STODDARD WELLS TAILGATE

By John Wease

BACK IN 2004, I RETIRED FROM MY LAST REAL JOB.

My wife, Susana, and I hit the road in our motor home as fulltime gem and mineral show vendors. We traveled the Western States, selling lapidary equipment and supplies and jewelry Susana made. With all our travels, we almost never missed the Stoddard Wells Tailgate Show, hosted by the Victor Valley Gem and Mineral Club. It was the first show we ever set up to sell at. We had two tables with a little petrified wood, and Susana’s handiwork, and we made a whopping $27. I spent about $300 on rocks so maybe business genius I am not. We made a lot of friends amongst the vendors in the many years we were in business. It was very nice to visit those that were at the 47th Annual Stoddard Wells show. Held every year on the second weekend in March, the show is located seven miles east of the Dale Evans Parkway on Stoddard Wells Road. The road at that point is a sometimes very rough dirt road and runs through the Stoddard Valley Off Highway Vehicle Area so it gets a lot of use by offroad enthusiasts. The trip is worth it though if you are a rockhound or lapidary artist. The show site is at the base of an old Verde Antique marble mine. Vendors set up along the narrow dirt roads that wind through the privately-owned property. There were several old mines in the area, and Stoddard Wells Road was originally a wagon route through the desert. A little over one hundred years before the first Stoddard Wells Tailgate, Lafayette Mechum was contracted to haul a large order of hay from present day Victorville to Camp Cady. The normal route along the Mojave River Trail between present day Daggett and Victorville was 44 miles and required two long days, made more difficult by the deep sand in that area. Mechum found a route through the hills, cutting one whole day. Although it was over solid ground, and more direct, there was no water. Sheldon Stoddard dug a well and the route became heavily used. The name became Stoddard’s Well Road, later Stoddard’s Wells, and finally Stoddard Wells Road.

Most, if not all, gem and mineral clubs, host annual shows as their major fund raiser for the year. Most are indoors, and most have become more about finished goods, jewelry, and beads. The lapidarist wants rough rock he can cut, polish, or transform into whatever facet of the hobby he prefers. Stoddard Wells Tailgate is one of the very few Southern California shows with mostly rough rock. It draws customers from all over Southern California. We commonly saw customers from San Diego, Los Angeles, Bakersfield, the Antelope and Victor Valleys, and the Inland Empire. Because of this, there are many professional vendors there each year. Because there are no vendor fees, there are also hobbyists selling or trading their excess rock treasures. Generally, at very reasonable prices.

March is a confusing time in the desert, weatherwise. It can be warm. It can be quite cold. It could rain, or even snow. We have experienced all of the above in one weekend. Recent stormy weather likely affected turnout this year. But, like my father used to say, when it is nice in the desert, it is really nice. To the hardcore rockhound, it is never too cold. Several diehard rockhounds we knew in the past are now vendors and were present at this year’s show.

At our first “successful” show, the bulk of our sales were to Scott and Didi Naples. They are now vendors, and have an immense inventory of rough and finished rock at their Apple Valley location. They also purchased the high-end collection of Art and Rosamond Riggle and are displaying and selling their highly prized creations. A fun couple and good friends, they named their rock business “Let’s Get Stoned Lapidary”. More altruistic than I, all proceeds of their lapidary business are used to support their 501c3 nonprofit cat rescue, “You’re Not Forgotten Special Kitties Sanctuary, Inc.”

Another customer from our early days as vendors is Christopher Anthony of Bakersfield. He was a contractor who specialized in building commercial buildings. When the economy tanked, he had time to concentrate on his lapidary hobby. In 2008, he became a show vendor. His first show was also at Stoddard Wells. He became associated with a Mexican fire agate mine and began selling and cutting their fire agates. Since 2011, he has had his own fire agate mine, the “Jeberedhiah Fire Agate Mine, along with his Christopher Anthony Jewelry Design business. A talented craftsman, he is supporting his family of four through a lot of hard work, but doing it with work that he loves.

Of course, most lapidary hobbyists do not start a business. Some may use it to supplement retirement income. The vast majority just enjoy the hobby. The best way to learn about lapidary is to join a gem and mineral club. The Victor Valley Gem and Mineral Club is located at 15056-B 7th Street in Victorville. Their phone number is 760-243-2330. They have a great workshop, and classes for members. They have field trips, a kids’ group, lending library, monthly meetings, etc. Give them a try. It is an interesting and educational hobby. Maybe we’ll see you next year at the Stoddard Wells Tailgate.