La Cañada History: ‘A Parade of Roses’ at Descanso Gardens

Ten Years Ago

La Cañada High School swim teams captured 23 gold medals and a dozen silver or bronze awards at the Rio Hondo League finals, held at Pasadena City College in May 2003.

Twenty Years Ago

One week after a man held up a Western Federal Savings office on Foothill Boulevard at Commonwealth Avenue, a different suspect robbed the Bank of America branch here. It was reported that neither crime involved the use of a weapon.

Thirty Years Ago

A fully staged production of the Gilbert and Sullivan opera, “The Mikado,” was presented in Fellowship Hall at Church of the Lighted Window by Canada Savoy, Ltd. Cast members included local residents Gordon Ramsay, Adrian MacNab, Bill Scott, Bob Willard, John Scott, Sara Willard, Beverly MacBurney, Judy Frewing, Ann Thomas, Ann MacNab and Marianne Vorath.

Forty Years Ago

For the first time since the award’s inception in the 1950s, the Kiwanis Club of La Cañada decided to give its coveted “La Cañadan of the Year” title to a married couple, Dr. William Brown and his wife, May, for their many volunteer services in the community.

Fifty Years Ago

The U.S. Forest Service received a $5,493.75 check as full payment for the costs of controlling an 8-acre forest fire in the Chilao recreation area four years earlier, in 1959. The fire had been accidentally started by a 14-year-old boy lighting fireworks.

Sixty Years Ago

The Flintridge League hosted a tea and fashion show at Descanso Gardens themed “A Parade of Roses,” featuring local young women as models.

-- Carol Cormaci, carol.cormaci@latimes.com

Follow @CarolCormaci on Twitter.