USA > California > Los Angeles County > Pasadena > History of Pasadena, comprising an account of the native Indian, the early Spanish, the Mexican, the American, the colony, and the incorporated city, occupancies of the Rancho San Pasqual, and its adjacent mountains, canyons, waterfalls and other objects of interest: being a complete and comprehensive histo-cyclopedia of all matters pertaining to this region > Part 37
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"Pursuant to a call, the citizens of Pasadena met Tuesday evening, 27th inst., 'at the reading room of the Webster Hotel to organize a Fire Company, to be called the "Pasadena Fire Brigade." F. B. Wetherby was nominated and unanimously elected president of the Company. T. E. Martin was then put in nomination and elected secretary. W. B. Loughery was next nominated and without a dissenting voice declared treasurer. Charles Rose and John Ripley were then put in nomination for Foreman. Mr. Ripley withdrew in favor of Mr. Rose, and the latter was then elected by acclamation. John Ripley was then called to fill the position of Assistant Foreman, and was declared elected by a full vote of all present. Next in order was the appointment of a committee to draft a Constitution and By- Laws for said company, and the chair appointed Messrs. H. Phillips and C. Rose to draft the same and report to the next meeting."
No report of this committee was ever published ; but the Union of February 13, publishes the following :
"Another fire meeting was held last evening at the reading room of the Webster Hotel, Dr. Reid presiding. Mr. Wetherby read a proposition from the Harper & Reynolds Company, for the furnishing of certain apparatus for $450, to which Mr. Lukens supplemented a list of other articles swelling the amount to $761.80."
The report then goes on to relate at length that R. Williams raised the question whether the forming of a fire company and procuring apparatus would reduce the exorbitant insurance rates; also, what arrangement could be made with the water companies; - both of which points gave rise to much discussion, and were finally referred to committees. Then Frank M. Ward [as agent for Gen. Edwin Ward] subscribed $100 on behalf of the General, and $20 for his own firm of Ward Bros .; and Mr. Wetherby was appointed to solicit further subscriptions. But I could not find that any of the committees ever made report ; and the whole project seems to have died and left no sign. There were then very serious difficulties as to water supply for any sort of engine, the water mains being only the original small caliber sheet iron colony pipes. Geo. A. Greeley and Dr. Reid urged the formation of a hook and ladder company, and that our own blacksmith and wagon shops be employed to make some suitable ladders, some fire hooks, with
292
HISTORY OF PASADENA.
poles, chains and rope, and a truck to carry them, besides a supply of buckets, etc. But the young men who had given their names to form a fire company were not willing to do anything about it unless money enough was subscribed to procure fire hats and belts for them, and a nice engine of some sort. And as nearly as I can learn, only about $150 was ever actually sub- scribed in this first movement. The next mention of this matter in print was an item in the Union of November 27, 1885, which says :
" Last spring six or eight meetings were held, endeavoring to organize a Pasadena Fire Company and procure suitable fire apparatus and water facilities. It was found that it would take at least $1,000 ready money to provide what was necessary, and less than $200 was ever subscribed. · Mr. Greeley proposed that they organize a hook and ladder company, and procure such tools for their use as could be made right here-one or two scaling ladders ; perhaps two 24-foot pole-hooks, and one grappling hook, with chain and suitable ropes. This was really the most practicable thing proposed, and our late fire showed pretty plainly how useful they would have been."
I found nothing more of record in regard to this interest until August 25, 1887, when it appears that the First National Bank was appointed as the city's financial agent to negotiate bonds for sewer, fire protection and other improvements. Then the city clerk's book shows that on October 8, 1887, resolution No. 52 was adopted, establishing a City Fire Department, com- prising a Hook and Ladder Company and a Hose Company, with Robert Hentig as Chief, at a salary of $10 per month. And there were to be 12 men to each company, with salaries of $20 per year each. On December 10, Chief Hentig reported the organization of these two companies completed. On December 17, 1887, the city council accepted and confirmed the fol- lowing list of first firemen enrolled under the ordinance creating a city fire department : Peter Steil, J. W. Buttner, J. D. Johns, E. P. Dickey, Geo. Draper, W. B. Mosher, Norman Henderson, L. Crosby, C. A. Hughes, A. S. Butterworth, Ed. Brown, C. A. Russell, John McCracken, A. W. Lewis, W. Keys, F. L. Johnston, S. McDaniels, J. S. Mills, Geo. C. John- ston, G. F. Farrer, C. Russell, Harry Haskins, Geo. Brown, T. W. Jeffers. Total, 24.
Along in January or February the business men of the city subscribed in small sums a loan to the city of $1, 100 to purchase fire apparatus. The outfit arrived about May I, and on May 8, 1888, the fire committee of the city council reported a satisfactory test and public exhibit of the same.
June 4, 1888, the fire company elected John S. Mills president, C. Rus- sell, vice-president, D. J. Jones, secretary, H. F. Cogswell, treasurer ; C. Russell, foreman,J. D. Jones, first assistant, W. H. Mowers, second assistant. On June 19, the city council approved and confirmed these officers ; but mean- while, on June 16, eighteen members had withdrawn from the company, and
293
DIVISION FOUR - BOOM.
the council appointed nineteen others to take their places .* On August 16, another break occurred, and twelve names were dropped from member- ship in the fire company, and the same number of new names were added by the city council.
March 9, 1889, the council voted to purchase a No.2 Silsby steam fire en- gine, to be paid for with municipal improvement bonds. July 6,M. M. Parker, then president of the city council, reported that the engine had arrived ; and Geo. L. Sanborn was appointed as engineer to take charge of it. He did so temporarily, but declined to continue, and on July 20 H. H. Hillier was appointed to the place. However, in the meantime, on July 13, president [mayor] Parker had reported two satisfactory public tests of the machine, and thereupon the purchase was completed by ordering the bonds delivered to its manufacturers. This first fire engine in the city bears the name " M. M. Parker."
August 22, Mr. Hillier resigned his place as engineer, and Geo. L. San- born was appointed ; and the salary was fixed at $75 per month.
September 10, 1889, the city council adopted a series of 29 rules and regulations to govern the fire department. One rule said : "Intoxicating liquors must not be kept nor allowed to be drank in any of the houses of the department. And gambling is strictly prohibited."
Rule 26 reads : "The foreman of the engine, hose, or hook and ladder company, shall report promptly to the chief engineer any member of his company who at any time may be unfitted for momentary service by reason of the use of intoxicating drinks ; and any member of the department so re- ported shall be suspended at once by the chief engineer. And any foreman neglecting or refusing to enforce this rule shall be subject to removal."
In this connection occurs an historic episode to be here noted. The minutes of fire company meetings from May 21 to September 24, 1888, show J. D. Jones as secretary ; but the minutes of October 30, say : "The meet- ing was called to order by chief engineer Jones ;" and J. W. Mosher's name is signed as secretary. And the minutes continue to name Jones as chief, up to September 7, 1889. On August 14, 1889, F. V. Hovey was elected secretary, and continues to hold that office yet, 1894. I found nothing in the city clerk's records to show how or when Jones became fire chief ; but they mention that on September 10, 1889, J. D. Jones was dis- charged as such chief, and Robert Hentig appointed instead. And this is explained by the fire company's minutes of September 7, from which I quote :
"Voted, that the resignation of the Pasadena fire department as a body be tendered the chief, to be handed in by him to the city council of Pasadena
*This wholesale withdrawal of old members seeins to have been caused by the fact that they had elected Peter Steil to be chief of the fire department, and the city council refused to confirm him-hence he and his special friends went out. Mr. Steil was at this time in open antagonism with the council on the liquor selling question, for he was arrested, had a jury trial, was found guilty, and adjudged a fine of $150 only a month previously-to-wit : on May 19, 1888.
294
HISTORY OF PASADENA.
at their next meeting, September 10, if the question of salaries is not settled at that meeting,-13 for the motion and 2 against."
This is said to have been a kick against the rules or constitution estab- lished by the city council quite as much or more than on the salary question. At any rate, the result was that for a day or two Pasadena was at the mercy of the fire fiend, as she had no fire department. But by September 15, chief Hentig had the department fully manned again, reported his list of mem- bers to the council, and they ratified and confirmed them, besides fixing the salaries. The old company had gone out ; this was an entirely new organ- ization, based on the twenty-nine rules laid down by the council, and is the organization which continues to serve the city yet.
September 18, 1889, a night fire occurred, in which three of Mrs. Beaton's children were burned to death. [See page 155.] The fire com- pany was in nowise blamable for this terrible calamity ; yet it did fail to reach the scene of the fire as soon as it ought, and a good deal of unreason- able blame was cast upon it. A public investigation of the whole matter was made by the council on September 28, resulting in a verdict of censure upon the department ; then new instructions were given to the company, and a fire alarm bell was ordered. Prior to this the Baptist church bell had been used for fire alarm purposes ; and of course there was no electric alarm system. The fire engine and other apparatus was kept in a temporary structure on DeLacy street below Colorado, and horses were brought over from Wiley & Greeley's livery stable to hitch on when required. Things were not in shape yet for either very prompt or very efficient service. The water mains, fire plugs, hose supply, and alarm system were all inadequate for any urgent emergency. But this most cal- amitous fire that had ever occurred here, in which three children were en- tirely consumed and their mother seriously injured in her frantic efforts to save them, led to vigorous measures toward improving and perfecting the fire department.
On December 3, 1889, the fire engine house on Dayton street was ac- cepted from the contractors who built it, and was occupied at once. Robert Hentig resigned as chief, and A. S. Turbett was appointed to the place, which he has filled ever since. January 4, 1890, Geo. A. Greeley was ap- pointed assistant chief. January 25 the city bought from Richard Gird of Chino five horses for the fire department, at a total cost of $1,235.30-paid in municipal bonds.
The work of the department now went on in pretty good shape. The old hook-and-ladder apparatus proved unequal to our needs. and a new out- fit was ordered, which was received and accepted by the council on Decein- ber 20, 1890. On January 24, 1891, the old truck, etc., was sold to the city of Santa Monica for $400. The old hose cart was sold there also.
In February, 1891, an electric fire alarm system was constructed
295
DIVISION FOUR - BOOM.
throughout the city ; and on March 7 A. M. Clifford, who then had charge of the steam fire engine, was ordered by the city council to take charge also of the fire alarm system- and his salary was therefore raised to $90 per month. This position Mr. Clifford holds yet - 1894.
LIST OF FIRE DEPARTMENT ON AUGUST 1, 1894. NAME. POSITION. SALARY PER MO.
A. S. Turbett, chief of fire department. $15 00
F. V. Hovey, assistant chief and secretary 8 00
A. M. Clifford, steam engineer and electrician 90 00
S. W. Fancher, stoker, and driver of hose cart. 50 00
J. O. Reynolds, driver of engine. 60 00
A. B. Case, foreman of hose company .. 5 00
F. M'Afee, Wm. Barto, Lewis Allen, Geo. E Furman, A. E. Bisbee, callmen, each. 5 00
J. A. McIntyre, foreman Hook and Ladder Co. (treasurer). 8 00
Henry Hutchinson, driver of hook and ladder truck. 60 00 Edward Fouke, S. B. Beers, Gus. Banbury, Geo. Clayter, Harry Porter, callmen, each. 5 00
The boiler of the fire engine is kept full of water at the boiling point, continuously night and day, by means of a coke furnace and water heater under the. floor and connected with the engine by pipes with automatic valves, cut-offs, etc. The engine's fire-box is kept always primed with quick-blaze kindling. The harnesses remain permanently attached to the engine, but suspended and held open by slip-hooks. The horses stand loose in their stalls behind the engine, with only a swing-bar before them ; and they are trained when the electric gong in the room sounds an alarm, to leap to their places, the harnesses drop down on them, three spring snaps for each horse complete their attachment, and thus ordinarily in about ten seconds from instant of alarm the engine begins to roll and plunge out, the horses being trained to go on a tearing gallop at once and until the scene of fire is reached. The engine weighs 7,725 pounds. If the alarm comes from a station anywhere near the business center, the fixed match is im- mediately struck in the fire-box, the blaze roars up, and inside of five min- utes from instant of alarm the hose could be attached, and the engine throwing water on top of the First National Bank, or the Carlton Block, or Hotel Green, etc. The horses and harnesses for the hose cart and the hook-and-ladder truck have the same arrangements for quick, prompt work, the horses being all trained to leap to their own proper places when the alarm sounds, and to go at their utmost speed through the streets. Every- thing else-even the Salvation Army ! - must give way for them.
August 1, 1894, there are in the city sixty fire-plugs, and eighteen electric fire alarm stations or boxes. There are 1,900 feet of two-and-a-half inch hose, warranted to withstand a water pressure of 400 pounds per square inch, while the ordinary pressure in service is only from 125 to 175 pounds per square inch. The hose cart as it runs to a fire, loaded for ser-
296
HISTORY OF PASADENA.
vice, weighs 3,135 pounds. The hook-and-ladder truck carries one fifty- foot and one thirty-foot extension ladder, besides fire-wall hook ladders, and others. It also carries tour three-gallon Babcock chemical extinguishers. Then there is the usual complement of hooks, chains, ropes, axes, etc., for tearing down buildings to check the spread of a fire ; and a supply of leather buckets. This truck and its outfit weigh 3,640 pounds, and eight firemen are entitled to ride on it besides.
CHAPTER XV.
A CHAPTER OF THREE BS .- The Banks .- The "Boom."-The Board of Trade. Table of Incorporations.
BANKS.
THE FIRST NATIONAL .- The first public mention of any bank project in Pasadena occurred in the Valley Union of November 22, 1884, which said :
"Yesterday an organization was effected by electing the following gentlemen a board of directors : P. M. Green, Henry G. Bennett, George H. Bonebrake, J. Banbury, John Allin, D. Galbraith, and B. F. Ball. The following officers were also elected : President, P. M. Green ; vice-pres- ident, B. F. Ball ; cashier, D. Galbraith."
It was called simply the Pasadena Bank, and November 21, 1884, appears as the date of its in- corporation under the state laws. But on May 10th, 1886, it was chartered under United States law as the "First National Bank of Pasa- dena," its registry number being 3,499. A few days before this date the Union contained the following as a real estate item :
BANK
FIRST NATIONAL BANK BLOCK, 1886. Architecture, Classic.
"The Los Angeles House property, corner Fair Oaks Avenue and Colorado street, was sold for $25,000 to a syndicate of capitalists com- posed of Geo. H. Bonebrake, P. M. Green, H. W. Magee, B. F. Ball, J. H. Painter, R. Williams, H. G. Bennett and John Allin. The property is
297
DIVISION FOUR- BOOM.
363 feet on Colorado street by 293 12 on Fair Oaks, containing within a fraction of three acres of land. It also includes the well-known and popular " Los Angeles House " hotel with all its furniture. The Pasadena bank is now being reorganized as the First National Bank of Pasadena, and will have its quarters on this property, taking the corner lot 45 × 120 feet, on which a thoroughly fire-proof building will be erected."
The Board of Trade pamphlet of 1888 said, on page 21 :
"One year ago there was practically but one bank in Pasadena, the second having just opened its doors. [The S. G. V. Bank.] The total de- posits then were $412,924.46. The loans and discounts amounted to $268,- 209.77. As this work goes to press the deposits in the banks of Pasadena amount to $1,682,339.49, and the total loans $984,322.83. The total bank capital a year ago was $50,000; today it amounts to $300,000."
The following chronological exhibit was prepared by H. I. Stuart, a bookkeeper in this bank, at my request, especially for this sketch, and forms a most valuable and interesting table for future reference and comparison :
YEAR.
DEPOSITS.
LOANS AND DISCOUNTS
TOTAL VOLUME OF BUSINESS.
REMARKS.
December 31.
December 31
1885
$ 148,966 75
$ 88,191 II
$ 5,200,000 00
IS86
583,719 18
343,647 50
30,900,000 00
These were the
188
1,039,057 72
618,255 64
46,920,084 00
" boom " years.
I888
514,194 73
351,182 26
31,184,166 00
$
1889
341,840 00
268,966 21
16,827,000 00
1890
382,079 81
286,987 ',3
14,944,754 00
Boom collapsed.
1891
417,106 16
332,260 42
19,530,000 00
1892
484,027 04
304,845 36
26,530,000 00
1893
403,522 39
289,660 55
23,464,000 00
1894
550,970 64
382,409 99
26,125,000 00
The Daily Star of June 9, 1895, reports the annual meeting of this bank on the 8th, and says :
"The following directors were elected for the ensuing year : P. M. Green, B. F. Ball, Geo. H. Bonebrake, H. G. Bennett, H. M. Hamilton, A. K. McQuilling, O. S. Picher. This is a re-election of the entire board. The same officers were also elected to-wit : P. M. Green, president ; B. F. Ball, vice-president ; A. H. Conger, cashier ; Ernest H. May, assistant cashier.
The reports of the officers show that the volume of deposits, loans and discounts done by the bank for 1894 was the largest since the most prosper- ous year of the boom. Its capital is $100,000; its surplus $60,000, and at the close of business October 2 last, it had resources to the amount of $735,691.51. At that date its deposits amounted to $555,942.62. Hon. P. M. Green has been president of this bank continuously since its first organi- zation."
THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY BANK .- This bank was organized under the state law, and its articles of incorporation filed February 6, 1886, the Ward Brothers having been prime movers in the matter. Capital stock, $50,000 - all paid in. The Union of May 21, said :
" The San Gabriel Valley Bank will open for business in its elegant quarters in the Ward Block Monday. The capital stock of $50,000 has all
298
HISTORY OF PASADENA.
been subscribed by citizens of Pasadena. Frank M. Ward has been elected president ; Alonzo Tower, vice-president, and B. W. Bates, cashier. The directors are F. M. Ward, Alonzo Tower, B. W. Bates, C. S. Martin, Lyman Craig, J. G. Miller, Walter R. E. Ward."
In September, 1886, Mr. Bates bought for the bank a lot 25x75 feet, at the corner of Fair Oaks Avenue and Colorado street, from Charles A. Gard- ner for $4,500. The bank put up a building for its own use on this lot, moved into it, and remains there yet. About October Ist this year the bank was reorganized, electing H. W. Magee, president ; J. W. Hugus, vice- president ; Bates, cashier. And the following notice was officially published :
"The individual property both real and personal of the stockholders of this bank is pledged as security to its patrons for the bank's transactions."
In 1887 Col. W. A. Ray was elected president. He resigned in April, 1890, and H. W. Magee was elected again to fill the vacancy. Then in 1891 Frank C.' Bolt was elected president, and still continues. The officers in 1895 are : F. C. Bolt, president ; S. Washburn, vice-president ; Geo. B. Post, cashier. Directors : Bolt, Washburn, W. S. Wright, J. W. Hugus, Webster Wotkyns, C. S. Cristy, H. C. Allen. At my request the following table was furnished of business done by this bank in successive years .
YEAR.
DEPOSISTS.
LOANS AND DISCOUNTS.
YEAR.
DEPOSITS.
LOANS AND DISCOUNTS.
IS87
$157,979 67
.$ 78,569 63
IS92
$146,18I 90
$119,954 95
1888
238,156 44
158,751 86
1893
199,391 14
162,693 31
1889
86,149 94
97,788 22
1894
185,104 04
152,359 71
1890
68,764 56
68,174 98
1895
255,537 18
187,337 56
1891
94,184 84
77,109 59
In February, 1891, a Savings Department was opened, this right having been granted in the orignal charter of the bank, with individual liability of the stockholders the same as provided in security for other depositors. And in January, 1895, it had about six hundred savings depositors recorded.
THE PASADENA NATIONAL BANK .- The Pasadena Union of Oct. 16, 1886, gave a report of the founding of this bank, from which I quote the points of chief historic interest :
"This bank was organized February 15, 1886, under the laws govern- ing National banks, with a paid up capital of $50,000. The directors are : I. W. Hellman, of the Farmers and Merchants bank of Los Angeles ; E. F. Spence, of the First National bank of Los Angeles; Dr. Wm. Converse, president of the Dime Savings bank of Chicago; Geo. A. Swartwout of the Pasadena Hardware Co .; and C. H. Converse, late a business man of Chicago. Officers : Hellman, president ; Spence, vice-president ; Swart- wout, cashier."
Mr. Swartwout was one of the owners of the new Exchange block (Carlton hotel), and therefore elegant quarters for the bank had been pro- vided therein while the block was being erected. Here the bank first opened its doors for business on Monday, October 18, 1886 ; and $25,000 deposits were made during the first day.
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DIVISION FOUR - BOOM.
This bank was custodian of the $6,061.50 indemnity pledge fund put up by business men of Pasadena in 1887, to secure their prohibitory ordi- nance and sustain it through the courts. [See page 248.]
In January, 1889, Mr. Swartwout retired and was succeeded by A. H. Conger, as cashier. Then in January, 1891, Mr. Conger resigned, in order to take the position of cashier in the First National bank ; and he was suc- ceeded by T. P. Lukens as cashier. In 1888 the capital had been increased from $50,000 to $100,000.
In January, 1895, this bank moved into its magnificent new rooms in the Masonic temple, corner Raymond avenue and Colorado street ; and on Saturday, January 26, the officers and directors received their friends there for the first time, to inspect the very complete provision they had made of every known device for burglar-proof safety of vaults, and for comfort, ex- pedition and accuracy in carrying on the business. The Los Angeles Times reported that the vault foundation was of concrete five feet thick, with 5,000 interlinked old horseshoes worked into the mixture. At my re- quest the following chronological exhibit was furnished from the bank records to accompany this historical sketch :
Pasadena National Bank, Incorporated October 11, 1886.
AVERAGE DEPOSITS.
AVERAGE LOANS.
REMARKS.
1887
$248,500
$169,800
I888
184,800
163,000
1889
98,100
147,100
OFFICERS : President, Hon. T. P. Lukens ; Vice-president, Wm. Stanton ; Cashier, E. E. Jones.
1890
63,000
81,800
1891
63,600
101,700
1892
1 36,600
124,800
1893
161,100
133,900
1894
176,900
148,800
BOARD OF DIRECTORS: G. Roscoe Thomas, L. P. Hansen, Wm .. Stanton, James Cam- bell, E. E. Jones, Hon. T. P. Lukens.
SAVINGS BANKS .- In 1887 C. T. Hopkins opened the first Savings Bank attempted in Pasadena, in his then new block, corner of Fair Oaks Avenue and Union street, with Otto Froelich as cashier or manager ; but it did not succeed, and was given up after a few months, and the build- ing leased to the city for its offices, council room, court room, etc.
SAVINGS DEPARTMENT of San Gabriel Valley Bank. [See page 298.]
UNION SAVINGS BANK .- The next Savings Bank venture is thus set forth in the Weekly Star of February 6, 1895 :
" The proposed new savings bank to be established here, with offices in the Masonic Temple block, filed its articles of incorporation February I, under the name of the Union Savings bank. Its purpose is to do a general and exclusive savings bank business, under the laws of California, and its capital stock is placed at $50,000 ; shares $100 each. The directors named are H. C. Durand, Dr. Norman Bridge, Robt. Eason, H. M. Gabriel, A. R.
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HISTORY OF PASADENA.
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