Thank you

John Hernandez10:34am Apr 17

The San Manuel Miner wants me to begin writing a series about growing up in San Manuel. It would be something along the lines of a where are they now, memories of the town and the people, etc. What I am asking is for everyone on this site to begin sharing stories and memories about San Manuel, your favorite teacher, coach, friends, experiences, etc. I would also like to hear about what you would like to read about concerning growing up in San Manuel. You can contact me at johnh@minersunbasin.com or on this site.

I have no idea who you are, but thanks for hosting this site so that former and present tri community residents can share a common link.

In telling my wife about this site I had to explain why I didn’t “know” most of the posters which made me realize I don’t know the entire history of Magma, and the surrounding towns.
I started the third grade in San Manuel in a house across from First Avenue because both grade schools hadn’t been finished yet and the upper arcade was also still being built which made me wonder about the state of the high school at that time. There has been mention of busing to Florence (long haul) and the barracks. I vaguely remember the barracks being old wooden buildings out at the trailer court but that could be a faulty memory.

That’s my point. As a third grader I wasn’t too concerned about the bigger world so even though I was there I can’t recall what the older kids were doing for schools. Who can remember the first class and graduating class of SMHS and where was the the very first school of any kind in or near the San Manuel townsite.

What was it like as a San Manuel, Mammoth and Oracle student before the three red brick schools were completed?

To this day it is rare to find anyone who knows of San Manuel so it was kinda cool to read through some peoples comments. I haven’t been back in years. My dad still lives there but visits me in the valley now a days. My grandparents still live in Mammoth. There are still people who live in the tri-community that I know. I sometimes think of going down there but it is kinda depressing sometimes.

I think the good ole’ glory days of FM, Mormon pond and cruising uptown were gone shortly after ’95. But I still do remember the days of walking for a slice of pizza for lunch, getting chased by Principal Donaldson on Senior ditch day (because we weren’t seniors) and it getting close to summer so time for water balloon fights (only to get it bad because a windshield or two became casualties of the war).

Once the mine closed everyone truely had to go their own way and it is just sad to go back and see a place that at one time seemed so alive with families, pranks (yes I do know of pumpkin stealing on Halloween) and just the bustle of a small town seemed to vanish.

I am just glad I got to be a wild teen in a place that meant being wild was at most getting caught underage drinking. In an era where now anyone could be the wrong person to walk up to, most people are amazed that I grew up somewhere where people didn’t always lock their doors and stay at home moms were the norm.

Great memories of a neat drive-in and even nicer owner. I was very fond of Joe Arrington.

John Olson