LANDMARK DECISION\A.V. residents launch monumental campaign\Panel formed to preserve historic Martin House.

Byline: Karen Thacker Special to the Daily News

As local tradition has it, the home was a mini-hotel, a stopover between stagecoach trips, a blacksmith shop and community gathering point.

Now local residents are trying to preserve the 19th century stone and redwood home known as the Martin House for future generations to appreciate.

"It has a history that's very rich in this area," said preservation organizer Marlene Mallory. "The house has been owned by individuals up until lately - now it's for sale - and the current owner would like to see it preserved as a monument to early Antelope Valley history."

"We're trying to get it preserved to make it a community center in Littlerock and a historic site," added Keenan Pickett, Littlerock Town Council member.

Preservationist say a lot of stories surround the house - named for Amasa Martin, an Antelope Valley pioneer and one of its early owners - but not all of them are confirmed.

For example, a plaque out front identifies the house as a stagecoach stop beginning in the 1870s. But no records show the Butterfield-Havilah stage coming into Littlerock, and a turn-of-the-century real estate brochure says the home was built in 1894.

All interested may attend the first meeting of the Citizens For The Preservation of The Martin House, scheduled for Saturday at the house.

Organizers will conduct a "walk-about" tour of the house at 35229 77th St. E. at 10 a.m., followed by a general meeting at the Alpine Grange Hall at Avenue T-8 and 87th Street East at 11 a.m.

Organizers want to solidify a preservation committee after Saturday's meeting.

Some community members already have met with Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, but now the issue is finding the money for the venture, Mallory said.

The house could become a community center, meeting house or an extension of the local library, possibly managed by volunteers.

Ideally the preservation committee should have a broad mix from the community including the Littlerock Chamber of Commerce, the Town Council, the Lions Club, school and community leaders, and representatives from the Heritage Foundation of Antelope Valley and the Historical Society of Antelope Valley, she said.

Already enthusiasts have volunteered to donate early period antiques to furnish the home, and photographs and stories about the house have been gathered.

Anyone interested may attend the Saturday meeting or call Marlene Mallory at 944-3349 or Keenan Pickett at 944-1140.

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Photo (1--color) Preservation organizer Marlene Mallory stands in front of the stone and redwood Martin House, the subject of much history and lore in Littlerock. (2--color) Marlene Mallory wants the Martin House preserved as a historic site. Jeff Goldwater/Daily News