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Serving Altadena since 1935

The Altadena Historical Society (AHS) was founded in 1935. We gather, preserve, and share print and digital information about the people, places, and events that have shaped the Altadena community.

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The Big Wind of 1997. Most of us are remembering

The Big Wind of 1997.

Most of us are remembering the December 2011 windstorm -- and the prolonged power outages that came with it. But who remembers the January 1997 windstorm?
It seems that about every decade or so, Altadena gets a hit with a damaging windstorm. Here is one account of the January 6, 1997 storm. Your intrepid historian recalls that at least one of the majestic deodars of Christmas Tree Lane, at the southwest corner of Santa Rosa and Calaveras, crashed to the ground full of wires and Christmas lights. Power was out for much of Altadena, and it was cold!
#altadenahistoricalsociety #altadena #altadenahistorical #big #wind
#bigwind #1997 #remembering
#windstorm #power #outages #poweroutage #everydecade #damaging #account #intrepid #historian #majestic #deodars #christmastreelane #crash #crashedtotheground #wires #christmaslights #santarosa #calaveras #power #cold #winter #2011

Theodore Lukens and the San Gabriels, 1904. In ou

Theodore Lukens and the San Gabriels, 1904.

In our file on Millard Canyon, we have a few photos of Theodore Lukens, his friend John Muir, and part of the reforestation crew that Lukens organized in the early 20th century. Lukens established the tree nursery at Henninger Flats in 1903. He was a strong advocate for planting trees, especially knobcone pines, in burn areas above Altadena to restore the watershed. Here's a link to our newsletter, The Echo.
https://www.altadenahistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/echo-issues/echo-2017-fall.pdf (This link is also in our bio)
#altadenahistoricalsociety #altadena #altadenahistorical #theodorelukens #sangabriels #sangabrielmountains #millardcanyon #file #johnmuir #reforestation #crew ##early #20thcentury #treenursery #henningerflats #1903 #advocate #strong #planting #trees #pines #plantingtrees #knobcone #burn #areas #burnareas #restore #watershed #abovealtadena

Two MLK Day gatherings, 15 years apart, at the gra

Two MLK Day gatherings, 15 years apart, at the grave of Owen Brown, son of the Liberator, John Brown, Little Round Top, Meadows District of Altadena, CA, 1/14/2007 and 1/17/2022. (Paul Ayers)
---- 1st image - MLK Day 1/14/2007. Attendees [L-R] Ian Whitcomb [RIP], Eichman Gravenburg, Michelle Zack, Unknown, Paul Ayers, Steve Slobin and his sons.
—- 2nd image - Attendees, MLK Day 1/17/2022 [L to R]: Peter Orth, Kathy Donnelly, Robert [“Rob”] Ettleman, Eric Mulfinger, Michele Zack, Owen Brown marker, Mark Goldschmidt, John Burton, Stanley Zucker [w/ Paige the guide dog puppy-in-training], photo by Stanley Zucker.
#altadenahistoricalsociety#altadena #altadenahistorical #mlkday
#martinlutherking#owenbrown
#grave #liberator #johnbrown
#headstone #sangabrielfoothills
#gathering #littleroundtop #meadows #pilgrims

Martin Luther King, Clarence Jones, and Altadena.

Martin Luther King, Clarence Jones, and Altadena.

About a year ago, we posted about Clarence Jones, a one-time Altadenan who worked with Dr. King in the 1960's. This year, Deb Halberstadt of Altadena Neighbors magazine has published an article about Clarence Jones that we have posted in 4 pages here. It's worth a read!
#altadenahistoricalsociety #altadena #altadenahistorical #mlkday #martinlutherking #clarencejones #altadenan #altadenaneighbors #drking #1960s #civilrightsmovement #civilrights #majorfigures #advisor #lawyer #friend #confidant #speech #ihaveadream #copyright

The Great Snowstorm of 1949 Seventy-two years ago

The Great Snowstorm of 1949

Seventy-two years ago this week, much of the LA area, including Altadena, was covered in a few inches of snow. There have been several pictures posted this week, but I found a few more in our 'Weather' file. These were donated by the long-gone First Federal Savings and Loan, which was located where Aldi's and Dollar King are now.
#altadenahistoricalsociety #altadena #altadenahistorical #greatsnowfall #great #snowstorm #greatsnowstorm #1949 #72years #snow #inches #inchesofsnow #weather #file #weatherfile #donate #donated #longgone #firstfederalsavings #loan #aldi #dollarking #location #storm #losangelesarea #notcommon

View of JPL's main entrance gate and original admi

View of JPL's main entrance gate and original administration building during the great snowfall of 1949, Pasadena, CA, 1/12/1949. The second image was taken same day and time, only looking east, not north.(Paul Ayers)
#altadenahistoricalsociety
#altadenahistorical #altadena #pasadena #jpl #mainentrance #jetpropulsionlaboratory #gate #original #administration #building #snowfall #great #1949 #sameday #sametime #east #north #snow #greatsnowfall

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