CV History: How John Guthrie McCallum Became Palm Springs' First Permanent Non-Native American Resident
A sick child, a concerned father seeking a healthy climate and a knowledgeable Native American kickstarted the development of Palm Springs. Because...
A sick child, a concerned father seeking a healthy climate and a knowledgeable Native American kickstarted the development of Palm Springs. Because his son Johnny suffered from tuberculosis, Judge John Guthrie McCallum had already abandoned a successful career and moved to San Bernardino, seeking a more salubrious climate. There, he was told by Will Pablo, his Cahuilla friend/interpreter, about an even warmer, dryer climate—and the healing properties of the hot springs called Agua Caliente. Together, the two men left the old Mormon town of San Bernardino, and upon arriving at the oasis, McCallum knew immediately that this 'Palm Valley,' as he called it, was for him.