OLIVE VIEW HOSPITAL

BUILDING A GREAT MUSEUM FOR THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

In the first decade of the 20th century, the north eastern areas of the San Fernando Valley were widely believed to have the best climate, and healthiest air, in America. For that reason, Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini and her nuns established a boarding school in northern Burbank as a place of refuge for girls cramped into the dank sweatshops of the eastern seaboard. 

In 1920, a tuberculosis sanitarium was establhed in Sylmar, and was soon acclaimed to be one of the best such hospitals in the United States. During World War II Olive View was quietly prepared to received what was possibly thousands of wounded soldiers expected from an invasion of the mainland of Japan. This was true also of Birmingham Hospital (now Birmingham High School in Lake Balboa.) 

 The surgical wing of Olive View Hospital c. 1940 - Historic postcard - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2014.  (click on images to enlarge them.)

 A few of the Women's Wards: Olive View Hospital c. 1940 - Historic postcard - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2014. 

With tuberculosis contained, the hospital complex was retooled as an acute care hospital in 1962, in which the first successful open heart surgery was performed in the San Fernando Valley. Many of the buildings and landscaping of Olive View Hospital were destroyed in the San Fernando Earthquake of 1971.

SAN FERNANDO VALLEY STATE COLLEGE 1971

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY   2011

 Postcard of San Fernando Valley State College  (now CSUN) made in 1970 - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2011.  (click on image to enlarge)

"One of the west's finest and fastest growing colleges in the beautiful San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles."

Students on the campus of San Fernando Valley State College 1972. (refer to photograph 2999) These young people had likely been friends at Los Angeles Pierce College in Woodland Hills before coming to Northridge. (click on image to enlarge)

PIERCE COLLEGE FRATERNITY PARTY IN 1971

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY   2011

On February 9, 1971, the brothers of the Chi Chi Chi Fraternity at Los Angeles Pierce College celebrated the anniversary of the founding of their organization.  These photographs, modified by color enhancement, are in the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley. When The Museum secures a work space in the near future, the public will be invited to work with a Museum volunteer to identify the young men and women in photographs such as these.

 Plaque presentation -XXX Fraternity Feb. 1971  (click on image to enlarge)  Photo number 2915
Paul Estavillo notes:  "Photo of Tom Royster, John Prince, Doug Wick, Chuck Helm and Bill Cheesman at the Falbrook."(I believe Paul means at the Fallbrook Fraternity House?)

 Birthday Party -XXX Fraternity Feb. 1971  (click on image to enlarge)  Photo number 2913

 Singing -XXX Fraternity Feb. 1971  (click on image to enlarge)  Photo number 2910

 Two young women drinking -XXX Fraternity Feb. 1971  (click on image to enlarge)  Photo number 2911

Birthday Party Guests -XXX Fraternity Feb. 1971  (click on image to enlarge)  Photo number 2914
In the center of the hearth is Paul Estavillo in orange sweater.

MARDI GRAS AT PIERCE COLLEGE - THIS TIME IN 1971

2010  THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES

After I published the previous posting on this blog, I received two snapshots taken at Pierce College at the 1971 Mardi Gras. Saving the Pierce College Farm Center, where these Mardi Gras rides were located,  is important to the history of the entire San Fernando Valley.

 Mardi Gras ride in 1971 at Los Angeles Pierce College. Photo gift from Linda Burroughs to the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley 2010.

If you have photographs of the Pierce College Farm Center or Mardi Gras at the West San Fernando Valley's favorite community college, please contact your Museum soon. Your photographs shouldn't end up at a garage sale.
Call The Museum at 1 (818) 347-9665

OPENING OF JOHN F. KENNEDY HIGH SCHOOL IN GRANADA HILLS

2010 THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES

Opening Kennedy High School Sept. 1971 - news clipping - gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gerald Fecht 2010
Left: William Albers (principal), Carolina Maslen (girls’vp), Robert Ross (boys vp) and Dr. Norman Schacter Superindendent of Area K LAUSD.

MISSION SAN FERNANDO STILL RECOVERING IN 1972

2010 THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES

News photo of the exterior of the Mission San Fernando Rey de Espana - Feb 24, 1972 - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Beth Perrin 2010.

Still chained to visitors, the Mission San Fernando took years to recover from the great earthquake of February 1971. Article was in the Los Angeles Times. The photo was by Cal Montney.

MISSION CITY HOTEL 1971

2010 THE YEAR OF VALLEY HISTORY

Mission City Hotel - News clipping - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Beth Perrin 2010.
On February 4, 1972 the Van Nuys News and Valley Green Sheet published this photograph of the Mission City Hotel. The structure was located at 1128 San Fernando Road. It was shattered by the great “Sylmar Earthquake” of February 9, 1971. The exterior walls collapsed leaving the second and third floors exposed. Shortly after this photograph was taken the building was demolished.


The structures that replaced the Mission City Hotel in 1972. Note the mission bell light standard.

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