Beacon Media's light shines bright in dazzling digital direction. Digital focus creates unparalleled prospects for growth. Its websites (arcadiaweekly.com, monroviaweekly.com, sierramadreweekly.com and pasadenaindependent.com) will be updated with the latest news and information available. See hard copy in VF Newspapers.
A special 8 page supplement offers a variety of articles on the Santa Anita Park track, its history, activities, facilities and its contributions to the community.
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 north toward mountains from Huntington Drive near Golden West at the time of the opening of Santa Anita Village Tract. Note on the large sign the price of $695 for a lot. Tract opened March 29, 1939. See also History Room Box A and History Room Box 2.
Photo of swimming pool which apparently was enlisted men's pool located approximately where Bekins Storage is today (1970's, at 35 W. Huntington Drive). Mr. H.F.Paden, an officer stationed at Ross Field in 1919, says there was another officer's pool of field stone in what is now county park.
1. "Making charts of air currents." Arcadia Journal, June 21, 1919. 2. "Mercury Flights Through Cloudland (1917)." Advertising brochure for sightseeing flights. One of the attractions was the Balloon School. Copied from the original owned by Sid Platford. 3. "Veteran recalls balloon field." Ar…
1. "Making charts of air currents." Arcadia Journal, June 21, 1919.
2. "Mercury Flights Through Cloudland (1917)." Advertising brochure for sightseeing flights. One of the attractions was the Balloon School. Copied from the original owned by Sid Platford.
30. "Airships tracked enemy from Arcadia balloon base." Arcadia Tribune, January 26, 1978.
31. Copies of photos with designation of various sections of base.
32. "Major Max Fleischman." Arcadian Observer, October 5, 1918.
33. "The Arcadia Balloon School, 1918." Western States Jewish Historical Quarterly, October 1980. Photo with lengthy caption.
34. "Ross Field does fadeout." Los Angeles Times, November 15, 1933, Part I , page 6.
35. "Close blind pig at once!" Hensley blind pigs is slang for speak easy or illegal operation, and referred to a need to clean them up if Balloon School is to be here. Arcadia Journal, June 8, 1918.
36. "Arcadia will be aircraft center." Arcadia Journal, September 28, 1918.
37. Correspondence regarding archival holdings on Balloon School in National Archives, June 16, 1978.
40. Recollection of Mr. John Milton Huston, stationed here at 21.
41. "The post band." Arcadia Observer, November 9, 1918, page 6.
42. "Balloons re-enter the wars." News clip, October 7, 1951, possibly from an Omaha publication.
43. "Airborne 'elephants' once inhabited Arcadia's skies." Fedco Reporter, May 1988, by J.D. Carroll.
44. "Observer." Arcadian Observer, September 1918, page 19.
45. "New commander in charge of Arcadia." Arcadian Observer, January 4, 1919, page 8.
46. "First American Balloon Officer to die in action." (Lt. Cleo J. Ross) Arcadian Observer, November 2, 1918, page 27.
47. "Two balloon men killed by bomb." Arcadia Journal, September 28, 1918.
48. "Balloon School awaits on order." Arcadia Journal, March 30, 1918.
49. Sample of letterhead stationery from Balloon School.
50. "L.A. Scene - The City then and now." Balloon School/Arcadia County Park. Los Angeles Times, December 20, 1993, page B3.
51. "Officers to have a camp at Arcadia." Temple Times, June 26, 1924.
52. "Pioneer 'Birdman' recalls balloon exploits in Pasadena area." Arcadia man won fame in flying dirigible. Pasadena Star News, March 16, 1952.
53. "Ross Field use known June 1." News clip, May 8, 1929.
54. " Ross Field bill voted by houses." News clip, March 4, 1933.
55. "Ross Field Parks Project near vote by County leaders." Pasadena Star News, May 14, 1933.
56. "Ross Field purchase is urged on Council." News clip, May 18, 1933.
57. "Ross Field planned to become new park as County gets deed." News clip, August 1, 1935.
58. "Ross Field betterment approved." News clip, August 2, 1935.
59. "Ross Field to harbor zeppelin and Ross Field hangar leased as zeppelin assembling center." News clip, no date.
60. "Air planes gather at Ross Field for zeppelin activities." News clip, May 22, 1929. "Pilots will be trained at Ross." News clip, May 22, 1929. "Light tests on way at Ross site." News clip, May 18, 1929.
61. "U.S. returns Ross Field as sports center." News clip, June 11, 1935.
62. "Army School Ross Field Project." News clip, June 24, 1930.
63. "Park agreed at balloon field site." News clip, July 3, 1935.
64. "$55,655 price decision near on Ross Field." News clip, May 17, 1933. "Senate passes Arcadia Bill." Los Angeles Times, 1933.
65. "Set date for zeppelin to take air." News clip, May 28, 1929.
66. "Dirigible's keel laid at Ross." News clip, May 20, 1929.
67. "Group backs Ross Field measure." News clip, January 24, 1933.
68. "Senate passes balloon camp land transfer." News clip, February 10, 1933.
69. 1996 Heritage Calendar by Chino Valley Bank. Includes photos of U.S. Army Balloon Corp station.
70. "Today and yesterday of the Arcadia Balloon School Field." Pasadena Star News, July 4, 1931.
71. Copies of photos of Ray Walters, stationed at the Balloon School. Photo and article regarding the first annual picnic, June 1938.
72. Copy of photo #186.
73. "Army's biggest balloon school coming here." Los Angeles Times, March 13, 1916, Part II, page 1.
74. First draft chapter on Ross Field, by Arcadia resident John Irwin.
75. "Balloon Work Conditions Better, Y.M.C.A. Outpost is Established at Stocker Field, Officers Will Play Ball Tonight at Balloon Camp." Pasadena Star News, July 18, 1918.
76. World War I Heroes Remembered : Cleo J. Ross. Written by Ken Hudnut. (Internet article)
77. California Aviation History : The Army Balloon School, Ross Field, Arcadia, California, by Richard DesChenes. From the California State Military Department, California Military Museum. http:www.militarymuseum.org/BalloonSch.html
78. "Pasadena Public Library does bit for soldiers." Collection of books is provided for the military camp of the Seventh California regiment of guardsmen at Arcadia. Pasadena Star News, May 19, 1917, p. 13.
79. Overseas Army nurse, Grace Thompson, has been assigned to the post hospital at the United States Army Balloon School at Arcadia. Pasadena Star News, May 21, 1919, p. 11
80. "Heads For Camp in City." Thirty officers arrive from Fort Dodge, Iowa to take balloon duty in Arcadia. Many live in Arcadia. Lieutenant Colonel W.N. Hensley will host a dinner for his staff at Hotel Huntington. Pasadena Star News, Monday April 1, 1918.
81. "Tents Erected at Balloon Campsite." Seven tents for thirty men from the United States Army signal corps have been erected on the site of the new balloon station on the Baldwin Ranch in Arcadia. Pasadena Star News, April 4, 1918.
82. "May Give Up Camp Plans." Rumors from Washington say balloon station is not needed, decision will come soon, war department to meet with Los Angeles representatives. Pasadena Star News, April 9, 1918.
83. "Sale of Ross Field is Vetoed." War Department's wire stops sale of Ross Field to any private individual or municipality, government will reserve tract for other training. Pasadena Star News, April 13, 1927.
84. "Fire Plan Revision is Foresters' Job." Forest guards, patrolmen and registrars to complete training at Ross Field in Arcadia before fire season begins. Pasadena Star News clipping April 24, 1929.
85. "Forest fire work to be given trial. Rangers to carry out training program." The annual forest rangers' training school will be in session for two days at Ross Field, Arcadia. Pasadena Star News clipping, April 30, 1929.
86. Gallery Guide to Ruth and Charles Gilb Arcadia Historical Museum Exhibit, November 2005-January 2006. Exhibit called "War Department, Department of Military Aeronautics, Army Balloon School." Contains history of Balloon School.
87. Named "Ross Field" for Lieutenant Cleo J. Ross, killed in France. The Atlanta Constitution, May 23, 1919.
Writer Charles Cooper continues his series of articles called "Memories of Arcadia" with a history and description of the U.S. Army Balloon School that was at Camp Ross (or Ross Field) in Arcadia during World War I. The balloon school was located on the current site of Arcadia County Park.
Original description, "Balloon about 30 feet off ground. Balloon has round target-like mark on its side. Under balloon is truck with winch and many men participating in restraining it. Overcast day." Revised description 9/7/2017 by Mark Rosenblum, a local Balloon School historian, identifies it as Rockwell Field in San Diego. It is not Arcadia, but he said the men from the Balloon School at Ross Field in Arcadia, went to San Diego to join in on a public display of the balloons.
ID #1960-1965 are print sheets of swimming pool construction at Arcadia High School. Single image on print sheet #1965. A man is at the edge of the pool, pretending to dive in.
Publicity photo from Paramount Pictures shows two young women in Polynesian style costume standing beside the lagoon at Arboretum. Actresses from 1937 Paramount picture. Fine print reads "Copyright 1937, Paramount Pictures Inc. Permission granted for Newspaper and Magazine reproduction. Made in U.S.A." This photograph belongs to Paramount Pictures. It is shown here for research only.
Scale on display at Pony Express Museum. This is a photocopy. Original is in the Pony Express Museum Scrapbook, Box 31, in the Arcadia History Room shelf B.
One balloon in sky (extreme left) and one balloon on ground with approximately 23 men making it secure. High wire fence in foreground. San Gabriel Mountains form background.
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.
Only photo in Library Collection showing Free balloon training at Ross Field (all other are fixed). Balloon is some distance off the ground and displays an American flag on the right side.
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.
William Parker Lyon Pony Express Museum-entryway to exhibit room. Sign reads W. Parker Lyon, from which a bell hangs. Another sign reads Wells Fargo & Co Express. Watch or clock shaped signs read Ingersoll Watches and Sherrard Jeweler. Hobby horses and small wooden chairs on either side of the entrance. Print of this photo is in the W. Parker Lyon Pony Express Museum Scrapbook, Box 31, in History Room, Shelf B3.