Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-24
LIFE OF THE VALLEY

Nesting here among the foothills-com-
manding an unobstructed view of the
lofty peaks of Mt Lowe, Mt. Wilson
and Mt. Baldy-is the little valley OF
Eagle Rock, just six miles from the
business center of Los Angeles and for
ty minutes by street car
1t seems strange, but nevertheless it
true that few people residing in Los
Angeles really know where Eagle Rock
valley is located and still less of the
character of it's inhabitants. When l
saw that less than four years ago Eagle
Rock valley, covering an area of about
three miles in length by two in width,
was a rural farming and fruit growing
community, with barely a dozen houses
with no street car service or other mod
ern Improvements, it is not surprising
that the Angelenos-engrossed as they
are in their own affairs-haVe little time
to watch the changing scenes that are
taking place in this Eden of Southern
California.
In the fall of 1905 a few enterprising
and far-seeing men of affairs, among
whom we may mention ]. A. Gates,
Godfrey Edwards and others, began to
realize that nature had made a setting
here which could not be improved by
the art of man. Acreage was pur-
chased streets were opened, the Los
Angeles railway was induced to extend
its line into the valley, and then began
the onward march of progress in the
building of homes which has trans
formed this semi-farming section into
the most beautiful residence suburb of
the city of Los Angeles.
The simple life of the country which
appeals so strongly to men and women
of artistic tastes and temperament is
fully exemplifed in all that has taken
place in making Eagle Rock valley q
center of beautiful homes Men ana
women, true lovers of nature, have
gathered here-many of them known as
experts and stand in the foreground OF
their various professions and Callings.
The social life of the valley is one of
it's most inviting features. 1t is as one
family, working together, not to build
a city, but community of rural homes,
removed from the strenuous influences
of commercial life, place that can only
be described by the word "home," in its
most beautiful and simple significance.
While all these changes have been
taking place and the lovers of nature
have been building homes, they have
brought forth other institutions that
are a necessary part of home com
munity. A modern graded school has
been established, and its educational
facilities for the boys and girls are sur
passed by few. The little wayside
church, which for many years has been
struggling for existence, has been
strengthened, not only by those who
are enrolled as its members, but by
men and women of many religious
faiths, who realize the necessity for and
the influence of such an institution In
home center.
The women of the valley have organ
lied a Woman's Twentieth Century club
and are soon to erect one of the most
artistic and complete bungalow club
houses to be found in many a days
Journey With all these varied inter-
ests, the residents of Eagle Rock valley,
coming as they have from other locali-
ties and with other affiliations have
turned their backs, as it were, upon
the past and are entering into the work
of the present and future-building
home center for a home-loving people
in the most beautiful of California val
leys.
Nature has endowed the valley with
many of her charms, and it is often re-
marked that the sun sheds just a little
softer rays in Eagle Rock than else
where 1t is certain that Old Sol on
his daily plgrimages across the horizon
fingers lust a little longer and casts
Just a few more parting glances over
the quiet valley and over the deepening
shadows of the foothills than he does
elsewhere. All who have witnessed
the glory of an Eagle Rock sunset will
never forget the picture, the crimson
sky casts its shadows over canyons,
mountains and valleys, and shows in
bold relief the spreading wings of the
n ltVA.r n