In the 1930s, Walter Haussler, an almond rancher from Templeton,
CA, was sold a deed to a mercury mine by some hustlers from Las
Vegas.
Walt built buildings for the miners that were to come,
brought in some heavy equipment, including a pump, and set out to
process the lake bed silts.
There was no mercury there at all. Walt had been swindled!
Walt's son, Robert W. Haussler, now 96, asked me if I'd find the
site of his father's folly and let him know if it's still
there.
Much of what you'll see fits R.W. Haussler's recollection and
from the photos he says this is the place, knowing that it could
have been sold again and again by these swindlers and developed bit
by bit.
>Be sure to enjoy the sculpture garden to the west of the
building. Crazy desert rats at work!
Mr. Garmin was not his usual self, giving 50' accuracy fixes
today. If you get better position info, please post.
Congratulations to Rhino Ride for the FTF!