Well, Jane's at it again - this time she and Ann Gray are presenting at the Old Spanish Trail Associaton convention next week. They will, of course, be talking about Michael White and the adobe. I'll be picking up tips on how to load a pack mule and dressing like a vaquero. And then there's the barbecue.
Jane's actually done a lot of studying up on the Spanish Trail, and it's got some fascinating history. We caught up with some of it out in Tecopa at what's known as the Harry Wade Exit. (Off the 127)
Ol' Harry and his family got caught up in that Death Valley 1849 debacle (it wasn't actually called "Death Valley" prior to all those folks dyin' in it) and they decided to split. Went south, hooked up with the Spanish Trail at the southern end, and everybody lived. His descendants were so happy about that, they put up a marker. For off-roaders and desert campers, the Harry Wade Road is a nice place to get away from it all in the cooler months.
Here's what the marker says:
Harry Wade Exit Route
Some 100 Wagons found themselves in Salt Lake City too late to cross the Sierra Nevada. They banded together under the name of Sand Walking Co. and started for the gold fields in California over the Old Spanish Trail. After being in Death Valley with the ill-fated 1849 caravan, Harry Wade found this exit route for his ox-drawn wagon, thereby saving his life and those of his wife and children. At this point, the Wade Party came upon the known Spanish Trail to Cajon Pass.
Historical Landmark No. 622
On Saturday, we took a little trip on over to the Renaissance Pleasure Faire which, unfortunately, ended today. I'll make it a point to get over there earlier next season, which generally translates to April - May.
Over to the right, I'm in the stocks. Someone else got "naughty" as their crime description - I got the second best, Pig Thief. Know what? I didn't see your name on it, friend.
I haven't actually been to the Faire in years, and I'm pleased to see that it's grown a bunch. And ladies, there's nothing wrong with being a healthy mammal, so go ahead and flaunt it. I will be offering my quiet support.
Over here on the left, we have the Poxy Boggards, one of my favorite "specialty bands" - actually, they self-describe as a "drinking band with a singing problem," and that sums it up pretty neatly. Just in case you're not hearing all the innuendo and off- color references, there is a sign language interpreter to the left of the stage to illustrate all the lyrics in vivid detail. Yes, they have a PG-rated act as well, but we were short of time and ended up in the NC-17 area. Just in case you were under the impression that life was boring in the 1500s - it wasn't. Read Chaucer.
Also on my exciting firsts list - jousting.
That stunt crew surely earns it, what ever "it" is. Knights in full armor knock each other off their mounts, then have at it with a variety of medieval weapons. The fact that no one has been brained with a morningstar is rather amazing, all things considered.
Of course, there's the shopping and the beer, the leering and the educational displays and the Queen and the historical reenactors.
So there's something for everybody. The dress code is pretty darned eclectic too. Got your hard-core Renaissance realists, the steampunks, the retro-goths, the pirates, the faeries, the barbarians, and some looks that just defy genre. So come as you are or want to be, and have a good time.
This session examines media beyond the edge of websites and explores trends in preservation marketing, advocacy, engagement, and outreach using new media. Panelists will cover innovative new programs, smartphone apps, and interactive advocacy. The session includes case studies of successful blogs, apps, projects, and programs using social media, the internet, and smartphones with GPS. The interrelation of a communications “brand” and “media synergy” that boosts the performance of all communications tools will be covered throughout the session.
Education Level: All
Moderator: Stephen Schafer, President, San Buenaventura Conservancy
More about the Conference "Preservation on the Edge:"
Sunday, May 15 - Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Fairmont Miramar Hotel and Bungalows Santa Monica
Conference Highlights
Still tryin' to figure out where Michael White ended up and here's another clue - an article on the KCET blog. Now to see if the Old Calvary Cemetery is still around...
Ah bad news - Calvary Cemetery is now underneath Cathedral High and Michael White probably is too. I like to think about him and the Picos cheering on the Phantoms at all their home games... Hare's some more info: Bring out your dead.
In 1844, a new cemetery was set aside by the "Illustrious Council of Los Angeles" on Buena Vista Street (now North Broadway) at the southwest corner of Bishop's Road. Plans were drawn up and Bishop Francisco Garcia Diego y Moreno authorized the local priest to bless the 12 acre site "as soon as it is properly fenced in." The new burial ground was blessed on November 3, 1844 by Father Thomas Estenaga, and formally consecrated twenty-two years later by Bishop Thaddeus Amat under the title of Calvary Cemetery. "Old" Calvary Cemetery served the City of Angels for the next six decades, until city expansion called for a second relocation. "New Calvary Cemetery" was established in 1896 on Whittier Boulevard just east of downtown Los Angeles. Now simply referred to as "Calvary", it continues to serve the community and is considered among the most prominent cemeteries in Los Angeles. ~ Archdiocese of Los Angeles: History of Catholic Cemeteries in Los Angeles
(Old Calvary Cemetery) opened on Nov. 3, 1844, and, for the next five decades, became the final resting place for pioneer families whose names make up a "Who's Who" of Los Angeles history: Pico, Boyle, Bell, Chapman, Dominguez, Bandini and Downey, among them. Between 1844 and the end of the 19th century, when the cemetery was shut down and those buried there were moved to a new Calvary Cemetery on Whittier Boulevard east of Downtown, as many as 10,000 of the city's early residents were laid to rest there. As early as 1860, however, the cemetery was criticized as being too small. An article in the Los Angeles Star that year called it "sadly overcrowded" and noted its "crumbling walls." In 1886, cemetery officials stopped accepting new burials, but no move was made at that time to move the bodies that were already there. Bishop Francis Mora, recognizing the cemetery's limitations, had purchased 52 acres at the eastern edge of the city in 1895. Boyle Heights property owners objected to the idea of a graveyard in the area, claiming it would depreciate their property. As a result, the new graveyard was constructed even farther east, outside city limits. ~ Downtown News: The Former Downtown Dead Zone
This post has got me a little choked up too. Our girl Judy over at the San Marino Historical Society invited us over to check out a new box of old stuff donated by Michael White researcher Dorothy Ross. Judy Carter is an aces archivist who has fully supported the restoration of the adobe from the get-go. Dorothy is a terrific researcher and there are some undiscovered gems in her collection, but this one took the cake: a photocopy of Michael White's funeral card. Let me tell you why.
Besides the sentimental value of such an item, there are some unanswered questions. Jane and I walked every row in the San Gabriel Cemetery, and none of "our" Whites are buried there. (of course we checked the burial register too!) At least some of "our" Whites are in the San Gabriel Mission cemetery, but the records from 1850 to 1910 are missing in action. So where could we find Michael White, who supposedly died broke and somewhere in L.A? Smart money's on Nuestra Señora Reina de los Angeles, Our Lady Queen of Angels down on Olvera St. It's the Church he probably helped Joseph Chapman build. Nice. Like going home after a long journey.
Here's what the card says:
Don Miguel White
QEPD
Natural de Inglaterra, falleció en esta ciudad el Sabado 28 de Febrero a la una de la mañana á la cedad de 84 años y 14 dias.
Sus funerales tendrán lugar el Domingo 1 de Marzo partiendo el cortejo funebre de la residencia de Don Juan Castillon No. 146 Calle Aliso a las 3 de la tarde para la Iglesia de Ntr. Sra. De Los Angeles.
Suplicamos a Ud nos acompane en este acto de caridad cristiana.
Maria G. de White, Viuda
Hijas:
Juana W. de Courtney
Zaragoza W. de Alvarado
Francisca W. de Heslop
Jane W. de Capdevielle
Ester W. de Castillon
Hijos
Santiago White
Jose Miguel White
Los Angeles, Febrero 28 de 1885
___________________________________________
And for my non-Spanish-speaking amigos, here's what it means:
Don Miguel White
RIP
A native of England died in this city on Saturday, February 28 at one o'clock in the morning at the age of 84 years and 14 days.
His funeral will take place on Sunday March 1, the funeral procession will start from the residence of Don Juan Castillon, No. 146 Maple Street, at 3 pm for the Church of Our Lady Queen of Angels. We beseech you join us in this act of Christian charity.
Maria G. White, Widow
Daughters:
Joan W. Courtney
Zaragoza W. Alvarado
Frances W. Heslop
Jane W. Capdevielle
Esther W. Castillon
Sons:
James White
Jose Miguel White
Los Angeles, February 28, 1885
Folks, this has gotta be my most morbid post ever. And I apologize for this, but I think it's gotta be done, here's why: Our buddy, Adam Gorightly of the Untamed Dimensions wanted to talk to us about weirdness in the Arroyo Seco for a project Australian filmmaker Sam Fielder is taking on. Well, there's a lotta weirdness to account for, and I thought I'd go right for the suicide bridge.
Gorightly and Fielder are working on a documentary about the paranormal and SoCal and besides the Arroyo, they went to Hollywood Forever Cemetery, Salvation Mountain, Giant Rock, the Integratron, the Salton Sea, Joshua Tree - you know, some of Raven Jake's favorite haunts. Then we went and had a chat on Greg Bishop's Radio Misterioso. Had some good times talkin' about the normal, the paranormal, and everything in between.
Now I want to tell you right now that I do not in any way advocate ending your life voluntarily. Most times it's a permanent solution to a temporary problem. Game over. Get some help. There are very few scenarios where you're better off dead, and mostly it's just a huge awful burden on those who are left behind. When you look down the list of "jumpers," you'll not find even one person whom you could say objectively was "better off."
The Colorado Street Bridge has been an icon of Pasadena, California since its construction in 1913. Once the highest and longest bridge in the world, its beautiful Beaux Arts arches spanning the Arroyo Seco have the turn-of-the-20thcentury charm of orange crate labels and the grandeur of a roman aqueduct traversing a Maxfield Parrish landscape. It is a source of pride to native Pasadenans who have fought successfully to preserve it when “progress” would see it destroyed and was once a tourist destination not unlike Venice’s Ponte dei Sospiri.
So Jane threw herself into the research with characteristic abandon, and came up with some pretty major discrepancies between the documentation and the perception. Yep, it's that "weirdness" thing. So besides the death list, what else? Well, maybe that ol' bridge is haunted. I figured I'd go back to the "back in the day" news clippings and cite the references. Let's clear out the hearsay. Get rid of some of them urban myths. Here's a few things it might interest you to know.
It is a fact that Orange Grove Blvd at Live Oak was the site of a Tongva burial ground for the Hahamonga. Is this an influence? Maybe, if you believe in ghosts.
Here's another - two workers were killed during the construction of the bridge, and it's a pretty hair-raising story. Here's the newspaper account from 1913:
Pasadena – An entire section of the forms for the floor over the highest arch of the $200,000 concrete bridge now being constructed over the Arroyo Seco at the West end of Colorado Street gave way at 5:00 yesterday afternoon and let 30 tons of liquid cement and 100 tons of scaffolding fall to the ground 150 feet below.
Sixteen men were at work on the top of the arch at the time. Three fell with the debris. One was killed outright; another was extricated after 20 minutes work and will live. The third was buried up to his neck in the soft concrete under a network of heavy timbers about 20 feet deep for nearly five hours. He was finally rescued and found to have a leg crushed and one arm so badly hurt that amputation will be necessary.
The other workmen saved themselves, some by running back to a safe place on the bridge and three by hanging for their lives to wires.
The dead man was John Vicso [sic - usually it's spelled "Visco"], a dumper, who lived in Los Angeles. He was picked up with his head crushed.
C. J. Johnson, the next taken out of the death pile, who lives at No. 417 Central Ave, Los Angeles, may lose his left eye and his right arm was mangled. He was taken to the Morengo Avenue Hospital.
H. Collins, a wire worker, who lives in Pasadena, was taken out at 9:45 o’clock, and taken to the Pasadena Hospital. He may live.
Great heroism was shown in the rescue of Collins. No sooner had the maze of wood and cement fallen than every man on the ground seized saw, crowbar, jack or whatever tool he could lay his hands on, and sprang on the pile of timbers. Above them a still larger section towered, with its uprights buckled and its upper beams hanging at a dangerous slant, seemingly ready to fall any minute. A lookout was stationed on top of the bridge and another off to one side to give a warning if it should be seen to start, but not a man at work would have had a chance to escape should such a second accident have occurred.
Soon after Johnson was brought up, some of the workmen heard Collins calling to them from far down in the depths of the pile of wreckage. His cries were groans of pain and all worked the harder.
Owing to the lack of room, the rescue party was soon reduced to about eight man led by Alfred Larson, the superintendent. They burrowed into the heap like prairie dogs, sawing their way as they went. After two hour’s work, during which they reassured the injured man with calls of, “Never mind, old man, we’ll have you out soon,” they reached him. They found him wedged tightly and buried to his neck in liquid cement. The tip of one hand also protruded. To clear away the cement, it was necessary to enlarge the hole and Dr. R. H. Newfering, in order to ease the man’s suffering, took his life in his hands and descended into the hole to administer a palliative. He had to use the hypodermic needle on the patient’s forehead.
Those who worked with Larson to extricate Collins were E. Ericson, J. Mulaney, Samuel Overson, John Moseley, R. Reynolds, Jesus Colorado, M. Colorado, David Cotterell, N. Nelson, Fred Aymes, Samuel Olsen, R. Gillhousen, H. Holland, John Galloway, R. Everett, and Bernard Munn, the time-keeper, who was also rushed to a telephone and notified the police, who procured ambulances.
W. A. Nelson perhaps had the narrowest escapes of any of the men. When he heard the timbers crack, he started to run onto the next arch and the floor parted just in front of him. He leaped over the chasm and landed safely on a projecting shelf which remained in place.
E. Ericson was just looking at some of the timbers, the force having only a moment before stopped work preparatory to going to the mess tent, when he heard one of the Colorados call to him to jump. It was too late. He and the two Colorados were cut off. As the floor sank beneath them, they seized slender strips of steel which projected from some of the solid cement, and by almost superhuman efforts drew themselves to safety.
The arch, the top of which fell, besides being the highest in the bridge, has also the greatest span – 210 feet. The scaffolding under it was in three sections. It was the western section which crumpled up and went down with the cement. The middle section started, but remained in place, although it is feared that it may fall at any moment.
The bridge is being built jointly by Los Angeles County and the city of Pasadena and is to give Pasadena automobilists a direct route to the seashore without passing through Los Angeles. It is being constructed by the Mercereau Bridge and Construction Company of Los Angeles, and the plans were drawn by the firm of Waddell & Harrington of Kansas City. C. K. Allen, an engineer who represents the latter firm and who is superintending the construction of the bridge, said last night:
“It is hard to tell what caused the accident. Some timber gave way and that let another go, and so on. The scaffolding fell like a pack of cards. We had forms for 100 cubic yards of flooring in and were pouring the cement. Three cars had just been run out to the end of the track, and the jarring of the cars probably caused the boards to start. The accident will not greatly delay the completion of the bridge. We had expected to have it done in October.”
This is the first serious accident there has been on the bridge since work was begun.
Visco, who was killed, was married, and Collins has a wife and a 6-year-old child. Johnson is unmarried.
Detectives Shelton and Betts went to the place at once in the police automobile, when the accident was reported and the chief of police McIntyre later also arrived on the scene with a number of patrolmen. The fall of the timbers made a terrific crash, and a large crowd collected, but the danger of another fall was so great that few ventured near.
And here's the reference: "Cities and Towns South of Tehachepi's Top--Los Angeles County News: ONE KILLED IN COLLAPSE; Concrete Bridge Over Arroyo Seco Poves Insecure; Three Precipitated One Hundred and Fifty Feet; Tons of Material Fall With Luckless Artisans.." Los Angeles Times (1886-1922), August 2, 1913.
There've been plenty of rumors over the years about "the concrete dumper who fell into the cement mixer and was ground to pieces" and "the guy who fell into the cement and when they couldn't get him out they poured more concrete over the top of him, sealing him in the bridge forever. " Now when you read the original account, you can see that there's a kernel of truth to the story - but the rest is just fanciful (if somewhat gothic) urban myth. In fact, the story of the accident, the Indiana Jones-style escapes of Nelson, Ericson, and the Colorado brothers, and the heroic rescue of poor Collins make for as good a story, if not better.
Now they say that when a ghost passes on the bridge at night, the lights turn blue. I ain't seen it, and a minimum of 120 people have ended their lives there; I hope it's 'cause their souls are at peace. But the first time someone fell off that ol' bridge, it was an accident - and 98 years later the tragedy of John Visco and H. Collins should serve as a reminder of how precious and transient life is.
So, like I said before, on Friday, October 29, 2010 the Friends of the Michael White Adobe hosted an open house so that folks could see the adobe before, during and after San Marino's homecoming game against South Pasadena. It was a tremendous success - hundreds of people came through including a couple of school board members, a bunch of alumni cheerleaders, students, faculty, some Raven Jake fans and some Michael White / Eulalia Perez family members, making it a very happy Halloween indeed. Check out the photo album over there on the left side of the page, towards the bottom, right above the ravens.
Here's the official scoop on the open house:
San Marino High School football fans received a rare treat at the homecoming game on Friday – entrance to the Michael White Adobe. Opened to the public for the first time since the 1990’s, the Adobe offered visitors a glimpse into San Marino’s past.
Hundreds of football fans streamed through before, during and after the game at the urging of Friends of the Michael White Adobe. Inside, curious visitors saw displays of the Adobe through time and some artifacts depicting San Marino history. The Friends converted one of the three rooms into a theater where visitor took in a slide show prepared by SMHS Senior Taylor Beldy.
Michael White and his bride Maria del Rosario Guillen de White (Jeryd and Jane Pojawa) appeared in period costume and took visitors on a tour of their home from 1845 to 1874. Some of the guests included direct descendants of Michael White, including SMHS grad Kirt Boultinghouse, who came for the Homecoming game.
The Friends of the Michael White Adobe have received matching grants from the Los Angeles Conservancy and the San Marino Historical Society to conduct a feasibility study to investigate the possibility of using the 165 year old structure as a “Hall of Fame” intended to highlight student accomplishments. Friends Committee Chairman, Gene Dryden, was on hand to describe how the Hall of Fame proposal will bring the historic building back as a vital component of campus life. “K.L. Carver made the decision to preserve the Adobe for the students back when the High School was constructed, and we want to keep the Adobe relevant for today’s SMHS students,” Dryden explained. For most of the students there, this was their first chance to look inside the historic Adobe they walk past every day to and from class.
Now I do apologize that the photo quality isn't a little better, but we tried (amid all the running around and setting up and everything) to get a pretty representative feel of the event. We had Taylor's slide show going in one room, some large historic photos courtesy of Ann Gray and the San Marino Historical Society set up in the "kitchen" room as a gallery, and Bill Enger's powerpoint presentation for the high school students running in the "living room." You can see it here: https://sites.google.com/site/michaelwhiteadobe/hot-news-1/asbleadershipclassatsmhs
I also want to send a shout out to the crazy girls of the pep squad. No, they're not so crazy any more - they're moms and business women and pillars of the community and that kind of thing, but man, do they have some great stories about the "pep adobe" in the '7os and '80s. If these walls could talk! Here's an old yearbook picture (1974) of some of the girls up on the roof (kids, don't get your hopes up - there's no way you're going up on the roof when the adobe gets restored. Times were less litigious back then, and pep girls were stealthier.)
And to all the Eulalia Perez de Guillen descendants: WELCOME HOME! One of the very best things about the restoration project is meeting all the family members and seeing y'all reconnecting. This adobe can be saved but it's going to take the whole community working together - so let's do it!
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