Funny Things Found While Writing Wicked Jurupa Valley

The deadline grows closer for me to finish up my new book, "Wicked Jurupa Valley." Doing the research has been a very interesting journey and I have come across some funny things. Funny as in odd, not laugh out loud funny.   

In researching one story I came across information on the "Winter that Almost Wasn't" as it is called. The winter of 1898-99 was a very mild one, particularly in the upper Midwest. Then on January 30th, 1899 a cold front moved in that lasted about two weeks. The cold affected most of the country and was so severe it caused the entire length of the Mississippi River to freeze! Ice flowed into the Gulf of Mexico and a snowfall record was set in Washington D.C. that did not fall until 2010.

What does this have to do with Jurupa Valley, you ask? A family that endured that horrible cold wave while living in Minnesota moved to Jurupa Valley right after that. That cold wave may have affected their thinking when they made that decision to move. The rest of their story will be in "Wicked Jurupa  Valley." I can't wait for all of you to be able to read it!

Sunnyslope

The name of the community of Sunnyslope actually dates to 1888. That year a development was advertised by Cunningham and Co. as the "Sunny Slope of West Riverside." At that time the name was spelled as two words, not one as it is today.

A Place Called Bly

A quarry was begun in Pyrite Canyon in the Glen Avon area about 1900. It was soon taken over and expanded to at least two quarries by the Bly Brothers who owned the Bly Brothers Stone Company in Los Angeles. The stone was taken from the quarry to their yard in LA for finishing. In 1903 or 1904 a spur line was built to the quarries  by the San Pedro, Los Angeles, and Salt Lake Railroad. The spur went from the Pedley area to Pyrite Canyon. At the end of the spur line a siding was built for the loading of the rock. That siding became known as "Bly." Sometimes that area shows up on old maps as Bly as well, even thought there never was a real community known as Bly.

Walking in Previous Footsteps

My first deadline for my upcoming book, Wicked Jurupa Valley, is looming! I have to have all photos, maps, and any other images to the publisher by March 15th. With that in mind, last Saturday my husband and I took a drive to Los Angeles so I could take photos of two apartment buildings. These buildings had been owned back in the 1940s by a man named John Owen. They were managed by a woman named Agnes Garnier. Agnes had become John's mistress but it didn't end well. At John's big ranch here in Jurupa Valley a gun went off that ended John's life. That gun was in Agnes's hand when it went off. I think we can say their relationship didn't end well!

Researching and writing the story of John and Agnes for the book makes me think of them in a very personal way. It is almost like they become distant relatives, the kind you catch up with every year when you get their Christmas newsletter. So, seeing places where they actually lived and breathed was quite exciting for me. Both buildings were locked but I managed to finagle my way into the lobby of one of them. I could imagine Agnes walking across the lobby's black and while tiled floors. I could see John standing in front of the elevators, waiting to go up to visit Agnes. It was very cool walking where they walked!  



  

1921 Wedding

As a mother of two daughters, I have to admit that reading the stories of weddings in days gone by makes me long for the simpler, less expensive weddings they had back then. But don't tell my daughters. They will just think I am cheap! Here is another description of a wedding in Jurupa Valley that was solemnized on April 30th, 1921.

Miss Harriet Hannah Correll and Mr. Benjamin H. Walker were married at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. W.G. Correll of Glen Avon.  It was held in the presence of relatives and a few friends of the happy couple.

An arch of white roses and greenery was erected in one corner of the living room which is where the bridal party stood. At the stroke of eight the wedding march was played and the bridal party entered the living room. Miss Mildred Gallwas was the maid of honor. She wore dainty frock of pale green organdy and carried a bouquet of Cecil Bruner roses and asparagus fern. The best man was Glen Goodwin of Redondo Beach.

The girlish bride wore a wedding gown of white satin with embroidered georgette. her tulle veil was caught in her hair with a cornet of orange blossoms. She carried an arm bouquet of white roses and maiden hair fern.

After the ceremony an informal reception was held and then refreshments were served. Guests included five girlhood friends of the bride. They were Margaret Kelsey, Leone Anderson, Grace Witte, Olive Gogin, and Vera Gallwas.

The bride and groom slipped away for a short honeymoon to Los Angeles and San Diego. For the going away the bride wore a becoming suit of brown with a white hat.

The new Mrs. Walker has lived in Glenavon for many years. She graduated from the Girls High School in Riverside in 1920. She was a member of the school's basketball team in her senior year. The groom  is foreman of he bake shop at Chaffee's store in Riverside. They will be at home after May 8th at a new house at Sixth and Lemon Streets in Riverside.