The Really Steep Part of the Mt. Lowe Railway

Okay, I'm not going to write a lot about Thaddeus Lowe and his bizarre attempt to build a tourist  railroad and resort in the San Gabriel Mountains above Los Angeles.  Go to Mt. Lowe in labels at the bottom of the post and go to the only other post about this rail line and you can read a rather long post I've already put up.  As a rule I don't scan the backside of postcards, but I liked the Mt. Lowe logo so I thought I'd share it. 

Views of California, Mt. Lowe Railway

I had to go all the way to South Dakota (via eBay) to get this classic southern California scene.

Alright, let's start with a bit of heavily edited history.  In  the late nineteenth century, Professor Thaddeus S. C. Lowe. inventor, astronomer, balloonist, and businessman, thought it would be a grand idea to build a railroad into the San Gabriel Mountains, above Pasadena and Los Angeles.  A daft idea, but by 1893, he was open for business.

The Mt. Lowe Railway was actually three separate railways.  The Mountain Division started in the city of Altadena, and actually had stops for locals, just trying to get from one street to another.  Eventually, it entered Rubio Canyon, home to some rather scenic waterfalls that hikers can still visit.  After crossing the upper canyon on a bridge, it ended at Rubio Pavilion, a small 12 room hotel.

From there, the next leg was The Great Incline, a funicular railway that had inclines ranging from 48 to 62  degrees.  It ended at the top of Echo Mountain, and yet another hotel.  This one, an 80 room Victorian monstrosity.   There was also an astronomical observatory, the gear house for the funicular, and finally, a mega watt search light that could be seen fifty miles out to sea. The whole lot was dubbed, The White City.

 And finally, The Alpine Division, a mere 3.5 miles, that had 127 hairpin curves, and 18 bridges, ended at the foot of Mt. Lowe, and another hotel, the Ye Alpine Tavern, a 12 room Swiss style chalet.  Round trip, $5.00.

Things never really went well for Lowe's dream project.  The whole thing went into receivership within a few years, complicated by the fact that the good Professor built the whole thing on federal land without permission.  (The San Gabriel Mountains Forest Preserve, latter Angeles National Forest, and soon to be San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.) In 1905 the hotel on Echo Mountain burned to the ground,  in 1909, a flood wiped out The Rubio Pavilion, in 1928, a Santa Ana wind blew down the observatory, and in 1936,  the Ye Alpine Tavern, also burned down.  And finally, adding insult to injury, in 1938, a three day rain storm destroyed what was left.  To expensive to rebuild, in World War 2, a scrapper went along the route and pulled up what  was left of the tracks.  From 1959 to 1962, the Forest Service dynamited the foundations of all the buildings.

This card is post marked, "OCEAN PARK JAN 20 9:30 A.M, CAL."  And since this is from the era when postmarks were added at both ends of the process, "ESMOND FEB 8, A.M. 1908, S.DAK."  It was addressed to "P.G. Hanna, Esmond, S.D."  I looked up Esmond.  It's not even listed as a town, but as a populated place.  The map showed all of six streets.

Goodness Gracious, Another Bike Picture

Here in the United States, we'd call this a girl's bike.  As can be seen in this photo, it's a bike design that allows women to ride while wearing a skirt.  In countries with a tradition of bike commuting, it would be called a step through bike.  Men wearing suits can't  straddle a conventional bike any more efficiently  than a woman wearing a skirt.

Anyway, bought this one in southern California, and the house looks like the classic California craftsman.  They can be found all over Los Angeles County, and they're also common in the bay area.  There are a lot of them in Pasadena and South Pasadena.

California Carroll

To recap.  Every so often, I go to an antique mall and thumb through a tray of old photographs.  I've been finding a collection of snapshots, all the same format, paper weight, from the same era, and the ones shot outdoors all seem to be from the same area.  I can't be certain, but I'm pretty sure that they're all from the same family.  So far, I've found several with the same lab mark, "PRINTED BY MERICK REYNOLDS, Jr. 222 So. BROADWAY, LOS ANGELES, CAL."  including this one.  This image is the first I've found with writing on the back.  "Carroll W. Parclier six months old."  Finally a name.

Click on SGV family in the labels section at the bottom of the post to bring up the whole collection.

Crazy Ostrich People

America has always had it's fair share of crazy dreamers willing to pursue their mad ideas.  Most fail, but occasionally one succeeds.

In 1885, Edwin Cawston of South Pasadena, California chartered a ship and headed off to South Africa in search of the finest ostriches he could find.  He ended up buying fifty birds, and sailed to Galveston, Texas with his flock.  Between the voyage to North America and the cross country train trip, Cawston's dream almost died.  Out of fifty birds, only eighteen survived.  Still, Cawston persevered, and in 1886 he opened his ostrich farm in South Pasadena, just five miles north of downtown Los Angeles.  In time, Cawston expanded his flock to over 100 birds, he sold meat, ostrich hides, and feathered hats, boas, and fans.  He also supplemented his income by turning the farm into a tourist attraction.  One could ride on the back of an ostrich or drive an ostrich pulled cart.  Eventually, changes in fashion and the great depression ended the Cawston Ostrich Farm.  It closed in 1935.

But, the story isn't over.  The factory building where Cawston made the hats survived.  It's at 1010 Sycamore Ave. in South Pas, and has been converted into lofts.  Got $299,000 and you can buy one.  Prefer to rent and it's a lot more affordable.  Only $2200 a month for a small, furnished space.  Unfurnished, $2000.  And if you're willing to live on the second floor in the back, $1500.  Actually, in the L.A. area rental market, that's not all that bad.

This image is printed on postcard stock.

Old Folks In California

This one is another photo from an ongoing series of pictures I've been finding at an antique mall that may or may not be related.  To see the others I've found, click on SGV family in the labels section at the bottom of the post.

California has always been a state that has attracted lots of newcomers.  Whether it's the ocean, desert, or mountains; cheap farm land or mine claims; a chance to leave the past behind and go to a place where no one cares what happened back east, California has been the great hope and refuge for the restless.  It's true that these four old gentlemen might have been Californians born and bread, but I'm guessing they were all part of the influx into the golden state.  But, if these guys are from the same family that has been showing up at the antique mall, I'm also guessing that it was the younger people in this series that were the true seekers of the California dream, and it was the old folks that got dragged along.

A California Kid

So, here's the story.  Every so often, I visit a favorite antique mall and go through a tray of old photos.  The dealer keeps replenishing it with new images.  I've been finding a series of old prints, the same format, same weight paper, all from the same era.  Some have a printers stamp, "PRINTED BY MERICK REYNOLDS, JR.  222 SO. BROADWAY, LOS ANGELES, CAL."  Most have no markings at all.  So far, I haven't found any that are labeled.  I think it probable that all these photos are from the same family, although I can't be sure.  As I find new images, they go up on the blog.  I'm putting SGV Family in the labels section at the bottom of the post so that anyone interested in seeing the whole lot can pull them up and see them together.  Enjoy.

A California Car

Alright, here's the story.  I buy photographs for the collection from a number of sources.  Just recently, I've been making regular visits to a favorite antique mall.  One of the dealers that I think of as the photo guy, even though he sells a lot of non photographic stuff, has been replenishing a tray of snapshots every week or so.  I keep finding square format photos, printed on the same weight paper, from about the same period, with similar landscapes, which looks to be in the San Gabriel Valley, around Pasadena, California.  That doesn't mean they're all from the same family, but I'd say it's pretty probable.  This latest one looks a bit like Harold Lloyd.  For those not familiar with silent movies....don't be lazy, look him up.  All photos that seem related have a special tag in the labels section.  SGV family.

Playing In California

This one has  a wealth of detail.  The car, the new homes, the photographer's shadow, the the two kids sitting in the wagon.  I'm not sure what prized possession the boy is holding, but the little girl has her doll and it's bed on the ground.  Of course, it also looks like she's about to stomp on her toys.  And finally, the mountains in the background.  The San Gabriels.  I know that notch in the ridge line, so depending on the angle, somewhere in the western end of the San Gabriel Valley, with Pasadena a strong possibility.  Anyway, as noted before, I'm about 95% certain that the photos from the last few posts are all from the same family, so I've gone back and added a new tag in the labels section.  Click on SGV family and they'll all come up.  With luck, I'll find some more photos from this collection  next time I go back to the antique mall, and if I do, I'll reserve the SGV family tag  for them.

Walking To School In California

I doubt there were any school buses when this photo was taken.  Just think, if your parents lived too far from the local school house, no education for you!  This one probably goes with the last post.  Navigate back one for details.

California Prosperity

I've just been to a favorite antique mall, checked the photo guy's booth, and found three new snapshots, all the same format, same weight paper, and all from the same period.  I'm about 95% certain that they're all from the same family, so I'm going to publish them one right after another.

This first one is the only one with any information on the print.  Stamped on the back, "PRINTED BY MERICK REYNOLDS CO., 222 SO. BROADWAY, LOS ANGELES, CAL."  I did my due diligence and ran a search for Merick Reynolds, but didn't find much.  A couple of other photos with the same stamp, reference to a Merick Reynolds Gallery that showed California landscape paintings, a book, Famous Southern California Scenes, published in 1902 by Merick Reynolds, Jr.,  a listing for him as a photographic agent, and as a photographer in his own right.

And finally, I think these new three photos are also related to my Eating Watermelon post from April 4.  Don't be lazy, scroll back and have a look.

The Epworth League Album 37, The End

Another low level, staring off into space, precursor of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, photo. Not the image I would have chosen to end this album, but appropriate, nevertheless. There is no excuse now. Time to click on Epworth League in the labels section to view the entire collection, in order.

The Epworth League Album 36. The Mysterious Arrowhead

Won't someone tell me where this arrowhead was located.

The Epworth League Album 33, The Final Push

It's time to finish up the Epworth League photo album. I'm not quite sure how I'm going to break down the last few pages, but it won't be more than four more posts, maybe three. I just don't know yet. Hey, does anyone out there recognize the train station in the first photo? It's killing me because I'm certain I've seen a similar photo of an old station, located somewhere in southern California. Why didn't the owner of this album use captions?

The Epworth League Album 29, A Very Different L.A.

Hard to believe, but that beautiful rural land behind these four people is now covered in houses, schools and shopping centers. I recognize the ridge line as the San Gabriel Mountains, and while I can't be sure of the exact location, I'm pretty sure that the camera is pointed west, looking down the length of the San Gabriel Valley. That would mean Pasadena, Santa Anita and beyond. They look very confident in the future, don't they?

The Epworth League Album 15, Contrasts

In the novel Mildred Peirce by James M. Cain, much is made of the differences between Pasadena and Glendale, California. Pasadena is the city of old money and social position. Glendale is the city of a nascent middle class and social ambition. I do a lot of cycling in the L.A. area and I've ridden by the intersection shown in the first picture and while I'm not sure, I think it's in San Marino, a wealthy city on the southern edge of Pasadena. Some of the other photos show the type of house that was built for the new residents moving to southern California. Quickly built, smallish and moderately priced, just the type of home that once could be found lining every street in Glendale.

The Rose Parade, January 1, 1926 Part 5

The fifth and final part, and the only one with a picture of the big game. Known as the "game that changed the south" that ushered in the "age of Dixie." Underdog Alabama, 9-0, was the second choice to face the mighty Washington Huskies. Led by star running back, George Wilson, the Huskies ran up 300 yards of total offence when he was on the field. After he left the game with an injury, Washington was limited to 17 yards of offence. Trailing 12-0, Alabama half back, Johnny Mack Brown led Alabama to 20 points in the third quarter. Final score, Alabama 20, Huskies 19. The Crimson Tide was awarded it's first national championship. It was also the first Rose Bowl to be broadcast on radio. While he was in southern California, Johnny Mack Brown signed a contract with MGM. He would appear in "Our Dancing Daughters" the movie that made Joan Crawford a star, and "A Woman of Affairs" with Greta Garbo. Sound was not good to Brown, and he ended up as the star of a series of B westerns.

The Rose Parade, January 1, 1926 Part 4

This is part 4 of 5. This grouping has my second date clue. The photograph with the marching band wearing fezzes, there is another movie theater marquee. This time, Old Clothes, with Jackie Coogan, released November 9, 1925. And, on the guys in the fezzes...are they Shriners?

The Rose Parade, January 1, 1926 Part 3

This is part three of five. Just for a bit of variety, I'm going to be putting up some other things for a bit, but check back, because the last two parts should be up by the middle of next week. Stamped on the back of each photo in the set, "NEW PHONE VErmont 4184 AEROGRAPH CO. 1763-5 W. Vernon Ave. LOS ANGELES,-CALIF. No_Price_ Mail Orders Receive Prompt Attention." All of the photos had a punched border, and were bound in a plain card folder. I suspect this might have been a salesman's sample book, marketing to people involved in the parade. Note the Angelus Temple banner. The Angelus Temple was the church founded by sister Aimee Semple McPherson, one of the first major radio evangelists in the United States. She had a national, rather than just a local following.

The Rose Parade, January 1, 1926 Part 2

This is part two of five. I often date old photos by comparing things like cars, clothing, and hair styles with other pictures that have written dates. This collection was easy to date. Look at the photo with the theater marquee. I needed a magnifying glass to make it out, but the front of the theater advertises "The Live Wire" with Johnny Hines. The live wire was released on September 20, 1925. The theater is the Bard's Egyptian, which opened in 1925. Pasadena's Colorado Blvd., the route of the Rose Parade still has many building from the era. Note the marchers with the Pasadena Humane Society banner.