History of Bill Baker and
Running Springs
Running Springs
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| Dan Teter Real Estate |
Serving the San Bernardino Mountains
Contact Information:
Dan Teter, Broker
619.347.3755
Dan@DanTeter.com
Steffanie Miller, Realtor
909.648.7446
Steffanie.Miller@yahoo.com
Dan Teter, Broker
619.347.3755
Dan@DanTeter.com
Steffanie Miller, Realtor
909.648.7446
Steffanie.Miller@yahoo.com
History of Bill Baker
Bill and Juanita Baker were married in August 1942, after finishing High School in Wasco, California. Bill served in
WWII under General Patton’s Army overseas for 24 months. After serving his country, Bill and Juanita moved and
bought a gas station in Imperial Valley (Westmoreland). There in a little house behind the station their first daughter
was born (Yvonne). In 1949, Bill and Juanita and a good friend Bud Kissee bought a cafe and bar in Running Springs
called "The Wagon Wheel". For the next 9 years and 2 weeks, it would become a famous place for movie stars to visit
such as Ernie Ford, Lucille Ball, Dan Daily, Roy Rogers, Art Linkletter, Dean Martin, Donald O’Connor’s and many
more. During this time their second daughter, Brenda was born in 1950 and their son Billy was born in 1952. The
Wagon Wheel was the center of all community activities such as:
Lions Club Meetings (Bill was the president for 2 years)
Chamber of Commerce Meetings
Volunteer Firemen met there. (Bill was a volunteer)
Running Springs Women’s Club showed movies for the community.
Elementary School was held on the dance floor in the 40’s; later in the Women’s Club House (presently First
Foundation Bank)
Baby Showers
Birthday Parties for all ages.
Community Gatherings.
During forest fires our firemen were served free meals at the Wagon Wheel.
A dedication party for the Grand Opening of Highway 330 – movie star Ina Hutton and her band helped to
celebrate.
The Wagon Wheel had the first pay phone and it became a message center as Bill and Juanita responded to
the needs of the community.
Juanita and the other ladies held the Registration of Voters in the Wagon Wheel and spent hours counting the
votes by hand.
Easter sunrise services were held at the Wagon Wheel.
Everyone knew the Wagon Wheel and gathered for all of its functions. It had become a nice dinner house and Bar
with entertainment weekly and pianist Mitch Todd. Around 1970 the Wagon Wheel was torn down.
In 1957, Bill went into Real Estate selling a new development in Running Springs called R.O.W.C.O., Inc., and
became a Real Estate Broker in 1959. At that time Bill made it possible to have ROWCO donate land for the Running
Springs Community Church to be built. Both of their daughters were married there, Brenda in 1971 and Yvonne in
1973. He later used his new home in ROWCO, which had the first indoor swimming pool, for meetings to help as they
developed the Running Springs Water Company. After several meetings in resident’s homes, our first Water Company
was officially formed and operated in a brick building in the Luring Pines area.
As Running Springs grew over the years, Bill and Juanita have quite a lot of progress. From Sunday School classes
held in the Women’s Club House (presently First Mountain Bank) with sheets hung to divide classrooms, to Luring Pines
Pool and Recreational Area used often for Elementary School’s end of the year school picnic and party functions. To
Marie’s Grocery – Post Office, to single gas pumps (presently Don Pepe’s), to a Frog Pond where all of the community
kids played (presently industrial area in Running Springs, Action Auto) to their son, Billy, attending the first
Kindergarten class held in the Women’s Club.
Bill and Juanita Baker were married in August 1942, after finishing High School in Wasco, California. Bill served in
WWII under General Patton’s Army overseas for 24 months. After serving his country, Bill and Juanita moved and
bought a gas station in Imperial Valley (Westmoreland). There in a little house behind the station their first daughter
was born (Yvonne). In 1949, Bill and Juanita and a good friend Bud Kissee bought a cafe and bar in Running Springs
called "The Wagon Wheel". For the next 9 years and 2 weeks, it would become a famous place for movie stars to visit
such as Ernie Ford, Lucille Ball, Dan Daily, Roy Rogers, Art Linkletter, Dean Martin, Donald O’Connor’s and many
more. During this time their second daughter, Brenda was born in 1950 and their son Billy was born in 1952. The
Wagon Wheel was the center of all community activities such as:
Lions Club Meetings (Bill was the president for 2 years)
Chamber of Commerce Meetings
Volunteer Firemen met there. (Bill was a volunteer)
Running Springs Women’s Club showed movies for the community.
Elementary School was held on the dance floor in the 40’s; later in the Women’s Club House (presently First
Foundation Bank)
Baby Showers
Birthday Parties for all ages.
Community Gatherings.
During forest fires our firemen were served free meals at the Wagon Wheel.
A dedication party for the Grand Opening of Highway 330 – movie star Ina Hutton and her band helped to
celebrate.
The Wagon Wheel had the first pay phone and it became a message center as Bill and Juanita responded to
the needs of the community.
Juanita and the other ladies held the Registration of Voters in the Wagon Wheel and spent hours counting the
votes by hand.
Easter sunrise services were held at the Wagon Wheel.
Everyone knew the Wagon Wheel and gathered for all of its functions. It had become a nice dinner house and Bar
with entertainment weekly and pianist Mitch Todd. Around 1970 the Wagon Wheel was torn down.
In 1957, Bill went into Real Estate selling a new development in Running Springs called R.O.W.C.O., Inc., and
became a Real Estate Broker in 1959. At that time Bill made it possible to have ROWCO donate land for the Running
Springs Community Church to be built. Both of their daughters were married there, Brenda in 1971 and Yvonne in
1973. He later used his new home in ROWCO, which had the first indoor swimming pool, for meetings to help as they
developed the Running Springs Water Company. After several meetings in resident’s homes, our first Water Company
was officially formed and operated in a brick building in the Luring Pines area.
As Running Springs grew over the years, Bill and Juanita have quite a lot of progress. From Sunday School classes
held in the Women’s Club House (presently First Mountain Bank) with sheets hung to divide classrooms, to Luring Pines
Pool and Recreational Area used often for Elementary School’s end of the year school picnic and party functions. To
Marie’s Grocery – Post Office, to single gas pumps (presently Don Pepe’s), to a Frog Pond where all of the community
kids played (presently industrial area in Running Springs, Action Auto) to their son, Billy, attending the first
Kindergarten class held in the Women’s Club.
