To: "The Antelope Valley Pioneers"
Subject: Request for stories, letters and reminiscences of Antelope Valley days prior to 1950. Especially his torical happenings of community affairs as well as personal experiences both tragic and humorous that should be of record for posterity. Dear A.V. Pioneer:

    It is with a certain amount of presumptiveness that I take on unbidden the pleasant burden of suggesting that you do what has been referred to in the above subject.

   We are comparatively newcomers in respect to the people to whom this letter is addressed. We came to Palmdale in 1945 but we had known the McAdam-Sr. family for a long time. In fact, Bill McAdam Sr. and his brothers were our football heroes at Pasadena High School back in 1913 and 1914. Then in 1937 we had designed the beautiful story and one half colonial house where they lived so any years at the N.W. corner of 12th St. E. and Pal.dale Blvd. Thus had kept in contact with the family and were quite well acquainted with Palmdale. Perhaps then we can assume we are included in the "Palmdale Pioneers.

    Many of you can write down past historical happenings of the Palm dale area fron memory or from stories that were told to you by parents or older friends. If we do not record such events and occasions they are soon forgotten and lost forever. Whereas if we get these things down on paper now while we are still here the information will be val uable and also will be of mutual enjoyment. The further back you go the better.

    Many of our old friends have gone into the "Beyond". "We have not lost them, they have just gone a little sooner than ourselves." But while we are still alive and well is certainly the time to get this information together.

    Happenings that were tragic at the time, after many years provide us with often humorous retrospection. "Time heals many wounds, adjusts conditions and explains facts."

   With the near future of the development of the Intercontinental Airport, Palmdale will soon lose its past identity. The massive planning for this hole south Antelope Valley and its orderly development is hard at the moment to comprehend. So, in order to preserve any information of the old Palmdale it is up to us the "A.V. Pioneers" to do it.

   The young people of today face many complex problems. Our problems were simple in comparison. But, perhaps telling of our experience of the past may inspire them to realize that as we faced our problems with courage so can they also face their problems with courage and fortitude.

    Thus, perhaps, we the "A.V. Pioneers" will have been of help and assistance to the generation that is taking their place in community affairs of today. Also we hope that we will not be entirely forgotten as Antelope Valley grows into the Intercontinental City of tomorrow.

Sincerely yours,
J. Shelton Gordon