Allesandro & Loma Vista: Lost Dog

$ REWARD - LOST 8 MONTH OLD DOG: Bernice is a sweet, shy border collie/ terrier mix, recently rescued, and new to the Silverlake area (Allesandro at Loma Vista). She was last seen at 11 am on May 26th in front of the Woof Dog Boutique on Glendale Blvd in Atwater Village. She was headed north towards Glendale. She will likely not come to you, but if you see her, please call Amanda 24/7 at 323.459.0840 or email to hughesab42@gmail.com. She is wearing a bright yellow collar with pictures of snoopy; she is not yet microchipped but was just spayed and has visible stitches. Please keep your eyes open for her! Thanks! 

Editor's note: This morning, I saw a post on The Eastsider for a found puppy that looked a lot like Bernice.  Since I'd seen the above poster all over the Red Car Neighborhood, I contacted Amanda.  Sadly, it was not Bernice.  Copy from the lost dog poster is reprinted with Amanda's permission. 

Corralitas Drive: Rest In Peace Little Mole

Photo: Diane Edwardson, May 19, 2011. We found very plush mole, dead in the gutter, after someone paid tribute with a Spanish Broom flower.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)    

How do you know what wildlife lives in your neighborhood?  Sometimes you only know a species is there, when you find a dead one. 

Moles live underground and eat worms and other invertebrates.  I've only once seen a live one poking its snout out of a hole on Fellowship Parkway, on a foggy morning.  More often, moles are left on the side of the road, after being killed by cats.

Read more about moles on Wikipedia.

The last unusual species to turn up dead was a Ring-Necked Snake. 

Historic Fletcher Viaduct: The Big Parade 2011

Photo: Donald Duke, probably 1950s.  The center section of the Fletcher Viaduct was replaced with steel in 1927 so Fletcher Drive could be paved.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)  Photo courtesy Pacific Electric Railway Historical Society PERyHS.org. 

Photo: Jonathan Vandiveer, May 22, 2011.  The Big Parade crossed Fletcher at Riverside Drive and hiked up the pubic staircase noting the remnants of viaduct footings and retaining walls on the Waverly side of the old viaduct.  HOME Restaurant is now on site of the former Curries Ice Cream Shop.  This shot is a fairly close match to the Donald Duke photo above.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

See all our posts related to the historic viaduct footings.

We've been looking at The Big Parade's trek through the Red Car Property Neighborhood.  The Big Parade is a 2 day, 100+ public staircase hike from Angels' Flight to the Hollywood Sign.

Approximately 75 people, 5 babies and 3 dogs made the trek from Loma Vista Public Staircase to "Antenna Trail" Public Staircase (above) between Fletcher and Waverly.  2011 is the first time The Big Parade took the El Pueblo Trail through most of the Red Car Property between the 2 Freeway and Fletcher Drive. 

The Big Parade only looped away briefly on the Roselin Public Staircase Complex to Adelbert to see how the public staircases connected the community to the Red Car Trolleys.  (If you want to see what you missed by looping away, see all our "Lot C" related posts.) 

See what else you missed on The Big Parade's Flickr Page. 

Historic Fletcher Red Car Viaduct 1904-2011

Photo: Security Pacific National Bank Collection, 1904.  The Red Car Trolley Fletcher Viaduct was originally all wood trestle construction.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Click here for another shot of the Fletcher Viaduct circa 1904.

Photo: Jonathan Vandiveer, May 22, 2011.  After pausing to hear about the historic landmark Fletcher Viaduct, The Big Parade made their way down the narrow public right-of-way, adjacent the viaduct footings, and across Fletcher at Riverside.  (Click on photo to enlarge.) 

Click here for more about City of Los Angeles Cultural Historic Landmark #770. 

This week, we're following The Big Parade's trek through the Red Car Property Neighborhood.

Historic Fletcher Viaduct: The Big Parade On El Pueblo To Griffith Park Trail

Photo: Loren Ayers, June 19, 1955.  The last day of Pacific Electric Red Car Trolley service for the Glendale Line crossing the Fletcher Viaduct as seen from Waverly.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Photo: Jonathan Vandiveer, May 22, 2011.  The Big Parade made their way back to the Red Car Property from the Roselin Public Staircase Complex and Adelbert, via the trail cut-through near the Adelbert All-Weather Lounge.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Read more about the planned El Pueblo Trail in an earlier post. 

This week, we're following The Big Parade's trek through the Red Car Property Neighborhood.

Silver Lake Court & Roselin Public Staircase: More Babies Than Dogs On The Big Parade

Photo: Jonathan Vandiveer, May 22, 2011.  The Big Parade continued up the paper street of Silver Lake Court (unpaved, but owned by the City).  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

There were at least 5 babies on The Big Parade's trek through the Red Car Neighborhood, outnumbering 3 dogs (on leash).   

Photo: Jonathan Vandiveer, May 22, 2011.  From Silver Lake Court, The Big Parade climbed the Roselin Public Staircase.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

The 2011 Big Parade featured longer flatter sections, including El Pueblo,  Elysian Park, LA River through Elysian Valley, and the Corralitas Red Car Property.

This week, we're following The Big Parade's trek through the Red Car Neighborhood.

India Street Red Car Trolley Stop: 1955-2011

Photo: probably Donald Duke, probably near the end in 1955. The India Street Red Car Trolley stop was built up from the current grade.  Note the staircase leading up to the stop in the foreground, on the Lake View Ave (left) side of the tracks.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Photo: Jonathan Vandiveer, May 22, 2011.  The Big Parade on the Red Car Property heading toward the former India Street Trolley Stop, which was just past the large group of people in the background.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Photo: Jonathan Vandiveer, May 22, 2011.  The Big Parade paused to learn about the Silver Lake Ave Public Staircase, which runs between Riverside Place & Allesandro Elementary School (below), crossing the Red Car Property and linking to Lake View Ave & Silver Ridge Ave, (above).  (Click on photo to enlarge.) 

The Silver Lake Ave Public Staircase originally linked the community to the Red Cars and Allesandro Elementary School.  Now it links the community to not only the school, but also recreational opportunities of the Red Car Property. 

Public Staircase tourism is a growing trend.  There are 2 books, an annual tour and countless weekend explorers. 

This week, we're looking at The Big Parade's trek through the Red Car Neighborhood.

Red Car Canyon: Big Parade 2011 & Brush Clearance

Photo: Jonathan Vandiveer, May 22, 2011.  The Big Parade hiked through Red Car Canyon.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

This weekend, brush clearance contractors cleared the flatter parts of the Red Car Property, leaving dead trees and dense brush on the slopes. 

Photo: Jonathan Vandiveer, May 22, 2011.  The Big Parade noted the park-like canyon where the sound of the 2 Freeway disappeared.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Photo: Jonathan Vandiveer, May 22, 2011.  The brush clearance contractors stopped briefly to allow The Big Parade to pass.  Here too, slopes were left untouched by brush clearance - including that large stand of highly combustible Arundo.  (Click on photo to enlarge.) 

This week we're looking at The Big Parade's trek through the Red Car Neighborhood.

Corralitas Red Car Property: 1905-2011

Photo: California Historical Society, 1905.  A Red Car Trolley is at the curve from Allesandro Way to what we now refer to as the Corralitas end of the Red Car Property.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

It's hard to imagine how different the Red Car Property was when the Big Red Cars ran on it, because they removed countless tons of earth to build the 2 & 5 Freeways in 1960 - 1962.  In a post earlier this month, we noted the grade change.     Since hikers on The Big Parade had to use their imagination to picture the lay of the land, we're offering a comparison post today.

Photo: Jonathan Vandiveer, May 22, 2011.  The Big Parade went off-road between "stairway madness; urban wilderness and archaeology; and...mystery solved." 

Click on the years below for comparison photos of the same location.

1922

2001

2004

2010

January 2011

See all our posts related to the 2 Freeway History.

Red Car Neighborhood: The Big Parade 2011

Photo: Jonathan Vandiveer, May 22, 2011. Approximately 75 people in The Big Parade hiked up and over the Loma Vista Public Staircase and gathered in front of the Holyland Exhibition at the corner of Allesandro Way & Lake View Ave.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Hikers learned about the history of the 2 Freeway (behind the trees, above left), the politics behind the 2 Freeway Terminus Redesign and the Holyland Exhibition (good neighbors since 1924). 

Photo: Jonathan Vandiveer, May 22, 2011.  The Big Parade continued down Corralitas Walk, an unmarked, but City-named, public sidewalk, with a steep slope to the left, and the 2 Freeway on the right.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

This week, we're looking at The Big Parade's trek through the Corralitas Red Car Neighborhood.

Red Car Property: Brush Clearance Attracts Hawks To Open Space

 

Photo: Diane Edwardson, May 22, 2011, 8:40 AM.  Yesterday's brush clearance of the meadow on the Corralitas Red Car Property brought one of our nesting Red Tail Hawks looking for gophers from atop the telephone pole.  Meanwhile a Mockingbird relentlessly dive bombed the hawk.  (Click on photo to enlarge.) 

Nesting Update: We have baby hawks!  Last night around 6 PM, I watched (through binoculars) at least one white fluffy baby moved around awkwardly in the nest as one of the parents, stood watch on the edge of the nest. 

Public Staircases: 2011 Big Parade Starts Today

Photo: Diane Edwardson, July 18, 2009.  The first Big Parade on the Corralitas Public Staircase.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

The 2011 Big Parade starts this morning at Angel's Flight and ends tomorrow night at the Hollywood Sign.  Follow their progress on their Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/#!/bigparadela

We're looking at the Red Car Property Neighborhood's public staircases leading up to The Big Parade on May 21 & 22, 2011. The Big Parade is a FREE 2 day, 35 mile, 100+ public staircase hike from Downtown Los Angeles to the Hollywood Sign. Join The Big Parade for a few staircases, miles or both days. Info: www.bigparadela.com.

   

Monte Sano Public Staircase: 1987

Photo: Paul Ayers, Summer 1987.  The Monte Sano Red Car Trolley stop was left to decay for more than 30 years after the last Pacific Electric Red Car Trolley made the trip from Downtown to Glendale in 1955.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

The Riverside Viaduct at Monte Sano as well as the Fletcher Viaduct were both dismantled in 1959.

Photo: Paul Ayers, Summer 1987.  Developers were about to break ground on the 157-unit Riverglen Apartments at Riverside Drive & Glendale Blvd.  Red Car enthusiasts were grabbing their cameras to document the some of last ruins of the Glendale Line. (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Click here for all our Monte Sano related posts.

We're looking at the Red Car Property Neighborhood's public staircases leading up to The Big Parade on May 21 & 22, 2011. The Big Parade is a FREE 2 day, 35 mile, 100+ public staircase hike from Downtown Los Angeles to the Hollywood Sign. Join The Big Parade for a few staircases, miles or both days. Info: www.bigparadela.com.

 

Loma Vista Public Staircase

Photo: Diane Edwardson, May 14, 2011.  Loma Vista Public Staircase is possibly the longest staircase in Silver Lake.  It actually goes up and down both sides of the hill between Allesando Way and Glendale Blvd.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

We're looking at the Red Car Property Neighborhood's public staircases leading up to The Big Parade on May 21 & 22, 2011. The Big Parade is a FREE 2 day, 35 mile, 100+ public staircase hike from Downtown Los Angeles to the Hollywood Sign. Join The Big Parade for a few staircases, miles or both days. Info: www.bigparadela.com.

Lake Red Car: Mudwatch

Photo: Diane Edwardson, May 18, 2011.  It doesn't take much rain for Lake Red Car to fill up and make the path near Rose Scharlin extremely muddy and very slippery.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

My hiking boots were so caked with mud, I could get no traction, so I took Riverside Place on the way home.  I watched one driver of a small car, despite proceeding very slowly on the dryer portion through the mud, fishtail terribly here today.  

Earl Public Staircase

Photo: Diane Edwardson, May 14, 2011.  The Earl Public Staircase zig zags up the hill and offers barbed wire and spectacular views.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

We're looking at the Red Car Property Neighborhood's public staircases leading up to The Big Parade on May 21 &; 22, 2011. The Big Parade is a FREE 2 day, 35 mile, 100+ public staircase hike from Downtown Los Angeles to the Hollywood Sign. Join The Big Parade for a few staircases, miles or both days. Info: www.bigparadela.com.

Hidalgo Public Staircase

Photo: Diane Edwardson, May 14, 2011.  Using public staircases to hike the neighborhood is a great way to get fit.  Please keep your dogs on a leash and always pick up after them.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

We're looking at the Red Car Property Neighborhood's public staircases leading up to The Big Parade on May 21 & 22, 2011. The Big Parade is a FREE 2 day, 35 mile, 100+ public staircase hike from Downtown Los Angeles to the Hollywood Sign. Join The Big Parade for a few staircases, miles or both days. Info: www.bigparadela.com.

Roselin Public Staircase Complex

Photo: Diane Edwardson, May 14, 2011.  The Roselin Public Staircase connects the paper  street (unbuilt City street) of Silver Lake Court to Roselin.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Originally, the Roselin Public Staircase led to the India Red Car Trolley stop.  Today, the 5 & 2 Freeways are below, just across Riverside Drive.

Photo: Diane Edwardson, May 13, 2011.  Roselin has a complex of 3 public staircases.  (Click on photo to enlarge.) 

When you reach the top of the Roselin Public Staircase on the Red Car Property side of the hill, immediately turn right and then left past the first house, and take the series of stairs and sidewalks to Lake View Ave.  This section is unmarked and unnamed, but we refer to it as Roselin. 

One section was removed from public service (officially) in the 1979.  The fourth section was permanently fenced off by a neighbor and is inaccessible.    

We're looking at the Red Car Property Neighborhood's public staircases leading up to The Big Parade on May 21 & 22, 2011. The Big Parade is a FREE 2 day, 35 mile, 100+ public staircase hike from Downtown Los Angeles to the Hollywood Sign. Join The Big Parade for a few staircases, miles or both days. Info: www.bigparadela.com.

Corralitas Drive: Meet Mr. Rose

Photo: Gary Vlahakis, May 15, 2011.  This morning, one of our nesting Red Tail Hawks was drying his feathers from the overnight rain in Gary's tree.  He was doing his laundry there for a couple of hours.  (Click on photos to enlarge.) 

Photo: Gary Vlahakis, May 15, 2011.  Corra Rose, the female (in the foreground), joined her mate briefly.  Corra is almost twice the size of her mate.  The zoom lens makes them appear similar in size. Gary confirmed the one in the foreground was much, much larger.  We'll call Corra's mate, Mr. Rose.

Photo: Gary Vlahakis, May 15, 2011.  Corra did not like the paparazzi.  She did not hang around for long.  However, Mr. Rose continued doing his laundry, keeping a watchful eye for prey on the freshly cleared slope below.

We'd like to thank Gary for sharing his terrific photos.  We'll be publishing more soon.

Click here for all our hawk posts. 

Learn more about Red Tailed Hawks on the Cornell Lab of Ornithology website.  

   

Silver Lake Ave Public Staircase

Photo: Diane Edwardson, May 13, 2011.  From the Red Car Property to Lake View Ave, the Silver Lake Ave Public Staircase has long ramp-like sections that are much steeper than they appear.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

The Silver Lake Ave Public Staircase connects Silver Ridge Ave, Lake View Ave, Red Car Property, Riverside Place, Riverside Terrace and Allesandro Elementary School.  It was a vital neighborhood link to the Red Car Trolley Stop at India.  Today, the public staircase also connects the community to recreational opportunities on the Red Car Property.

Photo: Diane Edwardson, May 13, 2011. The Silver Lake Ave public right-of-way crosses the Red Car Property and continues as public stairs to Silver Lake Ave, which leads to Riverside Place, Riverside Terrace and Allesandro Elementary School.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

We're looking at the Red Car Property Neighborhood's public staircases leading up to The Big Parade on May 21 & 22, 2011.  The Big Parade is a FREE 2 day, 35 mile, 100+ public staircase hike from Downtown Los Angeles to the Hollywood Sign.  Join The Big Parade for a few staircases, miles or both days.  Info: www.bigparadela.com.  

Corralitas Public Staircase: The Big Parade Is Coming, May 21 & 22, 2011

Photo: Diane Edwardson, May 13, 2011.  It looks like the Corralitas Public Staircase will not officially be in the Big Parade this year, but both days bring the route close enough for those intrepid enough to dare the climb.  (Click on photo to enlarge.) 

Next weekend, May 21 - 22, 2011, The Big Parade is back for a third year.  The Big Parade is a 2 day, 35 mile, 100+ public staircase hike from Downtown Los Angeles to the Hollywood Sign.  It's a fun, community oriented, free event for all ages. 

Join The Big Parade for a few staircases, a couple miles or both days.  Routes are posted on The Big Parade's website, where you can link to their Facebook & Twitter feeds. 

Both days last year, I watched about 100 people take the Red Car Neighborhood's public staircases.  So for the next week, we'll be looking at our neighborhood's public staircases.  Info: http://www.bigparadela.com/  

Over the years, we've extensively highlighted our public staircases.  Click here for all our public staircase posts.  

Corralitas Drive: Slow Down, Snake Crossing!

Photo: Esteban Gonzalez, May 11, 2011.  Gonzalez was driving onto Corralitas from Rosebud around 11:30 AM and stopped his car, grabbed his cell phone and shot a series of photos of the  2 1/2 to 3' long Gopher Snake crossing the road.  (Click on photo to enlarge - you can even see the snake's tongue.)

Photo: Esteban Gonzalez, May 11, 2011.  The recent brush clearance on the slope across from the freeway has been attracting predators with an ample supply of rats and gophers.  (Click on photo to enlarge.) 

 

Photo: Esteban Gonzalez, May 11, 2011.  Gopher Snakes have excellent camouflage for the dry slopes.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Hopefully, the camouflage will help it escape the hawks nesting 100' away at Rosebud and Allesandro.  This is the same part of the street where, just last Sunday, I watched both hawks sitting 25' apart on the telephone wires, intently staring the freshly cleared slope for some tasty prey.  

See all our neighborhood snake photos.

LA River: Red Car Trolleys Crossed Wildlands

Photo: Unknown Photographer, circa 1904-1906 (when the Glendale Line first opened).  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Last week, Red Car Historian Paul Ayers shared photos of our neighborhood from his archives with me.  I asked if he'd ever seen the LA River bridge photo from around 1904, shot at grade from Monte Sano, where nothing but chaparral surrounds the Red Car bridge, with Griffith Park in the background. I'd seen this photo about 10 years ago, but had not seen it since.  Ayers almost immediately sent me this photo. 

It is one of my favorite shots of the Glendale Line, and I can't believe the LA River advocates don't use this shot constantly. 

The Red Car Trolley Glendale Line crossed the LA River at what's now the Hyperion Bridge.  It looks like the trolley bridge came well before the motor vehicle bridge seen in yesterday's post.

1927 LA River Flood 

Photo: Unknown Photographer, 1927.  The 1927 LA River flood washed out a number of bridges, including this one, which appears to be the auto bridge at Glendale Blvd, as seen from the Atwater side.  The Red Car Trolley bridge is on the left.   (Click on photo to enlarge.) 

I had never seen this photo before, so it was indeed a bonus from Ayers.  Again, we'd like to thank Red Car Historian Paul Ayers for sharing archives with us.  He's got a lot more photos than the ones we published this week. 

If you want to see more, attend the Glendale Historical Society sponsored "Ride the Red Cars to Glendale" 7PM, tonight at the Glendale Public Library.     

Monte Sano: Last Trolley Stop Before Crossing Riverside Drive & The LA River

Photo: Unknown photographer, early 1900s, from the Ayers Family archive.  The Red Car Trolley bridge over the LA River at Glendale Blvd.  The Monte Sano Station is adjacent to the viaduct over Riverside Drive in the foreground.  The photo was shot from (what would be, as of 1923) Monte Sano Hospital at Waverly & Glendale Blvd.

Photo: Ira Swett, undated.  The river was already lined with cement at the Hyperion Bridge in the background.  Shot from the Monte Sano Trolley stop.  The Trolley is about to cross the Riverside Drive Viaduct, before crossing the LA River.  (Click on photo to enlarge.) 

The Riverside Drive Viaduct was dismantled in June 1959, four years after the last Red Car crossed the LA River. 

Photo: Diane Edwardson, November 25, 2009.  The Sam Menlo-owned, 157-unit, Riverglen Apartments sit atop the old Monte Sano Red Car Trolley stop.  You can still see the Hyperion Bridge trolley footings in LA River.   (Click on photo to enlarge.) 

See many more before & after photos of the Pacific Electric Glendale Line tomorrow, May 12, 2011, 7 PM.  Red Car historian Paul Ayers will give a free presentation at the Glendale Public Library. 

Click here for all our Monte Sano related posts. 

Historic Red Car Viaduct: June 19, 1955

Photo: Loren Ayers, June 19, 1955.  The Ayers family rode the Big Red Car Trolley across the Fletcher Viaduct on the last day of service in 1955.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)  

Photo: Diane Edwardson, October 2004.  In 2003, the City declared the Pacific Electric Viaduct Footings at Fletcher, cultural historic landmark #770.  (Click on photo to enlarge.)

Red Car Historian Paul Ayers shared some of his family archives with us. Ayers will give a free presentation featuring hundreds of historic photos combined with current views of the Pacific Electric Red Car Trolley's Glendale Line, Thursday, May 12. Click here for more information.  

Click here for all our historic viaduct posts.