Planes, Trains and Automobiles – Part 3

The small crowd surged forward as the shiny machine pulled into the driveway. Local Durant Motors representative Harry Harvey addressed the excited onlookers. 

“You are about to witness a spectacular feat that no other automobile has ever achieved: the ascent up the sharp grade to the very top of Mount McGroarty where no real road has yet been made.”

It was late September 1925 when this daring drive took place, during the fifth annual Moon Festival of the Tujungans. At the conclusion of Mr. Harvey’s presentation, there was a spattering of applause before the car, and the group, began up the hill on the original road to the Cross of San Ysidro that emanated from John Steven McGoarty’s driveway.

Less than a half mile away, local builder George Washington Harris was admiring his new sign arching over the entrance to the Garden of the Moon (7200 Foothill Blvd.), the home of the Moon Festival. He had completed it just in time for the thousands of visitors who would come from far and near to enjoy the festivities.

The Tujungan Moon Festival began in 1921 after the Little Landers Colony faded from existence, and its clubhouse (Bolton Hall Museum today) was sold to the American Legion. In need of funds to cover the mortgage payments, the Legion devised the Moon Festival as a way of enhancing its finances.

The self-proclaimed nature builder – Mr. Harris – had designed and built the stone clubhouse just 12 years before putting up this latest creation. Built exclusively of eucalyptus poles, the large arched gateway was underpinned with stone piers and was covered with advertising and topped by a crescent moon and star.

Back above the McGroarty house, the gathering had risen to the highest point in which the Model T could ascend. The Durant Motors Star Car was poised to make history in Tujunga. 

Mr. Harvey once again addressed the crowd, “You can see with your own eyes just how steep this is; the Model T can only scale such a height going backwards! But this Star Car with its special million dollar motor is up for the job! Behold!”

With those words the driver lowered his goggles and revved the engine. With a nod from Mr. Harvey, he pulled the throttle under his steering wheel to its fullest extent and the engine roared. When his foot lifted off the brake the wheels spun, throwing rocks and dust high into the air. The spectators stepped back as the shiny machine began to rise up the incline. At first it was slow going but as the wheels dug in and gained traction the Star Car sped faster and faster up the hill, with the crowd cheering and following behind. The vehicle strained over the final ledge and lurched to a stop right next to the cross, followed by the many exuberant spectators.

This was purportedly the first automobile to ever ascend to the very top of Mount McGroarty. Just months after this feat, Verdugo Crestline Drive was muscled through the hillsides and approached the cross from the west at a significantly lower grade, making it easily accessible by autos. This is now the way guests are delivered to the cross on Easter morning and the steep section conquered a century ago is only used to descend from the peak. Just keep your foot on the brakes!

There were games that were played, music that was made and dancing – so much dancing took place over the years at the Garden of the Moon. It continued as a place of joy until Dec. 7, 1941 when it closed for good. With the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the United States’ entry into the war, people apparently weren’t in the mood to dance – for a time.

A play about the life of nature builder George Harris will be presented at Bolton Hall Museum on Oct. 11 at 1 p.m.