Armstrong House & museum/ Chamber office and resource center/ NationWide Real Estate Services. Originally built by the Schmitt family around 1927. There were no electric utilities available to the property at the time. The old well and its windmill, holding tank and reservoir still remain. It was erected of concrete and sported the first indoor toilet facilities in the area. It was cooled in the summer by a wind-operated fan with a water reservoir in a window (similar to our evaporative cooler). The kitchen was across the back with a wood cook stove for winter and a kerosene operated stove for summer. There was a larder porch which was later enclosed with the same concrete construction to serve as a utility/mud room. Electricity was installed when it became available. The Schmitt's sold the property to a family named Armstrong in the 40's. Mrs. Ruth Armstrong was a rockhound of great renown. When Mr. Armstrong passed away she was determined to make it on her own grit. She enclosed the large covered front porch and made a commercial rock shop out of the front half of the house. The back half of the house was her family's living quarters. Rocks were used to face the front of the house and it became known as the "Rock House". Customers from all over would contact her to find particular rocks for them. Ruth became ill in the 80's and sold the property to John Melito who loved to garden. He planted fruit and shade trees and did decorative borders with the many rocks left on the property. There is a bearing date palm grove, pears, almonds, apricots and black walnuts. John sold the property in 1998 to the owner of NationWide Real Estate Services. She is currently restoring the house and plans a museum of the area and the house's history. Creative work by members of the community will be welcomed for display. Locally grown pistachios are available for sale. The real estate office and the main office of the Chamber are located here. You may have to step over construction projects for a while but local resources and information are obtainable here.
Turn right (North) on to Newberry Road. Mile: 10.6 [34-49.38N] [116-39.77W]
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