Cars waiting at Waterman Canyon

Exploits of the Automobile

As incredible as it sounds today, one of the big battles in San Bernardino from 1908-1912 involved the question of whether automobiles were to be allowed on mountain roads. Meetings were held, resolutions passed and petitions signed, demanding that the supervisors forbid autoists the use of roads. Lifelong friendships counted as nothing in the heated controversy; and before a solution was reached, many a supervisor wished that someone else had his job.

The teamsters, freighters, and drivers of buckboards wanted no part of these new-fangled horseless carriages, which frightened the horses. However, a compromise was finally reached, and autos were allowed on the roads at certain hours on certain days of the week. The schedule was gradually expanded as cars became more popular. For years, the tough and rugged teamsters, whenever they could, continued to make it most uncomfortable for the mountain motorist. Roads were narrow and horses always had the right of way; the automobile was forced to take the outside edge and to back up to the nearest turnout when the road was too narrow for passing. The teamsters always managed to time it so that there was plenty of backing to do.

It is pretty well agreed among the old-timers that Arthur Drew, an engineer on the Arrowhead dam project, was the first to take an automobile up the “switch-backs” to the top. Jack Weber, who came to San Bernardino in 1907 and later was one of the first mechanics in the Arrowhead garage, is positive that Drew made his historic trip in 1908 in a 1908 Oldsmobile. The achievement caused considerable excitement, because people were insisting that no automobile would ever be powerful enough to negotiate those steep mountain roads.

Dr. Baylis often told of one of the first attempts to go up the old Waterman Canyon Road in 1907. The car was a 1907 Tourist, made in Los Angeles, with the crank on the side and the entrance door in the rear. When it passed the Hot Springs, it was boiling like a Stanley Steamer; and Seth Marshall and the men from the hotel cheered the driver along with encouraging remarks, “You’ll never make it! You’ll never make it!” The prediction proved true. The car gave out a short distance above the old tollgate.

In 1910 Marshall Cooley drove his father’s 1907 model Tourist car to the top; this was undoubtedly the earliest car to ever negotiate the “switch-backs.” A 1924 model Star belonging to Perry Greene was the first car to make the trip in high gear.

Big Bear Lake Village Dr. Old Cars