GROWING UP on BARRYDALE STREET and other memories from those EARLY DAYS in LA PUENTE
A snapshot in time - Barrydale Street, from the earlier days, the Barrydale Street of the 1950's through the 1970's. It wasn't necessarily the Best of Times or the Worst, but certainly memories of what we would call our Wonder Years. There was also Dillerdale, Donaldale, Janetdale, Joycedale, Snowdale, Nolandale, to name a few. The title says Barrydale 
Street Chronicles but this street represents every street in La Puente, California. Like many southern California towns then, La Puente was one of many post World War II towns that became a boomtown. So called Track or Grid homes going up everywhere. Once just called “Puente”, nestled within the citrus orchards and dairylands between El Monte and West Covina, east of Los Angeles. Regardless, these were our "Sandlot Years".
Author James Ellroy described a 1950's gritty version of it best in his book "My Dark Places". Describing the San Gabriel Valley as the arm pit of Los Angeles County - a 30 mile stretch of contiguous hick towns due east of L.A. proper. The San Gabriel Mountains formed the northern border, the Puente-Montebello Hills closed the valley in on the south. Muddy riverbeds and railroad tracks cut through the middle. The eastern edge was ambiguously defined. When the view improved, you knew you were out of the valley. The San Gabriel Valley was flat and box shaped. The mountain flank trapped in smog. The individual towns - Alhambra, Industry, Bassett, La Puente, Covina, West Covina, Baldwin Park, El Monte, Temple City, Rosemead, San Gabriel, Irwindale, Duarte - bled together with nothing but Kiwanis Club signs to distinguish them. The San Gabriel Valley was hot and humid. Wicked winds kicked dust off the northern foothills. Packed-dirt sidewalks and gravel-pit debris made our eyes sting. Valley land was cheap. The flat topography was ideal for grid housing and potential freeway construction. The remote the area, the more land your money got you. You could hunt coons a few blocks off the local main drag and nobody would give you any grief. You could fence in your yard and raise chickens and goats for slaughter. You could let your toddlers run down the block in dirty diapers. Again as James Ellroy decribes a 1950's setting.
My parents purchased their modest 4 bedroom home brand new for $12,500 in 1955 – these homes were all cookie cutter – 5 models to choose from. The square footage was 1,246 sq ft. California stucco, mid-century, flat roofs, no attics, angled only slightly and tar-papered with various color gravel to match the trim colors. Each home came with it’s own
incinerator in the back yard, (which was later banned to use in Los Angeles County, due to the smog). Kitchens had formica countertops with various popular googie patterns available. They came in splattered speckled colors of pink and turquoise, or in triangles with stars in gray and pink. Definately a myraid of vintage designs from the 50's. The entire house was tiled. Kitchens and bathrooms had the speckled three color pattern that looked like someone splattered paint all over the tiles and all the other rooms, living, dining, hallway and bedrooms all had dark brown imitation woodgrain. The windows were all installed with putty. Each window had a little crank that opened and closed them. Built during the “I Love Lucy” days on Network television. Strange how the homes were big then. When I drive down the street now and visit the neighborhood, I can’t get over how small and fragile everything looks. Goes to show how our perception of the world as a child seems so big looking out, but when given time and the opportunity to look back in, it looks so small.
Looking back, life seemed black and white then, no color. Sometimes fuzzy black and white, of course it depended on how well you could twist the aluminum on the TV antenna, fuzzy snow. Dick and Jane were popular then. Felix the Cat came on at 1:30 each day. Timmy and Lassie came on every Sunday night on CBS at 7 p.m. Years later I found out that Timmy (John Provost) lived in Pomona to the east of us, and his mom would drive him into Hollywood (driving thru Covina and La Puente) every day to film the Lassie show. Remember Fizzies? Remember Maypo? Our local grocery stores were Alexander's on Puente Avenue, George's Liquor Store on Francsiquito, Thrifty Drug Store and Food Giant on Amar Road. It was always cool to go to the Thrifty Drug Store at the soda fountain. They had the best Malts and Shakes and along the food counter, th
ey had little portable juke boxes spaced every two seats apart. I remember the carnivals that would come into town and set up in the open field to the west of Grants. I was terrorized on the Octopus and The Rock-O-Plane. Our two local elementary schools were Florence Flanner and Van Wig. I went to Flanner school, fortunately it was right across the street from me. I can still go down the list of teachers from my school days and remember each one. I can recall a funny story now... but when I was transitioning from kindergarten to the upper grades (into 1st grade and on... ) I remember one summer, I was at the school playing on the playground swings with other, older kids. During that same time the teachers were also prepping their classrooms and we could see them coming in and out of their rooms. Well there I was listening to a conversation of two older kids commenting on one of the teacher's that was there and w
ho they referred to as "Mr. Bell Ball Binger". Well me, trying to make a great impression and being the people person that I am at the ripe old age of 6, I decided to walk over and introduce my myself to him. So there I go.... marching over toward his classroom and there he stood , a balding man, probably around the age of 35 to 40. I went up to him and stood right in front of him with a big proud smile on my face with direct eye to eye contact and said (Same tone as Dennis the Menace) "Hello Mr. Bell Ball Binger".... and then it was silent. He just stared at me with a smirk. Maybe a minute went by and he just nodded his head and walked away. Of course thinking he was rude I walked away. It wasn't until September when school started when I realized that his name was Mr. Belding, NOT Mr. Bell Ball Binger.
Street Chronicles but this street represents every street in La Puente, California. Like many southern California towns then, La Puente was one of many post World War II towns that became a boomtown. So called Track or Grid homes going up everywhere. Once just called “Puente”, nestled within the citrus orchards and dairylands between El Monte and West Covina, east of Los Angeles. Regardless, these were our "Sandlot Years".
In the original 1953 movie "War of the Worlds", there is a scene that mentions the Puente Hills just south of our neighborhood, the scene shows the news reporte
r as well as the world waiting for the outcome of the atomic bomb to detonate and wipe out the aliens that were not only invading La Puente and the San Gabriel Valley but the entire world. In those days, Puente was considered far, out in the boonies, just under 20 miles from Los Angeles, at least in 1955 miles. Even though the mail was addressed La Puente, our neighborhood was actually in a section of L.A. County called Bassett, bordering Baldwin Park and West Covina. Interstate 10 was under construction during the mid 50's and finally opened in 1956. Cutting through the San Gabriel Valley connecting downtown L.A. through the towns of Alhambra, Temple City, San Gabriel, El Monte, Baldwin Park, West Covina and Covina up through Kellogg Hill onto the east side of the Valley and on into San Bernardino some 20 miles beyond.
r as well as the world waiting for the outcome of the atomic bomb to detonate and wipe out the aliens that were not only invading La Puente and the San Gabriel Valley but the entire world. In those days, Puente was considered far, out in the boonies, just under 20 miles from Los Angeles, at least in 1955 miles. Even though the mail was addressed La Puente, our neighborhood was actually in a section of L.A. County called Bassett, bordering Baldwin Park and West Covina. Interstate 10 was under construction during the mid 50's and finally opened in 1956. Cutting through the San Gabriel Valley connecting downtown L.A. through the towns of Alhambra, Temple City, San Gabriel, El Monte, Baldwin Park, West Covina and Covina up through Kellogg Hill onto the east side of the Valley and on into San Bernardino some 20 miles beyond.
My parents purchased their modest 4 bedroom home brand new for $12,500 in 1955 – these homes were all cookie cutter – 5 models to choose from. The square footage was 1,246 sq ft. California stucco, mid-century, flat roofs, no attics, angled only slightly and tar-papered with various color gravel to match the trim colors. Each home came with it’s own
incinerator in the back yard, (which was later banned to use in Los Angeles County, due to the smog). Kitchens had formica countertops with various popular googie patterns available. They came in splattered speckled colors of pink and turquoise, or in triangles with stars in gray and pink. Definately a myraid of vintage designs from the 50's. The entire house was tiled. Kitchens and bathrooms had the speckled three color pattern that looked like someone splattered paint all over the tiles and all the other rooms, living, dining, hallway and bedrooms all had dark brown imitation woodgrain. The windows were all installed with putty. Each window had a little crank that opened and closed them. Built during the “I Love Lucy” days on Network television. Strange how the homes were big then. When I drive down the street now and visit the neighborhood, I can’t get over how small and fragile everything looks. Goes to show how our perception of the world as a child seems so big looking out, but when given time and the opportunity to look back in, it looks so small.
I remember late at night when it was cold, you could hear the trains horn's blowing as they rolled along Valley Blvd.
I was born in West Covina, California in 1957 at what was once Lark Ellen Hospital. Funny, the doctor that delivered me was Dr. Sauer. His partner was Dr. Scherger, they became our family doctors. Just seemed funny to refer to them as "Dr. Sugar and Sour".
Tree lined streets in suburbia. Helms Bakery trucks with drawers full of donuts. There was also “Jack the Ice cream man”, an older cragley man. Teeth missing. Animated leather face like Popeye the sailor man. Chain smoked and he owned the streets when it came to the ice-cream business. My favorite things were the candy necklaces on elastic strings. Also the wax juice bottles. Another fond memory was looking for soda pop bottles in the ivy as I pulled my red radio flyer wagon so I could have spending money for the week. I always cashed in my bottles at George's Liquor on Francisquito, long gone now.
Looking back, life seemed black and white then, no color. Sometimes fuzzy black and white, of course it depended on how well you could twist the aluminum on the TV antenna, fuzzy snow. Dick and Jane were popular then. Felix the Cat came on at 1:30 each day. Timmy and Lassie came on every Sunday night on CBS at 7 p.m. Years later I found out that Timmy (John Provost) lived in Pomona to the east of us, and his mom would drive him into Hollywood (driving thru Covina and La Puente) every day to film the Lassie show. Remember Fizzies? Remember Maypo? Our local grocery stores were Alexander's on Puente Avenue, George's Liquor Store on Francsiquito, Thrifty Drug Store and Food Giant on Amar Road. It was always cool to go to the Thrifty Drug Store at the soda fountain. They had the best Malts and Shakes and along the food counter, th
ey had little portable juke boxes spaced every two seats apart. I remember the carnivals that would come into town and set up in the open field to the west of Grants. I was terrorized on the Octopus and The Rock-O-Plane. Our two local elementary schools were Florence Flanner and Van Wig. I went to Flanner school, fortunately it was right across the street from me. I can still go down the list of teachers from my school days and remember each one. I can recall a funny story now... but when I was transitioning from kindergarten to the upper grades (into 1st grade and on... ) I remember one summer, I was at the school playing on the playground swings with other, older kids. During that same time the teachers were also prepping their classrooms and we could see them coming in and out of their rooms. Well there I was listening to a conversation of two older kids commenting on one of the teacher's that was there and w
ho they referred to as "Mr. Bell Ball Binger". Well me, trying to make a great impression and being the people person that I am at the ripe old age of 6, I decided to walk over and introduce my myself to him. So there I go.... marching over toward his classroom and there he stood , a balding man, probably around the age of 35 to 40. I went up to him and stood right in front of him with a big proud smile on my face with direct eye to eye contact and said (Same tone as Dennis the Menace) "Hello Mr. Bell Ball Binger".... and then it was silent. He just stared at me with a smirk. Maybe a minute went by and he just nodded his head and walked away. Of course thinking he was rude I walked away. It wasn't until September when school started when I realized that his name was Mr. Belding, NOT Mr. Bell Ball Binger.
Kids, kids, kids, for a time during the 1960's, La Puente was known as Kidsville, USA. More children per household than any other city in America, Kids were everywhere in those days. Seems that everyone at one time lived in La Puente, California. Kids rul
ed, they owned the streets. I remember days where I would be out from 7 a.m. and was all over the neighborhoods until (The Golden Rule) when the street lights came on that was our signal to come home. On Halloween, the streets were packed with kids, the doorbell rang until 11 p.m. ! My neighborhood friends, Frank, Mark or Randy, those were my closest friends as a child. Kick the can. Hide n go seek. Throwing eggs at houses and running for our dear lives not to get caught as the BIG kids tried to get us. I hope this read for you wasn't a waste of time, life spins off and time marches on and waits for know one. I guess this is my way of trying to keep some memories alive for all the other members of our neighborhood from that era. When I drive through the old neighborhood today, it's very clear that age has taken it's toll - it was 45 to 50 years ago, and it looks like it as well. But it was where we started, so many memories and so many monsters on Barrydale Street. No matter what street you lived on in La Puente when you were a child, they were all the same, full of memories and moments, smells and sounds. Mine just happened to be on Barrydale Street. Any memories? SEND ME AN EMAIL
ed, they owned the streets. I remember days where I would be out from 7 a.m. and was all over the neighborhoods until (The Golden Rule) when the street lights came on that was our signal to come home. On Halloween, the streets were packed with kids, the doorbell rang until 11 p.m. ! My neighborhood friends, Frank, Mark or Randy, those were my closest friends as a child. Kick the can. Hide n go seek. Throwing eggs at houses and running for our dear lives not to get caught as the BIG kids tried to get us. I hope this read for you wasn't a waste of time, life spins off and time marches on and waits for know one. I guess this is my way of trying to keep some memories alive for all the other members of our neighborhood from that era. When I drive through the old neighborhood today, it's very clear that age has taken it's toll - it was 45 to 50 years ago, and it looks like it as well. But it was where we started, so many memories and so many monsters on Barrydale Street. No matter what street you lived on in La Puente when you were a child, they were all the same, full of memories and moments, smells and sounds. Mine just happened to be on Barrydale Street. Any memories? SEND ME AN EMAIL
When the Carnival came to town...
xhaust filled the air combining with the aroma of popcorn and cotton candy. Topping the sound and the smells would be the screams of everyone you could hear on the ride... of course you could also hear the coins falling out of the twirling caged boxes as well... If you could manage the steering wheel right, there would be little upside-down time. The ROCK-O-P
LANE was another similar ride where you would spin front to back vs. the SKY DIVER's side to side motion. The OCTOPUS was another terror, the harder you held on, the more scarier it felt with every move, lift and drop on the seat. Finally it was the TILT-A-WHIRL that always looked like a simple ride, but when the cabins with wheels rocked just right on the tilting floor - it would take your breath away... it was a fun time for a bunch of young kids in La Puente during the 1960's.
Remembering The Radio Flyer
Everybody has a Radio Flyer story. The little red wagon has been a covered wagon, a rocket ship, a lemonade stand, a transporter of all kinds of things. An army tank and for hauling all those empty soda pop bottles we collected from traveling up and down those La Puente neighborhoods, especially those homes that had ivy in their frontyard, what a gold mine that was for empty bottles!
The Blandino Family, 13927 Barrydale Street
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| Michele Blandino's Baptism, 1962 The Blandino's lived at 13927 Barrydale Street, at the corner of Barrydale and Mulbury Street. (L to R) Matthew Blandino, Aunt Delores, infant Michele, Mike Cahill, and Mrs. Gloria Blandino. The Blandino's purchased their new home in 1955 for $12,100 with a payment of $73.00 per month. Mr. Blandino is from Brooklyn, New York, when he moved to California in 1950 where he met his wife. They were married in 1953. He served in the Korean War 1952 - 54. |
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| The Blandino Family, 1960's Matthew and Gloria and their 2 daughters Michele and Debbie |
LIFE Magazine - 1957 - Moving to La Puente
The story of another family on the other side of La Puente, off Maplegrove on Harvest Moon.
Bernard and Dorothy Cliser (Mom and Dad)
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Our Family Car - 1957 DeSoto Fireflite
My parents had a 1957 Desoto Fireflight, yellow with the green 2 tone as seen above. This picture looks just like it was parked on our front yard on Barrydale Steet just after we washed it on a Summer day. This was a beautiful car. Everything was automatic. The gears such as Drive, Reverse, etc... were all push button. I even still remember the California license plate # QRJ441 - The black and white is mom and dad probably taken on one of their weekend roadtrips to the local San Gabriel mountains. If you look hard enough, you can see me sitting in the back seat.
BIRDS LOOSE in GRANTS
Seems funny now that I have been on a roll with stories from my past, that this memory popped up - I remember when I was about 8 or 9 around 1965 or 1966, when my mom took me to W.T. Grant Co. on Amar Rd. or also known as Grants for school supplies such as PeeChee folders, paper, pencils, dividers and even some clothes -
I recall when I was walking by the bird cages in the pet department I for some reason just felt like causing some excitment. As I passed the big bird cage, I unclamped
the door and left it open and kept walking on into other departments. Not as dramatic as the movie, but still a funny reminder. Why I am sharing this, I don't know, but it sure was fun watching all the birds flying around inside the store. There were customers, sales clerks, the store cashiers and the store manager running around chasing the birds trying to catch them. I had the most stoic look on my face, but inside I was busting up. Shame on me. I think this is the first time I have shared this story.
Richard and Rosemary Horne Family, 1972
Richard and Rosemary Horne, both from Wisconsin, moved to La Puente in 1963. Richard graduated from Marquette University, majoring in English and Journalism, he worked at the newspaper in Wausau, Wisconsin and in Gilbert, Arizona before moving to California. In California, Richard went to work for State Farm Insurance and Rosemary worked for L.A. County as an intake clerk. Pictured above Top, Richard Horne, (Left) Richard II, (Right) Karen, (Bottom left) Pamela (Bottom Center) Rosemary, (Bottom Right) Natalie Horne. An earlier picture taken in their front yard on Barrydale Street in 1967 is shown below.
Officer William Handrahan
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| Picture is of Officer William Handrahan of the West Covina Police Department with his 2 daughters Lori (L) and Kathy (R) by his police car. This photo was taken at their Barrydale Street home in 1957, 58 or 59. Officer Handrahan was the arresting officer of Carole Tregoff and Dr. Bernard Finch in the 1959 murder of Barbara Finch. Ironically, Carole Tregoff and her husband James Pappa lived 3 houses from here around the corner on Big Dalton. |
Pete & Beverly Ball and family, Big Dalton, 1977
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| (L-R) Tony Ball, Pete Ball, Victoria LaVelle, Connie Ball, Beverly Ball, Suzanna Ball and Randy LaVelle |
Pete and Beverly Ball, 1963
Gene and Dolores Cobb, 1959
Gene Cobb was the Founder and Co-Founder of All American Contractors School. Picture below was taken in their front yard in 1960 - from left to right, Brenda, Mark and JoAnn Cobb. Group photo at bottom was taken in 1970. Great photograph and great family!
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Halloween on Barrydale Street, 1970's
