News
of our readers
On April 15th 1998 a group from Randolph, New
Hampshire, arrived in southern California for the express purpose of finding out more
about their relative Thaddeus Lowe’s adventures on the West Coast. The group
consisted of Gordon Alan Lowe, Joyce Lowe Chaffee, Mark Santos and a friend Owen. I had
been in contact with Alan Lowe and Mark Santos, his son-in-law over the Internet after
they had found the Echo Mtn. Echoes site. Gordon Alan Lowe is the great grandson of
Thaddeus Lowe’s brother Charles Lowe who will be the subject of an article in our
next issue.
 |
Mark Santos, Joyce Lowe Chaffeee & G. Alan
Lowe. |
On the 19th we met the group at the Great Western Bank in
Altadena to tour the Scenic Mt. Lowe Railway. Friend and writer Paul Rippens accompanied
us on the trip and was a great source of information for the many questions that came up
as we traveled nearly the entire route. We started at MacPherson Parkway and then headed
on up the fire road. At Cape of Good Hope we parked the vehicle and hiked into Echo
Mountain where a pleasant couple of hours were spent exploring and having a leisurely
lunch. Afterwards we drove up to the Dawn Station still under construction and then on to
Alpine Tavern, the Fox Farm and finally Inspiration Point. Oh yes we also posed for
pictures at Granite Gate. A great time was had by all.
 |
Collector Michael Patris. |
May was a hectic month for me, five family birthdays, Mother’s Day and, my
twenty-forth anniversary. In between all these events the Scenic Mt. Lowe Railway
Historical Committee and forest service volunteers attempted more than once to finish the
station at Dawn but rain seemed to be ever present. Finally on May 30th we
finished the roof and were able to stand back and see our finished work. A great
photograph was taken by subscriber and photographer Herb Shoebridge which will grace our
cover issue in the fall. I hope to put together a photo essay of our progress and present
it to the Altadena Historical society for all to view.
In June Micheal Patris spoke on collecting Mt. Lowe at the Collectors Convention and
has graciously accepted to host Land-Sea Discovery Group’s slide show presentation on
July 27th, 1998. The show will be presented by author Barbara Hunter Schultz
and will be based on the subject of her book, Pancho, the Autobiography of Florence Lowe
Barnes. Cake and coffee will be served and a small display of Mt. Lowe collectibles will
be on display.
The Dogtown Territorial News Quarterly featured articles by Paul Rippens on the St.
Francis Dam Disaster and by SMLRHC member John Harrigan, a wonderful piece on the Lone
Woman of Santa Cruz Island. Both were interesting article and congratulations to both
writers on publishing their work.
Send email to Echowebmaster@aaaim.com to report any problems.
Last modified: February 12, 1999
No part of this paper may be
reproduced in any form without written permission from:
Jake Brouwer
All articles and photos were provided by:
Land-Sea Discovery Group
Copyright © 1999