Aerial view toward the east taken from about over present Club House at Santa Anita Park Race Track. The main street running North/South is Santa Anita Avenue. View shows the oval of Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin's race track in what is currently Arcadia County Park. The buildings would be barracks of Ross Field U.S. Army Balloon School. Duarte Road can be seen coming into photo at right edge of photo near intersection with Santa Anita Avenue. The broad street along left side would be Huntington Drive. Railroad tracks can be seen in lower left corner.
Aerial view south of Balloon School and surrounding part of valley. Large tree-lined street running from center of photo toward lower left edge of photo is Santa Anita. Tree-lined street coming in on right edge of photo about two inches from bottom of photo and intersecting Santa Anita, is Duarte Road. Note wash that at present is just west of Arcadia High School. Rio Hondo Wash runs east to west across middle of photo.
Photographically reproduced copy of an old newspaper photo taken in 1936 which is an aerial view looking north west over original race track built by Baldwin. In lower right corner can be seen Santa Anita Ave lined with Eucalyptus. On lower left, one can see present Campus Drive. Across top third of photo, one can see Huntington Drive. Note how small the trees are that line the street.
These two long buildings appear to be buildings at the Balloon School. They have been left from the time that "Lucky" Baldwin's Santa Anita Race Track was on this site. There is considerable snow on San Gabriel Mountains behind.
Looking SW from mountains north of Arcadia. Major tree-lined street running from mountains south is Santa Anita Avenue. Southernmost tree-lined street cutting across entire middle of photo is Duarte Road. Barracks at the Balloon School can be seen just below Huntington Drive. Notice that Huntington Drive stops just west of the Balloon School, at the Baldwin Ranch. Much of Foothill area was planted to citrus.
View northeast over Pacific Electric Railroad. Ross Field Balloon School occupies portion on right side of photo over to the railroad tracks. The street marking its northern boundary would be Huntington Drive. The large rectangle just north of this street was Rancho Resevoir, converted into a swimming pool. The principal street marking east boundary of Balloon School property running north to south across this photo about at middle, is Santa Anita Avenue.
View east shows two balloons aloft over Arcadia and San Gabriel Valley. It is possible that first river up from bottom of photo is Rio Hondo Wash. Some of trees along Santa Anita appear to be in extreme lower right of photo. Tree-lined street showing in extreme lower left of photo is Duarte Road. Second river coming into photo about five inches up from bottom of photo would be San Gabriel River.
Looking east over barracks and main building at Ross Field. Tree-lined street cutting across photo at far side of field is Santa Anita Avenue. The oval of the race track built by E.J."Lucky" Baldwin and which opened in 1907 can clearly be seen on right. Broad E/W street seen on far left is Huntington Drive.
Copy of souvenir photo that may have been program cover for something called Flying Circus held February 22, 1919. Shows left to right: [a] bi-plane; [b] parachute and balloon in same shot; [c] balloon being secured by group of men; [d] parachute coming to the ground with group of people watching. [e] ? [f] aerial view of base.
Seated in large military truck are, L-R: Bruno Bucher, Cacelie Bucher Mauch, and Master Sgt. William Bucher, step father of the two young people. Truck is parked just inside the fence of Ross Field Balloon School, and at SW corner of Huntington Drive and Santa Anita. Note: Community Presbyterian Church seen behind them (was later moved to First Ave and Alice Street). Note also, a sign, apparently giving name of base over entry and not readable from this angle.
Balloon being restrained by about 11 men. An American flag is being raised or lowered from balloon. An automobile is in foreground. One of military winch trucks is on left side of photo.
Aerial view, apparently looking northeast, of major portion of Ross Field. Four large barracks-type buildings are along in a row in foreground. There are two other rows of buildings, with flag pole in third row of buildings. Large stand of eucalyptus across background.
Photo of one plaque that was placed commemorating Balloon School and another plaque in honor of Lt. John Hoeppel, who was responsible for getting the land from U.S. government for Los Angeles County Park. See also photo #184.
Four wheel drive truck with Cunningham winch used to get balloon aloft and back down and to keep them anchored. One truck for each balloon and had 1500 meters of heavy cable. Tires of truck were solid rubber. Note: ground line coming from truck near winch. This was to take care of static electricity generated along cable due to telephone in balloon. Information from H.F.Paden, Arcadia resident in 1978, former officer at Balloon School.
Master Sgt. William Bucher sitting at steering wheel of Army vehicle just inside grounds of Ross Field Balloon School. Behind him can be seen tower of Santa Anita Avenue and Huntington Drive.
View west. Appears to have been taken a few minutes after photo #162 as it is essentially same scene, but balloon is further down on ground. Approximately 18 men working on holding balloon. San Gabriel Mountains on right side of photo.
View across swimming pool built for the men of Ross Field Balloon School by Anita Baldwin and the community. It was on possibly opening day as there are throngs of guests looking on. This was located where present parking lot of Elks building is located. H.F.Paden in 1978 told us there was also a pool formed of stone in what is now County Park area which was an officers' pool.
Photo of General John J. Pershing mingling with a group at Ross Field Balloon School. He is accompanied by other officers and there are a number of young boys eager to greet him. Across photo had been written "Balloon School Training" and "1920" and "General Pershing at Arcadia."