In 1972, Foothill Freeway bridge collapses while under construction

Ten Years Ago

Three young women attending high schools in La Cañada were named to the 2003 Tournament of Roses Royal Court. Two of them, Glynn-Helene Joseph and Katherine Berber, were students at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, while the third, Danielle Yamamoto, was a senior at La Cañada High.

Twenty Years Ago

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory was added to the list of sites around the country that were contaminated by toxic waste and scheduled for cleanup under the Environmental Protection Agency’s Superfund National Priorities List. The contamination was reported to have occurred in the early 1940s when rocket fuel testing resulted in chemicals being dumped there.

Thirty Years Ago

After five days of play, La Cañada Flintridge resident Virginia “Ginner” Christie emerged as the champion in the annual Oakmont Country Club Women’s Golf Auxiliary Directors’ Tournament. Christie claimed her trophy after winning a “match vs. par” playoff against four other Oakmont members.

Forty Years Ago

Six workmen died and 21 others were injured, six of them critically, when a 60-foot section of the Foothill Freeway bridge under construction collapsed and the workers fell 90 feet to the floor of the Arroyo Seco. The accident took place while concrete was being poured; two of the victims were entombed in the quick-dry mixture.

A major rescue and recovery operation that involved 120 county firefighters, 50 Pasadena firefighters and about 450 construction workers who answered an appeal for help lasted 18 hours.

Rescuers reported that they were hampered by a large crowd that gathered to watch the efforts.

Fifty Years Ago

St. Francis High School Mothers’ Guild held a fashion show at the newly opened La Cañada Country Club.

The fall collection from the J.W. Robinson Co. department store was showcased during the fundraising event.

Sixty Years Ago

Manchester Boddy of Descanso Drive (founder of Descanso Gardens) spearheaded the formation of the Crescenta-Cañada Committee for (Adlai) Stevenson and (John) Sparkman in support of their 1952 runs for U.S. president and vice president, respectively, on the Democratic ticket. Boddy’s co-chairman on the local committee was Dan Green of Green Lane.