Photo by Gary Ananian
The historical town of Havilah has been scarred by the Borel Fire that began on July 24, 2024. The fire, although under partial containment, is currently still active.
I had the opportunity to speak with Roy Fluhart, current President of the Havilah Centennial Group, Inc. (aka The Havilah Historical Society and Museum) Mr. Fluhart has been the President for the past two years and currently resides in Kernville but he has deep family roots established in 1930 with his Mother and Uncle raised in Havilah. His mother left but returned as an adult with her husband and family in 1948 ( Roy was about 2 years old). Roy’s father started working on the construction of the Isabella Dam at that time. Mr. Fluhart still has cousins and other relatives residing in the Havilah area. (It is unknown if the homes are still standing)
When was Havilah established and by who? Approx 1864 and the person credited with the founding was Asbury Harpending.
What is the historical significance of Havilah? Havilah became the first county seat of Kern County in 1966. Gold discoveries in the area created a rush of miners which led to the formation of the town.
Now that the Borel fire has burned the majority of Havilah, what has been preserved and what is gone that can never be replaced? Actually other buildings survived in Havilah in addition to our Schoolhouse. The museum building can be replaced because it was built in 1966 but the contents are all gone and that’s the big loss.
History (Wikipedia)
Asbury Harpending arrived in the area, where there were many southern-sympathizers, in 1864. After finding gold deposits on Clear Creek, a tributary of the Kern River, the group claimed a townsite on the road from Keyesville to Tehachapi and named it after the Biblical land of Havilah, “where there is gold” according to Genesis 2:11. By the end of 1865, Havilah was a boom town with 147 business buildings, thirteen saloons, and a population of nearly a thousand, mostly miners working the Clear Creek Mining District.
Havilah was the county seat at the founding of Kern County on April 2, 1866, and the county’s first newspaper, the Havilah Courier, began publication that same year. The county government was moved to Bakersfield in 1874
A post office operated at Havilah from 1866 to 1918. The Havilah School District, formed in 1866, was the first public school in Kern County.
Personal Note:
Our hearts go out to all Borel Fire victims at this time. May Havilah and the surrounding areas find the peace, healing, and support that they seek. Wishing healing energy during this time of loss.
Kelley McCoy & The Kern Valley Sun Staff
