USA > California > Los Angeles County > Los Angeles > Historical and biographical record of Los Angeles and vicinity : containing a history of the city from its earliest settlement as a Spanish pueblo to the closing year of the nineteenth century ; also containing biographies of well known citizens of the past and present > Part 31
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THE LOS ANGELES RECORD (daily. ) The first number of the Los Angeles Record was is- sued March 4, 1895, by William F. Burbank, editor and owner. It was a four-page paper, based on the idea that the news of the day after the happenings chronicled by the morning papers could be put into smaller compass and sold for a less price than any other daily paper in Los An- geles. Its editorials were short, and the editorial announcement of its birth was put in a very few lines. The paper was intended to be newsy, readable and independent. The first advertise- ment of the forthcoming appearance of the Record was put in the columns of its rival, the Express. After a little while it was decided to put the price of the paper down to two cents per copy, but be- fore this could be done Mr. Burbank purchased from the United States mint at Philadelphia ten thousand pennies, which have since done service in enabling shoppers to get exact change. The Record was subsequently incorporated, with E. W. Scripps as president, Mr. Burbank as vice-president, and Paul H. Blades as secre- tary and manager. The price was again re- duced, making it a one-cent paper, and so it has continued. With the revival of business, in 1898, the Record went ahead rapidly, and during the
Several exceptionally brilliant and able news- paper men have been connected with the Record at different times, among whom may be named George D. High, O. A. Stevens, George M. Eby, George Riddell, W. R. Ream and Thomas Garrett.
The Los Angeles Record is a part of the Scripps- Blades league of California evening papers. The officers of the league are Edward W. Scripps, presi- dent; Paul H. Blades, general manager, and E. H. Bagby, business manager.
THE OIL, ERA is a sixteen-page weekly paper ; size of page, 11x15 inches, four columns to the page. It was founded February 3, 1900, and is published by the Oil Era Publishing Company. Jas. Phillis, manager, and Ira B. Wood, editor. It is devoted to the championing of the south- west oil industry. In connection with the Weckly Journal, the company publishes a daily bulletin, giving quotations and sales of stock at the two oil exchanges. The Oil Era is a neatly printed and ably edited journal. It is, in truth, what it purports to be, the "champion of the southwest oil industry." Its reports cover the oil districts of Fresno, Kern, Los Angeles and Orange Counties. The history of the · petroleum industry and its development in these counties is interesting, but for want of space it cannot be taken up in this volume.
THE SATURDAY POST, a "family story paper, " is a twenty-page weekly; size of page, 9x13 inches. It was established by Hon. Abbot Kinney in November, 1899, and is now published by The Post Publishing Company, Abbot Kinney, editor, and H. M. Wright, assistant editor. Its mission, other than the publication of fiction for family reading, is to fight the trusts, and to advocate political reforms from a Democratic standpoint. It is Democratic in politics.
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS-COLLEGES.
N THE chapter on schools and school teachers of Los Angeles, an outline history of public school education in that city has been given. In this chapter will be given brief sketches of denominational colleges and other institutions of learning not classed as public schools.
Under Spanish and Mexican rule there were 110 collegiate institutions of learning nor any church schools founded by the dominant church in Los Angeles. What little was done in the way of education was done through the public schools supported by municipal funds. A change of rulers seems to have effected a change of senti- ment in regard to the necessity of educating the youth of the city; for shortly after the acquisition of California by the United States we find in the city archives petitions to the ayuntamiento from Catholic clergymen for tracts of land on which to build church schools.
At the session of June 9, 1849, a petition was received for a tract of unappropriated pueblo lands for a college, from the Bishopric of California, signed by Reverend Fathers Sebastian Bongron- vanni, Juan Crissostomo Olvien and Antonio Jimenez del Recio.
The ayuntamiento resolved "That the Holy See of California be granted from amongst the municipal lands of this city and adjoining the cañada which leads to the San Fernando road, a square lot measuring 150 varas on each of its sides, subject to the following conditions. First, this land cannot be sold, transferred or hypothe- cated directly or indirectly; second, the building erected thereon shall at all times serve the sole and exclusive purpose of public instruction." This tract lies immediately north of College street and west of Buena Vista street. College street took its name from this tract.
petition was received from the Rev. Father Antonio Maria Jimenez del Recio "For the plat of ground in the angle forming an elbow with the church and parochial residence." "To put up a new building on this plat" (so he says in his petition ) "would result in closing up a quadrangle which would be a very good thing for two reasons: First, as an improvement to the plaza, adding to its symmetry: Second, as a convenience to the clergymen who are to teach in it, as well as to the pupils, on account of its proximity to the church.'
This he does "for the sake of the youth of the city who could be made educated citizens and good Catholics, but who receive no other instruc- tion now than the sad examples of rusticity and loose morals." He will establish "a primary school principally to teach the duties of Catholi- cism, and should do all that within my power lies to impart primary instruction; and what is more needed, to teach the duties of our religion, towards which my compassion particularly draws me." At the meeting of June 15, 1850, the council granted the land for the purpose indicated in the petition.
ST. VINCENT'S COLLEGE.
The first collegiate institution founded in Los Angeles was St. Vincent's College. The corner stone of the college building was laid in August, 1866, on the block bounded by Sixth, Seventh, Fort and Hill streets. The first building was two stories high, with an attic and basement; the main building was 40x80 feet on the ground, with an extensive wing at each end. This building was completed ill 1867.
The college was erected under the auspices of the Fathers of the St. Vincent de Paul Mission, and a staff of professors was secured from the Atlantic states and Europe with a view to making the curriculum as thorough as possible. The curric- uluin included not only scientific and classical courses of study, but also a full commercial course. The first executive officers were Father McGill, Father Richardson, treasurer.
At the same meeting a grant of 150 varas square in the southeastern part of the town was inade to the Sisters of Charity to establish a con- vent and school, on the same conditions as in the grant named above. This tract lies on the southeast corner of Alameda and Macy streets. At . president; Father Flynn, vice-president; and the meeting of the ayuntamiento, in May, 1850, a
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
In 1884 the building was remodeled and en- larged, and an additional story added. Early in 1887, during the boom, the college grounds and building at Sixth street were sold for $100,000 and a new site purchased on the corner of Wash- ington street and Grand avenue. Commodious college buildings were erected on these grounds. The institution is ably conducted, and many of its graduates have obtained distinctions in the different professions.
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
This is the oldest Protestant educational insti- tution in Southern California. The idea of build- ing up a university in Los Angeles originated with Judge R. M. Widney. He consulted with the Rev. A. M. Hough, E. F. Spence, Dr. J. P. Widney, Rev. M. M. Bovard and G. D. Compton. It was decided to attempt the building of a Method- ist college or university in or near Los Angeles. As soon as their design was known they received offers of land in East Los Angeles, Boyle Heights, Temple street and West Los Angeles. A major- ity of the trustees decided in favor of West Los Angeles. July 29, 1879, J. G. Downey, O. W. Childs and I. W. Hellman deeded to A. M. Hough, J. P. Widney, E. F. Spence, M. M. Bovard, G. D. Compton and R. M. Widney, 308 lots in the West Los Angeles tract, in trust as an endowment fund for the University of Southern California. In addition to the lots about forty acres of land was donated by owners of adjacent tracts. In 1880 thirty of the lots were put on sale. Their market value probably did not exceed $50, but friends of the institution took them at $200 each. The place selected for the site of the college buildings and the campus is on Wesley avenue near Jefferson street.
From the proceeds of the sale of the lots a frame building, now used for a music hall, was erected. At the time of locating the institution at West Los Angeles the tract of land donated was covered with tall wild mustard stalks, the streets were undefined except by stakes and there were no houses near. In August, 1880, Revs. M. M. and F. D. Bovard entered into a contract with the trustees to carry on the educational work of the institution for five years. The Rev. M. M. Bovard was elected president. A small endow- ment was secured partly from sale of lots and partly from gifts. In 1886 the present four story college building was erected and the school moved into it. The college soon began to branch out. In 1882 Messrs. George and William B. Chaffey, the founders of the Ontario Colony, inade a tender of a deed of trust to a large body of land for a Chaffey college of agriculture of the uni- versity.
The corner stone of a brick college building was laid at Ontario, San Bernardino County, in March, 1883, and in 1885 the school was opened as a branch of the University of Southern Cali- fornia and has been conducted ever since as a preparatory school.
The College of Medicine of the University of Southern California was founded in 1885, by Dr. J. P. Widney. The school was opened in a build- ing on Aliso street, where it was conducted until 1897, when it removed to a building of its own located on the west side of Buena Vista. This fine three story building is constructed on plain architectural lines, but presenting withal a neat exterior. The college is well conducted and ranks high among medical schools.
The Maclay College of Theology was estab- lished in 1885, at San Fernando. Hon. Charles Maclay donated about $150,000 worth of land as an endowment and erected a building for its use. The school was closed at San Fernando in 1893 and opened at the university in West Los Angeles in October, 1894.
STATE NORMAL SCHOOL.
The Normal School at Los Angeles was estab- lished as a branch of the State Normal School at San José by the Legislature of 1881. The bill creating it was signed by Governor Perkins, March 14 of that year. The sum of $50,000 was appropriated for the erection of the building. The citizens had agreed to furnish a site free. Of the several offered, the trustees, after examina- tion, chose the Bellevue Terrace orange grove of five acres, located at the head of Fifth street, fronting on Grand avenue (then called Charity street). The property belonged to P. Beaudry and was valued at $8,000. The money was raised by subscription, and the property deeded to the state. The building was completed and the school opened August 29, 1882, with sixty- one pupils in attendance-Prof. C. J. Flatt, vice- principal; Emma L. Hawks, preceptress; J. W. Redway, assistant teacher; Prof. Charles H. Allen being principal of both the San José and Los Angeles schools. In 1883 the school was made independent of the San José state school, Prof. Ira More was made principal of the Los Angeles school, and J. W. Redway retired. Professor More filled the position of principal until 1893. when he resigned and was succeeded by Prof. E. T. Pierce, who at the time of his appointment was principal of the State Normal School at Chico, Cal. Prof. Pierce has filled the position of principal or president of the school ably and satisfactorily. Prof. C. J. Flatt, who had held the position of vice-principal from the organization of the school, resigned and retired
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
from the profession, and has since been engaged in orange culture. Miss Emma L. Hawks, who had filled the position of preceptress from the beginning of the school, retired and was succeeded by Mrs. Isabel W. Pierce. Of the early teachers in the school only Prof. Melville Dozier, MissS. P. Monks and Miss Harriet E. Dunn remain. For sixteen years they have labored faithfully in the upbuild- ing of the school and can look with pride and satisfaction on their work. Prof. C. E. Hutton succeeded Professor Flatt as vice-principal and is also at the head of the mathematical depart- ment. In 1894 Sloyd was introduced into the course and has become an important part of the training of the future teachers.
POMONA COLLEGE.
Pomona College, located at Claremont, 36 miles east of Los Angeles, was founded by the Gen- eral Association of the Congregational churches of Southern California. The college was incor- porated October 14, 1887. Several propositions for a college site were presented to the associa- tion. The most suitable location seemed to be a tract of land about four miles north of Pomona City. The following January Rev. C. B. Sum- ner was appointed financial secretary. He secured plans for a central building and the cor- ner stone was laid. The first term of the school was opened in September, 1888, in a rented house at Pomona. Messrs. G. H. Fullerton, E. F. Kingman and F. A. Miller, of Riverside, and H. A. Palmer, of Pomona, before the close of this term presented to the college a hall, togetlier with a number of lots at Claremont, which thus became the permanent location of the preparatory school, and the second term of school work was opened in this hall. The first president, Rev. Cyrus C. Baldwin, was elected in July, 1890. In April, 1892, it was decided to abandon the original college site and to bring the college and preparatory school together permanently at Clare- mont. The same year Holmes Hall was built. It was erected as a memorial to Cyrus W. Holmes, Jr., by his wife and daughter. It con- tains a reading room, faculty rooms, art room, chapel, society hall and recitation rooms for the classical and English departments. Pearsons' Hall of Science is a donation from Dr. D. K. Pearsons, of Chicago. It is a building 60x90 feet, two stories high with a basement. In this building are the biological department, the de- partment of physics, the chemical department, the astronomical and mathematical equipments and the library. The hall was dedicated in Jan- mary, 1899. Sumner hall is devoted to the use of the young lady students as a dormitory. President Baldwin resigned in July, 1897, and
was succeeded the following January by Rev. Frank L. Ferguson, who is the present presi- dent. The first class was graduated in 1894. The college has three courses of study that lead to Bachelors' degree, classical, literary and scientific.
OCCIDENTAL COLLEGE.
Occidental College was founded in 1887 by an association of ministers, representing Presby- terian Churches of Los Angelesand vicinity. Its first location was just east of the city between First and Second streets. A number of lots and some acreage were donated to it. In 1888 a fine three-story brick structure was erected for the main college building. School was opened in this in 1888; Rev. L. H. Weller, president. He was succeeded in the presidency by Prof. J. M. McPherron. In 1896 the building and nearly all its contents were destroyed by fire. After this the school for several months was carried on in Boyle Heights Presbyterian Church; from there it was removed to the old St. Vincent College building on Hill street, between Fifth and Sixth streets, where it was conducted for two years. After considerable delay a new location was secured at Highland Park, about midway between Los Angeles and Pasadena. Here in 1898 a commodious and attractive building was built and the classes transferred to it in September, 1898. Rev. Guy W. Wadsworth is president of the institution.
THE THROOP POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE.
This institution of learning, located in Pasa- dena, was founded by Hon. Amos G Throop in 1891. The first name chosen was Throop Uni- versity. Its curriculum was planned to include a university course.
Father Throop, as he was reverently called, endowed the university with $200,000 and con- secrated all his energy to its support. Articles of incorporation were filed with the secretary of state September 23, 1891. On October 2d the first board of trustees was organized. It con- sisted of the following named persons: H. H. Markham, H. W. Magee, J. C. Michener, W. U. Masters, J. S. Hodge, George H. Bonebrake, Delos Arnold, T. P. Lukens, E. F. Hurlburt, T. S. C. Lowe, P. M. Green, F. C. Howes, Milton D. Painter, A. G. Throop and L. A. Sheldon. Hon. A. G. Throop was elected president; L. W. Andrews, secretary, and P. M. Green, treasurer. The Wooster Block, a four-story building on the corner of Fair Oaks avenue and Kansas street, was leased for five years and preparations were made for the opening of the school. The uni- versity opened November 2, 1891, with a good attendance of students.
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
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At the close of the first college year (1892) the name of the institution was changed from Throop University to Throop Polytechnic Insti- tute, and it was decided to "make the manual training and polytechnic departments" the lead- ing features of the institution.
In 1892 a body of land was secured at the cor- ner of Fair Oaks avenue and Chestnut street. On this a building known as Polytechnic Hall was erected, and to this the shops and laboratories of the manual training department were trans- ferred.
To provide for the increased attendance, an- other building, known as East Hall, has been erected. It is 68x150 feet, three stories in height, and is located directly east of Polytechnic Hall. It cost, finished and furnished, nearly $40,000. On the first floor are the class rooms for lan- guages, literature, mathematics, history, stenog- raphy, typewriting, etc. On the second floor are an assembly room, library and quarters for the department of biological sciences.
The institute comprises four departments: The Sloyd grammar school, the manual training academy, the normal department and the college.
The officers of instruction and government are as follows: Walter A. Edwards, A. M., presi- dent and professor of ancient languages and Ger- man; Herbert B. Perkins, professor of mathe- matics and instructor in mechanical drawing;
Wallace K. Gaylord, professor of chemistry and registrar; Lucien H. Gilmore, professor of physics and electrical engineering; Arthur H. Chamberlin, professor of pedagogy and instructor in Sloyd; Mrs. Jennie Coleman, professor of En- glish history and librarian; Edward W. Clay- pole, professor of geology and biology and cura- tor of museum; Bonnie Bunnelle, principal Sloyd grammar school; Fannie F. Sterrett, instructor in freehand drawing, painting and clay model- ing; Charles H. Wright, instructor in wood and iron shops; Mrs. Grace E. Dutton, instructor in domestic science; Robert E. Ford, instructor in machine and pattern shops; Charles E. Barber, instructor in mathematics; Pearl B. Fisher, in- structor in French and assistant in freehand drawing; George W. Braden, instructor in gym- nastics; Harry D. Gaylord, instructor in wood carving; Charles Dudley Tyng, instructor in Spanish; Mrs. L. V. Sweesy, instructor in music; Walter W. Martin, assistant in wood shop; Elis- abeth Graham, assistant in Sloyd grammar school; Clara J. Stillman, assistant in Sloyd grammar school; Stella M. Metcalf, assistant in domestic science; Ida M. Mellish, assistant in Sloyd.
The total attendance in all the departments last year (1899-1900) was 319. The institu- tion has an excellent reputation for thorough educational work.
CHAPTER XXXV.
TRADE AND TRANSPORTATION.
OS ANGELES was not designed by its founder for a commercial town. The chief purpose in its founding was the locating of a colony devoted to agriculture, from which the presidios could procure supplies of grain, cat- tle, horses, etc. In the early years of its history there were no stores or business houses, although from its reputation for disorder there were no doubt saloons or vinaterias (wineshops) in it.
What little business was carried on in the mer- cantile line in its vicinity was done at the Mission San Gabriel. Some rude manufacturing was done there in tanning hides into leather, weaving
cloth and making soap. Although these prod- ucts were intended for the Indians, the inhabi- tants of the pueblo no doubt purchased their lin- ited supplies at the mission. The pobladores were often liard pressed to procure manufactured articles and their wardrobes were scanty, even with those of some means.
Padre Salazar relates that when he was at the Mission San Gabriel in 1795, a man who was the owner of a thousand horses, and cattle in propor- tion, canie there to beg enough cloth to make him a shirt; there was none to be had at the pueblo or the presidio.
II
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„ HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
There is no record when the first store was opened in the town. Juan Temple was the pio- neer American merchant. He, in partnership with George Rice, opened a store in 1827 in an adobe building on North Main street which stood on part of the site now covered by the Downey Block.
After the downfall of Spanish domination in Mexico, some of the restrictions on commerce were taken off by the Mexican government. When the hide droghers with their department store cargoes came to the coast, trading and shop- ping was done on board ship and customers were taken to and fro in boats. The money for pay- ment (hides, called California bank notes) of pur- chases was hauled on carrétas to the embar- cadero. The commerce of California in those days was all by sea, there being no land trade or traffic.
The first warehouse at San Pedro (the shipping point for the pueblo and the missions of San Ga- briel, San Fernando and San Juan Capistrano) was built by the padres of San Gabriel Mission some time between 1810 and 1820. It was located about midway between Point Firmin and Timm's Point on the tableland, back from the bluff about three hundred feet. It was a large adobe build- ing and was roofed with tules. It was used by the padres of San Gabriel to store hides and tallow which they sent to the port to exchange for goods.
After the secularization of the missions in 1835, Don Abel Stearns bought the old warehouse. He obtained permission from Governor Figueroa to bring water from a spring about a league distant from the embarcadero and to build additional buildings, his object being to found a commercial settlement at the landing and enlarge the com- merce of the port. His laudable efforts met with opposition from the anti-expansionists of that day. They feared smuggling and cited an old Spanish law that prohibited the building of a house on the beach where there was no custom house. The captain of the port protested to the governor against Stearns' contemplated improve- ments and demanded that the warehouse be de- molished. Ships, he said, would pass in the night from Santa Catalina, where they lay hid in the daytime, to San Pedro, load or unload at Stearns' warehouse and "skip" out before he could come down from his home at the pueblo, teu leagues away, to collect the revenue. Then a number of calamity howlers joined the captain of the port in bemoaning the ills that would fol- low from the building of warehouses, and among other things charged Stearns with buying and shipping stolen hides. The governor referred the matter to the ayuntamiento and that municipal
body appointed a committee of three sensible men to examine into the charges and report. The committee reported that the interests of the coun- try needed a commercial settlement at the embar- cadero; that if the captain of the port feared smuggling he should station a guard on the beach and finally that the calamity howlers, who had charged Stearns with buying stolen hides, should be compelled to prove their charges in a court of justice or retract their slanders. This settled the controversy, but Stearns built no more ware- honses.
Nathaniel Pryor had charge of Stearns' busi- ness at San Pedro. He was succeeded by Moses Carson, brother to the famous scout, Kit Carson. In 1840 the late John Forster took charge of the business there and removed his family from Los Angeles to the landing. He was succeeded by Capt. Santiago Johnson, who built a house a little east of the old warehouse and nearer the bluff.
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