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The Swenson family house on Fontaine Road
Harriet and John Swenson bought this house on Fontaine Road in 1950, only after persuading the owner that they were tough enough to stay.
Nancy Swenson on Robinson Road
Harriet and John Swenson's oldest child Nancy sits on the stoop of their Robinson Road rental, reputed hunting lodge for Teddy Roosevelt.
The Sloan family's trailer home
Bill and Pearl Sloan and their first three children called this 16-foot travel trailer home while they waited for a new one.
Bill and Pearl Sloan
Bill and Pearl Sloan stand in a hole they dug for their septic tank. "There were no geological surveys required, no septic system percolation tests."
The Mule Train at the Country Fair
The Mule Train at the Country Fair. From left: Chris Jones, JoAnn Goodman, and Tom Butler.
Community House work party
Woman's Club members serve a ranch-style lunch to a Community House work party.
Greg and Danny Morris
Greg and Danny Morris donate their playhouse to the Community House for a tool shed
Jerry Hanks, Ray Alley, and Frank Molloy
Jerry Hanks, Ray Alley, and Frank Molloy drill a well for the new Community House.
Topanga Drilling Co.
Frank Molloy and Ray Alley of Topanga Drilling bring their families while they tap into a water supply.
Breaking ground for the Community House
Fire Chief Harvey Anderson and Mary Sopher watch as Dorothy Boehme breaks ground for the new Community House.
Clarence Kuethe and Mary Sopher
Clarence Kuethe, owner of Fernwood Market, donates a steet to Woman's Club president Mary Sopher.
Sycamore Lodge
Sycamore Lodge, with bow windows, was built by H. R. Gage in the early 1900s, then bought by Harry Boehme in 1931. Located just north of the confluence of Garapatos and Topanga Creeks and shaded by sycamores, the 5-acre property contained four…
Oka Stewart
Oka Stewart sponsored free events at Wildwood, led the Lions club and donated building materials for the Community House.
Topanga Women's Auxiliary
Topanga Women's Auxiliary threw an old-fashioned community picnic in 1942, precursor to the fairs. Standing from left: Elva Sigrist, unknown, Hermoine Cox, unknown, Virley Harlan, Mrs. Theriault, Nelle Upham, unknown, Louise Adams, Helen Blencourt,…
American Legion Honor Roll
Honor Roll of men and women serving in armed forces is unveiled by the American Legion on Memorial Day 1944 at Pine Tree Circle
The Topanga Protection Committee
The Topanga Protection Committee organized in 1942 by Oscar-winning producer/director Frank Lloyd (seated center). Pictured are standing from left: Hildor Barton, two unknown, Des Barton, Kenneth Connors, Hugh Harlan, Ralph Kiewitt. Seated: W. V.…
Civilian Conservation Corps camp
The New Deal brought a Civilian Conservation Corps camp to Topanga.
Sadie and Cash Albright at home on Paradise Lane
Sadie Albright pours a drink for husband Cash at their Wild Horze Bar in the home he built on Paradise Lane.
The Penny family on Paradise Lane
Kathryn Penny and Melvin Penny, with children Joel Dean Penny and Milo Penny.
In front of the John Albright home on Paradise Lane.
In front of the John Albright home on Paradise Lane.
Bud Luse and friends at the garage by the old Post Office
At the garage by the old Post Office.
Kneeling: George Ortez, Charles Gammon.
Standing: Ken Douphner, Bud Luse, and Richard Flood.
Kneeling: George Ortez, Charles Gammon.
Standing: Ken Douphner, Bud Luse, and Richard Flood.
Topanga Beach Auto Court
Topanga Beach Auto Court, with James Talmadge's Deusenberg. James was the son of Buster Keaton and lived on Tuna Beach.
Topanga Beach houses along the old coast road
Topanga Beach houses along the old coast road, before they were swept away by high waves in a February 1926 storm.
Step Inn cafe and gas station at Topanga and PCH.
Step Inn cafe and Clayton Rust's gas station at Topanga and PCH.
Thais Rust in Brookside
Thais Rust as a teenager sitting on a '35 Ford Coupe in Brookside in Lower Topanga.
The Rust Family at Topanga Beach
The Rust Family.
Front: Ellen Rust Penland, Joanne Simmons, Thais Rust, Ray and Leon Simmons, Ella Rust, Avis Wendell, Fern Rust, Raburn Stedman Rust.
Middle: Clayton Rust, Roy Rust, Claude Simmons, Edythe Rust, Fleta Rust, unknown, Ina Rust,…
Front: Ellen Rust Penland, Joanne Simmons, Thais Rust, Ray and Leon Simmons, Ella Rust, Avis Wendell, Fern Rust, Raburn Stedman Rust.
Middle: Clayton Rust, Roy Rust, Claude Simmons, Edythe Rust, Fleta Rust, unknown, Ina Rust,…
Tent City, formerly Cooper's Camp
Tent City, formerly Cooper's Camp, with the construction site for the 1933 bridge across Topanga Lagoon.
Topanga Mineral Springs
Horseshoe Bend was renamed Topanga Mineral Springs and its waters were sold to customers in Los Angeles.
Horseshoe Bend Inn
Horseshoe Bend Inn opens in mid-1920s with dance pavilion spanning creek at rear and sun deck on roof.
Alva Gustavus at his Little Brown Church in the Wildwood
Retired Baptist Minister Alva Gustavus stands by his "Little Brown Church in the Wildwood" behind Horseshoe Bend Inn.
Southern California's Prettiest Drive
"Southern California's Prettiest Drive" is Francis Brunner's booklet advertising his Topanga-Las Flores Canyon Stage. The Topanga Historical Society published a reprint of this 32-page booklet.
Coins offering free lots in Sylvia Park
Coins were scattered in Los Angeles offering finders free lots and memberships in Sylvia Park Country Club.
Gray family: Russ, Mae, Bonnie, Carole, Don, and June
Russ Gray (with nose to the grindstone) and his wife Mae with Bonnie, Carole, Don, and June.
W. D. Hacker cabin in Fernwood Park
Weekend cabin of Dr. and Mrs. W. D. Hacker built in 1924 in the Fernwood Park development at the northwest corner of Fernwood Pacific and Horseshoe Drives.
Fred Solomon leads orphans in a race
Fred Solomon leads orphans in a race on property that became Topanga Center.
Picnic in Veteran Springs (Glenview)
Spanish War veterans hold a picnic in Veteran Springs (later known as Glenview).
Hay baling crew
As a boy, Fred Venneman joined a neighborhood hay baling crew that included Jesus Santa Maria (aboard baler) and George Cheney (second from right).
Topanga Tavern on Old Topanga Canyon
Topanga Tavern was built in 1909 on Old Topanga Canyon just south of the Narrows.
Caroline Hansen at John Heron's cabin
Caroline Hansen, whose parents owned the Outside Inn, at John Heron's cabin on a Saddle Peak slope.
Floyd Palmaymesa with aunt Hazel and friend
Floyd Palmaymesa with aunt Hazel and friend in Old Topanga Canyon.
A Pawlowski family picnic by Topanga Creek
A Pawlowski family picnic by Topanga Creek. Peter and Pauline, with his parents Pelagia and Julius.
The Pawlowski family on Route 66
The Pawlowski family (second car from left) on Route 66, from Michigan to Topanga.
Cora Trippet and son Oscar A. Trippett
Cora Trippet and son Oscar A. Trippett under portrait of her husband. Trippet Ranch became the centerpiece of Topanga State Park.
Water tank in the shape of a milk bottle
Kneen built this water tank on Red Rock Road in the shape of a milk bottle in the 1930s.
May Kneen and daughter Katherine
May Kneen and daughter Katherine at the home built by husband Bill. Badly damages in the 1994 earthquake, the house was razed and rebuilt by Jake Stehelin to resemble the original.
Taj Mahal entrance on Entrada Road
T. W. Kneen (left) built this Taj Mahal entrance for Mr. Hanlon (right) on Entrada Road.
Red Cross Building
During WWI, ladies sold Mrs. Julian's "Canadian War Cakes" to tourists in front of this Red Cross Building at Old and New Canyon junctions to raise money for the war effort.
Norris E., Charlies I., Edwin, and Edwin R. Julian
Four generations: Norris E., Charlies I., Edwin, and Edwin R. Julian.
Adelaide Gibbon at her stone house
William and Adelaide Gibbon built this stone house, which featured her wood carvings.
Von Arnswaldts' cabin in Red Rock Canyon
The von Arnswaldts' cabin in Red Rock Canyon opened the area to development.
Mrs. Templer Allen with cousin Hugh Twyford
Mrs. Templer Allen, owner of Moel-Y-Gan, with cousin Hugh Twyford.
Bob Hutton in Greenleaf Canyon
After Bob Hutton married, he built a home in Greenleaf Canyon out of homemade adobe bricks.
Stella McAllister and nephew at her tavern
Stella McAllister and nephew at her tavern. She insisted her guests help in the kitchen.
Les Storrs in Greenleaf Canyon
Les Storrs, age 16, at the Hutton cabin built by Mort Allen in Greenleaf Canyon.
Bob Hutton and Mort Allen
Frequent guest Bob Hutton sits back to back with Mort Allen, "a man not given to unnecessary effort."
Man cinching his burro
Walter Armacost snapped a friend cinching his burron as they stopped in Topanga on their way to the Sierra Nevadas.
Reverend Frederick Post with Dolores Trujillo
The Reverent Frederick Post lost his extensive library when his home burned.
Bertha Corbett Melcher, Jessie, Mrs. Luther
Bertha Corbett Melcher (right) sits with a woman (probably sister Jessie). Mrs. Luther is standing.
Sunbonnet Baby by Bertha Corbett Melcher
Artist Bertha Corbett Melcher made her fortune with her creation of the Sunbonnett Babies.
Bertha Melcher with Charlotte and baby Ruth
Bertha Melcher was known as the "Madonna of the Mountains."
George Melcher ranch
George Melcher and his second wife Marguerite Douphner Melcher are flanked by Betty and Ken Douphner to the left and Helen Cheney, Callan Cheney, and young Gary Cheney to the right.
Jack Woods's stone house
Jack Woods, a pioneer stage and mail driver, built this stone house in the early 20th century in Old Canyon.
Trujillo family (Dolores , Cornelia, Rosagua, and Dolores Jr,) with Miss Ericson
Dolores Trujillo, 53, with wife Cornelia, children Rosagua and Dolores Jr, their teacher Miss Ericson, and their lamb Buckoo.
Featured Item
Manuela Trujillo on Horseback
Black and white photograph of Manuela Trujillo riding a donkey c. 1915