Trona in 1915

Trona on the Web: Trona in 1915

The following information is from Joe Whitelaw:

The photos were taken from two albums put together in 1918 by my mother, Elizabeth Gail Gauslin and her younger sister Mary Margaret (Peggy) Gauslin, the youngest of Emma and Anthony (Tony) Gauslin's eight children. My mother who was born in 1900 and lived off and on in Trona from 1915 to 1920. She was sent back east to school. Peggy was born in 1905 and lived full time in Trona from 1915 to 1920. She attended high school in Los Angeles, however, (Los Angeles High) beginning about 1919.


Emma, Lucie, Peggy, Elizabeth -- J. Whitelaw Collection	Elizabeth Gail Gauslin 1917 -- J. Whitelaw Collection

My grandparents, Emma and Anthony J. (Tony) Gauslin came to Trona in 1914 and remained there until retirement in 1920. Tony worked for Manistec (Michigan) Ironworks as a construction manager and had built a plant similar to the Trona plant in France prior to World War One. Manistec therefor sent him to Trona to oversee construction of that plant. He left Manistec Ironworks and became the first plant manager in Trona.

Gauslin's house -- J. Whitelaw Collection 1915-1920

From about 1915 until 1920 they lived in one of the 2 story houses as shown in the photos. I understand that the Town Manager lived in the other one. The only time I have been in Trona was in 1947 and both house were standing at that time. 1n 1920 my grandfather retired and moved to Los Angeles.

Tony died in 1922, four years before I was born, so I never met him. However my grandmother lived until 1944 and she, my mother and Peggy all had fond memories of Trona which they shared with us.

Gauslin's house under construction -- J. Whitelaw Collection 1915-1920

Anthony J. Gauslin at Kern River -- J. Whitelaw Collection

North Trona -- J. Whitelaw Collection 1915-1920

Who can tell me about North Trona? Where was it? What is it's history?

North Trona -- J. Whitelaw Collection 1915-1920

North Trona -- J. Whitelaw Collection 1915-1920

Peggy hitching a ride -- J. Whitelaw Collection 1915-1920

View from the depot -- J. Whitelaw Collection 1915-20

The Trona tracks -- J. Whitelaw Collection 1915-20

Kids in Trona -- J. Whitelaw Collection 1915-1920

Social gathering -- J. Whitelaw Collection 1915-1920

Social gathering, Great Falls -- J. Whitelaw Collection 1915-1920

Peggy Gauslin -- J. Whitelaw Collection 1915-1920

PeggyGauslin -- J. Whitelaw Collection 1915-20

Car on Searles Lake -- J. Whitelaw Collection 1915-1920

Car on Searles Lake -- J. Whitelaw Collection 1915-1920

Cars on Lake -- J. Whitelaw Collection 1915-1920

Magnolia Street -- J. Whitelaw Collection 1915-1920

Before Searles Lake was commercially operated, the only housing in the valley consisted of a few miner's shacks. As operations progressed more workers were hired and the American Trona Company erected ten shacks in 1916. They later built permanent houses on Magnolia Street. Primarily the workmen lived in several large barracks the Company had built. All Trona housing was completely maintained by the Company.

Horses -- J. Whitelaw Collection 1915-20

Housing shortages were common during much of Trona's history and were solved in various way buy the men and the families that came to live in Trona. My father, H.J. Stevens, spent his first years (1933-1934) in Trona living in "Tent City" and then, after getting married, lived in Ridgecrest, Inyokern and Borosolvay before being eligible for a home in Trona

Horseless -- J. Whitelaw Collection 1915-1920

Although I never saw a bobcat while I lived in Trona (1943-1962) I heard them many times and seen what may have been the remains of their kills while climbing in the mountains near Indian Joe's.

Elizabeth Gauslin -- J. Whitelaw Collection 1915-1920

Early development -- J. Whitelaw Collection 1915-1920

Trona Swimming Pool -- J. Whitelaw Collection 1915-1920

To the best of my knowledge there have been four swimming pools in Searles Valley. The fourth and newest one is at the Trona Schools. The the one that I am most familiar with in Valley Wells five miles north of Trona. West End had one called "The Tank" which was a large rusty steel tank filled with fresh water. It's use was restricted to West End employees and their families or invited guests. Borosolvay also had a fresh water swimming pool. It was made of concrete and was covered with a tin roof. It may have been the fresh water resevor for the comunity. Borosolvay's was the first to be closed in the late forties or early fifties. Does anyone else remember these?

Also the large house in this picture seems out of place. It's much larger than the one I remember at Valley Wells. Was it torn down, moved or is this Borosolvay?


Mary Picford in Trona -- J. Whitelaw Collection 1915-20

Mary Picford owned all of her movies and planned on burning them when she died. They were not burned but you don't see them on TV.

Social gathering -- J. Whitelaw Collection 1915-1920

The building to the right is Trona's first post office. The post office was later moved to Austin Hall, first by the entrance to the theater and then was expanded to the corner next to the pool hall. Later it was moved to the first floor of the Masonic Hall Building where it still is today.

Shopping in Trona -- J. Whitelaw Collection 1915-1920

View from depot -- J. Whitelaw Collection 1915-1920