This Page is Currently Under Construction.
A history is currently being compiles. To contribute any information please email Friendsoffiremountain@gmail.com
In the mean time, please enjoy this historic outline of the area.
Fire Mountain Garden Exchange- November Plantings November 3, 2011 OsideLB
- Fire Mountain Artists
Fire Mountain Weather
Interesting. Apparently Oceanside Blvd didn’t exist in 1956; it was laid over “Short St” and then extended east. I love old maps.
Yes, which is why the little used car dealership at Ditmar and O’side Blvd for decades was Short Street Motors. Also, down along industry past Crouch Street was the Hi Hi Airport. An older member of my church has regaled me with stories of flying out of Hi Hi when he was a young man.
I often wondered why there were so many pine trees clustered at the west end of Eternal Hills–right against the hill where Knoll Street is. Was it a planting of Christmas trees? Longtime residents tell me that there was a dairy there, but no one knows about the pines. It’s a mystery.
Also interesting on this map is that Fire Mountain used to be considered “North Carlsbad.” Does anyone know where the name Fire Mountain comes from?
One theory about the name Fire Mountain is that the Native Americans used the knoll (at the end of Knoll Road) as a signal tower, to signal from the surrounding mountains with fire. It’s easy to see how this could occur–but I have no clear evidence…..
Aunt Kristy: I’ve lived in Sklylark Terrace on Cornish Dr since 1963, since I was 10 and hiked all over the Eternal Hills property from El Camino Real to Cornish and the RR tracks to Fire Mountain. Those pines were never there growing up and were planted when the Fire Mtn Park was operational in the early 70′s. My high school girlfriend at the time was the summer program coordinator for the local kids during the few years the Parks and Rec serviced the park. I recall all the landscaping they did at the time. It was a nice place. Also, the Indian origin for Fire Mtn is pausable, my grandfather told me the reason Fire Mtn Road was winded back and forth was an old Indian switch-back trail so they could see if they were being followed. There must of been some scrub oaks at one time hence the grinding holes at the archeological site.
Regarding the name of Fire Mountain, I hadn’t heard the Indian/smoke story. Someone told me there was a landfill (dump) up here in the 40-50′s and they burned the trash. Not as romantic, but perhaps a bit more realistic. Or maybe just a nasty rumor started by residents of Henie Hills…….Either way it’s the best neighborhood in Oceanside and maybe that’s why the trees grow so tall.
I just read the post on the pine trees, we have a few large ones on our property on downs that my great grandfather planted in the 50′s. He told us that a local bank he joined was giving out small pine tree plants to anybody who joined and they ended up giving him 8 total. This could be why there are so many in the area that are big and beautiful….?
Hi
I’m new to this site, though I have lived on Fire Mountain for over seven years. I really like the site, there is information here that I never knew about until today.
I had no idea that there was an archeological site, but am not surprised as we have found stones with what look like human work on them.
Where is the archeological site?
Thanks
Great site! I’ve been looking for the Fire Mountain history for quite a while. Looking forward to the BBQ on the 21st. Thanks for the information and Fire Mountain PRIDE.
The Fire Mountain neighborhood is the greatest neighborhood I have ever lived in. I lived in this area from 1977 to 1997, my kids were raised here and went to Palmquist Elementary, Lincoln Middle School & El Camino High School, it will always be home to us. The ruralness of the area is what attracted us to the area. We rented for all those years and moved to Riverside County near Temecula to purchase our first home. The neighbors all looked out after one another and were more like family than neighbors. When we first moved into the area there were still horses in several backyards. Enjoy this wonderful area.
I was told that it was called fire mountain because there used to be a fire station on yucca road just across Fire Mtn. Dr. from the water tower. Not sure if this is true or not since there’s no fire station on that map from 1956. When I went to school at Lincoln, teachers talked about how there once was ranch houses where the school is now. anyone know anything about this?
I grew up on Crestridge Dr. beginning with it’s development in 1959. During The Great Depression my grandfather, Ralph Downs, traded his service station in Long Beach for property in the Fire Mountain area. The city of Oceanside disected the property with a street, naming it Downs. My father, James Downs and his family, lived on a farm during the 40′s which is now the cul de sac on Crestridge Dr. Shortly after my family moved to Crestridge from Carlsbad, contruction of Dunstan continued west. (steepest city street in O’side). This was known as “The New Road”. We all called it such for 30 years! My parents live there to this day.
I lived on Fire Mountain where Downs St. is now. Was a private drive surrounded by trees and farms. Father bought a barn from either Lincoln or Palmquest before schools were built.
OK, I heard from the grandson of an elderly homeowner here that Fire Mountain is named such because it was the location of a former brick factory located at the crest of Fire Mountain Road near Yucca. And the fire from the kiln could be see for miles. Add this to the folklore list.
Hi I’m currently on Palmquist’s PTO and we are trying to get a History of the school. Anyone that has details, stories, pictures that would be willing to share please contact me at tsheldon@cox.net with Palmquist in the title or feel free to post on our FB Group. Thanks!