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 80
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"A series of tunnels are being run through projecting hills, 7x8 feet in dimensions, * to bring water to the flat below Las Casitas; thence by pipes down the east bank of the Arroyo to a point below Devil's Gate, where the Arroyo will again be crossed and the Linda Vista hills tunneled through to Eagle Rock Valley."
Attorney W. S. Wright, on behalf of Pasadena interests made an inves- tigation of the legal status as to water claims above Devil's Gate, and the Star of October 7, 1891, thus reported his findings:
" He finds several filings on the surplus waters of the Arroyo Seco and Millard canyon, made by the Pasadena Land and Water Company, the Shorb Company, the Painter Company, the Highland Park Company, and
*For Pasadena's fame as a landmark at sea, see page 383-"Las Flores canyon."
+"Alba Longa" or long white city was one of the names of ancient Rome ; and Pasadena looks that way as one approaches it from Los Angeles, up through the Arroyo Seco pass.
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by Gervaise Purcell. Work to hold them has been done by the Shorb Company and the two Pasadena companies mentioned. The Shorb filing Mr. Wright regards as fatally defective in several particulars."
This conclusion seemed to hold good, for the Shorb company stopped work, and their tunnels stand empty, to mystify the Arroyo traveler, or whisper in his ear the sad memorial word, " boom."
WILLIAMS HALL.
More historic public meetings have been held in Williams hall than any other place in Pasadena. The building was first erected during the winter of 1882-83, and Williams's store and the post office and the tele- phone office was moved into the lower story. In 1885, it was added to, and reconstructed, the following account of which I copy from the Valley Union of November 6, 1885 :
"A new building was erected on Fair Oaks Avenue, in the lower story of which are C. L. Fisher & Co.'s new store, the new post office, and the entrance to the hall above. In the upper story is the extension to the hall, the gallery, and a banqueting room to be used in connection with the theater, and the Masonic hall adjoining. The entire hall is 30 x 90 feet in size from the front of the stage to the rear of the gallery. The stage has a beautiful drop curtain representing an actual scene from life, the " Ober- wesel," on the Rhine, a tower built by the Romans. It is a beautiful sketch, and presents a fine appearance, blending water, mountains and ruins with happy effect. It was painted by the Schroeder Brothers, of Los Angeles, artists of high reputation, who also have in hand the execution of the scenery, which will be sufficient for all ordinary purposes. The stage also contains all the accessories of prompter's box, gas machinery, etc., and is not behind in the dramatic conveniences of the theaters of larger cities. The main hall has a seating capacity for about 350 people, and is thoroughly lighted both by day and night. The gallery has 170 stationary chairs. It is beautifully designed, with curved front, balcony and rail, and like the other portions of the hall is finished in natural woods."
EMENDATIONS.
On page 39 : "August, 1814, corner stone laid for a church in Los Angeles, but building never erected." Stephen Foster tells me this church was built, and used ; but it was a poor, cheap adobe structure, a few rods north of the present church site at the plaza.
On footnote, page 73 .- The Lewis Hist. Los A. Co., p. 97, says : "John G. Nichols, April 15, 1851-first American child born in Los Ange- les." Mr. and Mrs. Robinson tell me their child, Oscar, was born May 11, 1850, in a building on New High street, north of Temple street, which was then in use as the county jail, Mr. Robinson being deputy sheriff and jailer from 1849 to 1852. But this baby boy died in February, 1852, while they were living in the Garfias house, on Main street, near First.
M. E. Wood came to Pasadena in 1876, yet his name is not given in
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list of "Old settlers " prior to 1880, on pages 133 to 136. Mr. Wood also gave three days work on the new Central School-house in 1878, although his name is not in the list on pages 170, 171.
On page 200 : Before "Classical School for Boys," add Miss Collamer's school, established in April, 1887, by Miss Emilie F. L. Collamer, on Cam- den street ; limited to fifteen pupils. Primary and grammar grades, and college preparatory. Music and languages taught, besides all the common English branches.
On page 223: "James G. Clarke, author."-The Arena, one of the very front-rank American magazines, in its issue of September, 1895, de- votes fifteen pages to Mr. Clarke and his poetry, and rates him among the greatest of our American prophet-poets. The Arena is competent authority in the literary world.
On page 224, Abbot Kinney, as an author should be credited with ad- ditional works : "Tasks by Twilight :" G. P. Putnam's Sons, New York ; 1893. "Conquest of Death," same publishers, 1893. " Eucalypti : " now in press. "Money," or the Silver Question.
And to the list of authors given 011 pages 223 to 226, should be added : NORMAN BRIDGE, A. M., M. D. Contributor to medical and scientific journals ; 20 years professor in Rush Medical College, Chicago : author of a History of the College, now in press.
Addendum to Chapter XIII, pages 255 to 277, on the " Whisky War." -- On June 10, 1895, a meeting was held in the Carlton hotel parlors, to con- sider what should be done about the prevalent disregard of the "liberal " restrictive law as to liquor selling, for it was being daily violated with in- creasing boldness, and dramshops were being run under cover of restaurant, lunch counter, hotel, drug store, etc. Rev. W. H. McDougal, D. D., of Oakland, had been invited up from Los Angeles to explain the so-called "Oakland plan "; and after hearing him, steps were taken to organize the "PASADENA COUNCIL FOR SUPPRESSION OF THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC AND KINDRED EVILS." Various meetings were held ; and a special committee was appointed to employ detectives and secure such evidence as could not be bought, tricked, nor scared out of court. Attorney Benj. Hahn was em- ployed to oversee the collection of evidence, and attorney George A. Gibbs to assist the city attorney in the prosecutions. September 20, six arrests were made ; and the committee had in hand about fifty cases altogether, ready for prosecution. The organization is made up of representatives from different churches and other societies, as follows :
NAME OF CHURCH CHURCH DELEGATES YOUNG PEOPLE'S DELEGATES
Methodist Rev. Clarke Crawford. A. B. Stevens.
I. J. Reynolds, K. W. Wing Dr. E. A. Briggs.
Congregational. Rev. H. W. Lathe Prof. A. L. Hamilton.
A. K. Nash, Geo. A. Gibbs Benj. Hahn.
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NAME OF CHURCH. CHURCH DELEGATES. YOUNG PEOPLE'S DELEGATES.
Baptist. Rev. C. T. Douglass Ernest Canfield.
B. F. Simcoe.
Geo. N. Sroat.
Presbyterian Rev. N. H. G. Fife. Robert H. Fulton
Universalist Rev. W. M. Jones P. G. Wooster.
Rev. E. L. Conger, D.D., Mrs. Harriet K. Fay ... Prof. W. Loree.
Christian Rev. H. Elliott Ward L. H. Turner.
R. B. Colcord W. L. Jones.
Free Methodist. Rev. J. S. Phillips, M. C. Sperow.
Ind. Congregation .. Rev. R. M. Webster, J. B. Corson.
Friends. Rev. Chas. E. Tebbetts.
Wm. Cox, L. Brown.
Friends, Orthodox .. Prof. I. N. Vail, Tilman Hobson.
Salvation Army .. ... Henry N. Farey .
Y. M. C. A .. Dr. Fordyce Grinnell, C. C. Reynolds, Robt. H. Fulton, E. L. Stevenson.
Christian Alliance. Dr. J. R. Townsend, Judge C. N. Terry.
Chr. Endv. Union.L. H. Turner, Mrs. A. M. Mulford.
W. C. T. U. .Dr. Ella Whipple-Marsh, Mrs. Hester Griffith, Mrs. Ellen Terpenning.
I. O.G. T .. Albert Mercer, Miss Viola Weil.
Prohibition Club .... James Cambell, T. Hobson.
Of this body of councilors, Tilman Hobson is president, Rev. H. Elliott Ward vice-president, Ernest Canfield secretary, Miss Viola Weil cor- responding secretary, Dr. Ella Whipple-Marsh treasurer.
Toraise funds, it was agreed that each church furnish ten cents per member. This made the apportionment for the M. E. Church about $90. A collection for it was taken up Sunday morning, September 22, and amounted to $119.50. [Others not furnished, at closing of this report.]
On page 321 Maj. Horace Bell is reported as saying in a speech at Pasadena that Los Angeles. furnished only two Union soldiers in the war of the rebellion. The Lewis Hist. Los A. Co., p. 100, says: "A company of volunteers was raised in Los Angeles, to form a part of the 5,000 ordered from this State."
On page 353, footnote, I give Don Juan Bandini's grandfather as " Captain of Spanish battleship Riena at Trafalgar ;" it was his own father, Capt. Jose Bandini, who now lies buried at San Gabriel. [See page 55.]
On page 373: "Brown's Peak."-In July, 1889, a party of young folks camping at Brown's cabin above Las Casitas started early one morning for a climb to the summit of Brown's peak. They were, Gordon, Mary and Nancy Baker, Carl Raab, Mary Thompson, and Jason Brown. The Baker youngsters were used to such trips, and they rushed on ahead, reaching the top half-a-mile ahead of the other three. Gordon set the lunch pail which he carried down beside a bush, just as Mary noticed some torn up earth and big cow-looking tracks, and exclaimed, "Who in the world is keeping
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HISTORY OF PASADENA.
cows up here?" Their dog "Grover " scented the tracks and went bark- ing through the bushes where they led, but suddenly returned in skulking terror. A crash in the bushes was heard, and a terrific roar that was like an angry hog's grunt and an angry dog's growl mixed and enlarged. Gor- don yelled, "A bear !" grasped his dinner pail and leaped down the steep trail like seven-leagued boots. Mary didn't wait for trail track, but went leaping and sailing over the grease-wood in a most wonderful manner, so that those who saw her from below said she beat the aerial flights on a cir- cus poster all out of sight, and reached the rear party in an incredibly short time. Nancy got a few rods down the trail, but was so amused at Mary's marvelous feats that she had to stop, brace her hands on her hips and just laugh till she couldn't see. Meanwhile the bear, which was a she one with two cubs, hurried her little family away in the opposite direc- tion. Jason Brown had a hatchet and butcher knife with him, but no gun, and he and his comrades pushed on to the summit ; but the Bakers had seen enough, and took a rest. Jason identified the tracks of the mother bear, who had been digging up the ground for some sort of roots, and the tracks of two cubs; but they didn't get a sight of the animals. After return- ing to camp the girls wrote some humorous poetry entitled "A Trip, by one of the Triplets," in which this adventure was briefly related. All three of those girls have since graduated from the State Normal School, and have made a good record as teachers.
On page 403 : "Henniger Flats."-In September the Toll Road Com- pany bought this land from Mr. Allen, and will utilize it to raise vegetables. fruits, flowers, poultry, honey, pork and dairy products for their mountain camp hotels, besides its use as a wildwood park and rural retiracy for guests who prefer it. [See page 365.]
On page 408 : "West San Gabriel canyon."-In 1891 or '92 two or three hunters camped in the upper part of this canyon. One night a bear was caught by the hind foot in a heavy steel trap which they had set. He gnawed off his own leg and hobbled away on the bleeding stump, leaving his foot in the trap. The hunters soon discovered this in the morning, and following the bear's trail, shot him. They nailed the entrapped foot up on a tree at their camp, and I saw it there about two years later. From this incident that portion of the West San Gabriel has ever since been called "Bear Canyon." But there is another place north of Mount Lowe, a large branch of the Arroyo Seco, which is called "Great Bear Canyon," though for what reason I did not learn.
On page 453: Mt. Lowe Railway. - September 30, 1895, Prof. Lowe communicated his plans, aims and wishes to the city council, in regard to an electric railroad franchise which he had petitioned for. His purpose was to extend the Rubio trolley section of his mountain railroad direct to Pasa-
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dena's business center, at once, so that passengers could make the trip between Los Angeles and the mountains inside of ninety minutes, late at night, or early morning, or any hour of day. It was found necessary to have a line of their own, clear down to Pasadena, in order to accommodate and handle satisfactorily the many and varied excursion parties, some of whom want to spend an evening with the telescope, the great search-light, the electric fountains, etc .; some want to go at short notice for a frolic in the snow ; some want to visit the great mountain cataracts of Thalehaha, Leontine, Grand Canyon and Alpine Falls, when they roar and plunge in all their glory after a rain storm ; some want to witness the wierd scene of the valley and the electric-lighted cities by night, or the strange fog-sea with cities buried under it in early morning, without missing their business hours at Pasadena or Los Angeles. In fact, the various elements of popu- lar interest at this great mountain resort could not be utilized to the public without a railroad line to Pasadena under the same management and control, for prompt service at short notice, at hours to suit, and with any number of cars needed to seat the company. It was also needful for prompt transportation of supplies, or of construction or repair materials, often required at short notice, or at untimely hours.
On page 466 : "Crematory."-The first cremation at Mountain View cemetery occurred September 26, 1895, with the body of George A. Cherry. Fire was maintained twenty-six hours, producing a 700-degrees uniform white heat. Body incinerated in two hours and fifteen minutes. Ashes weighed 5 1bs. 10 oz. The procedure was managed by W. N. Van Nuys, under in- spection of Drs. Fordyce Grinnell, D. S. Green and A. W. Bickford.
On page 494 : "Applied Christianity."-July -, 1895, they organized as "The Independent Congregation of Pasadena," with Rev. R. M. Web- ster as pastor ; and trustees-Dr. Elias Smith, chairman ; Geo. Swerdfiger, M. F. Merritt, treasurer, Mrs. Byron O. Clark, Mrs. Theresa Harrison, Mrs. S. E. Merritt, Miss Alma Stanford, secretary.
On page 495: W. C. T. U .- Some time in 1882 the Pasadena Union Temperance League was organized, with James Cambell, president ; C. B. Ripley, vice-president ; Chas. H. Case, secretary. On December 16, 1882, they gave a literary and musical entertainment in the Presbyterian church, then on California street, the program of which had been printed for them at Maj. J. D. Gilchrist's office in Los Angeles. And it was this society which procured and arranged for Frances Willard's lecture in Williams hall, and provided for her entertainment at Mrs. Bangs's Arroyo Vista house. After the lecture the chairman, Mr. Cambell, at Miss Willard's request, appointed a committee of ladies to meet the next Sunday afternoon in the Presbyterian church and organize a Women's Union. The committee named were: Mrs. Rev. Mosher, Mrs. A. O. Porter, Mrs. Dr. O. H. Con-
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ger, Mrs. James Smith, Mrs. O. S. Barber, Mrs. O. R. Dougherty, Mrs. Dr. Lord, Mrs. James Cambell, and perhaps others. Most of these women had young children to look after ; and lived far from the church ; and after attending Sunday school and morning services, did not feel like going again in the afternoon. But Mrs. Dr. Conger went, and had a delightful rest, all free from family cares, and all by herself, in Mrs. Gen. Stoneman's nicely cushioned pew. At the proper time she moved herself adjourned, sine die ; and thus ended Miss Willard's projected W. C. T. U.
On page 499 : "Y. M. C. A."-Oct. 1, 1895, new officers were elected as follows: C. C. Reynolds, president ; Dr. J. R. Townsend, vice-president ; Robert H. Fulton, secretary.
On page 519 : "Fortnightly Club."-This society provided free public lectures, mostly by a high order of talent. The most eminent person who has lectured under its auspices was Prof. Joseph LeConte, the world-famed Professor of Geology in our State University, who spoke here in the spring of 1893. Its successive presidents have been, Prof. C. H. Keyes, Theodore Coleman, Geo. H. Coffin. But Prof. George Conant has been the execu- tive secretary, and chief manager of its affairs.
On page 543 : " Micaceous talc."-This is the same kind of rock from which the Indians of the Santa Barbara Islands carved out pots, and other dish and cup utensils, many fine specimens of which may be seen in Dr. Palmer's very complete collection, on free exhibition at the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce rooms. The material is commonly called "soap- stone," although it is quite different from the soapstone of the eastern states.
On page 600 : " Rattlesnakes."-On July 30, 1893, old Jason Brown went as guide for a lone tourist lady from the east who wished to make the bridle trip from Echo Mountain to Mt. Lowe. When they reached Crystal Springs cabin, on their return route, the lady sat down at the workmen's camp mess-table to eat her lunch. A rattlesnake crawled out of a hole in the mountain side only six or eight feet from where she sat. As soon as she saw the reptile she jumped and screamed, which scared it, and it com- menced turning to get back into its hole. Jason called to another man who was near to stop the hole quick and not let it get back ; meanwhile he grasped a long-handled shovel, pushed it under the snake and commenced tossing him gently so he could neither coil himself to strike nor crawl to his hole. Jason then called to another man to bring an empty cracker box. This was brought, and he shoveled the snake into it, clapped on the cover, took the box under his arm and marched on down to Echo Mountain. I reached Crystal Springs from an exploring trip with Mr. Cameron just in time to see Jason start off with his rattlesnake under his arm. The lady was delighted with the adventure, and related with much enthusiasm how
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the snake was captured. She was assured that that was nothing for old Jason; that he would probably next time bring in a Mountain Lion. This rattlesnake was a fine specimen. It was kept in a cage at Echo Mountain for a mouth or two ; then Thad. and Sobieski Lowe, and W. H. Brown the electrician at the cable power house, experimented in giving it trial doses of electricity, till they say it tied itself in a double bow-knot and went to rattle- snake heaven.
Errata :
Page 191, bottom line : "Nov. 2, 1871 " should be 1891.
Page 251, 24th line from top : for "superior court," read supreme court.
Page 66, 25th line : 1852 should be 1853.
Page 172, 9th line : Chapter 35 should be 33.
Page 255, 4th line : for "pages 243-44," read 248-49.
Page 368, 19th line : for "Harvard," read Telescope point.
ยท Page 536, 3rd line from bottom ; for "50 or 60 1bs.," read 100 lbs.
Page 600, footnote, 2nd line : for "in August," read July 24.
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