Community Corner

1966: El Cajon Youth Drowns In Hansen's Pond

This story and more as we look at what was happening in your neighborhood this week in 1966.

According to the Spring Valley Bulletin, here's what was making news this week, back in 1966:

 

– A 14-year-old boy from El Cajon drown in Isham's Stream, also known as Hansen's Pond. James Loftis, was playing on a makeshift raft made of logs and boards with his older brother John, and eight other young boys. The combined weight of the boys caused the raft to sink. James and John both jumped off the raft, and began to swim to shore. But James started to go under, and John was unable to drag him to shore.

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Efforts to revive James by lifeguards and the Spring Valley Fire Department were unsuccessful.  James was a 9th grader at Greenfield Junior High. Authorities believe it was the third drowning at the body pond in 3 years. The owner of the pond, which feeds into Sweetwater Lake, had posted Keep Out signs, and was seeking to have citations served for trespassers before the incident.

The Hansen's Pond is a unique part of Spring Valley History, as at the turn of the century, its waters were believed to have healthful properties. The water was bottled and sent to Europe.

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– Alice Graham of Spring Valley was seeking damages in the amount of $20,000 from Food Giant, Inc. supermarket after allegedly being struck by a flying can of tuna. She filed a suit against the supermarket, claiming that a dolly that was packed too full with tuna cans was negligently brought into a customer area by a stock boy. She was injured when one of the cans "flew through the air and struck the plantiff" in the leg, according to the suit. Graham has been unable to work as a food demonstator since the accident.

 

– Lee Robison, a driver from Spring Valley, set a new track record in the "Modified Sportsment" division at the Cajon Speedway. Robison finished the new 15-lap semi-main a full 14 seconds ahead of the previous record. The main event winner was Bobby Hogle of Buena Park.

 


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