Willow Springs Station facts for kids

Willow Springs Station was an important stop along the Butterfield Overland Mail route. This route was a famous stagecoach service in the 1800s. The station was located in what is now Murrieta, California, in Riverside County, California. It was also known by names like Alamos, Clines's, Kline's, or Willows. This station was added in 1859 to help stagecoaches change horses and get water in hot, dry areas. Willow Springs was originally called Alamos Springs. It was found near Santa Gertrudis Creek on the Rancho Temecula land.

A Busy Stop in the Old West

Alamos Springs was a popular camping spot with good water. Many travelers used it during the California Gold Rush. This was a time when many people moved to California hoping to find gold.

The Ranch at Willow Springs

In 1853, two men named David Cline (or Kline) and William Moody started a ranch here. They were "squatters," meaning they settled on land without officially owning it. A traveler named Benjamin Ignatius Hayes visited their ranch in 1861.

Hayes described the Willow Station as a place where he was "cordially met." He noted that travelers usually did not stay overnight unless it was absolutely necessary. Cline and Moody had been there for seven years. They had about 200 acres of land fenced in.

They used to grow grain but found it was not profitable. This was because it was too far to take their crops to market. Instead, they cut a lot of hay each season. Their hay was excellent, with four kinds of clover. Their farm animals were in great shape.

Life at the Station

Cline was from Pennsylvania. He had settled there hoping the land would become government property. Because he was not sure about owning the land, he had not built many expensive improvements. The land was also claimed by Don Luis Vignes from Los Angeles.

Hayes also mentioned a trail from Temecula to San Juan. He described a good road from the station to San Bernardino. This road had enough water and grass for travelers. From Kline's porch, people could see Mount San Bernardino and San Jacinto.

Near Kline's, there were also many huts belonging to local Native American people. These huts were inside a shared fence, and the ground was used for farming.

After the Mail Service

The Willow Springs Station continued to be used even after the Butterfield Overland Mail service stopped. During the American Civil War, it served as a camp for Union Army troops.

In the spring of 1862, Company D, 2nd Cavalry, California Volunteers was stationed at "Post at Kline's Ranch." This was noted in a report by Lt. Col. Richard C. Drum.

However, in 1860, the Rancho Temecula land was officially given to Jean-Louis Vignes. This meant Kline and Moody could not get legal ownership of their ranch. They likely lost their land during the Great Drought of 1863–64. This drought caused many people to lose their farms.

The Site Today

Today, the original site of Willow Springs Station is located within a business park. It is near the intersection of Cherry Avenue and Jefferson Avenue in Murrieta.

To the south, in Temecula, some open land from Kline's Ranch still exists. It is now a flood control basin near Santa Gertrudis Creek. You can still see Alamos trees (a type of cottonwood tree) growing along the old creek bed.