Those Were The Days — John Dexter, a man who made this mountain better

By Rhea-Frances Tetley
Staff Writer

John Dexter, who was born in San Bernardino on Feb. 16, 1892, attended school in San Bernardino where he graduated from the eighth grade. He remained an avid reader and learner his whole life. His first mountain trip was to Baldwin Lake, where his brother, George, was working, with his family. John was enrolled in school there because another student was needed to keep the school open.

The cross that John Dexter made for the community for Easter sunrise services. (Photo by Bruce Risher)

John’s first trip to the Little Bear Lake area was in 1904 (future Lake Arrowhead), bringing up two loads of cement and unloading them for the construction of the dam. That summer, he worked with this brother, George, and father building the Mooney cabin at the exclusive Squirrel Inn Club, learning carpentry skills and repeated that job in the summer of 1906.  At age 16, he apprenticed with a baker in San Bernardino, baking breads and cakes.

In 1913, Al Franz, manager of the Squirrel Inn Club, hired John as their pastry chef. In the summer of 1914, John met his future wife, Mabel, when she became a waitress at the Squirrel Inn, marrying in 1915. John continued to work there on and off for years.

During summer 1916, John and his brother, Greg, built cabins on Strawberry Flat. John also became a forestry fire warden that year. John became the “road boss” in 1918 for Rim of the World Drive from Cedar Glen to the top of the switchbacks below Crestline, using a shovel, pickaxe and wheelbarrow, earning $2.25 an hour, keeping the dirt road passable.

From 1918 though 1922, John was the winter caretaker at the Squirrel Inn. While John was absent, the Squirrel Inn’s kitchen caught fire, and several cabins burned. John vigorously fought the fire. Subsequently, he was presented a gold watch for meritorious service in the face of extreme danger.

In 1922, John built his sawmill in Strawberry Flat, building much of the Alpine Glen Park development with his wood and carpentry skills. In 1925, he helped construct the first fire lookout tower, protecting Lake Arrowhead.

He was very community minded and, during the Depression, he was Crest Forest District Constable and charter member of the San Bernardino County Flood Control Zone, on the State Forestry Insect Control Board and an early member of the Lake Arrowhead Chamber of Commerce, joining the Native Sons of the Golden West in 1926 and the Twin Peaks Masonic Lodge, building all their lodge room chairs. During WWII, he sold his lumber for ammunition boxes.

The old solid-wheel logging wagon restored by John Dexter, located on Highway 189 in Twin Peaks. (Photo by Rhea-Frances Tetley)

In 1948, John built and placed the large 12-foot-by-12-foot cross on the south side of Rim of the World Drive, on the hillcrest, for use during Easter sunrise services, across from Crest Park on Forest Service property. Lake Arrowhead Elementary School, later Rim of the World High School, was built across the street.

For some Easter sunrise services, a piano was transported to the site in the back of a pickup truck. Easter 1970 was especially spectacular because of the appearance of Comet Bennett.

The cross became a local landmark, and several couples were married there, including Forest Ranger Bruce Risher, because of the beautiful view of the valley and ocean, in 1987. It burned during the 2003 Old Fire.

John let his son-in-law take over the sawmill in 1953 and he retired and traveled. In 1963, John restored the oxen lumber wagon that now sits in front of the Masonic Lodge

In 1968, John Dexter was recognized as the Lake Arrowhead Chamber of Commerce’s first Citizen of the Year.  This month, the Lake Arrowhead Chamber celebrated its 100-year anniversary.

John’s wife, Mabel, died in 1973. John was admitted to the Lake Arrowhead Hospital in 1975 and died on Oct. 30, 1977, at age 85 – a man who made these mountains better.