My dad worked on the Base like many others who lived in Ridgecrest.  I was born in 1964 on Burns Street on the Base.  Shortly after, we moved to Maryland, then to Arizona, but came back when I was in third grade.  I attended Viewig Elementary School and Mrs. Jean Scott was my teacher.  She was great!  After 4^th grade we moved out to R/C to California Blvd.

I left Ridgecrest when I was around 16 or 17.  I have many good memories of Ridgecrest and many painful ones as well.  My mom, Felicia Robbins, was killed in a car accident in 1978 a couple of miles from our house.  She was coming down Gateway Blvd and was hit at the intersection at Bowman Rd.  It was a tough time for all of us.  I was 14 at the time, and a Freshman at Burroughs High, my brother was 16 and a Junior.

I remember riding at the stables up the hill from us.  It was originally called Bottom Acres and then the name changed to Rancho Bajada.  I don’t remember the name of the road they were on and it may even be different now. It’s probably paved now, though it was dirt then.  Floyd and Velma Pickrell owned the stables and Mrs. Pickrell taught riding lessons. I learned a lot from her, not just about riding, but about life and friendships. I'll never forget my days at the stables. 

My family did a lot of hiking, camping and fishing in the area around Ridgecrest.  In the summertime, we used to go to Lake Diaz near Lone Pine to waterski.  That was always so much fun.  We also enjoyed going up to Walker's Pass in the Sierras when there was snow.  We would go sledding and then pile snow on top of our station wagon and try to bring it home.  There was usually a little left by the time we made it back and we would have snow ball fights on our street until all the snow was melted.

I remember when Kmart came to town.  We were so excited!  Before that there wasn't really anything in the way of a department store.  Once Kmart made it to town, my girlfriends and I would ride our bikes all the way across town to look at all the cool stuff they had, even if we couldn’t buy anything.

I also remember when we got our first stop light.  I believe it was at the intersection of Ridgecrest and China Lake Blvds.  I think that event put us on the map.

I heard somewhere that Ridgecrest’s original name was Crumville.  I didn’t know if that was true or not until I read someone else’s entry on this website.  So it is true!   

I remember going to the cinema in town with my friends.  We all went to see Star Wars when it first came out.  I think the ticket cost 50 cents.  I also remember the drive-in theater.  Too bad it’s gone now.

I remember making “snowmen” out of tumbleweeds.

I do remember that it snowed several inches one year.  I don’t remember how old I was, maybe 11.  That was really a fun time!  No school of course and we played in the snow all day!  I live in Michigan now and I’m sick of snow. Ha! Ha!

Many more memories, probably too many to write down here.  My mom and her parents are buried in the cemetary in R/C, so there will always be a part of me that stays there even though I live in Michigan and probably won’t be back to live, though maybe sometime to visit.  I would like to show my husband where I grew up and all the cool stuff in the surrounding area. 

God bless.

Cheryl Davidson (formerly Robbins)

I like it here--- most of the time, as with any other weather.

 Mr.Jones ,Pat ,you have a Super Site here and I am envious of

you and your friends that you grew up with in the Desert ,I would

also like to take this time to thank you for all of the years of service to your country as a Marine and as a Civilian.

 This site is something many of us talk about and wish we could do ,Pat you are undoubtedly "The Man".

  May The Lord Jesus watch over you and yours.

   God Bless You,Semper Fidelis,

    JimmyTude

I graduated in 73.  UCSB in 77.  By 85 I had my teaching credential and was teaching history and coaching debate for Ann Cierly, my debate coach at Burroughs.

Whoever would have thunk it?

Now I teach in Union City, still do some debate, and work with Carla Grober at James Logan High School.

What a long strange trip its been!

Don