City of Glendale, CA
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PLEASE NOTE: The audio files for our Oral History Collection are currently unavailable. We are working on a solution and hope to have it fixed in the near future.
In 1952, the Glendale Odd Fellows Lodge partnered with the Glendale Historical Society to begin installing historical markers around Glendale at important sites in Glendale's history. The first such site to be recognized was the residence of Glendale pioneer John Calvin Sherer. The book Glendale Area History, written by E. Caswell Perry and Carroll Parcher, describes him as follows:
Mr. John Sherer died in 1949 at the age of ninety-six. He was one of the motivating influences in the building of Glendale. He was the city's first treasurer and served as city clerk from 1914-1921. He was the first cashier of Glendale's first bank and published the Glendale News, later to become the Glendale News-Press, from 1907-1913. He wrote a history of Glendale [History of Glendale and Vicinity], published in 1924.
The audio tracks in this series are in two parts: the first track features the announcement of the Historical Society-Odd Fellows partnership at a Glendale Historical Society meeting. The final three tracks comprise the dedication ceremony outside the Sherer residence, known as Somerset Farm, in the southeast area of Glendale. The ceremony features representatives from the Glendale Historical Society, Glendale Oddfellows Lodge and city officials, including current mayor Paul Burkhard, and state assemblyman H. Allen Smith.
Glendale Historical Society Meeting, March 26, 1952 |
|
Participant | Function |
Harry James, Glendale Historical Society Director | Introduction |
Legory H. O'Loughlin, President, Glendale Historical Society | Master of Ceremonies |
Arthur Tibert, Odd Fellows Historical Marker Committee chairman Glendale Odd Fellows | Introductory remarks |
Richard Baldwin, Odd Fellows Historical Marker Committee member | Speaker |
Raymond Wells, Odd Fellows Historical Marker Committee member | Speaker |
Louis G. Scovern, Jr., Glendale Historical Society Member | Speaker |
Happy Holway, Glendale Historical Society Historical Marker Committee chairman | Speaker |
Norton Stewart (representing youth of Glendale) | Speaker |
COMPLETE PROGRAM
Historical Marker Dedication Ceremony, May 4, 1952 |
|
Participant | Function |
Reverend Ira Ketcham | Invocation |
Arthur C. Tibert | Master of Ceremonies |
Legory H. O'Loughlin, President, Glendale Historical Society Glendale Historical Society | Introductory remarks |
Thomas Cole, Glendale Odd Fellows, Noble Grand Glendale Odd Fellows | Introductory remarks |
Carroll Parcher | Speaker |
John Butler, Accordion | Solo "When Day Is Done" |
Councilman (and former mayor) George Wickham | Speaker |
Councilman John Lawson | Speaker |
State Assemblyman H. Allen Smith | Speaker |
Henry Hollenbeck | Speaker |
Harry James, Glendale Historical Society Director | Presentation of historical marker |
Mayor Paul Burkhard | Acceptance of marker on behalf of the City of Glendale |
Joseph A. Mellen (Glendale Planning Dept.) | Speaker |
Mrs. John Calvin Sherer | Acceptance of marker on behalf of John C. Sherer |
Harry James | Closing remarks and blessing |