Pre-1880s: Early Mojave Desert Development
1776: Father Francisco Garces documents the Mojave River area and its indigenous rancherias, providing some of the earliest written records of the region.
1859: The Mojave Road is established, linking Fort Mojave to Los Angeles, allowing for increased military and civilian travel across the desert.
1870s: Mining activities increase in the Mojave Desert, with early exploration in the Calico Hills, setting the stage for future silver and borax booms.
1880s: Founding and Early Growth
1882: Southern Pacific Railroad extends a line from Mojave to the Colorado River, solidifying Daggett as a transportation hub vital to freight and mining operations.
1883: The Stone Hotel is constructed by Victor Van Briesen as a two-story building with thick stone walls and a glass dome, becoming a prominent structure in town.
1885: Seymour Alf purchases the hotel and begins operating Alf's Railroad Eating House, catering to railroad passengers and workers.
1888: The Calico Railroad is completed, transporting silver ore from Calico to Daggett. Daggett flourishes with 20 saloons and a surge in economic activity, as miners and merchants fuel the town's rapid expansion.
1889: Francis M. "Borax" Smith shifts borax operations to the Calico Hills, discovering colemanite deposits and establishing the Pacific Coast Borax plant near Daggett. This marks a transition from silver to borax as the region's dominant industry.
1890s: Mining Boom and Infrastructure Development
1890: The Stone Hotel survives a fire but requires significant rebuilding. A central staircase and turret are added, reinforcing its status as a key landmark.
1893: The Southern California Improvement Company begins work on the Daggett Ditch (Minneola Canal), aiming to bring irrigation and hydroelectric power to the region, though long-term success proves elusive.
1894: Alf's Blacksmith Shop is rebuilt after a fire and continues crafting borax wagons, crucial for transportation before rail fully takes over.
1897: The Daggett and Borate Railroad replaces 20-mule teams, improving efficiency in transporting borax from Mule Canyon to Daggett, signaling a shift toward mechanized transport.
1898: The Southern California Improvement Company goes bankrupt, and plans for the Minneola farming colony fail, demonstrating the difficulty of sustaining large-scale agriculture in the arid region.
1900s: Transition and Decline
1901: Theodore and Dix Van Dyke revive the Daggett Ditch project, managing to irrigate 320 acres east of Daggett, though the effort does not lead to lasting agricultural success.
1907: The Daggett and Borate Railroad is decommissioned as borax operations move to new locations, reducing Daggett's importance in the industry.
1908: The Stone Hotel suffers another fire, this time losing its second story. The damage diminishes its role as a major lodging and social center, marking a decline in the town's economic vibrancy.
1909: Daggett begins losing prominence as Barstow develops into a major railroad hub. The Santa Fe Railway centralizes its operations in Barstow, drawing businesses and workers away from Daggett. Barstow's superior location along major rail routes leads to its rise, while Daggett is left in its shadow.
1910s-1940s: Daggett's Role Diminishes
1912: Walter Alf moves Alf's Blacksmith Shop to its current location, where it continues operating for decades, though the town's overall economy slows.
1924: Minneola's school district closes, marking the end of efforts to revive the failed settlement.
1940s: During World War II, the Daggett Garage serves as a mess hall for soldiers guarding railroad bridges, briefly bringing activity back to the town.
1950s-1970s: Later Years
1950s: Fish are reported in the Daggett Ditch, which remains in use for limited irrigation despite previous setbacks in large-scale agriculture.
1970: Walter Alf passes away, marking the end of Alf's Blacksmith Shop as an active operation, a symbol of the town's waning industrial presence.
1970s: Interstate 40 bypasses Daggett, further reducing its economic activity. With major transportation routes now directing traffic away from the town, businesses see a steep decline, cementing Daggett's status as a quiet desert community.