Llano Del Rio: A Vision in Ruins

Handy Facts to Know:

1.  We believed “Llano” was pronounced “Yawn-oh,” as in the Spanish pronunciation. However, we’ve since heard old timers in the Llano area pronounce it “Lann-oh.” There’s a little town called Llano in Llano County in Texas Hill Country, no connection to this Llano that we are aware and they pronounce it “Lann-oh” too.

2.  The desert has its share of nefarious characters, so please lock you car.  It’s a long walk back to town.

3.  Spring is upon us and the rattlesnakes are getting busy.  No buzz worms will give you warm fuzzies, especially the infamous Mojave Green.

4.  If you drove through Little Rock and didn’t stop at Charlie Brown Farms for a date shake, ostrich burger, or amusing trinkets, you’re missing a trip onto itself.

5. Update 2023: We wrote this article 6 years ago, and have since been told that a portion of the ruins has been fenced off to protect it from vandals. 

Pearblossom Highway runs through the heart of Llano.   It’s soul is all around you.  Nearby, some people still call the land home.  They even have a Post Office.  Survivors or just stubborn, it’s hard to say.   The ruins are what catches your eye.  They’re all that is left of Job Harriman’s failed social experiment that he called the Llano Del Rio Cooperative.

These structures, made of field stone, cement and brick are remnants of a utopian community that was a dream in 1911, and a reality from 1914 to 1918.  One day in that last year, the reality came home to roost, and the dream was abandoned almost overnight.

 

   BULLY FOR TEDDY

IRONIC INTERLUDE, THE AFTER THOUGHT

When Job and friends arrived, the area around Llano was covered by many Joshua Trees.  A few still remain, having been thinned out by local farms, groves and ranches.

So, inquiring minds want to know, did Mr. Harriman know that the desert tree (really a plant) received its name from Mormon settlers who imagined that the branches, seeming reaching for the sky, were the hands of Joshua, reaching for heaven?   If he did know, did he call it the Marx Tree?   Just a passing thought.

COVER BOY FOR THE WESTERN COMRADE

“The Western Comrade,” a periodical expounding the virtues of Marxism, was published from 1913 to 1918. Never really a independent journal, it existed solely to promote the Llano Del Rio community.

The political stability of Llano was threatened by internal power struggles between the Board of Directors, which was composed of seven (and eventually nine) members and the General Assembly, which was composed of all of the Llano Company’s stockholders, the members of the colony.

Though the Board was efficient, it caused political dissent. Llano’s “Declaration of Principles” proclaimed “equal ownership, equal wage, and equal social opportunities.” However, Llano was not run in a democratic manner.

For the women involved, Llano del Rio promised a gender neutral environment.

Architect Alice Constance Austin proposed a conscious feminist design for the future Socialist City that featured a nongrid circular spatial plan with centralized communal kitchens, laundries and daycare, built-in furniture, and other modern innovations that minimized housekeeping while relying heavily on modern technologies such as electricity. 

Women were meant to equally participate everyday governance and politics of Llano.  Freeing them from daily toil of “woman’s work” was the first step in doing so.

LLANO DEL RIO COMES ALIVE

As more comrades arrived, Llano by the river started to take on the appearance of a thriving community in the desert.   A community center for the hosting of dances and assemblies was constructed. 

In fact, the rock pillars of the center still stand today.    In fairly short order a post office, dairy building, and laundry facility and a blacksmith shop were also built on the colony’s site. 

In addition to many buildings and living structures (shared, of course), a fairly innovative water irrigation system was built.  Water would later become the issue du jour.  Initially though,  it came down to passing the background requirements, and agreeing to live the utopian dream. 

PASSING THE AUDITION

To become a member of the colony, a neophyte communist was required purchase (a contradiction in mutually exclusive terms?)  exactly 2,000 stock shares and to reside at Llano at the par value of $1 per share. Colonists were allowed to buy a maximum of three fourths of their stock shares on credit. 

Applicants for membership were required to be idealistic, industrious, and sober (sober in the desert?  Another contradiction?).   To ensure standards were met, applicants needed three references, written ideally by a local union president or secretary. Questions testing an applicant’s dedication to socialism were also part of the entrance procedure. 

KLAN LEANINGS?

As a short-lived, inclusive experiment in American socialism, Llano Del Rio may have been successful—but in terms of fostering an authentically egalitarian community free of racism it had failed.    In The Western Comrade’s April 1916 issue a full-page advertisement titled “A Gateway to Freedom through Co-operative Action” states at the bottom of the call “Only Caucasians are admitted.

We have had applications from Negroes, Hindus, Mongolians and Malays. The rejection of these applications are not due to race prejudice, but because it is not deemed expedient to mix the races in these communities.”

Indeed, the founders may not have intentionally intended to promote racial prejudice as the advertisement suggests, but offered no opportunity for people of color to join the colony.

WHEN THE WATERS CAME AND WENT

During the early period of Llano, Harriman had secured large amounts of water for the growing colony. Though in theory Llano had enough water to sustain itself and to grow, much of the water could only be accessed by building a dam.   The community applied to California for a permit to build a dam. 

However, the California Commissioner of Corporations denied Llano’s application to construct a dam saying, “Your people do not seem to have the necessary amount of experience and maybe the sums of money it will involve.”  Oh fine.  What more could go wrong?

BICKERING AT THE O.K. COMMUNE

The damn dam issue was just one problem.  In spite of the idealism of new converts, the colony suffered from its share of avarice, laziness, internal bickering and factionalism, as well as theft and other human traits.  

Although governed by a general assembly composed of  sixty or more separate committees, each with its own administration and agenda, the Central Committee was charged to handle daily affairs, and a minority of Llano-ites became dissatisfied with overall governance.  

“Factionalism sabotaged the business of daily living,” said Alan Hensher in his book ‘Ghost Towns of the Mojave Desert.’

LLANO DEL RIO, THE SEQUEAL

When the inevitable result came, and Llano began to implode for reasons ranging from idealism to economics, the community left California in a rush, and relocated to the small town of “Stables” in a remote Louisiana Parish.   Soon renamed “New Llano,” the community remained a socialist style coop until 1939. 

Like its California parent, New Llano collapsed under its own policies, and thereafter became just plain old New Llano, Louisiana.  It’s still there today.  In a ironic and just turn of events, the population of New Llano is almost 50 percent African-American.  Take that, comrade Harriman, you old racist communist!

VISITING LLANO DEL RIO

We can assume that Llano Del Rio is on private property.  While there are no visible signs stating this, it’s a good, and safe, guess.  There are homes nearby, and we’re sure that the residents keep an eye on things.  Still, you’re probably okay to just wander around.  

Sadly, we see the usual signs of vandalism out there when we visit.  Graffiti, litter and other items are there.  A sad reminder that the past is being destroyed, piece by piece.  There are many great photo ops, since most of the rock structures still stand.  

BEFORE BRAVE NEW WORLD, IT WAS JUST A HOT OLD DESERT

SAVING HISTORY ONE STONE AT A TIME

 

 

TRIVIA . . . YOU HAVE TO HAVE TRIVIA!

Q: Has anyone ever written a song about Llano? 

A: You bet, Betty. Here are the lyrics for your listening pleasure.