Browse Items (1540 total)

Ina and Clayton Rust at Rust’s Barbecue

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Ina and Clayton Rust at Rust’s Barbecue in Lower Topanga.

Thais Rust in Brookside

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Thais Rust as a teenager sitting on a '35 Ford Coupe in Brookside in Lower Topanga.

Step Inn Cafe and gas station at Topanga and PCH

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Step Inn Cafe and Clayton Rust's Shell gas station at Topanga and PCH.

Topanga Beach houses along the old coast road

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Topanga Beach houses along the old coast road, before they were swept away by high waves in a February 1926 storm.

Bud Luse and friends at the garage by the old Post Office

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At the garage by the old Post Office.

Kneeling: George Ortez, Charles Gammon.

Standing: Ken Douphner, Bud Luse, and Richard Flood.

The Penny family on Paradise Lane

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Kathryn Penny and Melvin Penny, with children Joel Dean Penny and Milo Penny.

In front of the John Albright home on Paradise Lane.

Sadie and Cash Albright at home on Paradise Lane

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Sadie Albright pours a drink for husband Cash at their Wild Horze Bar in the home he built on Paradise Lane.

Civilian Conservation Corps camp

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The New Deal brought a Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camp to Topanga.

The Topanga Protection Committee

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The Topanga Protection Committee organized in 1942 by Oscar-winning producer/director Frank Lloyd (seated center). Pictured are standing from left: Hildor Barton, two unknown, Des Barton, Kenneth Connors, Hugh Harlan, Ralph Kiewitt. Seated: W. V.…

American Legion Honor Roll

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Honor Roll of men and women serving in armed forces is unveiled by the American Legion on Memorial Day 1944 at Pine Tree Circle

Topanga Women's Auxiliary

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Topanga Women's Auxiliary threw an old-fashioned community picnic in 1942, precursor to the fairs. Standing from left: Elva Sigrist, unknown, Hermoine Cox, unknown, Virley Harlan, Mrs. Theriault, Nelle Upham, unknown, Louise Adams, Helen Blencourt,…

Camp Wildwood

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Owner Oka Stewart supervises Camp Wildwood swim classes.

Oka Stewart

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Oka Stewart sponsored free events at Wildwood, led the Lions club and donated building materials for the Community House.

Sycamore Lodge

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Sycamore Lodge, with bow windows, was built by H. R. Gage in the early 1900s, then bought by Harry Boehme in 1931. Located just north of the confluence of Garapatos and Topanga Creeks and shaded by sycamores, the 5-acre property contained four…

Breaking ground for the Community House

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Fire Chief Harvey Anderson and Mary Sopher watch as Dorothy Boehme breaks ground for the new Community House.

Topanga Drilling Co.

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Frank Molloy and Ray Alley of Topanga Drilling bring their families while they tap into a water supply.

Jerry Hanks, Ray Alley, and Frank Molloy

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Jerry Hanks, Ray Alley, and Frank Molloy drill a well for the new Community House.

Greg and Danny Morris

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Greg and Danny Morris donate their playhouse to the Community House for a tool shed

The Mule Train at the Country Fair

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The Mule Train at the Country Fair. From left: Chris Jones, JoAnn Goodman, and Tom Butler.

Bill and Pearl Sloan

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Bill and Pearl Sloan stand in a hole they dug for their septic tank. "There were no geological surveys required, no septic system percolation tests."

The Sloan family's trailer home

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Bill and Pearl Sloan and their first three children called this 16-foot travel trailer home while they waited for a new one.

The Sloan family

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Bill and Pearl with David, Jon, Bill Jr., and Miriam. (Barbara was born in 1956.)

Bill and Pearl Sloan

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Bill and Pearl Sloan toast their 50th wedding anniversary.

Nancy Swenson on Robinson Road

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Harriet and John Swenson's oldest child Nancy sits on the stoop of their Robinson Road rental, reputed hunting lodge for Teddy Roosevelt.

The Swenson family house on Fontaine Road

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Harriet and John Swenson bought this house on Fontaine Road in 1950, only after persuading the owner that they were tough enough to stay.

The Swenson kids and cousins

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The Swenson kids and cousins play under the oaks of their Topanga home. From left: Gary Hill, Willie and Nancy Swenson, Steve Hill, David and Jon Swenson.

The Swenson family

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John and Harriet Swenson with David, Nancy, William, and John.

The Geer family

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Will and Herta Geer stand by a beatific Mother Bloor with children Kate and Ellen seated on floor left and center.

Aerial view of the Topanga Center, 1968

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Aerial view of the Topanga Center, location of the Pine Tree Circle and the Post Office.

Strawberry Festival Queen Judy Piner

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Strawberry Festival Queen Judy Piner wears crown made by artists Cy and Vera Wood. Her court, from left: Pat Bradley, Judy Cepin, Ruthie Cepin, Linda Reindl.

Strawberry Festival Treasurer Everett Plumer

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Strawberry Festival Treasurer Everett Plumer sells tickets.

Melvin Penny at Strawberry Festival

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Melvin Penny at Strawberry Festival, selling corn.

Len Fleisher on stilts at Strawberry Festival

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Len Fleisher on stilts at Strawberry Festival, hamming it up with Chairman John Nordine.

Laura Wiley at Strawberry Festival

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Laura Wiley, a descendant of the pioneering Trujillo family, makes enchiladas at the Strawberry Festival.

Rose Wiley at Strawberry Festival

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Rose Wiley, a descendant of the pioneering Trujillo family, makes enchiladas at the Strawberry Festival.

Topanga Days Grand Marshal Robin Williams

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1981 Topanga Days Grand Marshal Robin Williams was a Topanga resident.

Topanga Days Tug o' War

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Topanga Days Tug of War

Kedric Wolfe at Topanga Days

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Kedric Wolfe moves to ban the bomb at Topanga Days.

The Tough Topanga 10K

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Traditionally the first event of Topanga Days on Memorial Day Weekend, The Tough Topanga 10K started in 1978

Gerry Haigh and Skip Oliphant

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Gerry Haigh and Skip Oliphant met on a peace march in San Francisco. They married in 1967.

Hippies living in a tepee

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Semi-nude hippies living in a tepee.

Topanga Chamber of Commerce

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In 1966, a conservative Topanga Chamber of Commerce tried to control hippies. From left: Albert Hoyt, President William C. Carter, Art Piner, Tim Graham, and John Seymour.

Louis B. Marvin at his Tuna Canyon Compound

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Louis B. Marvin at his Tuna Canyon Compound with two llamas.

Founders of The Messenger newspaper

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Founders of The Messenger newspaper. From left: Sid Francis, Pamela Auer, Flavia Potenza, Emily Karnes, Nico Van den Heuvel, Mary Colvig with baby, Bill Hess, Judee McBride, Merrick Davidson, Suzie Walczak. Karnes and Potenza kids play in front.…

John Nordine and Bruce Sunkees

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John Nordine and Bruce Sunkees install a box car bridge over Topanga Creek.

Karl Ingram, Summit Valley Ranch caretaker

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Karl Ingram, Summit Valley Ranch caretaker, started a cowboy breakfast punctuated by sermons on Sundays in 1974.

TASC President Bob Bates

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Bob Bates, president of the Topanga Association for a Scenic Community, being honored by the County for keeping out large-scale tract developments.

Summit Valley

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Summit Valley, shown in an early postcard, was threatened with development.

Dan Mazur's Canyon Comix

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Dan Mazur's Canyon Comix shows a nightmare of over-development.

Susan Nissman, Joe Edminston, Bob Bates

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Battling the Canyon Oaks development: Susan Nissman, Topanga Association for a Scenic Community (TASC) chair; Joe Edminston, Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (SMMC); Bob Bates, TASC head

County Supervisor Ed Edelman

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When Ed Edelman (with Supervisor Yvonne Braithwaite Burke) became Topanga's County Supervisor, Summit Valley gained an important ally against the Canyon Oaks development.

Herta Ware, Ellen Geer, Peter Alsop, and Suzanne Teng

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Protesting the Canyon Oaks development: Will Geer's widow Herta Ware, daughter Ellen Geer on banjo, Peter Alsop on guitar, and Suzanne Teng on flute.

Folk musician Wally High

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Folk musician Wally High protests the Canyon Oaks development

Artist Stewart Moskowitz

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Artist Stewart Moskowitz with signs he painted at the Disney studio protest against the Canyon Oaks development.

Summit Valley Park celebration

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Summit Valley Park celebration. Jerome Daniels (SMMRCA), Susan Nissman (TASC chair), Joe Edminston (SMMC), Bob Bates (former TASC chair), Supervisor Ed Edelman and his wife, Robert Wilson (CEO Retlaw) and Susan Little (aide to Congressman Beilenson).…

Fred Feer and Brad Davis

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On the radio, Fred Feer, a founder of the Topanga Coalition for Emergency Preparedness (T-CEP) and head of the Disaster Response Team, with Brad Davis.

Volunteers clean up the creek

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Twice a year, since 1998, volunteers clean up the creek.

Topanga Creek Stream Team looks for steelhead trout

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The Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains's (RCDSMM) Topanga Creek Stream Team looks for steelhead trout.

Ren MacDonald, Keira Leneman, and Marshall Safanov

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Fourth graders build a split-level home for bats: Ren MacDonald, Keira Leneman, and Marshall Safanov.

Rachel, Josh, and Ken Widen

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Rachel Widen, Josh Widen (behind the wheel), and Ken Widen (in back) in a crushed car before it's pulled from the creek.

Jeff Stork, USA Olympics volleyball team

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Pepperdine volleyball coach Marv Dunphy coached the USA Olympics team with Jeff Stork to a gold medal.

Bill Flaxman with day workers

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People Assisting Topanga Canyon with Helping Hands (PATCH) interpreter Bill Flaxman with day workers at the Topanga Labor Exchange.

Topanga Labor Exchange float at Topanga Days

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Topanga Labor Exchange float at Topanga Days. PATCH members and kids join Latinos playing traditional music.

Sylvia Park Clubhouse

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Homesteaders Lucy and Mose Cheney celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary at the Sylvia Park Clubhouse (now the Mountain Mermaid).

Chester and Joena King with their children.

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Chester and Joena King with their children. Daughter Zoe Otterback is at center.

The Andrews family

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The Andrews family: Matthew, Chris, Damian, Serena, Rebecca, Alex, Eric.

This photo was taken at the wedding of Jimmy Wiley, great-grandson of original pioneers Francisco and Manuela Trujillo, and Serena Andrews, daughter of long-time Topanga…

The Wiley family

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The Wiley family: David, Marguerite, Bob, Rose, Jimmy, Laura, Robert, and John.

This photo was taken at the wedding of Jimmy Wiley, great-grandson of original pioneers Francisco and Manuela Trujillo, and Serena Andrews, daughter of long-time…

Students at the Little Red Schoolhouse at Greenleaf Canyon

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Students at the Little Red Schoolhouse at the mouth of Greenleaf Canyon and Topanga Road, also called Garapatos School. Back row: Mabel Greenleaf, Tom Cheney, Bessie Greenleaf, Ceola Greenleaf. Front row: two unknown, Harry Greenleaf, Leland Boebel,…

Topanga Elementary School 4th grade class

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Topanga Elementary School. Mrs. Florence Bruinsslot's 4th grade class. By windows: Raymond Hoover, Toni Loudon, Maryann Gary, Dave Marshburn, Jim Osmundson, Garth Smith. Second row: James Fordham, David Roberts, Phyllis Feeney, Joan Stacey, Carol…

Topanga Elementary School dedication ceremony

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Topanga Elementary School dedication ceremony, led by superintendent Dean Grass.

Topanga Elementary School

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The 1958 New Year's Eve fire threatened Topanga Elementary School and destroyed Hugh and Virley Harlan's home (ruins lower right).

Topanga Elementary School, Sixth Grade Class, 1958-59

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Topanga Elementary School, Sixth Grade Class Graduation, 1958-59

4TH ROW
6. Older sister of Dennis Mills

TEACHERS:
Mr. Herbert Hawkins (left), Mr. Fred Ruge (right)

Topanga Elementary School Alumni, 1965

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1965 Topanga Elementary School Alumni. Back row: Reynold Hicklin, Tom Marshburn, Brian Stork, Wesley Just. Center: Lynn Sawday Nance, John Brown, Kathleen Cepin Mahan, Mark Parrish, Marc Zeidler. Front: Caitlin Rice Just, Sandra Anderson-Tarcia,…

Garapatos School children at Arch Rock

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Lucy Cheney (standing left) and a teacher with Garapatos School children at Arch Rock at Topanga Beach.

Garapatos School children, 1914

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Miss Elva Plaistridge's class at Garapatos School. Back row: Norris Julian, Elva, Helen and William Santa Maria. Front row: Irwin Julian and buddy Adrian Santa Maria hold hands, Beatrice Burnett, Lila.

Garapatos School children, 1920s

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Garapatos School children. Back row: Aimee PIttman, Agatha Venneman, Patricia Prentiss, Margaret Cheney, Charlotte Melcher, Katherine Kneen, Art Heckle. Center row: Caroline Hansen, Ruth Melcher, Betty Pawlowski. Front row: Tom Pittman, John…

Garapatos School children, 1920s

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Garapatos School children, including Fred Venneman, later fire captain (middle right), Carmelito Garcia (bottom right), and John Prentiss (bottom left).

Topanga School

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Spanish-style Topanga School was built in 1925. The classroom and stage later became the American Legion Hall.

Topanga School, 1926

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Teacher Esther White conducts a story hour at the new school.

School bus, 1930s

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Driver Jim Hansen and his dad's 18-person school bus.