HSUMD General Meeting

Californian Bootlegging History

 The Historical Society of the Upper Mojave Desert resumes its regular monthly meeting schedule tomorrow evening, Tuesday, Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. at the Historic USO Building, 230 W. Ridgecrest Blvd., by welcoming back Cliff Walker to speak on bootlegging in California during Prohibition.  His focus will be on the desert areas.

 Walker is the author of “One Eye Closed, the Other Red:  The California Bootlegging Years.”  During the early years of Prohibition, California was somewhat under the Feds’ radar, and the desert was an especially handy hiding place for the illegal manufacture of alcoholic beverages.  Walker's interest in this period of history was piqued by family stories on both sides of the 18th amendment.  His book is a compilation of oral histories and writings from individuals who were active in the period on both the bootlegging and the law-enforcement side.   

Walker came to the Mojave Desert in 1955 to teach and found he liked the desert and its history so much that he made a permanent home in Barstow. He earned a Master’s  Degree in western history from USC and helped found Barstow’s Mojave River Valley Museum.  While researching Mojave Desert history, he uncovered many stories about desert springs and mine tunnels being used to distill moonshine, and along the way, he heard many family tales from his students.  Walker began traveling the state in the late 1970’s to record this fascinating history before it disappeared, and his findings are reflected in his book and will be shared at Tuesday's meeting.  Come early for the best seats--this event promises to be well-attended!