Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Richard Cortez Past History of The City of El Monte

Hello everyone I have been writing for the Mid Valley News since Feb. 2011 and some of you have asked to see my past articles. I will post them here. If you have any ideas for stories please feel free to contact me.

12 comments:

  1. What was the name of the original bus station there in El Monte. I was born there and still remember working with my Grandma at the Legion stadium. she worked below the stage, and made the best hotdogs in El Monte. My biggest moment came when I was able to sit with Dick Lane as he announced the skating stars of the LA Thunderbirds and the Texas outlaws.

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  2. Born(1971) and raised in El Monte. It's great seeing all these old pictures, though most are before my time. But I thought "The Pit" was on the corner of Santa Anita and Garvey.

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    1. I agree. The Pit was definitely at that corner. My uncle owned the Chevron station across the street, where now the Ceasar's Pizza stands. I also believe The A&W was between where the Auto zone and the Jack in the box now stand at Peck rd. & Durfee...I grew up in S. El Monte in the 60's and seventies, My sisters and I walked there all the time....

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  3. Steve is correct, the Pit was on Santa Anita an Garvey. I ate there several times in the 50s and 60s. Best pasramies ever.

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  4. My family lived on N.Durfee Rd. across from what was then called the Audubon Society.There is now a school on the property.
    I think it would be great if the history of the Durfee family, farm, and the surrounding agricultural industry including the shipping docks and box factory that were between the Lazy D Trailer Court and the orchard that was south of the Durfee barn and home

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    1. I lived down the street from you, towards Legg Lake, across from the Tunel Ranch farm, next to the Hansen Egg ranch. I went to the Temple school on Lexington and Gallatin Road and then at Valle Lindo School when it first was built. I, too, would like to see more pictures and info on the Durfee ranch site. I knew the durfee brothers. There were three of them and they always sat on their porch waving to people walking by. The ranch house had a big rock driveway that encircled around. I used to hang around the pig farm section, chicken section, and would often eat the plums in their plum orchards. The brothers never did marry or raise children, And as they aged, freeway plans by the city began on paper around 1950. Ten years later the project began and in 1966 it ran through were the farm house stood. There was also the Alouise Ranch off Durfee Road, across from the plum/hay field of the Durfee Ranch property. We bought our food at the Foodlane Market, on Peck Road. In 1960, I remember the Legg Lake construction. It was originally a pond where hunters would shoot geese and rabbits. I had no idea how time worked back then. And I knew nothing of El Monte history. I am 70 years of age next month. In a quick 15 years, South El Monte made a drastic change from being a single farming community to an LA suburb of freeways, houses, businesses, and gangs. In the 50's, South El Monte was inundated with foreigners from Europe's refugees when Russia invaded southern territories; Czechoslovakia, Hungry, etc. All of them left El Monte when the farms were suddenly taken out. From the top of Kello Hill, as you drove on the 10 Highway, now the 10 Freeway; looking towards Los Angeles from the top of that hill, all one could see was farms squares of land. Smudge pots were used in the cold winters and created such a smog problem in the valley that only thick black smoke that rain silt ash on everything and everybody. Smog was so bad in 1950 that smudge pots were outlawed; which began the change from a farming valley to an LA suburb.

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    2. Hi I attend Dean L. Shively(The vallelindo school district), may I ask what teachers did you have?

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    3. Hi Corey, My family lived on the property where So El Monte High School is located. Are you a Clarkson? My family lived next door, the Marquez,lol

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    1. The Pit..hottest place on earth, When 100+ temps.hit SoCal.
      Dad tried to avoid Valley but I would bust him and say" why are we going this way ? its way faster to go straight past The Pit !!!
      Didn't even know the street names but I knew where we were.

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  6. The Foodlane Market was on the corner of Durffee and Thenis Ave. My sister Shirley Jurney worked there in the 50's. I think a Mr Tucker owned the store at the time.

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  7. Hello, I was born elsewhere, but I grew up in South El Monte. One of the best towns I lived in. I was in the first full four years of graduates from Mt. View High School. Graduated in 1975. I grandmother and aunts lived on Burkett Rd right off of Rush. I actually lived in the house on the corner right next door. I was pregnant and mom wanted me close. Good times, bad times...

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