Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Mystery History


Where are we? And what's happening?

The first person to guess correctly will win a fabulous prize!

I'll have the full scoop on Thursday.

8 comments:

Bellis said...

The first traffic signal in Pasadena? I'm guessing the year could be 1910 or thereabouts, and the location Fair Oaks and Colorado.

Anonymous said...

I'm guessing the same thing as Bellis, perhaps with the chief of police and the mayor in attendance? But, I'm going to say Colorado and Raymond.

mike salazar said...

I'm in with the comments so far: looks like the first automated traffic signal in Pasadena. And I think Anonymous is right - sure looks like the southwest corner of Raymond Avenue at Colorado before the 1929 widening of Colorado Boulevard, looking east. Note that the original granite curbs are still there under foot of man at the curb. I think most have been removed on Colorado over the years, but lots remain on Fair Oaks and Raymond.
Great photo, Ann! Dying to know what year this is...

Thanosius said...

I would agree with all...Maybe not the first , but certainly an early traffic signal along Colorado late 20's. Might even be City workers (engineers) with the Police Man (One working on the signal while the other two watch!!!)

Wonder Wanda said...

Bellis gets up way tooooo early ;-) The year is 1928 and the men depicted in the photo are from the Pasadena Water and Power Department. No doubt they are probably recording the installation of new traffic signals. The bldg in the background might be the First National Bank on Colorado at Fair Oaks?

Bellis said...

Bellis has an unfair advantage by living at Longitude 0 this week.

Cafe Pasadena said...

If it were the 1st automated traffic signal, it's not around 1910.
Neither does it look like FOaks & Colorado.
Nor does it look like the 1st National Bk.

I agree with Anon & Mike that's it's Raymond & Colorado. And I agree with Mike, Than, & Wondering Wand that it's around 1930 - give or take a couple of yrs.

And that's all I'm gonna say on this subject.

mike salazar said...

Checking in again for two points of clarification: I mentioned it must be before 1929 widening of Colorado. It is WAY before this widening took place. So I would agree with Bellis at 'around 1910.' 2nd point: I'm fairly sure the building across the street to right is the southEAST corner - not the southwest - corner of Raymond and Colorado, not the original building built before 1900, but perhaps the next iteration of that building, well before it lost a floor and the frontage to the 1929 widening of Colorado. That delivery truck's wheel visible seem to say +/-1910, but perhaps it's likely later because of the traffic signal design. I believe this is significant because it is automated. Can't wait to find out!