La Cañada History: Third annual Fiesta Days Parade held

Ten Years Ago

The La Cañada Kiwanis Club, gearing up for the seventh annual Greater Los Angeles Soap Box Derby to be held May 27, 2006, announced that instead of writing about the event, L.A. Times sports writers and local residents Sam Farmer and Bill Plaschke would be featured as celebrity racers. The Kiwanis Club hosted the race on the “Michigan Hill” at the east end of Foothill Boulevard with the California Family Soap Box Derby Assn.

Twenty Years Ago

Rebuilding efforts were underway at the shopping center on Foothill Boulevard between Indianola Way and Gould Avenue, where the city’s most disastrous commercial fire had taken place in November 1995. Bank of America, which sustained massive losses to its building during the blaze, announced it hoped to be back in operation at the site by Thanksgiving 1996.

Thirty Years Ago

After some years of going without it, the La Cañada school board considered hiring for $20,000 a special consultant to revive a general music program for students in grades one through six. Also under consideration was a proposal to reimburse the Assistance League of Flintridge $100 per district student that participated in the organization’s Fine Arts Academy.

Forty Years Ago

The third annual Fiesta Days Parade included a homemade float entry titled “Picnic Pleasure” created by and ridden on by Princess Anne Road neighbors. They designed and executed the multipart float on a challenge from the Fairlawn Drive neighborhood, which had entered its own float during the first two years of the event and urged residents of other streets to join in the endeavor.

Fifty Years Ago

In May 1966 and with the stipulation that it was on a trial basis, the installation of food and drink vending machines on the La Cañada High School campus was approved by the school board. Items that would be made available to the students and faculty included fresh fruit, fruit juice, ice cream, soft drinks, chips and cookies.

Sixty Years Ago

In a reflection of the era, the daytime installation program for new officers of the La Cañada Thursday Club in May 1956 was a decorous affair, with members wearing pastel-colored formal gowns that carried out the springtime theme chosen by the installing officer, Mrs. John J. McBride. Installed as club president for a second year was Mrs. Oscar Farrow, who was attired in a formal of pink satin that had been embroidered with sequins and pearls.

Compiled from the Valley Sun archives by Carol Cormaci.