Llano Del Rio
Encyclopedia
Llano Del Rio was a commune
(or "colony") located in what is now Llano, California
east of Palmdale
in the Antelope Valley
, Los Angeles County
. The charter was issued October 15, 1915 by progressive/socialist political candidate Job Harriman
, after he had failed his bid to become the mayor of Los Angeles
. The Llano Del Rio Colony settled in the southern edge of the Mojave Desert
along Highway 138 near what is now 165th Street East, in the alluvial plain that spread out to the north from the San Gabriel Mountains
. The colony took advantage of water from Big Rock Creek, an intermittent stream that flowed from the San Gabriel Mountains. Several structures were constructed using local granite boulders and lumber, including a hotel, meeting house, and water storage tank. There was also a small open aqueduct made of granite cobbles and cement. The remnants of the built features are still visible at the site, which has been abandoned for decades.
During 1918, the colony was abandoned. Llano Del Rio turned out to be too far from other settlements to develop a sustaining economy, and the water supply from Big Rock Creek proved to be unreliable. Some of the settlers (60 families) relocated to form New Llano, Louisiana
.
after he failed as a politician. He believed that the success of socialism depended not only on politics, but also on the realization of socialist principles. Harriman did not attempt to reform all of society, but rather, he believed that by creating a functioning socialist community within the larger society of capitalism, the larger society would gradually convert to socialism. Although Llano filed for bankruptcy during 1918, from the time of its official formation in 1914 until 1917 the colony experienced extreme economic and political growth. By 1917, the population was over nine hundred members. In just over three years, the colonists of Llano were able to form a school system, create high producing farms, start numerous clubs and sports teams, and build many industries.
a lawyer and politician initiated Llano del Rio. He was the Socialist Labor Party
candidate for governor of the state of California. However, after having little success as a Labor Party candidate, Harriman began to align himself with the more mainstream labor movement. During 1900, he became the vice-presidential candidate to Eugene Debs. While campaigning with Debs, Harriman, though still loyal to socialist principles, began to believe that for the Socialist Party to gain success it needed to replace its political base with an economic one . Socialism would eventually transform capitalism from within. Harriman also believed that for socialism to be successful it needed to be implemented economically as well as politically: “‘It became apparent to me that a people would never abandon their means of livelihood, good or bad, capitalistic or otherwise, until other methods were developed which would promise advantages at least as good as those by which they were living’” .
was planned by Alice Constance Austin
and is her most recognized project. She was hired by Job Harriman, with the intention to build a cooperative community. She designed a circular city plan which included administrative buildings, restaurants, churches, schools, markets, etc. The houses had a "feminist" design and included plans for a kitchenless house, communal daycare areas, built-in furniture and heated tile floors; all of which would serve in reducing the amount of domestic work done by women.
of 1914 the first inhabitants were members of the Young People’s Socialist League. At the time, only one building, the community center, had been constructed. During the majority of Llano’s existence very few permanent structures were built. But, because of the warm dry climate of Southern California, the lack of buildings was not a problem. Members often lived in canvas tents. After the first enthusiastic members arrived, C.V. Eggleston worked as a stock agent for the Llano Company, to increase Llano’s size. However, he was more of a salesman than a propagator of socialism. His sales techniques gave buyers unrealistic expectations about the luxury of living at Llano, which later created discontent in the community when these expectations were not met . Colonists were also drawn to Llano by the good wages promised to members. Initially members were given a salary of four dollars a day, and then fees were deducted for living expenses. However, as membership increased, the wage system was abandoned, because of an inefficient bookkeeping system and the negative appeal Llano’s good wages created. Members believed that by offering such good wages, capitalist minded, not socialist minded, people were attracted to Llano. In the end, a system was implemented that guaranteed all colonists’ needs would be met in exchange for their labor .
Despite the arid environment and sandy soil, Llano’s farms flourished. Using the water purchased by the Llano Del Rio Company, Llano’s farmers transformed the dry soil into fertile farmland. Southern California’s warm climate proved to be ideal for agricultural production. Alfalfa, corn, and grain were Llano’s staple crops. By 1916, Llano grew ninety percent of the food eaten at the colony. However, agricultural exports were prevented by Llano’s distance from a train depot. Though Llano’s export economy never developed much, some goods, such as rag rugs and underwear, were sold at external markets (Hine 122).
However, rule by the General Assembly was also problematic. Its decisions were influenced by personal disputes, which created an ineffective political environment. Resolutions were disputed for hours, made, and then rebuked at the next meeting. In response to dissenters, one of Harriman’s supporter’s, R.K. Williams wrote, “‘Newcomers arrived here filled with idealism and notions of a weird form of democracy that are utterly out of place in an institution dealing with…practicalities. It must be insisted that if this colony is to exist we must allow the well tried and wrought out formulas of corporations organized under capitalism…We are not attempting an Utopian phantasmagoria’” . Supporters felt that unseating the Board would result in anarchy and chaos, and that central control was essential to the formation of a flourishing socialist colony.
’s pacifism, the threat of the draft was real. Llano attempted to ensure that all members were conscientious objectors, still the colony lost young men to the draft. WWI also posed an economic threat, because the wartime industry created jobs with greater wages and many less committed members of Llano left to work in the newly booming economy .
. Despite the impending relocation of Llano, Harriman asserted that Llano had, “progressed from a ‘Utopian, chimerical idea’ to a concrete practicality— from a dozen dreamers to a thousand determined doers” . New Llano never attained the same size or level of productivity as the original colony. This failure was most likely due to cultural clashes with the greater culture of Louisiana and the Great Depression
. The remaining Llano community in California ended due to faulty legal maneuvers. During 1918, Llano filed for bankruptcy.
, a contemporary intentional community
of 100 members in Virginia. All Twin Oaks' buildings are named after communities that are no longer actively functioning, and "Llano" is the name of one of the communal kitchens.
Commune (intentional community)
A commune is an intentional community of people living together, sharing common interests, property, possessions, resources, and, in some communes, work and income. In addition to the communal economy, consensus decision-making, non-hierarchical structures and ecological living have become...
(or "colony") located in what is now Llano, California
Llano, California
Llano is an unincorporated town located in Los Angeles County, California, near the San Bernardino Countyline. The town has a population of about 1200.- Geography :...
east of Palmdale
Palmdale, California
Palmdale is a city located in the center of northern Los Angeles County, California, United States.Palmdale was the first community within the Antelope Valley to incorporate as a city on August 24, 1962; 47 years later, voters approved creating a charter city in November, 2009. Palmdale is...
in the Antelope Valley
Antelope Valley
The Antelope Valley in California, United States, is located in northern Los Angeles County and the southeastern portion of Kern County, California, and constitutes the western tip of the Mojave Desert...
, Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 9,818,605, making it the most populous county in the United States. Los Angeles County alone is more populous than 42 individual U.S. states...
. The charter was issued October 15, 1915 by progressive/socialist political candidate Job Harriman
Job Harriman
Job Harriman was an ordained minister who later became an agnostic and a socialist. In 1900 he ran for Vice President of the United States along with Eugene Debs on the ticket of the Socialist Party of America. He later twice ran for mayor of Los Angeles, drawing considerable attention and support...
, after he had failed his bid to become the mayor of Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. The Llano Del Rio Colony settled in the southern edge of the Mojave Desert
Mojave Desert
The Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of southeastern California and smaller parts of central California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona, in the United States...
along Highway 138 near what is now 165th Street East, in the alluvial plain that spread out to the north from the San Gabriel Mountains
San Gabriel Mountains
The San Gabriel Mountains Range is located in northern Los Angeles County and western San Bernardino County, California, United States. The mountain range lies between the Los Angeles Basin and the Mojave Desert, with Interstate 5 to the west and Interstate 15 to the east...
. The colony took advantage of water from Big Rock Creek, an intermittent stream that flowed from the San Gabriel Mountains. Several structures were constructed using local granite boulders and lumber, including a hotel, meeting house, and water storage tank. There was also a small open aqueduct made of granite cobbles and cement. The remnants of the built features are still visible at the site, which has been abandoned for decades.
During 1918, the colony was abandoned. Llano Del Rio turned out to be too far from other settlements to develop a sustaining economy, and the water supply from Big Rock Creek proved to be unreliable. Some of the settlers (60 families) relocated to form New Llano, Louisiana
New Llano, Louisiana
New Llano is a town in Vernon Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 2,415 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Fort Polk South Micropolitan Statistical Area....
.
History
Llano Del Rio, which was organized under the Llano Del Rio Company was a corporate-run socialist Utopian society initiated by Job HarrimanJob Harriman
Job Harriman was an ordained minister who later became an agnostic and a socialist. In 1900 he ran for Vice President of the United States along with Eugene Debs on the ticket of the Socialist Party of America. He later twice ran for mayor of Los Angeles, drawing considerable attention and support...
after he failed as a politician. He believed that the success of socialism depended not only on politics, but also on the realization of socialist principles. Harriman did not attempt to reform all of society, but rather, he believed that by creating a functioning socialist community within the larger society of capitalism, the larger society would gradually convert to socialism. Although Llano filed for bankruptcy during 1918, from the time of its official formation in 1914 until 1917 the colony experienced extreme economic and political growth. By 1917, the population was over nine hundred members. In just over three years, the colonists of Llano were able to form a school system, create high producing farms, start numerous clubs and sports teams, and build many industries.
Founder
Job HarrimanJob Harriman
Job Harriman was an ordained minister who later became an agnostic and a socialist. In 1900 he ran for Vice President of the United States along with Eugene Debs on the ticket of the Socialist Party of America. He later twice ran for mayor of Los Angeles, drawing considerable attention and support...
a lawyer and politician initiated Llano del Rio. He was the Socialist Labor Party
Socialist Labor Party of America
The Socialist Labor Party of America , established in 1876 as the Workingmen's Party, is the oldest socialist political party in the United States and the second oldest socialist party in the world. Originally known as the Workingmen's Party of America, the party changed its name in 1877 and has...
candidate for governor of the state of California. However, after having little success as a Labor Party candidate, Harriman began to align himself with the more mainstream labor movement. During 1900, he became the vice-presidential candidate to Eugene Debs. While campaigning with Debs, Harriman, though still loyal to socialist principles, began to believe that for the Socialist Party to gain success it needed to replace its political base with an economic one . Socialism would eventually transform capitalism from within. Harriman also believed that for socialism to be successful it needed to be implemented economically as well as politically: “‘It became apparent to me that a people would never abandon their means of livelihood, good or bad, capitalistic or otherwise, until other methods were developed which would promise advantages at least as good as those by which they were living’” .
Design
Llano del RioLlano Del Rio
Llano Del Rio was a commune located in what is now Llano, California east of Palmdale in the Antelope Valley, Los Angeles County. The charter was issued October 15, 1915 by progressive/socialist political candidate Job Harriman, after he had failed his bid to become the mayor of Los Angeles...
was planned by Alice Constance Austin
Alice Constance Austin
Alice Constance Austin was born to Benjamin Austin and Ellen Mary Wood in 1868 in Santa Barbara, California. She was an architect, city planner, radical feminist, socialist, and designer. Her most famous proposal at Llano del Rio, though never fully realized, greatly impacted later city designs...
and is her most recognized project. She was hired by Job Harriman, with the intention to build a cooperative community. She designed a circular city plan which included administrative buildings, restaurants, churches, schools, markets, etc. The houses had a "feminist" design and included plans for a kitchenless house, communal daycare areas, built-in furniture and heated tile floors; all of which would serve in reducing the amount of domestic work done by women.
Starting the colony
During 1913 Harriman, with Bert Engle, Frank McMahon, and Frank E. Wolfe, began to realize a functioning socialist society that operated within a capitalist country. During the colony’s early period, what was to become Llano Del Rio was only inhabited by five families. Members bought water and land rights cheaply from the Mescal Water and Land Company. During 1914, as membership was growing rapidly, the colony bought out Mescal Water and Land and became incorporated as the Llano Del Rio Company. Harriman insisted upon this purchase water and land rights. To become a member of Llano, one was required purchase exactly 2,000 stock shares and to reside at Llano. Colonists were allowed to buy a maximum of three fourths of their stock shares on credit . “Llano was not a ‘co-operative colony, but a corporation, conducted upon the lines of ordinary private corporations,’ Harriman obviously took pains to protect the experiment from being hounded to death by his corporate enemies in the business community of Los Angeles” .Membership demographic
When Llano opened to public membership on May DayMay Day
May Day on May 1 is an ancient northern hemisphere spring festival and usually a public holiday; it is also a traditional spring holiday in many cultures....
of 1914 the first inhabitants were members of the Young People’s Socialist League. At the time, only one building, the community center, had been constructed. During the majority of Llano’s existence very few permanent structures were built. But, because of the warm dry climate of Southern California, the lack of buildings was not a problem. Members often lived in canvas tents. After the first enthusiastic members arrived, C.V. Eggleston worked as a stock agent for the Llano Company, to increase Llano’s size. However, he was more of a salesman than a propagator of socialism. His sales techniques gave buyers unrealistic expectations about the luxury of living at Llano, which later created discontent in the community when these expectations were not met . Colonists were also drawn to Llano by the good wages promised to members. Initially members were given a salary of four dollars a day, and then fees were deducted for living expenses. However, as membership increased, the wage system was abandoned, because of an inefficient bookkeeping system and the negative appeal Llano’s good wages created. Members believed that by offering such good wages, capitalist minded, not socialist minded, people were attracted to Llano. In the end, a system was implemented that guaranteed all colonists’ needs would be met in exchange for their labor .
Admission requirements
Applicants for membership were required to be idealistic, industrious, and sober. To ensure standards were met, applicants needed three references, written ideally by a local union president or secretary. Questions testing an applicant’s dedication to socialism, such as, “Will solving the economic problem ultimately lead to solving the social problem?” , were also part of the entrance procedure. Additionally, only Caucasians were admitted. An article in The Western Comrade attempted to explain this admittance discrimination, “The rejection of these applications are [sic] not due to race prejudice but because it is not deemed expedient to mix the races in these communities” . In general, the Californian Socialist Party of that time was racially exclusive.Economy
Although Llano did not export goods to outside markets, its local economy was almost completely sustaining. The economy included a paint shop, agriculture, orchards, a poultry yard, a rabbitry, a print shop, and a fish hatchery .Despite the arid environment and sandy soil, Llano’s farms flourished. Using the water purchased by the Llano Del Rio Company, Llano’s farmers transformed the dry soil into fertile farmland. Southern California’s warm climate proved to be ideal for agricultural production. Alfalfa, corn, and grain were Llano’s staple crops. By 1916, Llano grew ninety percent of the food eaten at the colony. However, agricultural exports were prevented by Llano’s distance from a train depot. Though Llano’s export economy never developed much, some goods, such as rag rugs and underwear, were sold at external markets (Hine 122).
Education
Llano had a good school system, which followed both the Montessori and the Industrial principles of teaching. Montessori and Industrial schools encourage practical and active learning, teaching methods consistent with socialist values. In the Industrial School or Kids’ Colony children raised livestock, built the school’s facilities, made their own laws, and held their own disciplinary hearings. Consistent with Llano’s philosophy of gender division of labor, girls were registered into the “domestic science department” (Shor 169).Culture and free time
May Day, a holiday that celebrates laborers, was a community celebration at Llano, including a parade and a community picnic. Dances were held every Thursday and Saturday night. One colonist praised these dances saying, “‘If Llano never offers or gives me more than the pleasure of attending these dances I shall feel repaid for all the effort I have made to become a member of this Colony” . Additionally, there was a champion baseball team and other club sports. There was even a drama society. For entertainment, Llano staged black-face minstrel shows, swear words were prohibited when in the presence of women or children, and liquor was not allowed unless permission by a doctor was given. Violation of this ordinance was punishable by unemployment or expulsion from Llano .Dissent
The political stability of Llano was threatened by internal power struggles between the Board of Directors, which was composed of seven (and eventually nine) members and the General Assembly, which was composed of all of the Llano Company’s stockholders, the members of the colony. Though the Board was efficient, it caused political dissent. Llano’s “Declaration of Principles” proclaimed: “‘equal ownership, equal wage, and equal social opportunities’” . However, Llano was not run in a democratic manner. The Board dictated all rules and regulations. Eventually groups developed, such as the “Brush Gang”, opposing the authoritarian rule of the Board (Shor 167). Some members also believed that Harriman lacked strong socialist principles. One of the founders of the “Brush Gang,” Frank Miller, believed Harriman to be “Czar-like” and against the democratic election of Llano’s leadership. Additionally, many “Brush Gang” members believed that not only the political, but also the economic layout of Llano was counter to socialist ideals.However, rule by the General Assembly was also problematic. Its decisions were influenced by personal disputes, which created an ineffective political environment. Resolutions were disputed for hours, made, and then rebuked at the next meeting. In response to dissenters, one of Harriman’s supporter’s, R.K. Williams wrote, “‘Newcomers arrived here filled with idealism and notions of a weird form of democracy that are utterly out of place in an institution dealing with…practicalities. It must be insisted that if this colony is to exist we must allow the well tried and wrought out formulas of corporations organized under capitalism…We are not attempting an Utopian phantasmagoria’” . Supporters felt that unseating the Board would result in anarchy and chaos, and that central control was essential to the formation of a flourishing socialist colony.
World War I
Although Llano supported the Socialist PartySocialist Party of America
The Socialist Party of America was a multi-tendency democratic-socialist political party in the United States, formed in 1901 by a merger between the three-year-old Social Democratic Party of America and disaffected elements of the Socialist Labor Party which had split from the main organization...
’s pacifism, the threat of the draft was real. Llano attempted to ensure that all members were conscientious objectors, still the colony lost young men to the draft. WWI also posed an economic threat, because the wartime industry created jobs with greater wages and many less committed members of Llano left to work in the newly booming economy .
Water
During the early period of Llano, Harriman had secured large amounts of water for the growing colony. Though in theory Llano had enough water to sustain itself and to grow, much of the water could only be accessed by building a dam. Llano applied to California for a permit to build a dam. However, California Commissioner of Corporations denied Llano’s application to construct a dam saying, “‘Your people do not seem to have the necessary amount of experience and maybe the sums of money it will involve’” . Though planners were aware of Llano’s water shortage, they continued to deny the crisis to potential buyers until May of 1917.The move
During November of 1917 The Western Comrade newspaper announced that the majority of the colony was going to relocate to an alternative site in New Llano, LouisianaNew Llano, Louisiana
New Llano is a town in Vernon Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 2,415 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Fort Polk South Micropolitan Statistical Area....
. Despite the impending relocation of Llano, Harriman asserted that Llano had, “progressed from a ‘Utopian, chimerical idea’ to a concrete practicality— from a dozen dreamers to a thousand determined doers” . New Llano never attained the same size or level of productivity as the original colony. This failure was most likely due to cultural clashes with the greater culture of Louisiana and the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. The remaining Llano community in California ended due to faulty legal maneuvers. During 1918, Llano filed for bankruptcy.
Legacy
Llano is given tribute at Twin OaksTwin Oaks
Twin Oaks Community is an ecovillage and intentional community of about one hundred people living on 450 acres in Louisa County, Virginia. It is a member of the Federation of Egalitarian Communities. Founded in 1967, it is one of the longest-enduring and largest secular intentional communities...
, a contemporary intentional community
Intentional community
An intentional community is a planned residential community designed to have a much higher degree of teamwork than other communities. The members of an intentional community typically hold a common social, political, religious, or spiritual vision and often follow an alternative lifestyle. They...
of 100 members in Virginia. All Twin Oaks' buildings are named after communities that are no longer actively functioning, and "Llano" is the name of one of the communal kitchens.
External links
- http://www.lpb.org/programs/utopia/history.html American Utopia: A Brief History of Llano del Rio Cooperative Colony