The Arboretum suffered the loss of a number of old and rare trees in this week's wind storm, including the only known Crown of Thorns tree growing in this area.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a program for the development of a Hall of Environmental Education at the Arboretum. The Arboretum foundation has pledged $500,000 to the total $1,295,000 bill. There is no timetable for the work, but it will take approximately 2 or 3 years.
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.
Narrow Queen Anne Cottage roadway with tall trees and palms on both sides. Stamped on the original is "Assistance League-Film Location Bureau." No further identification.
Airport scene taken at the Arboretum. Airplane on left and part of hangar visible on right. A number of people are standing around by the hangar. Handwritten note on back of photo states, "The plane taking off from landing field just west of Rancho Santa Anita Park in 'Safari'."
Peacock with its feathers spread is seen on what is thought to be Pig Hill, part of Tallac Knoll where Anita Baldwin kept her pigs. There is a fence behind the peacock and a number of pigs visible.
Actor Johnny Sheffield is seen in costume for filming at the Arboretum. He is looking up and holding onto a tree limb with his left hand. Photo probably taken during filming of a Tarzan movie.
Arcadia Unified School District (AUSD) Deputy Superintendent Robert Leri has resigned. Arcadia High School Principal David Vannasdall will take on the additional role of Deputy Superintendent March 1 and leave his job as principal at end of school year to become Deputy Superintendent. Other personnel changes within the school district. AUSD is trying to cover a projected $7 million annual budget deficit with a proposed 5-year parcel tax. Arcadia Educational Foundation is doing its annual solicitation.
"A Late Summer Night's Dream" was the theme of a benefit party organized to raise funds for the los Angeles County Arboretum. A detailed description of the entire evening is given.
The Arcadia Educational Foundation raised about $90,000 for Arcadia schools over the last year by selling more than $1.4 million in "scrip" or vouchers for groceries.
The Los Angeles State and County Arboretum plans to open its 3 acre rain forest exhibit in July featuring several hundred plant specimens from around the world.
A 90-foot crane used for a movie shoot at the Arboretum toppled arm-first into Baldwin lake, which is being used as the set for the upcoming Columbia Pictures movie "Anaconda."
Francis Ching, 60, a native Hawaiian, is retiring after 20 years as supervisor of the Los Angeles County Dept. of Arboreta and Botanic Gardens, which includes the LA County Arboretum in Arcadia.
Tom Romano, president of the Arcadia Educational Foundation, presented the Arcadia Board of Education with a $20,000 check. The money was the result of a "telethon" in which residents were asked to contribute to the foundation in support of Arcadia schools.
Suzanne Gilstrap, who was paralyzed for life when a 20-foot-long tree limb fell on her at the Los Angeles County Arboretum on July 25, 1977, has won a $1,625,000 settlement from the County. Miss Gilstrap, now 16, has appeared as a paraplegic in a recent television movie, "Skyward," with Bette Davis.
A 5-year effort to put $1.5 million worth of computers, laser disc players, videocassette recorders and other high-tech teaching tools into Arcadia classrooms was kicked off by the Arcadia Educational Foundation, an independent fundraising group.
