DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY 2011
Bob Peppermuller is at it again, working to save San Fernando Valley "Redcar" history. Here he shares a sign indicating the location of the McKinley Home for Boys in Van Nuys (later Sherman Oaks. The McKinley Home opened at its location on Riverside Drive in 1923. It served abused and neglected children there until 1960, when it moved to its present location in San Dimas.
(Click on the image to enlarge the sign.)
“This sign is from the Pacific Electric passenger stop in the
middle of Chandler Blvd. at Woodman Ave. The McKinley Home was south on Woodman
at Riverside Drive.
Typically the sign would be about 15 feet up on a pole
holding the trolley wires. After the San Fernando line was abandoned, at 3pm on
December 29, 1952 when power was cut, all the track material was removed down
to about three blocks north of Santa Monica Blvd. on Highland Ave in Hollywood.
This sign ended up in the Southern Pacific railroad yard in San Bernardino where
the back was painted with a "No Parking" sign. It was saved from the
being scrapped and ended up in a railroad swap meet where I purchased it.”
Bob Peppermuller 2011 - North Hollywood