SNOW AND FLOODING IN HISTORIC VAN NUYS

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY                     2013

1918 and 1919 were years of severe winter weather across America. The great influenza epidemic had taken the lives of thousands of Americans, particularly in the colder states. In 1919 snow covered the mountains surrounding the San Fernando Valley and terrific floods followed. Damaging floods followed in 1922 and 1924.  Much of the flooding was caused by lack of foresight by the land developers who founded the ready-made town site of Van Nuys. Flash floods created havoc along streets such as Tyrone Avenue well into the 1960s.

 

 "Red street car on Van Nuys Boulevard during snow storm. Year approx. 1924." Marked T. R. Sutton. Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Tammy Bain - Littleton, Colorado 2013. (click on image to enlarge it.) Collection of Robert March.

 "Looking north on Van Nuys Boulevard from south west corner of Aetna Street. Appox. 1922"  Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Tammy Bain - Littleton, Colorado 2013. (click on image to enlarge it.) Collection of Robert March.  - I think this shows snow piled from previous storm.

Van Nuys Grammar School - Looking east from Van Nuys Boulevard. date unknown. Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Tammy Bain - Littleton, Colorado 2013. Collection of Robert March. (click on image to enlarge it.)  

 "Looking north on Van Nuys Boulevard, from Aetna Street, during flood. Southern Pacific Railroad Depot in the center of the picture.  Year appox. 1919.(click on image to enlarge it.)  

Marked T. R. Sutton. Older note "Mrs Sutton". Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Tammy Bain - Littleton, Colorado 2013. Collection of Robert March.

Note the facade of the building to the extreme left. Such images not only advertised commercial products but were used to "enlarge" the size of the new town.

 Enlargement of image showing the Southern Pacific Railroad Depot, during the flood.

"Flood waters on Van Nuys Boulevard. Looking north from Delano Street - year appox. 1919" Marked T.R. Sutton - in pen Mrs Sutton." Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Tammy Bain - Littleton, Colorado 2013. Collection of Robert March.


These next photographs, below are not dated. I did a cursory search on the LA Library digital website and can't find matches, but they strike me as being c. 1930s to '50s.

Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Tammy Bain - Littleton, Colorado 2013. Collection of Robert March. "Van Nuys Boulevard - Eastside between Friar and Sylvan Streets."

Van Nuys Boulevard on the East side. Between victory Boulevard and Gilmore Street.

Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Tammy Bain - Littleton, Colorado 2013. Collection of Robert March. (click on image to enlarge it.)   

 North East corner of Van Nuys Boulevard and Gilmore Street.

Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Tammy Bain - Littleton, Colorado 2013. Collection of Robert March. (click on image to enlarge it.)