Aug 20, 2019
Teaching brought Gay Smith (left in photo above)
to California, as after college graduation there was a glut of
teachers on the east coast. She’d read about a fellow student who
came to Corona, CA to interview, she followed suite and got the job
on the spot. Having been in teaching for over 40 years, Gay talks
about the changes she's witnessed in the students over the
years.
Gay's first experience with the
desert was during the December holidays in the early 60's with a
group of friends she’d met through teaching. The place they visited
was her soon to be husband’s cabin on Copper Mountain Mesa.
Though there was no electricity or water in the early days, Gay and
her husband, John, continued to come back to the his cabin on
weekends, all vacations, including the summer months. At some
point, they decided it would be wise to at least run electricity to
the cabin - which they did themselves, impressing the County code
Inspector.
When
the kids came along, they added a room to the cabin and became
permanent residents of North Joshua Tree in 1974.
Gay
talks about a developer who had a big vision for Pioneertown, found
Gay and her husband John purchasing several acres in the area. The
developer went broke and plans for the 'Golden Empire' fell
through, but John and Gay remained.
Thank
Gay when you see her for being involved in making Mane Street
in-accessible to cars and holding off the County from adding paved
roads and sidewalks!
In this
episode, Gay takes us back in time to 1965 and one
traffic light at Old Woman Springs Road and talks about tricks they
used to find their home at night.
Gay
also talks about the history of Pappy & Harriet’s and tells of it's
origins, including the biker gang fights, before it became the
infamous music-lovers haven it is today.
Gay
owns the Pioneertown Wild West Theatre,
which is a 501(c)3. You might be inclined to check out a show there
or donate to the cause after hearing this interview.
Check
out Gay's vacation rental: Desert Willow
Ranch