Category Archives: Transportation

Centennial Ramblings

Posted on February 5, 2007 by lmharnisch

Feb. 5, 2007Sierra Madre Because it’s celebrating its centennial this month, I paid a visit to Sierra Madre and while savoring a cinnamon dolce latte at the local Starbucks, watched the sun set on a historic Union 76 ball. A … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Donald Wolfe, LAPD, Photography, Streetcars, Transportation | Tagged | Comments Off on Centennial Ramblings

Officer C.A. May, End of Watch

Posted on February 3, 2007 by lmharnisch

Feb. 3, 1907Los Angeles About 1 a.m. on a dark corner at East Adams and South San Pedro, the hard, shabby life of William Ross ended when he said, “What in hell are you fellows up to?,” drew a pistol … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, LAPD, Streetcars, Transportation | Comments Off on Officer C.A. May, End of Watch

The Floods

Posted on January 10, 2007 by lmharnisch

Jan. 9-10, 1907 The worst storm in 23 years blew across Southern California with the force of a gale, dumping more than an inch of rain in Pasadena, killing an Orange County rancher, washing out railroad tracks and collapsing tunnels, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Downtown, LAPD, Pasadena, San Fernando Valley, Streetcars, Transportation | Comments Off on The Floods

The Old Men in Blue

Posted on December 30, 2006 by lmharnisch

Dec. 30, 1907Los AngelesJames Sullivan, 64, was a prisoner of the Confederates held at Belle Isle, Libby and Andersonville, where he and war correspondent Albert D. Richardson escaped by tunneling for three months with a spoon.Henry Russell, formerly of the … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Downtown, LAPD, Streetcars, Transportation | Comments Off on The Old Men in Blue

Not a Coward

Posted on December 9, 2006 by lmharnisch

Dec. 9, 1907Los AngelesMayor Harper has restored E.J. Bowen to his old job in the Fire Department after the rookie police officer was fired for allegedly being a coward—a charge that Bowen, who is black, blames on racism.Bowen transferred to … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Crime and Courts, LAPD, Streetcars, Transportation | Comments Off on Not a Coward

In the Line of Duty

Posted on December 3, 2006 by lmharnisch

Dec. 3, 1907Los AngelesOfficer Patrick Lyons had been on the force for four months when he was shot in the head while trying to arrest two robbers a little after 11 p.m. at Central Avenue and 14th Street.There’s no picture … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Education, Homicide, LAPD, Streetcars, Transportation | Comments Off on In the Line of Duty

A Vintage Development

Posted on December 2, 2006 by lmharnisch

Dec. 2, 1907Los AngelesThe Times real estate section features an apartment building at 2nd Street and Figueroa—no point in even going to look for it. But there’s also a large ad for the Erkenbrecher Syndicate’s Glendale Valley View Tract.An unknown … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, LAPD, Real Estate, Streetcars, Transportation | Comments Off on A Vintage Development

Highwaymen Captured

Posted on November 20, 2006 by lmharnisch

Nov. 20, 1907Los Angeles Police battling the current crime wave say they have arrested two men who staged daring holdups on the Ascot Park and Eastlake streetcars, robbing the motormen and conductors as the cars reached the ends of their … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Crime and Courts, LAPD, Streetcars, Transportation | Comments Off on Highwaymen Captured

Crime Wave Sweeps L.A.

Posted on November 19, 2006 by lmharnisch

Nov. 19, 1907Los Angeles An influx of crooks, petty hoodlums and vagrants drawn by good weather and horse racing at Santa Anita are blamed for a siege of crime throughout the city. The jail is so crowded—300 being held in … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Crime and Courts, LAPD, Religion, Streetcars, Transportation | Tagged , | Comments Off on Crime Wave Sweeps L.A.

Fatal Fury

Posted on November 16, 2006 by lmharnisch

Nov. 16, 1907Los Angeles Mrs. Amanda Cook (she is also identified as Jennie and Mary) came to Los Angeles from Boston in 1906 with two of her children in search of her husband, Frederick, a union plasterer and bricklayer. She … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, 1908, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Homicide, LAPD, Streetcars, Transportation | Comments Off on Fatal Fury

A Bad Way With Horses

Posted on November 12, 2006 by lmharnisch

Nov.12, 1907Los Angeles Half a block from his home at 1131 Westlake, John P. Shumway Jr. was badly injured when the carriage he was driving collided with the 11th Street trolley. Shumway was thrown about 20 feet, striking the pavement … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, 1909, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, LAPD, Pasadena, Streetcars, Transportation | Comments Off on A Bad Way With Horses

Gilbert and Sullivan Said It Best

Posted on October 28, 2006 by lmharnisch

Oct. 28, 1907Los AngelesYou know the song even if you’ve never seen “Pirates of Penzance”: A policeman’s lot is not an easy one” and that is doubly true for one anonymous former LAPD chief.The ex-chief has nothing but complaints: “It … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Crime and Courts, LAPD, Streetcars, Transportation | Tagged , | Comments Off on Gilbert and Sullivan Said It Best

Unsportsmanlike Conduct

Posted on October 17, 2006 by lmharnisch

Oct. 17, 1907Los AngelesMr. Woolin, left tackle of the USC team, took great exception to be tackled by one of the black players on the Whittier State team (one of Whittier’s five black players) and voiced his displeasure, emphasizing his … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, African Americans, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, LAPD, Streetcars, Transportation | Comments Off on Unsportsmanlike Conduct

Disharmony

Posted on September 26, 2006 by lmharnisch

Sept. 26, 1907Long Beach Marco Vessella, conductor of Long Beach’s Royal Italian Band, has had nothing but trouble with Special Officer W.D. Cason after firing him from his job as ticket taker. On one September evening, Vessella and a young … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Crime and Courts, Education, LAPD, Music, Pasadena, Streetcars, Transportation | Comments Off on Disharmony

Her Last Walk

Posted on September 13, 2006 by lmharnisch

Sept. 13, 1907Los AngelesThe family was too poor to take a streetcar, so Concepcion Parra, 60, and her sister Mrs. J.L. Ghiotto began walking the 12 miles to El Monte with Parra’s 5-year-old granddaughter, Delphina Verde, to see the girl’s … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, LAPD, Pasadena, Streetcars, Transportation | Comments Off on Her Last Walk

A Flirtation Goes Awry

Posted on September 8, 2006 by lmharnisch

Sept. 8, 1907Los Angeles Jack Foster, a handsome, blond actor who is the toast of the vaudeville circuit, noticed a young lady standing at 3rd Street and Main after a show. Seeing that she was alone, Foster said: “Rather late … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, Crime and Courts, LAPD, Streetcars, Transportation | Comments Off on A Flirtation Goes Awry

Firefighters’ Pranks

Posted on August 29, 2006 by lmharnisch

Aug. 29, 1907Los Angeles Around Engine Co. 20 at Sunset Boulevard and Mohawk Street, Lt. Samuel Dodd is something of a practical joker, so when he left on his honeymoon with his bride, Juanita, his fellow firefighters decided to get … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, LAPD, Streetcars, Transportation | Comments Off on Firefighters’ Pranks

Tragic Traffic

Posted on July 30, 2006 by lmharnisch

July 30, 1907Los Angeles A horse and buggy had been hitched outside Jevne’s grocery store at 6th Street and Broadway when a furniture van hit the buggy, frightening the horse. As the terrified animal ran down Broadway, it swerved onto … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, LAPD, Streetcars, Transportation | Comments Off on Tragic Traffic

Too Many Laws

Posted on July 28, 2006 by lmharnisch

July 28, 1907Los AngelesCity officials, hampered by a bramble bush of old and unenforced laws, have appointed deputy prosecutor Eddie to prune back outdated and unnecessary regulations from the early days of Los Angeles.Among the old regulations are bans on … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, LAPD, Streetcars, Transportation | Comments Off on Too Many Laws

A Belated Tribute to Heroic Officer

Posted on July 23, 2006 by lmharnisch

A Belated Tribute to Heroic OfficerJuly 23, 1907Los AngelesJohn Conroy, a career criminal, planned his work carefully: He would wait until 10 p.m., pry open the skylight of J.C. Fleming’s jewelry store at 531 S. Broadway, climb down a rope … Continue reading →

Posted in 1907, Black Dahlia, Books and Authors, LAPD, Streetcars, Transportation | Comments Off on A Belated Tribute to Heroic Officer