Montrose in La Crescenta-Montrose in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
The Great Flood of 1934
Erected 2004 by Historical Society of the Crescenta Valley; CV Town Council; and Michael D. Antonivich, Supervisor, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Fraternal or Sororal Organizations. In addition, it is included in the Works Progress Administration (WPA) projects series list. A significant historical date for this entry is January 1, 1934.
Location. 34° 12.839′ N, 118° 14.104′ W. Marker is in La Crescenta-Montrose, California, in Los Angeles County. It is in Montrose. Marker is at the intersection of Rosemont Avenue and Fairway Avenue, on the right when traveling north on Rosemont Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2537 Fairway Ave, Montrose CA 91020, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Bonetto House (approx. 0.3 miles away); St. Luke’s of the Mountains (approx. half a mile away); The Bell of La Crescenta Elementary School (approx. 0.6 miles away); The Crescenta-Cañada Valley (approx. 0.7 miles away); Montrose Vietnam War Memorial (approx. 0.7 miles away); National Flag Week (approx. 0.7 miles away); Crescenta Valley Park (approx. 1½ miles away); Descanso Gardens (approx. 1½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in La Crescenta-Montrose.
Regarding The Great Flood of 1934. According to the Feb 1934 California Highway and Public Works magazine, “Several thousand C.W.A. relief workers were rushed to the flooded area to render aid to the population and salvage as much property as possible.”
The building was moved from this location one block west to 4011 La Crescenta Avenue, and is still American Legion Post 288.
Also see . . . 15 Striking Photos of The 1934 New Year’s Floods in Los Angeles. Excerpt:
In November 1933, wildfires raged through the nearby San Gabriel mountains above the Los Angeles County communities of La Crescenta, La Cañada and Montrose. During the last week of December of that year, a series of winter storms pounded the mountainside with 12 inches of rain. On New Year’s Eve, more heavy rains led to sporadic flooding.(Submitted on December 18, 2022, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.)
Around midnight, hillsides in at least three mountain locations collapsed sending millions of tons of mud and debris into the Crescenta Valley neighborhoods below. More than 400 homes were destroyed in La Cañada, La Crescenta, Montrose and Tujunga. Scores of people were killed, and hundreds were left homeless. Entire families were wiped out. The mudslides that began in the mountains above La Cañada and La Crescenta carved a path of destruction all the way to the Verdugo Wash and beyond.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 21, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 1, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 1,198 times since then and 214 times this year. Last updated on November 29, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. It was the Marker of the Week January 1, 2023. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 1, 2019, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 4. submitted on June 1, 2019. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.