district in the City extends north to
Avenue 52 and west to Washington Street. This source of water has been relegated for use in irrigation of
golf courses, existing agricultural areas and for recharging the underground aquifer (La Quinta Master
Environmental Assessment 1992:5-49). The canal terminates at the modern Lake Cahuilla which was
constructed in 1969 by the water district. The lake and surrounding park facilities are currently operated
by the Riverside County Parks Department (Coachella Valley Water District 1978:120). The construction
of the canal provided many jobs for local residents.
That segment of the Coachella Branch Canal located within the City of La Quinta is locally significant and
should be designated as a local historic linear engineered structure. To be eligible for the National Register
of Historic Places designation, the canal would need to be associated with an important historic context as
described in Section 7.1 and having maintained historic integrity of those features necessary to convey
significance. The entire canal would then be designated. However, it is beyond the jurisdiction of the City
of La Quinta to designate the entire canal beyond what is within the boundaries of the City. Thus, the only
designation that the City can bestow upon the canal is a local recognition.
3. CONTEXT 2: RESORT INDUSTRY
3.1 INTRODUCTION
"Every year the mecca of thousands seeking the sunshine, beauty and dry, health -giving
climate of the desert, La Quinta has earned an international reputation as America's foremost
desert resort community."
The quote above is the opening statement in a brochure titled 'Presenting La Quinta' published in 1943, by
the Palm Springs Land and Irrigation Company. This brochure was reprinted by the La Quinta Historical
Society in 1991.
Pat Young wrote in a description of the history of the Cove Communities, "that the communities each had
a beginning in agriculture, mostly dates and grapefruit. To varying degrees they were recognizable
communities in the 1920's, but their real flowering in the resort mold began after World War II" (Press -
Enterprise, Feb. 24, 1982:8-2). The resort industry wrestled with the existing agricultural influences.
Since the late 1800's people have been coming to the desert area for the healthful benefits. Some of the
first settlers and homesteaders were among those seeking a drier climate for respiratory and arthritic
ailments. While the healthful benefits of the desert were capitalized upon, the charm and beauty of the
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E`r
desert environment became apparent to those seeking a new place for recreation and quiet refuge. Since
the late 1920's movie stars, celebrities, and the wealthy have been coming to La Quinta for these reasons.
3.1.1 Definition of Context Theme
This context theme was identified and included in this document because of the important role the resort
aspect had on the development of La Quinta. In the late 1920's and early 1930's the resort aspect is what
drew people to La Quinta, some of which became permanent or seasonal residents of the area. The public
fascination with movie stars and celebrities resulted in the lure to La Quinta and the marketing of the area.
The resort aspect of La Quinta continues today and is the dominant "industry" of the community.
3.1.2 Significance Criteria for Properties
The significance criteria for the resort context within La Quinta is primarily dependent upon the criteria for
cultural resources in Appendix K and Supplementary Document J of the California Environmental Quality
Act as outlined in the Section 2.1.2 of this document.
The La Quinta Hotel has been previously determined to be eligible for listing on the National Register of
Historic Places.
3.2 LA QUINTA HOTEL
The 1951 Palm Springs Yearbook states that "the little community of La Quinta .... was, strangely enough,
a product of the First World War. In a front line trench, thick with mud, two young officers huddled against
the rain and bitter cold and made a pact, resolving that if they lived through the war, they would return to
the United States and seek the driest, warmest, most enjoyable climate they could find and settle down."
These two young men were Fred Ickes and Walter Morgan.
Prior to settling on the site that is now the La Quinta Hotel, Ickes and Morgan spent one year investigating
the area and taking to people about where the best suited land would be. They narrowed their selection of
a site based upon the "abundance of water reasonably close to the surface for irrigation, minimum wind,
warmest winter climate, and the highest percentage of clear blue sky." After purchasing the property they
had two wells drilled, one a 350 foot well that produced over two million gallons of water per day for
irrigation, and the other well, a shallower one for domestic purposes that produced over 250,000 gallons
per day (Anonymous 1951).
The La Quinta Hotel was the first resort hotel in La Quinta, constructed in 1926, by Walter H. Morgan. It is
located at 49499 Eisenhower Drive. Morgan was the youngest son of wealthy John S, Morgan, owner of
the Morgan Oyster Company, in San Francisco. The younger Morgan came to the desert in 1921 for health
reasons. He fell in love with the area and wanted to build a small, secluded retreat. Morgan purchased
1,400 acres in the name of Desert Development Company, in the lower cove area in order to build his
retreat hotel. Part of this land was originally part of a railroad land grant and the other part was a portion
of a State Grant Patent (BLM Historical Indices). The land that Morgan purchased is said to have been
named "Happy Hollow" by the Cahuilla Indians who lived in the area.
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Only a portion of the land was developed with the hotel (Coachella Valley Submarine, February 4, 1927).
Six cottages were constructed as well as a dining room, and office building. A nine -hole golf course
designed by Norman Beth was also constructed on the property. Through time, the Hotel has grown from
the original 6 adobe cottages to a hotel of 268 rooms and suites. Morgan made the hotel a "social must"
by inviting Hollywood celebrities, politicians, and society members to stay at the hotel. A nine -hole golf
course, designed by Norman MacBeth, was built in 1927. It was the first golf course in the Coachella
Valley, and the greens fee was just $1. A horse stable was also located behind the hotel, to the west. The
hotel had the area's only telephone service in 1926 (Press -Enterprise, Feb. 3, 1982:B-4)-
There is some speculation that Morgan might have selected La Quinta to build his resort in response to the
anti-Jewish atmosphere present in Palm Springs at that time. Particular subdivisions in Palm Springs had
clauses in property deeds that prohibited people of the Jewish faith from owning property. In the late
1920's and 30's Jack Benny attracted many people to the desert with his references to CU-CA-MONGA
and Palm Springs. Palm Springs developed in response to the visitors with some of the overflow reaching
La Quinta (Cooper n.d.l.
During the first year of operation, 1927, a Southern Pacific train became marooned in Indio because of
severe flooding. Charles Taft, son of former President William H. Taft, was a passenger on that train. He
discovered La Quinta when he and the other passengers were invited by the hotel to stay as guests until
the train could continue on.
Morgan established the first post office in La Quinta, with himself appointed as the Postmaster on
November 22, 1930 (Record of Appointments of Postmasters). The post office operated until June 30,
1943, and most likely closed when the hotel closed because of World War II. On May 1, 1948, the post
office was reestablished as a winter post office. It is not known where the post office was located.
In the spring of 1942, the hotel closed for the duration of World War II. because gasoline and automobile
tire rationing prevented travel to the desert. During the war years the United States Army requisitioned
the property. Troops were not officially stationed at the hotel, however, Government signs were posted at
the entrance forbidding unauthorized entry. It is said that both Army Tank and Army Air Corps Divisions
used the Hotel grounds and surrounding areas. Members of General George Patton's staff are said to have
used some of the hotels facilities (La Quinta Hotel n.d.). During this time, the cottages were locked, the
pool drained, and the landscaping died.
After the war interest in the hotel was renewed as post-war lifestyles resumed. The La Quinta Hotel soon
became, again, a favorite vacation spot for the Hollywood stars and celebrities who came for the cuisine,
privacy, and pampering service provided by the hotel staff.
Today the hotel has 640 bungalows, 25 pools, 35 heated spas, three restaurants, a variety of shops, and
four golf courses. A new ballroom, Las Flores Ballroom, with subterranean parking garage was recently
constructed in 1996 to cater to large groups. The original landscaping around the hotel comprises a
cultural landscape that should be documented.
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3.2.1 Architect and Architecture
Morgan hired then unknown Pasadena architect, Gordon Kaufman, in 1925, to design the future resort.
Kaufman later became famous for his architectural designs and received numerous accolades and awards.
The first of these awards was the Certificate of Honor from the American Institute of Architects "in
appreciation of the merit on design and execution of work in the building of La Quinta."
Kaufman designed the main buildings, the lobby areas, the open and glassed -in dining rooms, the guest
cottages, and the grounds. He also designed the furniture and lights while supervising all of the
construction, including the firing of the bricks done on the hotel premises.
The La Quinta Hotel is said to be an "exquisite example of Spanish Colonial architecture" (Britton, May 3,
1996). The architectural features of the Spanish Colonial style (1565-1840) include red tile roofs, adobe or
stucco exterior finish, walled gardens, decorative iron work, and arcaded porches. The La Quinta Hotel is
tiled from roof to floor and with pillared breezeways that connect it to the original dining room. The
buildings feature archways, clay tile roofs, thick walls, after the California Mission architectural style. The
Mission Revival architectural style features hand -troweled smooth finished stucco walls, arches, arcades,
courtyards, tile roofs, windows and doors which may be recessed and framed with rough-hewn wood.
The high ceilinged lobby is decorated with a series of Diego Rivera sketches. The sketches were covered
over during a redecorating effort some years ago. They were discovered by an employee during the 1989
renovation (Britton 1996).
The hotel was designed around three courtyards, still present today: the Hotel entry, the service area to
the northwest of the Lobby, and the interior ovals in the middle of the guest cottages. The first 20
cottages were built in two concentric ovals around the interior courtyard and were named alphabetically
for saints: San Anselmo, San Benito, San Carlos, San Dimas, San Jacinto, San Lucas, San Marcos, San
Nicolas, San Onofre, San Petro, San Quintin, San Rafael, San Sebastian, San Timoteo, Santa Ursula.
The first swimming pool was built in 1937 (La Quinta Hotel: n.d.).
3.2.2 Owners
There have been several changes of ownership of the La Quinta Hotel. The original owner was Walter H.
Morgan who owned the property until 1931. Morgan, died in April of 1931 as a result of carbon
monoxide poisoning. He had a tubercular condition and it is speculated that he took his own life because of
his poor health and the decline of his family's finances due to the Depression. Morgan was cremated and
his ashes spread over the date garden and flower gardens. As a result, the hotel closed its doors after the
fifth season in financial turmoil (La Quinta Hotel n.d.). In 1931 Frederick Clift of San Francisco's Clift Hotel
leased the La Quinta (Young, n.d.). The courts appointed B. J. Bradner as the owner following Morgan's
death. Bradner owned the hotel until 1945, after the Second World War. He was an attorney who had
money invested in the property (Fred Rice: Personal Communication; La Quinta Hotel n.d.). The land around
the hotel was purchased in 1932 by Harry Kiener, a promoter of Big Bear Land and Water Company,
hoping to create a private club.
.4.aj 054
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For three months in 1945, Arnold S. Kirkeby, a Chicago hotelier, owned the property. From 1945 to 1950,
John Balaban was the owner. Balaban was part of Balaban and Katz, large midwest theater owners.
Barney Balaban, John's brother, was head of Paramount Studios (Fred Rice: Personal Communication).
Through the promotion by Balaban's brother, Barney, Hollywood's top stars were seen at the hotel.
From 1955 or '56 to 1977, Leonard Ettleson owned the La Quinta Hotel. Ettleson sold the property in
1977 to Landmark Land Company, Inc. Ernie Vossler and John Walser were both vice-presidents of the
company. In 1984, CRI, Inc., from Rockville, Maryland purchased the property. In 1995, the property was
purchased by KSL Recreation Corp. which is the current owner (Fred Rice: Personal Communication).
3.2.3 Construction
The total construction cost of the project is estimated to have been $150,000. The construction progress
was publicized in a local newspaper, the Coachella Valley Submarine. In an article in the November 19,
1926 edition, it was stated that the hotel was "obviously a unique and prestigious undertaking for the
Coachella Valley." The superintendent of work was Crane Bruner. Carpentry work was supervised by C. N.
Sinclair, a contractor from Indio; plumbing by L. P. Pratt, electrical by Ralph Alden, and the sewer system
by Thomas E. Allen.
The heating system was designed as a large concrete tunnel which carried heat to the cottages from one
giant heating plant. The dining room was described as "going to be a very imposing structure, with walls
three feet thick and a high ceiling. " About 100 guests could be accommodated in the dining room.
The roof and floor tile was fired in a kiln made for that purpose. The roofing tile was a pink sand tint while
the floor tile was somewhat redder than the average house brick. The site of the original kiln is on the Golf
Club Mountain Course. Here, Mexican -American laborers hand made more than 100,000 adobe bricks,
60,000 roof tiles, and 5,000 floor tiles. Joe Valenzuela Roofing, a local company, was hired to
manufacture the bricks and tiles (Rudy Valenzuela: Personal Communication). Clay from the GreenlMarshall
lakebed was used to make the roof and floor tiles for the hotel (Rice n.d.).
The construction of the hotel provided a boon of employment opportunities to the valley. Over 80 men
were employed in the construction of an additional 14 cottages during the second year of operation,
bringing the total units available to 20 (C.V. Submarine August 19, 1927).
3.2.4 Marketing
Though Morgan was opposed to advertising, he had a special talent for publicity and public relations.
Through his family's connections, he knew the right people in the business and social worlds. He made La
Quinta Hotel a social "must" by carefully inviting Hollywood celebrities. The hotel had a feature the movie
stars were looking for- privacy. Those who frequented the hotel included Marie Dressler, Greta Garbo,
Delores del Rio, Ginger Rogers, Bette Davis, William Powell, Joan Crawford, Joel McCrea, Marlene
Dietrich, Katherine Hepburn, Clark Gable, Richard Widmark, Robert Montgomery, Charles Boyer, Erroll
Flynn, Frank Capra, and Ronald Coleman. Business moguls such as the DuPonts, the Gianninis and the
Vanderbilts also vacationed at the hotel (La Quinta Hotel n.d.). Frank Capra ultimately came to live at the
hotel until his death.
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Local advertising took the form of newspaper articles in the C.V. Submarine and The Date Palm
newspapers, in 1927, about construction progress on the hotel and its grand opening. In addition, a
brochure titled, 'La Quinta', was published by the hotel shortly after its construction. This brochure was
reprinted by the La Quinta Historical Society in 1991. Several black and white photographs of the hotel
buildings, interiors, and area around the hotel are included in this brochure.
Word of mouth advertising by former guests of the hotel was common. In 1938, Cornelius Vanderbilt, Jr.
wrote, "If it's far from the maddening crowd you want to be, there's no better place to be than at the
exclusive La Quinta Hotel".
The La Quinta Hotel has been determined to be eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic
Places, but has not yet been nominated. The hotel is both locally significant and nationally significant and
should be designated as such. To be eligible for the National Register designation, the hotel would need to
be associated with an important historic context as described in Section 7.1 and having maintained historic
integrity of those features necessary to convey significance. The hotel complex has many features that
contribute to its significance.
3.3 LA OUINTA COUNTRY CLUB
When Leonard Ettleson and a group of investors purchased the La Quinta Hotel in 1958, he discovered
that it was not going to be a money-maker and that he would need to develop the surrounding property in
order to make a return on his investment. He and his partners planned and gained approval on the La Quinta
Country Club Estates subdivision, which created estate -sized lots surrounding a golf course. The club was
planned as a private golf club with members from around the country. Membership was and is by invitation
only. The Article of Incorporation for the La Quinta Country Club were filed with Riverside County Clerk on
March 12, 1959.
3.3.1 Architect and Architecture
The architect for the clubhouse was Jack White, from Sherman Oakes (Moore: Personal Communication).
No other information is known about Mr. White or the design process of the clubhouse.
The original club house was a large mobile home that had been used at another local country club on a
temporary basis. It became known as the "Shack".
The new clubhouse was built in 1966. It is described as the "jewel of the desert". The building is
Mediterranean architectural style with tall, carved doors featuring wrought iron handmade in Mexico, and
stucco wood frame multi pane glass windows. Interior ceilings are 20 feet with wooden beams.
The designers and builders of the golf course were Frank Hughes and brother, Lawrence Hughes, prominent
golf course professionals of the time.
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3.3.2 Owners
In 1958, Leonard Ettelson, John Elsbach, Col. Courtney Turner, Billy Friedman, and Roy Crummer
purchased property across the street, to the east, from the La Quinta Hotel. There they developed the La
Quinta Country Club on 130 acres, in 1959. The club was later sold to the Club members.
3.3.3 Construction
Custom home sites were created by the subdivision. The Homeowners Association for the La Quinta
Country Club reviews custom home designs prior to issuance of a building permit. As a result, the homes
built in the Golf Estates are custom designed and constructed homes with a variety of architectural
styles. There are still vacant lots within the subdivision. The building of homes in the Estates has been a
gradual, but continual process since the subdivision was created. The Estates were walled in with a
masonry block wall along Eisenhower Drive, in 1986. An entry gate was constructed at Coachella Drive
and Eisenhower Drive at the same time. The general building contractor for the wall and gate project was
Golf Estates resident, William R. Mouriquand.
3.3.4 Marketing
Marketing of the La Quinta Country Club was aggressive in the early years of its development. A Mrs.
Laurene Hollander would take advantage of guest days at other clubs to causally promote the La Quinta
Country Club. The first big promotion of the club was when President Eisenhower flew down to dedicate
the club on October 23, 1960. In November of 1963, the first taped for television golf tournament was
sponsored by CBS, and called the CBS Match Play Classic. This event did much for the marketing of the
club and resulted in a large increase in club membership. In 1967, the first Bob Hope Desert Classic was
hosted at the country club. The live television coverage of the Classic brought world fame to La Quinta.
The golf course is one of the courses played during the Bob Hope Classic golf tournament. The course is
said to have been a favorite of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and that Eisenhower's brother, Edgar,
maintained a home there for many years. A monument commemorating President Eisenhower's dedication
of the country club was erected on the golf course.
4. CONTEXT 3: VILLAGE AND COVE DEVELOPMENT
4.1 INTRODUCTION
The Cove residential subdivision was originally laid out in the 1930's as a part of a winter resort
community. The Village associated commercial development has never evolved as a "downtown".
Development has occurred in a random manner and many parcels are still vacant (The Village at La Quinta
Specific Plan 1988).
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4.1.1 Definition of Context Theme E0 All
This context theme encompasses the planning and development of the cove area of La Quinta. The cove
subdivision was part of a planned seasonal resort project that set the flavor and character of La Quinta.
4.1.2 Significance Criteria for Properties
Significance criteria for the cove residential areas is based upon architectural significance and that
contained in CEQA's Appendix K. The historic bungalows or casitas and commercial buildings in the cove
appear to have only local significance. In order for these homes and buildings to be eligible for the National
Register, they would have to meet the criteria found in Section 7.1 of this document.
4.2 COVE -1920 TO 1950
The first major residential development in La Quinta was the subdivision of the Cove. The project was
called "Vale La Quinta." The subdivision was laid out in the early 1930's. It was essentially a lot sales
program with the typical lot being a 50 x 100 feet, although fifty prototypical adobe bungalows were
constructed, most of which still remain today. The lots alone sold for $500. with $25.00 down. (Desert
Sun, Jan. 30, 1990). Developer of the project, E. S. "Harry" Kiener was advertising the new planned
community as one to rival Palm Springs. He sold "weekend homes" completely furnished, including the
linens, for $2,500. Kiener's nephew, Ron Barron tells that his uncle sold lots through a telemarketing sales
operation, whereby Kiener and a cousin would telephone people to promote the planned seasonal resort lot
sales (Barron, Personal Communication).
Harry Kiener was married to an actress, who continued to live in La Quinta long after Harry died in 1942.
Her name was not known to Mr. Barron (Barron: Personal Communication). He does recall that there was a
rock wall around his uncle's house consisting of very large rocks. The house was located at the entrance of
the golf course, and was Spanish style with tile floors. This is probably the house built on Rancho La
Quinta, by Harry Kiener, in the late 1920's, as indicated on a list of La Quinta Historic Landmarks and
Residences (prepared by Fred Rice, of the La Quinta Historical Society in 1991).
Streets were laid out in a gridiron pattern. They were graded, but not paved. Some of the streets were
oiled to keep the dust down. The oil applied to the dirt streets hardened into a pavement type of surface.
The cove development was patterned after the Peter Pan Woodland Club, a hunting and fishing lodge,
developed in the Big Bear, California, area in the 1920's. The developer was Harry Kiener. Mr. Guy Maltby
was hired by Mr. Kiener to assist him with the development of the club, while building some of the cabins
at the same time. Lots were sold and cabins built for summer residents. The clubhouse was constructed
about 1929, and consisted of a large lounge, lady's lounge, men's lounge, game room, dining room, bar, and
recreation room upstairs for dancing and movies designed by S. Charles Lee. It was planned that the
members of the Peter Pan Club would have reciprocal membership in the Desert Club during the winter
time. A member would summer in Big Bear and winter in La Quinta (Spence: n.d.).
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In 1934-35, Mr. Kiener purchased property in La Quinta and started to sell lots. He approached Guy
Maltby and asked him to go to La Quinta and start the La Quinta Building and Lumber Company. Mr. Kiener
thought this would be a good winter business and it would help keep the building crews together for Big
Bear City in the summer. At La Quinta, Mr. Maltby built an office and lumber yard within the village. He
sold more homes, financed under the Federal Home Administration (F.H.A.) program (Spence: n.d.). The
office and lumber yard was one of the two first commercial buildings in the Village and still stands today. It
was first owned by Harry Kiener, then by Frank Stone. The other building to be built in the Village was the
Administration building that now serves to house the La Quinta Historical Museum.
The Desert Club, long promised by the promoters of the development, was constructed , in 1940, by a Mr.
Glick and Frank Stone, as a part of the Cove subdivision, forming at first the sales office and later the
clubhouse for Cove residents. These men are said to have had "fraudulent practices' that "almost
jeopardized the new project' (Young, n.d.).
4.2.1 Subdivision History
According to the Minutes of the Riverside County Planning Commission, Subdivision Committee, and Water
Committee, the entire process of submitting and obtaining approvals on all of the units of the Santa
Carmelite de Vale subdivision spanned June 16, 1933 to January 25, 1937, three and one-half years. The
subdivision was designed in units, each unit having its own tentative map and final map. Each of these
maps were submitted, presented, and considered separately. There were a total of 18 units to the
subdivision. The applicant was the Palm Springs Land & Irrigation Company. Throughout the approval
process for the Santa Carmelita de Vale project, various units would be presented to the Commission by
Mr. Harry Kiener- developer, Mr. John M. Franklin - project promoter, Mr. W. G. Stowell - sales manager,
Mr. Hicks - project engineer, or the Security Title Insurance and Guarantee Company.
The usual procedure was for the applicant or developer to attend a Planning Commission meeting, held in
Riverside, and present the tentative map to the Commissioners. The Commissioners would discuss the map
and either approve it, deny it, or refer the map to the Subdivision andfor Water Committees, often with
power to act. It usually took from one to three meetings to obtain approval for a tentative map. A final
map would receive a recommendation of approval to the Board of Supervisors. There was no Planning
Department to review applications and no environmental review, such as there is today.
The Planning Commission had frequent concerns about the water supply and distribution system, utilities,
sanitary conditions, roadways, and stormwater drainage. There were several field inspections by an
appointed Commissioner or an appointed committee to visit the project site and ensure that various
improvements had been completed or to ascertain their status. The minutes seem to indicate that there
was difficulty in getting the developer to comply with all of the requirements of the County's Subdivision
Ordinance. At one point, during the January 31, 1934 Planning Commission meeting, a Mr. Leaving
appeared with the complaint that the developer had placed a road crossing his property north of the project
boundary. The Commission told Mr. Leaving that it was a private matter with the Palm Springs Land &
Irrigation Company, and took no action on this complaint.
Several of the unit maps were approved with conditions, such as the requirement to have domestic water
piped to the front of each lot, to construct stormwater drains and dikes, that roadways not less than 30
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feet wide on the west section line were to be designated, that redwood stakes were to replace the pine
wood lot stakes. Bonds placed on the unit maps ranged from $100 for property taxes, $1,000 to grade
streets, stake lots, pipe water, and other improvements, and $10,000 to build a storm water drainage
system.
In 1934, a Master Plan was required to be created that would show all the units in the subdivision, the
water well, a reservoir, and other features. Well No. 2 was required to be drilled in 1934. It was to be 505
feet deep with 12" double casings at 10 gauge, that would produce 100 miners inches or greater of water.
The construction of homes in the Cove occurred in a random, scattered manner, primarily because the
project was a lot sales program. People who bought property in hopes of a bonanza gradually sold out to
those who wanted to build homes and settle down in the quiet, isolated cove (Cooper n.d.).
A listing from the Riverside County Assessors Office including the year a house or structure was built
between the years 1935 and 1949 was obtained. This list indicates that there were 95 permits issued in
the Cove subdivision during that time period. This list is found in Appendix B. The first year, 1935, there
were four houses built. These are located at:
51-407 Avenida Velasco
51-802 Avenida Martinez
51-780 Avenida Villa
51-351 Avenida Navarro
Of these four houses, one was a two bedroomlone bath, one a three bedroom/one bath, one a three
bedroomltwo bath, and one a four bedroom/three bath. All were single story.
In 1936, there were 17 houses built at the following addresses:
51-991 Avenida Morales
51-782 Avenida Obregon
51-095 Avenida Vallejo
52-123 Avenida Diaz
52-307 Avenida Vallejo
52-091 Avenida Bermudas
52-337 Avenida Navarro
77-177 Avenida Montezuma
52-031 Avenida Villa
51-842 Avenida Diaz
51-884 Avenida Obregon
52-159 Avenida Juarez
52-100 Avenida Ramirez
52-217 Avenida Martinez
52-486 Avenida Mendoza
52-519 Avenida Mendoza
51.775 Avenida Madero
Of these houses. three were two bedroomlone bath, two houses were two bedroomltwo bath, three were
three bedroomlone bath, and nine were three bedroomltwo bath. All of these houses were single story
(Riverside County Building Permits). Each house had a small patio in front (Cooper n.d.).
The small Spanish style cottages or casitas, built in the subdivision, were designed to match the original La
Quinta Hotel. The paint, stucco, roof tiles and decorative ceramic tile were like the material used in Mexico
(Hirsch 1994:8). Joe Valenzuela Roofing Company, who made the tiles and bricks for the La Quinta Hotel,
1r
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20 J i1LJ�t: GJ
also made roof tiles for the casitas (Hirsch 1994:8; Valenzuela, Personal Communication). It took three days
to make the tiles and bricks.
There is no clear cut architectural style in the existing buildings in the Village. La Quinta, however, has very
definitely adopted a Mediterranean period characterized by several prominent styles including Mission
Revival, Spanish Revival, and Monterey. The Mission Revival style is defined by hand -troweled smooth
finished stucco walls, arches, arcades, courtyards, tile roofs, and recessed windows and doors with rough-
hewn wood. Spanish Revival reflects European origins including Moorish, Gothic, and Renaissance
influences. This style features smooth -finish stucco walls, verandas, balconies, tile roofs, decortive
wrought iron window grilles and railings, elaborate door and window mouldings, and carved pilasters at the
entry. This influence dates back to the architectural style of the La Quinta Hotel, with its tile roofs and
white adobe walls. Over the years different styles were used.
A few examples of other architectural styles can be found in the Cove, such as the original Desert Club
building which was remarkably ship -like in appearance, and the Rothchild House which is the International
architectural style. The Hunt Date Garden Adobe was Vernacular Adobe, and the Pederson house was
Vernacular Ranch House style.
There were a few homes built adjacent to the La Quinta Hotel that need to be mentioned. One is a house
built in the 1930's on Avenida Obregon, in back of the hotel, known as La Casa. Prior to Landmark Land
Company ownership of the house, other owners are not known (Rice 1991).
The Walter Kirshner Estate, located on Obregon, was built in the late 1940's. This house is now the La
Quinta Tennis Clubhouse. Mr. Kirshner was the owner of Grayson Stores. Next to the Kirshner Estate, is
the El Regalo Residence, said to be once owned by Walter Morgan. The house was built sometime from
the late 1930's to 1940's ( Rice: 1991).
On Avenida Fernando is the George E. Allen Residence. President Dwight D. Eisenhower often visited the
Aliens. An interior photograph os the living room is found in a newspaper article in the Daily News, dated February
10, 1960. The house was referred to as the "Desert White House". It is a one-story Meditaerranean style home
with clay tile roof, stucco exterior finish, and columns in front.
4.2.2 Infrastructure
Circulation
Although automobiles were widely used in the 1930's, the streets were designed to be picturesque rather
than functional. There are curving, narrow residential lanes such as Calle Barcelona, Calle Cadiz, and
Avenida Buena Ventura. In contrast, Calle Estado and Avenida La Fonda are wide and spacious roadways.
The configuration of the Park, a flattened hexagon, results in two confusing five -way intersections at
Eisenhower Drive and at Avenida Navarro. The main cove area south of the Village is regimental with its
gridiron street pattern. The north -south street names were prefaced with "Avenidas" and the east -west
streets "Galles".
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t, » ai t o
Water
Water service during the early years was provided by four water companies prior to inclusion with the
Coachella Valley Water District. The original water system was designed for a winter resort of part-time
residents and installed in the 1930's. The original well was shallow and the water mains were two-inch
steel pipes and smaller. In the Village area there is a mixture of water pipe sizes from two inch to eight
inches. The original pipes are of bare steel that were Navy surplus from World War I. Sixty-five percent of
the pipelines are under 6 inches in size. There was 41 miles of this pipe originally installed (Sniff: Personal
Communication). Most mains are 2 inch unlined cast iron pipes.
The La Quinta Cove was originally subdivided in the early 1930's by two development companies. Both
companies constructed water facilities to serve their areas at that time. The operation and maintenance of
those systems were performed by two mutual water companies, Santa Carmelite Mutual Water Company
(SCMWC) and Desert Club Mutual Water Company, Inc. (DCMWC). The SCMWC territory consisted of the
Cove subdivision. four water wells were drilled by 1936. They are relatively shallow, the deepest being
500 feet, with the others less than 380 feet deep. Well No. 1 is located near Calla Ensenada and Avenida
Alvarado. It is 215 feet deep. Well No. 2 is located near Calla Hidalgo and Avenida Velasco and is 510 feet
deep. Well No. 3 is near Calla Ensenada and Avenida Velasco.
Storage for the water system was provided by two stone and mortar reservoirs, each with a 170,000
gallon capacity. They are located in the foothills to the west and south of the Cove, at elevations of 200
and 400 feet above sea level. These reservoirs were constructed in the 1930's, and feature wood roofs,
with open air ventilation just below the roofs (Coachella Valley Water District).
Sewage disposal in the Cove was exclusively by individual septic tank and leach pit until about 1990 when
the City began installing sewer improvements.
Since the early 1960's, the water system has had periodic upgrades and repairs. The system could not
adequately provide for the existing and continual residential growth in the Cove.
The La Quinta Water Company was created to service the 1,000 acre holdings of the La Quinta Hotel. As
of June 1977, this water company had a total of 400 hookups consisting of mainly the hotel and some
surrounding residences. Leonard Ettleson, developer of the La Quinta Country Club, was the sole owner of
the water company since it was established in 1958.
In the early 1970's, DCMWC merged with SCMWC and intertied their systems. This merger was prompted
by serious deterioration of the DCMWC system. After continual deterioration and concerns about operation
and maintenance, the merged water company sold the system to the Southern California Water Company
(SCWC) in 1978.
Drainaue
The Village area was historically the location of a dry lake where water would collect following a major
storm. This lake was known as Marshall's Lake or Green/Marshall Lake. This dry lake is depicted on the
1944 topographic map of the area. The original developers in the early 1930's tried to raise the lakebed to
42 o6�
mitigate flood hazards so that they could receive approval on a tentative unit map within the dry lakebed.
They were not successful initially in obtaining approval from the County for a subdivision. However, after
grading the lakebed area and creating drainage culverts, the developer was able to persuade the County to
grant development approvals. In more recent years, the City, in conjunction with the Coachella Valley
Water District, has constructed draiange and flood control facilities at the south end of the Cove.
Electricity
Electricity was first brought to the Cove in 1932 (Desert Sun, Jan. 30, 1991).
4.2.3 Social Factors
The development of residential and resort clubs was popular during the 1930's with the wealthy socialites.
There are other examples of membership development projects found along the coastal communities of
Southern California. The La Quinta project was envisioned to be a colony of home sites and club life that
would rank as one of the finest in Southern California.
4.3 VILLAGE COMMERCIAL
The area now designated as the Village was originally envisioned as the commercial district to service the
residents of the subdivision. Commercial uses fronted on the Park, and along Avenida La Fonda and Calle
Estado. The first businesses were the real estate office for the development, a small market, and the
lumber yard. The pattern in the Village is an unusual one with angled street segments surrounding a six -
sided park. This unusual pattern breaks up the regularity of the gridiron pattern of the residential streets.
For years only one small market, owned by Rosa and Tom, furnished emergency supplies like milk, bread,
cold cuts, soft drinks, and beer (Cooper n.d.). It is thought that the market was located on Calle Estado,
where the El Ranchito Mexican Restaurant is now located.
The lots in the Village commercial area range in size from 2,500 square feet to 22 acres. Along Calle
Estado, planned as a commercial street, the typical lot is 50 x 100 feet. Avenida La Fonda, another
commercial street, is lined with narrow 25 x 100 foot lots. The lots along Avenida Montezuma,
surrounding the Park, are typically 50 x 100 feet.
The architectural style of the few commercial buildings that were constructed in the Village is of the
Mediterranean period. These buildings are architecturally compatible with the design of the residential
bungalows and the La Quinta Hotel. The original commercial buildings built in the village have potential for
local significance as the first commercial structures constructed as part of a planned development, and
for their period architectural styles.
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4.3.1 Development
The development of the village commercial district is interconnected with the planned development of the
cove as envisioned by the original developer, Harry Kiener. The seasonal club type of development was
popular in the 1930's, however, trying to develop a relatively large scale project in the desert with water
problems proved difficult for Kiener. So difficult that Kiener and those who came after him could not finish
the project. Economic hardship, lack of available water, illness, and death prevented the first planned
development in La Quinta from being fully realized.
The offices for the development company were located on the ground floor of the two-story structure
located on the south side of the park at 77-895 Avenida Montezuma. The building also had a residence
upstairs. A lumber yard was located at the rear of this building. The building is thought to have been
constructed in 1940 (La Quinta General Plan 1992:4-2).
The project real estate office was housed in the hexagonal building located to the west of the lumber yard,
at 77-855 Avenida Montezuma. This building now houses the La Quinta Historical Society Museum. It was
built in 1936 (La Quinta General Plan 1992:4-2).
4.3.2 Economic Factors
The 1930's planned resort -club development -of the cove is a story of failure, a dream that never was
brought to fruition. Failure caused by national economic factors brought on by World War II trickled down
to the local project level. After the war, La Quinta became a sleepy hollow type of community. There was
very little residential development and almost no commercial development until the early 1980's, when the
cove subdivision become one of the most popular areas to build affordable housing. This was primarily
because the lots were so inexpensive compared to other areas in the Coachella Valley. In the 1970's, a 50
x 100 foot lot could be purchased for about $4,000. Today those same lots might fetch $30,000.
4.4 DESERT CLUB
The Desert Club was constructed in 1937 on the northwest corner of Avenue 50 and Avenida Bermudas
(La Quinta General Plan 1992:4-2).. It was designed as a private club and used as a promotional incentive
to a lot sales project within a seasonal, reciprocal resort structure. Reciprocal clubs were a popular
development type in the 1930's.
The developers of the Cove subdivision began a vigorous campaign of selling property. Initially, each
person who bought a lot in the development was given membership in the Club for $10.00 a year (Cooper
n.d.).
4.4.1 Architect and Architecture
The Desert Club was designed by noted architect, S. Charles Lee. It was a striking example of California
modern architecture. The building is described as having been "low, gleaming white and tree encircled," .."a
ship of the desert" (La Quinta Historical Society 1995:17). The club featured a nautical flavor.
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4.4.2 Construction
Guy Maltby, under the name of the La Quinta Milling & Lumber Company, initiated and progressed the
construction of the first bungalows in the Cove subdivision. During the years of development, prior to the
start of World War II, six bungalows (called "casitas") were constructed, as well as the Desert Club (Hirsch
1994).
The work load was getting to be too much for Mr. Maltby, so in 1941 he sold the La Quinta Milling &
Lumber Company to Mr. Miles Reed Scott who worked for Mr. Maltby. In September of 1941, Mr. Maltby
paid a visit to check on Mr. Scott's progress and found him in trouble, business and health -wise. Mr.
Maltby stayed in La Quinta for a couple of weeks to help out and returned home to Big Bear, only to die
the next day, October 4, 1941, of a heart attack. The La Quinta project was closed and the property sold,
during the settling of the estate (Spence n.d.).
The months just preceding World War II brought an abrupt end to the development of the tract. The sudden
scarcity of building materials drove the cost of building the casitas continually higher to a point where
delays and cost overruns panicked home buyers. Contracts to build homes were broken and lot sales
plummeted.
During the excavation for the Desert Club swimming pool, the tops of an orchard were exposed. The
orchard had been covered over by silt deposited by severe flooding activity during earlier years. This
discovery proved an added expense in the struggle to complete the Desert Club (Hirsch 1994:10-11).
4.4.3 Owners
Harry Kiener was the first owner of the Desert Club, having built the club using the same principle as the
Peter Pan Woodland Club in Big Bear City. Guy Maltby's daughter, Gretchen Maltby Spence, described the
Desert Club as "a breathtaking place, with its pool -bar -dining room and green lawns." The club attracted
many people to the area.
Frank Stone owned the club at one time shortly after its construction (Rice 1991). Mr. Stone and his
salesmen fraudulently told prospective lot buyers that the lots had to be sold or they would loose their
water rights. They were indicted, convicted and placed on probation for their deceitful actions. Frank
Stone later committed suicide in his Los Angeles office (Rice n.d.).
In 1972, the Desert Club was purchased by Fritz Burns, a builder -developer -financier and owner of the
Erawan Gardens Hotel in Indian Wells at that time. Mr. Burns planned to build model homes west of the
Desert Club. Mr. Burns was a long time friend and associate of Henry J. Kaiser of the steel, aluminum and
automobile industry.
Tom and Uta Thornburgh became the new owners of the Desert Club in July of 1978, however, lost
control of the club, but regained it in March of 1982 through a Court Order. Throughout the history of the
Desert Club, many management's attempted to keep the club open, but all failed. The site was deeded over
to the City of La Quinta to be used as a City park bearing Fritz Burns name. by that time, the Club was in
disrepair. The buildings were destroyed during a controlled training fire for the Riverside County Fire
45
065
Department. The structures were loaded with asbestos and deemed not feasible for rehabilitation. A video
tape of the fire can be viewed at the La Quinta Historical Museum. Photographs of the Club prior to its'
demolition are contained in the Community Development Department.
4.4.4 Marketing
By February of 1947 the Desert Club was being promoted nationally in Fortune Magazine. The earliest
conceptual plan for the club and grounds was described in a marketing brochure published by the Palm
Springs -La Quinta Development Company, and which read...
"And now... the ultimate in Clubdom THE DESERT CLUB to be erected at La Quints, California, providing
a wealth of pastimes and desert sports. Superbly appointed in a housing ultra -modern, privately secluded
in a mountain -sheltered cove, an empire of natural beauty, yet but a few minutes from business
centers. Dedicated to luxurious recreation and rest, devoted to the exclusive use of its members. Great
tidings for every member of THE PETER PAN WOODLAND CLUB! For arrangements have been
concluded making all privileges of THE DESERT CLUB available to Peter Pan members! The
recreational facilities of THE DESERT CLUB are scheduled to include a swimming pool, tennis and
badminton courts, archery range, riding stables and ring, modern equipment for sunbathing, grand
lounge, dining room, coffee shop, billiard and card rooms, landscaped patios and terraces... all
maintained at the same high standards that distinguish PETER PAN WOODLAND CLUB. All of these
facilities are to be enjoyed under the Pioneer Memberships which can be acquired only by active
members of PETER PAN WOODLAND CLUB. Here are the ultimate in reciprocal Club privileges the
year round. Peter Pan throughout the summer..THE DESERT CLUB throughout the winter; each club
complete and distinctive within itself ... each the perfect compliment to the other" (La Quinta Historical
Society 1995:23).
5. RESULTS
The results of the research conducted for the Context Statement themes included the discovery of
previously unknown facts and accounts of settlement in La Quinta, the development of significance criteria
for each type of resource identified in the City, and where further research is needed. Information
contained in this document was found in 'bits and pieces' from a great many sources. This document will
serve as a guide for the preparation and undertaking of the first comprehensive survey of historic resources
in La Quinta.
6. RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS
This Context Statement provides specific themes for which historic sites and resources can be categorized
as they are identified and documented. Inventories of historic structures and archaeological sites will be
useful for development and planning purposes in addition to providing a descriptive listing. La Quinta has
developed from prehistoric Indian villages to homesteading farms, to a resort residential community over
that past several hundred years. This history of La Quinta is the legacy of the present.
46
066
3
The future always means growth and change and it is inevitable that much of the old will give way to the
new. Careful planning, however, also insures that significant pieces of the past are also preserved for the
enhancement of the future. This Context Statement, followed by surveys and inventories can be used to
provide a permanent record of those historic structures which will inevitably disappear with the passage of
time.
Modern communities have found that promotion and interpretation of the past is not only of interest to
residents but it is good business. Information contained in this document may also be used to develop
walking tours or brochures on the area's history.
Finally, the limitations of this study must be emphasized. This is not a comprehensive study of the histories
of individual buildings or a definitive title search. It is inevitable that additional information will be found on
many properties and that new properties may be found that will contribute to the history of La Quinta.
this document should serve as the initial step in an ongoing study of La Quinta's historic buildings and the
people who used them. It could also serve as the basis for individual or district listings in the National
Register of Historic Places or the California Register of Historic Resources.
7. REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS
7.1 NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
Currently, there are no properties in La Quinta that are listed on the National Register. The La Quinta Hotel,
however, has been determined eligible for listing.
For a property to qualify for the National Register it must meet one of the National Register Criteria for
Evaluation by:
Being associated with an important historic context and
Retaining historic integrity of those features necessary to convey
significance (National Register Bulletin 15).
7.1.1 Criteria for Evaluation
The Criteria for Evaluation as found in the Code offederaiReguiations, Title 36, Part 60 are as follows:
The quality of significance in American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering and culture is
present in districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects that possess integrity of location, design,
setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association, and:
That are associated with events that have made a significant contribution
to the patterns of our history; or
47
061
N*4
That are associated with the lives of persons significant in our past; or
That embody the distinctive characteristics of type, period, or method of
construction, or that represent the work of master, or that possess high
artistic values or that represent a significant and distinguishable entity
whose components may lack individual; or
That have yielded or may be likely to yield, information important in
prehistory or history.
7.2 REQUIREMENTS FOR LOCAL LISTING
Title Seven of the La Quinta City Municipal Code implements the General Plan historic resources policies to
designate, preserve, protect, enhance and perpetuate those historic structures, districts, and sites which
contribute to the cultural benefit of the City of La Quinta. To this end, a listing (Attachment ) of
significant historic resources was established and adopted by the City County which includes historic
structures, objects, and sites which contribute to the historic, cultural and architectural heritage of the
City of La Quinta.
7.2.1 Criteria for Designation
Criteria for designation of a historic resource and listing on the City inventory are as follows:
Structures, objects, sites, and districts shall be designated as historic resources if, and only if, they meet
one or more of the following criteria and have retained their architectural integrity and historic value:
* The resource is associated with a person of local, state or national
historical significance.
* The resource is associated with an historic event or thematic activity of
local, state or national importance.
* The resource is representative of a distinct architectural style and/or
construction method of a particular historic period or way of life, or the
resource represents the work of a master builder or architect or possess
high artistic value.
* The resource has yielded, or may likely yield information important to
history or prehistory.
48
068
x
8.0 REFERENCES CITED
Anonymous
1951 Palm Springs Yearbook 1951.
Barrows, David P.
1900 The Ethno-botany of the Coahuilla Indians of Southern California.
Chicago: University of Chicago Press. (reprinted: Malki Museum Press,
Banning, California., 1971.)
Bean, Lowell John
1972 Mukat's People: The Cahuilla Indians of Southern California.
Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press.
Bean, Lowell John
1978 Cahuilla. In Handbook of North American Indians. Robert F. Heizer,
Volume Editor, Vol. 8 California. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution.
Bean, Lowell John and Lisa Bourgeault
1989 Indians of North America: The Cahuilla.
Chelsea House Publishers, New York.
Bean, Lowell and Harry Lawton
1965 The Cahuilla Indians of Southern California.
Malki Museum Brochure No. 1. Malki Museum Press, Banning, California.
(fourth revised printing April, 1987)
Bean, Lowell John, Sylvia Brakke Vane, and Jackson Young
1991 The Cahuilla Landscape: The Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains.
Ballena Press Anthropological Papers No. 37, Ballena Press, Menlo Park,
California.
Britton, Jeff "La Quinta's Glitzy Glow Endures'.
1996 The Desert Sun, May 3. B-1.
Bowers, Stephen
1888 A Remarkable Valley and an Interesting Tribe of Indians.
San Buena Ventura, California.
City of La Quinta
1988 The Village at La Quinta Specific Plan.
On file at the City.
City of La Quinta
1992 City of Le Quinta General Plan - Master Environmental Assessment.
As 069
On file at the City.
City of La Quinta
1992 City of La Quinta General Plan
On file at the City.
Coachella Valley Submarine
1927 "La Quinta Building Fourteen Cottages."
August 19.
Coachella Valley Water District
n.d. Santa Carmelita Water District file maps and documents.
Copies on file at the Community Development Department, City of La
Quinta.
Cooper, Madge E.
n.d. La Quinta -- The Gem of the Desert. In Heritage Tales of the Coachella Valley.
Pg. 40-41.
Daily News
1960 'Ike Found La Quinta Ideal Spot for Rest."
February 10.
Daily News "Question: What does "La Quinta" mean and where did the name come from?'
1968
Eargle, Dolan H., Jr.
1986 The Earth Is Our Mother: A Guide to the Indians of California, Their
Locales and Historic Sites. San Francisco: Trees Company Press.
Forbes, Jack
1982 Native Americans of California and Nevada.
Happy Camp, California: Naturegraph Publishers, Inc.
Gifford, E. W.
1971 Miwok Lineages and the Political Unit in Aboriginal California.
In The California Indians: A Source Book. Complied and Edited by R.F.
Heizer and M.A. Whipple. (Second edition revised and enlarged). Berkeley and Los Angeles:
University of California Press. Pp. 375-384.
Gunther, J. D.
1984 Riverside County, California, Place Names: Their Origin and Their Stories.
Heizer, R. F. and A. E. Treganza
1971 Mines and Quarries of the Indians of California.
50
Y
I
Ls 'Li F..c1 L
In The California Indians: A Source Book. Complied and Edited by R. F.
Heizer and M.A. Whipple. (second edition revised and enlarged) Berkeley
and Los Angeles: University of California Press.
Herz, Peggy
1984 La Quinte Country Club: Silver Anniversary, 1959-1984.
La Quinta Country Club.
Hooper, Lucille
1920 The Cahuilla Indians.
University of California Publications in American Archaeology and
Ethnology 16 (6):316-380. Berkeley.
International Festival of Dates Association
1921 Date Culture in Coachella Valley.
First Official Bulletin. Indio, California. October 21-23
Jeffrey, Cheryl
1993 From Kish to Condominium. In American Desert.
February, 1993. Pp. 20-23.
Johnston, Francis J.
1972 Stagecoach Travel Through San Gorgonio Pass. In
Journal of the West. Vol. A No. 4, October
Kaldenberg, Russell L. and Richard Milanovich
1991 Foreword. In The Cahuilla Landscape: The Santa Rosa and San Jacinto
Mountains. Ballena Press Anthropological Papers No. 37, by Lowell John
Bean, Sylvia Brakke Vane, and Jackson Young. Menlo Park, California:
Ballene Press.
Kroeber, Alfred L.
1922 Elements of Culture in Native California in Native California.
University of California Publications in American Archaeology and
Ethnology 13(8): 259.328. Berkeley.
La Quinta Historical Society
1996 Hacienda Del Gato: Lore and Legend.
La Quinta Historical Society
1995 Remembering the Desert Club.
La Quinta Historical Society
1990 The History of ... La Quinta. "The Gem of the Desert".
La Quinta Historical Society
n.d. La Quinta.
Los Angeles: Young and McCallister, Inc. Press (reprint)
51
071 J� . I 1
N
� I I
La Quinta Historical Society
1943 Presenting La Quinta.
Palm Springs Land and Irrigation Company. (reprint 1991)
Modesto, Ruby and Guy Mount
1980 Not For Innocent Ears: Spiritual Traditions of a Desert Cahuilla Medicine
Woman. Arcata, California: Sweetlight Books.
Moore, Bob Manager, La Quinta Country Club.
Personal Communication. June 17, 1996.
Mouriquand, Leslie
1996 Archaeological Report for the Adams Street Extension Project. (in progress).
Mouriquand-Blodgett, Leslie
1991 Planning for Community Archaeoloov: Its Applications to the Eastern Coachella Valley.
Unpublished Master's Thesis. On file at the Community Development Department,
City of LA Quinta.
Muhn, James and Hanson R. Stuart
1988 Opportunity and Challenge: The Story of the BLM.
U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management,
Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office
Nordland, Ole J.
1978 Coachella Valley's Golden Years.
Coachella, California: Coachella Valley Water District.
O'Reilly, Betty and Virginia L. Bailey, Ph.D.
1988 The Bradshaw Trail: Stage Road to the Colorado Goldfields.
Published by the La Quinta Historical Society.
Rawls, James J
1984 Indians of California: The Changing Image.
Norman, Oklahoma: University of Oklahoma.
Rice, Fred
n.d. Historical Mao of La Quinta Historic Sites.
La Quinta Historical Society.
Rimmington, Pat.
1992 Homesteading In The High Desert. In American Desert.
December. Pp. 28-30.
Riverside County Historic Resources Survey
Architectural Survey Forms for Sites No: 16-31.18-18
51-333 Ramirez
16.31-17-17 Montezuma & Ramirez
16.10.08-08 54-024 Ave. Bermudas
, 62
Non -architectural Survey Form
Robinson, W. W.
1948 Land In California.
Los Angeles: University of California Press.
Rogers, Malcolm. J.
16.31.19.19
52-123 Ave. Diaz
16-24-30.30
Xochimilco Ranch
16-21.28.28
Pederson Ranch
16.10-06-06
Hunts Date Garden
16.24-21.24 Pederson Ranch Lake
1939 Early Lithic Industries of the Lower Basin of the Colorado River and
Adjacent Desert Areas. San Diego Museum Papers 3.
Rogers, Malcolm J.
1958 San Dieguito Implements from the Terraces of the Rincon-Pantano and
Rillito Drainage System. Kiva 24:1.23.
Shields Date Gardens
1957 Coachella Valley Desert Trails: The Salton Sea Saga and The Romance
and Sex Life of the Date. Indio, California: Shields Date Gardens.
Sniff, Stanley Councilman, City of La Quinta.
1996 Personal Communication (March 12, 1996) .
Notes on file in the Community Development Department,
City of La Quinta.
Spence, Gretchen Maltby
n.d. Guy Sherman Maltby.
(unpublished biographical manuscript(
de Stanley, Mildred
1966 The Salton Sea: Yesterday and Today.
Los Angeles, California: Triumph Press, Inc.
Strong, William Duncan
1929 Aboriginal Society in Southern California.
(Reprinted 1987 by Melki Museum Press, Morongo Indian Reservation,
Banning, California.)
Sutton, Mark Q. and Philip Wilke
1988 Archaeolooical Investigations at CA-RIV-1179, CA-RIV-2823, and CA-RIV-
2827. La Quinta. Riverside County, California. Salinas: Coyote Press
Archives of Prehistory 20.
The Date Palm
1927 "La Quinta Opening Saturday, Jan. 29".
January 28.
53
073
USDA Soil Conservation Service
1974 Soil Survey of Riverside County, California, Coachella Valley Area.
(in cooperation with University of California Agricultural Experiment
Station)
Walker, Edwin F.
n.d. Indians of Southern California.
Southwest Museum Leaflets No. 10.
Highland Park , California: Southwest Museum.
Wallace, William J.
1962 Prehistoric Cultural Development in the Southern California Deserts.
American Antiquity 28(2): 172.180.
Wallace, William J.
1978 Post -Pleistocene Archeology, 9000 to 2000 B.C.
In Handbook of North American Indians. Vol. 8 California.
Robert F. Heizer, Volume Editor. Washington, DC: Smithsonian
Institution. Pp. 25-36.
Warren, Claude N.
1967 The San Dieguito Complex: A Review and Hypothesis.
American Antiquity 32(2): 168.185.
Warren, Claude N.
1984 The Desert Region. In California Archaeology, by Michael J. Moratto, pp.
339-430. New York: Academic Press.
Warren, Claude N. and R. H. Crabtree
1986 Prehistory of the Southwestern Area. In Handbook of North American
Indians, W. C. Sturtevant, ad., Volume 11: Great Basin, W. L. d' Azevedo,
ad., pp. 183-193. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution.
Weitze, Karen J.
1984 California's Mission Revival.
Los Angeles: Hennessey & Ingalls, Inc.
Wolff, Fred
1985 "History of La Duinta."
Palm Springs Life.
January.
54
074
Historic Preservation B-1
V-B Historic Preservation
Historic preservation refers to a wide range of activities with the common
purpose of conserving the valuable resources of the human environment.
Old homes, shops, schools, theaters, banks and churches are valuable in
numerous respects. Through adaptive reuse —modernizing building interiors
and restoring facades —an older commercial area can recapture local retail
trade, attract tourist trade and provide office space for the service sectors of the
local economy.
Rehabilitation of older housing stock maintains a pool of affordable housing in
the community. Buildings also reflect the evolution of our values, lifestyles and
technology, showing us where we have been and helping us to make decisions
about the future.
Landmarks establish the identity of a place or a community. Respect for the
work of past generations encourages current investment in the community,
because it suggests today's work will be appreciated and long-lasting.
As the benefits of conserving a community's architectural resources have
become apparent, interest in historic preservation has grown. Preservation
activities are elements in the economic development and downtown redevelop-
ment programs of some communities (for example, the city of Fullerton), and
neighborhood conservation efforts of others (for example, the city of
Claremont).
California law allows a board of supervisors to acquire property for the preser-
vation or development of a historical landmark, or to regulate historic features
by ordinance. A preservation ordinance may "provide special conditions or
regulations for the protection, enhancement, perpetuation or use of places,
sites, buildings, structures, works of art and other objects having a special
character or special historical or aesthetic interest or value:' Government Code
§ 25373(b).
Historic preservation ordinances may not apply to certain noncommercial
properties owned by religiously -affiliated organizations where the organization
objects and determines it will suffer substantial hardship, likely to deprive the
organization of economic return, use of the property or interference with its
religious mission. Government Code § 25373(d).
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements may apply when
local governments retain discretionary review over projects subject to historic
preservation ordinance. Prentiss v City of South Pasadena, 15 Cal. App. 4th
85 (1993).
Successful historic preservation efforts are tailored to the individual needs of
the community. Some key elements of a successful program include:
• Familiarity with local resources such as numbers, types and locations of
buildings and other resources
• Awareness of the program within the building community
• Community support for preservation
• Guidelines, incentives and regulations to protect the resources.
n 7 5
THE PLANNING COMMISSIONER'S HANDBOOK League of California Cities
Historic Preservation B-3
Government Code § 653030). If an element is prepared, it must "include a
program which develops actions to be taken in accomplishing the policies set
forth in this element:' Adopting a preservation element establishes legal
authority for the community to pursue preservation goals and, because of the
general plan consistency requirement, grants preservation goals status equal
to that of other public policies.
The state Office of Planning and Research (OPR) has prepared a report,
Historic Preservation Element Guidelines, to assist communities in prepar-
ing the element. The report also discusses historic surveys, preservation
ordinances and public awareness programs. OPR's telephone number is
916/322-2318.
Historic District Designations. A local government may designate a specific
geographic area as a historic district or neighborhood conservation area
through the adoption of a preservation ordinance, a specific plan or an amend-
ment to the zoning ordinance.
In establishing a district, special development standards or a special design
review process can be applied to developments proposed for the area. The city
of Grass Valley, for example, has published a design manual for its downtown
historic area.
The concept behind a district, as opposed to a single landmark, is the combina-
tion of several buildings and associated structures such as lamp posts and
signs create a more complete sense of the past than does each building
preserved individually. Perhaps no single building in the district or neighbor-
hood is an outstanding landmark, but collectively, the buildings provide a
glimpse and feeling of the community's past.
Historical Property Contracts. Upon the application of the owner, the govern-
ing body of a community may enter into a contract restricting the use of a
qualified historical properly and initiating preferential tax treatment under state
law. See Revenue & Taxation Code § 439 and following; Government Code §
50280.
The contract must be enforceable for a minimum of ten years and binding on
successive owners. The city or county may charge a reasonable fee to adminis-
ter the program.
Other Mechanisms. Revolving loan funds can be set up to provide busi-
nesses or homeowners with rehabilitation money. A portion of the monies can
be given as outright grants, or repayment can be postponed until some future
date or event (for example, sale of the building).
The city of Fullerton has such a loan program assisting downtown redevelop-
ment. See Gray, A Guide To Historic Preservation for the California Practitioner,
Santa Clara Law Review, Vol. 21, p. 613 (1981). The city of Pasadena has used
the terms of a development agreement to ensure future developments incorpo-
rating historic buildings will preserve the structures and their integrity.
Local jurisdictions can further promote preservation by giving awards to
property owners responsible for outstanding rehabilitation work, by encourag-
ing media coverage of preservation projects, and by developing special ban-
ners or signs to be displayed by businesses which participate in historic
projects. Positive publicity can benefit both the preservation programs and the
participating businesses. n 7 C
THE PLANNING COMMISSIONER'S HANDBOOK League of California Cities
Historic Preservation B-5
also authorized establishment of the National Register of Historic Places,
and the federal grant fund which are the sources on monies for the grant
programs administered by the state Office of Historic Preservation.
• Office of Historic Preservation, State Dept. of Parks & Recreation, P.O.
Box 942896, Sacramento, CA 94296-0001, 916/653-6624).
077
THE PLANNING COMMISSIONER'S HANDBOOK League of California Cities
78-495 CALLE TAMPICO — LA OUINTA, CALIFORNIA 92253 - (619) 777-7000
1996 FAX (619) 777-7101
Ms. Leslie Heumann
Leslie Heumann & Associates
600 N. Sierra Bonita Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90036
SUBJECT: STATUS OF CONSULTANT SELECTION FOR HISTORIC SURVEY PROJECT
Dear Ms. Heumann:
The Historic Preservation Commission has been engaged in discussions about the selection of a consultant
for the City's Historic Survey Project. At their meeting of July 18, 1996, the Commission decided to
continue the selection process until after the CLG Grant awards were announced. On August 19, 1996,
we received official notification that the City of La Quinta's Grant proposal was selected to be funded.
Based on this information, the Commission, at their meeting of August 22, 1996, made their selection and
will be recommending to the City Council that the firm of Knox Mellon and Associates be accepted as the
consultants for the project. This recommendation will go to the City Council for a determination at their
meeting of September 17, 1996.
This selection process has been long and difficult as each firm considered was obviously qualified. Thank
you again for your participation. Should you have any questions concerning the above information, please
contact the undersigned.
Very truly yours,
JERRY HERMAN
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
S� LL URIOUAND
Associate Planner
LJM:bjs
c: Tom Genovese, City Manager
Jerry Herman, Community Development Director
Christine di Iorio, Planning Manager
Historic Preservation Commission
Consultant Selection Committee
MAILING ADDRESS - P.O. BOX 1504 - LA 4UINTA, CALIFORNIA 92253
n7
78-495 CALLE TAMPICO — LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA 92253 - (619) 777-7000
1996 FAX (619) 777-7101
Mr. Richard L. Carrico
Brian F. Mooney Associates
9903 Businesspark Avenue
San Diego, CA 92131-1120
SUBJECT: STATUS OF CONSULTANT SELECTION FOR HISTORIC SURVEY PROJECT
Dear Mr. Carrico:
The Historic Preservation Commission has been engaged in discussions about the selection of a consultant
for the City's Historic Survey Project. At their meeting of July 18, 1996, the Commission decided to
continue the selection process until after the CLG Grant awards were announced. On August 19, 1996,
we received official notification that the City of La Quinta's Grant proposal was selected to be funded.
Based on this information, the Commission, at their meeting of August 22, 1996, made their selection and
will be recommending to the City Council that the firm of Knox Mellon and Associates be accepted as the
consultants for the project. This recommendation will go to the City Council for a determination at their
meeting of September 17, 1996.
This selection process has been long and difficult as each firm considered was obviously qualified. Thank
you again for your participation. Should you have any questions concerning the above information, please
contact the undersigned.
Very truly yours,
JERRY HERMAN
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
LESLIE J. MOURIQUAND
Associate Planner
LJM:bjs
c: Tom Genovese, City Manager
Jerry Herman, Community Development Director
Christine di Iorio, Planning Manager
Historic Preservation Commission
Consultant Selection Committee 079
Tf 1
MAILING ADDRESS - P.O. BOX 1504 - LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA 92253 �(�
c6t�t144Q"
78-495 CALLE TAMPICO — LA OUINTA, CALIFORNIA 92253 - (619) 777-7000
1996 FAX (619) 777-7101
Mr. Knox Mellon
Mellon & Associates
906 Ninth Street, #2
Santa Monica, CA 90403
SUBJECT: STATUS OF CONSULTANT SELECTION FOR HISTORIC SURVEY PROJECT
Dear Mr. Mellon:
The Historic Preservation Commission has been engaged in discussions about the selection of a consultant
for the City's Historic Survey Project. At their meeting of July 18, 1996, the Commission decided to
continue the selection process until after the CLG Grant awards were announced. On August 19, 1996,
we received official notification that the City of La Quinta's Grant proposal was selected to be funded.
Based on this information, the Commission, at their meeting of August 22, 1996, made their selection and
will be recommending to the City Council that the firm of Knox Mellon and Associates be accepted as the
consultants for the project. This recommendation will go to the City Council for a determination at their
meeting of September 17, 1996.
This selection process has been long and difficult as each firm considered was obviously qualified. Thank
you again for your participation. Should you have any questions concerning the above information, please
contact the undersigned.
Very truly yours,
JERRY HERMAN
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
G��l���ch.�'�a�-rat
L LIE J. MOURIQUAND
Associate Planner
LJM:bjs
c: Tom Genovese, City Manager
Jerry Herman, Community Development Director
Christine di Iorio, Planning Manager
Historic Preservation Commission
Consultant Selection Committee
a
MAILING ADDRESS - P.O. BOX 1504 - LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA 92253 `�(�
W.' C'
� it
11
78-495 CALLE TAMPICO — LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA 92253 - (619) 777-7000
1996 FAX (619) 777-7101
Mr. Bruce Love
CRM Tech
126 Barret Road
Riverside, CA 92507
SUBJECT: STATUS OF CONSULTANT SELECTION FOR HISTORIC SURVEY PROJECT
Dear Mr. Love:
The Historic Preservation Commission has been engaged in discussions about the selection of a consultant
for the City's Historic Survey Project. At their meeting of July 18, 1996, the Commission decided to
continue the selection process until after the CLG Grant awards were announced. On August 19, 1996,
we received official notification that the City of La Quinta's Grant proposal was selected to be funded.
Based on this information, the Commission, at their meeting of August 22, 1996, made their selection and
will be recommending to the City Council that the firm of Knox Mellon and Associates be accepted as the
consultants for the project. This recommendation will go to the City Council for a determination at their
meeting of September 17, 1996.
This selection process has been long and difficult as each firm considered was obviously qualified. Thank
you again for your participation. Should you have any questions concerning the above information, please
contact the undersigned.
Very truly yours,
JERRY HERMAN
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
L SLIE J. MOURIQUAND
Associate Planner
LJM:bjs
c: Tom Genovese, City Manager
Jerry Herman, Community Development Director
Christine di lorio, Planning Manager
Historic Preservation Commission g 1
Consultant Selection Committee
MAILING ADDRESS . P.O. BOX 1504 . LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA 92253 r,
NaboralTlut for Historic Preservation Fax Z 2tJ ZU Volcel]Oliptli"LOG iv mounvuuia �nmryuvm �.ye a ....a i.w.y, ..,,. .,., .. ..-- ..
Economic Hardship 'Training
for
FMffIL
Historic Preservation Commissions
What: One -day training workshop on economic hardship, designed for historic
preservation con missions
When: Saturday, October 19, 1996
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
'Where: National Trust's 50th National Preservation Conference
Chicago, Illinois
The workshop, cosponsored by the Preservation League of New York State and the National Alliance
of Preservation Commissions, will provide an in-depth examination of economic hardship --
understanding the legal and financial aspects of the issue. Kathie Ridley, general counsel for the
Preservation League and NAPC board member, and Don Rtpkema, a national expert on real estate
and author of the Econonves orHistoric Preservation, will teach the course. A $25 fee includes an
extensive course notebook. Space is limited to 40.
To register, please return the registration form below by mail or fax, and send a check, payable to
National Trust for Historic Preservation, in the amount of S25 to:
Nacre:
Bridget Hartman
Department of Law and Public Policy
National Trust for Historic Preservation
1785 Massachusetts Avenue, N'.W.
Washin¢ton, D.C. 20036
Telephone: (202) 588-6255:Pax: (202) 588-6038
E=nail: lawpol(&nthp. org
State: Zip',
,-4. C. 8 2