MEMORIES... GRAPE VINES
Print format

From: John (Dick) P.
Date: Tuesday, August 19, 2008, 11:29 PM
Subject: Memories... Grape vines
Reply to: 263480
ID: 263557

Most of the grapes between Woodward and Mt Gleason from Hillrose to the mountain were owned by the Ardizone family. I do not think they planted the original grapes there Not only were there Concords, but there were also several excellent wine grapes brought here from Italy. There are still some of those grapes surviving in backyards in that area. There were other grapes planted on Judge McVine's property, and other areas. Some of the grapes along Foothill Blvd. still exist, all the way into La Crescenta.

Where the Drive-in was built there was a grove of ancient oak trees. Under one of them was a fort built by early settler's kids , my uncles included. When they bull-dozed the trees out, the D10 Caterpillar fell into the hole, and had to be excavated by another Catapillar. Many years later when they re-excavated the area to build the K-mart I went over to the excavation site and measured the filled hole where the fort had been. It was 9feet by 12feet with a 6 foot ceiling. access to it was made by sliding down a root from a hole near the trunk of the biggest tree. It was my favorite hide out as a kid.

------ On 8/18/08, Ken Wheeler wrote ------

------ On 8/18/08, James Roberts wrote ------

I didn't realize that the system was down, and was afraid that something was wrong with my email. I did so miss the daily banter and reminiscing that was going back and forth. Thank goodness (and Bill) that it's back.

I don't think I've seen anyone write about one of my memories, and that was hiking up to the cross. We lived on Leolang, a block above Woodward off of Apperson. I can't remember now how we got to the trail from McGroarty, but it seemed at the time like quite a trek up to the top. Whenever we had company and there were kids my age, I'd take them for a hike up there as something fun to do. I don't think I did it after about the 10th grade.

A while back there was some mention of vineyards around Woodward. Were they in the area of the phone company or the drive-in theater before they were built? We moved to Sunland in 1955, and I don't think the phone co. was there yet, but maybe the drive-in was...? One of our historians probably has the answers.

A couple of weeks ago, my sister and I (she lives in Helena, MT and I live in Boise, ID) took a road trip in CA from Stockton to Glendora to visit four of our aunts who live in CA. One aunt lives in Lake View Terrace, so of course, we had to make the drive up to S-T to check out our old houses, Apperson St. School and the high school. In spite of all the changes, it's an eerie feeling to be back in the place where I grew up. I never thought of Leolang as being so narrow, but two cars can barely pass, as is the case with a lot of the streets, I noticed.

Thanks for the memories! Ellen Skinner Roberts S'61 Jim Roberts S'60

------

------