Echo Mtn. Echoes Summer 1998, a magazine of Southern California history in general and Thaddeus Lowe and his mountain railway in particular

<body bgcolor="#FEFEEB" text="#000000" link="#0000FF" vlink="#800080" alink="#FF0000"> <p align="center"><img src="../../echo.jpg" alt="Thaddeus, Lowe, balloon, balloonist, Enterprise, Civil, War, Abraham, Lincoln, Zeppelin, Intrepid, Pancho, Barnes, Florence, Lowe, Powder, Puff, Derby, Mystery, Ship, owl, hummingbird, pecker, wood, Angeles, Crest" border="1" width="204" height="82"></p> <hr size="5" noshade> <p align="center"><font color="#008000" size="6" face="Artistik, FormalScrp421 BT"><strong>Observations From Above</strong></font> </p> <p align="center"><font size="3">By Jake Brouwer</font></p> <div align="right"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5" align="right"> <tr> <font size="3"><td align="center"><img src="v3n2intrepidengraving.jpg" border="1" WIDTH="180" HEIGHT="234"></font></td> </tr> </table> </div><font size="2"><p></font><font size="3" face="Arial">Professor Lowe was a <a href="http://www.euronet.nl/users/jdewilde/index.html" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.euronet.nl/users/jdewilde/index.html")">balloonist</a> and much more. He was an individual of insight with an eye for the future. On the morning of April 20, 1861, seven days after the surrender of Fort Sumter, Thaddeus Lowe was preparing his balloon the <a href="http://www.navy.mil/homepages/cvn65/oldships.htm" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.navy.mil/homepages/cvn65/oldships.htm")">Enterprise</a></font><font size="3"><font face="Arial"> for an experimental flight. This flight would prove that although the winds were blowing to the West he could rise above them and use the upper air currents to maneuver his balloon to the East. In proving this experiment he would be able to raise funds and support for a Trans-Atlantic flight. </font></p> <p><font face="Arial">Before take off, a reporter from the Cincinnati Daily Commercial pleaded with Lowe to take with him copies of his newspaper. This would prove from where the Professor had left on his enterprising flight that day and accounts of the event. Lowe accepted and stuffed them into the depths of the balloon's basket. Lowe who had attended an evening party earlier that evening was still dressed in evening attire complete with his black top hat. The winds were proper and he had to leave right then to demonstrate his case. The balloon climbed to the Northwest and then gradually as it hit the upper air currents, it turned to the East. Telegraph reports from Lexington, Kentucky confirmed that the balloon was indeed headed swiftly to the East. </font></p> <p><font face="Arial">The air stream took him to heights of up to four miles and still propelling in an easterly direction. Once over the Alleghenies the balloon dropped a mile a minute and before long he was able to hear the roar of cannon coming from below. He was unaware that they belonged to Virginians celebrating their succession from the Union. When he reached an area where things had quieted down, Lowe ventured a decent to the earth below. He calculated that he was somewhere in South Carolina. He had traveled 800 miles in 9 hours. For the times this was an amazing accomplishment. </font></p> <p><font face="Arial">Once upon the ground he was greeted by farmers from the surrounding communities carrying shot guns instead of pitchforks. "Shoot the Yankee!" Was the greeting he received. They thought he was a </font></font><font size="3" face="Arial"><a href="http://carlisle-www.army.mil/usamhi/RefBibs/intell/civwar.htm" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://carlisle-www.army.mil/usamhi/RefBibs/intell/civwar.htm")">Union spy</a></font><font size="3"><font face="Arial"> as he disembarked from the basket in his evening coat. </font></p> <p><font face="Arial">The farmers loaded him, his balloon, and apparatus into a wagon and left for Unionville, South Carolina. There he was herded in with "Yankee abolitionists" being held in a hotel. The landlord of the hotel recognized Professor Lowe from a previous balloon accession and was quite aware of his scientific experiments. Together they attempted to persuade the Confederate soldiers that Lowe was not a spy. Lowe remembered the Cincinnati newspapers describing the flight stashed in the bottom of his basket. This firmed up his innocence and he was released. Because of this ordeal he was considered one of the earliest prisoners of war. The locals then treated him with a great deal more respect. Not as much as he probably deserved but then after all he was a Yankee. After a slight bit of fanfare Lowe was hustled onto a train and 5 days later he arrived in Cincinnati. He traveled the same distance a few days earlier in only 9 hours.</font></p> <div align="left"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="10" align="left"> <tr> <td align="center"><img src="v3n2lowegenerator.jpg" border="1" WIDTH="350" HEIGHT="244"></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="350" align="right" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><p align="center"></font><font face="Verdana" color="#008000" size="1"><strong>Professor Lowe invented a portable gas generator allowing balloons to be filled in the field.<br> Photo from THE HISTORY OF THE CIVIL WAR, 1895</strong></font></td> </tr> </table> </div><p><font face="Arial">After this harrowing experience Professor Lowe shelved his Trans-Atlantic trip and decided to offer his aeronautical skills to the government. President </font><font size="3" face="Arial"><a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/WH/glimpse/presidents/html/al16.html" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.whitehouse.gov/WH/glimpse/presidents/html/al16.html")">Abraham Lincoln</a></font><font face="Arial"> checked Professor Lowes credentials and after being assured he was the </font><font size="3" face="Arial"><a href="http://www.thehistorynet.com/CivilWarTimes/articles/1096_text.htm" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.thehistorynet.com/CivilWarTimes/articles/1096_text.htm")">best person for the job</a></font><font face="Arial">, Lowe was brought to Washington for a demonstration. The Professor took his balloon up to a height of 500 feet and with the help of a battery to provide current he then proceeded to telegraph a message to the president using a </font><font size="3" face="Arial"><a href="http://www.soton.ac.uk/~scp93ch/refer/morseform.html" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.soton.ac.uk/~scp93ch/refer/morseform.html")">Morse</a></font><font face="Arial"> instrument. <br clear="all"> </font></p> <blockquote> <blockquote> <p><em><font face="Arial">The message read: </font></em></p> <p><em><font face="Arial">To his Excellency, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States </font></em></p> <p><em><font face="Arial">Dear Sir:</font></em></p> <p><em><font face="Arial">From this point of observation we command an extent of country nearly fifty miles in diameter. I have the pleasure of sending you this first telegram ever dispatched from an aerial station, and acknowledging indebtedness to your encouragement for the opportunity of demonstrating the availability of the service of aeronautics in the service of the country. I am, Your Excellencys obedient servant,</font></em></p> <p><em><font face="Arial">T. S. C. Lowe</font></em></p> </blockquote> </blockquote> <p><font face="Arial">This aerial transmission was another great achievement by Lowe and military leaders were quick to realize its importance. Lincoln gave Lowe a note clearing the way to start the Aeronautic Corps. </font></p> <p><font face="Arial">Lowe was encountered at first with some resistance from General Winfield Scott, "The Grand Old Man." It took a personal visit from Lincoln to get the ball rolling again. </font></p> <p><font face="Arial">The Balloon Corps, as it came to be known, fought through vast amounts of military red tape to get its job accomplished, but finally its main</font></p> <div align="right"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5" align="right"> <tr> <td align="center"><img src="v3n2ballooncamp.jpg" border="1" WIDTH="350" HEIGHT="235"></td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#FFFFFF" width="350"><p align="center"><font face="Verdana" color="#008000" size="1"><strong>Balloon preparing for a reconnaissance mission at General McDowell's headquarters.<br> Engraving from Harpers Weekly</strong></font></td> </tr> </table> </div><p><font face="Arial">objective, reconnaissance, was put to work. Lowe and his team found that they were great targets for the confederate soldiers. Carl Sandberg wrote that Lowe was "The most shot-at man in the war. </font></p> <p><font face="Arial">Lowe took draftsmen up into the balloon with him so the army engineers could make better maps. These maps would be of a great boon to relic hunters and historians as their accuracy was impeccable. Previously the maps drawn of enemy positions were greatly distorted. </font></p> <p><font face="Arial">Lowe used his own apparatus and even paid the men in his service from his own pocket in the beginning. The military shifted him from one branch to another. From the Corps of Engineers, to Quartermaster, and then to Signal Corps and back again. Finally after much pleading he received funds to build five new much-needed balloons. The largest were the Intrepid and the Union. They were 65 and 38 feet in diameter. Patriotic women were recruited to do the sewing of more than 1200 yards of India silk in making the balloons. The outlay to make each balloon was around $1000 to $1200.00.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial">On one of his early flights from Fort Corcoran Lowe describes gliding along Warrenton Turnpike to Stone Bridge. He says, "The countryside is devastated as if attacked by fire-breathing locusts." On a rise in front of him were the ruins of two farmhouses, Stone House and Henry House, both surrounded by the debris of battle. Confederate, and Federal troops had fought back and forth here across Henry Hill. Later in the war Thaddeus Lowe was also involved in spotting for artillery fire. While Confederate troops lay sleeping he directed the artillery fire that got them up and running away from Falls </font></p> <p><font face="Arial">Church. The Confederate batteries on Munsons Hill shot back at the only thing they could see which was Professor Lowes balloon. When he arrived back at the base of operations General Porter congratulated Lowe for the success of the flight's mission. Porter, pointing to a large cannon hole in the bottom of Lowes basket advised the Professor to line his balloon with a sheet of metal. It was promptly done. </font></p> <p><font face="Arial">In time Lowe came to recognize the rows of humps on distant hills as rows of tents and by counting them, Generals like Joe Hooker who went up more than once in the balloon, could calculate how many troops were in the area. Low hanging clouds on the horizon were actually clouds of dust kicked up by troop movements on the road. Judging by the appearance and size of the clouds Lowe eventually could distinguish how many men were marching, or if it was cavalry, or horses and wagons. He learned what smoke was from rifle or cannon fire, and what was trash burning compared to cooking dinner for the troops.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial">A balloon camp called Camp Lowe was established at Edwards Ferry near Harpers Ferry. Its duty was the protection of Washington on the Northwest. At one point in the camps career two confederate spies were captured that told of a $1000 gold reward and a commission was to be given to the man that destroyed a balloon.</font></p> <div align="left"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="10" align="left"> <tr> <td align="center"><img src="v3n2tsclowe.jpg" border="1" WIDTH="180" HEIGHT="222"></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="180" align="right" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><p align="center"><font face="Verdana" color="#008000" size="1"><strong>Porfessor T.S.C. Lowe at the age of 27<br> Engraving from Harpers Weekly</strong></font></td> </tr> </table> </div><p><font face="Arial">As the army made its way to the Confederate capitol at Richmond, Professor Lowe and General Stoneman got their first view of the city and it's surrounding battle trenches. They looked down on it from a hill above the Chickahominy River called Gaines Hill. Stoneman wanted it for his artillery and Lowe for his balloons. The height of the hill was a definite advantage, however the trees hid many of the rebel troops. Going aloft, Lowe and Stoneman were able to push back the rebels but more importantly noticed that it was at Mechanicsville that the Virginia Central Railroad supplied the city of Richmond. The Union troops took Mechanicsville and from their positions there they could see with telescopes into the very streets of the capitol. The balloon Intrepid played a major part in turning the attack of the Confederates at the battle of Fair Oaks later that month by relaying the positions of the troops to awaiting commanders in the field below. President Lincoln was able to follow almost the entire battle as if he were there because of the telegraph messages sent from the balloon.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial">A visitor arrived one day to observe the balloon operations and Lowe simply not having the time to deal with it turned away the young Count Ferdinand von </font><font size="3" face="Arial"><a href="http://raven.cc.ukans.edu/~kansite/ww_one/bio/xyz/zeppelin.html" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://raven.cc.ukans.edu/~kansite/ww_one/bio/xyz/zeppelin.html")">Zeppelin</a></font><font face="Arial">. It would have been his first balloon ride.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial">T. S. C. Lowe also was the first person to propel an aeronautical device from the deck of a ship while anchored in the Potomac River, therefore in essence the first aircraft carrier. </font></p> <div align="right"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5" align="right"> <tr> <td align="center"><img src="v3n2intrepid2.jpg" border="1" WIDTH="350" HEIGHT="228"></td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#FFFFFF" width="350"><p align="center"><font face="Verdana" color="#008000" size="1"><strong>Professor Lowe about to make an ascension in Virginia<br> Engraving from Harper's Weekly</strong></font></td> </tr> </table> </div><p><font face="Arial">Lowe was an undeniable presence in many battle scenes of the Civil War. His vision of aerial observations of enemy troop movements was a monumental concept that has been continued now into the space age. Satellites now have the ability to practically peek over our shoulders as we work. Professor Lowe came to Southern California after the war and had another vision. It was an incline railroad that could transport local and worldly tourists from the foothills of Altadena to the heights of Echo Mountain. On July 4th, 1893 The Mt. Lowe Railroad officially took its first passengers up the 62% grade incline to Echo Mountain. Hotels, a zoo, and an observatory greeted the tourists at various stages of development. Later the Professor built an Alpine Division of the railroad that wound around the mountain up to another resort at nearly 5000 feet, known as the Alpine Tavern. This area had tennis courts, a fox farm, its own newspaper, and a </font><font size="3" face="Arial"><a href="http://www.minigolf.com/pubs.cfm" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.minigolf.com/pubs.cfm")">miniature golf course</a></font><font face="Arial">. The views of the valley below were spectacular. From a spot that became known as Inspiration Point a visitor could see as far away as Catalina Island. </font></p> <p><font face="Arial">The millions of visitors that came to its lofty heights from 1893 until it was shut down completely in 1937 witnessed the vision of Thaddeus Lowe. It was the </font><font size="3" face="Arial"><a href="http://www.disney.com/Disneyland/index.html" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.disney.com/Disneyland/index.html")">Disneyland</a></font><font face="Arial"> of its time bringing </font></p> <p><font face="Arial">city folk and flatlanders into the wilds of the San Gabriel Mountains. The Pacific Electric Railroad eventually bought the entire complex and brought fares down to a price that millions more could afford. It was a world class attraction.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial">Unfortunately this area now known for its high winds and fires was destroyed piece by piece. The wind storms literally blew away what fires did not burn. Today the foundations of the buildings still remain. It is a ghost town, if you will, overlooking the sprawling metropolis of Los Angeles.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial">Whether from a balloon or from the peaks of a mountain top Thaddeus Lowe sought to reach up to the clouds. It was his goal to improve his and others' powers of observation of the things around us. His observations of the enemy in the Civil War were invaluable. Also the sights he saw from the top of Mt. Lowe were so astonishing he had to share them with the rest of the earth, thereby opening his Mt. Lowe Railroad. </font></p> <hr> <p align="center"><font color="#008000" size="6" face="Artistik, FormalScrp421 BT"><strong>Collector's Corner</strong></font></p> <font SIZE="2"><p ALIGN="center"></font><font size="3"><font face="Arial">By <br> Jake Brouwer</font></p> <p><font face="Arial">In this issue weve delved into Thaddeus Lowe's Civil War ballooning exploits, which in many parts of the country is his only known claim to fame. The <a href="http://www.civil-war.net" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.civil-war.net")">Civil War</a> is a fascinating part of our American History and Lowe played an amazing part in it. </font></p> <p><font face="Arial">For a Lowe collector this is an area that often produces items out of the average persons pocket range of affordability. There are however items that are affordable and will add nicely to your collection.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial">There are three books that I know of you can purchase at rare bookstores, ABE internet service, and some times at railroad shows. </font></p> <div align="left"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="10" align="left"> <tr> <td align="center"><img src="v3n2lowebook1.jpg" border="1" WIDTH="180" HEIGHT="268"></td> </tr> </table> </div><p><font face="Arial"><strong><em>Thaddeus Lowe Americas One-Man Air Corps</em></strong>, By Mary Hoehling was published by Kingston House in 1958. This book typically sells in rare bookstores for $15  35.00 depending on condition. However, if you keep a watchful eye out on the Internet you can pick up a good reading copy of this book for around $10.00.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial"><strong><em>Thaddeus Lowe Uncle Sams First Airman</em></strong>, By Lydel Sims was published by G. P. Putnams Sons in 1964. This book of Lowes exploits is not as well known and In six years Ive only seen the one copy I bought for myself. The edition I purchased was minus a dust jacket and was a library book at one time devaluing it a great deal. I paid $12.00 for this one after shipping. This book should sell in the $10. 18.00 range.</font></p> <div align="right"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="10" align="right"> <tr> <td align="center"><img src="v3n2lowebook2.jpg" border="1" WIDTH="180" HEIGHT="270"></td> </tr> </table> </div><p><font face="Arial"><strong><em>Above the Civil War, the story of Thaddeus Lowe Balloonist, Inventor, Railway Builder</em></strong>, By Eugene B. Block. This Lowe book was published by Howell  North Books in 1966. This is the best of the three presenting the subject matter in a more mature fashion and offering a great deal of photos. I highly recommend this book if you can find it at a reasonable price. I have bought three copies, the best of which I kept for myself. I paid $25, $27, and $32.00 and from what Ive seen lately they were cheap. I was recently offered a copy at $75.00!</font></p> <p><font face="Arial">Old Harpers Magazines of the Civil War era carry beautiful engravings depicting Lowes service to the war. At a recent antique swap meet, I picked up an interesting old paper cover book called A History of the Civil War, by Benson J. Lossing and illustrated with Brady War Photographs. It had a 1895 copyright on lower part of the front cover and it was $5.00. I bought it as it was and looked at it later and to my surprise were three pictures of Lowes balloons and gas making devises. </font></p> <div align="left"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="10" align="left"> <tr> <td align="center"><img src="v3n2model.jpg" border="1" WIDTH="180" HEIGHT="221"></td> </tr> </table> </div><p><font face="Arial">How about stamps? Did you know there was a stamp of the Intrepid that was a block of four ballooning stamps? These are relatively inexpensive. There was also a </font></font><font face="Arial" size="3"><a href="http://www.expage.com/page/aerogrammer13" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.expage.com/page/aerogrammer13")">Thaddeus Lowe Aerogramme</a></font><font size="3"><font face="Arial"> issued in 1995 that some post offices still have and it sells for fifty cents!</font></p> <p><font face="Arial">AMT Models came out with a model #T571, INTREPID CIVIL WAR BALLOON, AERIAL RECONNAISSANCE PIONEER. Im not sure what these go for as the only one Ive seen was a present to me from a good friend. I have check on the internet and there are people who run into them from time to time.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial">Other items to whet your appetite are signed documents, balloon anchors, riding crops, Lowes sword and how about a coin issued in 1971 by Jefferson, New Hampshire for their 175<sup>th</sup> Anniversary depicting on one side their hometown hero Thaddeus Lowe ballooning above a Civil War scene.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial">New items pop up every week from out attics and closets so keep your eyes open.</font></font></p> <hr width="85%"> <p align="center"><font color="#008080" size="6" face="Technical, Book Antiqua"><strong>Pancho Barnes</strong></font></p> <font SIZE="2"><p ALIGN="CENTER"></font><font size="3"><font face="Arial">By<br> Barbara Hunter Schultz</font></p> <div align="left"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="10" align="left"> <tr> <td align="center"><img src="v3n2poster.jpg" border="1" WIDTH="180" HEIGHT="295"></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="180" align="right" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><p align="center"></font><font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000"><strong>Pancho did stunt flying in Dawn Patrol</strong></font></td> </tr> </table> </div><p><font face="Arial">From time to time, the human race produces unique, one-of-a-kind characters who become our heroes, mentors, celebrities, and geniuses. Pancho Barnes played all the roles with her own brand of conformity. She possessed an extraordinary zest for life, an unquenchable thirst for adventure, and a profound curiosity of the unknown. Although she involved herself in a diverse mixture of careers and interests, she gained the most notoriety for her accomplishments and exploits in aviation  the avocation to which she dedicated her life. It was there among the flyers, that she found a family. </font></p> <p><font face="Arial">Born in 1901 in Pasadena, California, Pancho inherited wealth, status, and privilege. Her paternal grandfather was Professor Thaddeus Lowe who volunteered the use of his air balloons to President Lincoln during the Civil War. </font></p> <p><font face="Arial">Most of Pancho's youth was spent on horseback in the company of her father or grandfather. The professor took his favorite granddaughter to every aviation event in Southern California and inspired her with dreams of flight. Mr. Lowe taught Pancho all there was to know about animals.</font></p> <div align="right"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5" align="right"> <tr> <td align="center"><img src="v3n2panchochi.jpg" border="1" WIDTH="350" HEIGHT="237"></td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#FFFFFF" width="317"><p align="center"><font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000"><strong>Pancho and her little chiuahua ready for the Transcontinental Derby<br> William E. Barnes Collection</strong></font></td> </tr> </table> </div><p><font face="Arial">Two years after graduating from Bishops School in La Jolla, California, Pancho entered into an arranged marriage with Reverend Rankin Barnes. The handsome clergyman reminded her of the romantic movie idols she often watched during Saturday afternoon matinees. It was not a match made in heaven, however. Rankins salary was meager and his nature sterile and antiseptic. Pancho made an honest attempt at being a good wife for three years. In 1924 she gave up her arduous task.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial">Pancho found numerous jobs in the film industry, from electrician to stunt rider. Her salary enabled her to hire a nurse for her son, Bill. This, in turn, freed her to travel. On one Mexican adventure, she acquired her </font><font size="3" face="Arial"><a href="http://homepages.together.net/~donutrun/quix.htm" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://homepages.together.net/~donutrun/quix.htm")">nickname</a>. In 1927, Pancho remodeled her <a href="http://www.ci.san-marino.ca.us" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.ci.san-marino.ca.us")">San Marino</a> home and began a tradition of lavish parties for her society, movie, and aviation friends. One year later, Pancho took up flying. She formed the Pancho Barnes Circus of the <a href="http://www.pig.net/~stearman/airshow/racing.html" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.pig.net/~stearman/airshow/racing.html")">Air</a>, giving Sunday afternoon performances at the many fields that dotted the Los Angeles Basin. She entered the first <a href="http://www.ultranet.com/~rhickok/powdpuff.shtml" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.ultranet.com/~rhickok/powdpuff.shtml")">Powder Puff Derby</a></font><font size="3"><font face="Arial"> I August 1929. Soon after she became the first woman to fly into the interior of Mexico and set several womans speed records. </font></p> <div align="left"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="10" align="left"> <tr> <td align="center"><img src="v3n2panchoplane.jpg" border="1" WIDTH="350" HEIGHT="270"></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="350" align="right" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><p align="center"></font><font face="Verdana" size="1" color="#000000"><strong>Pancho Barnes poses with her Travel Air Mystery ship</strong></font></td> </tr> </table> </div><p><font face="Arial">In 1934, </font><font size="3" face="Arial"><a href="http://hersalon.com/herstory/pancho/pancho.htm" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://hersalon.com/herstory/pancho/pancho.htm")">Pancho</a></font><font face="Arial"> traded an apartment building in Hollywood for a ranch near what is now </font><font size="3" face="Arial"><a href="http://www.edwards.af.mil/" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.edwards.af.mil/")">Edwards Airforce Base</a></font><font face="Arial">. She grew alfalfa, raised goats, cows, and hogs, and provided rest and recreation for the Army Air Corps. She supplied instructors and planes for the Civilian Pilot Training Program in 1940. </font></p> <p><font face="Arial">During World War II, Panchos ranch and restaurant saw a steady clientele. Its location, glamorous hostesses, and outrageous owner were responsible. To make her business more exclusive, she called it the Happy Bottom riding Club and passed out membership cards. Scandalous rumors of a brothel began to spread as a result of the scintillating name. Pancho denied innuendoes that she was a madam, stating that whatever the girls did on their on time was their own business.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial">Edwards Air Force Base initiated an expansion program in 1951. Their plans included a 10 mile runway to accommodate supersonic aircraft and Panchos club lay right in its path. She knew her business was doomed but gave the government a fight they would never forget. She sued them and won almost $400,000 in an inverse condemnation proceeding. The government took possession of her property.</font></p> <div align="right"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5" align="right"> <tr> <td align="center"><a href="http://aaaim.com/echo/Market.htm" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://aaaim.com/echo/Market.htm")"><img src="../v2n4/v2n4panchobook.jpg" border="0" WIDTH="256" HEIGHT="407"></a></td> </tr> </table> </div><p><font face="Arial">Pancho relocated some 30 miles to the north in Cantil. She intended to open another club but the location, timing, and money were not adequate. For nearly a decade, the former aviatrix lived in a state of near poverty, survived life-threatening illnesses, and went through a nasty divorce from her last husband. In 1968, her son Bill purchased her </font><font size="3" face="Arial"><a href="http://biz.onramp.net/~tekmate/hangars/hangar01.htm" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://biz.onramp.net/~tekmate/hangars/hangar01.html")">Mystery Ship</a></font><font face="Arial"> at an aircraft auction. This one single event inspired Pancho to take flying lessons and renew her friendships with her aviation friends. Further, everyone wanted to meet the aging speed queen. There were rounds of parties, recognition, and awards. When Pancho died of heart failure in 1975, her life had come full circle.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial">The author of this article, Barbara Hunter Schultz, is also the author of the book titled </font><em><font size="3" face="Arial"><a href="http://aaaim.com/echo/Market.htm" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://aaaim.com/echo/Market.htm")">Pancho, The Birography of Florence Lowe Barnes</a></font></em><font face="Arial">. It was published by Little Buttes Publishing Company in 1996.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial">When I read this book I must say I was quite moved by the story of Pancho Barnes and her adventures in life. Barbara has written a wonderful book which not only tells of Pancho's life but early aviation in the United States. I recommend it to everyone.<br clear="all"> </font></p> <hr width="85%"> </SCRIPT> <div align="center"><center><table border="1" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td align="center" width="100%" bgcolor="#808000"><font color="#FFFF00" size="7" face="Artistik, FormalScrp421 BT"><strong>Flora and Fauna</strong></font></td> </tr> </table> </center></div><p align="center"><font color="#FF0000" size="5" face="Impact, Arial Black"><strong>They Live in the Sky and the Tops of Trees<br> </strong></font><font size="3">By</font><b> </b><a href="http://home.earthlink.net/~nyerges/" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://home.earthlink.net/~nyerges/")"><font size="3">Christopher Nyerges</font></a></p> <font size="3"><p><img src="v3n2owl.jpg" alt="v3n2owl.jpg (20930 bytes)" align="left" hspace="10" vspace="10" WIDTH="180" HEIGHT="364"><font face="Arial">Bird watching is a popular activity for many reasons. We are attracted to the creatures of the sky because of their beauty, their diversity of song, and their unique characteristics.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial">Wandering out into the Angeles National Forest to identify birds is a real adventure and sometimes a detective hunt. Rarely does the bird come to you and sit idly by while you attempt to identify it by thumbing through the pages of your field manual.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial">Maybe you only hear the song, or perhaps you've found a feather or a nest. The bird detective uses all these clues, including location and season, to determine which birds are in the area.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial">Many common birds are easily spotted since we already know them from our urban areas around parks and in backyards.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial">Mockingbirds, house sparrows, blue jays, crows, black birds, and pigeons are ubiquitous and are frequently regarded as pests, not friends. Pigeons have been dubbed "rats with wings" due to their pervasiveness and likelihood of spreading disease.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial">There are other birds -- though not as populous -- which are wonderful to encounter. </font></font><font size="3" face="Arial"><a href="http://hummingbird.org" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://hummingbird.org")">Hummingbirds</a></font><font size="3"><font face="Arial"> are easy to attract at home with inexpensive hummingbird feeders. Daily I hear their electric hum outside</font></p> <p><font face="Arial">my kitchen window as they sip the red nectar I put out for them or the flowers from the vines my wife has planted. I've seen hummingbirds attracted to the feeders put out at many of the cabins scattered throughout</font></p> <p><font face="Arial">the forest. They are also attracted to the tubular yellow flowers of the tree tobacco, which is why I like the plant. </font></p> <p><img src="v3n2humming.jpg" alt="v3n2owl.jpg (20930 bytes)" align="right" hspace="10" vspace="10" WIDTH="180" HEIGHT="129"><font face="Arial">Horned owls are somewhat common. We may not see them, but we can often hear their familiar "hoo, hoo" in the forest at night. I recall camping out one night in the Arroyo Seco. We were sitting around the fire, talking about the meaning of life, and watching the fire. The tall trees surrounding our campsite danced with the orange of the flames and we felt as if we were in a special sanctuary. Then the owls began. They had completely surrounded our camp, for we heard their hoots from all directions. I always watch with awe as they glide off, enormous wings outstretched.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial">American Indians regarded the owls with superstition and awe, as do both Polynesians and Melanesians in their folklore. Owls are regarded as protectors, and providers of omens.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial">Red-tailed hawks are frequently seen in the Angeles National Forest, as well as certain areas throughout Southern California. I have noted a pair that flies over my Highland Park home. On one Saturday, my wife and I watched in amazement as seven red-tailed hawks casually glided overhead. It was unusual to see that many at one time, especially in the city. </font></p> <p><img src="v3n2pecker.jpg" align="left" hspace="10" vspace="10" alt="v3n2pecker.jpg (16308 bytes)" WIDTH="180" HEIGHT="278"><font face="Arial">I frequently see and hear </font></font><font size="3" face="Arial"><a href="http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/1406" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.geocities.com/Broadway/1406")">woodpeckers</a></font><font size="3"><font face="Arial"> in the forest, which are easy to identify by the staccato of their pecking. I like hearing the woodpeckers, not just because the sound of their picking out insects below the surface of the bark is somehow "rustic." Their sound is a reassuring reminder that there is still wildlife around. The first time I ever heard a woodpecker was while camping at Spruce Grove in the Angeles National Forest. The pecking of the woodpecker echoed so loud in the canyon that it woke me up. I actually believed there was a construction crew nearby!</font></p> <p><font face="Arial">I've only seen eagles on a few occasions. One such occasion seemed most portentous. I was hiking with a class in the upper Arroyo Seco on Pasadena's west side. A jogger coming from the other direction told us to look across the stream. "Look on the log!" he told us excitedly. "Look at the eagle with the rattlesnake in its mouth" and he ran off.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial">Sure enough, it was an eagle, though the snake seemed to be a gopher snake. We couldn't tell for sure because of the distance. Then the big bird quickly flew away as we watched. Our group was dumbfounded for a few moments. Just an hour earlier, one of our party had told us about Montezuma's dream. In the dream, he was told to settle a city when he saw the symbol of the eagle with a snake in its mouth. Montezuma continued his journey, and he saw an eagle with a snake in its mouth in a swampy land. </font></p> <p><font face="Arial">That swamp land became Mexico City. An eagle and snake are now found on all of Mexico's currency.</font></p> <p><font face="Arial">So where can one go on a bird walk with an expert?</font></p> <p></font><font size="3" face="Arial"><a href="http://www.audubon.org" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.audubon.org")">Audobon Society</a> regularly conducts bird walks in many locations. Check your local phone book. Bird walks are regularly conducted at Descanso Gardens, 1418 Descanso Drive in La Canada. Call (818) 790-5571 for times of bird walks. There are also regular bird walks at the L.A. County Arboretum, 301 N. Baldwin Ave. in Arcadia. Call (818) 446-8251 for the schedule</font></p> <hr width="85%"> <blockquote> <p><font SIZE="2"><em><strong>Nyerges is a nautralist who has conducted field trips since 1974. A newsletter of his classes is available from School of Self-Feliance, Box 41834, Eagle Rock, CA 90041, or online at <a href="http://home.earthlink.net/~nyerges.htm" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://home.earthlink.net/~nyerges.htm")">home.earthlink.net/~nyerges</a>. His book, Guide to Wild Foods, is available in the Echo Mountain Echoes' <a href="http://www.aaaim.com/echo/Market.htm" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.aaaim.com/echo/Mountain.htm")">Mountain Marketplace</a>, at Vroman's bookstore in Pasadena, and at all Sport Chalet stores. </strong></em></font></p> </blockquote> <hr width="85%"> </SCRIPT> <div align="center"><center><table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" background="../garysmap.jpg"> <tr> <td width="100%"><p align="center"><br> <strong><font color="#0000FF" size="7" face="Griffon, Playbill, Algerian">Hiking Mt. Lowe Trails</font><font color="#C0C0C0" size="1" face="Griffon, Playbill, Algerian">.</font></strong></td> </tr> </table> </center></div><p align="center"><font color="#800040" size="5" face="Impact, Arial Black">To the Top of Mt. Lowe<br> the Easy Way<br> </font><font size="3">By Jake Brouwer</font></p> <font size="3"><p><img src="v3n2tunnel.jpg" border="1" align="right" hspace="10" vspace="10" WIDTH="180" HEIGHT="124"><font face="Arial">Im sad to say it but if you have a schedule like mine the only way to the top of Mt. Lowe is the easy way. Getting up early on a Sunday morning my son-in-law Jesse and I drove up beautiful </font></font><font size="3" face="Arial"><a href="http://www.csulb.edu/~persepha/ACH.html" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://www.csulb.edu/~persepha/ACH.html")">Angeles Crest Highway</a> to the Ranger station at Red Box. We turned in here and admired the view before we drove on to Eaton Saddle, which is the first spot on the road you can look to the south over the San Gabriel Valley. We parked near the Mt. Lowe fire road gate being careful not to block it in any way. As we walked the road in a slight gradual climb off our left was the sprawling <a href="http://members.aol.com/EatonCyn" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://members.aol.com/EatonCyn")">Eaton</a></font><font size="3"><font face="Arial"> Canyon. Soon we were rounding the south face of San Gabriel Peak and entering Mueller Tunnel. Before entering the tunnel I told Jesse that a few months ago at a slide show, John Robinson told of his hair raising venture across what was then called the old Cliff Trail. Jesse asked where it was and nearly died when I showed him the trail along the sheer rock face in front of us. "No way." He yelled. "Not for us, thats for sure." I said. </font></p> <p><img src="v3n2sign.jpg" border="1" align="left" hspace="10" vspace="10" WIDTH="180" HEIGHT="70"><font face="Arial">Continuing on to the saddle between Mt. Markham and San Gabriel Peak we were soon passed by a trio of mountain bikers on the long trip down to Pasadena. Just past the saddle a well-marked trail led us up across the southwest slope of Mt. Markham on finally to another saddle which turned out to be Markham and Mt. Lowe. From here we traveled around the east side of Mt. Lowe. When we were last there the trail was in good shape and well marked. </font></p> <p><img src="v3n2mtlowe.jpg" border="1" align="right" hspace="10" vspace="10" WIDTH="180" HEIGHT="126"><font face="Arial">Jesse spotted an old sign in an oak that the tree had grown around. We could make out that it said "TO MT. LOWE." There was an arrow and a what looked like the distance in miles but we could not read the rusted sign that well. Thanks to this old oak this is one of the few remaining signs along the Mt. Lowe Railway. </font></p> <p><font face="Arial">Once on the top we were greeted by cool breezes and spectacular views. This was a three mile roundtrip. The easy way to Mt. Lowe. </font></p> <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY">For more information concerning Mt. Lowe trails consult <a href="http://aaaim.com/echo/Market.htm" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://aaaim.com/echo/Market.htm")">Trails of the Angeles by Robinson</a> and <a href="http://aaaim.com/echo/Market.htm" target="UrlWindow" onclick="UrlWindowOpener("http://aaaim.com/echo/Market.htm")">Hiking Guide to Historic Mt. Lowe by Rippens</a>.</p> </font><hr> <p align="center"><font color="#008080" size="6" face="Courier New, Courier"><strong>News of our readers</strong></font></p> <p><font size="3"><img src="../v2n1/newsof.jpg" alt="Mt. Lowe Post Office" align="left" border="1" hspace="15" vspace="5" WIDTH="276" HEIGHT="417">On April 15<sup>th</sup> 1998 a group from <b>Randolph, New Hampshire</b>, arrived in southern California for the express purpose of finding out more about their relative <b>Thaddeus Lowes</b> adventures on the West Coast. The group consisted of <b>Gordon Alan Lowe, Joyce Lowe Chaffee</b>, <b>Mark Santos</b> and a friend <b>Owen</b>. I had been in contact with Alan Lowe and Mark Santos, his son-in-law over the Internet after they had found the <i><b>Echo Mtn. Echoes</b></i> site. Gordon Alan Lowe is the great grandson of Thaddeus Lowes brother <b>Charles Lowe</b> who will be the subject of an article in our next issue.</font></p> <div align="right"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5" align="right"> <tr> <font size="3"><td align="center"><img src="v3n2lowefam.jpg" border="1" WIDTH="350" HEIGHT="240"></font></td> </tr> <tr> <font size="3"><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF" width="321"><p align="center"></font><font face="Verdana" color="#008080" size="1"><strong>Mark Santos, Joyce Lowe Chaffeee & G. Alan Lowe.</strong></font><font size="3"></font></td> </tr> </table> </div><p><font size="3">On the 19<sup>th</sup> we met the group at the <b>Great Western Bank</b> in Altadena to tour the Scenic Mt. Lowe Railway. Friend and writer <b>Paul Rippens</b> accompanied us on the trip and was a great source of information for the many questions that came up as we traveled nearly the entire route. We started at <b>MacPherson Parkway</b> and then headed on up the fire road. At Cape of Good Hope we parked the vehicle and hiked into Echo Mountain where a pleasant couple of hours were spent exploring and having a leisurely lunch. Afterwards we drove up to the Dawn Station still under construction and then on to Alpine Tavern, the Fox Farm and finally Inspiration Point. Oh yes we also posed for pictures at Granite Gate. A great time was had by all. </font></p> <div align="left"><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5" align="left"> <tr> <font size="3"><b><td align="center"><img src="v3n2patris.jpg" border="1" WIDTH="180" HEIGHT="272"></b></font></td> </tr> <tr> <b><font size="3"><td width="270" align="right" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><p align="center"></font><font face="Verdana" color="#008080" size="1"><strong>Collector Michael Patris.</strong></font><font size="3"></font></b></td> </tr> </table> </div><font size="3"><p>May was a hectic month for me, five family birthdays, Mothers Day and, my twenty-forth anniversary. In between all these events the <b>Scenic Mt. Lowe Railway Historical Committee</b> and forest service volunteers attempted more than once to finish the station at Dawn but rain seemed to be ever present. Finally on May 30<sup>th</sup> we finished the roof and were able to stand back and see our finished work. A great photograph was taken by subscriber and photographer <b>Herb Shoebridge</b> which will grace our cover issue in the fall. I hope to put together a photo essay of our progress and present it to the Altadena Historical society for all to view. </p> <p>In June <b>Micheal Patris</b> spoke on collecting Mt. Lowe at the Collectors Convention and has graciously accepted to host Land-Sea Discovery Groups slide show presentation on July 27<sup>th</sup>, 1998. The show will be presented by author <b>Barbara Hunter Schultz</b> and will be based on the subject of her book, <i><b>Pancho, the Autobiography of Florence Lowe Barnes.</b></i> Cake and coffee will be served and a small display of Mt. Lowe collectibles will be on display.</p> <p>The <i><b>Dogtown Territorial News Quarterly</b></i> featured articles by <b>Paul Rippens</b> on the St. Francis Dam Disaster and by SMLRHC member <b>John Harrigan</b>, a wonderful piece on the Lone Woman of Santa Cruz Island. Both were interesting article and congratulations to both writers on publishing their work.</font></p> <p align="center"><img src="v3n2dawnroof.jpg" alt="v3n2dawnroof.jpg (9163 bytes)" WIDTH="350" HEIGHT="131"></p> <hr width="85%"> <div align="center"><center><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td align="center" width="100%" bgcolor="#808080"><p align="center"><br> <img src="../v2n1/editor.jpg" border="1" WIDTH="320" HEIGHT="114"></td> </tr> </table> </center></div><font size="4" face="Lucida Bright, Brush Script MT"><strong><p>By the time this issue hits your mailbox it hopefully will be summer at last. It seems to have been a long time coming this year.</p> <p>Our issue this month will bring our readers that are not familiar with Thaddeus Lowes Civil War exploits a condensed version of this period in the life of one of Americas first airman.</p> <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Christopher Nyerges wrote a wonderful piece called <i>They Live in the Sky and the Tops of the Trees.</i></p> <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Barbara Schultz was also kind enough to write a piece for the <i>Echoes</i> bringing us a insight to Thaddeus Lowes grand-daughter, Florence Lowe Barnes, also known as Pancho Barnes. Pancho was an aviatrix whos exploits and character warrant your attention. </p> <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY">A slide show has been scheduled for July 27th. presented by Mrs. Schultz about Pancho. We have limited seating so reserve your seat now! Information is on page 6 of this issue. </p> <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Our next issue will feature the camps and trails of the surrounding area near Mt. Lowe. Hear about Camp Sierra, Switzer's, Oak Wilde, Opids and more. The great hiking era was an exciting time in southern California and what better time to explore our mountains than in our fall issue.</p> <p ALIGN="JUSTIFY">Until then enjoy the summer.</strong></font> </p> <font FACE="Brush Script MT"><p ALIGN="CENTER"><big><big><big>Jake Brouwer</big></big></big></font></p> <hr> <p align="center"><font size="2"><b><img src="../v2n2/emecvr1.jpg" border="1" hspace="5" vspace="5" WIDTH="540" HEIGHT="349"></b></font></p> <hr> </body>