Twelve Oaks – Built by Charity, Sold for Profit The story of Twelve Oaks Lodge has a beautiful beginning and a sad and angry end. Its origins lie in the altruistic views of James and Effie Fifield of Minneapolis. I picked up their story of generosity from several articles written by Katherine Yamada last year […]
Famous Residents of Rockhaven Sanitarium Rockhaven Sanitarium on Honolulu Avenue just east of La Crescenta Avenue operated from 1923 to 2006 as a high-end “women only” sanitarium for the treatment of mental illness. The property is now owned by the City of Glendale and will someday open as a park and community center. The residents […]
Ailanthus – Tree of Heaven or Tree From Hell? The Ailanthus tree is becoming one of the most common growths found in La Crescenta. It comes up in vacant lots, along sidewalks and roadways, and is symbiotic with development as it prefers disturbed soil to sprout. Once you learn to recognize it, you begin to […]
The Future of Rockhaven Sanitarium Last week I wrote about the formation of the Friends of Rockhaven, a new and dynamic group that is preserving and celebrating the history of the 90-year-old sanitarium. As most of us know, the 3½ acre oak shaded piece of paradise located at 2713 Honolulu Ave. was purchased by the […]
Bye Bye to the Beast The last time we bought a new car was back in the Bronze Age. Or maybe it was 2002. Anyway, it was a long time ago when we bought the pickup truck I drive every day. It was even farther back in the annals of history when we bought my […]
Friends of Rockhaven Sanitarium “Get Committed to Rockhaven Sanitarium!” That’s the tongue-in-cheek motto of a new group in the Crescenta Valley dedicated to preserving and celebrating the history of the 90-year-old sanitarium. The Friends of Rockhaven are documenting its long history and giving tours of its empty halls and quiet grounds. Sanitariums were the founding […]
Mysteries and Questions on CV History, Part 6 Here are some more questions I’ve had from readers: My new neighbor is tearing down the charming little house he bought and building an enormous monstrosity in its place. It will loom over my house, destroying my privacy, and will look weird in our neighborhood. Aren’t […]
Mysteries and Questions on CV History, Part 5 Here are some more questions I’ve had from readers: There are a couple of bridges crossing the 210 Freeway near Ocean View that appear to be unused. Are they abandoned, or slated for some kind of future construction? There are actually three of what appear to be […]
Mysteries and Questions on CV History, Part 4 Here are some more questions I’ve had from readers: Were there Nazis at Hindenburg Park? This is a common “local history gossip” item you hear. The story sometimes swells into having the park being some kind of Nazi headquarters. But were there Nazis in the park? The […]
Mysteries and Questions on CV History, Part 3 Here are some more questions I’ve had from readers: What’s the deal with the ugly grading and massive houses being built on the Verdugo Mountains above Whiting Woods? Thanks to the efforts of residents and grass-roots groups like VOICE, we’re fortunate to enjoy views of undeveloped green […]