USA > California > Los Angeles County > Glendale > Glendale City Directory 1917 > Part 27
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27
Robinson Bros. Transfer & Storage, Brand Blvd near Colorado
Tropico Auto Express Co., Office, 1208 W. Bdwy, Glendale
Tropico Transfer Co., 133 N San Fer- nando Rd, Tropico
VETERINARY SURGEONS Whytock, Dr. J., 111 N Jackson
VULCANIZING AND TIRE REPAIR SHOPS
Carmack, C. R., 715 N Central Ave, Tropico
Conrad Vulcanizing Co., 1011 W Broadway
Glendale Vulcanizing Works, 1102 W Broadway Monarch Company, 421-23 S Brand Smith's Cyclery, 710 W Broadway
WATER COMPANIES
Public Service Dept. City of Glen- dale, City Hall
WALL PAPER
Glendale Paint & Paper Co., 419 S Brand
CARNEY'S SHOE STORE, DAVE CARNEY PROPRIETOR
Shoes and Men's Furnishings. Agents for Queen Quality and Just Wright Shoes 1106 W. Broadway, near Brand
Sunset 983-M Glendale, Cal.
216
HISTORY OF GLENDALE
The city of Glendale is charmingly and advantageously situated at the extreme eastern part of the San Fernando Valley. The elevation of 600 feet, the abundance of pure mountain water and its proximity to Los Angeles, the metropolis of the south, are a few of the features that make it a desir- able residence city. Glendale has grown rapidly and her history is most interesting and unique. As in the case of every other city that has achieved any degree of prosperity, Glendale is built on the hopes, the toil and the discouragement of the men who laid her foundations.
During the Spanish and Mexican eras, California was cut up into vast estates and given outright to favorites of the crown. These grants some- times overlapped and have since caused endless legal controversy in estab- lishing land titles. Most of these grants were made during the Mexican era, especially toward its close in 1846. One of the few grants made prior to that, during the rule of the Spanish governors, was that of 300,000 acres in this valley to Santa Jose Verdugo and known as the San Rafael Rancho. This enormous estate extended from the Arroyo Seco to the Los Feliz hills and from Los Angeles to the San Rafael mountains including La Crescenta- La Canada valley, and was one of the large ranches left intact when this territory was ceded to the United States in 1847. The Verdugo ranch house was located in the canyon and the original adobe house is still in existence, a portion of the estate being in possession of the Verdugo family to this day.
The first Americans came to this valley when Erskine M. Ross, now Judge Ross of the Superior Court, with Captain C. E. Thom, purchased a large tract of land from the Verdugo estate.
Thom and Ross acquired their first interest in the Rancho about the year 1870. In the latter part of 1871 the Rancho was partitioned between its respective owners, specific tracts being assigned to such owners, and spe- cifically described interests in the waters of the Verdugo canyon were de- creed to the respective owners. At this time a tract comprising 2692.01 acres, known as the Canyon tract, including practically all of the Verdugo
217
canyon and the sides of the hills to the east and west were awarded to Teo- doro Verdugo and his wife, Maria Catalina Verdugo. This lady is still living in the canyon on this tract, portions of it having been sold since the decree of 1871.
Thom and Ross began improving their tract at once. It must have been a stupendous undertaking. The land was in an absolute condition of nature. Chaparral and cactus flourished, the live oak and poison oak were abundant and the coyote, the short-tail cat, the rattlesnake and horned toad held title to the land by virtue of possession and numbers. Much time and money were spent in improving the tract, making experiments as to what crops could be raised to best advantage, bringing water from the canyon and protecting the land from the waters of the Arroyo Seco.
In the early 70s Thom and Ross planted the first orange orchard any- where within the boundaries of the Rancho. There were two or three orange trees then existing at the home of Fernando Sepulveda, which is now the place known as La Ramada, and there were a few old pear trees some dis- tance from and to the west of the Fernando Sepulveda residence, where Catalina Verdugo formerly lived, and one old pear tree at the place where Thom and Ross planted their first orange orchard. The ranch never was a stock ranch, although there was some fairly good grazing land on some por- tions of it, particularly on the rolling hills toward what is now Garvanza. In the vicinity, however, of what is now Glendale, there was no stock except a few saddle animals and horses used in hauling wood, out of which business the Verdugos mainly made their living, and possibly a few goats and donkeys. A huge Spaniard named Caravajal, who used to ride a little pony into town nearly every day, with his feet almost touching the ground, owned a vine- yard of a few acres, possibly two or three, a little north of where Mr. Sherer has long resided, on what is known as the Hill road. Julio Verdugo lived in a little house on the easterly side of that road, a little southeast from the present Sherer residence, without any trees near his place except a small willow tree near a water hole. His son Teodoro lived with his family in an adobe house which still stands in the Verdugo canyon, and several of his other sons lived in small houses in various places on the ranch. With the exceptions mentioned, there were no improvements in the vicinity of what is now Glendale at the time Thom and Ross planted their first orange orchard.
Captain Thom and Judge Ross were pioneers in a large sense, although they did not come to the valley to reside. They blazed the trail and laid the foundation for the beautiful and beloved city in which we now take so much pride.
The first real settlers coming into this part of the valley happened along in 1883. B. F. Patterson, now of 317 Belmont street, with two companions, E. T. Byram and George W. Phelon, both now passed to the beyond, had previously come to Southern California and were in search of a place that would answer all the requirements which they considered necessary for per- manent homes. They traveled over much of Southern California, driving
218
from San Diego to San Luis Obispo. After looking the situation over thor- oughly they decided that Los Angeles was the city with a future. Los An- geles had the Southern Pacific railway, with prospects of the Santa Fe, while San Diego, Santa Barbara and other cities of their size had no railroads.
Driving through the country north of Los Angeles they saw large stumps of live oak trees, and being eastern farmers they reasoned that timber soil is productive soil and that where grew these giants of the forest, fruit trees would also flourish. This section answered the requirements of a health- giving climate, an altitude of 600 feet and bountiful supply of pure moun- tain water.
The same year came Harry J. Crow, who had previously become pos- sessed of 200 acres west of Glendale avenue and south of Broadway, since known as the Lomita Park tract. Others who came that year were Everette Chase, father of Dr. R. E. Chase of Glendale, the Lindgrens, Fowls, Bissetts, Larkins, Colemans, Fords and Rivers, and these families for a short time comprised the population of what is now Glendale. They were typical pioneers and they carved out homes in this virgin land with their own hands. There were difficulties of all kinds to overcome and these men who had farmed in the east had much to learn in regard to tilling the soil in California.
They had to learn by experimenting and sometimes their mistakes were costly as well as discouraging. It was difficult to secure help, as from the time of the cession of this territory to the United States the Mexicans would not co-operate with the American settlers or gringoes, as they called them. At that time the Mexicans controlled the city and county of Los Angeles. Stumps were grubbed out, cactus patches cleared, homes built and water brought from the mountains in open ditches and filtered into cisterns. Mr. Patterson and Mr. Byram purchased a large section from the tract granted to O. W. Childs by the decree of 1871 and still known as the Childs tract. The land purchased by them comprised the territory now bounded by the following streets : Glendale avenue, First street, Adams street and Broadway. Mr. Phelon purchased a tract north of the Patterson and Byram tract, while Mr. Crow became possessed of 200 acres west of Glen- dale avenue and south of Broadway. Mr. Patterson built a house on Glen- dale avenue near Third street, where he lived for twenty-one years. Mr. Byram built the house where his family still resides, 218 South Glendale avenue, and where he passed away May 30, 1908, while Mr. Phelon built where the residence of Mrs. A. K. Crawford now stands, at Second and Cedar. Mr. Phelon did not remain here long, death in the family having been the cause of his return to Los Angeles. However, he subsequently returned to the valley on two different occasions and passed away at his home in North Glendale September 16, 1913, at the age of 76 years. Mr. Crow built a home on what is now Lomita avenue and he was the next per- son after Thom and Ross to plant orchards in the vicinity. He set out on his 200-acre tract, a large peach orchard and also a good many acres of orange trees. Glendale is indebted to Mr. Crow also for the splendid large
219
eucalyptus trees which line Lomita avenue on both sides and help to make it such an attractive residence street.
On Thanksgiving Day, 1883, there were thirteen families living here and all joined in a Thanksgiving picnic at the Chase home on Glendale ave- nue, later and until recently the home of Mr. Wilmot Parcher.
Other settlers followed these rapidly and shortly this was quite a cred- itable community. Among the earliest settlers and men who have been closely identified with the history of Glendale up to the present time are G. B. Woodberry, city trustee, and J. C. Sherer, former editor of the News and now city clerk.
Thom and Ross held and improved their lands in common for a number of years, and about the latter part of the year 1886 or the beginning of 1887 they, together with H. J. Crow, B. F. Patterson and E. T. Byram, laid out the original boundaries of what is now the city of Glendale, having thereto- fore been instrumental in the endeavor to procure the building of the nar- row gauge railroad from Los Angeles by Captain Cross, the predecessor in interest of the present Glendale branch of the Salt Lake railroad. Thom and Ross put about 150 acres of their land into the original boundaries of the city of Glendale, comprising the territory between Glendale and Central avenues and from First nearly to Fourth street. Mr. Patterson and Mr. Byram put in the lands owned by them as mentioned above and Mr. Crow contributed one hundred of the two hundred acres lying south of Fourth as far as Crow avenue, now Lomita avenue.
For years Glendale had no postoffice and no name. It had long been known as Glendale, but the postoffice department refused to permit that name to be given officially in spite of the repeated pleadings of the people here. When the first settlers came here their mail was brought to them by stage, which made trips twice a week between Los Angeles and La Crescenta. Many of them had boxes in the Los Angeles postoffice and when one went to town he brought the mail for all the neighbors. Going to Los Angeles was not the simple matter it is to-day. It was necessary to drive via the old Verdugo road and ford the Los Angeles river. Any other route required the cutting of a path through the cactus. Later arrangements were made to have the sack thrown off the S. P. train daily and finally a postoffice was established at Glendale and Moore avenues, now Tropico, but at that time the entire settlement was known as Glendale.
The naming of Glendale is an interesting bit of history. At first the settlement was called San Rafael, while over to the west near the river there was a small community called Riverdale. These names did not seem satis- factory to all concerned. Verdugo was suggested, but some objections were made on account of the meaning of the word (hangman). Etheldean was suggested, but Glendale seemed to be popular with the greatest number. A lady artist from Chicago having caught a glimpse of the valley from the nearby hills and transferred it to canvas, suggested that Glendale was a most fitting name for this part of the valley. This was enthusiastically received
220
by all but the postoffice department at Washington, who refused the name and sent in its stead Mason. In 1887 the postoffice was moved to Third and Glendale avenue, where Mrs. Tight's office is now located. A sign over the door, read "Glendale, Mason postoffice." The community was known as Glendale and mail addressed to Glendale, Cal., reached its destination. The postoffice department refused to consider the name officially because of the danger of confusing it with Glendale, Colorado, the abbreviations of the names of the states being similar. So Mason it was until 1891, when the name was changed through the instrumentality of John Wanamaker, the Postmaster General, who visited the Pacific Coast that year and was inter- ested in the matter through Mrs. Byram and others.
During the boom of 1886-87, Thom and Ross and Crow built the Glendale hotel, which is now the Sanitarium, on a block containing about five acres, mainly owned by Thom and Ross, and furnished the same at a total expendi- ture of something over $62,000, each of the three paying one-third thereof. The payment by Crow of his third of the cost of the hotel was largely the cause of his ultimate loss of all of his property, and Thom and Ross finally received for their investment in the matter a little less than $4,000 each. The hotel was opened with a grand celebration and banquet on Thanksgiving day, 1888. The building was used for a hotel for a few months only. The boom burst and everything came to a standstill. In February, 1889, the hotel building was turned over to the Southern California diocese of the Episcopal church, rent free, to be used as a boarding school for girls and for four years it was used for this purpose, being known as St. Hilda's hall. At the end of that time the institution moved to Los Angeles and soon after was dis- continued. The school was well equipped with a full corps of teachers and taught all the branches of a well-conducted boarding and day school. The building remained empty for a number of years until purchased by the Battle Creek Sanitarium people eleven years ago with the exception of about a year and a half prior to December, 1902, when the high school convened in the building.
Among other activities during the boom days was the building of the narrow gauge railroad to Los Angeles, already referred to. This road pro- vided good service for that day and the people appreciated the convenience. The headquarters of the road were at Glendale and practically all of the em- ployes lived here. After operating the road for five or six years, Captain Cross turned it over to some St. Louis capitalists and under the name of the Terminal line the road was operated for ten or eleven years in conjunction with similar lines to Pasadena and to San Pedro. It was finally taken over by the Salt Lake, which purchased the road to secure the franchise, as they wanted a terminal at San Pedro.
Another result of the boom was the establishment in 1886 by the Wheeler Bros. of the first newspaper published in Glendale, known as the Glendale Encinal, which was sold the following year to William Galer, a well known newspaper man who passed away in July, 1914, at Long Beach at the
221
age of 76 years. This newspaper met the fate of all the other boom enter- prises and after about a year, Mr. Galer discontinued its publication for lack of business and moved to Los Angeles. His son, C. E. Galer, now manager of the California Ink Co., has interesting recollections of those days of long ago. He was a compositor in the Encinal office, first located in the base- ment of the hotel and later moved to a new building on Glendale avenue between Third and Fourth streets. The buildings were few and far between then, there was much land unimproved and the jack rabbits still roamed in large numbers over the cactus and sage brush. Mr. Galer kept his shotgun handy and ever and anon his eyes wandered from the type case through the nearby window. Should he spy a bunny he picked up his gun and committed murder, returning to his stick without delay. Printers now-a-days have no such pleasant diversion to relieve the monotony.
Glendale, in all her history, has had very little trouble with saloons. One grog shop flourished for a short time, but seemed ill fated. Los Angeles men were the promoters and in spite of a protest signed by more than 200 resi- dents and property owners and dated February 23, 1888, the saloon opened in a building erected for the purpose on Third street just west of Glendale avenue. Shortly after its opening the bar keeper was found dead in the saloon and his predecessor shortly after narrowly escaped death when the building was burned to the ground. There was no effort made to rebuild or to open another saloon and there has been little serious opposition to Glendale's dry policy from that day to this.
HISTORY OF TROPICO
The portion of the San Fernando valley that is termed Tropico was at one time embraced in one of the oldest Spanish land grants in the state of California.
The Rancho San Rafael was granted in 1874 to Don Jose Maria Verdugo, a corporal of the San Gabriel Mission guard. The area of this grant was 48,000 acres, and at the time of the American occupation of California was held by the descendants of the proud and princely old corporal.
In 1871 it was partitioned among claimants, when only about 4000 acres of the immense patrimony remained to the descendants of Don Jose Maria Verdugo, of whom Don Teodoro Verdugo, advanced in age, passed away peacefully at his home in the Verdugo canyon but a few years since. Among the early pioneers who came to this portion of the valley were the late Hon. and Mrs. W. C. B. Richardson, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Ayers, Col. and Mrs. A. Moore, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Ayres, Mrs. and Mrs. Robert Devine, Mr. and Mrs. John Hodgson, Mr. and Mrs. Neil Erskine, Mr. and Mrs. Levi Riley, Mr. and Mrs. John Wolfe and Mr. andMrs. A. E. Hollingsworth.
This colony of pioneer men and women decided to give a name to this portion of the great San Fernando valley, where they had come and cast
222
their lot and which they had decided to call home. A meeting was called to give the community a name and this meeting was held in the old Methodist Episcopal church, which was located on Glendale avenue near Ninth street, where the handsome T. W. Doyle residence has been erected the past few years. At this meeting Mrs. Isabella Moore, wife of Col. Moore, presented the name of Etheldene, by which this locality was known for some time. The postoffice, which was located on Glendale avenue, near Cypress street, was known as Mason and Aaron Wolfe was the first postmaster. He also conducted a grocery in connection with the postoffice. This name was changed from the fact that there was another Mason, California, and a meeting was held and several names submitted to the Southern Pacific rail- way officials who desired an appropriate name given the station through which their line passed. The name Tropico appealed to the railway officials and later was adopted by the postoffice authorities at Washington, D. C. The name Tropico is the Spanish for the English word tropic.
The first male child born of American parents in Tropico was Wesley John Ayers, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Ayers. This child lived until nineteen months of age. To these same parents was born the first baby girl in Tropico, and whom they named Evalena. Evalena is now the happy wife of Cover Melrose, son of Judge and Mrs. George C. Melrose.
The narrow pathways, made sacred by the sandaled feet of the brown garbed padres who visited their beloved missions, made broader as other pedestrians walked over them, finally broadening into roadways-the cow and sheep trails that eventually became public highways of Tropico, are now the finest macadamized boulevards and avenues, passing north and south and traversing east and west through this progressive city.
VERDUGO CANON WATER CO.
The Verdugo Canon Water Company is a mutual corporation, and not a commercial organization.
It was organized by water owners of the Valley in 1884. They turned over to the Company their interests in the pipes and lands necessary to con- duct water to the various reservoirs. Therefore the Company is virtually a Pipe & Reservoir Co. taking care of, dividing and delivering the waters of the Verdugo Canon, belonging to its stockholders. It is maintained by an annual pipe rate, levied on the stock.
The stockholders number about 335. The City of Glendale owns 26361/2 shares and the City of Tropico 10681/2 shares.
The officers of the Company are: Arthur Campbell, President; J. C. Sherer, Vice-president; G. B. Woodberry, Secretary and General Superin- tendent; Trustees, D. Black, A. Campbell, D. Fuller, H. B. Lynch, Frank Olmstead, J. C. Sherer, T. W. Watson.
Office of the Company, 419 S. Glendale Ave., Glendale.
223
W E WISH to extend thanks to the business and pro- fessional men for their support as well as to others for their co-opera- tion and assistance in making it possible for us to compile and pub- lish this city directory.
q It is our purpose to publish an- other directory early in the year 1918 or at such a time as the pub- lic may demand it.
Glendale Evening News
STARR SERVICE
Insures Musical Satisfaction
We are manufacturers of Starr made Grand and Upright Pianos Starr made Playerpianos Starr Phonographs Starr Phonograph Records.
Give us an opportunity of making an estimate on your musical needs.
We can save you money and increase your satisfaction.
We will take pleasure in demonstrating the artistic quality of our goods, the exceptional values we have to offer and the many advan- tages derived from Buying Direct from the Manufacturer.
Easy terms of payment if desired.
The Starr Piano Company Factory Salesrooms 628-630-632 SOUTH HILL STREET LOS ANGELES
GOING TO MOVE?
IF SO, LET US GIVE YOU AN ESTIMATE CROSS-COUNTRY TRIPS A SPECIALTY
Transfer and Moving Work of all kinds, Piano Moving and Storage Furniture Crated for Shipping
BAGGAGE
Prompt Service to All R. R. Stations. Daily Truck Service to and from Glendale Tropico and Los Angeles
Home 2233
Both Phones
Sunset 428
Night Phone: Sunset Glendale 1178=J
Robinson Bros.
Transfer and Storage New Fireproof Warehouse Glendale, Cal. Fireproof Warehouse 604-606 S. Brand Blvd.
691-000006
CUTS for all Printing Purposes
Phone or write for Aristo man to call on you Aristo Enģravinš Co. Illustrators Designers Photo-Engravers Electrotypers ARISTO BLDG. 757 S. Los Angeles St., Los Angeles, Cal.
phone F1068 or Main 3340
Phones: Sunset Glendale 4: Home 1711 Open Day and Night "Our Home Is Your Home"
JEREE CITY UNDERTAKING-LO.
Jewel City Undertaking Co. MR. AND MRS. J. E. PHILLIPS, Licensed Embalmers 246 Brand Blvd. Glendale
Sunset 143
Home 143
Scovern-Frey Undertaking Co. LICENSED EMBALMERS FUNERAL DIRECTORS
Corner Brand and Acacia
Auto Ambulance
Lady Assistant
Patronize Your Home Telephone Company LOCAL AND LONG DISTANCE CALLS
San Fernando Valley Home Telephone Co. Phone Mgr. Office Main 55
912 W. Broadway Glendale, Cal.
FIRST NATIONAL BANK of Tropico
DAN CAMPBELL, President JOHN A. LOGAN, Cashier
Tropico Bank Bldg. Tropico, Cal.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.