Name: Bud Rhoades ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Dec 13, 2007, 8:07 am - HHS Time
Class: 1974
City & State: Belmont Shore
E-mail
Message: A train to Catalina in the 1800's ??????? Quite the engineering feat.

Name: Walter Holt ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Dec 13, 2007, 7:53 am - HHS Time
Class: 1966
City & State: Surf City, CA
E-mail
Message: Seeing the reference to the railroad to Catalina peaked my curiosity, after extensive research on the internet, I can find nothing on a railroad that actually went from San Pedro to Catalina Island in any Calif History, Santa Catalina History, California Rail Road History, Railroad History or anything remotely relating to it. The only railroad mentioned was an electric railroad that went to what was called the Catalina dock in San Pedro so passengers could board the steamers to Catalina. I have emailed the Catalina Museum & Chamber of Commerce to see if they have any information on it. I am not saying it didnt exist as yet but rather I haven't been able to find any information on it..I did find they built a railroad across LA harbor around then that was later removed.

Name: Richard Labriola ~~~~~~~~~~ Thu-Dec 13, 2007, 6:50 am - HHS Time
Class: 1974
City & State: Buenos Aires
E-mail
Message: Hey Mike Stallings, how the heck are you? Do you remember me? In 1975 we went to a Chicago - Beach Boys concert at Anaheim Stadium in my MGB. Back then I was better known as Lab with all my friends. Email me.

Name: John Baker ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Dec 12, 2007, 10:07 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1962
City & State: Lomita, CA
E-mail
Message: Hey John Crotty and Armand Vaquer, I APOLOGIZE!! There was a Railroad between San Pedro and Catalina in the 1800s. Armand sent me excerpts from a pamphlet he has, and it is true. I wish someone could find something on the Internet on this subject. I would love to link to it. Thanks Armand for the straight skinny.

Name: Jean MacErnie ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Dec 12, 2007, 8:54 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Caldwell
Class: 1968
City & State: Albq NM
No E-mail
Message: While I was at work yesterday I received a phone call from a girl named Michelle Worthington, who lives in Albq. During the real estate search that I was doing for her....I mentioned a man named Cal Worthington in L.A. who did a lot of car commercials on tv. I mentioned his dog Spot etc...She thought this was all very interesting, and funny. When I told her his first name...She said she had a Uncle Calvin in Calif who was 70-80 age group now. She didn't know anything about her uncle being an actor/car salesman...but was curious if that was her uncle. So she called her mom and mentioned what I said. Michelle called me back and told me it was her uncle....and also her moms uncle. She was surprised because this was something she didn't know about him....It was a fun phone call and I thought I would share it with you.

Name: Jean MacErnie ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Dec 12, 2007, 8:18 pm - HHS Time
Maiden: Caldwell
Class: 1968
City & State: Albq NM
No E-mail
Message: Back in the 50's I remember visiting a neighborhood where there were several houses that really went out with the Christmas displays. It was close to my aunt Mary Hahlbecks house. She lived on the corner of Kornblum til the 60's. I can't recall the cross street though it was close to Rosecrans. I wonder if that was the same neighborhood that Bob Jensen mentioned. I don't remember the neighborhood too much. There were some kids we hung out with when we visited my aunts house. Their bob used to work in a balloon factory of some sort. She would bring homes tons of them.

Name: LEEROY FELDERRUSTER ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Dec 12, 2007, 5:36 pm - HHS Time
City & State: Siloam Springs. Ak
E-mail
Message: I ben gonna writ sose longs i's fergit whats I's gonna sez. Yahno hows dat gits wen yer gitttin on and old Leeroy is gittin ons. I seens dat der 1000 feedsbacks wit mys names on der. wats dat alls bout? Soorys ta say wes lost Beulah girl las Sunday after chuirch. We wuz at dat new malld ans whm shes wuz gon. jest likes dat. Brokes mys heart but never youse minds wes found her in da secrets store. I's neerly fergets bout her two i was so besy lookin at alls dem secrets, whys dey call it secrets fer, they ain;t no secrets ifn dey dresssing likes dat. ok well then merry CHRISTMAS. Beulah girl sez howdy too.

Name: Mike Stallings ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Dec 12, 2007, 12:46 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1974
City & State: Torrance, CA
E-mail
Message: I think everyone needs to realize that using this new "Tract Name" instead of using the City name is now an option that people that live in certain areas are allowed to do. It is no SLAM on the city they are a part of, it is just an opportunity given to them by the local government jurisdiction to show a personal idenity to an area that they call home. I am sure if you asked these people they would tell you that they are grateful for the government services provided to them,(police, fire, post office,) whether it comes from the county, city or state. My parents have lived in the same house for 54 years. They watched their house get built. They are active in the homeowners association and do things with their neighbors they have known for 50 years as well. Hawthorne has evolved a great deal as a city over the past 50 years, things like the The appearance of the High School changing, City Fire Department changing to county, the planning department changing the zoning laws,(allowing the developers to overbuild the eastern part of the city,) I could go on... A lot of people don't like many of the decisions the city has made during this time period that has changed the look of the suburban fabric that makes up our great city. The main point that I am trying to make is some people who have settled and developed a life in a certain corner of the world that they feel comfortable in and are close to, now have the ability to use that little village name to represent where they are proud to call home. I think this option is great for people who feel that way.

Name: John Crotty ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Dec 12, 2007, 11:51 am - HHS Time
Class: 1969
City & State: Hermosa Beach
E-mail
Message: Wait a minute!!!! There was actually a train that went to Catalina???? In all my days I have never heard of that before Armand's post. I'm being had aren't I? I get it....December Fools!!!!!!!

Name: Susan King ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Dec 12, 2007, 10:23 am - HHS Time
Maiden: Bierman
Class: 1974
City & State: Thousand Oaks, CA
E-mail
Message: Hey, no fair! (Did THAT phrase bring back memories?) Joe Mailander beat me to the Cougar Sighting. And I don't care if it was a little pre-arranged and therefore shouldn't qualify, it was awesome! We arrived at 1pm and 3 1/2 hours later Sharon looked at her watch and geez, it was time to join LA traffic and head for home. Too soon I might add. We have not even touched the tip of the iceberg. So much to share and talk about, it just gives us new inspiration to meet again - SOON - as we left with more questions than answers. But, as all of these reunions are, it was sooooo good for the soul. Sis and I LOVE Joe Mailander, and through him, Lily. And it goes without saying about Konnie. So next time we must either arrive earlier or stay the night. Thanks Joe and Lily for hospitality and fabulous food and Baker, you really must join us next time. Joe was outnumbered. : ))

Name: Alan Hauge ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Dec 12, 2007, 8:37 am - HHS Time
Class: 1961
City & State: Playa del rey, CA
E-mail
Message: Yo John-Wow, yeah that's one of my Dad's first auto repair shops after he came to California from South Dakota in 1923. I think I have photos of the place somewhere. He had another shop, or it could be the same one, at what is now Avation Blvd. and El Segundo Blvd. From what I remember these street names changed in the 1930's. So it could be the same one. It was on the old Leuzinger farm property, not far from the original farmhouse. Thanks. Alan Hauge '61

Name: Charlie Fox ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Dec 12, 2007, 8:12 am - HHS Time
Class: 1969
City & State: Lomita, California
E-mail
Message: Thinking about Christmas memories, looking for that one special Christmas that stands out over all the rest, I find there are none that seem any more special than the others. Growing up, EVERY Christmas was special beyond description. What I remember most about Christmas and childhood is how slowly the days passed as Christmas approached. A kid could go crazy from the waiting. Now it seems like the opposite is the rule. Thanksgiving comes and then it seems like it's Christmas Eve and all the days in between are swallowed up with work and the endless little "busy-nesses" that take up my time. Thankfully, all it takes is the smell of a freshly cut Chrismas tree to bring back the memories of sleepless Christmas Eve nights and the rush of excitement as Mom and Dad finally turned on the bedroom light and said, "Merry Christmas! Santa's been here!" I wish everyone in Cougartown a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go into the kitchen and see if I can remember how to put together a gingerbread house.

Name: Armand Vaquer ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Dec 12, 2007, 7:38 am - HHS Time
Class: 1972
City & State: Tarzana, CA
E-mail
Message: Felton Ave. was so-named for the millionaire shipping magnate, Charles Elias Felton. Felton was one of the largest cargo ship owners in the late 1800s and was responsible for the San Pedro-to-Catalina railroad (short-lived as it was). The trains ran from 1887 to 1891. The last of the timbers from the trestles were removed in 1926 as they posed a navigational hazard to shipping.

Name: Mary Ann Martin ~~~~~~~~~~ Wed-Dec 12, 2007, 5:46 am - HHS Time
Maiden: Walton
Class: 1961
City & State: Nashville AR
E-mail
Message: Woooooooo Pig Sooooiiiieeee!!!! The Arkansas Razorbacks hired a COACH who will coach!!! GO HOGS!!!

Name: Steve Fraser ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Dec 11, 2007, 11:58 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1966
City & State: Laguna Woods, CA
No E-mail
Message: Last time I checked (Saturday), the Hawthorne Post Office 90250 delivers mail to the tract called 'Holly Glen'. Are 'Holly Park', 'Bodger Park', 'Liberty Acres', etal, now there separate Post Offices? Does the 'Holly Glen Police' only fight crime west of the 405? Who responds to the ball fields at 135th/Isis, LACOFD Engine 160, Hawthorne 90250 or the 'Holy Glen FD'? A few new letter carriers wouldn't know where they were....Hawthorne or Holy Glen! FOLKS, IT'S HAWTHORNE

Name: Neil Andersen ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Dec 11, 2007, 9:03 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1962
City & State: Dallas,OR
E-mail
Message: I lived on the corner of 119th St and Felton from 1950-1962, I thought the street was named for the Felton Market that was at 118th Pl, but it appears that there was a U.S. Senator from California, Charles Norton Felton, who lived between 1832-1914. Perhaps he tented there one evening. The time I saw my old house it was becoming the new santuary for Assembly of God Church that had been across the street

Name: jim sloey ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Dec 11, 2007, 7:17 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1966
City & State: solvang
E-mail
Message: Armand, Mike and Mary Ann you are correct. They are not "towns' [as we say in the small midwestern towns] at all but areas of the City of Los Angeles. As to Felton Avenue, Neil, it was named after an old New Yorker named Madison, Madison Avenue. The name was chosen to spice up the area. I have no idea where the Felton came from and I lived there for 11 years. Was I close?

Name: joseph mailander ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Dec 11, 2007, 6:11 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1975
City & State: LA Inner City CA
E-mail
Message: John, you know I LOVE YOU MAAANNNN but I do have to tell you about something you might have missed on the local news, because you know they don't give much coverage here in the Inner City. On Monday, a Category Five Hurricane blew into our briar patch out of both the west and south, engulfing our shaky, humble Inner City crib completely, and we barely withstood the storm. Yeah, if you missed the news, HURRICANE KON teamed up with a couple of extremely powerful fronts from straight outta Thousand Oaks and swept Lily and I to and fro for hours as we pondered whether we should try to send up a flare or simply launch the emergency skiff. I rarely have a chance to see Lily mostly speechless but as the big storm raged on for hours, indeed, she was NO MATCH for these extreme forces of nature. After hours and hours that was actually more fun than the danger would suggest, during which every graduate of HHS from any class of the seventies likely also experienced burning ears, it indeed looks like we emerged unscathed, maybe even with some cool holiday care-packages filled with desserts and wines and a fine champagne to boot, and ultimately, I can assure you, we are far better people for having survived Susan and Sharon and HURRICANE KON 2007! Peace and skiff drinks and I DO LOVE YOU for making it all possible, MAAANNN!!

Name: Jim ~~~~~~~~~~ Tue-Dec 11, 2007, 5:19 pm - HHS Time
Class: 1966
City & State: Central Point, Orego
E-mail
Message: Of course - those four cities were once part of the megalopolis of Los Angeles, as was Sloey, but knowing him, you know there is more to it than the obvious. Van Nuys, San Pedro, Venice, and Westchester all have European sister cities that lay within 7 degrees of the Prime Meridian. 7 also being the number Mickey Mantle wore for the Yankees. Mantle is from Oklahoma which is only one state away from Nebraska. With Sloey all things point to Nebraska. Also if you unscramble the letters of those four cities it spells "Ovaltine is healthier than Bosco." Ovaltine was manufactured in Wahoo Nebraska also home to John F Kennedy College. JFK being our 34th President. Add 3 and 4 and you get 7, again we have Mickey Mantle. Is this Sloey's version of the Divinci Code or some twisted "National Treasure" remake?