On Saturday January 27, 2007 the first event was held on the yearlong celebration of the 150^th Anniversary of the San Antonio and San Diego Mail Line.  The line was known as the "Jackass Mail" after the mules used to transport the mail over the mountain section of the trail in San Diego's backcountry.  This stage line was the first transcontinental mail rout connecting California to the rest of the United States.
  Events are a collaborative effort sponsored by several agencies in the southland, including the Colorado Desert Archaeology Society Anza-Borrego Foundation Institute and numerous historical societies and organizations.
  The first event of the year of celebration was organized by the Arizona Historical Society.  Beginning in Yuma, a twenty-two car caravan of carpools carrying people from Arizona Historical Society, and many San Diegans from across the county, to the stage station sites across the border in Northern Baja California.
  The stations visited were Cooke's Well, Gardner's Well and Alamo Mocho.  Upon arriving at Cooke's and Gardner's it was difficult to get a sense of the past; there were no visible remains and the sites themselves have drastically changed in appearance.  The most interesting of the three stations was Alamo Mocho, named for the cottonwood stump present when the early travelers first arrived.  At this place we were able to match up the site with a historic drawing.  It was exciting to stand in this historic setting looking at the same view that was seen by these early travelers 156 years ago.

  A great series of events has been planned and you are encouraged to participate in as many as you can.  Additional events planned for 2007 include two horse and mule reenactment rides May 4-6 and June 15-17; a celebration at the Penasquitos Station site in Penasquitos County Park on June 2^nd; car and hiking tours, June 9^th, of portions of the route; and a grand arrival of the mail in Old Town San Diego, August 31, 2007. Additional information is available at www.parks.ca.gov/archaeology

  Even though we are a grassroots organization, the pitfalls of advocacy and lobbying for our community history and cultural character preservation is part of our responsibilities.  Here's what other organizations have said.
~Chris Herzog, President

  Any historical society can be a success if it has strong leadership, an exciting and creative agenda and very active members! Right? Wrong! Although all these things are worthwhile, there are other characteristics of a successful society that are musts, if an organization is to flourish in an area.
  Work with other organizations. The first component of success is the understanding by all the members, as well as the officers, that the historical society exists in partnership with every other organization in a community, and these groups must work in consort toward the common goal of preserving the history of an area.
  We cannot be isolated and think that we can do it all ourselves. We must get the cooperation from other organizations and enlist their members as well as ours in projects of preservation. The more we can bring together others in the area, the more we will receive support as we seek funding and volunteers for restoration projects.
  Work with officials. The second component of success is a good working relationship with the city council, county board of supervisors or whatever civic or county governing board is in the area. The support of civic leaders can cut through red tape, help provide the information needed regarding codes, etc., and can be a strong support advocate for a project.
  City councils and county boards must learn, through your constant input, that you are the historical "arm" of the area and can be relied upon to work with them together on projects such as the "historic element" of the general plan of a city, "Main Street USA," or the identification of historic buildings and sites.
  These groups need to learn to look to you for the answers to questions about history, and you need to watch and listen for any breach of historic preservation integrity. Together, a city council or county board of supervisors and a historical society can do much to preserve today for tomorrow.
  An isolated historical group can do very little with its limited means, small membership and overworked leaders. When the group learns to recognize that as a society it must lead others to see the need for historic preservation and must seek to involve others in civic projects, it will become a strong, active, successful historical society.