[ACT] 1934 Debris Flow photos

[Paul Ayers]

My parents have now passed away and I have been clearing out the family
home.  My father had a practice of saving Los Angeles Times ("LAT") first
sections when momentous events occurred starting with the assassination of
President McKinley.  Going through them I found two, January 2, 1934 and
January 3, 1934, that reported on the 1934 Montrose Flood; I've attached a
shot of the above the fold front page of the January 3rd edition so you get
the flavor of the coverage.  The original documents I sent to Mike Lawler
for the La Crescenta Historical Society.  But before I sent them I made
copies of the major photographs accompanying the stories and have attached
them.  I sent prints to George at GPL Special Collections.  A description of
photos based both on the LAT captions and my visits to the sites are as
follows:

Pic A- is described in the LAT as "Honolulu avenue [sic] in Montrose."
Based on the mountain profiles in the background, the fact that an
intersection is depicted and that one of the major debris flows came down
just to the west of Rosemont at or near where the present flood control
channel is I think the view is looking west down Honolulu from a point just
east of Rosemont and Honolulu.

Pic B- is described in the LAT as "Looking north from Honolulu avenue [sic],
Montrose."  My sense is based on the condition of the roads, the Times'
photographer did not make it much past Rosemont by car and I would guess
this is taken looking north as the caption states in the vicinity of the
present flood control channel.   The mountain profiles support this
analysis.  I wonder if the house to far left is still there.

Pic C- is described in the LAT as "Montrose Avenue, in Montrose."  I think
this view was shot on Montrose Avenue looking east at a point between
Rosemont and Briggs.  I think you can see Holy Redeemer's spire and the
rectory house in the background.  Note man on horseback to the left.

Pic D-the LAT states the car is standing on "Montrose Avenue."  Don't know
where.

Pic E-the LAT states that drinking water was provided to flood relief
workers by donkey.

Pic F- is described in the LAT as "Living-room of home at Ethel and Mountain
avenue [sic], Glendale, after storm waters swept through house".  This house
still stands at 1470 Mountain.  I have attached a present day photo of the
house showing the arched window, the small square window and the
fireplace/chimney depicted in the LAT photo.

The house is now unlived in and in a state of disrepair.  It is looked after
by the neighbors across the street who park cars in the driveway to give
some sign of life. They related the following: The owners of the house at
the house at the time of the flood took many photos of the flood and damage
to the home; these photos are still in the house along with a great deal of
other material.  Apparently a piano that was in the house at the time of the
flood was carried 2 miles downstream from the house. The home was inherited
by a daughter who passed away in the last ten years; the house is now owned
by her husband who lives out of the area.  I asked them to ask the husband
if he would consider donating the historically significant material.  That
was two weeks ago and I haven't heard anything yet and kinda doubt that I
will.

 

 

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