Desert Mice

 

Written on the back, "Would you happen to know who these desert rats are?"  And below that, "1961"  Well, this picture doesn't look like it's from the desert, but it could be from one of the many subdivisions that  started to sprout up in places like Tucson and Phoenix at around about that time.  

At the Mexican Joint

Written on the back, "Feb 1, 58 Coffee & Beer break Mexican joint in desert."

Well, I bought this picture in California, so I'm guessing the Palm Springs area or along Route 66.  Of course it could be a lot of other places, but that's my guess.

Bob Welker In the Desert

It looks like Bob is moving, and there's a good chance that it wasn't voluntary.  You might have to click on the image to bring it up in a bigger window, but the hood's up and there's a tire pump in the back seat.  How many more miles to the big city?

The Army Hospital Album 31

Well, we've moved from the ocean to the desert.  I'm going out on a limb here.  I think the last two photos were taken in the Red Rock State Park area, just north of Mojave, which is north of L.A.

Click on army hospital collection in labels and all that.

Small Towns in the Desert

Where is this town?  The picture is clearly pre-World War 1.  The cars look like 1910 or so.  The dirt road is sandy and it sure has a desert feel.  But why would these well dressed people and their lap dog be out in the desert?  When this picture was taken, Palm Springs wasn't a resort destination, and no one was headed north to Las Vegas, at the time,  little more than a few buildings and a railroad watering stop.  Perhaps they were off on an adventure.  Suites, stylish dress, and one little dog may not spell adventure in our day, but back then a 100 mile road trip was something.  And there was no reason not to dress well.

Washer Women

 Those of us who've spent some time in the deserts of California will recognize where these women are standing.  Not an exact location of course.  More than likely there's a housing tract there now.   These three ladies are standing in a wash.  A desert wash is where the water goes after a sudden, desert rainstorm.  The mountain in the background would be where the flash flood happens, and the flat bare area is were the water spreads and percolates down into the water table.  There's nothing like the smell of the desert after a good rain.  From the late twenties to the early thirties would be my guess