Artifacts in Mentryville

There are, and were many, artifacts in Mentryville between the school house and Pico Cottage. Most were placed there by Frenchy Lagasse, the last Chevron Oil superintendent of Pico Canyon. Over the years, many of the artifacts have disappeared. Here are photos taken by me as early as 2008, when I first came here.

This is the pile of oil industry related, and other, artifacts. (3/14/2009)

Early oil tank wagon. According to Darryl Manzer, it did not come from Pico Canyon but from somewhere else. (3/30/2008)

Built by Pike of Los Angeles. Pike is evidently Pike Trailer Company. In 1953, it was described as "one of the oldest trailer builders in the U.S." (3/30/2008)

The wagon is breaking down on one side. (3/30/2008)

Square riveted box probably used to condense steam (3/23/2008)

Pump jack (6/21/2008)

Union Tool engine. More info on the engines here can be found on my Pico engines webpage. (6/21/2008)

Another view of the Union Tool engine (6/21/2008)

"Union Tool - Torrance, Cal" on base of engine (6/21/2008)

(3/30/2008)

Closer view of pulley (3/30/2008)

Baker Iron Works pump (3/30/2008)

Close-up. "Baker Iron Works - Sole Agents - Los Angeles, Cal - Worthington - 114x70x102 - 4 1/2 x 2 3/4 x 4" (3/22/2008)

Pile of stuff with engine in the background (3/30/2008)

Looking at that engine. (3/30/2008)

Still another engine at the end of the pile of stuff. See my Pico engines page for more info on the engines here. (3/22/2008)

Next to the engine is an incomplete set of center irons on the right. (3/30/2008)

Unknown impressive 27-inch long threaded object. (3/22/2008)

45-inch long cable tool bit. The far end (in this picture) of the bit is what pounds over and over into the rock at the bottom of the well. Notice the tapered threads at the closer end. (3/30/2008)

View of the "working" end (3/30/2008)

Pump adjuster. Located on the walking beam holding the polished rod. Sometime after this photo was taken in 2008, the adjuster was missing (probably stolen). (3/23/2008)

Jackline hooks (3/23/2008)

More stuff (3/23/2008)

Section of a sprocket tug rim from a calf wheel (3/23/2008)

Shack on 4/11/2011. This was built for a TV show (High Incident) in 1996 or 97 and should just be removed. There is nothing historic about it and is just breaking apart, creating more of a hazard then anything else. (4/11/2011)

The shack was finally removed about two months before this photo was taken on 6/8/2016. I was told that someone stepped through the wooden floor.

For the September, 1976, 100 year celebration of CSO (Pico) 4, a model of CSO 4 was built by Frenchy Lagasse and other Standard Oil workers. Frenchy is second from the left in this photo taken during construction. From the Lagasse Pico Canyon Collection (owned by Evan Decker) - used by permission.

Here is the replica at the base of Mustard Hill just east of the schoolhouse during the celebration. From the Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society, Tom Mason Negatives.

This photo was taken by Barbara Morris in 2002. The little oil rig model is still there but without its top. It is not there now, the MRCA got rid of it.

This image is NOT in the public domain and was used by permission of Barbara C. Morris

Here is the area in July of 2026. All three of the engines and the tank car are still there. (2026-07-13)

(2026-07-13)

(2026-07-13)

(2026-07-13)