A Little Bit of Heaven in Sand Canyon

by Stephanie Elgin 

She took me back to a time when Central Park raised the best onions and corn, there was no bridge at Placerita, Sulphur Springs School District consisted of only 176 children, and McMillan Ranch was a working turkey ranch.  “Those were the days,” states Pug, “those were the days!”
Verna Riggins, best known as “Pug”, was born on October 16, 1926, twelfth child to Walter and Elizabeth Gray.  She and her husband Rig moved out to the Santa Clarita Valley over 50 years ago.  “Rig worked for the Los Angeles Police Department and was transferred in Santa Clarita.  He wanted to live here.  It was gorgeous.  Central Park was the LAPD drop farm. They grew food and transported it to the city jails,” states Pug.
And Pug reflects fondly of the way it used to be.  “Our life is Sand Canyon.  This is where we were,” states Pug.  In February  of 1954, Pug, Rig and their son, bought some land in Sand Canyon.  “We moved out here with our trailers,” Pug remembers, “and by June, the foundation was poured.  In November our house was complete.  We did all the work ourselves.  No contractors, just help from friends and relatives! We were the third house to be built on our road.”
”Life was different back then,” as Pug recalls.  “In fact, we had to drive through the wash to get to our home.  And when it rained, and the wash would flood, we used a rope.  If we needed anything, like medicine or so, we’d take the rope and use the bucket to get it across.” She went on to explain the trail that went through Placerita.  The trail had 15 gates; with each gate needing a key to open.  “Now that was a task!” states Pug!  She even recalls a time where you could drive through a big flat open space in the canyon, they called “The Meadow”.  “We’d drive there around sunset, and it was full of deer,” states Pug.
Pug also described Sand Canyon as a place where everyone knew everyone.  “We were like one big happy family.  We’d gather and vote at Sulphur Springs Elementary, with paper ballots.  You stayed there and counted the votes before going home!” states Pug.  Pug later recalls, “The PTA would put on this great production, called “Burnt Sulphur”.  Why? Because it stunk! 
We’d get together and it was entertainment galore!  We’d fill that little auditorium (Sulphur Springs Elementary’s library), standing room only, for four nights at a dollar a throw!”  There was also a 4H Club in which Pug would volunteer.  “Dorothy Stone was our talent director, and we won the 4H state talent show three years in a row!”
And times have changed.  Pug recalls when Highway 14 didn’t exist.  “You drove Sierra Highway to get to Palmdale.  You could go over the rise and look out on the Valley, some 50 years ago, and you might see a dozen lights scattered.  Now, you see a sea of lights.”  Even Newhall has changed.  “I remembered a place called ‘Martha’s Snackshop, some of the best burgers in town” states Pug, “but you’d have to get there before 11 a.m. or else the line would be out the door!” 
And while the scenery has changed over the past 50 years, for Pug, the fond memories of life in Sand Canyon still remain.  “I’m not worried about dying and going to heaven, because I’m already here.”