The politicians used to blame Daylight Savings Time on the farmers, but the farmers didn’t particularly care what time the clock said. They were up at sunrise. Alas and alack, we’ve misplaced an hour of sleep this fine Sunday morn.
Best we see if we can find an extra one in the yesteryear.
(Editor’s note: We misplaced that hour about a month ago, but apparently the Time Ranger just noticed.)
This morning, we’ve a most interesting trek ahead, what with psycho gunmen, the Cisco Kid, Ronald Reagan almost getting a local forest named after him and a look at a famous local baseball player who has the worst possible name for a major league pitcher — Bob Walk.
C’mon. Put a smidge of a heel to your mount, offer some encouragement and look straight ahead into years gone by …
WAY, WAY BACK WHEN
ALAS, POOR IGGY, WE HARDLY KNEW THEE — Back on March 30, 1880, Ignacio del Valle died. He was one of the last of the truly great landowners here, a mayor of Los Angeles and one of Southern California’s major political players. He wasn’t a great businessman and, coupled with a series of environmental events, was forced to sell his vast holdings here. Interestingly, the new owners of his Rancho Camulos allowed him to stay in his home and lease his land for crops. Interestingly, as a renter, Iggy made more money than as a landowner.
WE’LL GET IT THERE OVERNIGHT, OR, MAYBE, 17 YEARS LATER — After being closed for 17 years because no one was sending any mail to Castaic and no one was getting any, the Post Office reopened on April 3, 1917, in Sam Parson’s general store in Castaic.
WALK, DON’T RUN — Before we get moseying too much, we best say howdy to George Vernon Walk. G.V. somehow got the nickname of “Bob.”
He was born in 1901 and seven years later, his family settled into a little 15-acre ranch at the base of Fremont Pass (on the Sierra Highway/San Fernando Valley side of the SCV today). Bob lived in a tent for a couple of years while his family built their house and outbuildings. Later, he would ride his bike 6 miles one way to San Fernando High. That’s AFTER milking the cows and selling some of the product to railroad crews.
He played piano in a parlor of ill repute and was an assistant to a local bootlegger. A doctor diagnosed Walk (still a teen) with tuberculosis and gave the boy just a year to live. Walk would last a little longer than that and live here in the SCV for more than 80 years.
As a young man, Bob met Nell Gordon after he heard she was engaged. She said she had been asked the day before, but hadn’t given an answer yet. Bob asked Nell on a date and proposed. She accepted. Her mom suggested they wait a year until she turned 15. He would be at her bedside, helping deliver all three of their children.
In the early 1920s, part of their ranch became a gas station (the foundations to which are still there today).
The old-timer’s grandson would also be called Bob Walk. You baseball fans might remember him. The Hart High baseball ace went on to pitch in the majors and would even notch a win in the World Series.
APRIL 4, 1926
TODAY? IT’S CALLED LITTERING. — A century ago, years ago, it was called, “advertising.” Lysle R. Baas opened his brand new Newhall Pharmacy. To spice up the event, he hired a biplane that not only buzzed the Newhall-Saugus area, but also dropped thousands of leaflets. Baas was obviously a Renaissance Man. He not only ran the pharmacy and designed the leaflets, he also flew the plane. Guy almost crashed twice, too.
ACTION JACKSON — I’m not sure if this was ever built, but plans for the Jackson Ranch subdivision in upper Bouquet Canyon were OK’d by the county. The site was 17 miles north of the junction and was supposed to be 200 cabins.
STILL TRUE TODAY — Well. We finally got an editorial stance right. On this date 100 years back, here is our entire op/ed thought for the week: “As might have been expected, with the growth of the surrounding country, and from the influx of new settlers, the price of real estate is mounting every day. Anyone who doubts this should go out, as the writer did, and try to buy an acre or more of ground. There is no new supply of land, while everything else dependent on land is increasing.”
OUR MOST POPULAR POLITICIAN IN SCV HISTORY — R.R. Carr was a popular local politician. He ran for re-election to the Newhall School Board and garnered 60 votes to his opponent’s 2.
APRIL 4, 1936
THE TRAGIC LIFE OF A.B. PERKINS — Historian A.B. Perkins had more than his share of heartbreak. On this date, his 11-year-old son, Charles, died after falling from a moving car. The auto was driven by his older brother, Valentine. Charles reportedly reached out to touch a bicyclist as they were passing the rider. The boy lost his balance and fell to his death. School at Newhall Elementary was closed when word spread of the popular boy’s death. Just a week earlier, Charles had the lead in the school play. Oddly enough, little Charles, a year earlier, had been severely bitten by a rattlesnake and nearly died. A.B. would lose a second son. In 1954, Art Jr. died in a freak accident. While digging a well at his home in Colorado, he lit a cigarette, unaware that methane gas had filled the hole. He was blown up and died instantly.
PLACERITA LOSES A PIONEER — Joseph Reynier died on this date, too. He was the pioneer sheep rancher who homesteaded in Placerita Canyon at the age of 15, in 1865. His neighbor was Frank Walker, whose ranch is where Placerita Canyon Nature Center is today. Joe had three kids, a son, a daughter Josephine who lived in L.A. and a second girl who married Frank.
AND LIKE A BAD NEIGHBOR, GUESIPPI WAS THERE — The Suraco family goes way back to the early 19th century in Bouquet Canyon and the SCV. Patriarch Tony Suraco was almost killed by a neighbor on this date over a feud that had gone on for years. Tony was walking home from the old Bouquet schoolhouse when Guiseppe Stradiola pulled up next to him and started muttering something unintelligible. Stradiola fired at him with a big-ol’ high-powered Winchester 40-82 from just 20 yards away and missed. Suraco ran off with Stradiola in pursuit. His neighbor pulled off eight more shots, none hitting their mark. Suraco then headed for town where he ran his car smack dab into the old pharmacy building. He was arrested and hospitalized. Stradiola had earlier been visited by men from the county, who wanted to talk to him about buying his ranch to build a prison. Stradiola got the impression that they were going to take his ranch, and, he would have to pay THEM $400. Stradiola asked deputies not to “hang” him, but put him “somewhere where I can’t hurt anyone. My head isn’t right.” Thank goodness for old Tony, neither was his neighbor’s aim.
BELOW FREEZING? HERE? IN APRIL!?!? — A biting frost was responsible for killing off most of the peach and apricot crop here.
APRIL 4, 1946
THE RODEO RETURNS! — For four years, the world-famous Newhall-Saugus rodeo had been canceled due to a distraction called World War II. It was announced that the 20th annual cowboy fest would start up again at the end of April 1946 and locals were pretty happy. Right after WWII, “Big” Bill Bonelli used his ranch to host midget auto races and destruction derby cards.
FRED’S OPED WAS SPOT-ON — In a front-page opinion piece, Fred Trueblood noted an increase in things like dude ranches and “B” Westerns. The Signal editor felt that the standardization and suburbanization of America was to blame.
‘OH, PANCHO!!’ ‘OH, CISCO!!’ — Handsome Luis Antonio Damaso de Alonso was staying in town, filming the classic “Cisco Kid” at Melody Ranch. Back then, it was called the Placeritos Movie Studio. Luis created his own stage name from his two favorite actors — John Gilbert and Ruth Roland. Hence, Gilbert Roland. Twice in his life, he turned to his youthful training and almost became a professional bullfighter. His mom would send him money in New York for food, but he often spent it going to the movies. His career took off after appearing in the 1925 movie, “Camille.” Roland’s best friend? Buster Keaton. Roland was responsible for being the original force for changing the stereotypical portrayal of Mexicans in film.
PUT ME DOWN FOR TWO — You know how I’m always warning you folks about trying to sneak things from the past into the present in that it may disrupt the time continuum? Somebody hold me back, please. On this date, former deputy John Seltzer was selling his 128-acre Bouquet Canyon ranch, complete with working well, buildings, houses, etc. Johnny’s asking price — $6,800.
APRIL 4, 1956
THE CRIPPLING PRICE OF GASOLINE AT 32 CENTS A GALLON — That’s for regular and 36 cents for high test. A gas war lowered some of those nosebleed levels down to 26 and 28 cents a gallon for a while locally. Need I remind? We’re sneaking back toward $6 a gallon and more.
THAT DAM HOT DOG TRIVIA — About 6,000 people showed up to test the waters of the brand new Santa Felicia Dam. Most of you folks know it as the Piru Dam and lake. A little trivia: That first day they sold 1,000 hot dogs.
CAN YOU PLAY FAR, FAR AWAY? — John Kyupendall picked the wrong house in front of which to test his horn. The drunk kept beeping it, off and on, for over an hour. Sheriff’s Sgt. Lloyd Smith happened to live in said house and, worse for Kyupendall, was home during the serenade. He called a unit. The deputies confirmed: Kyupendall was completely, blottoed drunk and a one-note musician.
APRIL 4, 1966
ONE OF CIVILIZATION’S ONGOING PROBLEMS IS THE TEENAGE IDIOT — Whether it is a suicide bomber, graffiti knucklehead or seat slasher, the crimes may differ, but the perp is the same. On this date, the Plaza complained to local law enforcement about a wave of vandalism. Youths slashed 32 seats, valued at $52 each, plus started fires in the theater and threw just about everything imaginable at the screen of the new theater. The Plaza had to close twice — in mid-screening — during the weekend because of teen violence. Several of the youths were arrested. Interestingly, theater manager Eugene Medlin noted: “The attitude of the youths’ mothers was intolerable.” That darn history. Sure is tiringly circular sometimes.
SHOULD WE START A JUNIOR COLLEGE? WHO CARES? — The county commission of forming new school districts met at the Hart High Auditorium to take information and objections to forming a junior college district here. Hardly anyone attended the 20-minute meeting. On the bright side, no one opposed it.
APRIL 4, 1976
THE BIG CON — Literally hundreds of local SCVians were involved in a local Ponzi scheme. That’s where con men set up an investment scam, essentially robbing from Peter to pay Paul.
APRIL 4, 1986
WHAT’S SPRING WITHOUT SWIMMER’S ITCH? — That’s the malady that used to occur with regularity at Castaic Lagoon. The malady is usually traced to a snail — well, a whole bunch of them — that causes welts and rashes on bathers.
AH, THOSE HALCYON DAYS AT THE HAPPY HUMP — On this date, youth gangs from over the hill in the San Fernando Valley descended on Magic Mountain. Besides the usual mayhem, 20, say it with me — mostly teens — were arrested on weapons charges, robbery, assault and the usual drill.
HAS A NICE RING TO IT — As if they didn’t have enough to do, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously voted to rename the Angeles National Forest to the Ronald Reagan National Forest. Even Democrat Kenny Hahn voted for the bill, noting it would be easier to get funds for the Reagan Forest than the Angeles Forest. The measure needed congressional support. It never got it.
AVENIDA SEYMOUR BUTTS? — Crews were starting on a new housing project. It was called Valencia Summit. Some might wonder why there are some unusual names among the streets. Answer’s simple. The Boys & Girls Club used to auction off a “Street Named After You.” Hence, Starkus Way and Kirstengary Way.
• • •
Nice thing about time traveling is we don’t have to fret about losing time. Oh well. Modern life. I look forward to seeing all you saddlepals next weekend back here at The Mighty Signal hitching post with a brand new Time Ranger adventure, and, until then — vayan con Dios, amigos!
Local historian and the world’s most prolific satirist/humorist John Boston has launched his new eclectic bookstore — johnboston-books.com. His hilarious adventure/family/supernatural sequel to the national bestseller, “Naked Came the Sasquatch” — “Naked Came the Novelist” — is on sale now. Ditto with his two-volume “Monsters” series about the supernatural in the SCV.
