Let it snow
About every 10 or 20 years, the Inland Valley is greeted with a snow storm. This early 20th century photo shows San Antonio Heights blanketed with snow.
Courtesy of the Model Colony Room at Ontario City Library
One of the perks about living in Rancho is the mountain views, which are especially beautiful when it snows. But what if it snowed down here?
In 1949, it did just that. The entire area was blanketed with snow, which fascinated residents who weren't used to seasons changing.
Catherine Bridge, who managed a citrus farm on Banyan and Carnelian with her husband, remembers it well.
"It was an amazing sight," she said. "You can stand on Banyan Street and see white all the way up."
Bridge recently shared her memories with Library Director Robert Karatsu, who is recording digital oral histories for the library. I tagged along because I was nosy.
The library recently received a two-part grant to record stories about Rancho Cucamonga. The 12 recordings that are already complete can be found here.
Courtesy of the Model Colony Room at Ontario City Library
One of the perks about living in Rancho is the mountain views, which are especially beautiful when it snows. But what if it snowed down here?
In 1949, it did just that. The entire area was blanketed with snow, which fascinated residents who weren't used to seasons changing.
Catherine Bridge, who managed a citrus farm on Banyan and Carnelian with her husband, remembers it well.
"It was an amazing sight," she said. "You can stand on Banyan Street and see white all the way up."
Bridge recently shared her memories with Library Director Robert Karatsu, who is recording digital oral histories for the library. I tagged along because I was nosy.
The library recently received a two-part grant to record stories about Rancho Cucamonga. The 12 recordings that are already complete can be found here.
Snow paid many visits to the Inland Valley throughout the years but the 1949 storm was probably the largest. According to a 2003 history column by Daily Bulletin's Joe Blackstock, the phones at the Ontario Daily Report on that January day were ringing off the hook because youngsters wanted photographers to take pictures of their snowmen.
At Pasadena Junior College, a huge snowball fight broke out and the police were called. But the officers had to retreat because when they showed up they were pummeled.
Bonita district schools closed for three days because many of the students were needed to protect the nearby orchards from freezing temperatures.
The snow was beautiful but it wasn't so great for the farmers, Bridge recalled.
When it got that cold, their lives were at the mercy of the thermometer. Every night at 7 p.m., they would sit around and listen to the frost forecast. Bridge remembered one Christmas party that ended abruptly when it got down to 32 degrees.
"All the men would run out and leave," she said. "And I would stuff the stockings alone."
Young men in the neighborhood helped farmers fire up the smudge pots. The perks of working in such cold conditions -- unlimited doughnuts and hot chocolate.
At Pasadena Junior College, a huge snowball fight broke out and the police were called. But the officers had to retreat because when they showed up they were pummeled.
Bonita district schools closed for three days because many of the students were needed to protect the nearby orchards from freezing temperatures.
The snow was beautiful but it wasn't so great for the farmers, Bridge recalled.
When it got that cold, their lives were at the mercy of the thermometer. Every night at 7 p.m., they would sit around and listen to the frost forecast. Bridge remembered one Christmas party that ended abruptly when it got down to 32 degrees.
"All the men would run out and leave," she said. "And I would stuff the stockings alone."
Young men in the neighborhood helped farmers fire up the smudge pots. The perks of working in such cold conditions -- unlimited doughnuts and hot chocolate.
Here is photo of Mrs. Bridge and her husband Art in the snow. The photo is from 1949.
One picture is worth a thousand words!