Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Col. Allensworth State Historic Park, Earlimart, CA - Mar 14
This park was a real find -- cozy & secluded with large level sites, there was only one other camper in the CG. While we had heard of rates being raised so high for camping in CA state parks, this is apparently only true for parks with hookups. The "state preserves" and "historic parks" have inexpensive ($10/night, $8 for seniors) dry camping. The park preserves a number of restored & reconstructed buildings from historic Allensworth, a town founded by Colonel Allen Allensworth, an ex-slave, and four other African-Americans in 1908. They bought 800 acres of land along the Santa Fe rail line. Blacks from all over the country came to populate the town, including many who purchased property sight-unseen.
The town initially flourished, but in 1914 the railway moved its rail stop from Allensworth, and a falling water table caused the formerly prolific artesian wells to dry up. Then on Sept 15, 1914, Col Allensworth was struck & killed by two men on a motorcycle, also killing the inspirational spark of the community. The town lingered until the 1960s when arsenic was found in the water supply. In spite of the tragic outcome, the park commemorates one man's dream of an independent, democratic town where African-Americans could live in control of their own destiny. It was a very interesting place to visit.# posted by Doug and Willie @ 10:13 PM 
