Sackett's Wells, California facts for kids

Sackett's Wells was once a small settlement in Imperial County, California. It was located about 3 miles (4.8 km) northwest of a place called Plaster City. You could find it near Coyote Wash.

A Look Back at Sackett's Wells

Sackett's Wells was a very important watering spot for a long time. The natural springs there were likely used by local Native American groups. Later, in the late 1700s, Spanish and Mexican explorers used it. They were traveling from New Spain to the California province. In the 1800s, Mexican settlers and travelers from Sonora also relied on these wells.

American Travelers and Explorers

The wells became even more important during the Mexican American War. American expeditions, like those led by Kearny and Cooke, stopped here for water. Many other travelers crossing the Colorado Desert also used this spot.

When the Southern Emigrant Trail was created, Sackett's Wells became a key watering place. This trail went from the Yuma Crossing to Los Angeles.

In 1854, a man named John Russell Bartlett wrote about Sackett's Wells. He described digging for water in a dry streambed. He said they found water about six feet down. The area was a flat, open desert with very few plants. It was also incredibly hot, reaching over 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) at noon!

The Butterfield Overland Mail Station

In 1858, the Butterfield Overland Mail company set up a stagecoach station at Sackett's Wells. This station was about 17.5 miles (28 km) southeast of Carrizo Creek Station. It was also 15 miles (24 km) northwest of Indian Wells Station.

When the American Civil War began, these mail stations were closed. However, the wells continued to be used by the Union Army and other travelers. After the war, Sackett's Wells became a station again. Other stagecoach companies used it for trips between California and Arizona Territory. This continued until the late 1870s, when railroads made stagecoach travel less common.

Today, the exact location of Sackett's Wells is unknown. A newspaper interview from 1925 mentioned a former stagecoach driver named John McCain. He said he could find the lost well. He described how a huge sandstorm completely buried the station.

Sackett's Wells in Books

The famous author Louis L'Amour wrote many books about the Old West. He mentions Sackett's Wells in his book, The Sackett Companion. Many of his stories are about a fictional family called the Sackett family. They move west across America over time.

Mr. L'Amour wrote The Sackett Companion to help his fans understand the Sackett family better. He said he chose the family name "Sackett" because of Sackett's Wells. He also mentioned that he searched for and found the well himself. Some people thought the well was named after a station keeper, Russell Sackett. But Mr. L'Amour believed it was named after Lt. Delos B. Sackett, who found the water and saved his expedition's mules.