BUTTERFIELD STAGE ON THE VALLEY'S HISTORIC EL CAMINO REAL

Stage Coaches Served the American West - Photo courtesy of Willard Simms 2008 - Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley (click on image to enlarge.

The Butterfield-Overland Stagecoach Rides Again!
Campo de Cahuenga Invites you to join the Sesquicentennial Ceremonies
Sunday, October 19, 2008.

Stagecoach embarks at 10 a.m.

Gather at the Campo “staging area” at 9:30 a.m. to be part of this 150th Anniversary and witness the re-enactment of the historic first ride of the first overland transcontinental mail service between St. Louis and Los Angeles in 1858.

The circa 1858 horse-drawn stagecoach departs from Campo de Cahuenga, an original Butterfield-Overland stage stop,
on a once-in-a-lifetime procession through the San Fernando Valley. More celebrations at three more stops along the 18.9 mile route.

Free admission
3919 Lankershim Boulevard, North Hollywood, CA
Details: www.campodecahuenga.com
Inquiries, Campo de Cahuenga Historical Memorial Association:
campodecahuenga1847@hotmail.com

Route:
Campo de Cahuenga Departs 10 a.m., west on Ventura Boulevard

Los Encinos State Historic Park Estimated Arrival 12:30-1:30 p.m.

Tarzana Community and Cultural Center Estimated Arrival 2:45-3:45 p.m.

Leonis Adobe, Calabasas Estimated Arrival 5:30 p.m.

A little Butterfield-Overland Stagecoach history:
On September 16, 1858, the first Butterfield-Overland Stagecoach left St. Louis, Missouri on its inaugural trip across the country to deliver the mail. Arriving at Campo de Cahuenga in the historic Cahuenga Pass on October 7 or 8, where it changed horses and departed for the Mission San Fernando 15 miles distant. This major feat heralded the first overland transcontinental mail service across the United States, an event that can be compared in significance to the advent of the internet today. Celebrations are taking place across the country to acknowledge the importance of stage lines in the 19th century.


You are invited to follow the stage on October 19 and celebrate at each of the four official events along the San Fernando Valley route.

PHILLIPE'S IS A 100 YEARS OLD TODAY!

Phillipe's French Dipped Sandwiches - Historic postcard collection of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley - 2009 (click on image to enlarge)

Because of its religious affiliation, my Notre Dame High School speech and debate team had no public ally supported transportation to our competitions. My pals understood the importance in America of the strict separation of religion and the government, and actually valued the adventure and ingenuity that it took to get around the city. Most of us held after school jobs to pay for our participation in Brother John Duran's speech club.

By graduation, the speech club kids knew Los Angeles well, and naturally had found a dozen great places to eat. One of our favorite hang outs was just a block from Olvera Street, a French dipped sandwich joint with saw dust on the floor. Phillipe's was already 52 years old when for the first time I gasped for air after eating the restaurant's innocent-looking mustard. Early on, we learned that there are places intrinsic to being a true citizen of L.A., and Phillipe's is in the top 10.

Phillipe's opened its door 100 years ago today. Like all things truly L.A., the place had to move a couple of times before it settled down. Now, the birthplace of the original French dipped sandwich is located at 1001 North Alameda Street, a small block from Union Station. The original location is somewhere under a freeway overpass.

Phillipe's has long served a kaleidoscope of customers. The time of day has a lot to do with who's waiting in line for a turkey sandwich or homemade chili. Cops and nurses arrive bleary-eyed from their late night shifts, starving USC kids troop in after the "big game", and dressed up folks show up after performances at the Music Center. My friend Karen isn't allowed to come home to Agoura from a meeting downtown without Phillipe's beef sandwiches and HOT mustard for Big Al.

More than one visitor to Phillipe's has commented "If only these walls could talk." In actuality, they do! Take time to walk around the tables loaded with customers to see the timeworn photographs of circus trains, of old time film stars and treasures from our city's baseball history. Stand by the doorway and think of the homesick soldiers that bought coffee from here for a nickel and noted how the coleslaw was every bit as good as their mom's in Missouri. The only thing missing today is the distant steam whistles from departing Southern Pacific trains.

If its too crowded for you on the main floor, you can climb wooden stairs to rooms pressed into service for the truly hungry. In the 1950s there were old timers who told us school boys about those upper floors, and how the place had once been a "flop house" (a place of ill repute) hotel above a machine shop.

In 1927, the Binder brothers bought the restaurant from Phillipe himself and carefully preserved the quality and great taste of the food since. Ask the woman who serves you at the counter, how long she's been with the company and you will be amazed.

Happy birthday Phillipe's, you make our city a great place in which to live!

HISTORIC IMAGES OF JOHN FRANCIS POLYTECHNIC HIGH SCHOOL REVEALED

On Friday April 21, 1939, an article entitled "Poly Gets Its History In Art" was published on the front page of the Los Angeles Herald Express. The following images are from that piece.

Original Commercial High School Image - by Orpha Klinker 1939 - Collection of Phyllis Hansen 2008 - Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley (click on image to enlarge)

'These paintings telling the history of Polytechnic High School were presented to the school today as a memorial to the late John H. Francis, long principal. The paintings are by Orpha Klinker, a graduate. Polytechnic was the first commercial high school in the city." (LA Herald Examiner 1939)

Second Commercial High School Structure - Painting by Orpha Klinker 1939 - Collection of Phyllis Hansen 2008 - Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley (click on image to enlarge)
"This is a painting of the old Commercial High School built in 1900. The name of the school was changed to Polytechnic and technical courses added. The painting are being given to the school by the alumni association. This painting shows the third Poly High building, which was erected on Washington Boulevard and Hope street in 1905. Now the pillared main building and the old auditorium have been replaced with modern structures." (LA Herald Examiner 1939)

First Polytechnic High School Structure - Painting by Orpha Klinker 1939 - Collection of Phyllis Hansen 2008 - Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley (click on image to enlarge)

"This painting shows the third Poly High building, which was erected on Washington Boulevard and Hope street in 1905. Now the pillared main building and the old auditorium have been replaced with modern structures." This painting shows the third Poly High building, which was erected on Washington Boulevard and Hope street in 1905. Now the pillared main building and the old auditorium have been replaced with modern structures." (LA Herald Examiner 1939)

Second Polytechnic High School Structure - Painting by Orpha Klinker 1939 - Collection of Phyllis Hansen 2008 - Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley (click on image to enlarge)

As the 20th century approach, the city of Los Angeles established its first technical school dedicated to business. Called Commercial High, the school was located very near today's Music Center. The school remained in that location from 1897 until 1905, when it moved into a new location on the corners of Flower/Hope Street and Washington Boulevard, in the Civic Center.
In 1935, four years before Orpha Klinker made a gift of three important paintings of the school's historic buildings, the school was renamed John H. Francis Polytechnic High School after its founding principal. It is the city's second oldest high school. A bust of John Francis is kept at the entrance of the school's auditorium.
To meet the need for additional space , Poly High was relocated to its present location in 1955. Today John Francis Polytechnic High School covers 40 acres of land. It offers academic class and important vocational opportunities. The high school was badly damaged in both the Sylmar and Northridge earthquakes, but perhaps more so by cutbacks in support of commercial and vocational education. The civic leaders of Los Angeles in 1897 understood the importance to our community and nation of vocational education. Perhaps, it is time for us to revisit its value to our future.

John H. Francis Polytechnic High School
12431 Roscoe Boulevard Sun Valley, CA 91352
tel: (818) 394-3600 fax: (818) 771-0452

The Museum of the San Fernando Valley collects artifacts and information about John Francis Polytechnic High School and the life and times of the great California artist Orpha Klinker. Our thanks to Phyllis Hansen for sharing these materials.
The San Fernando Valley, in the heart of the Creative Capital of the World, deserves a great Museum of history and culture.

BUTTERFIELD STAGE EVENT SCHEDULE

The Butterfield-Overland Stagecoach
Rides Again!
Campo de Cahuenga
Invites you to join the
Sesquicentennial Ceremonies
Sunday, October 19, 2008.
Stagecoach embarks
at 10 a.m.

Gather at the Campo “staging area” at 9:30 a.m. to
be part of this 150th Anniversary
and witness the re-enactment of the historic first ride
of the first overland transcontinental mail service
between St. Louis and Los Angeles in 1858.

The circa 1858 horse-drawn stagecoach departs from
Campo de Cahuenga, an original Butterfield-Overland stage stop,
on a once-in-a-lifetime procession through the San Fernando Valley. More celebrations at three more stops along the 18.9 mile route.

Free admission
3919 Lankershim Boulevard, North Hollywood, CA
Details: www.campodecahuenga.com
Inquiries, Campo de Cahuenga Historical Memorial Association:
campodecahuenga1847@hotmail.com


Route:
Campo de Cahuenga Departs 10 a.m., west on Ventura Boulevard

Los Encinos State Historic Park Estimated Arrival 12:30-1:30 p.m.

Tarzana Community and Cultural Center Estimated Arrival 2:45-3:45 p.m.

Leonis Adobe, Calabasas Estimated Arrival 5:30 p.m.


A little Butterfield-Overland Stagecoach history:

On September 16, 1858, the first Butterfield-Overland Stagecoach left St. Louis, Missouri on its inaugural trip across the country to deliver the mail. Arriving at Campo de Cahuenga in the historic Cahuenga Pass on October 7 or 8, where it changed horses and departed for the Mission San Fernando 15 miles distant. This major feat heralded the first overland transcontinental mail service across the United States, an event that can be compared in significance to the advent of the internet today. Celebrations are taking place across the country to acknowledge the importance of stage lines in the 19th century.


Follow the Stage
You are invited to follow the stage on October 19 and celebrate at each of the four official events along the San Fernando Valley route.

THE GREAT BUTTERFIELD STAGE RE-ENACTMENT Oct 19th

Community to celebrate Butterfield / Overland Stagecoach

There was a new moon and a cold chill on that early morning in October 1858 as a single bugle call echoed from somewhere atop the Cahuenga Pass. It was about 3:40 a.m. on October 19, 1858 and those few who heard that horn could hardly imagine the importance of the event, for at that moment, on that day, in that month and year, the young State of California could finally know a genuine sense of “belonging” to the United States of America . With the crack of a whip and the pounding of hooves, the Butterfield Overland stagecoach had arrived, along with regular stagecoach service between St. Louis and California – and all points in between.

The tragedy of the Donner party (just eleven years before) still haunted the minds of many, and the completion of the transcontinental railroad was still eleven years in the future. The thought of a six to seven month land voyage by wagon train or a five month sea voyage to California left little doubt, there was no easy way to California . The trip was slow and difficult, and many travelers met their end along the trail. The Butterfield stage brought that era of sleepy isolation to a close. In about 23 days one could now travel by stage to St. Louis , where the railroad waited to whisk passengers to places east.

We invite you to bring your family and friends to join the Campo de Cahuenga as we recreate and celebrate the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the first Butterfield Overland Stagecoach. Welcome the coach and team as they arrive with special guest passengers, then learn about the rich history of the Butterfield, and the role of the Campo de Cahuenga in that history. Then help us send the coach on its way as it makes an 18 mile day-long journey along El Camino Real, with stops at Rancho Los Encino ( Los Encinos State Park ), the Tarzana Community Center and finally the Leonis Adobe for a grand fiesta.

Bring your family, your friends, and the kids as we remember and celebrate our rich past, and be a part of history as we make perhaps the last-ever horse drawn stagecoach run across the San Fernando Valley.