GRAIN PRODUCTION IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY 1890s

BUILDING A GREAT MUSEUM FOR THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

Unpublished Master's thesis by Lewis H. Height Jr. - University of California Los Angeles August 1953 "Settlement Patterns of the San Fernando Valley, Southern California.

Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Justin Height, Lompoc, California 2014. (click on image to enlarge it.)

Grain production in the San Fernando Valley in the 1890s. The ranch in the foreground and that in the distance were units of the Los Angeles Farm and Milling Company lands. The view is from the area west of the present (1953) Sherman Oaks looking northwest toward Santa Susanna Pass. Original photograph was in the archives of Security First National Bank, Los Angeles. 

GRAND OLD MSSION HOTEL IN SAN FERNANDO - LONG GONE

2010 THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTRUES

Mission Hotel in San Fernando c. 1890. Detail from a gift to the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Marc Wanamaker 2010 - (click on image to enlarge)

In the late 1800s there was a significant land boom in the San Fernando Valley. Small towns in the Valley found themselves growing rapidly. In the City of San Fernando, a major hotel was built near the modern intersections of Laurel Canyon Boulevard and South Brand Street. Called the Mission Hotel, the building was a fine example of Victorian architecture.

NORTH HOLLYWOOD PARK - A PRINCE OF A PLACE

2010 -- THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES
Photo of Prince Ranch – now North Hollywood Park – gift of Beth Perrin for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley (click on image to enlarge)

In 1890, when the Lankershim Water and Development Company divided its San Fernando Valley lands into ranches for growing fruit, Alfred and Harry purchased 200 acres. The Princes were among the first pioneer American families who settled in the Valley. With the promise of Owens River water, the Princes planted their first fruit tree orchard. Like NoHo actors today, the Princes took secondary jobs until the trees matured. Almost a decade passed began to make money on North Hollywood produced fruit.
In 1909, Harry and Alfred Prince began drying their own produce and fruit from other ranches in the Valley. Soon great drying racks appeared on their lands.
In 1927 North Hollywood citizens began an effort to create a great park for their community. The land originally had 93 acres but much was lost during the construction of the divisive extension of the Hollywood Freeway north.
Emma Prince, Alfred’s widow, stated in 1971 that the stately eucalyptus trees that still stand in North Hollywood Park were there when the Prince brothers purchased the land.
The Museum of the San Fernando Valley’s walking tour of historic NoHo, begins at the statue of heroic Amelia Earhart in beautiful North Hollywood Park.

If you or your friends are interested in The Museum’s coming walking tour of the NoHo, give us a call to be on our contact list: 1 (818) 347-9665

MINNIE ANDREWS TOLUCA CALIF c 1890

2009 - The Year of Valley History
Minnie Andrews - Toluca, Calif. - Photo gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from David High July 2009 (click on image to enlarge)

This photo of the handsome Miss Minnie Andrews, taken around 1890 to 1900, is part of the wonderful collection of historic photographs donated to your Museum by Dave High. It is featured here, not only to show off our new treasure, but to exemplify the challenges of such a gift.
We begin by scanning the image and giving it a number. In Miss Andrews case it is: artifact number: 0709-032-951 HC 4
We record its condition, donor, year and month of the donation, if it has been scanned, where it is located as an electronic image (in this case HISTORIC PERSONS, Andrews), where the original is located, and additional notes. In this case the notes read: " Miss Minnie Andrews – Toluca, Calif. c 1890
Art Studio Sunbeam 236-238 South Main Street, Los Angeles, Calif."
We will be soon water marking all of our images used on the internet.
Then the fun begins: Who was Miss Andrews? When was the photo taken? How does she fit into the history of the San Fernando Valley?
Lot of work. If you or your organization wish to use an image belonging to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley please call us.
Do we have an expert out there who can advise us about watermarks? 1 (818) 347-9665

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