SAN FERNANDO VALLEY CONNECTIONS TO LA's ANGELS FLIGHT

2009 - The Year of Valley Histroy
Angels Flight historic site - Photo by Gerald Fecht for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley 2009 (click on image to enlarge)

Throughout California familiar El Camino Real bells mark historic places and the romantic Highway of the King of Spain. One such bell hangs at the entrance of the beloved Angels Flight. The Red Line Metro will take you from North Hollywood within a few yards of the world famous funicular (due to reopen very soon now.) Downtown Los Angeles is loaded with connections to the San Fernando Valley and Angles Flight is an excellent example.
First, one should remember the feisty Mrs. Armitage Forbes who along with the great artist Orpha Klinker and others fought to preserve dozens of historic sites across California. And, one of the most effective devices to capture the attention and support for the preservation of California's adobes and missions were the classic El Camino Real bells. One of these early activists' headquarters was the historic Campo de Cahuenga in North Hollywood.
Angeles Flight, which opened in 1901 was closed when the development of Bunker Hill began. And, once reopened it was closed again due to the death of a tourist on the tiny railway. At long last, under the direction of San Fernando-based Pueblo Contracting Services, the historic railway is due to be opened soon. Pacoima-raised Severyn Aszkenazy and his wife Marth Diaz are the owners of Pueblo Construction. They also own the Valley's oldest news paper, The San Fernando Valley Sun.


The San Fernando Valley, in the heart of the Creative Capital of the World, deserves a great Museum of history and culture.