NO HO HISTORIC WALKING TOUR THIS SATURDAY

DISCOVERING OUR VALLEY      2011

If you haven't gone on one of The Museum's historic walking tours of the No Ho, you really owe it to yourself. It meets this Saturday at 10 am at the Amelia Earhart statue in North Hollywood Park (Tujunga and Magnolia). Donation is $10 (but, you are welcomed to give zillions more.)
These two newspaper photographs from the Valley Times (October 8, 1958) will be explained in detail by Richard Hilton on the tour. It's a good idea to make reservations for this great adventure.

 This is a photo of the San Fernando Valley's first cannery. It is the barn of W. H. Andrews at the northwest corner of Lankershim and Magnolia. It was called 4th Street in 1898. Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley - gift of Gerald Fecht 2011 (click on image to enlarge)

A. H. Prince was the owner of this apricot orchard when this photo was taken c. 1900. He is standing above the the workers holding a picking stick. His orchard and dryers were located where North Hollywood Park stands today. Your walking tour will begin near where these fruit trees once stood.
(click on image to enlarge)

A DAY WITH "PORKY" JOHNSON

2010  THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES

One of the most interesting people in the San Fernando Valley is "Porky" Johnson, Country-Western Music Historian. At 86, Porky is busy in his North Hollywood workshop restoring and preserving vital elements of Valley and American music history. Filled with fascinating stories, Porky is determined to share his historical memorabilia with future generations. Here is a sample of his legacy.

 Porky was about 18 years old when this photograph was taken of him at the eastern edge of North Hollywood Park. The automobiles parked behind him are facing South on Tujunga Avenue. The telephone poles go East on Weddington Street. 

 Porky Johnson holds a blue ribbon that he won in 1939 in a bicycle race. He's pretty sure that this helped create his lifelong love of racing.(click on image to enlarge)

 Porky Johnson rewarded himself last year with the first new motorcycle he's ever owned --- for his 85th birthday.  (Photo for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley by Gerald Fecht - November 2010. - click on image to enlarge)

 Doye O'Dell shirt - collection of Porky Johnson

Made for the performer Doye O'Dell, this classic cowboy shirt was made in North Hollywood by Nudie, "the tailor to the stars." Below - leather label on the inside of the shirt's collar.

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