Walters Store
2013 photo
Built in 1915, Walters Store is recognized as Hesperia’s oldest surviving commercial building and one of the community’s oldest remaining structures. The store and Walters family house stand near the intersection of Juniper Street and Hesperia Road, across from the former site of the Hesperia railroad depot.
According to Walters family history, minister George Francis Walters built the house and general store. George reportedly operated the Hesperia Hotel until 1912. His son, Roy Walters, later ran the store for many years and served as Hesperia’s postmaster.
Walters Store supplied the small desert community with groceries and general merchandise. Former Hesperia resident Mary Ann Creason Dolan-Rohde recalled purchasing flour, beans, canned foods, ice and gasoline there. She remembered shelves stocked with medicine, cosmetics and blankets, as well as a butcher counter and cold-storage box near the rear of the store. Hay and grain were kept in a wooden barn beside the building, and a gasoline pump stood outside.
The Hesperia post office operated inside the store, allowing folks to collect their mail and shop. For many years, the store reportedly also had the only telephone in the immediate area. With the railroad depot across the road, the area became a central hub of community activity—this was downtown Hesperia.
The store also served motorists traveling over the National Old Trails Road, which passed through Hesperia. In 1924, the principal highway was realigned west of the first town center. When U.S. Route 66 was established in 1926, it followed the newer alignment rather than passing Walters Store. The resulting loss of through traffic contributed to the decline of Hesperia’s early business district.
In 1995, the Hesperia Recreation and Park District erected a historical marker at the property. Walters Store and the Walters house remain tangible reminders of the period when Hesperia was a small railroad and agricultural community.
References
* “Walters Store & House.” Historical Marker Database. Transcription and photographs of the historical marker erected by the Hesperia Recreation and Park District.* Gutglueck, Mark. “Victor Valley History 1914–1920.” San Bernardino County Sentinel, September 4, 2015.
* Dolan-Rohde, Mary Ann Creason. “Walters’ Market, Hesperia, California.” Digital-Desert.
* “The Walters Family.” Desert Gazette.
* BFSA Environmental Services. Cultural Resources Study for the Kiss Logistics Center Project, 2022. --
We did what shopping money would allow, at Roy Walters’ general store. We purchased some beans, flour and canned food items, (canned tuna for my mother and me and canned sardines were for my daddy) gas for the vehicle, and I remember ice for the icebox and we also picked up our mail. The post office was located inside of the store, in our mailing address was PO Box 166, Hesperia, CA. There were no ZIP Codes back in those days.
The store was indeed a general store. They carried just about everything a person would need. There was a glass enclosed section that had any candy, which always drew my attention. There was a very large glass jar that sat on the counter that held dill pickles. I remembered these, because I liked both. There were shelves with items all the way from food, medicine, cosmetics two blankets. I remember a large cabinet that had a lot of small drawers, with labels on them. But I do not remember what was in the drawers. I think there were a couple wood barrels sitting on the floor and many items hanging on the walls. If I remember right, I think the butcher shop was located in the back of the store with a cold storage box to keep the meat from spoiling.. I do not remember if the bread was sliced. But I do remember that oleomargarine, (butter substitute) was non-colored and you had to mix a yellow powder packet into it, to make it yellow.
There was a wooden barn that sat next to the store, where the hay and grain was stored. The gas pump was located in front of the store. I only remember one, but there must’ve been to. I am not sure what brand gas they sold. I do remember that you could buy oil for your vehicle or what equipment you might have at home. I do not remember, but going by the fact that the Walters store carry just about everything, I would guess they also sold batteries for your vehicle and equipment, else well as for your radio and flashlight.
For the longest time, they had the only telephone in this area. And going by history, the railroad station had a telegraph office. The Hesperia depot set almost across the street from the store.
Roy and Laura were both extremely friendly and up on the latest gossip. Roy loved to talk, and so did my daddy, so they would talk for what seemed like hours.
Hesperia, CA. pre-1950 – Then and Now
~ Mary Ann Creason Dolan-Rohde
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