The Echo

Volume 88 Number 1

Spring/Summer 2017 The Flood that Floated the El Dorado Inn Significant Altadena Floods, 1900 – 1969

he Arroyo Seco watershed begins at Red completed in 1920. Protected from future Box Saddle in the flooding, the Stadium was built a Tnear Mount Wilson. In rainy years water year later. crashes through the Altadena area on its way to Although Altadena was mostly spared, the the . Floods in the first decade of the 20th century sent dozens of homes down arroyos lifting topsoil off the new Altadena Country Club golf course, and discharging debris downstream into Pasadena living rooms. As the population grew and more houses were built in high-risk flood plains, flood-control projects were put on the fast track. To protect Pasadena, the first flood- control dam traversed the narrowest gap in the Arroyo Seco, Devil’s Gate Gorge, named after the What’s Inside: natural granite rock formation President’s Message that’s located Water debris from Rubio Canyon covered cars as far south as Brigdon and Sinaloa What’s Up at AHS? about two miles north of where the 1934 flood took out large swathes of La Altadena Colorado Street Bridge is Crescenta and Montrose. As a consequence of Elementary School today. The road across late-fall fires that swept across the foothills, Book Notes the top of the dam was a small inadequate check dams gave way and major artery connecting released boulders, mud and dead trees. The 20- l Picturesque Pasadena Altadena to towns west foot-high mud wall destroyed a large part of of the arroyo. Montrose and killed 45 people. AHS Outreach The dam was This flood prompted the engineering of much April 24 Program continued on page 5 President’s Letter by Jane Brackman, Ph.D.

fter serving many added to our oral histories; years as president of created a library card AAHS I’ll be stepping file; created digital records down July 1, 2017. I’m of photos and donations; proud to say I’ve worked and indexed the clipping hard for the Society as both file (that goes back to the board member and 1800s), to name just a few $17,000, part of which was president, beginning in of the year’s added to our overall reserve 2001. accomplishments. of $25,772. During that time, we We kicked off a solid I will continue to serve on raised more than $70,000 to educational and outreach the board. I hope some of underwrite the cost of the program last year, you who love Altadena will Altadena history book, conducting several consider joining the board greatly increased our programs for scouts, as well. We are looking for membership, and, in 2015, seniors, schools, and clubs. people who are interested we opened the Altadena Your donations and in joining us in the History Museum. memberships meant we development of areas such In 2016 alone AHS were able to welcome 232 as community outreach, installed a new exhibit, visitors and fulfill 61 project planning and “Interesting Altadenans;” research requests. review, budget creation and indexed, summarized and I couldn’t have done any fund-raising. (See page 3 for of this without incredibly one board member’s story). Board of Directors talented and dedicated volunteers. Special Thanks Jane Brackman – president My thanks is also Kathy Hoskins - VP extended to you, our Our thanks go to all of you who Minna Adams – Secretary members, for all the renewed your membership for Marlane Forsberg – Treasurer support you've given 2017. We couldn’t keep our Jim Benson – Membership over these years of doors open without your progress and change. support. We are especially Rob Hallwachs – Publicity Our appreciation goes appreciative of everyone who Mary Smeritschnig out to all of you who added an additional donation Bruce Spears gave us Altadena- to their annual dues. We would Paula Wegner related artifacts, photos, also like to acknowledge $500 journals and other donations from both precious family Volunteers MonteCedro senior living memorabilia that we’ve community and Altadena Beth Cassioli added to the Community Chest, affiliated Ruth Dawson collection. with the Home Shoots Home Ann Elias And finally, thank film-location registry. We thank Mary Gandsey you to all who them both very much. responded to our end If you haven’t had time to Jean Phillips of year fund-raising renew, you can renew on our Pam Wright drive. You helped us website or use the membership reach our income goal Dina Zanrosso form on the back page of the of a little more than newsletter. 2 Meet Our Newest Board Member – Jim Benson

y wife, Kathy, and I moved industry gave me skills I can use to help here from Maryland just over AHS fulfill its mission. M40 years ago. We were attracted Our local history is so rich we even by the majestic mountains (I love to have a Millionaires Row. The early auto hike) and the Eaton Canyon horse-riding stables (Kathy’s passion). We both appreciated the small-town feel of Altadena and its community spirit. You might ask, why am I a volunteer and why a Board member? I’ve been given sage advice from my father – inspired by Teddy Roosevelt’s speech, “The Man in the Arena.” He gives credit to those who participate and calls those critics who stand by the sidelines “cold and timid souls.” I now have both time and energy to Jim and Kathy Benson become a Support AHS When useful part races up Santa Rosa are a kick to read of AHS and about….and there are many, many more You Shop thereby a stories I can help AHS share with other part of Altadenans. Register your rewards card Altadena. If you, too, have time, energy, and an at Ralphs.com and choose My 30 years’ interest in history, you might be AHS as the community experience interested in joining our Board. organization you want to in the Collecting and sharing Altadena’s past is support. A percentage of mortgage a rewarding experience. your purchases will be finance And, it is fun. donated to AHS. AHS earned $73 in three months with only four From Our Readers people registered. Just In January we got an e-mail from Yvonne Savio, who had imagine how we would forwarded the AHS Blog about Altadena grocery stores down benefit if more of our through the years to her friend, Mary Molitor Casaburi. See members participated. It’s Mary’s letter plus more recollections of bygone Altadena on easy, costs you nothing our blog: altadenahistoricalsociety.blogspot.org. other than what you have Please keep sending us your comments, recollections and already spent, and you’ll corrections – they deepen our knowledge and understanding have the satisfaction of of Altadena’s history. You can reach us at supporting an organization [email protected]. you believe in. 3 What’s Up at AHS?

Volunteers early childhood to You will see some new faces at our his WWII Archives these days: Ruth Dawson, who enlistment in the has a background in travel and Navy. And volunteering, and Beth Cassioli, who Cynthia Theil brings much-needed administrative skills gave us a from her 30 years as a legal secretary. handmade Eliot We’re delighted to have them both on our cheerleader outfit team. And an Aveson School 7th grader, from the 1960s Asher Nee, is interning with us, helping along with a to photocopy and preserve some of our photograph of older newspaper clippings. herself wearing it. Our library has Our Collection grown with a Our collection has grown with some selection of books new and interesting donations: from Louise Woodbury family photos from Sutton. George descendant Joseph Brown; Ron Longo and Cynthia Null sent us a photo of the El Dorado Inn before it brought us a copy of “Both Sides Now,” a look was destroyed; and information on the at the results of integration in five different family of Daniel R. Cameron, owner of the high schools, including John Muir; and toys once played with by Winifred Bowring, a granddaughter of Sphinx Ranch owner William Allen, came to us from Eldrid Allen. Like Us on Facebook We are moving into 21st Century mode with a revamped Facebook page. Volunteer Dina Zanrossa is posting regularly for us, so check in every few days to see what’s new. Photos posted on Facebook also appear on Instagram. From our Facebook post on El Dorado Inn - (see page 5 for view after 1969 flood) February 28, you can link to two new oral histories now Cameron House (now the Theosophical available on Archive.org: Em Matthews talks Society) from his descendent Patricia about the late lamented Theatre Americana, McNichols. Jane Brackman donated a and Altadenan DL Lyons discusses his scrapbook from the 1940s with photos of interesting life so far. former Altadenan Richard Olin Brown, from — by Jean Phillips

4 The Flood... El Dorado Inn - lashed by the continued from page 1 1969 flood for several days before larger flood prevention it was washed downstream structures including The same flood roared down elaborate catch basins in Rubio Canyon, sending boulders and around Altadena. The crashing through homes on Civilian Conservation Mariposa, pushing mud and Corps, a Depression-era trees across the Altadena golf work relief program that course, most of it ending up in operated from 1933 through 1942, built most yards of new homes on Sinaloa and New York. of LA County’s flood control infrastructure. In the early 1940s, the Army Corps of Eaton Canyon debris catch basins and the Engineers submitted plans to divert water from dam south of where New York Drive now runs Rubio Canyon east and west to Eaton Canyon and Devil’s Gate reservoir. Those floods were pretty big gully- washers, but the 1969 flood may have been the most dramatic. Devil’s Gate From January 18 through January 22, Dam and 1969, twenty-two and a quarter inches Reservoir of rain fell in local areas. But the deluge wasn’t over. A Saturday morning downpour overwhelmed already saturated foothills and mountain gorges. Boulders, mud and rushing water headed for Altadena. The El Dorado Inn, a popular local restaurant, located at the were completed in 1937. mouth of Eaton In early 1934, Eaton Canyon’s New York Canyon, was lifted Drive extension bridge, connecting Altadena to off its foundation Sierra Madre, was celebrated as state-of-the-art and floated engineering. Four years later torrential rains downstream. roared through Eaton Canyon, leaving only the Rumor has it that concrete abutments (still visible today.) the restaurant’s safe was never recovered and Devil’s Gate Dam Face remains buried in sediment collected at Eaton Dam. The U.S. Weather Bureau reported that the January storm dropped 21.17 inches of rain in Eaton Canyon, 22.63 inches at Devil’s Gate Dam, and 35.38 inches at Mt. Wilson. The Cogswell Dam on the west fork of the San Gabriel River (that flows to Eaton Canyon) received a whopping 36.69 inches, a record that still holds today. — by Jane Brackman Bridge remains after 1938 flood crashed through Eaton Canyon 5 It Started With a Carriage House - The History of Altadena Elementary School

id you know that the gleaming white A new eight-room primary building was stucco building on the corner of El completed in 1923 at a cost of $41,560.69, a DMolino Avenue and Calaveras Street new cafeteria provided hot foods for students, was once a small, one-room schoolhouse? and in 1935, a new earthquake-proof (steel- Today’s Altadena Elementary School has an reinforced) addition was built. interesting past. School Days The Early Years Imagine going to school in Altadena during In 1902 Mr. and Mrs. Lewis W. Schumann the early years. You might have built and bought an acre on the northwest corner of decorated floats for the , winning Calaveras Street and , where the a prize in 1909. You could learn from a set of Mt. Lowe Railroad barn and carriage house encyclopedias donated by the Child Study were still standing. The Schumanns Group (soon to become the PTA). This little remodeled the carriage house into a two-story shelf of books soon led to the establishment home. Where once Professor Lowe’s Tally of Altadena’s town Ho coaches had been kept, Mrs. Schumann library at the began holding classes in her home. school. Within a year, Col. G.G. Green was Classwork, of persuaded to donate an acre at the corner course, of Calaveras and El Molino and, in 1903, a predominated, but one-room school house was completed. It you could take part opened with grades one through three and in many other had 16 pupils. At first, the little building activities – PTA- also served as a church. The school cost sponsored field $2,305.85 and Miss Gertrude Hinman, trips, a community acting as principal and teacher, taught garden, cooking grades one through four at a salary of $675 lessons, and basket per year. weaving, among An undated clipping in our files tells us others. You could the school was also originally proposed as a join the school community center. Unfortunately, as the band, or the Glee article stated, the school was not equipped Club. You could with electric lights. “Visions of civic center First Teacher - Miss Gertrude take part in enthusiasts plodding to the school house in Hinman c. 1903 theatrical evenings, bearing lanterns to be suspended performances such along the sides of the room, furnishing a as “Alice in Wonderland”, or play baseball on flickering light to guide the intellectual the school’s large playground. And you might development of the civic center do not appeal be featured in the newspaper! Several local and another location was chosen.” newspapers regularly carried stories of victory By 1912, the school housed grades one on the field at Altadena School. Academic through eight. In 1915, an 18-room building prowess was saluted in the press, too. was constructed at the cost of $76,560.69 and Scouting was popular – Campfire Girls, patrons donated shrubbery, art and a Victrola. Bluebirds, Brownies and Cub Scouts were

6 sponsored by the PTA and led by parents and restaurant. The PTA and students raised money PTA members. to take a field trip to Valley Forge. And, in 1996, During the Cold War years, you would have computers were installed to prepare students for practiced drop-and-cover exercises, in case of the information age. nuclear war. AHS researcher Kathy Hoskins Altadena Elementary has changed with the remembers being times. In 2009, it terrified as a became an kindergarten inclusion school, student because serving both they were told typical and special that if nuclear needs students. bombs fell, Many special they’d have to programs, some spend three days sponsored by the in a storage PTA, provided room. music, art, literature and Change special education The beginning services. Today the of integration in school, dedicated, the ‘60s affected as always, to all PUSD schools Early Altadena School Classroom educating (class photos Altadena’s from this era show increasing diversity) and children, offers a K-1 French immersion program plans for shifting children, busing, etc., caused and is making full use of their expanded many parents to either leave Altadena or send building. their children to private schools. Proposition And, perhaps we should mention that the 13’s passage in 1979 also impacted the school auditorium in today’s school is ample for district, resulting in budget cuts, eliminating community events! It took a while but...not a music, art, drama, after-school activities and lantern in sight! Mrs. Schumann would be other less-essential programs. proud. Not all enrichment activities were — by Pam Wright eliminated. In the ‘90s, the Scripps Home partnered with Altadena School through an Adopt a School Program, bringing two generations together. Career Day helped students to look to the future, and fifth grade students cooked with chef Marion Cunningham at Twin Palms Altadena School Orchestra 7 Book Notes

ltadena Historical Society has a reference (non-lending) library available for your browsing, research and entertainment. You’re welcome to come to visit, read, ask questions and seek help from our expert staff. Stop in and take a look. Here’s PicturesqueAour featured Pasadena book for – this A Community Echo edition: Expression Published by the Chamber of Commerce and Civic Association of Pasadena California The book contains 54 pages of beautiful photos, including homes and views of Altadena. Sadly, the book is undated, but best estimates put the photos in the 1920s. Most of the photos are without people or cars. The focus is simply on the home designs, peaceful garden views, local landmarks (Pasadena Playhouse, Altadena’s “Mile of Deodars,” churches, etc.) and concludes with some lovely images of riders on shady bridal paths. They evoke a quiet look back into time. Students of architecture may identify the homes, but anyone who simply admires their beauty will enjoy this book.

L.W. Gentry house, East Altadena

Popular Bridle Path

8 Home of Architect Kenneth A. Gordon on Altadena Drive

East on Palm near Holliston. Built 1915

Wheeler Residence

Andrew Jackson Public School - Woodbury Avenue 9 AHS Outreach

HS is committed to “That some 120 locals would Pioneer Andrew McNally, the providing resources for turn out in a standing-room- mapmaker. When prominent Aschools, youth groups, only crowd at the Altadena Altadena architect Adolfo clubs and other organizations. Community Sharing Altadena’s rich history Center on a cold is part of our mission. and wet Monday • We were glad to welcome a night to hear class from Aveson Upper School architectural who stopped in on their tour of historian Tim Altadena; present a short Gregory give an program on Altadena history to illustrated talk on a young Cub Scout troop; and celebrated help two younger students from Altadena architects Aveson research specific decades and the homes in Altadena’s history, they designed for • Programs for other their families is a organizations included testament to presentations at MonteCedro, a Altadenans’ ongoing fascination Miralles and his family later book club at the Arcadia with this legacy. moved into the rambling pile of Retirement Hotel, and Little “Tim’s funniest story regarded a place, they noticed the lines Landers Historical Society’s a house on West Calaveras that in pencil going up a wall that Bolton Hall. long ago marked the • We also participated increasing height of in the opening of the young Dorothy Full Circle Thrift Buffum, later Shop, located in the Dorothy Chandler, old Mount Lowe wife of one Los Railway Substation, Angeles Times and provided several publisher and photographs that mother of another, decorate the interior and the of the shop. philanthropic force If your organization behind the Music would like us to speak Center. Adolfo once about Altadena’s met Buff at a party, history at one of your and mentioned to meetings, please give us a call. her that he now Cub Scouts and Parents from Altadena Pack 1’s Wolf owned the house. ‘I Architect Program never lived in West Den at a Campout Reviewed Altadena,’ she Our January Program on the Buffum family, of replied, disdainfully. The line Altadena architects was a great department store riches, used as speaks volumes about an old success. Here’s a portion of Star- their country home (their main geographical class divide in the News Public Editor Larry pad being in Long Beach) town, pretty much erased in Wilson’s column about the designed by the great Wallace today’s real estate market.” lecture, reprinted by permission: Neff, grandson of Altadena — by Jean Phillips

10 Writer-Artist Presents Program On FREE American Abolitionists For Altadena Historical Society Hope Demetriades Speaks and Displays Artwork at 7:30 p.m. Monday April 24 at Community Center bolitionist-insurrectionist John Brown, gratitude and respect Awhose sons Jason and Owen came to live among slaves, free in the hills of Altadena after their father’s African-Americans raid on Harper’s Ferry, will be the focus of and abolitionists,” writer-artist Hope Demetriades in a program Demetriades said. sponsored by the Altadena Historical Society. She will discuss Demetriades also events in Brown’s life will display that led up to his raid some of her on the Harper’s Ferry, artistic and his ties to other assemblages that abolitionists including Harriet Tubman, memorialize and Frederick Douglas and Elijah Lovejoy. canonize the abolitionists. A Two of Brown’s sons were killed in the showing of her Harper’s Ferry attack (Brown was captured, work was tried and hung). His surviving sons, Owen recently and Jason, along with other family members, displayed in the moved to California, where they built a Boswell Gallery cabin in the Altadena foothills. at Polytechnic Jason worked on the Mount Lowe Railway School in before returning home to Ohio, where he Pasadena. died in 1884. When Owen died in 1889, he “Brown’s was buried on a foothill above the Las passionate Casitas tract in Altadena. devotion not The program will be at 7:30 p.m. Monday, "John Brown" by Hope only to ending April 24, at the Altadena Community slavery, but to Demetriades Center, 730 E. Altadena Drive, 91001. The bringing about program is free and open to the public. The total equality among African-Americans and Community Center is immediately west of Caucasians inspired deep resentment in the the Sheriff’s Station and across Altadena mostly pro-slavery South, but profound Drive from Rite-Aid.

Other Upcoming Events May 13 – Our annual sale will be held this year at the old Substation, now Full Circle Thrift Shop. We’re selling lots of books, artifacts and other items of interest that don’t belong in our collection. Come to shop and see what the Substation looks like today. July 24 – Our quarterly program at the Community Center will feature Altadena’s Mountain Rescue Team. From early rescues to today’s Eaton Canyon accidents, we look forward to a fascinating talk.

11 Altadena Historical Society 730 E. Altadena Drive Altadena, CA 91001-2351

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The Echo

ALTADENA HISTORICAL SOCIETY

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