altadenablog

RIP Zane Grey

The iconic Western novelist and outdoorsman died this day in 1939 at his home in Altadena (practicing his fly fishing cast, as we hear it).

A Walk Through Time at Mountain View Cemetery Nov. 1-2

The Pasadena Museum of History will present "A Walk Through Time - Shadows of Blue and Gray: California Stories of the Civil War" at Mountain View Cemetery, 2400 Fair Oaks Ave., Altadena,  on Sat. and Sun., Nov. 1-2.  

Actors will present the personal stories of Civil War-era personalities now interred in Southern California graveyards, including T.S.C. Lowe, aeronaut, inventor, and entrepreneur; Biddy Mason, a slave who was freed in the California courts, becoming one of the wealthiest women in LA County; Ruth Brown Thompson, daughter of John Brown; and others. 

Tickets for members of Pasadena Heritage $20, non-members $25.   Advance ticket purchase required due to limited seating and sold-out performances.  Purchase tickets online at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/43149, or by phone at 1.800.838.3006.

For more information, see www.pasadenahistory.org

(Sponsorship corrected 10/26)

Mt. Lowe Railway talk at Community Center, Oct. 20, 7:30 PM

Michael Patris, author of Mount Lowe Railway, will present a slide show and talk about the history of Altadena's famous "railway to the clouds." Built by Civil War balloonist Thaddeus S. C. Lowe and opened with great fanfare on July 4, 1893, the Mount Lowe Incline Railway was hailed as "Earth's Grandest Mountain Ride." 

This event is jointly sponsored by the Altadena Historical Society and the Friends of the Altadena Library.  Although many have paid to hear this enthralling program, the presentation will be free to all.  Please note that in order to accommodate an expected large audience, the presentation will take place at the Altadena Community Center located at 730 East Altadena Drive.

Funiculì Funiculà

SDA Movers has a blog page where they look at varieties of rail transport, and they include funiculars -- particularly the Mt. Lowe Railway (no pictures we can find on their site, altho' they say they're there).

Of particular interest is that the song "Funiculi Funicula" was about the funicular on Mt. Vesuvius.  As is the case with most funiculars, it came to a bad end.

Memorial for 1993 firefighters

Via the Contra Costa Times, a memorial will be held this afternoon for two LA County firefighters who died 15 years ago today, battling a brushfire near Altadena.  The ceremony for Christopher Herman and Arthur Ruezga will be held at Fire Camp 2, 4810 N. Oak Grove Drive.

Fishing for an unusual antique?

This just came up on the auction block - some of Zane Grey's fishing tackle:

Zane Grey owned Ashaway Special BOATMENS’ Cuttyhunk line box

Coming from Zane Grey’s home in Altadena, CA is this Ashaway Special Boatmen’s Cuttyhunk, hand laid, twisted linen line box. The empty box measures 5 3/8″x 8″x 1 5/8″ and once held 6/12 dozen, 50yd., 45lb wet tested line.

This item came directly from Zane Grey’s home in Altadena, California, and was part of his personal fishing tackle.

The item was purchased from the Lang’s sale in November of 2007 as part of the Brock-Tinglum collection of Zane Grey fishing items.

“For years it had been rumored the 1967 fire had engulfed many of these important articles, which can now be proven false by the presence of this collection. The wish of Brock and Tinglum, who have preserved these important items with care for many years, is to pass each rare object to others who share their enthusiasm for the man that so many, 68 years after his death, are still infatuated with” ~ Lang’s, November 2007

Interested?  Place a bid at OldReel.Net!

Writers of the purple page

The Nevada state archivist sets the record straight about Butch Cassidy, the Robber's Roost, and Altadena's Zane Grey.

Owen Brown's body ...

... is the subject of this little history lesson by the Real Zajac on Foothill Cities Blog.   Lavishly illustrated for a blog post!