By Ken Brafman, Image from ROWHS Collection
TITLE: SWITZERLAND SIGNS IN CRESTLINE: In 1938 the Lake Gregory Land and Water Company, who built and sponsored Club San Moritz, purchased much of the original Arrowhead Valley Club in Valley of the Moon. The company extensively renovated the clubhouse, and construction of the stonework was started. Much of this original stonework is still visible today. By the early 1950s the Club purchased a large portion of land surrounding the newly filled Lake Gregory and initiated a sales campaign to sell lots. One selling point was that new owners would qualify for membership in the exclusive club. As the development moved forward a master rock mason was brought in, believed to be John Adams, who built the stone pillars in 1946-1947 which marked the entrance into the Club San Moritz area and the Switzerland subdivision. The clubhouse opened in 1939 and stayed open until it burned to the ground in 1950. The present-day San Moritz Lodge was built on the shore of Lake Gregory in the early 1950s. The Yodeler figure was a strong brand for the Club as well as for the Yodeler Restaurant. In the early 2000s historian Russ Keller initiated with Jim Huff the restoration of the ‘Switzerland – Happy Return’ signs on Lake Drive. Russ had been looking for a woodworking shop and discovered that Jim had a great wood shop at his home in Crestline he called ‘Huffpetto’s Workshop.’ The signs in the early 2000s were beyond repair. The restoration required new wood. Historian Jim Huff made templates of the old signs, new signs were made by Jim and Russ and Jim’s wife, Doe, painted them in the original, authentic colors. Steel rods were added for reinforcement and the signs received a bath of three coats of spar urethane varnish. The first new signs were mounted atop the roofs of the stone pillars in July 2002 with the help of Jeff Kawell and his crane, as the weight was estimated at 150 pounds. The renovation of the rest of the Lake Drive signs followed. Upon completion of the project a speech was given, with the words, “We all hope these signs will be enjoyed for many years as a reflection of the golden period of Crestline history.” Approximately 10 years later the signs again required restoration. This time Jeff Bradford, of Crestline, did the work. Most recently another restoration project was completed, this time by ROWHS members Al Stearns and Kevin Lathrop (who also has a wood working shop).