CARL SCHAEFER DENTZEL GAVE NORTHRIDGE ITS NAME

BUILDING A GREAT MUSEUM FOR THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

CARL SCHAEFER DENTZEL

1913 - 1980

Memorial booklet "Carl S. Dentzel - A perpetual Spirit of the American Southwest"  Published by the Southwest Museum 1980. Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Paul Alexander Dentzel 2014.  (click on images to enlarge them.)

Carl S. Dentzel preserved much of American's Native American heritage at the Southwest Museum.

Carl Dentzel was born in 1913. His childhood was spent in Beverly Hills, where his father was mayor.  As a youth he traveled extensively in Europe and parts of Asia. His interest in the people he encountered led to a career in journalism, the study of history and the arts, and international affairs. Just prior to World War II, he worked a news correspondent. In 1940, Dentzel moved to an area of the San Fernando Valley between the Utopian religious settlement of Zelzah and North Los Angles.He coined the name Northridge for his community.

Very quickly, Carl Dentzel became a leader in the cultural affairs of the Valley and Los Angeles.

During the Second World War, Carl Dentzel worked tirelessly to cement relations between the United States, Mexico and Central and South America. He served as Executive Secretary for the Southern California Council for Inter American Affairs.

Carl Dentzel was the Director of the Southwest Museum for 25 years. His work to conserve the cultural heritage of Los Angeles resulted in the preservation of the El Pueblo de Los Angeles, and the creation of the city's Cultural Heritage Board. 

 Carl S. Dentzel and his beloved wife Elizabeth Waldo on their Northridge rancho.

Musician and composer, Elizabeth Waldo. Ms. Waldo performs and creates New World music and continues the Dentzel family tradition of intercultural music in Northridge.

HIGHLIGHTS OF RANCHO CORDELLERA DEL NORTE

2010 -- The Year of Valley Adventures -- Northridge100
Tunisian Carpet - Rancho Cordellera del Norte - Photo for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley by Gerald Fecht 2010

Often visitors to a theatrical center such as Rancho Cordellera del Norte miss some of the most important aspects of the stay. Since the Rancho does not have connections to well known celebrities or major historical events, folks skip over the many treasures presented from a lifetime of memorabilia collecting.
During my visit to the Rancho, I saw things that deserve study and attention. For example, in the theater there is a Tunisian carpet of endless surprises. Each segment of the hand-made rug deservedly included in the Op-Art genre so famous just a few years ago. Behind each knot lies a story of labor, often by children, to make such a treasure.
Visitors to the Theater of Rancho Cordellera del Norte - Northridge100 Centennial Bus Tour presented by The Museum of the San Fernando Valley.
Medieval Lion - Guarding the entrance of the Theater of Rancho Cordellera del Norte

Northridge treasures to share? Contact your Museum today. 1 (818) 347-9665

RANCHO CORDELLERA DEL NORTE

2010 -- The Year of Valley Adventures -- Northridge100
Compound structure on Rancho Cordellera del Norte - Photo by Gerald Fecht for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley - 2010 - Northridge Centennial (click on images to enlarge)
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzeNSVXKVBw2NTovmO8UTCmvNMcxqdrTxoIEa8Nxhz1VoOVFcsUe18zBrQcDXajczquDcISGwLVTXQeaFyxCNvu5AcwL3v13TT8Dl-n43EZ_f-sAZpfBDmHugDhiJf4GltxuhgQYR_Fb0/s1600-h/RANCHO3.jpg">Theater building on Rancho Cordellera del Norte - Photo by Gerald Fecht 2010
Elizabeth Waldo Dentzel is a concert violinist and music impresario, who oversees regular concerts in this theater. She is the founder of the Pan-Asian Ensemble.
Visitors are welcomed to Rancho Cordellera del Norte at this office structure.

In the days when the San Fernando Valley was home to horse ranches and orchards, it was a common practice to give romantic Spanish names to property. Rancho Cordellera del Norte is one such place. From an agricultural compound established in the 1920s, today's rancho was developed by its second owners, Carl Schaefer Dentzel and his wife Elizabeth Waldo Dentzel. Carl Dentzel was a community activist who worked for the naming of Northridge.

Rancho Cordellera del Norte
9015 Wilbur Avenue
Northridge, CA 91324

A SMALL ICON REVEALS VALLEY RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS

2010 -- The Year of Valley History -- Northridge100
Icon of Saint George Saving a Virgin - Rancho Cordellera del Norte Northridge - Photograph for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley by Gerald Fecht 2010 (click on image to enlarge)

Important windows to history appear in many forms and in often unusual places. In a small curio room, adjacent to the main theater area at Rancho Cordellera del Norte is a book-sized textile icon of Saint George slaying a dragon demon. The icon appears to be an image produced by Coptic Ethiopians.
While, at present I know of no Ethiopian Coptic community in the San Fernando Valley, handsome Saint Mary Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church is located at 5505 West Slauson Avenue in Los Angeles.
On our recent bus tour of historic Northridge, we passed by the impressive new home of Saint Mary and Saint Athanasius Coptic Church at 17431 Roscoe Boulevard (818) 342-4414) that is an American branch of the ancient Christian Church of Alexandria Egypt. I haven't had the honor of visiting this church, but hope to do so as part of the Northridge100 celebration.
Around the year 42, a branch of the Christian Church was established in Alexandria, Egypt. It is commonly believed that the first bishop of this ancient community was the Evangelist Mark (one of the four authors of the New Testament). When the Muslim Caliph Omar conquered Egypt in the early 600s, members of the Coptic church were forcibly converted to Islam or relegated into an impoverished status. Copts are still badly persecuted in Egyptian society.
A major Roman Catholic church in Encino is dedicated to the Coptic Christian Saint Cyril of Alexandria.

If you have stories or artifacts to share about Northridge history and culture, contact your Museum today. 1 (818) 347-9665

FERDINANDO NAMESAKE OF THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

2010 -- The Year of Valley History -- Northridge100

Fernando King of Spain- Rancho Cordellera del Norte - Photograph for the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley by Gerald Fecht 2010
On the grounds of Rancho Cordellera del Norte in Northridge, there is an odd little statue of king Ferdinand (1217 to 1252). The sculpture, made of concrete, has a charming disregard for anatomical correctness giving it the look like an enlarged Medieval chess piece. (I love it.)

Share your stories, photographs and memorabilia of San Fernando Valley history. Your Museum's work number is 1 (818) 347-9665