Gypsite, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gypsite
|
|
|---|---|
|
Ghost town
|
|
 Gypsite
Location in California
Gypsite
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Kern County |
| Elevation | 1,959 ft (597 m) |
Gypsite was a small community in Kern County, California. It was located in the Mojave Desert, about 3 miles (5 km) southwest of Saltdale. This place was important because of a mill that processed a special mineral called gypsite. Gypsite is a mix of gypsum and clay. The town was near Koehn Lake, south of Ridgecrest.
Contents
History of Gypsite
Finding Gypsite Deposits
In late 1909, a man named Charles Koehn found a large amount of gypsite. He discovered it in the dry lakebed of Koehn Lake. This discovery led to the start of the Gypsite community.
Building the Mill and Town
Around 1910 or 1911, a company called California Crown Plaster & Gypsite Company leased Koehn's land. They built a mill at Kane (also called Cane) Spring, just north of where Gypsite would be. A post office opened in Gypsite in June 1911. It stayed open until March 1912.
In 1912, workers at the mill were making about 30 tons of plaster every day. This was a lot of plaster for only 12 men. Later that year, Charles Koehn sold the springs to Thomas Thorkildsen. Thorkildsen then sold them to the Diamond Salt Company of Los Angeles.
Growth and Changes
In 1913, the company built a 3-mile (5 km) narrow-gauge railroad. This railroad helped move the gypsite across the lake bed. The company also built a hotel, houses for workers, and a depot. They even built a new post office building, but it never reopened.
Decline of Gypsite
By 1915, the mining operation faced problems and stopped working. Charles Koehn took over the mill again. Production of gypsite happened on and off for many years. In 1928, Koehn lost control of the site. George Abel then took over the production. He continued the work until he passed away in the early 1930s. After that, the production of gypsite continued off and on until the 1950s. Eventually, the community became a ghost town.
