Sage's Complete Markets

Above, the Redlands, California Sage's.

Back in the late 1960s, whenever we went out to Twentynine Palms, California, we would stop at Sage's in Redlands on the way back home to Hawthorne to do some shopping and have a meal.

Sage's had just about everything. It was a restaurant, grocery store and a department store. It was like what Walmart stores are today. Items included a bakery, dairy, deli, general grocery, drug, coffee shop, meats, produce and toys.

Sage's opened in Redlands on Nov. 2, 1959 by founder Milton Sage. Sage's was based in San Bernardino.

Sage spread himself thin by trying to build an empire that collapsed in 1973.

Mockel Painting

Above, the Mockel acrylic painting. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A few days ago, I was dusting around the house when I came to a small acrylic painting (pictured above) of a desert smoketree from the Gallery of Henry R. Mockel.

I never took a real look at the painting or the backside of it before, even though it has been in the family for decades (at least since the 1960s). That got me curious about the artist.

My grandmother lived in Twentynine Palms for a time until health issues caught up with her. Henry and his wife Beverly published books on desert flora and opened the gallery in Twentynine Palms. I am guessing that my grandmother bought the painting there while she lived in the California desert town. 

According to ArtPlantae Today:

Impressed with what she saw during a visit to California to attend a nursing conference, Beverly Mockel returned to Cooperstown, New York to talk her husband, artist Henry R. Mockel, into moving to the Golden State. When she succeeded at this task, they moved to the town of Calico in the Mojave Desert in 1958. While residents of Calico, the Mockel’s often took trips to Joshua Tree National Park to see the wildflowers. They made frequent stops so Henry could paint flowers along the way. Eventually they decided they should move closer to the flowers, so they moved themselves and their 47-foot house trailer to Twentynine Palms in 1961. After settling into their new home, Henry and Beverly opened the Pioneer Art Gallery in what is now the Historic Plaza. One can only imagine that this new exciting desert lifestyle was quite a change for Henry, a former bookbinder, farmer and cattle rancher.

The painting is signed by Beverly. She may have painted it herself as the Desert Sun described her as an artist along with her husband Henry:

Henry and Beverly were trained artists and philosophers from New York who landed in the remote desert. Here they turned their efforts to creating illustrated books by hand with old presses at their studio.

I now know a little more about those behind the painting, which hangs in my living room next to the bay windows on the west side.

Human Remains Found In Joshua Tree National Park

Above, the south entrance sign of Joshua Tree National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Partially buried human remains were found in Joshua Tree National Park.

According to The Press-Enterprise:

TWENTYNINE PALMS — A visitor found partially buried human remains in Joshua Tree National Park, and an investigation into the suspicious death was underway, sheriff’s officials said. 

The visitor found the remains Saturday morning near Big Horn Pass Road and Park Boulevard, about six miles south of Twentynine Palms, and alerted a park ranger who then contacted the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, according to a news release from the park.

To read more, go here. 

Fire Damages Oasis of Mara At Joshua Tree National Park

Above, Joshua Tree National Park's south entrance sign. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

An upsetting report from Joshua Tree National Park is making headlines.

Fox News reported:

LOS ANGELES –  A suspected arson fire at Joshua Tree National Park in California has damaged a historical landmark. 

The fire that broke out late Monday damaged the Oasis of Mara, a site settled by Native Americans who planted the 29 palm trees that inspired the name of the nearby city Twentynine Palms, according to the National Park Service. 

Strong winds stoked the rapid spread of the fire, which was contained at less than a square mile (2.58 square kilometers), Eric Sherwin said, a spokesman for the San Bernardino County Fire Department.

I remember first visiting the Oasis of Mara when I was around 5 years old right after my grandmother moved to Twentynine Palms. The Oasis has a nice trail with descriptions of different plant life, archaeological sites and other things of historical interest (including a girl's grave). I have revisited the Oasis about two more times.

I hope the trees are able to recover from the fire and, if is arson, the person responsible is arrested.

To read more, go here.

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UPDATE (3/28/18):

A suspect has been arrested for suspicion of arson, according to the Desert Sun. For details, go here.