Historical History-60+Years

History Before the Historical Society

The work of contemporary historians depends on those who valued and documented the past. Particularly important are those who lived that past. Much of our knowledge of early Eagle Rock is derived from these chroniclers. On the occasion of this anniversary we honor three of the most significant.

This formal portrait shows an impressive Emma Elinor Young with the Young’s adopted daughter Amber in 1906, the year they arrived in Eagle Rock. Mrs. Young was a pioneer clubwoman, historian, lecturer and authority on California History and Landmarks. For over fifty years she urged Californians to preserve their heritage. Her love of pageantry and reenactment caught the attention of many children and adults in Eagle Rock, teaching them, gently, the importance of the past. Mrs. Young was born Emma Elinor Hine on May 27, 1869, in Geneseo, Illinois and grew up on a farm there. The youngest of eight children, she went to Northwest Normal School, taught school, and participated in the kindergarten movement when it started in this country. She was the principal of Annawan School in Illinois for many years. On November 23, 1899 Emma married Charles W. Young, at Geneseo. They left Illinois and in 1906 they located in Eagle Rock. There they purchased the Ellis home, a three-story Victorian farmhouse, built in 1888. They called the house “Castle Crags”. (Louanna Clark, Emma Young Collection-ERVHS)
Cromwell Galpin, pictured here on the occasion of his election as Mayor of the City of Eagle Rock in 1914. Born in Eagle, Wisconsin in 1853 Galpin’s family moved to Appleton, where his father started a hardware business. Cromwell attended Lawrence University there. He received a Law Degree from the University of Michigan in 1875. He married Julia Wood with whom he had three children. They moved to Saginaw where he began a law practice but soon become editor of the Evening News of Saginaw. After Eagle Rock became a city in 1911, he was elected to the City Board of Trustees serving until 1922 and was the mayor of Eagle Rock from 1914 to 1916. Galpin’s articles for the Sentinel in 1913 about water supplies and farming provide insight into the farming period from the point of view of a businessman and developer. (Eagle Rock Sentinel)
A much younger contemporary of Galpin, Elena Frackelton Murdock came to Eagle Rock in 1886 at the age of six with her parents, John and Katherine Frackelton. She compiled a family album of photos with notes highlighting her memories of growing up on the family farm. While Galpin’s writings focus on the business of farming the valley, Murdock’s words show the wonder of a schoolgirl on a new adventure. Mrs. Murdock was honored in 1961 as the Grand Marshall of Eagle Rock’s 50-year “Progress Parade” celebration. Here she and her family are present in 1969 for the dedication of a plaque commemorating the former location of Eagle Rock’s oldest house which had been torn down to provide space for the new Mayfair (now Sprouts) shopping center. From left, Mrs. J. Russell Zimmerman, Alan Tingley of Mayfair Markets, Doris Burdick, Katie Burdick Heath, David Kevin Heath, Mrs. Harriette Bryson, and Elena Frackelton. (probably Joe Friezer-ERVHS)

ERVHS History Part One:

The Collection and the Museum

After the “Progress” celebration of Eagle Rock’s 50th anniversary, in 1961 at a community improvement Committee meeting at the Women’s Twentieth Century Clubhouse Mrs. Eleanor Zimmerman reported “probably the most valuable contribution that came out of effort was a request for the formation of an historical society”. The first meeting of the Eagle Rock Valley Historical Society was held at the clubhouse Wednesday October 25, 1961. Mr. Henry Welcome was elected President; Mrs. Zimmerman, Vice President; Mrs. Carl D. Basler, Secretary and Mr. Cecil Davis, Treasurer.

 

The earliest years of the society were occupied with the gathering of a wide range of materials from local sources and larger archives to document our history. When the society was presented the opportunity to establish a museum by then Councilman Arthur Snyder, our efforts focused on organizing and displaying the collection. The museum was open to the public weekly with a docent from the society to guide and entertain visitors. Ralph Sherman and later Donna Adams curated the museum and kept it open.

 

The society began publishing a newsletter quarterly in concert with meetings to discover history with local and regional speakers. A survey was made of buildings thought to be significant, and Henry and Betty Welcome wrote the earliest short history of Eagle Rock. Many short histories were compiled by Donna Adams and shared with the local library.

The most important acquisitions during that period were the complete run of the Eagle Rock advertiser, discovered above a bank vault in the former Westernlore Press offices, and the microfilm archive of the Northeast Newspapers donated to the society by the publisher, Oren Asa. These resources are still being explored today and many are available online at the California Digital Newspaper Collection.

Henry Welcome, the first president of our society, shown here browsing his extensive library in November of 1961. Welcome was an inveterate collector and historian of Eagle Rock and the Los Angeles Area. (probably Joe Friezer-Eagle Rock Sentinel)
The society’s first effort at historic preservation was, appropriately to have the Eagle Rock City Hall, the most significant remnant of Eagle Rock City, declared a Historical Cultural Monument. The declaration led to a refurbishment of the building for use as a community center. (photograph Julius Shulman, City of LA)
When Eagle Rock’s City Hall reopened in 1971, the space that now houses the 14th district council offices was devoted to the ERVHS museum. Joe Northrup, then-president is joined by Mrs. Bernice Eastman Johnston, author of the first book about the “Gabrielino” Indians, and Mrs. Catherine Basilio Gualano, charter member of the society admire Eagle Rock’s Rose Parade trophies. (probably Joe Friezer-ERVHS)
The society and community met at the picnic grounds near the Sylvan Theater in Yosemite Park for the annual potluck. The annual Ice Cream Social superseded this yearly event as a get together and celebration of the community. (probably John Miller -ERVHS)
This painting, by Jennie C. Brayton, was discovered behind Arroyo Furniture in Highland Park and restored by the society. Here it is being loaned for display in the new Eagle Rock Branch Library. From left; unknown man; Virginia Ruzica, restoration artist; Carroll Evans, financial sponsor; Ralph Sherman, past president of ERVHS; and Lois Woods, then-president unveil the painting in the community room of the library. (probably Joe Friezer -ERVHS)
The ERVHS museum in 1985. Many original photographs and artworks were displayed in an effort to educate the public about Eagle Rock’s history. As can be seen storage for the collection was scarce. The display cases in the foreground were donated to the society by the Southwest Museum. The bound newspapers were from the Glendale News Press that had been de-accessioned from the Glendale Public Library. They have since been returned there. (John Miller-ERVHS)
All of the then-past presidents of the society gather here to cut the cake at the 25th anniversary celebration. Pictured are from left, Joe Northrup, 1969-73; Lois Woods, 1979-81; Henry Welcome, 1961-65 and 1981-83;Walter Dickey, then current president; Powell Greenland, 1965-69; and Ralph Sherman, 1973-77. (Photograph by Joe Friezer, published in the Eagle Rock Sentinel.)

ERVHS History Part Two:

A New Home, Historic Preservation, Collaboration and Distribution

The Eagle Rock Community Cultural Center (now known as the Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock) was chartered in 1996, as the City elected to conform the management of the refurbished old Eagle Rock Library to a citywide push to form community arts organizations. Generously, then as now, this organization hosts the Historical Society. In our new home, the most pressing initial priority was to properly house and inventory our materials. As long-time president John Miller was nearly the last of the older generation still active, a new generation of leadership was needed. As we looked at our holdings it became clear that the Northeast Newspaper and Eagle Rock Advertiser archives were key holdings that needed to be shared with the public. An ongoing conversation began with our neighbors in Highland Park Heritage and Occidental Collage to accomplish this. At the same time, increasing concern led us to examine our role in historic preservation efforts. Our public presence continued to evolve, with the addition of the Ice Cream Social event, hosting the community, in addition to our quarterly meetings (continuing on Zoom) and our newsletter. We seek new collaborators in the community to enhance our effectiveness and continue our archival and educational work.

The old Eagle Rock library as it sat unoccupied awaiting funding for the earthquake and disabled access modifications required to reopen. Furniture and bound newspaper volumes from our former museum were stored here.A blue ribbon committee appointed by councilmember Alatorre put forth a plan to reopen as a cultural center for community groups including the Historical society.(John Miller-ERVHS)
Part of the ERVHS archives after delivery to the new ERCCC. When the materials were discovered in poor condition where the city had deposited them, community members reorganized the space and built shelving to allow access to sort the cataloged and disorganized collection. (Eric Warren-ERVHS)
Pat Samson, Virginia Neeley and Ann Walnum took on the task of sorting through the materials and starting a catalog. A lot of help from our friends, Highland Park historians all! (Melody Peterson-ERVHS)
John de la Fontaine and Mary Andrews sorting the Eagle Rock Advertiser, our second archival project after reestablishing ourselves downstairs in the Cultural Center. (Melody Peterson-ERVHS)
Past president Joe Northrup and longtime president John Miller at a meeting in the refurbished Library building. (Eric Warren-ERVHS)
Dahlia Motors Building was declared a Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument in 2001. Built by Nancy Poole in 1931 for Wayne Nutting. Here Whaley’s Ford service takes equal billing. The last garage owner was La Dell Stapp. When he retired he sold the building to the present owners who refurbished it, had it declared a Historic Cultural monument, and opened Fatty’s, a Place to Eat. Nutting owned and drove a Stanley Steamer, giving rides to local children on his weekend jaunts. He and his wife were killed and several others were badly injured in an accident involving a propane retrofit on the car. (Eric Warren-ERVHS)
Mel Harte writes “James B. McNary & Jennie C. McNary built this home after WWI and according to grandpa McNary it cost $3500 to build, including cobblestone fireplace & porch columns. The McNarys lived in the house until the middle ‘30s, then they moved to the converted garage in the rear to make room for family members”. The house, on Eagle Rock Boulevard, was threatened by condominium development .The Eagle Rock Valley Historical Society and TERA (The Eagle Rock Association), with the aid of Charles J. Fisher, obtained Historic Cultural Monument status in 2007. (1962 Survey-ERVHS)
Opportunity calls. Eric Warren received a phone call from a man who wanted to get some old Eagle Rock newspapers out of his storage. He and Charles Fisher followed up and found the bound volumes of the Northeast Newspapers. Here they are in the back of my Honda. (Eric Warren-ERVHS)
This prizewinning photograph of the fire in the Eagle Rock hills on March 19, 1964 is one of the many thousand negatives of the Friezer collection donated to Occidental College at the suggestion of the Historical Society. This collection along with the microfilmed Northeast Newspapers and eagle Rock Advertiser formed the core of a collaborative effort between Occidental college, The Highland Park Heritage trust and ERVHS to store, catalog and make available these immensely important historic resources to the public. A portion of the newspapers are now available on the web at the California Digital Newspaper Collection. Ongoing efforts to make more available form the core of our collective effort. (Photograph by Joe Friezer, published in the Eagle Rock Sentinel.)
Pat Topping and Katie Taylor greet our guests at the annual Ice Cream Social. Pat designed all of our logos including our “Been There, Done That, Forgotten Most of It” t-shirt, warn here by Katie our Treasurer. (Unknown-ERVHS)
Our famous dollar a dip ice cream along with assorted baked goods refresh the crowd at the Ice Cream Social our public event that replaced the yearly potluck. Longtime refreshment specialist Karen Heyl presides here over the bake sale. (Eric Warren-ERVHS)
The Fifth Friday Folk Band and the Occidental College Historic and Folk Dance Troupe engage the crowd at the 2019 Ice Cream Social. This event usually features the organ grinder man and the Eagle Rock High school Latin Jazz Band. (Eric Warren-ERVHS)
In 2010 the society was honored by the city council. Pictured at City Hall are, left to right, Fred Guapo, John Miller, Sarah Stargel, Cory Stargel, Karen Warren, Donna Guapo and councilmember Jose Huizar. (Eric Warren-ERVHS)
Past presidents Frank Parrello and Eric Warren sign “Pioneers of Eagle Rock” the book they edited. This was the third book on Eagle Rock History published based largely on materials collected by ERVHS. (A. C. Strange-ERVHS)
An appreciative crowd at the 50th anniversary banquet applauds as our oldest remaining past president Powell Greenland comes forward. We were treated to a delicious vegetarian banquet hosted by Kim Dingle and prepared by Aude Charles. (Karen Warren-ERVHS)
The honorees at the 50th anniversary banquet were; past president, Powell Greenland; past president, John Miller; founding member, Doris Thielen; and then president, Eric Warren. (Karen Warren-ERVHS)