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 78
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When the matter of incorporating the city of Pasadena was being agitated in 1885 and 1886, an effort was made to have this settlement join in the movement, but they declined. However, these people were strongly opposed to having liquor saloons in their midst ; and within a few months it was found that they must either incorporate so as to have police control over their territory, or else be blotched and cursed at every eligible corner by the diabolical traffic. And thus they were compelled by sheer necessity for self-protection to incur the expense and trouble of forming a city corpor- ation.
The city of South Pasadena was incorporated in February, 1888. The first meeting of city trustees, who had been named in the articles of incor- poration, took place in the office of Smith & Jacobs, March 8, 1888; they were D. M. Graham, Geo. W. Wilson, A. A. Burrows, D. R. Risley, and W. P. Hammond. Graham was chosen president. C. C. Miles had been named for clerk, but was absent, and Mr. Wilson served as clerk pro tem. Three ordinances were passed-No I, fixing time of trustee meet- ings at 9 a. m. every Monday ; No. 2, place of meeting ; No. 3, bonds of city clerk, treasurer, and marshal. And all were ordered to " be published once in the South Pasadena Bell, a newspaper published weekly in the city of South Pasadena."
The second meeting of the city trustees or council was on March 12. At this meeting Captain D. R. Risley introduced and moved the adoption of
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the famous Pasadena prohibitory ordinance, just as it had been passed upon and sustained by the state supreme court ; and it was adopted without a dis- senting vote - to take effect March 14, 1888. It remains in full force yet, 1895, just as enacted at this meeting. However, it was ascertained later that these first four ordinances had not gone through all the forms of procedure laid down in the state law; hence they had to be formally rescinded, and then re-enacted step by step in accordance with the statute.
Under this first city council the following city officers were appointed : A. B. Cobb, marshal, with M. B. Sellman as deputy ; attorney, W. S. Knott ; recorder [police judge], J. A. Gates was elected, but declined to serve, and F. H. Smith was then chosen. Treasurer, J. H. Jacobs.
The first city election was held April 9, 1888, the officers having held their places by charter provision until this time. And all the same men were elected to the same places, except Capt. Risley, who had withdrawn, and E. Gardner was chosen in his stead. The trustees or councilmen drew lots for term, and Wilson, Graham and Hammond drew the two-year seats, while Gardner and Burrows drew the four-year seats. And the business of the city now went on efficiently and in good shape. July 2 E. Peters was appointed fruit-pest inspector.
At this time the city limits took in the whole of the Pasadena school district, which extended from Columbia street south to the north line of Los Angeles city, and from the Arroyo Seco east to the west line of the Stone- man ranch, or the Raymond brook and its outwash, which are called also the "San Pasqual Arroyo " in the city records of April 29, 1889, and other dates. Saloons had been started on Mission street, and Columbia street, and Fair Oaks Avenue, and the adobe road - some eight or nine in all- and now the city had to wrestle with them. Some were closed without much trouble, but others staid to fight. And the city records of August 13, 1888, show that $23 was paid to the Pasadena Detective Agency for ser- vices in this line. Again, April 22, 1889, $20 was allowed to the city mar- shal, E. Peters, for payment of detectives. Thus all saloons north of the chalk hills were finally driven out; but those on the adobe road down toward Los Angeles could not be phased, and they continued to run wide open, although nominally in a prohibition city. To get rid of this offensive state of things it was necessary to have the city boundaries re-established, so as to exclude the incorrigible territory.
On July 31, 1889, the city council voted to call an election, to take place September 7, on a proposition to exclude from the city limits all the territory south of the Monterey road, etc. And it was ordered that notice of such election "be published four weeks in the South Pasadena Citizen, a weekly newspaper printed and published in the city of South Pasadena." On August 26 the council changed the date of this election to September 28, to cure some technical defects in their former action. The election was held at
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two polls- one in the territory not excluded, and another in the territory pro- posed to be excluded. The polling place for this latter section was at the Newton ranch house on the adobe road, near the bridge crossing the Arroyo del Castillo. And the sort of people forming that saloon-ridden settlement is pretty well indicated by the names of the officers for this election, which were : Daniel Kevane, inspector ; Barton Qujaneck and Herman Schackow, judges; L. W. Kevane and Domingo Batz, clerks. The vote stood in the city, fifty-nine for exclusion, and seven against ; in the excluded territory, twenty-five for exclusion, and none against. The result was duly certified to the secretary of state, and the new boundaries then established continue to this time - 1895.
February II, 1889, M. B. Selman resigned as city marshal, and E. Peters was appointed. April 22, an official bench mark was established, being "the top of stone coping under windows at northeast corner of the Opera House [Graham & Mohr's brick block] on south side of Center street -657.86 feet above datum plane," or sea level. They had petitioned the county board of supervisors for a justice of the peace at South Pasadena, and accordingly F. H. Smith had been appointed for them ; then they im- mediately made him also City Recorder [police judge]-May 27, 1889. The next regular city election took place early in April, 1890; and the Pasadena Standard of April 19, said :
" The South Pasadena city election was carried with a clean sweep by the whole ticket in favor of maintaining the anti-liquor ordinance. The new board consists of Ed. Gardner (holds over), Leo A. Longley, W. H. Mace, Charles Moore, S. J. Fleming ; Clerk, A. F. M'Reynolds, re-elected ; Mar- shal, E. Peters, re-elected ; Treasurer, J. H. Jacobs, re-elected. The total vote cast was 126; and all but two of the candidates received every vote."
June 26, 1893, E. Gardner resigned as member and president of the city council, and J. P. Early was chosen in his stead. During this year also the city had a legal contest with the Los Angeles Terminal Railroad Com- pany, which was charging a higher rate of fare to Los Angeles than that fixed in their right-of-way franchise through the city. About August I Judge Lucien Shaw of the Superior Court, Los Angeles, gave a decision in favor of the city. The railroad company appealed the case to the State Supreme Court, and this tribunal also decided against them. So they were obliged at last to either fulfill the terms which they had agreed to in their franchise, or else remove their trackage from the streets of the city.
The city officers in 1894-95 are as follows : Howard Longley, presi- dent of trustees ; and P. M. Green, H. J. Cone, E. H. Rust, and Frank Stokes the other members. Isaac Peel, city marshal ; A. F. M'Reynolds, clerk; J. H. Jacobs, treasurer ; Geo. Gleason, recorder ; G. W. Wilson, street superintendent ; W. E. Arthur, attorney, at call ; T. D. Allin, engi- neer, at call. [The two latter reside in Pasadena.]
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THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
In chapter 9, entitled "Annals of the Schools," will be found a full account of how and when this south district became segregated from the original San Pasqual school district, down to the building of the fine school- house on Columbia Hill, and its conversion into the "Sierra Madre Col- lege "- but later converted into a stately residence by C. D. Daggett, Esq. [See pages 171-72.]
The district was formed January 7, 1878, and originally extended from California street clear down to the north line of Los Angeles city, under the name of Pasadena School District; but its north line was later dropped down to Columbia street. Its first trustees were A. O. Porter, H. G. Bennett, I. B. Clapp, the latter being clerk. A small school-house was at once erected near the corner of West Columbia and Hermosa street. But on June 26, 1883, the contract was let to C. B. Ripley for the big school-house on Columbia Hill, to cost $3,925. Then on June 17, 1884, this building and its grounds, some five or six acres, were sold at public auction and bid in by P. M. Green for the Sierra Madre College, at $2,000. Miss Mary Phelps was then the teacher. [For the history of this College project see page 188.]
Early in 1885 O. R. Dougherty and others commenced laying out the town of South Pasadena. A large lot at northwest corner of Center street and Oak Hill avenue was secured for school grounds; and on March 5, 1885, a contract was let to Ridgway & Ripley to erect a school-house thereon, for $1,550. School was opened here the first Monday in October of that year, with Geo. W. Wilson as teacher. He taught one year, then caught the "boom fever " and went into the real estate business. September 20, 1886, S. Shaw took the school, and taught it until the holiday vacation. Then Miss Lottie E. Green taught it from January 3, 1887, until the summer vacation. The school children increased so fast that for 1887-88, two teachers, Miss Green and Miss Belle Townsend, were employed.
August 30, 1888, this school-house was moved down to the Lincoln Park portion of the district, and a new and much larger building was erected on the original school lot, with J. B. Soper as Superintendent of construction. It cost about $10,000. For the school year 1888-89, Miss Lily A. Martin was principal, with Miss Nellie M. White and Miss Lutie Martin as assistants. Year 1889-90, same teachers. Year 1890-91, Miss Martin still principal, with Miss Lizzie A. McMillan and Miss Belle Town- send for assistants. Year 1891-92, Geo. W. Wilson, principal, with Miss E. M. Snyder and Miss Ara Riggins for assistants. Years 1892-93, and 1893-94, same teachers. Year 1894-95, J. A. Goodrich, principal, with Miss Snyder, Miss Riggins and Miss Elva Smith as assistants. The school has primary, intermediate and grammar grades.
This school district now (1895) extends from Columbia street south to the Alhambra and Los Angeles road, and from the Arroyo Seco east to the
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San Pasqual Arroyo, which was the boundary between the old Bacon or Marengo ranch and the Stoneman ranch. The school census of April, 1894, showed 183 children of school age, and 158 were enrolled in attend- ance during the year. The census of April, 1895, showed 184 children, an increase of only one child-but during the year the southeast corner of the district had been set over into the Alhambra district, its school-house being a mile nearer to these people.
The school trustees in 1894-95 are Dr. F. A. Seymour, C. L. Neibel and J. B. Soper, the latter having been clerk of the board for three years past.
NEWSPAPERS.
The South Pasadena Bell seems to have been started some time in Feb- ruary, 1888, but I failed to find the exact date, as no file of it was preserved. It was edited and published by John Sharp, who had the printing done at Los Angeles ; so there was no printing office in the town. I found all city ordinances ordered to be published in this paper, up to December 24, 1888 ; but after that it seems to have died, for its name does not occur again.
The South Pasadena Citizen wasstarted July 30, 1889, with W. D. Bridges, editor and publisher. Its typesetting was done in the Pasadena Standard office, then the type forms were carried to the city council room in Opera House block (Graham & Mohr's brick building) in South Pasadena, where O. R. Dougherty, then a member of the council, had located a printing press, and here the sheets were printed and published. This was done to make a valid publication of the election notice for excluding certain territory from the original city limits, as explained before in my sketch of the city in- . corporation. The publication of the paper was continued weekly until Sept. 24-nine numbers in all-then discontinued. The heading said: "Published every Tuesday. Office in Graham & Mohr block." The first page was generally made up of matter from the Pasadena Standard already in type, while the second, third and fourth pages were occupied with local items, articles and advertisements pertaining to South Pasadena.
The South Pasadenan was started June 8, 1893, by Geo. W. Glover, Jr., and now for the first time South Pasadena had a real printing office of its own. An outfit of types, press, paper cutter, etc., was procured; and Mr. Glover himself invented a successful label gumming machine; so that in 1895 he is issuing an excellent local paper, weekly, and is also competing with Los Angeles and Pasadena in some lines of job printing. From June 12 to June 18, 1894, the paper was run as a daily, to make legal publication for a railroad franchise through the city ; also again in January, 1895, for a similar purpose. Capital in the plant, about $1,000. Number of employes, three. Paper published every Thursday, in six-page form.
PUBLIC LIBRARY AND READING ROOM.
This was opened in February, 1889, in the Graham & Mohr block,
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where a room was given for its use, free of rent. The South Pasadena Citizen of August 20, 1889, published a list of 29 new books purchased for the Library. The officers then were : Leo A Longley, president ; J. J. Young, vice-president ; A. H. Nettleton, secretary , Mrs. Etta Longley, treasurer ; Miss Jennie Collier, librarian. Open every evening from 7 to 9 o'clock, and on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday afternoons from 2 to 5 o'clock. The South Pasadenan of December 14, 1893, published a report of receipts and expenditures during the successive years 1889-90-91-92-93, by F. H. Longley. The total receipts had been $476.05, and expenditures $475.55 ; and it was announced that the library would be closed, for want of funds to meet the necessary expenses. But friends came to the rescue. It was not closed. And on April 19, 1894, the librarian reported a total of $116.45 re- ceived since December ; also that the rooms had been kept open, old debts had been paid, and some books and periodicals added on the shelves and tables. Another report on July 5, 1894, showed visitors in April, 63; in May, 96 ; in June, 98. To reduce running expenses, the room was now only opened on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 2:30 to 5 o'clock P. M.
In September, 1895, the city council voted to make the Library a public institution of the municipality, and appropriated $1,000 of the city tax levy for new books and current expenses the first year. The library trustees appointed under this new system were : Rev. A. M. Merwin, F. H. Longley, Leo A. Longley, James Wadsworth and Merton Keith.
LITERARY SOCIETIES.
An account of the different Chautauqua Circles that have existed here will be found on pages 517-518. The public school has a literary society of its own, whose officers June 1, 1895, were : Mabel Hauk, president ; Gussie Wood, vice-president ; Ruby Fell, secretary ; Sidney Smith, treasurer.
There is a Literary Club, of whose membership I obtained the following' names : Mrs. M. C. Graham, Miss Jennie Collier, Grace Longley, Mary Beery, Edna Smith, Ruth Dougherty, Alice Cone, Rena Neibel, Paul Dougherty, Charles Longley, Fred Crossly.
There is a South Pasadena branch of the Lyceum League of America, chartered as No. 1467 ; and from an article in the South Pasadenan I gath- erd the names of some of its members, thus: M. E. Keith, president ; R. B. Stevens, Bert Brown, Paul Dougherty, J. F. Crossly, J. C. Goodrich, Miss Nellie North, J. A. Wassman, Miss Grace Longley, S. E. Hatfield. No further data obtained.
THE POSTOFFICE.
January 3, 1883, a postoffice named Hermosa, with Frank M. Glover as postmaster, was established at the Hermosa Vista house. The name "Her- mosa " for their postoffice proved unsatisfactory to the people of that vicini- ty, because it lost to them the prestige of the name "Pasadena," which was now rising into high repute, and which they had secured for their school
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district. So the name of the office was soon changed to South Pasadena. Frank Glover was an invalid, and in a few months became unable to serve the office. He then procured the appointment as postmaster of Chas. H. Case who was teaching the district school in the diminutive first school-house near the corner of Columbia and Hermosa street. The office was moved from the Hermosa house over to a small building at the southwest corner of Columbia street and Sylvan Drive, where the daily stage between Pasadena and Los Angeles passed its door. This was the situation November 28, 1883, when I first visited Pasadena. Frank Glover died March 29, 1884. Mr. Case was also an invalid ; and his wife Gertrude, a daughter of Hon. O. R. Dougherty, did most of the work, being herself deputy postmaster. In 1885, when the S. G. V. railroad commenced to supplant the stage line in carrying the mails, this postoffice was moved down to a small building at the corner of Mission street and Prospect Avenue. Mr. Case died January I, 1887 ; but a week or two before this he had appointed Geo. W. Glover, Jr., as deputy postmaster, to relieve his wife of the care of the office during his last days ; and he also took measures to have her duly commissioned as his successor, so that the income of the office might be assured to her after he had passed away. She was accordingly appointed postmistress-and held the position until January, 1890, when she resigned, and T. D. Keith became postmaster. Then on June 3, 1892, Keith retired, and Mrs. Ida Stevens took the place, and holds it yet - 1895.
THE CHURCHES.
About November 10, 1885, the old original Presbyterian church build- ing on California street was removed north to Worcester Avenue. This left South Pasadena without any religious assemblage ; and Mrs. O. R. Dough- erty immediately took the matter in hand to organize a Union Sunday School. In this work she secured the assistance of Miss C. M. Bishop, Wm. Collier, Geo. A. Green, and others, Mr. Green being chosen superintendent. But early in December the First Congregational Church of Pasadena was organized, in the College building on Columbia hill. Mr. Green united with this church, and was made one of its deacons, and superintendent of its Sunday school. [See page 490.] Nevertheless, the Union Sunday school was still maintained until it was finally merged into the Methodist church work, about a year later. Its sessions were held in the school house, and occasional preaching, topical talks, or lectures were had under its auspices.
THE SOUTH PASADENA M. E. CHURCH.
A class was organized November 10, 1886, with four members-J. B. Soper and wife, and H. J. Cone and wife. Rev. C. W. Tarr was pastor in charge of Garvanza and South Pasadena, and thus regular preaching was establislied. April 25, 1887, this church society was incorporated, and they went on at once to put up a church building of their own, which was
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formally dedicated October 30, 1887. Rev. A. W. Bunker wrote an excel- lent original hymn for this occasion. The exercises were conducted by the presiding elder of the district, Rev. Geo. F. Bovard, assisted by Rev. J. A. Wood, D. D., Rev. R. S. Cantine, D. D., Rev. P. F. Bresee, D. D., Rev. C. W. Tarr, Prof. W. P. Hammond.
In September, 1894, A. F. Mitchell donated a cottage for a parsonage, and it was moved onto the church lot. In 1895, there are eighty members, and the church property is estimated at $3,600. Besides the Sunday school and the class meetings, there is an Epworth League, a Ladies' Aid society, missionary society, etc., as auxiliaries in the church work. The successive pastors have been : Rev. C. W. Tarr, 1886 to 1888 ; Rev. A. W. Bunker, 1888 to 1890 ; Rev. F. S. Woodcock, 1890-91 : Rev. J. D. Munroe, 1891-92; Rev. A. W. Bunker again, 1892-94 ; Rev. H. J. Crist, 1894-95. The church officers in 1895 are : Trustees-J. B. Soper, W. P. Hammond, G. W. Wilson, O. R. Dougherty, J. H. Jacobs, M. B. Reed. Stewards-Soper, Reed, Mrs. Mary Soper, Mr. Jacobs, E. E. Barden, Martha E. Wood, A. L. Bennett, Mrs. G. W. Wilson. Supt. Sunday School-J. H. Jacobs.
MEMORIAL BAPTIST CHURCH OF SOUTH PASADENA.
Organized in September, 1888, with about fourteen members, and joined for pastoral services with the Alhambra church, of which Rev. John Heri- tage was then pastor. He was succeeded in 1890-91, by Rev. T. L. Crandall, under whose administration this society was incorporated Decem- ber 20, 1890. In 1892-93 Rev. W. Gregory, D. D., was pastor of these two charges ; and from 1893 to '95 Rev. S. K. Dexter was pastor. A church building was erected in 1891, at a cost of about $1,000. In 1895 there are about forty members ; and the church property is valued at $1,500. It has a Young People's society of Christian Endeavor, and a Ladies' Aid society as auxiliaries. Trustees : A. J. Moody, T. D. Keith, C. L. Neibel, and --
ST. JAMES' EPISCOPAL MISSION.
This was commenced in July, 1893, at corner of Meridian Avenue and Mission street. (No further data furnished.)
NOTE .- The Calvary Presbyterian church, on Columbia street, stands about ten steps inside of South Pasadena limits. Its data was furnished me by Rev. Williel Thomson of Pasadena, one of its chief promoters ; and its historic sketch will be found on page 478.
HISTORIC WAYMARKS, INDUSTRIES, ETC.
September 16, 1885, regular passenger and freight service was com- menced between Los Angeles and Pasadena by the S. G. V. railroad. [See Chapter 22.] But the first record in the matter which I found for South Pasadena was that A. F. McReynolds was station agent on and after Feb- ruary 10, 1886. When the railroad commenced running, of course the two daily hack lines had to be given up. W. T. Vore's line had the contract for
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carrying the mail from Los Angeles to the South Pasadena and Pasadena offices, and he now arranged to bring it up on the railroad instead of by horse vehicle as before. And this change made the special occasion for mov- ing the South Pasadena postoffice down from Columbia Hill to a building near the railroad station. But the railroad company itself does not appear of record as a mail contractor until March 15, 1886, the previous arrangement having been all in Mr. Vore's name until his contract expired.
In March, 1886, a telegraph office was first opened in South Pasadena, with Mrs. May McReynolds as operator-a position which she still holds, and also that of station agent in 1895.
In 1886-87 the South Pasadena hotel was built by George Lightfoot.
In 1887, while the "boom" was still flush, D. M. Graham and Dr. J. H. Mohr let the contract for their great brick structure known as Opera House block, which was not completed until well on into 1888, when the boom's green leaves had begun to wilt and look very sick.
In 1889 two invalid school teachers from New England came here for their health, and started a little business enterprise called "Women's Preserving Union." With a common cookstove and washboiler they pre- prepared pure fruit jellies, marmalades, etc., and put it up so nicely that it won favor, became quite a success, and for several years gave South Pasadena some fame abroad. They had to enlarge their facilities and em- ploy some help, as their trade increased. But in 1891 Miss Thompson died, and Miss Ames sold the works to a Mrs. Woodruff and daughter who con- tinued the business a few months, then gave it up; and the enterprise has never been revived.
GAS ENGINE WORKS .- In February, 1894, a business was commenced by Robert S. Futhey and E. C. Steele, which developed into an establish- ment for the manufacture of the Atlas Gas Engine, adapted to run by gas, gasoline, or distillate from crude oil, and to furnish power for well pumps, or for any other purpose of a stationary engine. The capital is about $1,200, comprising buildings, tools, machinery, stock, etc. Employes, three. A general blacksmith shop, pipe fitting, machine repairing, etc., is combined with the engine factory.
BEER GARDEN .-- In 1886 a man named Reinert bought a 2 1-5 acre lot at junction of Sylvan Drive and Mission street and erected a building on it for his family residence and a saloon. He also built an arbor, laid out grounds, planted shrubbery, etc., for a regular Sunday beer garden business. But this offensive establishment was driven out in 1888, after incorpora- tion was obtained and the prohibitory ordinance put in force. Then in August, 1893, Miss Olive Cleveland bought this ex-beer-garden property and converted it into an orpanage or children's home-a place to save homeless boys instead of to destroy them. [For more particulars about this "home," see page 522.]
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