Page 11 - Layout 1

Online at www.Sunland-Tujunga.net COMMUNITY PAGES 11

Some dates to remember are: c. 435,
the official dating of the Tujunga
Indian village near Orcas Park; 1797,
the construction of Mission San
Fernando, 1840, the grant date of
the Rancho Tujunga land; 1885, the
beginning of the village of Monte
Vista (Sunland); 1926, the year
Sunland was annexed to the City of
Los Angeles and 1932 when Tujunga
was also annexed. The utopian
colony of the Little Lands began
with the building of Bolton Hall in
1913; Tujunga became "The City of
Tujunga" in 1925. From 1932 until
Opened in 1887, the elegant hotel Monte Vista, was built to lure the wealthy
now, our towns have grown and to enjoy the beautiful valley of Monte Vista (Sunland-Tujunga).
merged into one great city. were grand, yet the amount of money in capi-
Settlers who arrived on the railroad stepped tal was small. Life was good where the soil
off the train at the Roscoe (Sun Valley) depot, was rich, water was plentiful and a mild heal-
a small, squarish wooden building right on to ing, year-round climate prevailed.
the desert and brush of the alluvial plain of However, up on the rocky slopes of Tujunga,
the Tujunga River. They walked, rode horses, the Little Landers in their utopian colony
or journeyed in wagons to reach the Monte were lucky to grow grapes and fruit trees.
Vista Hotel where they could be shown the One of the most productive cash crops was
land they signed up for. They were challenged chickens. A ranch, built up by two women,
immediately with the need for housing, food eventually housed over 1,500 chickens.
and some means of making a living. Gradually, Commerce Avenue in Tujunga
Most began living in tents until homes were became a thriving commercial center. The
fi n i s h e d . Tujunga folks were interested in books, socie-
Photographs courtesy of Bolton Hall archives. that the y statesman, Poet Laureate of California, philan-
Advertisers
ty and culture. Many famous people lived
suggested
there, including John Steven McGroarty;
plant mush-
thropist. Sunland-Tujunga and adjoining areas
rooms in
have been havens for all kind of creative peo-
the cellar
ple who love the mountains, the serenity and
so the y
the seclusion.
would be
ready to eat
Rancho have endured drought, flood, earth-
by the time The people living here on the old Tujunga
quake and fire, yet have flourished with the
the r oof vast changes that have taken place. We appre-
was on. In ciate and applaud our past while yearning to
Su nl an d, keep the symbols that retain our heritage, our
an ything history and our future.
pla nte d
grew a n d Marlene Hitt is author of the book
The Big Tujunga River and the flourished. Sunland and Tujunga - From Village to City.
land around it provided sustenance Crop yields She is also an archivist for the
for all living creatures.
Bolton Hall Museum in Tujunga.