MORE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE GREAT SNOW OF 1949 or was it 1948

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY            2013

As part of my self-discipline of going through our family photographs to identify images that may be of interest or value to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley, I encountered these "great snow" pictures. The photos are undated, and my wife (who was a 2nd or 3rd grader at the time) says they were taken in 1949.

1949 snow - Atoll Street North Hollywood

 This was the backyard of the Shreves' home. In front of the snow covered chair is a small rectangular fish pond.

My son Brendan says it snowed hard in 1988 or 1989. When are arrived for his classes at Notre Dame High School, having driven on the snow slick streets, the school declared a "snow day." 

 

 This is badly distorted photograph, but was included in this series to show the size of the snowman Dorr Shereves made for his little girl in North Hollywood. For some reason Mr. Shreves brought a snow shovel from Iowa in the family's relocation to California in 1947. The shovel, which has never been used again in the San Fernando Valley now resides in our family's Tarzana carport.

SNOW IN CHATSWORTH

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY                  2013

F.H. Schepler Realty Chatsworth, California after a snow - Photograph - Gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2013. 

VAN NUYS SNOW PHOTOS FROM 1950

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY         2013

It's interesting to see what sorts of things energize folks, especially where their memories are concerned. Few things seem to annoy people more than the year/s the great San Fernando Valley snow/s occurred. Some photographs in The Museum's archives are marked 1948 and others 1949. There appear to even be conflicting newspaper accounts. 

Now to give passionate historians more to get excited about, here are a series of photographs just donated to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Arlene Bernholz with yet another date marked on the back of each image "1950".

What do you believe accounts for the differences in these dates?  Were there several great snowstorms?

 "House front - Sherman Way 1950 - Photos gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Arlene Bernholtz 2013  (click on images to enlarge them.)  Photo 5821P

Photo 5823

 This house was located at 17251 Sherman Way in Van Nuys. 
Photo 5822 - some damage on left front corner

 Snow covered ornamental shrubs - 1950 - Van Nuys.

This photograph reveals the address of the house, just by the bough of Christmas fir above the screen door.Photo 5825

 This woman holds a ping pong paddle, indicating that the table by which she is standing it part of a ping pong set. Photo 5816 - Notation reads: "After barn connected from Children's corner nursery school."

Photo 5817

 Snow covered outdoor bar-b-q place.   Photo 5818

 

Man in Mexican sombrero shoveling snow in 1950. Photo 5819

THE GREAT SNOW OF 1949

CHERISHING OUR VALLEY          2012

 The Demetropoulos home in 1949

This photo arrived at The Museum space today. It depicts a famous San Fernando Valley event, the great snow of 1949. The address is 14025 Peach Grove Street (I think in Sherman Oaks). The Demetropoulos family moved to the Valley in 1948. 

SHERMAN OAKS - SNOW OF 1948 ???

2010  THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES

Each time I publish a photograph of snow in the San Fernando Valley with the dates 1948 or 1949, I get calls taking one side or another. I haven't checked the newspapers on this, but am coming to the conclusion that there may have been two snow falls, one in late December and the other in early January.

(Who wants to be the detective here?)  Photograph number 1938 was donated to the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley by Gary Fredburg November 2010. (click on image to enlarge) 
This image has a note saying “1948  Greenleaf and Van Nuys – Sherman Oaks”

Further Notes: 
My wife Janne disagrees that there was a snow in 1948. Her family moved here in 1949 from Iowa, and she recalls that her mother sent her to school and no other children came.
David Corsa writes
  "Responding to blogspot about snow, there was no snow storm in 1948 to which I can find newspaper articles.  The only articles are for the famous storm of 1949 which was a 3-day event on January 10-12.

 Attached are two articles from L.A. Times

 You can search for Times articles through the public library www.lapl.org then click on database, follow the password directions, go to the Proquest database, and then search the L. A. Times.

 Please advise your readers that there memories are mistaken about 1948.

 Regards  David

SNOW BLANKETS THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY IN 1948

2010 THE YEAR OF VALLEY ADVENTURES Northridge100

The Snow of 1948 - Photo gift to the Archives of The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gary Fredburg 2010.

On the lookout for photographs and memorabilia of historic Northridge, Zelzah and Porter Ranch, Gary Fredburg discovered this great image of the great snow of "February 1948."
The photo is marked as having been taken "Looking south on Lindley (Avenue) from Nordoff (Street).

SNOW ABOVE THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY - JUST DREAMING!

2009 - The Year of Valley History

Fabulous San Fernando Valley - vintage postcard - 1975 - gift to The Museum of the San Fernando Valley from Gerald Fecht - 2009

One of the exciting parts about working to bring about a great Museum of history and culture for the greater San Fernando Valley is meeting people with a genuine interest in our historical heritage. At the recent paper and postcard show in Glendale, I had just found this charming postcard from 1975 of snow on the San Gabriel Mountains. I was marveling at the message side of the card, that had detailed information about a woman named Luisa who was sending to "Cinema Concurso 34" at KMEX TV Channel in Hollywood, her address, telephone number and social security number..... wow! I wondered how much identity theft went on in the mid- '70s? I bought the postcard for a dollar and put it in a bag with other little treasures in The Museum's Library.
Just then, Gary Fredburg (Secretary of The Museum) introduced me to Barry O. Balin, a resident of Woodland Hills. Mr. Balin, I discovered is an historical archivist with a significant interest in San Fernando Valley history. As I was leaving, I told Barry the same thing I have told many of you, "Now you have your very own Museum."