Adventure 051, Site 146 – Reid Adobe

Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 051, Site 146 – Reid Adobe

California Landmark Number: 368

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  October 5, 2012

Location:

Address: 301 North Baldwin in Los Angeles Arboretum

Description:

Date Built: 1839

The Reid Adobe is within the Los Angeles County Arboretum. We had just done our hike with our daughter up Santa Anita Canyon when the Arboretum was before us. We decided that it would be nice to wander through here and discover what was inside. Our youngest daughter lives in Los Angeles and had not been here. What we found was an oasis within the urban desert. By a pond, we saw the Reid Adobe., which probably is not the correct location, but it is a representation of the building.



The Reid Adobe was used as a living quarters by EJ Baldwin while he built his house. Then later on when Baldwin built his house, it was used to cook the meals. The Baldwin house did not have any cooking facilities.



NO. 368 HUGO REID ADOBE - Hugo Reid, a Scotsman, petitioned the government of Mexico to grant him Rancho Santa Anita. His claim strengthened by his marriage to Victoria, a native Indian of the San Gabriel Mission, he received the grant on April 16, 1841. Immediately upon filing his petition, Reid took possession of the land, started to farm and plant vineyards, and built the first house-the Hugo Reid Adobe-in 1839. In 1875, E. J. Baldwin purchased the rancho and in 1879 added a wooden wing to the old adobe.
Location: Los Angeles State and County Arboretum, 301 N Baldwin Ave, Arcadia



From the LA Arboretum Historical Site:
Don Perfecto Hugo Reid (1810-1852), a Scottish adventurer and naturalized Mexican citizen, was the first private owner of the 13,319 acre Rancho Santa Anita. The adobe was constructed in 1840 with the help of Gabrielino laborers. It was built of sun-dried adobe blocks made by mixing clay soil, water and a straw binder. The roof was made of rawhide-lashed carrizo cane (Arundo donax). As protection from the elements, the roof was smeared with brea (tar) and the walls were white-washed.



References:

• Wikipedia
  
• LA Okay History Site
  
• Arcadia Weekly Article
  

Overall Landmark References:

• David Schmitt's California State Historical Landmark (Schmitt)
  
• Wikipedia: California's National Landmarks (WCNL)
  
• State of California's California Historical Landmarks (CHL)
  
• Wikipedia: California State Landmarks (WCSL)
  
• State of California Historical Resources (CHR)
  

Adventure: 008, Hike 130 - Gabrielino Trail

Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 008, Hike 130 - Gabrielino Trail

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  October 5, 2012

Location: Arcadia, CA

Hike Info:

Trail: Gabrielino Trail to Sturtevant Falls

Distance: 4.3 miles

Duration: 2:42

Elevation Rise: 971'

Description:

Thing One and Thing Two went down to Southern California to celebrate their youngest daughter’s birthday. She took her Mom and Dad on a trail in the Big Santa Anita Canyon. After a short drive from Pasadena we came to the trailhead. We had to pay an Adventure Pass fee to park and then we were on our way. It was a very interesting trail with yucca plants then within a few steps, we saw pine trees. It reminded us of going from dessert to mountains. From 1912 to 1936 this area had lodging and rental cabins. There are now quite few private rustic cabins. Sometimes along a trail you will see a great sign. This one said: Take Care of the Land, Someday Youl'l Be Part of It. Then, as if to put an emphasis on it, we saw a dead owl in the middle of the trail.

Earlier in the season we would have seen number of waterfalls as well as wildflowers. We did hike to Sturtevant Falls and enjoyed lunch together. We returned on the same trail except for one minor detour when we took the horse trail to try to make it a loop. From many points along the trail you could see up or down the canyon and get some pretty good views. This minor detail afforded us some of the best views from this trail. Also on the way out, we got into a conversation with John, who owns one of the cabins in the canyon. He talked a bit about having to repair a door which a bear had gotten in through. It sounded like he was taking it as a matter of fact, even though this was not the first time a bear had gotten into the cabin.

This was a good hike. But what ever trail you are on, it is great to hike with your family. And today it was wonderful being lead by our youngest daughter.

Trail listed in California Waterfalls by Ann Marie Brown-“Gabrielino Trail meanders under the shade of oaks and alders along Big Santa Anita Creek. The stream is tamed somewhat by a series of small check dams, forming oddly pretty artificial waterfalls and glassy pools.” Page 434

Adventure 051, Site 141 – Christmas Tree Lane

Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 051, Site 141 – Christmas Tree Lane

California Landmark Number: 990

National Historical Number: 1990001444

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  October 4, 2012

Location:

Latitude: 34° 11.042′ N

Longitude: 118° 8.324′ W

Address: 2230-2282 Santa Rosa Avenue, Altadena CA 91001

Description:

Frederick C Nash in 1920 created this Christmas Tree Lane from the 135 Deodar trees planted along Santa Rosa Ave. Since that time, a mile of lights has been a holiday tradition of Altadena.

We have a Christmas tree lane in Fresno so when we saw the sign for Christmas tree lane in Altadena, Thing 1 and Thing 2 could not pass it up. This Christmas tree lane is planted the same type of tree that is planted on our street in Fresno.

As a note, Fresno has a Christmas Tree Lane, going down our Van Ness Ave, which has been going on since 1912. The Lane is about 2 miles long. Twice during the season, the avenue is closed off to traffic and walkers have a night of it. Both Thing One and Thing Two enjoy the time walking this.

NO. 990 CHRISTMAS TREE LANE - The 135 Deodar Cedar trees were planted in 1885 by the Woodbury Family, the founders of Altadena. First organized by F.C. Nash in 1920, the 'Mile of Christmas Trees' has been strung with 10,000 lights each holiday season through the efforts of volunteers and the Christmas Tree Lane Association. It is the oldest large-scale Christmas lighting spectacle in Southern California.
Location: Santa Rosa Ave, both sides of street from Woodbury Ave to Altadena Dr, Altadena



From NRHP:

Christmas Tree Lane is significant as the most prominently recognized landscape feature in Altadena. The six block double row of one hundred year old Deodar Cedar trees have been an important part of the history of the community since first being planted in 1885 by Altadena 1 s founders, Frederick J. and John P. Woodbury, as part of their ranch. The trees have attained significance because of their association with an important community event. A Christmas Tree lighting ceremony was started in 1920 as a community project and has become a major event for Altadena and the surrounding San Gabriel Valley region attracting hundreds of thousands of people from throughout Southern California and beyond for over sixty years.

References:

• Historical Marker Database (HMDB.org) - Note: the link to the founder's gravesite is in error. It goes to the wrong Nash.
  
• History of Christmas Tree Lane
  
• National Registry of Historical Places-Documents and Photos
  

Overall Landmark References:

• David Schmitt's California State Historical Landmark (Schmitt)
  
• Wikipedia: California's National Landmarks (WCNL)
  
• State of California's California Historical Landmarks (CHL)
  
• Wikipedia: California State Landmarks (WCSL)
  
• State of California Historical Resources (CHR)
  
• National Registry of Historical Places (NRHP)
  
• Historical Marker Database (HMDB)
  

Adventure 008, Hike 144 - Stream Trail

Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 008-144: Stream Trail

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  October 3, 2012

Location: Redwood Regional Park

Details: From Bridle I connected to Stream Trail to take advantage of the million bathrooms they have along Stream Trail. It is a paved/ dirt road for a bit and I have a huge group of  high school runners passing me as I jog along. I follow Stream Trail until I get to Trail’s End and hop onto Mill Trail.

Adventure 008, Hike 143 - Bridle Trail

Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 008-143: Bridle Trail

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  October 3, 2012

Location: Redwood Regional Park

Details: Redwood is quickly becoming one of my favorite running spots! It is a quick detour on my commute home and is filled with lovely trees and lovely streams and lovely people. Bridle Trail is a wide dirt trail that parallels Stream Trail and the road. It is relatively flat and makes a lot of connections with trails going up to French. I veer off Bridle to catch a bathroom that is on Stream Trail.

Adventure 008, Hike 147 - Orchard Trail

Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 008-147: Orchard Trail

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  October 3, 2012

Location: Redwood Regional Park

Details: At the end of French Trail is Orchard Trail. This is a steep downhill with lots of twisty roots trying to trip me up. Luckily I have a good eye for those kinds of things. I take this down to Bridle Trail which takes me back to my car. I look around for a historical marker that I know is somewhere in the vicinity and after running up and down Bridle for 15 or so minutes I find out that I parked my car right next to it. Doh!

Adventure 008, Hike146 - French Trail

Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 008-146: French Trail

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  October 3, 2012

Location: Redwood Regional Park

Details: French Trail is one of the jewels of the East Bay Regional Park system. Amazing singletrack with rolling hills and gorgeous views. It also doesn’t hurt that it is surrounded by redwoods.

Coming from Mill Trail I start with a climb up French Trail, which for some reason is killing my calves. I’m blaming it on the barefoot beach run the Saturday before. After I get to the top the calves even out and it is a gorgeous run, with a mostly downhill feel to it.