Knight's Camp

For many years, the people of Southern California, and particularly those of San Bernardino County, had been clamoring for free access to the magnificent scenery and the wonderful air and water of the great mountain range. Although many projects were discussed, no definite action was taken until 1903, when the passage of a new act of Legislature enabled the counties to buy and build roads out of general funds.

The first big question to be decided was whether to build a road in Cold Water Canyon, in East Twin Creek, or to purchase the Arrowhead Toll Road. In 1905 the toll road was bought after much debate, and then began the tasks of buying up branch toll roads, of building approaches and switchbacks, and of cutting into the mountainside. All of this took months that extended into years before a satisfactory, completed roadway was available to the public. Most of the work was done by hand labor, aided by a few “Fresno Scrapers” and wagon teams.

By 1907 a new era was dawning for those who loved the mountains. A wagon and team could cover the one hundred and one miles up Waterman Canyon, back and forth on the “switch-backs” along the Crest to Green Valley, “Snow Slide,” Big Bear Lake, down the old Clarke Grade, over the mountain to Mill Creek, and back to San Bernardino –all toll free.

As the years passed the road was continually improved, and there came a day when this achievement of hard work and engineering skill must receive a name. In June 1914, the County Supervisors offered $25 to the person suggesting the most suitable name for this highway in the clouds. Three hundred names were proposed, and after much deliberation the name, “San Bernardino Mountain Crest Highway,” was chosen. It turned out to be a long and cumbersome name, which was always being abbreviated and was obviously not serving much purpose.

Prior to the dedication of the road, it was Dr. John N. Baylis, beloved San Bernardino physician and founder of beautiful “Pinecrest,” who proposed the name “ Rim of the World.” The unusualness and appropriateness of the name met with immediate public favor, so it was adopted and later received public recognition.

On July 18, 1915 a large group of mountain lovers, newspapermen, and celebrities from neighboring cities met to commemorate the culmination of over half a century of “hewing the way” to bring to Southern California a completed highway, one of the most scenic in the world. The site chosen for the dedication was a wide, open ledge on the southern slope of Strawberry Peak, at an elevation of 5,700 feet, where the panoramic view is exceptionally magnificent.

It was John Steven McGroarty, master poet of the southland, who gave dedicatory address, while members of the party stood with bared heads as he so eloquently said, “I baptize the ‘Rim of the World.’ Tell thy story to the children of the earth as they pass this way.” The rock monument was then unveiled with its bronze tablet inscribed in bold letters: ”This is the Rim of the World, a roadway 101 miles in length along the crest of the San Bernardino Mountains, revealing nature’s secrets in the heart of the hills.”

The years that followed saw many great changes on the “Rim of the World.” For over twenty years, all traffic on Waterman Canyon Road passed over the gone-but-not-forgotten “switch-backs.” A new generation now travels over the modern high gear mountain roads, little realizing the thrill and toil of old-timers as they chugged up the old “switch-backs” in a model T Ford, sometimes even backing up as they fought their way over old Oak Flat Hill, just below Crestline.

As for the old Clarke’s Grade, it didn’t matter much whether you were going up or down; it was still an all day trip, and driver, passengers, and car were all worn out by journey’s end.

Those were the days when the Big Bear Valley Chamber of Commerce used to advertise that had a truck at the summit of Clarke’s Grade to assist any motorist over the top that couldn’t make it under his own power. Yes, old Clarke’s Grade and those contemptible controls were the cause of many a nervous breakdown.

The new Waterman Canyon high-gear road was dedicated in June of 1932, and the old “switch-backs” once and for all became just a memory. Nineteen years later, the new City Creek Road was dedicated, and a former steep and tortuous lumber wagon toll road became a modern high-gear speedway.

It used to take Bill Holcomb two days to make the trip to Bear Valley. Now the drive can be done in one hour.