Spring 1935. Santa Anita Rancho field crops of many varieties were grown. View is toward the north. San Gabriel mountains completely across the photo. Chantry Flats Road visible at right side. White barn prominent in center of photo.
A disc plow sits in field in this view looking north toward mountains. This was very shortly after Mauch family bought the 5 acres near Palm Avenue and Holly Avenue. The dirt road on extreme right is Holly Avenue.
View north toward mountains from Mauch five acre ranch which was near corner of Palm Avenue and Holly Avenue. Note some young walnut trees have been set out and a chicken house has been built (left). There is snow on Mount Wilson. Street on right is Holly Avenue.
View north up Santa Anita Avenue with mountains in background. This photo was taken about where present Orange Grove Avenue intersects with Santa Anita Avenue. Note orange groves all along west side of Santa Anita as far as the mountains. Street is not paved.
Man is riding bicycle on a path inside Rancho Santa Anita Park and Lake (later, the Arboretum), with many palm trees. Sign reads "Open to the Public Daily until 7PM, private property" and "Curves, drive slowly through park." The following information is from Sandy Snider: This is indeed, today’s Arboretum, but at the time the property was owned by a real estate syndicate named Rancho Santa Anita Inc. The enterprise was headed by the Chandler family (Harry until he died), and they bought the land from Anita Baldwin in 1936 for purposes of residential development. About 1939 they opened “the park” to visitors in hopes of encouraging land sales. About 30 acres surrounding the lake was sort of set aside as Santa Anita Park and Lake, that was roughly the area made available for movie location rentals and clearly for bicyclists, etc. 1939 is the circa date for this photograph, but it could have been anytime between 1936 and 1947 (when the land was sold to State and County for use as an Arboretum). The granite boulders lining roadways were typical Baldwin Ranch landscape features, and the pillars seen in the photo are also from Baldwin times. In the background you can see more boulders in a circular sort of shape – likely the old Baldwin Lily Pond.
View toward NE on a winter's day that shows snow on San Gabriel Mountains. The street seen is Holly Avenue which has just been paved. This was taken from the Mauch Ranch on Holly Avenue near Palm Avenue.
Car sitting alongside Holly Avenue at property just purchased by Aloyosius Mauch and his family near Palm Avenue and Holly Avenue. This view is toward NE.
Home of Charles and Pearl Strong at 460 W. Duarte Road. View shows small clapboard house standing by itself. There is a high-sided trailer standing at left of house. What appears to be chicken houses show in the photo. Claimed to be first white leghorn chicken ranch in Arcadia.
Harry Ainsworth Ranch, upper grove looking north to mountains. Present day Highland Oaks School would be located about where trees block the end of the row of citrus trees.
Aerial view north. Main tree-lined street is Santa Anita Avenue. Most of the orange grove in center of photo was owned by Jaspar Teague family. They had built a circular art gallery on their property at 1380 South Santa Anita Avenue. The large buildings north of Teague's and to the west of Santa Anita Avenue are chicken houses. Duarte Road is the east/west street across photo near top of photo.
The Queen Anne Cottage is seen from across the lake, with a reflection of the cottage in the lake. Cottage was used by Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin. Currently on the grounds of the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden. Original fiberboard print. Caption reads "Views of Pasadena and San Gabriel Valley, E. A. Bonine, Photo., Lamanda Park, Los Angeles Co., Cal."
Newly planted strawberries are seen covered by paper cups for protection. Mr. Mauch said they learned to do this from their Japanese neighbors. This view is looking north toward mountains from Mauch ranch at Holly Avenue and Palm Avenue.
Bali House through the jungle in the north shore at lake at the Arboretum. Part of set for the filming of "A Honeymoon in Bali," starring Madelene Carrol and Fred McMurray. Originally it was to be named "Are Husbands Necessary." Directed by F.H. Griffith, June-July, 1939. Gate shows in front of photo with house in rear. Part of house on right side of photo is draped with what looks like a black cloth.