“Steve Bucknam built his home on the corner of Lindley Avenue and Rayen Street in Northridge, California. Steve is standing on the slab of the house that he built himself. He is standing with his oldest son. The picture was taken in the spring of 1951. That is Lindley Avenue in the background. Steve passed away in 2004, the house remains in the family.”
A snapshot of Northridge Elementary in 1957. The school stood on the corner of Nordhoff and Reseda.
Neil Buckman, a Northridge native, shares these photographs as part of the celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Northridge, the Zelzah Colony and Porter Ranch.
24 comments:
First known as Zelzah Elementary School, it was located at 9036 Reseda Boulevard, Southeast corner at intersection of Nordhoff Street. Building later razed for the construction of The World Bank.
Also because of earthquake safety. Who remembers the teacher Bertha Starr? The students were relocated to the new Prairie Street School (since razed) on the campus of Valley State ( now Cal State Northridge)
I am Neil's older brother Steve. I attended Northridge Elementary from 1951 til 1957. Our Principal was Ella Waterhouse, some of the teachers were, Mrs Sawyer, Mrs Allen,Mrs Yamamoto, Mr Conte, Mrs Fitzhugh and Mrs Downey. Paggi's Corn Stand was across the street on Reseda. The Annual Northridge Stampede was held just south of his property.
Steve Bucknam, Laguna Niguel, CA
I was there 54 to 57. I remember Mrs. Waterhouse and Mr. Conte. Mrs. Starr was a horror and someone wrote an article several years ago in the LA Times mentioning her. Somewhere I have the class pictures. Remember Monty Montana coming each year to perform his rope tricks on his horse on the playground.? And I think it was every Thursday having square dancing? The Lutheran church was catty corner and there was a row of eucalyptus trees on Nordhoff next to the school. The stampede was the big highlight. I won a chick that grew into a huge rooster.
I went there 63-64 the last year it was open. I recall one of the main reasons for its closure was earthquake safety. The next year I went to Topeka Elementary.
I don't think Northridge elementary as pictured was open till 64?
I went there from 1951 to 1955. I remember the corn field across the street and the eucalyptus trees along Nordhoff. Growing up in Northridge in those days was very special....great memories. I was last there about 20 years ago and recognized practically nothing along Reseda Bl.
I attended from about 1947 to 1953. Mrs. Fitzhugh was my favorite teacher. I can still picture her. My older brother John Yznaga was 3 years ahead of me and Joe was 5 years behind.
Connie Yznaga Davis
I remember Mrs. Waterhouse and Monte Montana coming to the school. I lived nearby on Vincennes between Plummer and Lindly..our house is now a college parking lot. It used to be orange groves and fields.
I attended from about 1947 to 1953. Mrs. Fitzhugh was my favorite teacher. I can still picture her. My older brother John Yznaga was 3 years ahead of me and Joe was 5 years behind.
Connie Yznaga Davis
I must have had Bertha Starr at the end of her illustrious career, for 6th grade at Calahan Street School in Northridge. She scared the crap out of all of us. She had flaming, dyed red hair. She had a white comb with red dye infused through it. Someone found her car in the teacher's parking lot and covered the windshield in gum and then poured sand all over it. The worst teacher I had at Calahan was Mr. Barrows, for 3rd grade. He was mean and hated children. He delighted in humiliation and breaking spirits. I had a wonderful teacher there named Mr. Tepner (sp?) for 4th grade, however.
I spent the first part of kindergarten at Northridge elementary in 1957
then I went to Calahan elementary. Mrs Waterhouse was our principal.
Mrs Starr was there then, I still remember her and was so glad I never had her.
When I was in high school one of my teachers told me his son had her, that must have been around 1970.
we was still awful.
Lived on Yolanda in Northridge and attended Northridge Elementary School and then transferred to Calahan when it opened. At Northridge my favorite teacher was Mrs. Sawyer. She lived up on Devonshire and her next door neighbor was Jack Oakie. A great guy that had his hair cut every Sat. mornings at Angelos Barber Shop.
Attended kindergarten there in 1956. I remember the janitor, Mr. Moffet (sp. ? sorry) who comforted me when I chased a ball onto brand new playground asphalt and was crying my eyes out! I remember the wood floors in the classrooms that smelled freshly waxed every day, radiators for heat, and chocolate cookies and milk furnished by the school. I remember a flower and vegetable patch on the school grounds. It was a beautiful school. I walked home down Reseda Blvd., we lived on Geyser St.
Thanks for posting the photo. I attended from 1951-1956. The main building and also "bungalows" were used for classrooms. The cafeteria was in a separate building across the playground. The main building had wooden floors and stairwells at either end, and a large beautiful painting of flowers at one end of the hallway, upstairs. Ethel Waterhouse was the principal and a few of my teachers were Mr Boyington (3rd), Mrs Fitzhugh (5th) and Mr. Minegar (6th). I also remember the eucalyptus trees north of school, the corn field across the street (SW corner) and the Methodist Church, which I attended (NW corner of Reseda and Nordoff). Also have memories of carnivals with cotton candy, sno cones and game booths; Monty Montana and his horse performing rope tricks on the school play ground (his daughter, Linda, was a classmate at Northridge Elem); and a field trip (4th grade) to hear a full orchestra concert (perhaps LA Philharmonic??). Northridge was a great place to grow up with its fields and citrus groves. l've been back to see my former home near Parthenia and Louise Ave. Could barely recognize it due to remodeling and heavy vegetation--palm trees galore. And, could find nothing familiar about "uptown", as we often called it back then. Yikes!
I remember all the same things but you forgot the dreaded Mrs. Starr OMG!
What a lovely time. I was Santa Claus and Billy Ripple was The mouse in the Christmas performance of Santa Claus and the Mouse. Apparently height was more important than gender!
Went to Calahan Elementary from 1958 to 1962 before transferring to the new Devonshire Elementary to finish out grade school.I remember Principal Waterhouse. I had Mrs. Hansen for Kindergarten, Mrs. Washburn for 1st, and Mrs. King for 2nd.
Also remember Mrs. Starr and would run the other direction with my friends and I saw her.
My mom Mrs. Washburn taught school there. We lived directly across the street on Reseda Blvd. Great place to grow up.
Oh my gosh.. The memories of Northridge in the 60s! Here are some of the Calahan teachers I had...Mrs. Schlecter, Miss Held, Mr. Barrows, Mr. Mast, Mrs. Starr, Mr. Tepner, Mr. Roosevelt, not in that order. Mrs. Waterhouse was the principal, but then Mr. Jack Flynn became principal. Loved afterschool playground and summer there too part of the time. Lunches were 35 cents. Remember Mr. Valentine the music teacher? Square dancing too in the auditorium. Classrooms were filled with kids. And the grades were split e.g. A-1, A-2, so most of one's friends were within 4 or 5 months of each other. Kids rode bikes everywhere...
My name is Craig Messineo and I attended Northridge Elementary through the 4th grade. I loved growing up in Northridge during the 1950`s. It was just like living in the country, only with the occasional Mouseketeer or movie star driving their kids to school. I am an artist and I still remember how our school principal, Mrs. Waterhouse often took my watercolor paintings home, framed them and presented them as gifts to friends and family. It`s Sad that all of my student group photographs are lost but just like Charley Brown; there is one little red haired girl I will never forget. Her name is Margaret and all of my life I`ve wanted to tell her "I`m sorry for that time I was so mean and made you cry when we were kids." I will never forget her. I still reside in Northridge today. There is a mural depicting the Northridge Stampede with a portrait of myself located on the side of one of the oldest buildings in Northridge at 8814 Reseda Blvd. near the corner of Rayan street.
I started Northridge School in the 5th grade in 1950 with Mr. Wickman. He was the most beloved teacher there---he always had us laughing. We were shocked to find he committed suicide a few years later---we never knew why. My mom suspected he was in love with the secretary! Elna Waterhouse was principle. Mrs. Skibitzke was my teacher in 6th grade--the school overflowing and our room was the auditorium. We took our grad pix right outside on the steps under the arch. Mr. Sherrill came every week to the auditorium to teach us music. Loved the playground rings all in a row--I was known as the "grasshopper" when I swung on those. WE played Foursquare and Donkey on the handball court. Dovey Alder and Sandra Frye lived on Chase St. as I did. I went down to help Linda Montana and 1st graders with crafts, in a bungalow. Loved Monty's performances and the Stampede while it lasted. Jonny Yznaga was in my class. Gaye Sutherland, Mary Metcalfe, Joyce Linden, Carol and Stanley McIntyre, Jean Clark, were others in my class. Carolyn Belk was a blooming artist in a grade below. Took a class with her at the college later. Loved our carnivals. Most of the class went to John A. Sutter later. Just a few pleasant memories from Dorene.
Bob Armantrout...I graduated in 1958, Elna Waterhouse was the principal. I can't remember teachers names, but, I remember the playground like it was yesterday. Monty Montana would come to entertain us. He also passed me on my horsemanship merit badge for scouts. I rode to his ranch at the north end of reseda blvd. the stampede was a highlight for sure...I rode our horse Ginger in it once. So fun.
My best friend was Craig Johnson...still in contact. Same birthdays Dec. 1st.
Hello!
I attended Northridge Elementary in 1957 until Callahan Elementary was completed. I have a class photo from June 1958, if anyone is interested in it. The teacher was Mrs. Washburn.
Robin Irvine Brown
POst script to above post..... I lived at 9314 Yolanda.
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