Articles

This fantasy view of the railway route shows it proceeding from Garvanza, the nearest rail head, to its terminus in the center distance in the farming hamlet of Eagle Rock. The road from center left through a nonexistent pass toward Pasadena was never built. The lake and farmhouse in the lower left belonged to Andrew Glassell as did the land depicted in the lower portion of the illustration. The lake and stream complicated the path to Los Angeles on the route which would later become Eagle Rock Boulevard. (Vintage Advertisement-Huntington Library)

This topographical map shows more clearly the intent of the proposed transportation improvements. The Boulevard Tract was platted with the intent to extend the development boom West into the large tract of land purchased by Andrew Glassell in 1871 at the grand partition of the Rancho San Raphael. The boom seems to have busted before many of the lots were sold. Much of this area was incorporated into Los Angeles with the Occidental Addition in 1916. (Vintage advertisement-Huntington Library)

This photograph was taken on opening day, December 13, 1913 by Pasadena photographer Frank P. Blodgett. It appeared on a promotional calendar fir 1914 which he produced. (Photo by Frank P. Blodgett , ERVHS)

The car heads south at El Paso drive. (Alan Weeks photograph)

Stopped at the end of the line at Townsend Avenue. The building to the right is the Murfield Block. Now the home of Tritch Hardware. (Alan Weeks photograph)

This view from the front door of the streetcar looking west from Caspar shows the tiny passenger loading area in the middle of Colorado. (Southern California Railway Museum, Lane Collection)

Stopped at Addison Way. The building at left is the Eagle Rock Presbyterian Church, which was badly damaged in the 1972 earthquake and subsequently torn down. (Southern California Railway Museum, Jeff Paul photograph)

Stopped at Westdale. The boulevard narrows at this point as we pass into the area of Eagle Rock City. The buildings to the left and right still stand. (Southern California Railway Museum, Ray Younghans photograph)

The streetcar is stopped at York Boulevard in the postwar 1940’s. To the right are the Occidental Presbyterian Church and a gas station. This seems to be a peak period for gas stations in Eagle Rock. Note that the absence of cars in this and many of the succeeding photographs is mostly due to the photographers, who were fail fans, efforts to document the line. Car traffic was increasing and would continue to do so. (Southern California Railway Museum)

The Conductor and Motorman pose at an unknown stop in 1915. Note the Occidental College destination sign. The area around the dirt boulevard seems quite undeveloped. (ERVHS)