Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma

Eagle Scout project brings Fallbrook railroad history to life

FALLBROOK – History, an account of what came before, is truly amazing. However, often what has happened before may leave no visual trace today.

Alex Holdo of Boy Scout Troop 739 has attained the rank of Eagle Scout through his design and construction of a kiosk to display the story of the role the railroad played in the growth of Fallbrook. Holdo first began his project develop this point of interest by repainting and repairing the display design at an original kiosk at Beech Street on the Pico Promenade that was built some years ago. He repainted that kiosk as part of his contribution to the community.

An Eagle Scout project is meant to be a tremendous teaching tool. A scout much find a meaningful project, develop the idea, find the funding source, draw and design the project, organize the construction work with his troop and see it through to completion.

Holdo learned that Fallbrook agriculture made the train line to Fallbrook important in the mid-1800s. After running the treacherous line through De Luz on a route to Barstow for years, the terrain and serious flooding ended that extension of the line. In later years it ran through town on a devious path that serviced a lumber yard, an Olive packing plant, which became a Green Goddess plant, a citrus packing plant and ended at the train station, which is now the site of the county sheriff's office.

A project of Save Our Forest with the knowledge and support of Mary Belton of the Fallbrook Historical Society, the story of Fallbrook railroad begins at the kiosk built by Holdo at the entrance to the Pico Promenade on Fallbrook Street. It continues the story at Beech Street, and with the anticipated coming of the Fallbrook Railroad Heritage Park at Elder and Main avenues, the story will be complete.

 

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