ANDERSON RESOLUTION PASSES LEGISLATURE: GRANTS HISTORIC DESIGNATION TO HIGHWAY 94

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Story and photos by Miriam Raftery

 

June 11, 2010 (Sacramento) - The California State Senate unanimously passed Assembly Concurrent Resolution 131, which grants historic designation to the portion of Highway 94 from Jamacha Road in Rancho San Diego to the junction with Historic Route 80. Authored by Assemblyman Joel Anderson (R-El Cajon), the Resolution previously passed the Assembly and is now law.

 

 

"Recognizing the historical value and rich history of Highway 94 will benefit surrounding businesses and provide the opportunity for improving visitor marketing," said Anderson. The legislation will officially grant "historic" designation to State Route 94, which has served as a transportation corridor to the east, and played a vital role in the implementation of the first telegraph line from San Diego to Yuma.

 

This resolution shared bipartisan support from co-authors Senator Denise Ducheny (D-Chula Vista) and Senator Dennis Hollingsworth (R-Poway), as well as wide support from businesses, organizations, and government offices including the San Diego Convention Visitors Bureau, the Highway 94 Club, and Supervisor Dianne Jacob.

Joe Terzi, CEO of the San Diego Convention & Visitors Bureau commented, "Designating Historic Highway 94 as an official California State Historic Route is a terrific addition to San Diego County's many wonderful heritage destinations. We thank our elected officials who have sponsored this resolution and our local communities for their support to add yet another visitor amenity that will help us to improve our tourism marketing efforts and improve visitor demand to the San Diego region."

 

San Diego ConVis has been working with elected officials and East County groups to help establish historic highway 94 from Rancho San Diego to the backcountry town of Boulevard. The region is rich in history, incorporating western lore and Native American heritage.

 

Barrett Junction served as the last station of the Buffalo Soldiers brigade, an African-American Civil War cavalry unit. Nowadays, a troupe of reenactors brings the past to life.

 

Nearby Campo is home to the Pacific Southwest Railway Museum, where visitors can still take a ride on historic trains.  An elevated railroad trestle can still be seen near Boulevard, while a historic bridge in Rancho San Diego once traversed by early automobiles is now open only to pedestrians.

 

There are also many historic buildings along the route, including the Potrero General Store, which dates back to the stagecoach era in the mid-1800s, the old western-style Barrett Junction Cafe, the Campo Diner (above right) complete with soda fountain, as well as Wisteria Candy Cottage and Beaver Creek Trading Company in Boulevard.  Historic churches, such as the Mt. Carmel Mission chapel shown at right, and an old pioneer and Indian cemetery in Jamul, are additional landmarks on or just off of old Highway 94.

 

The route also has scenic vistas, from spring wildflowers in Hauser Wilderness areas to dramatic boulders (such as the photo, left, at Sacred Rocks Reserve) --all awaiting visitors along this near-forgotten historic byway.

 

 


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