HSUMD MONTHLY GENERAL MEETING at the Historic USO Building.

JUNE’S HSUMD MEETING PRESENTS CURIOUS HISTORY.

To celebrate Father’s Day, what could be better than the story of a determined woman? The Historical Society of the Upper Mojave Desert’s June meeting will feature author C.V. Wooster presenting his book “Mrs. Orcutt’s Driveway”, the tale of a tenacious widow determined to preserve her property near Newberry Springs, California, from being bulldozed for an interstate highway. The meeting will take place on Sunday afternoon, June 21 at 2:00 p.m. at the Historic USO Building, 230 W. Ridgecrest Blvd.

Author and historian C. V. Wooster will present the remarkable true story behind Mrs. Orcutt’s Driveway, a little-known episode of Mojave Desert history involving one determined woman who found herself in conflict with government authorities over access to her own property. Rather than back down, she built her own road—an act that set off a dispute that has become a fascinating part of regional lore.

In this illustrated presentation, Wooster traces the journey that led him to uncover and document the story. Drawing on site visits, interviews with individuals connected to the events, and research from primary historical sources—including materials from the Johnson Presidential Library, separates legend from documented fact while bringing the human story behind the events to life. The talk also explores how a chance rediscovery of the story nearly sixty years after first hearing about it led him down a research path that ultimately resulted in the book.

C. V. Wooster is a longtime history teacher, historian, and author, whose work often explores overlooked stories and individuals who shaped the American landscape in unexpected ways. Over the course of a varied career, he has also worked as a building contractor and carpenter and has pursued music and writing as part of what he describes as a “Renaissance Man” approach to life—following curiosity wherever it leads. Wooster is the author of several books exploring history, psychology, and human stories, including “Searching for Bowlby”, “The Chinese Room”, and “History: Un-Attached”. More information about his work can be found at cvwooster.com.

The HSUMD now meets on the third Sunday of most months, except July and August. Each meeting features a presentation on some aspect of local history. Meetings are free, and all are welcome to attend. For more information on this or future meetings, call 760-375-8456 during Book store hours: Wednesday through Saturday from 11 am to 2 pm.