By Girard Mollayan, Pinon Pines

Wind Wolves Preserve is an ecologically unique region located South of Hwy 166 between the 5 Freeway and Maricopa. Located on the left side of the entrance road about two miles in is a huge wooden cross and a metal sign designating the first Settlement in the area composed of Mexicans, Spaniards and Native Americans.

The sign says, “EL PUEBLO DE SAN EMIGDIO. The first settlement in the southern San Joaquin Valley, inhabited by…(please see below to view full stories and photographs)

Photo captions:

Above (l-r): Travis Bidee (Ranger), Mike Coulter (crane rigger), John Clevenger, John Stegall (Buena Vista Museum of Natural History), Ben Flores (Supplied Crane), Brad Darling (Pioneer Village)

Above: El Pueblo sign with story inscribed

Above: Mike Coutler and John Clevenger guide the cross

Above: John Clevenger constructing the cross

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This is part of the July 25, 2025 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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