Echo Mtn. Echoes Spring 1997, a magazine of Southern California history in general and Thaddeus Lowe and his mountain railway in particular

<body bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000" link="#0000FF" vlink="#800080" alink="#FF0000"> <p align="center"><img src="../../../echo.jpg" alt="Echo Mtn. Echoes, a magazine of southern California history and collectables, especially about Mount Lowe and Thaddeus Lowe's Mountain Railway featuring many old historic photographs, stories, and biographies of the communities of the San Gabriel Mountains and valley from the 1890's on. Pictorial and editorial information about historic Echo Mountain and Mount Lowe in the Angeles National Forest area of the San Gabriel mountains of Southern California, just above Altadena in the Los Angeles foothills, including articles, historic photographs, history, biographies, and events related to Thaddeus Lowe's mountain railway. mount, Mount Lowe, Mount Lowe Railway, Mount Lowe Railroad, history, railway, railway history, railraod, railroad history, i ncline, incline railroad, Altadena, Altadena history, southern california, southern california history, San Gabriel, San Gabriel Valley, San Gabriel Valley history, Millard, Millard Canyon, Thaddeus, Thaddeus Lowe, Pasadena, Pasadena history, California, California history, California history railroads, California history railways, Pacific, Pacific Electric, Pacific Electric Railway, red, red cars, trolley, 1890s, turn of the century, photographs, old photographs, historic photographs, collectables, collectibles, spoons, stamps, postcards, post cards, antique, antique postcards, biography, Brown, Brown Mountain, camp, camping, collector, culture, cultural heritage, heritage, Dawn, Dawn Mine, mine, gold, gold mine, gold mining, East, East Fork, Echo Mountain, Inspiration, Inspiration Point, foothill, foothills, forest, founders, settler, settlers, Eaton, glen, granite, hike, hiking, hiking southern california, hiking San Gabriels, hiking Angeles, hotel, memorabilia, Baldy, Wilson, resorts, nature, nostalgia, nostalgic, observatory, old, outdoor, peak, picture, photo, photos, photo tour, river, riparian, tree, trail, vacation, valley, walking, walking era, water, waterfall, West, West Fork, 1900, azusa, Angeles, Angeles Forest, beauty, souvenir, rubio, seco, glen, arroyo" border="1" width="204" height="82"><br> </p> <p align="center"><font color="#008000" size="5"><strong>The Grand Opera House</strong></font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3">By Jake Brouwer</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">The curtain opens to our paper play, presenting to you yet another scene, an all but obscure segment, in the life and times of our Scenic Mt. Lowe Railroad. Our star in this play is the Pasadena Grand <a href="http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/6527/" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/6527/")">Opera</a></font> House and leading character is Thaddeus Sobieski Coulincourt Lowe. This is just another chapter in the life of a diverse individual of vision few Pasadeneans are even aware of.</p> <p align="left"><font size="3">The Grand Opera House, conceived in the boom years of the 1880's, was supported greatly by local residents in dire want of a better cultural life more fitting with their social and artistic standing.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3"><img src="grand1.jpg" border="1" width="500" height="320"></font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">The Grand Opera House Company was formed on 3/21/1887 by E. C. Webster, Senator L. J. Rose, F. M. Ward, and Roscoe Thomas. A prime motive the corporation had for building the opera house was their interest in developing lands on South Raymond Ave. A site was settled on at the Southwest corner of Bellview Dr. And Raymond Ave. By June of the same year the ground was being graded and the three feet thick cement foundations being laid. </font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">Lean times came to be in 1888 and despite a certain amount of trouble between the owners and contractors, mostly about money and availability of materials, the building neared completion. The Board of Trade pamphlet of 1888 said "Among the finest of new buildings that attract attention is an opera house which is now nearly completed." In fact of the two million dollars spent that year on building improvements in the city, the Grand Opera House was the largest single expenditure coming in at over $125,000.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">Finally, on February 13, 1889, with the whole town buzzing with expectancy, the Grand Opera House held its first performance. Perhaps the best performance that night was the house itself, for the majestic building was the epitome of elegance.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">The building was done in Moorish architecture, a style popular if the times. Ornately decorated with bronze and guilt, the opera house offered beauty rarely seen before. The very best of carpenters, artisans, and mechanical specialists were brought in to spare no expense in providing <a href="http://www.pasadena-chamber.org/" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.pasadena-chamber.org/")">Pasadena</a> with a world class opera house.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">Seating capacity was 1500 of which 900 seats were on the main floor and 600 were in the balcony. The main floor seats were on tiers that raised 18 inches for each row affording all the best of views. The folding back chairs were not only cushioned but held hat and umbrella racks.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">After being ushered to their seats the patrons feasted their eyes upon the luxurious drop curtain. The scene depicted was an inner courtyard of a Moorish palace, much like the <a href="http://i-cias.com/m.s/spain/alhambra.htm" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://i-cias.com/m.s/spain/alhambra.htm")">Alhambra</a></font>, complete with musicians playing tunes on a large carpet while a group of beautiful women watches one of their number dance. Before the chandeliers dim the frescos on the ceiling would catch the viewer's eye.</p> <p align="left"><font size="3">Finally the curtain opened on the first presentation of the opera house. The play was Myneer Jan, and according to critics of the day not even the thespian fairies would be able to save it. The largest and most fashionable audience ever assembled in Pasadena was about to witness a play that certainly was not befitting an opening night.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">The leading character was a substitute and though pretty and graceful, she tripped in her musical lines. A little soubrette miss Clara Lane was so cruelly hoarse she made no attempt to sing hoping for sympathy from the audience. The choruses were in good form and the orchestra secured from Los Angeles made a good showing.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">Although opening night was not the best performance wise, the house was indeed packed and this encouraged the managers of the opera house to secure the best theatrical entertainment in the country.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">Before long they signed the very popular <a href="http://www.oc.ca.gov/pfrd/hbp/arden.htm" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.oc.ca.gov/pfrd/hbp/arden.htm")">Madam Helena Modjeska</a></font> who was undergoing contract disputes on the East coast. Shortly before agreeing to come to the Pasadena Grand Opera House she had signed a contract with a Philadelphia firm for 30 weeks at a salary of $35,000.</p> <div align="center"><center><table border="0" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" width="60%"> <tr> <td><font size="3"><img src="modjeska.jpg" border="1" width="235" height="350"></font></td> <td><font color="#008000" size="3"><strong>Madam Helena Modjeska starred in Mary Stuart and Camille in the early days of the Grand Opera House</strong></font></td> </tr> </table> </center></div><p align="left"><font size="3">Madam Modjeska gave two sterling performances, Mary Stuart and Camille. Both were played to packed houses and the great actress was accorded grand ovations. Unfortunately for Pasadena these were probably the two last great performances at the opera house. </font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">In the months to come scheduled performances were mediocre and soon audiences began to thin out. Los Angeles was providing better entertainment and theater trains were set up to transport locals into Los Angeles. Many stars requested guarantees before appearing at the Grand Opera House.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">During 1890 the opera house steadily declined. Many thought it was because of being too far from the center of town. Others complained there was no heat causing uncomfortable situations for its patrons. Location, amenities, and plain old financial troubles caused the Opera House to be in a woeful condition by the end of 1890. The opera house was closed and bids were sought for its demolition and resale of the fixtures and furniture. By May of 1891 the Grand Opera House Company was bankrupt.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">In the meantime our Professor Lowe, a many faceted man, was looking for an office building to house his various enterprises. He looked at the opera house as a business investment. It was quite suitable for storing and manufacturing many of the lighter class of goods used in connection with his fuels for illuminants. In addition it would provide suitable office space.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">In mid 1891 Thaddeus Lowe successfully negotiated with Senator Rose and the Ward brothers for the purchase of the Grand Opera House at a greatly reduced bankruptcy price. He used his own money which really opened Pasadena's eyes to the things this individual was able to do. </font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">Quickly Lowe set out remodeling the Opera House to accommodate his various holdings. Engineer David Macpherson had offices up on the second floor and drafting rooms were set up for the mountain railway. Lowe had an office on the first floor and planned to sell tickets from it for his scenic railroad.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">Much of the space was to be used for housing the various goods involved with Lowe's gas and electric patents. The Pasadena Gas and Electric Light Co. had its showroom at the Opera House displaying a large assortment of gas cooking and heating stoves, bath boiler heaters, gas fixtures, hotel ranges, large house and church heaters, confectioners' stoves, laundry appliances, waffle cookers, and nursery burners. A notice was also posted that gas engines were furnished for all purposes.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">Lowe, in his <a href="http://www.pathfinder.com/@@rg1jKAUAOtrQ42qp/TOH/" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.pathfinder.com/@@rg1jKAUAOtrQ42qp/TOH/")">remodeling plans</a></font> added his Lowe System of gas heating to the opera house. Professor Lowe's son Thad Jr. was for years one of one of his fathers closest companions. Through those years he learned a great deal about the gas business and was made Secretary and General Manager of the gas portion of the business.</p> <p align="left"><font size="3">Thad Jr. also had a keen interest in dramatics and before long he was manager of the Opera House which his father kept in operation. Professor Lowe made sundry improvements to render the interior more attractive and more advantageous to having other events. He enlarged the stage and made a portable floor so that when it met the stage it provided a level floor over the entire room, so that it could be used for fairs, balls, and other similar entertainment.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">Once again the Grand Opera House became for a short time a center of community pride. Community shows were put on starring local talent along with a wider variety of entertainment. Minstrel acts and vaudeville shows were put on along with pageants and even graduations. On occasion the hall also held lectures and hosted in the south hall societies such as Odd Fellows, Masons, and Knights of Pythias. </font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3"><img src="grand3.jpg" border="1" width="400" height="281"></font></p> <p align="center"><font color="#008000" size="3"><strong>Architectural conception of the proposed hotel and opera house by L.F. Kwiatkowski</strong></font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">In September of 1897 the Professor contacted C. F. Bean about a loan of $15,000 to convert the Opera House to full hotel facilities, adding two stories allowing for over 300 rooms. Plans were drawn up by Pasadena architect L. F. Kwiatkowski but Lowe's Grand plan did not materialize.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">Rough times were coming financially for the Professor. <a href="http://www.r5.pswfs.gov/heritage/002.HTM" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.r5.pswfs.gov/heritage/002.HTM")">The scenic Mt Lowe railroad</a></font> was taking much more money than expected and Lowe defaulted on the mortgage loan of his Orange Grove home and the Grand Opera House. The properties were foreclosed on and sold at auction.</p> <p align="left"><font size="3">In the coming years the property changed hands a number of times, later becoming the Auditorium with fine hotel and eating facilities.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">By 1926 the grand old building known as the Grand Opera House had been razed and was eventually used by Royal Laundry as their factory and facilities.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">Information on the Grand Opera House was exceedingly thin. There were large gaps where little or no information was afforded the author. Any further information anyone may have would be appreciated.</font></p> <p align="center"><font color="#008000" size="5"><strong>Collecting Mt. Lowe Postcards</strong></font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3">By Jake Brouwer</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">It was John Robinson's book <a href="http://www.znet.com/~schester/angeles_mtns/index.html" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.znet.com/~schester/angeles_mtns/index.html")">Trails of the Angeles</a> that led me to discover Mt. Lowe and the hidden treasures below, Echo Mt. and Rubio Canyon. John's great description draws the hiker to the mountain and then Professor Lowe's magic begins to take over.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">For me, that was in 1991. Perhaps the Professor's wand was working overtime that wonderful day I hiked the mountain, for I've been bit by a bug that just won't let go.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">In my early quest for knowledge and information about Mt. Lowe I turned to a hobby that millions of Americans have followed since right about the time the Mount Lowe Railroad opened, namely postcards.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3"><img src="post1.jpg" border="1" width="260" height="100"></font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">Postcards were first widely distributed in the United States at the <a href="http://www.heard.org/Edu/HARVEY/wf/wf6.htm" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.heard.org/Edu/HARVEY/wf/wf6.htm")">Columbian Exposition</a> in Chicago, 1893. Let me note here that 1893 was the year the Mt. Lowe Railroad opened and the Exposition was the first public appearance of what was billed as "the worlds most powerful searchlight," later purchased by the Professor.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3"><a href="http://www.borg.com/~postcard/essay.htm" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.borg.com/~postcard/essay.htm")">Postcards</a> were quite the fad in Europe for many years and America was quick to follow suit. In 1898 the Private Mailing Card Act opened the U. S. Market to great competition for publishers who created the cards. They offered pictures of places, called views, along with holiday greetings, artist's renditions, and topicals, which could be a picture of just about anything from alligators to zeppelins.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">From the late 1890's to the early 1920's collecting postcards became the rage in America. Although the population of the United States in 1908 was only 88 million people, over 677 million cards were mailed! These small 3 1/2 by 5 1/2 picture cards offer up to us our history and heritage with every viewing. Locally we are blessed to have history abounding and for the readers of this publication we have our magical Mt. Lowe.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">The variety of different Mt. Lowe postcards number in the hundreds. I have over 210 different cards but have seen at least 20 others I do not have. I'm not sure where to begin expressing the pleasures I have found in searching for my collection of Mt. Lowe Postcards. Every time I find myself believing, there just can't be another different one out there, a box will reveal a jewel I've never before laid eyes upon.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3"><img src="stamp1.jpg" border="1" width="301" height="242"></font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">If you've never collected postcards before but would like to give it a whirl, all you need is a subject and some spare change. Say your subject is Mt. Lowe and you have a few bucks to spare from this weeks pay check. There are a number of places you can hunt. Garage sales seldom produce good results, but estate sales in the Pasadena and Altadena areas will occasionally release a number of good cards from their dusty storage boxes. Antique stores will on occasion have a box, or more commonly a basket of postcards. Many times though they are over priced. The <a href="http://www.rgcshows.com/rosebowl.html" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.rgcshows.com/rosebowl.html")">Rose Bowl</a> and <a href="http://www.paccd.cc.ca.us/" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.paccd.cc.ca.us/")">Pasadena City College</a> Swaps and flea markets are excellent sources, but be prepared to spend hours as they cover a large amount of ground and a wide variety of vendors.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">By far your best bet is a postcard show. One in particular I'll mention is the R & N Postcard Show held at the Elks Hall in Pasadena . At this show for the small price of $4.00 admission you will have the history of the world laid out before your eyes in hundreds of storage boxes holding millions of colorful postcards. Nearly every dealer at the show has the cards separated in categories and the prices are neatly posted in pencil on the back.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">The dealers are great because they expect you to look and browse through their merchandise. Chairs are provided just for that purpose so you can relax. Look for the divider card that says Mt. Lowe and get set to view our beloved mountain in views from 1893 till its final demise in the 30's.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">Most Mt. Lowe postcards run from $2-4.00 although as with any collectable an unusual card can fetch as much as $75.00. I would have to say that 3/4s of my collection were bought for under $5.00 each.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">Some of the dealers provide boxes of unsorted cards for 25 cents to a dollar. Looking through these can be very time consuming but sometimes the rewards are great. At the last show I attended I exhausted all of my regular sources and decided to sit at one of these boxes of jumbled up cards. I asked if there was a possibility of finding any Mt. Lowe cards and the response back was, "sure." When I finished I had pulled out over 50 Mt. Lowe cards! Only five were not already in my collection. I asked for a price and was told $5.00, as they were all a buck each. As I walked from the table I had a huge smile on my face. One of the cards was fairly rare showing an open air rail car in a spot photos were normally taken from a different direction. In addition on the back a woman was depicted in Victorian dress. The copyright of the card was 1908 but the photo shot I'm sure was pre-1900. To me the card was worth $20.00.</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3"><img src="stamp3.jpg" border="1" width="325" height="225"></font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">Remember there are many areas of the Mt. Lowe Railroad to collect so you can specialize in one area and then move onto the next or tackle the whole railroad at once buying what you can afford. Luckily for me the card shows are spaced out every few months so I can save up for new cards and organize my collection in my spare time.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">The dealers also offer plastic pages to protect and preserve your collection.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">What a perfect way to view the mountain as it used to be in all it's glory. Travel through Rubio Canyon, to the Incline, and upward to Echo Mt. Be sure to check out the Observatory and the searchlight before you hop on board the Alpine Division headed to Ye Alpine Tavern. Along the way you'll pass through the many wondrous canyons, cross Circular Bridge, and stop for a photo opportunity at Granite Gate. Once at the tavern you can check out the dining room for a scrumptious lunch or sit by the great fireplace. Afterwards it might be a novel idea to ride a mule on up to the top of Mt. Lowe or head on over to Inspiration Point. That's right you can see it all in postcards. I hope you all enjoy the journey back in time.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">Anyone needing help getting started, feel free to call me at xxx-xxx-xxxx or e-mail me at <a href="mailto:jakelsdg@earthlink.net">jakelsdg@earthlink.net</a>. You can also write to the paper at </font>Land~Sea Discovery Group, PO Box 401904, Hesperia, Ca. 92340<font size="3">. I will be happy to answer any questions.</font></p> <p align="center"><font color="#008000" size="6" face="FormalScrp421 BT"><strong>Hiking Mt. Lowe Trails</strong></font></p> <p align="center"><font color="#008000" size="4" face="FormalScrp421 BT"><strong>Rubio Canyon and the Mt. Lowe Railway</strong></font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3">by Paul Ayers,<br> </font><font size="1">Scenic Mount Lowe Historical Committee<br> </font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">Rubio Canyon takes its name from Jesus Rubio, a squatter who began farming near the mouth of the canyon in 1867. Prior to this time, the canyon had probably seen little of man; the </font><a href="http://www.pomona.edu/REPRES/NATIVE/NATIN.HTML" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.pomona.edu/REPRES/NATIVE/NATIN.HTML")">Native Americans</a><font size="3"> who lived in the area did not like to go into the smaller canyons at the front of the San Gabriels for fear of <a href="http://www.nature-net.com/bears/" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.nature-net.com/bears/")">bears</a>.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">Rubio farmed the land for some years as there was an abundance of water available for irrigation. A Dr. Hall bought the property when Rubio moved to Duarte in 1877, but he passed away two years later. His widow sold the land to the famous Altadena pioneers, the Woodbury brothers, in 1880. The land was in Woodbury hands at the time Professor Lowe was granted a right of way into the canyon in 1891.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">Professor Lowe had always planned to run his mountain railway through Rubio Canyon, even when the projected terminus of the line was Mt. Wilson. When the Mt. Wilson franchise was denied to him, Professor Lowe and his engineer, David J. Macpherson, decided to end the conventional <a href="http://www.gwi.net/trolley/" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.gwi.net/trolley/")">trolley</a> line in Rubio and link the canyon with Echo Mountain by way of a cable incline railway.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">In early 1893, rails were laid to the base of the Incline. There, a station where passengers would change from Altadena-based trolleys and board the Incline cars was build. This station was called the Rubio Pavilion. On July 4, 1893, the Incline was opened from the Pavilion to Echo Mountain.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">Over the years there were substantial changes to the Railway's operation in Rubio. Originally the Pavilion was a three story affair with a hotel, a dining room and dance hall. Due to declining profitability, the hotel and dining room were closed in 1903. It appears from contemporary photographs that the lowest level of the Pavilion was removed at about the same time.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">Then, in February 1909, the entire original pavilion structure was destroyed in a gigantic rock avalanche. This disaster resulted in the line's only fatality, the death of the Rubio Pavilion's station agent's five-year old son.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">The Pavilion was replaced by a plain, barn-like train shed erected by the <a href="http://www.erha.org/" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.erha.org/")">Pacific Electric</a>, which had obtained the line in 1902. From 1909 on, Rubio became a mere stopover for passengers changing from interurban cars to the incline railway.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">Another great change in Rubio resulted from the 1903-1904 modernization of the Altadena-Rubio right-of-way by the Pacific Electric. Professor Lowe and Engineer Macpherson, faced with the extraordinarily expensive task of building the Railway, had cut corners by taking the "path of least resistance" in laying line in Rubio. The result was a right-of-way full of curves and trestles.Pacific Electric substantially straightened the right-of-way and replaced most of the trestles with dirt fill and culverts. It also converted the track to standard gauge and installed a small car storage yard just below the Pavilion.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">The Railway lasted forty-three years plagued throughout by natural disasters, declining profitability (exacerbated in later years by <a href="http://www.scruz.net/~kangaroo/THE_GREAT_DEPRESSION.htm" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.scruz.net/~kangaroo/THE_GREAT_DEPRESSION.htm")">the Great Depression</a>) and, ultimately, the disinterest of the Pacific Electric. Shortly after the last hotel on the line, the Alpine Tavern, burned down in 1936, Pacific Electric gained approval from the State Railway Commission to abandon the line. The Rubio train shed, already partially destroyed as a result of the historic rainstorm of March 1938, was pulled down in 1939. The rails were removed in 1941 as part of a wartime-scrap steel drive. Since that time the remaining artifacts have been buried, washed away, burned up or removed by scavengers and Rubio Canyon has faded into quiet obscurity.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">Today, Rubio offers a number of pleasant surprises to the railway archeologist. Surviving artifacts of the railway include ties, trestle abutments and rock retaining walls. At the side of the Pavilion, concrete supports and walls are visible.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">Unfortunately, due to neglect of the trail, travel along the remaining portions of the right of way has become treacherous. In fact, just recently, an experienced member of the Historical Committee working in the canyon was seriously injured in a fall. Further, many of the remaining artifacts of the railway are endangered by erosion.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">It is vital that action be taken to preserve the right of way and other artifacts in the canyon. Anyone interested in assisting the committee in its work in this regard is encouraged to contact the author at his day-time phone number - xxx-xxx-xxxx.</font></p> <p align="center"><strong><font color="#008000" size="7" face="MurrayHill Bd BT">Flora and Fauna<br> </font><font color="#008000" size="5">The California Poppy<br> </font></strong><font size="2">Eschscholtzia Californica</font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3">By Jake Brouwer</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3"><img src="poppy.jpg" align="left" border="1" hspace="8" width="200" height="312">In the early days of Pasadena and Altadena, the hills and fields below the foot of Echo Mountain were covered with poppies much to the delight of all who laid eyes on them. The Spanish whilst sailing up and down the newly discovered coast, looked inland and saw the flame of orange red poppies spread upon the hillsides. This was The "land of fire." They said the alter-cloth of San Pascal was spread upon the hills and with devotional spirit the explorers withdrew from their ships to worship on the shore.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">It is difficult now to recognize the area these golden <a href="http://elib.cs.berkeley.edu/flowers/index.shtml" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://elib.cs.berkeley.edu/flowers/index.shtml")">flowers</a> of California once inhabited. Perhaps a street called Poppyfield Drive is not just a pleasing name dreamed up by developers, but a clue to a scene pictured on a postcard dating to the early 1900's.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">Now, on occasion, in the canyons leading away from the dense populace of our foothills, a golden flower will open in the waxing sunshine of the morning, in amongst the stark contrast of yucca and decaying granite. When in competition with grasses and other herb as in the wilds of Rubio, there is often but one slender stem bearing a single blossom at its tip. Quite often this may be the only thing of this unequaled beauty on a long stretch of trail. It may be the only <a href="http://www.is.csupomona.edu/~jcclark/poppy/" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.is.csupomona.edu/~jcclark/poppy/")">poppy</a> you see that day.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">In 1903 the California Poppy was so popular it became the state flower. It was given the generic name Eschscholtzia Californica taken from J. F. Eschscholtzia of Kotzebue's scientific expedition. Other names given by the Spanish seem more appropriate, names like "amapola," "torosa," "dormidera," and "copo de oro," which means "cup of gold."</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">"Dormidera," or the "sleepy one" is also a quite fitting name as the blossoms open in the brightening morning sun, unless the day is cool when a noon awakening is appropriate. On chilly or foggy mornings the "sleepy one" may not get up at all, choosing instead to remain closed until the sun comes out again. </font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">The California Poppy's colors range from white to pink, all shades of yellow from pale lemon to bright canary, and a deep orange red. Its finely cut foliage is gray-green. The stem is often 12 to 18 inches in height topped by flowers 2 to 3 inches across, with 4 saucer shaped petals. Its deep taproots allow these plants to survive several seasons.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">Some Indians were said to boil the plant, or roast it on hot stones, to later eat it as a green. A drug was made of the plant and used in medicine as a remedy for headache and insomnia. The early Spanish Californians made a hair oil by frying the entire plant in olive oil and then adding some choice perfume.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">An <a href="http://forests.com/topanga/nativam/turtles.html" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://forests.com/topanga/nativam/turtles.html")">Indian legend</a> says the presence of gold in the earth is due to the petals that have fallen year after year and sank into the soil. As it may well have been, considering the amount of wealth now on this once called alter-cloth of gold, San Pascal.</font></p> <p align="center"><font color="#008000" size="5"><strong>The Wonders of Rubio Canyon</strong></font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3">By Jake Brouwer</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">The mildly rising path that leads the way to the moss covered foundations of Rubio Pavilion, is lined on either side in the most precarious of spots, by the yucca known as the "Spanish Dagger." A trip down this seemingly gentle trail, though one can be exceedingly careful, is not to be completed without experiencing the piercing prick of this menacing dagger's blade.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">Visitors to the wonders of Rubio Canyon in days long gone by, were privileged to ride the rails over the gaping gorges that today's hearty hikers must prudently scramble. Passing through sycamores, maples, and grand twisted oaks, eager <a href="http://members.aol.com/explorx/canyonhp.htm#cec" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://members.aol.com/explorx/canyonhp.htm#cec")">explorers of the canyon</a> today can witness nature's readjustment after humanities forty years of attempting to tame the wilds.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">Once through the last passageway of decaying granite walls, the location of Rubio's Pavilion comes into view. If you have witnessed any of the Pavilion's picturesque photos of the past, you may now close your eyes and envision the humming activity of holiday crowds as they prepare for a day of fun and frolic along the fern flanked plank ways leading from the hotel.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">As twilight descended upon the canyon, couples would stroll past the grottos and grand chasms, charmingly lit by Chinese lanterns, winding their way up and over series of waterfalls, that today are mostly inaccessible.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">This being a wondrous and romantic prelude to an elegant dinner and finally that long anticipated thrill ride, ascending in a white chariot fifteen hundred feet towards the stars.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">My heart quickens, thinking of the grand spectacle it must have been and upon opening my eyes once more to the reality of this Rubio Canyon, I can only sigh in sadness that I was born one hundred years too late.</font></p> <p align="center"><font color="#008000" size="5"><strong>News of our readers</strong></font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">Thanks to <strong>Gary Boen</strong> for sending in copies of telegrams sent by various persons to Professor T. S. C. Lowe regarding balloon accessions during the <a href="http://www.ilt.columbia.edu/k12/history/gb/origin.html" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.ilt.columbia.edu/k12/history/gb/origin.html")">Civil War</a>. These are a fascinating part of our American history.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">Thanks to <strong>Kirk Myers</strong> for sending out to LSDG copies of the 1894 and 1903 editions of the Sanborn Maps showing the location and layout of the Pasadena Grand Opera House.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">Thanks to <strong>Gary Mendes</strong> and the folks at <a href="http://aaaim.com" target="_top">AAAIM</a> for the fine job on the Echo Mtn. Echoes internet site.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">Some of our readers hail all the way from Rockford IL. <strong>Bud Reed</strong> and family moved away in 1966 but still have the ties to Mt. Lowe. They occasionally get back to hike the trails. Bud has a postcard collection of over 210 Mt. Lowe cards and his daughter Sarah has over 40. Bud has been most generous with contributions to the paper. Thanks Bud.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">I met with <strong>Mr. Ralph E. Melching</strong> In December of 1996 at the <strong>Pacific Railroad Museum</strong> in San Dimas. We spent an hour or so looking at my collection of photos, some of which were part of the Railroad Boosters trip up the mountain in 1936 of which Mr. Melching was a part of. He had some interesting stories to tell. Try and get over to see the museum when you can.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">On December 7, 1996 the <strong>SMLHC</strong> and <a href="http://www.aft.pfc.forestry.ca/" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.aft.pfc.forestry.ca/")"><strong>forestry volunteers</strong></a></font> gathered at the fire road around 7:30 AM. It seemed there were at least 18 hardy souls ready for Operation Armature. This 300 pound artifact of the railroad was to be retrieved by the group and hauled up to Echo. Only problem was it was off the side of the cliff! After considerable hard work the team made it to the artifact and succeeded in moving the deadweight object close to a trail for final retrieval at a later date. An unscheduled acrobatic display was provided at one point by <strong>Brian Marcroft</strong> and first timer <strong>Mike Post</strong>. Mike's triple roll, double twist, half turn took the "gosh, I wish I had that on film award!" After the grueling workout over the side at Echo, most of us took a break near the powerhouse site and observed quite a few hikers and visitors to the area. A few local scouts managed also to get a lesson it historical preservation courtesy of the SMLHC. </p> <p align="left"><font size="3">Thanks to <strong>Ron Jasinski</strong> for his extra efforts in getting subscribers for the paper and keeping me posted on things in general.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">The <strong>Scenic Mt. Lowe Historical Committee</strong> invited a small group of people to a pot-luck dinner Feb 6th at the Oak Grove Ranger Station. About 33 folks showed up and had a variety of tasty portions provided by the attendees. Afterwards a slide show was presented by <strong>Brian Marcroft</strong> showing the Mt. Lowe Railroad from top to bottom in views from past and present. Two people who rode the rails back then were in attendance, <strong>Silky Grifith</strong> and <strong>Jim Spencer</strong>. When the slide show was completed a few of us laid out our collections for all to see. A good time seemed to be had by all. Stay tuned for news of a similar summer event that perhaps more can attend.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">Sad to report that the </font><a href="http://www.discovery.com/DCO/doc/1012/world/science/weather/weather2.1.html" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.discovery.com/DCO/doc/1012/world/science/weather/weather2.1.html")">fierce winds</a><font size="3"> this past season caused a good deal of damage to the shingles on the <strong>Ramada</strong> at <strong>Inspiration Point</strong>. Needless to say this will have to be repaired with more volunteer labor over roughly a day and a half. The committees funds are getting quite low so if you can help in any way by a contribution or materials please let us know.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">Welcome to <strong>Micheal Patris</strong>, an avid collector that I bumped into at an Image show. Micheal found out at the pot-luck that there are a lot of "Mt. Lowe Nuts" out there collecting memorabilia. That was a fine showing of spoons Micheal!</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">On Saturday, February 8, 1997 SMLHC member, <strong>Lee Varnum</strong> was seriously injured while walking through Rubio Canyon. Some portions of this historic trail have become quite treacherous and it is advised to use extreme care if you attempt to hike this trail. Lee was airlifted by helicopter to <a href="http://www.pasadenaweekly.com/bestof/catagories/absolutelyessential/hospital.html" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.pasadenaweekly.com/bestof/catagories/absolutelyessential/hospital.html")">Huntington Memorial Hospital</a> where he was diagnosed as having a broken hip. Our hearts and thoughts go out to Lee.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3">February 8, 1997 found a hearty group taking a breather on the lower end of the <strong>Macpherson Trestle</strong> abutment. Led by <strong>Brian Marcroft</strong>, the group included <strong>Eric Sauppe, Kent Hamel, Bill Ferguson, Robert Wilde, John Harrigan, Scott Neilson</strong> and <strong>Jake Brouwer</strong>. The scenery from this vantage point was awesome.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3"><strong>Jesse Perez</strong> and father-in-law <strong>Jake Brouwer</strong> took the hike to the summit of Mt. Lowe 2/16/97. It was a first for both. The day was crystal clear and ALL of the city could be seen. The panoramic view was as unequalled that day as the two had ever seen. At the summit view tubes were still in place as well as a hitching post and the flag pole. We had a good view also of the Ramada, tennis courts, Fox Farm, and Granite Gate.</font></p> <p align="center"><font color="#008000" size="5"><strong>Mountain Marketplace</strong></font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3"><strong>MOUNTAIN MARKETPLACE CLASSIFIED ADS</strong> are 25 cents per word, $5.00 minimum. Name address, and telephone number must appear in all ads. Payment must accompany your order. Send ad copy 2 weeks prior to mailing date posted in editorial plan. Ads placed are subject to the availibility of space and at the discretion of Land-Sea Discovery Group.</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3"><strong>MOUNTAIN VACATION RENTAL.</strong> Newer 2 bedroom mountain home can be yours on a weekend or vacation. 7 tenths of a mile from Lake Gregory, Crestline , Ca. Sleeps 6. Fireplace, cable tv, vcr, and quiet woodsy setting. $80.00 per night, two night minimum. LSDG members save 10%. <strong>Contact</strong> Susan Brouwer xxx-xxx-xxxx. </font>Land~Sea Discovery Group, PO Box 401904, Hesperia, Ca. 92340.</p> <p align="left"><font size="3"><strong>PHOTOS WANTED.</strong> Researcher and writer wants photos of life around the <strong>San Gabriel Mountain area</strong> especially Mt. Lowe and The East Fork. Will buy or pay for use. <strong>Contact</strong> Jake Brouwer </font>Land~Sea Discovery Group, PO Box 401904, Hesperia, Ca. 92340<font size="3">. xxx-xxx-xxxx</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3"><strong>ARTIST WANTED.</strong> LSDG is looking for an artist willing to kick around a few ideas and discuss costs for a few projects I want to do. Contact </font>Land~Sea Discovery Group, PO Box 401904, Hesperia, Ca. 92340.</p> <p align="left"><font size="3"><strong>BACK ISSUES AVAILABLE.</strong> Xerox copies of Vol 1, number 1 or 2 = $1.00 each. Xerox copies of Vol. 1, numbers 3 or 4 = $2.00 each. Extra copies of current issues are $3.00 each. </font>Land~Sea Discovery Group, PO Box 401904, Hesperia, Ca. 92340.</p> <p align="left"><font size="3"><strong>BOOKS FOR SALE.</strong> The following list are books offered by Land-Sea Discovery Group. All prices as of this printing include shipping and handling. Insurance is extra. Send payment to </font>Land~Sea Discovery Group, PO Box 401904, Hesperia, Ca. 92340.</p> <p align="left"><font size="3"><em><strong>Mt. Lowe the Railway in the Clouds</strong></em> By Charles Seims, 234pg, hardback, $47.95</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3"><em><strong>Professor T.S.C. Lowe And His Mountain Railway</strong></em> By Maria Schell Burden. 72 pg, paperback. $6.00</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3"><em>Angels Flight</em> By Walt Wheellock, 47 pg, paperback. $6.00</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3"><em>The Mount Wilson Story</em> By John W. Robinson, 35pg, paperback. $3.00</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3"><em><strong>Trails of the Angeles</strong></em> By John W. Robinson 232 pg, paperback, map. $12.95</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3"><em>San Bernardino Mountain Trails</em> By John W. Robinson, 258 pg, paperback $11.00</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3"><em>Mountain Bicycling In the San Gabriels</em> By Robert Immler, 122pg, paperback, $9.00</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3"><em>Mountain Bicycling Around Los Angeles</em> By Robert Immler, 126pg, paperback $9.00</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3"><em><strong>The San Gabriels</strong></em> By John W. Robinson, 310pg, hardback, $34.95</font></p> <p align="left"><font size="3"><em>The San Bernardinos</em> By John W. Robinson, 256pg, hardback, $32.95</font></p> <p align="center"><font color="#008000" size="5"><strong>Editorials</strong></font></p> <p align="center"><font size="3">by Jake Brouwer<br> </font></p> <p><font size="3">Well, here we are again. This is to be our second year publishing Echo Mtn. Echoes and I hope the paper is meeting your expectations. I would like to thank all of you who subscribed to the paper and sent in your kind words of support. As for the rest of you, I know the subscription form is sitting on your desk waiting to be sent in and you haven't gotten around to mailing it, or perhaps you've simply misplaced it. In any case, if you have an issue marked COMPLIMENTARY COPY, this means I do not have your subscription and this may be the last issue you will receive by mail. Don't miss out on what's to come as the year moves on. As subscriptions rise I expect printing quality to improve as well as the amount of information we can bring you.</font></p> <p align="left">If anyone has writing talents they would like to share, please drop us a line, especially if your talents are in the field of local history, hiking, botany, mountain biking, or astronomy.</p> <p align="left">So, I'm really looking forward to quite a few days up on the mountain this year, how about you? Rubio Canyon, Millard <a href="http://leviathan.tamu.edu/0h/slides/Corel/Waterfalls/270000019.jpg.html" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://leviathan.tamu.edu/0h/slides/Corel/Waterfalls/270000019.jpg.html")">Falls</a>, Dawn Mine, Echo, Inspiration Point are all there for us all to enjoy. Drift back 100 years when you visit the mountain and just marvel at the accomplishments of the men and women of this era. ED. </p> <h2 align="center"><font size="4">Land-Sea Discovery Group Contact Information</font></h2> <blockquote> <blockquote> <p align="left"><strong>Postal address:<br> </strong>Land~Sea Discovery Group<br> PO Box 401904<br> Hesperia, Ca. 92340</p> <p align="left"><strong>Electronic Mail:</strong><br> Sales: <a href="mailto:jakelsdg@earthlink.net">jakelsdg@earthlink.net</a><br> General Information: <a href="mailto:jakelsdg@earthlink.net">jakelsdg@earthlink.net</a><br> Webmaster: <a href="mailto:Echowebmaster@aaaim.com">Echowebmaster@aaaim.com</a><br> </p> </blockquote> </blockquote> <p><font size="3"><br> </font></p> <hr width="85%"> <p><font size="3"><br> </font></p> <p align="center">[ <a href="http://aaaim.com/echo/_private/issues.htm" target="index">Issues</a> | <a href="../../search.htm" target="index">Search</a> | <a href="http://aaaim.com/echo/websites.htm" target="index">Help</a> | <a href="http://aaaim.com/echo/_private/subscribe.htm" taget="index">Subscribe</a> | <a href="http://aaaim.com/echo/_private/comment.htm" target="index">Comment</a> | <a href="../websites.htm" target="index">Websites</a> ]</p> <p align="center"><font size="1">Send email to <a href="mailto:Echowebmaster@aaaim.com">Echowebmaster@aaaim.com</a> to report any problems.<br> Last modified: July 10, 1997 </font></p> <p align="center"><font size="2">No part of this paper may be reproduced in any form without written permission from:<strong> Jake Brouwer<br> </strong>All articles and photos were provided by:<br> <strong>Land-Sea Discovery Group<br> </strong>Copyright © 1997</font><font size="1"> </font></p> </body>