Finding aid to the Adolph Petsch collection of photographs of Pasadena and
Southern California PC 020
Jaime Henderson
California Historical Society
2017 February
678 Mission Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
reference@calhist.org
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
California Historical Society
Title: Adolph Petsch collection of photographs of Pasadena and Southern
California
Identifier/Call Number: PC 020
Physical Description:
2 folders
Date (inclusive): circa 1881-1888
Physical Description: 2 folders (0.2 linear feet)
Language of Material: Finding aid is written in
English.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Adolph Petsch collection of photographs of Pasadena and Southern
California, PC 020, California Historical Society.
General Note
Supplied titles were created using descriptions recorded by unknown person on verso of the
photographs. These descriptions sometimes use racial terms that were commonplace at the
time, but are considered to be derogatory today.
Publication Rights
All requests to reproduce, publish, quote from or otherwise use collection materials must
be submitted in writing to the Director of Library and Archives, North Baker Research
Library, California Historical Society, 678 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94105. Consent
is given on behalf of the California Historical Society as the owner of the physical items
and is not intended to include or imply permission from the copyright owner. Such permission
must be obtained from the copyright owner. Restrictions also apply to digital
representations of the original materials. Use of digital files is restricted to research
and educational purposes.
Acquisition Information
The Wagner family in memory of Adolph Petsch.
Access
Related Collections
Los Angeles, 1932-33, PC 17
Scope and Contents
Consists of 51 cabinet photographs of Pasadena, California and other Southern California
cities, including Long Beach and Los Angeles. The photographs document many of the houses,
churches, hotels, schools, and businesses in Pasadena between the years 1881-1888. Some
photographs show the Long Beach Hotel, Mission San Gabriel, and two bird's eye views of Los
Angeles.
Biographical / Historical
Adolph Petsch was an early Pasadena resident. In 1881 he and three other businessmen formed
the Hermosa Land and Water Company in Cucamonga, San Bernardino County. Petsch was active in
civic affairs and assisted in the organization of the inaugural La Fiesta de los Angeles in
1894.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Cabinet photographs
Pasadena (Calif.) -- Pictorial works
Long Beach (Calif.) -- Pictorial works
Los Angeles (Calif.) -- Pictorial works
T.G. Norton & Co.
Ferndale Gallery (Pasadena,
Calif.)
Weingarth, George
[Residence] of Stamm
circa 1881-1888
Creator: T.G.
Norton & Co.
General Note
Written on verso: "Marengo Ave. E.C. Webster bought it afterwards."
[Residence] of Stamm
1884
Creator: T.G.
Norton & Co.
General Note
Written on verso: "Marengo Avenue, 1884 [G.]T. Stamm, Milwaukee brewer, S. Marengo Ave.
one of the first fine houses originally part of W.O. Swan ranch (orchard)."
Pasadena
circa 1881-1888
Creator: Ferndale Gallery (Pasadena, Calif.)
Creator: Weingarth, George
Hermosa Vista
circa 1881
Creator: Ferndale Gallery (Pasadena, Calif.)
Creator: Weingarth, George
General Note
Written on verso: "Hermosa Vista Hotel in South Pasadena abt. [18]81."
M.E. Church
circa 1881-1888
Creator: Ferndale Gallery (Pasadena, Calif.)
Creator: Weingarth, George
General Note
Written on verso: "On Orange Grove Ave. 1st church in Pasadena built 1878 some
Methodist gave the piece of land to build the church on. There were only cypress trees
land was not cultivated."
[Presbyterian] Church
circa 1881-1889
Creator: Ferndale Gallery (Pasadena, Calif.)
Creator: Weingarth, George
General Note
Written on verso: "Second church in Pasadena (on California Street) was moved later.
Lime hedge around, cypress and pepper tree."
[Philip Beck barn and residence]
circa 1885
General Note
Written on verso: "Philip Beck barn and temporary residence on Iowa tract, Cucamonga,
abt. 1885, raised oranges (was vacant land.) [Hermosa tract 6 x 40 acres (enclosed with
concrete wall)] Iowa tract outside of wall."
[Presbyterian Church (Episcopal Church?), Pasadena]
circa 1881-1888
Creator: T.G.
Norton & Co.
General Note
Written on verso: "Presbyterian Church (Episcopal Church?), Pasadena."
[Colorado Street, Pasadena during a hailstorm]
1884
Creator: T.G.
Norton & Co.
General Note
Written on verso: "Colorado Street, Pasadena during a hailstorm, 1884. Williamson
Store, foreground. On right: Plumbing shop, Billiard Room."
[Spanish bayonet]
1884
Creator: T.G.
Norton & Co.
General Note
Written on verso: "Pasadena 1884 Spanish bayonet, used to make pin cushions of them;
grows 20 years then comes blossom within 3 weeks, dies after abt. 6 weeks."
[Mr. C.J. Frese's house in Pasadena]
circa 1881-1888
General Note
Written on verso: "Mr. [Carl] J. Frese's house in Pasadena. Corner of Pasadena and
Walnut St. 2 city lots [...] lots sold but still in vineyards, gradually people built
their houses on these lots."
[Pasadena 1884, Grand Hotel and the Williamson Store]
1884
Creator: T.G.
Norton & Co.
General Note
Written on verso: "Fair [Oaks] and Colorado, Pasadena, 1884. In the foreground cypress
hedges, ground not used (turpentine weeds) = school lot."
[Corner of Walnut and Pasadena Ave.]
circa 1881-1888
Creator: T.G.
Norton & Co.
General Note
Written on verso: "Corner of Walnut and Pasadena Ave. (Mr. and Mrs. Frese on porch of
shack on George Weingarth's house.) Not the main house."
Pasadena looking east
circa 1881-1888
Creator: T.G.
Norton & Co.
General Note
Written on verso: "From Raymond Hotel. In the foreground weeds, next row to the right
vineyard, in the center deciduous trees (peach or apricot, plums that loose their leaves
in winter.)"
Long Beach
circa 1881-1888
Creator: T.G.
Norton & Co.
"Carmelita," [Residence] of [Professor] Carr
circa 1881-1888
Creator: T.G.
Norton & Co.
General Note
Written on verso: "[Northeast] [corner] of Orange Grove and [Colorado], nearly to
[Pasadena] Ave. (orchards)."
[Residence] of P.M. Green
circa 1881-1888
Creator: Ferndale Gallery (Pasadena, Calif.)
Creator: Weingarth, George
General Note
Written on verso: "Foot of Orange Grove and Colombia St."
Pasadena, Fair Oak Ave. looking north [from north of Colorado
tract]
circa 1881-1888
Creator: Ferndale Gallery (Pasadena, Calif.)
Creator: Weingarth, George
General Note
Written on verso: "On the left first brick house in Pasadena (B.F. Bell house) in the
center [...] 1st shoemaker in [Pasadena]."
Umbrella tree
circa 1883-1884
Creator: T.G.
Norton & Co.
General Note
Written on verso: "abt. 1883/84"
[North of Fair Oaks near Arroyo Seco Canyon]
1884
General Note
Written on verso: "1884 up beyond north of Fair Oaks, near Arroyo Seco Canyon."
[Millard Canyon]
1886
Creator: T.G.
Norton & Co.
General Note
Written on verso: "Millards Canyon, 1886"
Palms, San Gabriel
circa 1881-1888
Creator: T.G.
Norton & Co.
Pasadena
circa 1881-1888
Creator: Ferndale Gallery (Pasadena, Calif.)
Creator: Weingarth, George
General Note
Written on verso: "?? Eaton House"
Pasadena, looking west
circa 1881-1888
Creator: T.G.
Norton & Co.
General Note
Written on verso: "[Fair Oaks] and Colorado. Pepper trees along the street, orange
groves. Pampas grass used for decorations on parades and in house. When spark hits them,
will explode. Not planted anymore. Cypress (or lime) hedges around orchards."
Bird's eye view of Pasadena
circa 1881-1888
Creator: T.G.
Norton & Co.
General Note
Written on verso: "Center of [Pasadena] on left dry goods store and bakery."
Bird's eye view of Los Angeles, California
circa 1881-1888
Creator: T.G.
Norton & Co.
[Sierra Madre Hotel]
circa 1883-1884
Creator: T.G.
Norton & Co.
General Note
Written on verso: "Sierra Madre Hotel 1883/84. Between Sierra Madre and Pasadena 3
miles of barren land, only sage and cactus, jack rabbit hunting ground. Orange orchard
set out right after hotel was built. Sierra Madre Villa, first tourist hotel of the
region, about 3 miles east of Pasadena."
View on "Lucky Baldwin" place
circa 1881-1888
General Note
Written on verso: "Lucky Baldwin Ranch, Arcadia, big orange groves, pastures, oak
trees."
Arroyo Vista
circa 1881-1888
Creator: Ferndale Gallery (Pasadena, Calif.)
Creator: Weingarth, George
General Note
Written on verso: "Mrs. Bangs"
[Jacob Weingarth's house]
circa 1881-1888
Creator: T.G.
Norton & Co.
Photographer
Written on verso: "Jacob Weingarth's house [between] Orange [Grove] Ave. and Walnut
St., Pasadena (in the angle). Built about 1878/9. Mrs. Weingarth, Mrs. Hodge, Mrs.
Nelmes [indication Mrs. Hodge and Mrs. Nelmes are daughters of Mrs. Weingarth]. Garden
around house [...] was oranges and some deciduous fruit. [Include small hand drawn map
locating property of Jacob Weingarth and George Weingarth in Pasadena.]
Bird's eye view of Los Angeles, [California]
circa 1881-1888
Creator: T.G.
Norton & Co.
Raymond Hotel, 1880s [...] Pasadena
1880s
Creator: T.G.
Norton & Co.
General Note
Written on verso: "Old Raymond Hotel in the early [18]80s, only open in winter. Raymond
had the [...] summer in Vermont. Tourist business."
Interior of the old Mission
circa 1881-1888
Creator: Ferndale Gallery (Pasadena, Calif.)
Creator: Weingarth, George
General Note
Written on verso: "San Gabriel"
Long Beach
1883 or 1884
Creator: T.G.
Norton & Co.
General Note
Written on verso: "3rd and 7th from right: Hancock [...] C. Frese; 1883 or 84 Long
Beach Hotel.
Long Beach
circa 1882-1883
Creator: T.G.
Norton & Co.
General Note
Written on verso: "Long Beach Hotel (run by Carlie [Cowley] and Mitchell). Only [...]
in back of [...] just 2 or 3 [...] abt 1882/3. Horse car from Wilmington, connecting
[...] with the [railroad]. Long hairs from Iowa.
Central School
about 1882
Creator: T.G.
Norton & Co.
General Note
Written on verso: "[Southeast corner of Colorado] and Fair Oaks Ave., abt. 1882
Arroyo Vista
circa 1881-1888
Creator: Ferndale Gallery (Pasadena, Calif.)
Creator: Weingarth, George
General Note
Written on verso: "Arroyo Vista Hotel"
[Arroyo Vista Hotel]
circa 1881-1888
Creator: Ferndale Gallery (Pasadena, Calif.)
Creator: Weingarth, George
General Note
Written on verso: "Arroyo Vista Hotel, BLB = Bloody Long Brigade"
South Pasadena schoolhouse
circa 1881-1888
Creator: Ferndale Gallery (Pasadena, Calif.)
Creator: Weingarth, George
General Note
Written on verso: "Was built about 1882"
[Eaton's Canyon]
1884
General Note
Written on verso: Eaton's Canyon, 1884
Washburn's [Residence]
circa 1881-1888
General Note
Written on verso: "Jacob's Weingarth's house, 22 acres orchard (+ peaches etc.) from
Orange Grove Ave. (in front) to Walnut St. Cypress hedge in front."
[Celebrating the opening of the Santa Fe Railroad]
circa 1881-1888
Creator: T.G.
Norton & Co.
General Note
Written on verso: "Celebrating the opening of the Santa Fe Railroad 1883?"
General Note
Most likely is the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Valley Railroad, which opened between
Los Angeles and Pasadena in 1885.
Old Mission [San Gabriel]
circa 1881-1888
Creator: T.G.
Norton & Co.
Lake Vineyard
about 1882
Creator: Ferndale Gallery (Pasadena, Calif.)
Creator: Weingarth, George
General Note
Written on verso: "Lake Vineyard Reservoir (Marengo Ave. and [...] abt 1882, looking
south."
Pasadena
circa 1881-1888
Creator: T.G.
Norton & Co.
General Note
Written on verso: "Unidentified"
Pasadena
circa 1881-1888
Creator: T.G.
Norton & Co.
General Note
Written on verso: "Lake Vinyeard House? on lower Marengo Ave. near Calif. [...]
boarding house."
[Untitled]
circa 1881-1888
[Los Angeles House, Pasadena]
1884
Creator: T.G.
Norton & Co.
General Note
Written on verso: "Los Angeles House, Pasadena, 1884. [Northwest corner] of Fair Oaks
and Colorado (tourist hotel)."
La Cañada
circa 1881-1888
Creator: T.G.
Norton & Co.
[Celebrating the opening of Santa Fe Railroad]
circa 1883
Creator: T.G. Norton &
Co.
General Note
Written on verso: "Celebrating the opening of Santa Fe Railroad, 1883?]
General Note
Most likely is the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Valley Railroad, which opened between
Los Angeles and Pasadena in 1885.
[Adolph Petsch's house]
circa 1881-1888
General Note
Written on verso: "Built in 1882. 2nd house in Hermosa district. Hard gravel ground,
cement foundation, rustic house on top, anchored to cement foundation with iron anchors
on account of heavy winds. Adolph Petsch's house. Adolph Petsch, Louise ?, Jennie Emrick
(aunt of [...] Weingarth), Chinaman."
