John A. Delameter (1854 – 1936) was a local Mojave blacksmith and freighter. During the mining boom, he contracted with civil engineer J.W.S. Perry and William Coleman, owner of the Harmony Borax Company, to design and build sturdy transport wagons. This was done as an effort to reduce the time and transportation costs for the company.
Delameter built several wagons for $900 each at Avenue K and Nadeau Street. This photo (c. 1885) shows one of the 20-mule team wagons built by Delameter.
Delameter also claimed to have been responsible for naming the town of Calico, which would become one of California’s primary producers of silver.
"Gurba, Norma H. Legendary Locals of the Antelope Valley. Arcadia, 2013.
Photo courtesy of MOAH Collections"
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