Santa Monica Dedicates Pier

Sept. 10, 1909: Edward Henry Harriman, "the master builder of railways," dies after a long illness, but the news is withheld from reporters until the stock market closes. Cmdr. Robert Peary files Part 2 of his description of discovering the North Pole. Evan Williams sings "Auld Lang Syne." RCA Victor records cost $23.67 to $35.51 USD 2008. A map shows the extent of Harriman's railroad holdings. "Los Angeles people were accustomed to think of E.H. Harriman as a distant magnate who owned some railroads away off somewhere. When the commercial associations of this city appointed committees to ask him for new depots, they always spoke of 'you' and of 'our city.' But in reality, it was more Harriman's city than theirs.... He controlled two, and probably all three, of the transcontinental railroads which connect Los Angeles with the East. He owned an even half-interest in the great Pacific Electric system, the greatest interurban trolley road in the world." Harriman was "bold, astute and energetic." Smashed sledges and frostbite on Peary's trip north.

"Admission Day's principal celebration in Los Angeles County yesterday centered at Santa Monica, where representative citizens gathered in thousands to join with the old city by the sea in the dedication of its municipal pier, which is declared to be the best of its kind ever committed to public use, and unique in many respects." The Los Angeles Motorcycle Club holds its annual meet at Ascot Park. The winner of the five-mile race rode an Indian motorcycle. "While sleeping?"     "...gathered as it has been from every part of the world, there cannot fail to come out from California in the years and centuries to come, men that shall do honor to their progenitors, and do honor to the nation, of which this state shall be one of the most proud." [Applause.]"

Man Saves Woman From Burning to Death

Sept. 6, 1909: Edmund Waller "Ted" Gale draws Gen. Adna R. Chaffee, head of the Board of Public Works.

Civil engineer W.O. Secor tells a remarkable story: As he was riding the Downey Avenue streetcar at Naud Junction, a flame shot from an automobile going south on Main and set fire to the clothes of a woman standing on the corner. He hopped off the streetcar, extinguished the flames -- which had burned away almost all the woman's clothing below the waist -- and got back on the streetcar. It was only when he resumed his ride to Eastlake Park that he realized he had burned his hand and went to the hospital. Feb. 5, 1940: The Naud Junction signal tower at Alameda and Ord is torn down, evoking memories of the old days of railroading in Los Angeles. (Note: Because of the way Typepad handles images, this looks fuzzy but if you click on it, the image is readable).

Baseless Prosecution of Homeless Addict

Aug. 24, 1899: The Orpheum presents barrelistic wonders and rag time comedians, plus Joseph Adelman, master of the xylophone.

The Times reports "baseless prosecution" of Richard Woodward, a homeless drug addict who accidentally broke a pane of glass at a Ferguson Alley saloon. "Chinatown": GITTES -- So how are you, Morty? Morty is wheeling in another body with the help of an assistant. MORTY -- Never better. You know me, Jake. As he begins to move the body into the refrigerator, he breaks into a wrenching spasm of coughing. Gittes spots the other body, lowers the. sheet on Mulwray. GITTES (picking up on cough) -- Yeah -- so who you got there? Morty pulls back the sheet. MORTY Leroy Shuhardt, local drunk -- used to hang around Ferguson's Alley -- Morty brushes some sand from the man's face, laughs. MORTY (continuing) -- Quite a character. Lately he'd been living in one of the downtown storm drains -- had a bureau dresser down there and everything. 98 Gittes has already lost interest. He starts away. GITTES -- Yeah. MORTY Drowned, too. This stops Gittes. GITTES Come again? MORTY Yeah, got dead drunk, passed out in the bottom of the riverbed.

Train From Santa Monica Plows Into Cows on Tracks

Aug. 19, 1889: Would you trust your shirts to a place where the "N" is backward?    The train from Santa Monica plows into a herd of cattle on the tracks a few miles outside town ... a prank with a fire hose ... and police are looking for a man who shot himself in the leg.

The Wrong Body

Aug. 17, 1889: Patented poultry powder ... but stay away from the gasoline stoves! A body found on Fire Island is not missing aeronaut F.D. Hogan, who lost a propeller on his airship and drifted out to sea. Below, a little background. Bonus item: Jack the Ripper.

Artist's Notebook -- Union Station

Union Station by Marion Eisenmann, Aug, 8, 2009

Marion sends her impressions of Union Station, the crossroads for countless travelers since it opened in 1939. Think of how many people have rushed through the station to catch their train -- and how many more have spent tedious hours waiting to leave or anxiously anticipating someone's arrival. The nation no longer travels by rail as it once did, but I still feel a spirit of adventure whenever I see the sign: "TO TRAINS." Marion writes: This place is interesting, what I mean by it are its visuals, sound  and situations. Back in Germany I commuted a lot by train, I am glad I only joined these people on their wait, for a quick sketch, I then took the Metro home. I like the acoustic, the cave-like shelter and cool. Note: In case you just tuned in, Marion and I are visiting local landmarks in a project inspired by what Charles Owens and Joe Seewerker did in Nuestro Pueblo. Check back next week for another page from Marion's notebook. In the meantime, you can contact Marion here.

Delays on Chavez Ravine

Aug. 11, 1959: "Horrors of the Black Museum" in Hypno-Vista! 3 1/2 stars on Netflix. Six stars on imdb.

Movement toward a new ballpark for the Dodgers kept slowing down. City Atty. Roger Arnebergh wanted the City Council to wait before approving $2 million in street work for the area destined to be the Dodgers' new home in Chavez Ravine. The whole matter was still in the hands of the Supreme Court so Arnebergh wanted the city to delay until there was a court decision or the Dodgers agreed to reimburse the city the cost of the work if the ballpark wasn't built. Was he just being cautious or was he worried? Meanwhile The Times ran a United Press International story out of Washington detailing another Chavez Ravine appeal filed with the Supreme Court that charged Los Angeles' efforts to lure the Dodgers were "too enthusiastic." --Keith Thursby

This Dodger Plays Like a Kid; Moonwalking on the Angels

July 21, 1969: "First, the picket who you sent to the hospital wasn't a student! He had no reason to be on this campus -- except to stir up trouble!" :: The Dodgers' youth movement was led by a youngster of 36. Maury Wills continued to play like a kid in his second stint with the Dodgers, hitting safely in his 14th consecutive game. The Times' John Wiebusch noted that it was the Dodgers' longest hitting streak since 1965, when Wills hit in 20 games in a row Not all the Dodgers were doing so well, as they lost to the Giants, 7-3, to fall into second place. "I've never felt better," Wills said. "My legs are strong and my reactions are good. But it is the same as before. Personal things mean little if the team is losing." :: Baseball couldn't compete with a moon walk. The Angels split a doubleheader against Oakland that was sprinkled with historic moments. None of them happened on the field, however. Rick Monday was hitting for Oakland in the second inning when the game was stopped and a message flashed on the Big A scoreboard: "We have landed on the moon." Many of the fans at Anaheim Stadium took the message and headed home early. "The second game ended five minutes before Apollo 11 astronauts began preparations for their unprecedented walk on the moon," The Times' Mitch Chortkoff wrote. "In anticipation of the event, however, all but about 3,000 spectators departed the ballpark before the second game ended." That's one small step for man, one giant leap out of the ballpark. --Keith Thursby

President Carter to Address Energy Crisis; Nolan Ryan Misses No-Hitter

July 14, 1979: The Carter administration's energy crisis... gasoline shortages ... Los Angeles County deputies are ordered back to work after a two-day sickout ... and Gov. Brown trims the budget by vetoing raises for state employees.

In his final season with the Angels, Nolan Ryan flirted more than once with a fifth no-hitter. Against the Yankees, he lasted until the ninth when Reggie Jackson singled. This would have been a controversial no-hitter since Jim Spencer's liner to center in the eighth was ruled an error on center fielder Rick Miller. The Yankees were furious and even Angel general manager Buzzie Bavasi told official scorer Dick Miller of the Herard-Examiner, "There's no doubt about what it was." Baseball doesn't use newspaper reporters as official scorers anymore and that's probably a good thing for all concerned. --Keith Thursby

Cross-Country Trip Begins!

Emily Anderson begins her re-creation of Alice Ramsey's 1909 cross-country trip this morning. Follow her progress on her website. Or on Twitter.  Update: Emily Anderson has started -- in the pouring rain. The 1909 Maxwell gets a police escort out of New York and is being followed by a 1907 Spyker from the Netherlands. June 9, 7:30 PDT: The team reports a loud noise from the engine, as if one of the connecting rods broke a bolt. "Might be up all night fixing this," the team says. June 10: Day 2 - car in the 'hospital' - hurt but not broken. We are delayed this morning but resting to go later today or tomorrow morning. June 11: The Maxwell is alive and kicking. Tim and Rich dedicated 26 hours to fixing it. We are meeting in the hotel lobby at 8a.m. to continue on! June 11: 5pm ish 5 miles in the knocking noise starts to pick up again ... Super bummer. Car has to stay at the shop and get worked on fast and furiously we are done for the day ... really tired. lots of rain.poor car. sunburned wrists never thought to put sunscreen on wrists before June 12: Problem solved! oil was not reaching front cylinder and causing the babbit to run dry get hot & melt. totally fixed, car running! Relief. June 13: car runs beautifully - excited to hit the open road but will have to take it slower tomorrow. long afternoon nap and dinner in buffalo.  June 14: Emily Anderson and the Maxwell reach Ohio. 7 15pm we made it! After singing songs and climbing a few last hills we were greeted by cousins and friends. June 19: Had a wonderful lunch in Jefferson, IA. Stormy weather has returned so we had to eat and run. 120 miles left to go Omaha. June 20: Day to relax in Omaha. Excellent hosts. Maxwell on display sat/sun at Durham Museum for Railroad days! June 22: Made it to Grand Island, NE. Babbs finished up in style. June 24: Arrived in Cheyanne, WY @ 7 PM. So great to be driving and cross another state line! June 29: Lehi, UT for the night! July 2: wonderful evening bbq hosted by the mayor of ely and the amazing railway museum. got to visit the engine house and board an 09 steam engine July 3: Made it over 6 passes and a through a hail storm...Will lay our heads in Austin, NV. July 3: RENO, NV! July 8: Made it to San Rafael, CA. Awesome greeting by the Sagar family! Thanks guys! July 9: "From Hell's Gate to the Golden Gate" Alice Ramsey 1961 We made it!! July 12: 10am Babbs is hitting the road again - trailering to whidby island today and her final resting spot. i am having babbs driving withdrawls!

Found on EBay -- Hanging Rock

A postcard listed on EBay shows an old Ventura County landmark that has been hidden for decades. The famous Hanging Rock was submerged by the reservoir of Matilija Dam, built to hold the Ventura River. The Matilija Coalition is trying to have the dam removed. At left, a Oct. 17, 1901, Times story reports the beauty of Matilija Springs. Bidding on the postcard starts at $5.99.

A Trip Up Mt. Wilson

A trip up Mt. Wilson, June 9, 1889.