The town of Oro Grande, dates back to 1852 with the founding of a trading post along the Mojave River. Gold mining operations began shortly after.
First known as “Upper Crossing,” and then “Halleck,” Oro Grande was later named after the first mine found nearby. The name literally means “big gold” in Spanish.
The history shows that the town began as a mining camp, but when the railroad came through in 1885, it was named Halleck either after the chemist at the stamp mill or General Henry Halleck, U.S. Army–no one is sure at this point.
However, the name could be a misspelling of Hallock, who was one of the investors in the original Oro Grand Mining District.
Located along the Mojave River, the vicinity of Oro Grande was the location for Native American settlements for hundreds of years.
The river was also the part of a trade route from the Colorado River for tribes in the southwest with those on the coast of Southern California, what was called the Mojave Trail.
Although gold and silver were attracting all the head lines, it was limestone that paid the bills.
The Ontario Record, 06 Jul 1897.
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed principally of calcium carbonate (calcite) or the double carbonate of calcium and magnesium (dolomite).
The limestone quarries at Oro Grande were opened around 1887, and soon two kilns were producing lime for cement.
Goldbrandsen collection, courtesy Victor Valley College
Over the last 100 years or so there have been numerous gold and silver mines discovered in the area and mills and smelters constructed and abandoned.
The Los Angeles Times, 01 Jan 1890.
The Ozark mine north of Oro Grande, was active at the turn of the century, and a mill was established. In the 1920s the old Oro Grande gold mine was reactivated by the Western States Mining Co.
The last gold rush in the Mojave Desert, occurred not far from here in the Kramer Hills in 1926.
Other mines, located within the San Bernardino Mountains, were linked with Victorville by more convenient transportation than through San Bernardino include the Rose, Blackhawk and Gold Mountain mines.
Their combined production amounted to around $2 million in gold.
Limestone without a doubt has proved more profitable than all of the precious metal mines combined and remains a thriving industry in Oro Grande.
Daily Press, 02 Feb 1945.
Route 66 was aligned along the National Old Trails highway in 1926. Interstate 15 bypassed Oro Grande in 1958. Like many places along Route 66, Oro Grande became a ghost town. However, the concrete plants in the area hung on, and over the years continued to succeed.
Photo courtesy of John Earl
We opted for the wilds of Route 66, just outside of Oro Grande. Here, a crow stands as a lone sentinel in front of the Txi (Texas Industries) Riverside Oro Grande Cement Plant as the western sun gives its final nod for the day.
Top Photo: Courtesy of John Earl. Oro Grande, California, with Route 66 and the Txi Riverside Oro Grande Cement Plant on the far right. Quartzite Mountain is in the distance.
https://www.vredenburgh.org/mining_history/pages/oro_grande.html
https://www.worldcement.com/special-reports/04062019/california-here-we-come
https://www.gem.wiki/TXI_Riverside_Cement_Power_House
https://www2.calrecycle.ca.gov/PublicNotices/Details/5588
