A Story of Family, Frontier, and the Early Days of Borrego

(Images of Bill Paine)



His Uncle Albert had the Blacksmith business in Julian and Albert also was a cattle driver at Warners Ranch in the early days. His Aunt Marilyn Paine had Apple seeds sent to her and began planting those around Julian and Mt Palomar in the early days.

His best friends and older brother Frank Paine and their wives were constant lifelong friends. The Paine Rancho still survives in El Centro right on the Border line with Mexico.  Bill took me there once and the old canal is still there. He and his family became great supporters of Desert camping and passed that pleasure down to me in his later years. He was the first guy to own a Camper Shell which he mounted on his International Pickup truck. That camper went all over the Mountain and Desert campgrounds. 

Another uncle was the first to drive a car into Borrego Valley down Plum Canyon... and that old 1922 Dodge truck lingered in Bailey's barn on Mt Palomar for years. I am definitely starting to forget some of the details. Motor cycles were already in Borrego valley at that time! 1922. 

Their cattle drives to and from Imperial Valley may have followed the same trail That De Anza used earlier. Not everyone shared Bill Paines desert interests but I did as nothing like that was back in my home town of Indian Hill Ohio. 

Much later Bonnie and I went out to build our Desert Star Ranch. An almost level 80 acres with very nice Mountain Views and just West of the nice little Airport. I had been looking for a perfect Desert Ranch for years. Bill did not make it to see that. 

Sincerely Stuart Resor

About the Contributor



Stuart Resor is a visionary architect, author, and cultural advocate with deep ties to Borrego Springs. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard, Stuart has led over a thousand architectural projects while preserving California’s surf heritage as founder of the California Surf Museum. He played a key role in bringing Huell Howser to Borrego Springs, helped shape community development, and co-created Desert Star Ranch—a landmark of desert living and creativity.

His memoir, Amazing People I Met Along the Way, shares personal stories of influential encounters and reflects his lifelong dedication to culture, design, and storytelling.

Bonnie Resor, Stuart’s wife and collaborator, is an accomplished interior designer whose vision and partnership have guided many of their shared projects. Together, they have enriched the Borrego Springs community through design, heritage preservation, and artistic innovation.