The Center of the World

Sometimes on our travels we run across something we just can't believe, something that totally baffles us. Just west of Yuma and right along side the 10 is such an entity.

We spent part of the week at Pilot Knob RV Park near Winterhaven, CA; it is 8 miles from Yuma. (I still haven't been able to find out where the name of the park came from, but that is a different story.) Anyway, across the interstate to the north sets a small chapel on a big pile of sand; at least that is what it looks like from a distance.

One day when we were coming back from golfing in Yuma (actually found a place where we could play 9 holes for $11), we decided to drive over there and take a look. . . What we found was

That is the "church on the hill" in the background. After driving another block or so, we come across this sign.

Now I know that Yuma is a growing community and that many many many thousands of northerners spend the winter here, but come on... the center of the world... Just across from the plaza sign is this one...
All you can really see at this point is a hedge of azaleas, and the tops of some new buildings and what looks like slabs of granite and of course, the church on the hill. And when you park and look around, that is exactly what there is. To the left, a sign announced that the "brassiere" is open from 11 - 3 each day. A gift shop sign was up but no activity. On the right is a few rental units - I know this because there was a sign saying units were available for rent - smart aren't I!

This "Center of the World" became more interesting as we looked around and I actually came back the next day to find out some information and to do a little picture taking. This is what you see when you visit this "tourist attraction????".

The granite walls are pyramid in shape and stand about 3 feet high - some are just there and others have words engraved but no pictures, and some are complete with both.
There is a great deal of detail in each completed drawing.

On the "Wall for the ages", there is a complete listing of the graduating class of Princeton for 1949 and a list of all graduates of some other school for about 20 years. On another wall, there is a tribute to the French Foreign Legion and Veterans of the Korean War. Also, a history of languages in the world and a tribute to pilots and air flight can be found.

No matter where you are, you see the chapel.

When I made my way to the hill, this is what I saw looking up.

Inside the "church on the hill", there is virtually nothing - no pews, no beautiful stained glass, only a simple podium and a simple chair on the altar. There is a sign. There is also a very small, 10 inches tall, cross behind the podium. So, from this treck, I learned that there was a St. Felicity... who knew!

This is the view from the church entry. Once I was "off the hill", I went over to where some men were working to ask them a few questions about the place.

The men etching the granite only spoke french...

The men moving the earth and the granite, only spoke Spanish...

At least, that is what I was told! So, I went away from "The Center of the World" with more questions than answers. Later, when I talked with a fellow fulltimer, he told me the whole thing was started by an individual, with French roots, who founded the town for his wife... you guessed it - that would be Felicity. Oh, I didn't tell you that opposite the church on the hill is this It seems that this fellow claims the "real" center of the world is inside the pyramid and a couple of years ago you could go in and have your picture taken there for $1 - that evidently didn't work out real well as the pyramid was locked up when I was there. I think the whole emphasis may have changed - at least it seems that way.

So, if you really wanna know about this strange but true place, check out the website at :
www.historyingranite.org