Local Explorers of the Mountains New Exhibit Opens Saturday, Nov
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The Echo Volume 89 Number 2 Fall/Winter 2017 Local Explorers of the Mountains New Exhibit Opens Saturday, Nov. 4th ive fascinating men who the city-bred average citizen dedicated their lives to dreams of.” Fcharting, conserving and Theodore Lukens, known as promoting the San Gabriel the “father of forestry,” Mountains they loved will be established a tree nursery on featured in the Historical Henninger Flats in the early 1900s Society’s new exhibit, “Inspired after devastating fires ravaged the by the San Gabriels: Five Men hillsides. He traveled up and down and the Mountains.” the West Coast researching tree Featuring their words, maps, species and collecting seeds, and photos and memorabilia from oversaw a reforestation effort in the 1890s through the 1950s, the San Gabriels. the exhibit profiles the unique Through his writings in Trails characters and Magazine and the LA Times, Will accomplishments of Theodore Thrall informed the public about Lukens, Will Thrall, Don the mountains: hiking trails, McLain, L.T. Gotchy and information about preventing George Wharton James. Theodore Lukens, known as forest fires, and some history of An opening event, free to all, “father of forestry” the San Gabriels. He helped will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday Nov. 4 at the thousands of Angelenos discover the mountains. Historical Society’s Photographs and hand-drawn, beautifully-detailed What’s Inside: Museum and Archives in topographic maps of the mountains highlight the Altadena Community Altadenan Don McLain’s years as a surveyor for President’s Message Center. the forest service. He also named many of the local What’s Up at AHS? George Wharton peaks, including Mount Lukens. James, writer, lecturer, Last but certainly not least, the exhibit profiles Great Hiking Era and publicist for the L.T. Gotchy, a self-proclaimed “documentary Altadena’s Four Mount Lowe Railway in photographer extraordinaire” who used his camera Corners the late 1890s, believed to capture the burned remnants of the Mount Lowe that a man who loves and Railway, life as a Forest Service firefighter, and the Book Notes lives in the wilderness will tiny cabin he inhabited in the mountains. l “The San Gabriels” “give you unique views of The exhibit will be on yearlong display during Don’t Miss These life and will proclaim a AHS hours 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mondays, Tuesdays Events! purer, better gospel than and Fridays and by appointment. President’s Letter by Kathy Hoskins irst I would like to have deep roots in this area. thank out-going When I retired from Fpresident Jane teaching at Willard Brackman for her leadership Elementary School, I knew of Altadena Historical that I wanted to volunteer Society for the last eight at Altadena Historical years. She has helped AHS Society. For the last 10 years grow in many ways during I have been involved in her term in office. I am many areas of AHS developed across from the honored to follow in her including serving on the Sheriff’s station. This footsteps as president and Board of Directors. My main project, led by Los Angeles am grateful for the activity has been County, Altadena Heritage opportunity to continue the researching and answering and Amigos de los Rios, will leadership of this research requests. I really be a wonderful use of open organization. enjoy finding out new space with the opportunity I have lived in Altadena things about this to sit and take in mountain since 1950. My family community even though it views. Our contribution moved here from the Lake has been my home for most seemed logical as the and Washington area of of my life. I still run across original name for AHS was Pasadena. My mother was a streets that I have never Altadena Historical and native of Pasadena and my heard of and questions that Beautification Society. father lived in Altadena as a lead me to new information I hope that you will check teenager. In other words, I about the interesting people this newsletter and our web and places around me. site for information on our Board of Directors Plans for this coming year coming events. Kathy Hoskins – President include continuing our Jane Brackman – Vice President regular quarterly lecture Minna Adams – Secretary series, installing a new Marlane Forsberg – Treasurer museum exhibit that NewO Board Members Jim Benson – Membership features five men inspired We are very pleased to Rob Hallwachs – Publicity by our San Gabriel announce three new members of William Boyd mountains, expanding our our Board of Directors: William Mary Smeritschnig partnerships with local R. Boyd, Jr., a real estate Bruce Spears schools to present executive with much experience Dr. Sandra Thomas Altadena’s history to helping nonprofit organizations; Daria Topousis students in the area, and Sandra Thomas, Altadena Paula Wegner recording more oral Councilperson and well-known histories with those who community activist; and Daria Volunteers have contributed to the Topousis, JPL software project Beth Cassioli social history of our manager, writer, and Ruth Dawson community. Huntington Library Reader. All Ann Elias We also plan to continue Altadenans, their range of skills Bobbi Feasel our efforts to partner with will help us bring Altadena’s Mary Gandsey community groups and rich history to Altadenans, Laurie Kinsinger organizations. Recently AHS historians, students, and the Larry Mudica contributed $500 to the new interested public. Welcome to Jean Phillips triangle park that is being all! Pam Wright Dina Zanrosso 2 What’s Up at AHS? e are very pleased to announce Albrecht, a Cal Tech chemist; friend of that our Mount Lowe Website, Linus Pauling, Richard Davies, and Jirayr Wtoo many years in the making, Zorthian; and music critic whose “Music will finally be available on our website, Matters” columns appeared in the www.altadenahistoricalsociety.org on Pasadena Independent, came to us from Nov. 4. It will also be available on a his niece, Nancy Lugosi. laptop computer where it can be viewed A carefully curated set of Mount Lowe by visitors to the postcards, complete with Archives. Check it postmarks and messages, was out and tell us donated by Rosana what you think! Whittlesley, daughter of We are pleased to collector Frederick Langford. welcome two new Three postcards depicting the volunteers: Larry Switzer-land chapel and the view Mudica, a from the chapel came from talented PCC Marie Spencer. intern who will be Bruce Chubbuck staying on with us, donated a Boy Scout and Bobbi commemorative pin Feasel, a he wore when photographer and directing traffic at photo restorer who the 1946 Christmas will help us with Tree Lane lighting our photo ceremony. The Echophone in use collection. Louise Sutton At our spring sale (above) and at Archives gave us additional in the Full Circle (right) books and Thrift shop courtyard, shoppers purchased pamphlets she and items not suited to our collection, and her husband, Jerry visited the thrift shop to see the inside of Sutton, collected the historic Pacific Electric Substation, the over the years. last remaining building from the Mount Greg Gill donated Lowe Railway and Resort. Volunteer Pam a wonderful Wright gave a well-received talk about colorized photo of the Cobb Estate at the Crescenta Valley Jr.’s restaurant, which is now seeking a Historical Society, and we’re working with very large wall to live on. MonteCedro’s designers to provide “Photographs and Souvenirs,” by Patrick photographs for their historical wall. Leahy, a novel set in Altadena, that draws We have some very special new heavily on the author’s experiences, was additions to the Archives, thanks to some given to us by his son, Dan Leahy. generous donors: Nancy and George Warner gave us John Reveley gave us one of the old several photographs of her father, Don Echo Phones used on Echo Mountain, McLain, as well as a scrapbook about which now has pride of place in our Don’s life and adventures. Don is one of museum. the men featured in our new exhibit, A fascinating scrapbook about Gustav opening Nov. 4. Don’t miss it. 3 America’s New Pastime: The Great Hiking Era The virtues of wilderness Within a few years, six major exploration, advocated by trails culminated at Redbox environmental philosopher Saddle, just 12 miles above John Muir, inspired city folks Altadena. with enough time and money Destination sites, like Mt. to venture into the Wilson, home to two of the world’s largest telescopes, and Professor Lowe’s railroad resorts, featured overnight accommodations and seasonal he written opportunities to play works of in the snow. Tinspirational A number of naturalists like Ralph retreats were Waldo Emerson and established to host Henry David outdoors enthusiasts Thoreau gave rise to who day-hiked from the “Great Hiking one camp to another. Era,” a period that These privately spanned more than owned cabin resorts five decades, offered rustic but beginning in the relatively luxurious nineteenth century. amenities, some with The recreational fully erected walking movement furnished tents, caught fire in cabins and meal Southern California plans. in the 1880s when LA Woman feeding deer near Mount Lowe. c. 1902 Switzer Camp, a experienced popular destination unprecedented growth. backcountry. “Climb the for well-heeled Pasadenans, Seeking respite from mountains and get their good was established in the upper unhealthful and stressful tidings. Nature’s peace will flow reaches of the Arroyo Seco in cities they’d only recently into you as sunshine flows into 1884. Destroyed by fire in created, people headed for trees.” 1896, the camp reopened and nature’s fresh air, clean With its sheer cliffs of for a while went by the name water, and wide-open spaces.