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By: Jessyka Heredia
WATCH FULL VIDEO HERE: https://youtu.be/uheUnysqWtM?si=irgfHh5_9CbH7_6N
October 24, 2023 (El Cajon) --
Most, if not all of us have travelled down Interstate 8 countless times, but you have likely passed up a lot of history that dates back more than 100 years while getting to your destination. The Old Spanish Trail Centennial Celebration Association (OTS100) is in town celebrating 100 years of the trail’s history with a series of events the community can attend free in early November including a museum reception, history lectures, and drives through our backcountry.
This week, the OTS100 held a conference at the Olaf Wieghorst Museum in El Cajon with several guest speakers to kick off the exciting series. Jack Doherty (pictured on the right), business manager for the Olaf Wieghorst Museum and former Lemon Grove councilman, opened the panel and gave a brief explanation of the history of how Old Highway 80 started, with portions becoming what we now know as Interstate 8.
Doherty stated that back in 1923 “San Diego was named the terminus of the transcontinental highway that ran between Florida down to San Diego. That highway eventually was funded by the federal government and by the 1950s became the most travelled transcontinental highway in the United States.”
Jim Daniels (pictured on the left), President of the Olaf Wieghorst Museum has said that “Olaf Wieghorst drove the transcontinental route, pulling a trailer from Florida to San Diego with his wife and14 year old son.” The museum is hosting this event and seems quite the fitting spot to begin our journey in time.
Charlotte Kahl (pictured on the right), President of the Old Spanish Trail Centennial Association, spoke in depth. “In 1915, there were a lot of north/south highways being built, but there weren’t east/west highways being built,” she explained. “So, everyone was coming down to Mobile, Alabama, all the tourists were coming down to Florida and New Orleans and nobody was coming to their hotels. So, they got together and said, ‘Other people have a highway; we need a highway.’” In 1919, San Antonio became the headquarters section of the beginnings of the Old Spanish Trail.
Kahl stated that the organization started having these annual reenactments and annual conferences in Mobile in 2015, then Tallahassee and Pensacola and other sites. “They had a big conference in 1923 here, so here we are (San Diego) in 2023 to celebrate that.”
Larry Fletcher (pictured on the left), the oldest living male descendent of Col. Ed Fletcher ,was also in attendance. Col Fletcher was a great businessman who found himself later to be a road builder and developer of much of East County, among other accomplishments. He had a passion for highway development, especially connecting San Diego with the east. The Colonel’s grandson Larry Fletcher shared the history and legacy his grandfather created and told the audience, “He was always looking ahead, 30 years ahead.”
Robert M Harding Jr, (pictured on the right) a writer, lecturer, and Vice President of the Lakeside Historical Society ,was also there to give the public a preview of what you can learn and experience at the conference. Harding said, “I helped the OST people develop their driving map and I think everyone should come out and drive it because there’s things that are hidden on this road that you never knew they were there from the 1920’s.”
Drive coordinator for OST Newell Booth (pictured below) is heading up a classic car motorcade up the Old Spanish trail during Saturdays event November 4, 2023. That will take you from the Marriot Courtyard on Magnolia Avenue in El Cajon at 9 a.m. on the old trail with a stop at the Sycuan gas station, then off to Flinn Springs Park where a picnic lunch will be provided. Free maps with information on what can be seen on the trail are provided. Classic and new cars are invited and the event to caravan in your own vehicle is free.
Event Schedule
Thursday November 2 - a reception at the Wieghorst museum in the evening.
Friday November 3 – History Lectures at Courtyard Marriot in El Cajon from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Exhibits open from noon till 4 p.m.
Saturday November 4 -- Back Country Drive up Olde Highway 80. 9 a.m. meet up at the Courtyard Marriot in El Cajon or join up at Sycuan gas station ending at Flinn Springs park.
Sunday November 5 – A guided drive, reservations are needed or self-guided drive and self-guided walks with maps provided.
Pre Registration is now closed, however, additional information can be found at http://oldspanishtrailcentennial.com/ and walk ups are allowed.
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