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AROUND SAN GABRIEL VALLEY
Mountain Views News Saturday June 23, 2012
“What’s Going On?”
News and Views from Joan Schmidt
REMEMBRANCE
WILLIAM (BILL) HENRY
THOMPSON
THOMPSON - William (Bill) Henry passed away peacefully,
in the company of loving ones on June 6, 2012, having
lost his valiant battle with prostate cancer. He was
born June 24, 1934 in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada to
Reg and Irene Thompson the youngest of three. When
he was a teenager, the family moved to Vancouver, British
Columbia leading him to attend the University of
British Columbia following high school graduation. He
moved to the Bay Area of California after he earned his
Bachelors degree and a teaching credential and then to
Southern California, securing a job at Temple City High
School. He earned a Master Degree at USC, which added
to his skills as a leader and educator. After a successful
career in education both as a teacher and a leader, he left
education to pursue other interests and opportunities,
which included managing Bruno’s in Monrovia, directing
several Schick Stop Smoking Clinics, and founding Pasadena
Motor Works with a friend before finding a calling in real estate. He served the area as an agent
and assistant manager at Coldwell-Banker in Arcadia.
Bill was known by all as a true human who cared deeply for friends, family, animals particularly the
family cats Spunky and Rosie, theatre of all kinds, space, the environment, Clampouts, the home he
shared with his wife Anita and the garden of flowers, trees and vegetables. Being athletic, he was an
accomplished skier, enjoying many trips to Mammoth. He also loved sailing to the Channel Islands,
the Coronados and of course, Catalina that became a favorite spot. Among his accomplishment was
earning a pilot’s license, enabling he and Anita to enjoy many adventures in a Cessna, including flying
over Mt. St. Helen’s and the Grand Canyon, along the Oregon Coast as well as meeting the challenge
of landing on Catalina. Another passion and talent was sharing his cooking and grilling with
friends as well as exploring small wineries in the Central Coast for excellent pairings. Traveling was
also high on his joys as evidenced by trips to Southeast Asia and China, a month in Africa, cruises to
Antarctica, the Baltic, British Isles, as well as a month in France, cruising from Paris to the coasts of
Normandy and then to the French Rivera.
He is survived by his wife Anita; his stepdaughter, Kevil Drew; grandson Sean Drew; sister Joyce and
her husband Alan Anderson; sister Joan and her husband Norman Gish plus nieces and nephews and
grand nieces and grand nephews; and countless loving friends,
A celebration of his very full life will be held at a later date.
VISITING THE DUARTE HISTORICAL MUSEUM
It’s been several years since I took Mom to the Duarte Museum, so this
past Saturday, I revisited it. If anyone loves history, wants to know how their city
began, or what it was like in the “Old Days”, this is the place to go!
The building itself on Encanto Drive is lovely and obviously was someone’s
home years ago. In the rooms, you will find pieces of antique furniture, dresses
from long ago and display cabinets with all kinds of memorabilia such as tools
and interesting gadgets! Among the notables, an antique thermometer with an
explanation of its use, an antique magnifying glass to check for insects, cases for
insect collections, an oil can used by Duarte ranchers, and tools used to stamp
oranges! (Either Sunkist or lower grades!)
I believe everyone knows “Duarte” was named after “Don” Andres Duarte of the Rancho
Azusa de Duarte. His life began in November, 1805, when he was born at Mission San Juan Capistrano,
in Alta California. When Andres was only sixteen, he joined the Mexican army and was assigned
to Mission San Gabriel. (That’s what brought him to our area.) As he got older, he assumed more
responsibility and ultimately was responsible to protect property from San Gabriel to San Bernardino.
He loved the lush lands surrounding Rio Azusa-now the San Gabriel River. Upon his retirement
from the army in 1841, he petitioned
Governor Juan Alvarado for a land
grant and within two weeks had
acquired 6595 acres!
Andres Duarte built an
adobe for himself and settled with
his family, wife Gertrudes and son,
Santiago. For many years, he was
a successful rancher and was a
great host. After the Mexican War
and the signing of the Treaty of
Guadalupe Hidalgo, his claim to the
land grants in 1841 was validated.
In 1850, California was admitted to
the United and by the mid-1850’s,
Duarte was unable to pay back taxes
levied on his land. So he began to
sell off his holdings. But as was the
case with many who were rich in real
estate, he could not and eventually all
of his buildings went on the auction
block. In the 1870’s, the land was
subdivided into 40-acre parcels,
and sold to many different owners.
Several cities have been established
on lands originally granted to Andres
Duarte. Besides Duarte, they include
Monrovia, Azusa, Irwindale, Baldwin Park, Arcadia and Bradbury.
In the museum, there are also pictures of other people who played an integral role in our area’s
history and development. John Scott was the Horticultural Commissioner. His duty was to stamp
out all insect parasites which attack fruit trees and prevent their infestation. He had thirty inspectors
working under him!
A photo of Louis Bradbury caught my eye. Obviously we all know what city was named after
him! But why? Louis Leonard Bradbury acquired 2750 acres of the Rancho Andres de Duarte. He had
made his fortune in gold and silver mining primarily in Mexico. His Bradbury Building is a Historical
Landmark in the City of Los Angeles. In 1892, he built an elegant home on his land and surrounded
it by a suitable garden that is now the site of Royal oaks Manor.
Bradbury also owned a smaller ranch in the southeastern corner of present-day San Marino.
However after his death, his heirs lost control of both ranches during the 1930’s. Prolonged legal
battles between family members resulted in foreclosure proceedings by the Security National Bank
against most of the Bradbury Estate.
After World War II, many GI tracts went up. The City of Duarte began its incorporation
in 1957. Residents of the Bradbury Estate Property Owners Association were concerned about the
rapid pace of development and feared large parcels would be sold and developers would come in and
put up a lot of tract homes. So they quickly solicited the 500 minimum number of registered voters
required to incorporate a new city and applied to the Board of Supervisors. I had always wondered
why Bradbury had such a small population. Now I know why. And it explains other cities in the
county with a small population.
Do yourself a favor and check out this museum. It isn’t real large in size, but what it has to offer
in knowledge is immeasurable! (For more info, go to their website: www.duartehistory.org .
PET OF THE WEEK FRACK: Animal #A4448278
Meet a loving ball of fluff, the adorable Frack
(A4448278). Frack is a fabulous six month
old black neutered male Shih Tzu mix puppy
who was found in La Puente on June 17th
with his companion Frick (A4448276)
and brought to the Baldwin Park Animal
Care Center. Weighing seven pounds, this
incredibly cute boy hasn’t had much in the
way of training. Playful and confident,
Frack loves children and other dogs. Frack
will make a spectacular pet for anyone in any
living situation. To see a video of Frick and
Frack please visit this link: www.youtube.
com/watch?v=qSfXjO793xE
To meet Frack in person, please see him at
the Baldwin Park Shelter, located at 4275 N.
Elton, Baldwin Park, CA 91706 (Phone: 626-
430-2378 or 626-962-3577). He is currently
available now. For any inquiries about Frack, please reference his animal ID number: A4448278.
The shelter is open seven days a week, 12 pm-7 pm Monday-Thursday and 10am-5pm Friday-
Sunday. This is a high-intake shelter with a great need for adoptions. For more information about
Juliette or the adoption process, contact United Hope for Animals Volunteer Adoption Coordinator
Samantha at samanthasayon@gmail.com or 661-309-2674. To learn more about United Hope for
Animals’ partnership with the Baldwin Park Shelter through its Shelter Support Program, as well as
the many dogs of all breeds, ages, and sizes available for adoption in local shelters, visit http://www.
unitedhope4animals.org/about-us/shelter-support-program/.
18-HOUR CONCRETE POUR OF I-210 GOLD LINE
BRIDGE SUPERSTRUCTURE SUCCESSFUL -
With Pour Complete, Construction Authority
Continues Foothill Extension on
Time and on Budget
MONROVIA — Achieving another major milestone in the
Metro Gold Line Foothill Extension construction project,
crews worked 18 hours over the last several days to place
more than 200 truckloads of concrete to form the bridge’s superstructure
and main crossbeam, Metro Gold Line Foothill
Extension Construction Authority CEO Habib F. Balian announced
today.
An important component of the Foothill Extension from
Pasadena to Azusa is the I-210 Gold Line Bridge, the “Gateway
to the San Gabriel Valley.” The bridge - a 584-linear-foot
light rail bridge traversing the eastbound lanes of the I-210
Freeway between Baldwin and Santa Anita Avenues - will allow
connection between the existing Sierra Madre Villa Station
in East Pasadena and the future Arcadia Station.
“The concrete pour of the bridge marks an important milestone
for the extension of the Gold Line. The bridge is a
significant element of the entire project and as the concrete
cures and the forms are removed in the coming months, the
traveling public will get to see the bridge truly taking shape,”
said Balian. “The next step is to pour the bridge deck, which
will one day carry light rail trains into portions of the San
Gabriel Valley that have not had passenger rail options for
decades.”
The bridge is being built by Skanska USA, the design-build
team awarded the contract by the Construction Authority
in June 2010. Skanska has been planning for the pour
for about four months and with the successful completion
of the superstructure concrete pour the bridge is nearing
completion.
In pouring the superstructure, Skanska used 2,100 cubic
yards of concrete – enough concrete to fill approximately
50 average swimming pools. The concrete used in the pour
was divided among more than 200 truckloads, requiring
30 trucks to make continuous trips to and from the site
throughout the 18-hour pour.
“Skanska has done a tremendous job collaborating with the
Construction Authority, Caltrans, CHP, and the city of Arcadia
to meticulously plan and execute this critical activity,”
commented Balian. “The Construction Authority commends
Skanska, and their entire construction team, for
completing this portion of the project quickly and efficiently
with minor disruptions to the traveling public and surrounding
community, as well as no safety incidents.”
The $18.6 million bridge, which has been under construction
since April 2011, will feature columns designed to resemble
indigenous baskets in recognition of the region’s original inhabitants
and the important role they played in the San Gabriel
Valley’s development. The underside of the superstructure
is also specially designed to be curved and resemble the
underbelly of a snake, to represent the wildlife living in the
Foothills above the Valley.
The design for the bridge was developed and finalized by
Skanska’s design team, led by AECOM, which includes nationally
recognized public artist Andrew Leicester – the project’s
design concept advisor. Leicester was selected by a committee
of local community stakeholders representing cities
from throughout the corridor to envision a new gateway to
the San Gabriel Valley.
The bridge project is on track for completion in late 2012,
and is scheduled to be turned over to Foothill Transit Constructors
(FTC) - A Kiewit Parsons Joint Venture in December
to begin installation of the track and other elements onto
the bridge as part of the overall 11.5-mile Foothill Extension
Pasadena to Azusa Alignment Project.
Construction of the Foothill Extension from Pasadena to
Azusa is one of the region’s largest and most important transit
projects. Construction is generating nearly 7,000 jobs
(2,600 in construction) and $1 billion in economic output for
the region during its four-year construction period. It is the
first Measure R-funded rail project to break ground, and is on
schedule to be completed in late 2015.
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