La Cañada History: Community Center transforms into ‘Dracula’s Castle’

Ten Years Ago

The La Cañada Unified School District Governing Board in October 2006 voted unanimously to adopt a resolution opposing Proposition 88 on that year’s ballot. The proposition, which was soundly defeated at the polls the following month, would have imposed a $50 tax on property to fund education. Scott Tracy, then president of the local school board, said the proposition would be of little value here.

Twenty Years Ago

A city shuttle bus sustained $200 in damages after a 17-year-old La Cañada High student threw a rock at it. The teen was arrested in connection with the incident and later released to his father’s custody.

Thirty Years Ago

It took 10 years after the successful cityhood drive took place, but the local post office in October 1986 finally added the word “Flintridge” to its name. Citizens could henceforth conduct their postal business in the La Cañada Flintridge Post Office.

Forty Years Ago

“Dracula’s Castle” was the theme of a haunted house set up at the Community Center on Chevy Chase Drive during the week before Halloween in 1976. The show was produced by four young local residents: Cardon Walker, Bill Martin, John Debney and Allen Hurd.

Fifty Years Ago

Following a three-week study, the Los Angeles County Zoning Board rejected a proposal to build a Van de Kamp’s restaurant-coffee shop-bakery on Foothill Boulevard at Beulah Drive.

Sixty Years Ago

An apparently heartless burglar pilfered two children’s piggy banks from atop their bedroom dressers while the kids and their mother were away from their Hillard Avenue home for a music lesson. Sheriff’s deputies determined the burglar had entered the house by puncturing, then unhooking a window screen and raising the unlatched window.

Compiled from the Valley Sun archives by Carol Cormaci.