| Century 21 Bill Baker Realty, Inc. 31977 Hilltop Blvd, P.O. Box 2267 Running Springs, CA 92382 (909) 867-2711 - Office (909)867-2199 - Fax |
| 50 Years in Real Estate Says It All! |
| History of Bill and Juanita Baker |
| Running Springs in the 1950's |
| Bill and Juanita Baker |
Bill and Juanita Baker were married in August 1942, after finishing High School in Wasco,
California. Bill served in WWII under General Patton’s Army overseas for 24 months. After
serving his country, Bill and Juanita moved and bought a gas station in Imperial Valley
(Westmoreland). There in a little house behind the station their first daughter was born
(Yvonne). In 1949, Bill and Juanita and a good friend Bud Kissee bought a cafe and bar in
Running Springs called "The Wagon Wheel". For the next 9 years and 2 weeks, it would
become a famous place for movie stars to visit such as Ernie Ford, Lucille Ball, Dan Daily, Roy
Rogers, Art Linkletter, Dean Martin, Donald O’Connor’s and many more. During this time their
second daughter, Brenda was born in 1950 and their son Billy was born in 1952. The Wagon
Wheel was the center of all community activities such as:
• Lions Club Meetings (Bill was the president for 2 years)
• Chamber of Commerce Meetings
• Volunteer Firemen met there. (Bill was a volunteer)
• Running Springs Women’s Club showed movies for the community.
• Elementary School was held on the dance floor in the 40’s; later in the Women’s Club
House (presently First Mountain Bank)
• Baby Showers
• Birthday Parties for all ages.
• Community Gatherings.
• During forest fires our firemen were served free meals at the Wagon Wheel.
• A dedication party for the Grand Opening of Highway 330 – movie star Ina Hutton and
her band helped to celebrate.
• The Wagon Wheel had the first pay phone and it became a message center as Bill and
Juanita responded to the needs of the community.
• Juanita and the other ladies held the Registration of Voters in the Wagon Wheel and
spent hours counting the votes by hand.
• Easter sunrise services were held at the Wagon Wheel.
Everyone knew the Wagon Wheel and gathered for all of its functions. It had become a nice
dinner house and Bar with entertainment weekly and pianist Mitch Todd. Around 1970 the
Wagon Wheel was torn down. In 1957, Bill went into Real Estate selling a new development in
Running Springs called R.O.W.C.O., Inc., and became a Real Estate Broker in 1959. At that
time Bill made it possible to have ROWCO donate land for the Running Springs Community
Church to be built. Both of their daughters were married there, Brenda in 1971 and Yvonne in
1973. He later used his new home in ROWCO, which had the first indoor swimming pool, for
meetings to help as they developed the Running Springs Water Company. After several
meetings in resident’s homes, our first Water Company was officially formed and operated in a
brick building in the Luring Pines area.
As Running Springs grew over the years, Bill and Juanita have seen quite a lot of progress.
From Sunday School classes held in the Women’s Club House (presently First Mountain Bank)
with sheets hung to divide classrooms, to Luring Pines Pool and Recreational Area used often
for Elementary School’s end of the year school picnic and party functions. To Marie’s Grocery
– Post Office, to single gas pumps (presently Don Pepe’s), to a Frog Pond where all of the
community kids played (presently industrial area in Running Springs, Action Auto) to their son,
Billy, attending the first Kindergarten class held in the Women’s Club
California. Bill served in WWII under General Patton’s Army overseas for 24 months. After
serving his country, Bill and Juanita moved and bought a gas station in Imperial Valley
(Westmoreland). There in a little house behind the station their first daughter was born
(Yvonne). In 1949, Bill and Juanita and a good friend Bud Kissee bought a cafe and bar in
Running Springs called "The Wagon Wheel". For the next 9 years and 2 weeks, it would
become a famous place for movie stars to visit such as Ernie Ford, Lucille Ball, Dan Daily, Roy
Rogers, Art Linkletter, Dean Martin, Donald O’Connor’s and many more. During this time their
second daughter, Brenda was born in 1950 and their son Billy was born in 1952. The Wagon
Wheel was the center of all community activities such as:
• Lions Club Meetings (Bill was the president for 2 years)
• Chamber of Commerce Meetings
• Volunteer Firemen met there. (Bill was a volunteer)
• Running Springs Women’s Club showed movies for the community.
• Elementary School was held on the dance floor in the 40’s; later in the Women’s Club
House (presently First Mountain Bank)
• Baby Showers
• Birthday Parties for all ages.
• Community Gatherings.
• During forest fires our firemen were served free meals at the Wagon Wheel.
• A dedication party for the Grand Opening of Highway 330 – movie star Ina Hutton and
her band helped to celebrate.
• The Wagon Wheel had the first pay phone and it became a message center as Bill and
Juanita responded to the needs of the community.
• Juanita and the other ladies held the Registration of Voters in the Wagon Wheel and
spent hours counting the votes by hand.
• Easter sunrise services were held at the Wagon Wheel.
Everyone knew the Wagon Wheel and gathered for all of its functions. It had become a nice
dinner house and Bar with entertainment weekly and pianist Mitch Todd. Around 1970 the
Wagon Wheel was torn down. In 1957, Bill went into Real Estate selling a new development in
Running Springs called R.O.W.C.O., Inc., and became a Real Estate Broker in 1959. At that
time Bill made it possible to have ROWCO donate land for the Running Springs Community
Church to be built. Both of their daughters were married there, Brenda in 1971 and Yvonne in
1973. He later used his new home in ROWCO, which had the first indoor swimming pool, for
meetings to help as they developed the Running Springs Water Company. After several
meetings in resident’s homes, our first Water Company was officially formed and operated in a
brick building in the Luring Pines area.
As Running Springs grew over the years, Bill and Juanita have seen quite a lot of progress.
From Sunday School classes held in the Women’s Club House (presently First Mountain Bank)
with sheets hung to divide classrooms, to Luring Pines Pool and Recreational Area used often
for Elementary School’s end of the year school picnic and party functions. To Marie’s Grocery
– Post Office, to single gas pumps (presently Don Pepe’s), to a Frog Pond where all of the
community kids played (presently industrial area in Running Springs, Action Auto) to their son,
Billy, attending the first Kindergarten class held in the Women’s Club
