Big Bear California

Archive for the ‘Running Springs’ Category

Running springs (continues…)

School in Fredalba

By May of 1896, nine cottages were completed and available for rent for $75 per year. A restaurant and more cottages popped up like mushrooms and Fredalba blossomed. Because of the mill worker and lumberjack families there were eventually enough children in Fredalba to warrant opening a school in 1902.

Decline of Fredalba

By 1908 Fredalba was a regular town with stage and mail service, full furnished housekeeping cabins, ready prepared meals, reasonable provisions and complete camping equipment. When the lumber operation closed in 1913 the mill workers left and the decline of Fredalba began.

With improved highways came change to the middle crest country of the San Bernadine mountains. Rampant development that had already hit crestline, Lake Arrowhead and the Big Bear areas, finally reached Running springs in 1923. The area around the junction of Rim of the World Drive and City creek road, known as Hunsaker flats was sold to a syndicate led by realtor B.L. Smith in 1924. B.L. Smith planned out a small business district, housing tracts, and a resort and called the area Running springs park. Lots were bought up quickly and by 1927, Running springs was a fast growing community with a general store, cafe, gas station, post office and approximately 400 residents.

The History of Running Springs

The history of Running Springs started with the need for harvesting virgin timber in the San Bernadine mountains and the need for a new road. The area is now called Running Springs.

In may of 1890, Thomas McFarlane was hired to build a new road up City Creek by the Running Spring. Then the highland lumber company opened to the public their new route to the crest as a toll road. The charge was 25 cents per animal or 50 cents for a wagon and team. The city creek toll road became a popular route to the mountains, even with the danger of meeting a fully loaded timber wagon heading down the steep grade.

Fredalba park

In April 1895, Alfred (or just Fred for short)and Albert Smiley, two wealthy brothers from Redlands, purchased 262 acres of forest land from the highland lumber company. They laid out a town complete with hotel and rental cottages. The resort was called Fredalba park. Fredalba park was named after Alfred and Albert and Fredalba was a combination of the names Fred and Albert.