Palm Spring Station

Palm Spring Station is a former Butterfield Overland Mail stagecoach station located at Palm Spring in San Diego County, California. This station built in 1858 by division agent, Warren F. Hall is commemorated by California State Historical Marker Number 639 Palm Spring.^[1]

History

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Palm Spring, a desert oasis amidst a mesquite thicket and a few palms close to Carrizo Creek, was a popular camping spot on the Southern Emigrant Trail during the California Gold Rush. It became a water stop for the San Antonio-San Diego Mail Line in 1857 and a stage station site for the Butterfield Overland Mail Company in 1858. Located 9 miles east of Vallecito stage station and 9 miles west of Carrizo Creek Station, it was a relay or swing station that provided water and a hostler who changed out tired coach teams with 5 horses kept there for the purpose.^[2]

Palm Spring Station continued in this role until the Butterfield line shut down in the spring of 1861. It was used by the Union Army for water for its troops and their animals forage on the road to Fort Yuma during the American Civil War. It does not seem to have been revived as a stage station, by later stage lines to Fort Yuma during their time of operation between 1867 and 1877 as most of the other Butterfield stations were, but was still a watering place.

During March and April 2001, a surface survey and remote sensing and archaeological investigations including limited shovel test pit explorations were completed. No remains of the stage station were located at the Palm Spring site. At the current time, it is unknown if or where the remains of Palm Spring Stage Station still exist.^[3] The station may have been only a tent or a brush shelter and a small corral that has left little trace after over 150 years.

References

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^ http://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/68july/landmarks.htm Historic Landmarks of San Diego County, The Journal of San Diego History, San Diego Historical Society Quarterly, July 1968, Volume 14, Number 3
^ The 1860 census recorded the Palm Spring station to be manned by the 30-year-old hostler, John White, who cared for the horses. The station stored 12 tons each of barley and hay as feed for the animals. 1860 Federal Census Manuscript Returns, Schedule 4, Agriculture. 1860 Federal Census Manuscript Returns, Schedule 1, Population. San Diego Historical Society Research Archives.
^ http://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/22491/files/carrizo_creek_historical_and_archaeological_investigations_june_2007.pdf Stephen R. Van Wormer, Sue Wade, Susan D. Walter, Susan Arter, An Isolated Frontier Outpost, Historical and Archaeological Investigations of the Carrizo Creek Station, California State Parks, 2007, p.5

32°55′11″N 116°13′05″W / 32.91972°N 116.21806°W / 32.91972; -116.21806

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Butterfield Overland Mail 2nd Division Stations

Los Angeles – Located 12 miles southeast of Cahuenga Station in the pueblo of Los Angeles. The 2nd Division headquarters was in a brick building, consisting of an office, blacksmith shop, stables and sheds.
Monte – Located 13 miles east of Los Angeles.
Rancho San Jose – Located 12 miles east of Monte in present-day Pomona.
Rancho Santa Ana del Chino – Located 12 miles southeast of Rancho San Jose.
Temescal Station – Located 20 miles southeast of Rancho Santa Ana del Chino.
Laguna Grande Station – Located 10 miles southeast of Temescal Station, near present-day Lake Elsinore.
Alamos or Willow Springs Station – a later station, 11 miles south of Laguna Grande Station.
Temecula Station – Located 21 miles southeast of Laguna Grande Station.
Tejungo Station – Located 14 miles east of Temecula Station, near Aguanga
Oak Grove Stage Station – Located 12 miles southeast of Tejungo Station.
Warner's Ranch – Located 10 miles southeast of Oak Grove Station.
San Felipe Station – Located 10 miles southeast of Warner's Ranch, northwest of nearby Scissors Crossing.
Vallecito Station – Located 18 miles southeast of San Felipe Station.
Palm Spring Station – Located 9 miles southeast of Vallecito Station at Palm Spring.
Carrizo Creek Station – Located 9 miles east southeast of Palm Spring Station.
Sackett's Wells – a later station, located 171⁄2 miles east southeast of Carrizo Creek Station, 15 miles west northwest of Indian Wells.
Indian Wells Station – Located 32 miles southeast of Carisso Creek, near present day Heber, no water except at station.
New River Station – a later station, located 15 miles southeast of Indian Wells Station, in Baja California, 14 miles west of Alamo Mocho Station, in present day Mexicali.
Alamo Mocho Station – Located south of the Mexican border in Baja California, 38 miles east of Indian Wells Station, no water except at station.
Gardner's Wells Station – a later station, located south of the Mexican border in Baja California, 9 miles east of Alamo Mocho and 9 miles west of Seven Wells.
Salt or Seven Wells – a later well, located south of the Mexican border in Baja California, 18 miles east of Alamo Mucho.
Cooke's Wells Station – Located south of the Mexican border in Baja California, 22 miles east of Alamo Mocho Station, no water except at station.
Pilot Knob Station – Located 18 miles east of Cooke's Wells.
Fort Yuma Station – Located 10 miles east of Pilot Knob Station.

Source: "List of Butterfield Overland Mail Stations "Itinerary of the Route"" (PDF). New York Times. October 14, 1858.