Wrightwood

<p>Huxley spent his summer at Wrightwood at the old Ward house north of present day Highway 2 and across from Wright's Apple Orchard. He had bought the land and small house from its previous owner, Lettie Ward. It was a perfect quiet place for his writing, as he worked on "The Gioconda Smile" as a stage script.

The small house is located at present day 1036 Highway 2, in Wrightwood. At the north end of the existing house was the original structure before add-on's were built to it. It was built by the Nevada Live Stock Company and served as the second U.S. Ranger Station in the area. Containing a kitchen, living room, bathroom, and sleeping quarters, it more than fitted the bill for any ranger. Directly behind the cabin was where the horse and pack animals were kept. Over the years, this cabin and its first occupants is what made it very noteworthy. The complete story of the Ranger Station, and later known as the Huxley House, is available to read at the Wrightwood Museum. Its story is told by the present day owners, Carl and Janet Smith.

The Ranger Station/Huxley House chain of ownership was provided in a written account of the house, and given then to the museum by owners Mr. and Mrs. Smith. They closed it with a touching salute, "Although Aldous Huxley was the most famous person to own and occupy the house, he only lived here for approximately five years. We feel the forest rangers and the Lewis and Peterson families, who lived here longer and contributed so much to our community, are the real history of this house." Amen to that.

1926-Property owners Sumner and Katie Wright sell to Nevada Live Stock Company

UNK -Nevada Live Stock Company erected structure and sold to United States of America

1943-Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of The United States of America sell cabin and property to Security National Bank of Los Angeles

1943-Security National Bank of Los Angeles sell to Letti Ward

1945- Lettie Ward sell cabin and property to Aldous and Maria Huxley

1950- Aldous and Maria Huxley sell cabin, property and second addition to house, to Donald and Mary Lewis

1958-Donald and Mary Lewis sell cabin and property to Wrightwood Company

UNK-Wrightwood Company sell cabin and property to Harry G. Bernier

UNK- Harry G. Bernier sell to George and Elsie Elfining

1965-Gerald and Carolyn Peterson take possession-darkroom, present day entry, master bedroom and bath are added

1987-Gerald and Carolyn Peterson sell to Dale and Debbie Reed

1996-Dale and Debbie Reed sell to Larry and Belen Boyes

1997-Larry and Belen Boyes sell to Carl and Janet Smith</p>