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.
John M. Huston, a World War I private in the Air Services Signal Corps unit that was here in Arcadia at the Balloon School, gives an account of those experiences.
Rudolph C. Shosted, now 79, recalls his time spent at the Army's observation balloon school, located where the Los Angeles County Park golf course now is.
March 30, 1918 p. 1; April 6, 1918 p. 1 (await orders); May 4, 1918 p. 1; May 18, 1918 p. 1 (preliminary steps); May 25, 1918 p. 4 (officers); June 8, 1918 p. 1; June 15, 1918 p. 1 (first men arrive); June 8, 1918 p. 1 ("Blind Pigs" closed near school); June 15, 1918 p. 1 (recreation center); June 22, 1918 p. 1; June 29, 1918 p. 1 (recreation center); July 29, 1918 p. 1 (alien zone established); August 3, 1918 p. 4 and September 7, 1918 p. 1 (club-house); August 24, 1918 p. 1 (balloon use in war); September 28, 1918 p. 1 (aircraft center); October 5, 1918 p. 1 (amusement park); November 17, 1918 p. 1 (Commander Hensky); November 30, 1918 p. 4 (permanence).
March 30, 1918 p. 1; April 6, 1918 p. 1 (await orders); May 4, 1918 p. 1; May 18, 1918 p. 1 (preliminary steps); May 25, 1918 p. 4 (officers); June 8, 1918 p. 1; June 15, 1918 p. 1 (first men arrive); June 8, 1918 p. 1 ("Blind Pigs" closed near school); June 15, 1918 p. 1 (recreation center); June 22, 1918 p. 1; June 29, 1918 p. 1 (recreation center); July 29, 1918 p. 1 (alien zone established); August 3, 1918 p. 4 and September 7, 1918 p. 1 (club-house); August 24, 1918 p. 1 (balloon use in war); September 28, 1918 p. 1 (aircraft center); October 5, 1918 p. 1 (amusement park); November 17, 1918 p. 1 (Commander Hensky); November 30, 1918 p. 4 (permanence).
May 15, 1931 p. 1; May 22, 1931 p. 1 (evacuation possible); June 5, 1931 p. 1 (clearing started); July 29, 1932 p. 1 (return land to the County); October 28, 1932 p. 1; January 20, 1933 p. 1 (County park site); February 17, 1933 p. 1 (bill revision); March 17, 1933 p. 1 (bill passes); May 19, 1933 p. 1 (County urged to pay as required by bill); February 15, 1935 p. 1 (deeded to government, County must pay); June 14, 1935 p. 1 (Senate passes bill); June 21, 1935 p. 1 (President signs bill); August 2, 1935 p. 1 (officially returned to the County); August 9, 1935 p. 1 (application for WPA work); August 16, 1935 p. 1 (opposition); November 22, 1935 p. 1 (application signed); January 24, 1936 p. 1; January 27, 1936 p. 1 (county park); March 2, 1936 p. 1; March 13, 1936 p. 1; March 23, 1936 p. 1; March 27, 1936 p. 1; April 23, 1936 p. 1; April 27, 1936 p. 1; June 4, 1936 p. 1; June 12, 1936 p. 1; July 15, 1936 p. 1; July 21, 1936 p. 1; August 10, 1936 p. 1; August 17, 1936 p. 1; September 21, 1936 p. 1; January 27, 1937 p. 1 (ground breaking); May 14, 1937 p. 1 (dedication); November 9, 1953 p. 1 (Memorial Marker); September 29, 1966 p. 1 (article and picture).
May 15, 1931 p. 1; May 22, 1931 p. 1 (evacuation possible); June 5, 1931 p. 1 (clearing started); July 29, 1932 p. 1 (return land to the County); October 28, 1932 p. 1; January 20, 1933 p. 1 (County park site); February 17, 1933 p. 1 (bill revision); March 17, 1933 p. 1 (bill passes); May 19, 1933 p. 1 (County urged to pay as required by bill); February 15, 1935 p. 1 (deeded to government, County must pay); June 14, 1935 p. 1 (Senate passes bill); June 21, 1935 p. 1 (President signs bill); August 2, 1935 p. 1 (officially returned to the County); August 9, 1935 p. 1 (application for WPA work); August 16, 1935 p. 1 (opposition); November 22, 1935 p. 1 (application signed); January 24, 1936 p. 1; January 27, 1936 p. 1 (county park); March 2, 1936 p. 1; March 13, 1936 p. 1; March 23, 1936 p. 1; March 27, 1936 p. 1; April 23, 1936 p. 1; April 27, 1936 p. 1; June 4, 1936 p. 1; June 12, 1936 p. 1; July 15, 1936 p. 1; July 21, 1936 p. 1; August 10, 1936 p. 1; August 17, 1936 p. 1; September 21, 1936 p. 1; January 27, 1937 p. 1 (ground breaking); May 14, 1937 p. 1 (dedication); November 9, 1953 p. 1 (Memorial Marker); September 29, 1966 p. 1 (article and picture).
Dana Middle School students released a weather balloon 80,000 feet into the air. It was made of latex and equipped with a tracking device that sent updates every 16 seconds to science teacher Mike Mora's laptop computer. The balloon reached its final resting place near California City, north of Edwards Air Force Base, about 150 miles from its launch point.
One hundred fifty balloons rose into the sky above Arcadia Presbyterian Church on Tuesday as loved ones paid their final respects at the funeral for high school sophomore Russell Simon.
Members of the Arcadia High School Marching Band earned money by blowing up balloons for the Democratic National Convention at Staples Center. The money will pay for a trip later this year to the Gator Bowl in Florida.
First Avenue Middle School celebrated the 26th birthday and life of teacher Jennifer Castillo with a ceremony and the release of over 900 balloons. She taught 6th grade Algebra and introductory Spanish. She died February 8 of heart failure.