658 HISTORY OF PASADENA. 



carrying the mail from Los Angeles to the South Pasadena and Pasadena 

 oflfices, and he now arranged to bring it up on the railroad instead of by 

 horse vehicle as before. And this change made the special occasion for mov- 

 ing the South Pasadena postoffice down from Columbia Hill to a building 

 near the railroad station. But the railroad company itself does not appear of 

 record as a mail contractor until March 15, 1886, the previous arrangement 

 having been all in Mr. Vore's name until his contract expired. 



In March, 1886, a telegraph office was first opened in South Pasadena, 

 with Mrs. May McReynolds as operator — a position which she still holds, 

 and also that of station agent in 1895. 



In 1886-87 the South Pasadena hotel was built by George Lightfoot. 



In 1887, while the "boom" was still flush, D. M. Graham and Dr. J. 

 H. Mohr let the contract for their great brick structure known as Opera 

 House block, which was not completed until well on into 1888, when the 

 boom's green leaves had begun to wilt and look very sick. 



In 1889 two invalid school teachers from New England came here 

 for their health, and started a little business enterprise called "Women's 

 Preserving Union." With a common cookstove and washboiler they pre- 

 prepared pure fruit jellies, marmalades, etc., and put it up so nicely that it 

 won favor, became quite a success, and for several years gave South 

 Pasadena some fame abroad. They had to enlarge their facilities and em- 

 ploy some help, as their trade increased. But in 1891 Miss Thompson died, 

 and Miss Ames sold the works to a Mrs. Woodruff and daughter who con- 

 tinued the business a few months, then gave it up; and the enterprise has 

 never been revived. 



Gas Engine Works. — In February, 1894, a business was commenced 

 by Robert S. Futhey and E. C. Steele, which developed into an establish- 

 ment for the manufacture of the Atlas Gas Engine, adapted to run by gas, 

 gasoline, or distillate from crude oil, and to furnish power for well pumps, 

 or for any other purpose of a stationary engine. The capital is about $1,200, 

 comprising buildings, tools, machinery, stock, etc. Employes, three. A 

 general blacksmith shop, pipe fitting, machine repairing, etc., is combined 

 with the engine factory. 



Beer Garden. — In 1886 a man named Reinert bought a 2 1-5 acre lot 

 at junction of Sylvan Drive and Mission street and erected a building on it 

 for his family residence and a saloon. He also built an arbor, laid out 

 grounds, planted shrubbery, etc., for a regular Sunday beer garden business. 

 But this offensive establishment was driven out in 1888, after incorpora- 

 tion was obtained and the prohibitory ordinance put in force. Then in 

 August, 1893, Miss Olive Cleveland bought this ex-beer-garden property and 

 converted it into an orpanage or children's home— a place to save homeless 

 boys instead of to destroy them. [For more particulars about this "home," 

 see page 522.] 



