A Walk Through Montrose in 1929 (Part 2)

We continue our trip back in time with a walk through Montrose in 1929. Last week we started our walk going north on Verdugo Road from the bottom of Sparr Heights. When we got to Honolulu Avenue we took a right and continued up Verdugo Boulevard to the Indian Springs Resort. After a tour through the resort and swimming pool, we came back out through the Indian Springs archway onto Verdugo Boulevard. Let’s continue back down the hill towards Honolulu.

Just past the oak trees that shade the resort, we cross a little bridge that goes over the creek bed coming out of the resort. That’s where the water flows from the Indian Springs. (We know from modern times that the spring was rerouted to pipes underground when the Indian Springs Shopping Plaza was built over the top of the old resort.) We pass a home on the right then come to a large brick building at 2133 Verdugo. It has a big glass front and inside are displays of new 1929 cars. It’s the Montrose Motor Company, selling Willys-Knight and Whippet automobiles. (This is the building that housed the recently closed Rugpublic carpet store and is now a martial arts gym.)

Looking across the street, we see the Len Strum Auto Electrical and Battery shop (where New Moon restaurant is now). Reaching the corner we pass the old one-room Fred Anderson Real Estate office, the first realtor in Montrose. (The tiny little office is now the location of Verdugo Liquor within the mini mall.)

We’re now at the corner of Verdugo and Montrose, and we’re looking across the intersection at Honolulu where the business district is. Montrose Avenue is very wide here with the trolley tracks running in the center of the road. We pause at the intersection as the electric trolley arrives at the stop and several shoppers get out and head across to the stores on Honolulu. The trolley leaves, ringing its bell and heading up the curve of Montrose Avenue, so we stroll across the street, stepping carefully over the trolley tracks. We pass a little bus bench for those waiting for the trolley. On the back of the bench is painted an ad for Anawalt Lumber with its running elephant logo.

We glance right looking up Montrose Avenue. We see an office for the gas company (now the upstairs bar section of Gus & Andy’s). Next to that is a ticket office for the Glendale and Montrose Railway, the local trolley line (now Edward James Salon) and above that on Montrose Avenue is the Leach Brothers Market (now Gelsinger’s Deli). Vacant lots stretch beyond that.

We reach the northwest corner where we find a familiar building at 2201 Honolulu. (Familiar because today it’s Gus & Andy’s restaurant.) It’s decked out in Mission-style architecture with arched windows and tile roofing. We peak inside through the double doors facing the corner. Inside we see the pharmacy counter in back and a soda fountain and lunch counter to the left.

We are surprised to also spot some old-style slot machines near the wall. We see a quarter that someone dropped on the floor and decide to try playing the slot machine. We drop the quarter in the upper slot and pull the handle. The three wheels spin, slow and stop. It shows a cherry, a lemon and a plum. No payoff; probably rigged to lose!

We pass by the pharmacy counter and overhear a customer’s order for medicinal alcohol being filled. (In 1929, Prohibition was in effect but one could still get a doctor to write a prescription for whisky, a common cure for depression and even indigestion.)

Passing by the soda fountain we see groups of teenagers gathered around the counter, flirting and gossiping. The soda jerk behind the counter, no older than the teens he’s serving, wears a bow tie. He’s serving up a variety of sodas and ice cream dishes.

But continuing next week let’s head back outside to Honolulu and see the other stores.