The Lost Spring is so named because it's not there in dry weather, but is when there's been enough rain. It's about 16 miles from Diamond Springs, so it made a good stop a day out from there on the Santa Fe trail. Later, a station for mail-carriers was built there, and still later, a railroad came through.
On the approach to town, we saw an oil derrick in a field. When we asked the kids what they thought it was, Madelynne guessed, "A honey mill?"
It's a town full of small, modest houses. Like many in this area, some are in good condition and others are in advanced states of decay. We saw a post office, as well as some ruins, a decrepit church, and a closed grade school that had been established in 1910.
One yard was full of cars -- possibly a salvage yard. I said to Magen, "Must be someone who likes cars."
"Or doesn't," she responded.
It felt like a town on its way out, but I hope I'm wrong. After all, it's lasted just fine for the past 150 years. Maybe it will keep holding on somehow.
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