Trained dog of local legend featured in children's book
“Calico Dorsey” carried mail in 1880s
A trained dog that carried mail between the mining settlements of Calico and Bismarck in the 1880s is at the center of the story in a new children’s book.
“Calico Dorsey: Mail Dog of the Mining Camps” features the dog as well as a little girl who may have been the daughter of one of the dog’s trainers.
The book’s author, Pasadena resident Susan Lendroth, said that she first heard of the story of the mail-carrying dog while performing research for an article she was writing for the Los Angeles Times about the history of Calico.
“I found letters and newspapers with information about Dorsey, but records from that era vary,” said Lendroth, who said that she had to fill in some detail about Dorsey’s story.
Lendroth said that stories of how and why the dog was trained to carry mail vary somewhat, with one account giving a story of a dog that accompanied his master to carry mail, only to find his the man missing one day.
“The dog went on his own,” said Lendroth. “He would take off on his own to Calico. (The trip) was only a mile, but it was rough terrain.”
Lendroth said that she made sure that no other children’s book has been written about Dorsey, as she thought the story would appeal to children.
“You don’t see too many stories from the silver mine era for kids,” said Lendroth. “I wrote this because kids like stories about dogs, and I like to write about the past.”
Lendroth created the character of Nellie, the daughter of the general store owner and trainer of the dog, after she researched census records and found records of a girl who may have been present in Calico at the time.
The book is lavishly illustrated by Adam Gustavson, who has illustrated numerous other children’s books such as “Big Dog Dodger,” and “Good Luck Mrs. K.”
“Calico Dorsey” is currently available to order in advance from Amazon.com and other internet book retailers, and will be available in bookstores on Sept. 28. Lendroth said that she doesn’t know if the book will be available in Barstow, but that she hopes the Mojave River Valley Museum will carry it.
Contact the writer:
(760) 256-4126 or adome@desertdispatch.com
