Registered Member #2090 Joined: Sat Mar 06 2010, 09:23AM : Posts: 30
I have been collecting Fawnskin History for over six years. Part of my research has focused on the older cabins in Fawnskin. Most of the older cabins were owned by wealthy and famous people. One of these people took on Mr. Hearst and actully won a lawsuit against him. He also helped write the charter for the city of Los Angeles. Does anyone have any information about some of the older cabins in Fawnskin. I would love to know the history. Eileen
Registered Member #2090 Joined: Sat Mar 06 2010, 09:23AM : Posts: 30
I think that I have read almost everything I could find that Tom Core wrote about Fawnskin. Both in current print and past print. It was his facts and questions that started this process six years ago. Since, I love research (dry and boring to most) I used this to help discover and help fill in the blanks on some of the history of Fawnskin. One of those blanks, who were Clinton Miller's wealthy friends that purchased lots in Fawnskin and later built homes? Once I had found some of the heirs of these owners, ( one came to Fawnskin and visited with the current owner, I took his picture sitting at the same table that he sat at as a child) the picture of early Fawnskin started to emerge . The developers heirs sent me some wonderful pictures of Early Fawnskin and helped to verify and challenge some of what has been written. Another event that Tom spoke of was the Theater of the Stars. His comments about the event at the Theater encourged me to further research this event which lead to me finding about 5-6 programs from the Theater of the Stars, inlcuding two from the first season. This lead me to wanting to hear the music, so then I found the musical score for the first play at Theater of the Stars. Which then lead me to find the program for the pageant "Nevertheless Old Glory" along with correspondance about the paegeant including the bills. Then I found the Moonridge Messenger vol. #1 which gives the location of the bowl. But enough about my boring process, I am hoping to connect to others who also want to share and like me learn about the missing parts of the Fawnskin Puzzle. Every town has a unique story I would love to hear more about Fawnskin's. I wish that I could attend the Historical meetings in Big Bear, but I teach during the school year and can not, much to my dismay make the meetings. If anyone has an interest I could post some photos. Eileen
Registered Member #659 Joined: Sat Sep 15 2007, 01:32PM : Posts: 8634
Fawnskin is a history of it's own in the valley. It has beenmostly a picture of the early valley and wants to keep it that way. The camps along the shore and many cabins dating back to the early 1900's are it's history. a cross roads and fueling point on the rim of the world highway it was the last stop for many miles heading towards green valley. Always a favorite place to camp and enjoy the lake. It has never seen the growth of the South Shore and never seemed to want to. I think most of those who live there want to keep it just as it is. It is strange that as far as history there is little written about it as compared to almost everywhere else in the valley. Good luck and please post whatever you can Don't argue with an idiot; people watching may not be able to tell the difference.
Someone who thinks logically provides a nice contrast to the real world.
"I solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same"
WE LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE, ONLY BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE!
Registered Member #2090 Joined: Sat Mar 06 2010, 09:23AM : Posts: 30
I found this photo of what was planned for Fawnskin in the late 1920's. Thankfully it was never built. Hope you enjoy, if there is an interest I will post more.
Registered Member #659 Joined: Sat Sep 15 2007, 01:32PM : Posts: 8634
was that supposed to be a lodge?
I have a similar one that was a letterhead for a lodge (I think Pine knot Lodge) that was nowhere near the real thing. It looked more like Northwoods in the picture then what it really was. Probably to sucker in investors Don't argue with an idiot; people watching may not be able to tell the difference.
Someone who thinks logically provides a nice contrast to the real world.
"I solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same"
WE LIVE IN THE LAND OF THE FREE, ONLY BECAUSE OF THE BRAVE!
Registered Member #2090 Joined: Sat Mar 06 2010, 09:23AM : Posts: 30
This picture appeared in the Fawnskin Folks newspaper (local paper in the 1920's). Mr. Martin was the head of the committee that approved the designs for the cabins in Fawnskin. Fawnskin had strict rules that required each cabin have an artistic appeal. It was not supposed to be the lodge, during the time this picture was printed and written about in the newspaper, another article spoke of the soon to be built "Guio Block" or Fawn Lodge as it has come to be known. It was the first building in town to have two stories. The market had two stories however both floors were not open to the public. Eileen
I worked fo the YMCA at camp whittle for many many years there is a lot of History in the meadow at the camp AKA "Fawnskin meadow" the town was named Fawnskin because of some deer that had been killed in the meadow then the skins where hung to dry on a fence in what would become the town of Fawnskin. One of the frist roads to the valley runs rite in to the camp and till the fire came thru the back of the camp there was a tree I called the freeway tree where it had been cut on the side to mark the road like a mile marker we would see today on a freeway. near this tree was an old spring now dry where the stage stop was for the mineing days. Many of the towns older homes where odd for there day as the logs where instaled standing up instead of laying on there side as most log homes where and are built today. There where two show bowls to view stage shows one in Fawnskin and one in Moonridge but both spots seem to have been lost over time I belive the fawnskin one was eather on the hill behind the old buck and doe or off of rim of the world drive. and the one in Moonridge was on the hillside of Bear Mountain AKA Upper Moonridge Ski resort. I would loved to have seen a show on one of the stages. Todd C A Smile Goes A Long Way To Making Somebodys Day Great
Registered Member #2090 Joined: Sat Mar 06 2010, 09:23AM : Posts: 30
Wow, I have some pictures of Fawnskin Meadows from around 1916. Is this the camp location? The name for the town of Fawnskin, has been written as you stated from coming from having deer skins drying. However, there are other stories and to be honest I would like to think that they are the true story. The local paper, Fawnskin Folks dated 1926 states that there was a legend and the legend ends with seeing a meadow with white flowers that looked like a fawn with white spots hence the name Fawnskin. Another verison I was given from the delvelopers heirs was that the wife of the developer selected the name. So I am not really sure what is the correct verision but there is more than one and since both of the other versions came from the early days of Fawnskin I am confused about what to believe. In Fawnskin, in the early days, there were only three types of homes/businesses you could build. Vertical, horizontal logs are bat and board. No other types of materials were allowed, and they even had Mr. Martin checking to make sure everyone followed the code. The Theater of the Stars was behind the Buck and Doe. It was open for several years and then it was agreed that Moonridge would build a bigger outdoor bowl, which they did in 1929-1930 and then it held the play "Nevertheless Old Glory" but it was only produced for one year. Phil Whiting directed the play. He also directed the Ramona play in Hemet, which is still be produced today. I have some pictures but I can not get them to load.
TYPE: WATER SALVAGE (FLOODING) AREA: BIG BEAR CITY UNITS: ME291 5XX W BIG BEAR BLVD - BBC X N BIG TREE DR S BLUE WATER RD AT THE CIRCLE K - WATER SALVAGE, BBC1 _1300924 BIGBEARCITY.,
So lets see- kids were in a tree building a fort, dropped a hammer, hit Goat in the face which caused him to crash into a camp fire where they were making fajitas thus burning his hand and getting fajita all over his shirt! Does that explain it?
Fawnskin History
