Echoes of the past: The rowdy, resilient spirit of Descanso’s Town Hall

The Descanso Town Hall is all dressed up and patriotic Photo courtesy of Descanso Town Hall Association Before the freeway before the Wi-Fi before the weekenders with rooftop tents and espresso machines there was Descanso just a quiet mountain town with one road in one road out and a town hall that doubled as a dance floor a bar and on occasion target practice I m notified if you grew up around these hills you ve apparently heard the stories Town Hall Days weren t printed on calendars they just happened Someone would butcher a hog someone else would roll in a keg or two and word would spread By sundown the wood-paneled hall would be full of neighbors in boots and denim two-stepping to live country music or whatever was playing on the jukebox The historic plaque in front of Descanso Town Hall Photo courtesy of Bill Kirchner of Tucson Arizona Historical Marker Database Locals say it was our version of Vegas except with less glitter and more gun oil The parties ran late into the night Musicians played until their fingers gave out Kids curled up under piles of coats Someone was consistently outside tending a smoky barbecue And the drinks Moonshine if you knew who to ask Coors if you didn t One local legend that still circulates involves a particularly raucous night sometime in the s According to district lore the music may have gotten too loud or the crowd too wild Depending on who s telling the story someone shouted a warning or maybe even fired a gun into the ceiling to quiet things down Whether it was a dramatic gesture or just storytelling flair the tale perpetually ends the same way the room goes silent someone pours the guy another drink and the party carries on Longtime resident Susan Lancaster a member of the Descanso Town Hall Association doesn t doubt that something like that could have happened I am sure in the early s there were cowboys at several parties and having people armed with handguns isn t out of the question she disclosed As for the rumored bullet hole in the wall No clue about this she disclosed But those were different times What s clear is that the Town Hall has dependably been the heart of Descanso s social life In the early years there were several barn dances that entire families attended Lancaster mentioned Folks brought food in baskets and punch-bowl lemonade was popular Everything was homemade and brought to share Population traditions run deep here One of the town s oldest annual events dates all the way back to An earlier photo of Descanso Town Hall Photo courtesy of Descanso Town Hall Association The first fair was held across the creek under a revival tent Lancaster commented Since then there s constantly been a fair and later a parade was added This year the parade had entries and about neighbors and friends came out for the Descanso Day Fair There were pulled pork plates hot dogs beer soda a horseshoe tournament a kids zone with old-fashioned games and music by Big Sky Moon Great time everyone While the events are tamer in the present day the spirit remains Local neighborhood events still prevail like monthly pancake breakfasts Lancaster explained There are a lot of county permitting rules and regulations now that make it harder to start anything new Still the Town Hall endures thanks to a dedicated population Through a tremendous commitment by neighborhood members the Town Hall continues at present Lancaster declared We ve received grants from the supervisors offices Joel Anderson and Diane Jacob in later years that really help Promoting membership dues the Descanso Day Fair and Oktoberfest as well as several smaller events provide income to cover expenses Renting the hall for parties weddings and quinces brings in extra revenue that helps maintain the hall and grounds A wedding at Descanso Town Hall Photo courtesy of Descanso Town Hall Association Ask around and you ll hear a dozen different versions of the rowdy old days specific with a sheriff others with a deck of cards Still curious There are several Descanso history books in the Descanso Library she noted But whatever version of the stories you believe one thing s for sure Descanso may be quieter these days but its history still echoes through the hills The town s happy welcome sign Photo courtesy of Descanso Town Hall Association Historic Quirky Fast Facts About Town Hall and Descanso Built in using leftover lumber from the Hotel del Coronado Dedicated on Christmas Day for religious political literary and social purposes In the early th century locals rode horses to dances and tied them to the oak trees outside Sunday barn dances in the s drew families and ranchers from as far as Alpine and Pine Valley The hall fell into disrepair after World War II with broken windows and rotting wood In the Descanso Boosters Club was formed to restore the building members included ranchers postmasters and PTA assistants Monthly pancake breakfasts continue at present and often draw over locals for food and conversation The first July fair was held in under the oaks it has since grown to include a horseshoe tournament kids zone and live music Parade entries over the years have included tractors horseback riders classic cars and goats in costume Beer and pulled pork are staples at the fair certain years have featured cow chip bingo as a benefit event Town lore is preserved in rare Descanso history books available at the local library Sources Interview with Susan Lancaster Descanso Town Hall Association board member July Descanso Town Hall Association History of the Hall Historical Marker Database Descanso Town Hall CBS San Diego Party planners head for the hills for Descanso deal July Southern California Mountain News Archives Friends of the Descanso Library When Descanso Was Young and Descanso A Place of Rest Available at Descanso Branch Library Oral histories from Descanso residents collected by the Descanso Town Hall Association s present Southern California Fair and Parade Records Descanso Day Fair event archive