Old Harmony Borax Works
On the marsh near this point borax was discovered
in 1881 by Aaron Winters who later sold his
holdings to W. T. Coleman of San Francisco. In 1882
Coleman built the Harmony Borax Works and
commissioned his superintendent J. W. S. Perry to design
wagons and locate a suitable route to Mojave.
The work of gathering the ore (called cottonball)
was done by Chinese workmen. From this point
processed borax was transported 165 miles by
twenty mule team to the railroad until 1889.
This sign is found along a route which has been photographed for inclusion in
the UntraveledRoad virtual world. To see and follow the route this sign
is on, click on its image.