Searles Valley Historical Society
 
The Trona History House
The History House is one of the earliest homes built in the new community of Trona, California. 
Originally, this house and those next to it on Panamint and Magnolia Streets were company owned
and reserved for company managers. All of the early managers that were responsible for constructing,
starting up, and operating the Trona Plant lived in these houses.

The houses had two small bedrooms, one bath, a living-dining area, and a kitchen with a breakfast nook.
The houses were surrounded on all sides by a wide porch and wide eaves. These were to keep the hot
summer sun off the walls of the house to make them less hot during a summer afternoon. Still, without
any form of cooling, the temperature inside these houses must have reached near 100oF in mid to late
afternoon .

Trona History House Built in 1920
 Wide Porches

Sleeping on Porch
 People often slept on their porches during the summer. With daytime temperatures over 115oF and early mornings still over 80oF, it would be too hot to sleep inside. People would also hang burlap soaked in water around the areas where they slept to obtain a small amount of cooling that way.

Go to |  History House Site Map  | 
Go to |  Master Site Map    |


Searles Valley Historical Society
P. O. Box 630
13193 Main Street
Trona, CA 93592-0630
Phone (760) 372-5222    e-mail 

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Reproduction or other uses of any of these contents  without the written permission of the owner is prohibited.
If you want to use any of the contents, contact the SVHS at any of the above.

This web site was assembled and is maintained by Jim Fairchild. Current as of 11/29/2007