Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-02-07
LETTER FROM
NORMAN GERARD
MONROvIA, Cal. Jan. |, 1907.

MONROVIA, Gal. Jan. L, 1871.
Dear Son:-I am going to commence
the New Year by writing letter to
you.
Last week there was over two
inches of rain fall, making over six
inches in all since November. There
has enough rain fallen to insure good
crops to the farmers the coming sea-
son.
The spirit of speculation is running
very high here in Monrovia. At a
modest estimate there are forty or
fifty real estate men in the city. Pro-
perty is changing hands daily and the
prices are going up the same as lum-
Der is in Wisconsin. Last week there
was tract of land sold at the head
of Myrtle Ave. and Monroe ST., near
the mountain for $4,000 for site for
tourist hotel to cost half million
dollars. Two or three miles west of
here on lie of the highest and most
prominent points of the Sierra Madre
Mountains, Mt. Wilson, 5000 feet
above sea level, they are building one
of the largest Observatories in the
world. This is fine location on &C
count of the clearneSS of the atmos-
phere. The trail to reach it begins at
Sierra Madre Villa and winds it's
way to the summit, distance of five
miles. The trail is an easy grade and
it takes about four hours to make the
trip by mule or buss. 1t is said no
trip to southern California is complete
without ride over this famous trail.
In addition to this trail they are
building good substantial road to
get the machinery up. Mr.. Hunting
ton, the president of the Pacific
Electric Railway Co. has given 800,
600 towards the building of this road
to the top of the mountain, After
due deliberation | have decided not
to make the trip. If | conclude to
take mountain trip it will be over
the famous Mt. Lowe railway which
goes farther back into the Sierras
with more ease. The Sierra Madre
Range shows off to better advantage
from Pasadena than from most any
other point of view.
On Christmas day was invited to
eat turkey with G. E. Parish and
wife, and was right royalty entertained
at their magnificent home at 1853
Coronado St., Los Angeles. In the
dining room on the center of the
table was a Christmas tree lighted
with small wax candles. The win
dOws were darkened and the gas
turned on so that it gave the table a
beautiful appearance. 1t was loaded
with all the good things that the
Los Angeles market could afford and
the skill and taste of Mrs. Parish
would be hard to beat. On the whole
we spent very pleasant Christmas
day long to be remembered.
Here is Mr.. Parish's toast and the
| names of the guests present:
/ Here's to our friends from Ocean Park,
And those from Iowa,
From New York and the Badger state,
Assembled here to-day.
May health and wealth and sweet con-
tent
Anew each Christmas morn,
F! Be strewn along your paths in life
! From Corincapia's horn.
Those present were DIR. W. III.
Parker and wife, Ocean Park, CAL;
Mrs. Michael Griffin, Eau Claire, Wis,
is spending the winter at Long
Beach; Mrs. Bostwick and daughter,
of Woodbine, Iowa, is spending the
winter at Ocean Park: Mrs. j. NJ.
Van Beuthuysen, of Cahoes, n. Y,
| staying at Los Angeles.
Your affectionate father,
NORMAN GERARD.
In Stoughton Courier.