Tel: (818) 347-9665 PST

TheMuseumSFV@gmail.com

www.TheMuseumSFV.org




Friday, December 23, 2011

SIGN FROM LONG GONE McKINLEY HOME FOR BOYS

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY  2011

Bob Peppermuller is at it again, working to save San Fernando Valley "Redcar" history. Here he shares a sign indicating the location of the McKinley Home for Boys in Van Nuys (later Sherman Oaks. The McKinley Home opened at its location on Riverside Drive in 1923. It served abused and neglected children there until 1960, when it moved to its present location in San Dimas.
(Click on the image to enlarge the sign.)



“This sign is from the Pacific Electric passenger stop in the middle of Chandler Blvd. at Woodman Ave. The McKinley Home was south on Woodman at Riverside Drive. 
Typically the sign would be about 15 feet up on a pole holding the trolley wires. After the San Fernando line was abandoned, at 3pm on December 29, 1952 when power was cut, all the track material was removed down to about three blocks north of Santa Monica Blvd. on Highland Ave in Hollywood. This sign ended up in the Southern Pacific railroad yard in San Bernardino where the back was painted with a "No Parking" sign. It was saved from the being scrapped and ended up in a railroad swap meet where I purchased it.”   
Bob Peppermuller 2011 - North Hollywood

8 comments:

leemell said...

Actually the Home was on Riverside Drive at Hazeltine Ave, where the Sunkist Growers building is now. When I was in Junior High School I was a member of the YMCA Leagues. We used to go to the Home to play basketball with the Home's team.

leemell said...

Actually the Home was on Riverside Drive at Hazeltine Ave, where the Sunkist Growers building is now. When I was in Junior High School I was a member of the YMCA Leagues. We used to go to the Home to play basketball with the Home's team.

suzindaz said...

I must correct leemell. The Sunkist building was where Eunice Knight Saunders School was. I was a student there for 11 years. The McKinley Home for boys was across from there where the Bullocks Fashion Square was built.

suzindaz said...

I must correct leemell. The Sunkist building was where Eunice Knight Saunders School was. I was a student there for 11 years. The McKinley Home for boys was across from there where the Bullocks Fashion Square was built.

Unknown said...

Just wanted to throw my 2 cents worth in on this discussion. I was a McKinley Boy from '53 to '61, in Van Nuys, and then from '61-'63 when we moved out to San Dimas.The Van Nuys campus was situated between Woodman Ave and Hazeltine , and Riverside Dr. and the L.A. River. And the Bullock's Fashion Square was built on the former McKinley Home and Woodman Ave. School (LAUSD) properties between these boundaries.

Unknown said...

gezz Hank, you actually remebered

IML said...

I just found a very old New Testiment Bible in my mothers belongings. In it is written my grandfathers name with in care of McKinley Home Van Nuys, CA. No date tho. I have no clue my grandfather was ever there. It was never spoke of.

Rocky Litten said...

I attended Saunders from 1951 to 1956. AsI recall, in the winter of 52-53 there was a huge rain storm that filled the part of the LA River separating Saunders from McKinley. That part of the river hadn't been lined with concrete at the time, and the water rose all the way up to the top of the channel and it took more than a week to dredge it, I had Mickey Dolenz (much later of The Monkees) in my class. We'd take a van converted into a mini bus every morning and afternoon between the school and the Westside(an houreach way). For two or three years our school coach (Bob ?) - who had a great impact on my life- Would drive us. I also remember some of our teachers: Mrs Jeffrey's in 2nd grade, Mrs Alert in 4th. They too helped shape my childhood, and thus the rest of my life. - Douglas (aka "Rocky") Litten