10/07/2026
The Merkel Area Historical Museum was approached by a friend with some questions. So we are reaching out to try and help!
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I have a question for some of the old-timers, new-timers, anyone!! and I hope ya’ll can help me figure something out 😊
I am out here in Mulberry Canyon. Part of my place was once part of the Brown Homestead. It sat at the SW base of Speers Mountain. Speers Mountain sits directly south of Blowout Mountain with FM 1085 running between them. I don’t know the given name or initials of the Mr. Brown. What I am actually trying to find out is if anyone knew this family, and specifically the names of the children - specifically the girls.
Here’s the reason for my inquiry, and I think it’s historically significant. …..
We moved into our home out here in 1980. After a couple years a quite elderly woman drove up in a big dark green car. She said she was a Brown and wanted to go walk around the old homestead one more time. Of course, I gave her permission. She wanted to go alone, which I understand. Hopefully she wasn’t digging up a jar of gold coins ‼️
But in the brief conversation she mentioned that she had a pet black bear that she had raised from a cub. That it was the last one in the area. Being the animal person that I am, I loved the story, but at the time didn’t think to get particulars.
So years pass and Buddy King, among others, were instrumental in getting 2 historical markers erected at the Y intersection of 126 & 1085. One of the markers is about the WASP pilot that crashed her plane here in the Canyon. The other is a general, brief history of Mulberry Canyon. And it mentions the black bear ! So I know someone else knew about this besides me. I have since wondered about that lady and if I had of had any sense, I would have grilled her and taken notes. Taken her picture. I have kicked myself in the butt ever since.
I would love to figure out who the mystery girl was. If anyone has any information, ideas, even tidbits ….. please contact me. I would love to make this into a children’s book about growing up in Mulberry Canyon, and from the little girl’s point of view. But I need her name.
Anybody ? Anything ? Help a girl out ❣️
Thanks ……… Karlen Gamble Hardy ❤️
