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Show The Severance Family's 1921 T rip Continues... CEDAR CITY to L.A to THE GRAND CANYON _ During the summer of 1921, my grandparents took the family on a trip from their farm near Central City, Nebraska to Los Angeles, to visit my grandfather's parents and sister. My grandparents were Ralph and Ella Severance and their children were Helen: 15, Bud (my father): 13, Donna: 5, and Phil: 4. They camped and cooked with a “Sterno” stove most of the time. My grandfather had made the trip to the west coast previously, but for the rest of the Severance Family, this was their first trip west of Nebraska. In Part 2, the trip continues From Cedar City, Utah... Owen Severance Arose at 5 A.M. and after getting air in spare tire started at 6:45. Saturday July 16. We expect to make Los Vegas —184 miles today —then the desert Sunday. These other folks were hanging with don't drive very fast but we are in the lead today. Night was cool and the morning delightful. Soil is brick red —rich in iron— makes pretty mud pies. 13 miles and we are at Kannarville and road leads close around the mts. Yesterday we had many cedar for which Cedar City was named and Beaver was named for those animals that used to be there in great colonies. Many of these larger towns have large book like signs a mile out, like a leaf out of a history —giving a few brief facts that we read as we pass —makes it interesting. So many rabbits —see a half dozen at once. See lots of flowers brick color & yellow and some white poppy thistles. More dug ways which I do not relish. 528 mi. to L.A. —sign reads. See a cloud dragging on the mts. A slip to the right here would be some drop. Scared to death we'll meet a car. We go down the oranges —they are sweet however. Lost our partners as they had tire trouble —he of Chevrolet told us he saw them changing tires some 15 miles back so we stopped by roadside for lunch and let them catch up. Country is still desolate —huge “groves” ‘cactus —I never knew they could grow so large. Outside of San Bernardino where the the of we cross the coast ranges we spin along over the smooth pavement up grade, curves and turns and down curves and around until suddenly we are right in the city which ends the desert. Here we see our first palms —beautifully kept lawns and shrubbery, flowers etc. Here we stopped for gas and bade goodby to the Schollermans who have been with us since Fillmore. After inquiring our way to L.A. of some six persons all of whose directions we started to follow for some distance —and all of whose advice conflicted —we finally came into Pomona. Orange & Lemon groves, also walnuts grapes & figs on every hand and the loveliest of boulevards. Here we run some 25 mi. and cars pass us all the time wanting to go faster so we speed up and take in what scenery we can. Tourists are fewer and tired. All along and everything thro’ Alhambra thickest of L.A. we feel more out of place as we are dusty, dirty, hungry and the roadside are erected “stands” selling fruit, melons “ice cold drinks” in the shape of eats & drinks hungry travelers could wish for. We pass —the destination of the N.Y. boys —and finally find ourselves in the traffic in the heart of the city. We had little difficulty in locating our number as Ralph knew the heart of the city —so a little before six o'clock we drew up on Fifth Ave. —very close we knew but we could not see all the house numbers —didn’‘t need to however as a glance down the street showed us “Daddy” watering his lawn just BROKEN DOWN: The Severance Family repairs a broken spring on the road to Seligman City, Arizona. steepest places on low. Sure steep & rocky and sharp curves. [This was the old highway west of St. George.] When we got to St. George we had dinner at camp grounds —aw hot. Came on to Bunkerville but it was so hot & dusty and dirty that we decided to try to find a better place out aways to camp —nothing doing. The farther we came the worse it looked —we are hot, dusty, tired & hungry with no signs of relief. Climbing around these mountains —signs of caution —curves & grades all the way. Stopped for a breathing spell —ate a little lunch then started on again at 8:15 with the lights on. When . we got within about 3 miles of St. Thomas - the other car —Ford— developed wheel trouble and we were forced to put up for the night —about ten o’cloc All managed to sleep some in spite of difficulties. In morning we came into St. Thomas, got repairs. Helen, Donna, Phil and I are at camp ground. Waiting for the rest now. Ants are thick but we have a shade —water tastes ugh! Ralph said we could get ice here to cool it so it may taste better. From the sounds this town runs on Sunday as usual. How anyone can stand to live here! We are to go on to Las Vegas today and try to get a good rest and early start next morn on the desert. We celebrated by drinks & cantalopes before leaving here. Arrived in Los Vegas about 3:30 P.M. Sure was a desolate country. Got a like Ralph said he thought he might be doing. So here we are, glad to see all the folks and glad to have free access to a modern bathroom and facilities which we had sorely missed and badly needed. They arrived on July 19. Unfortunately, Ella didn’t make any journal entries during their stay. They visited with Ralph's family, went to the zoo and the beach during their stay of about 2 weeks. drink at pump 11 miles out and rest of road wasn’t so bad. Went to “Ladd’s Resort” to camp (50 cents). Children all got into the swimming pool. Got up at 4 A.M, and were on our way 5:15 —the roads weren’t so bad but oh! Got to “Searchlight” early and laid in provisions then on to Goffs where we arrived for a late inner. The only shade we could find was by water tanks where we ate & rested. This is the heart of the desert —and it's all of that. 1400 feet to water, and yet they grow some trees and vines. Saw the big engine that pumps. They have big derricks to pull the casings —looked like oil wells. Searchlight is the home of the matches that bear that name —there are gold, silver & copper mines there —used to be a big mining town. It had rained on the desert recently and we had bad roads where it had washed. Farther on the wash places had been paved but was badly worn. Quite a bit of pavement in & out of Goffs and Ludlow. Got terribly hot by 5 P.M. Got into Ludlow just before dark. All are tired as we have made 191 miles —all desert. We got shower baths and felt younger. Got a fair night's rest —up early and on road at 6 A.M. Helen & Bud both sick this morning —thankful we are on the home stretch. See pretty lavender colored flowers blooming by the roadside in the worst of gravel. Seems impossible —sagebrush is dried looking but the other bushes (possibly mesquite) is a healthy looking green. Now on to Barstow —some 52 miles. Stretched out a little at Barstow and got some crax and 70 cent FROM THE PLAINS to the PACIFIC: Wading at Oren Park in Los Angeles Two P.M. Friday Aug 5, ‘21 finds us with our goodbys said and begun. Took a last drive thro’ the crowded city streets —then boulevard to Pamona and San Bernardino —retracing the trail we before. Near Pomona we drove alongside the 4,000 acres of the our homeward journey out over the beautiful had made a few weeks Italian vineyards. Also large peach orchards with their ripening fruit and well propped limbs. Ralph couldn’t negotiate a purchase with the Italians in the orchard so we couldn’t get any. We are saying goodby now to the beautiful Magnolia trees, the great Eucalyptus as well as the ugly Palm. (Date Palms are pretty.) We eat some of Mother's lovely doughnuts as we ride so as to drive farther. Boulevard is great. Have gone 90 miles when we come to a pretty camp we had particularly liked coming —Camp Cajon where we stay for the night. A beautiful camp with over two dozen round cement tables & chairs and some six |