150-Story Building at Lemon and Bancroft? Prophecy for 1962 Fell Short

On Wednesday, the city of La Mesa turns 99. In a year’s time, our official centennial will commence.  Plans are under way to make 2012 a year of celebration for our city, its heritage and the community’s future.

Over the past century, other anniversaries have been taken seriously as well. Such traditions inspire today’s Centennial Volunteer Committee and subcommittees as they plan events.

In 1937, 1962 and 1987,  great efforts were made in celebrating our silver, golden and diamond jubilees. Here’s a look at the first.

25th Anniversary Silver Jubilee Celebration

This featured events Feb. 16-21, 1937.  La Mesa Scout editor Raynor DeBurn explained the importance and meaning of the Silver Jubilee in the Feb. 19 issue:

This week has been set aside as an occasion to honor the farsighted citizens of a quarter century ago and to pay tribute to those who have contributed to the growth, prosperity and well-being of the community during the intervening years.

On Tuesday, Feb. 16, the actual anniversary date of the city’s incorporation, the City Council had a special session at the La Mesa Grammar School auditorium—the largest meeting space in the city of 3,500 residents. 

The 1937 council, led by Mayor Ben Polak, re-enacted the business of the original 1912 Board of Trustees meeting (they became the City Council in 1927), reading the minutes and symbolically “voting” to establish the city’s initial ordinances and departments.  Council members wore 1910s attire, including high silk or derby hats. 

Polak then called the roll of the initial Board of Trustees—with only original City Clerk Edward Upp still living. He was in attendance (and was secretary of the Chamber of Commerce in 1937).  Then Polak read the City Trustees/Council “roll call” of previous members, and opened the floor to the former trustees, councilmen or city officers in attendance.  Each gave a short reminiscence of La Mesa during their terms of service.

Then the current council members made forecasts of what La Mesa would be like in 25 years at its 50th anniversary in 1962. Visions included a doubled population, larger and more successful businesses and a financially solid city (remember that the Great Depression still held sway in early 1937).

But the highlight of the evening was when the children of the council and city officials acted out a mock “Burlesque of a Council Meeting” for the future city of 1962. Jim Polak, son of the mayor, presided over the “junior” council, who took on the roll of their adult counterparts and presented short reports of what they thought would be the council and city issues of the future.  

Highlights of their futuristic imaginings for La Mesa of 1962 included a permit request for a 150-story building at the corner of Lemon and Bancroft, a new city dump since the original north city site would have been filled, and discussion of a triple-deck elevated roadway on Lookout Avenue (today’s La Mesa Boulevard) to accommodate modern traffic flows.

The next three evenings featured various events celebrating early residents and civic organizations.  Wednesday night featured celebrations at the three oldest churches in town—the Congregational, Methodist Episcopal and Baptist churches. 

On Friday the 19th, the Women’s Club—the oldest service club in town—sponsored a series of free events for “Old Timer” La Mesans including an afternoon parade on Lookout Avenue and an evening reception featuring a performance from noted singer/lyricist and longtime Grossmont Colony resident Carrie Jacobs Bond. 

The La Mesa Scout reported that an impressive 312 of the estimated 700 residents of 1912 La Mesa attended. 

On Saturday, the city held a public celebration open to all current residents and county visitors.  The all-day celebration included a special filming of the gathering (quite a treat for locals in 1937—and unfortunately no known copy exists), guided open-air “tally-ho” bus tours led by former residents and business leaders, a series of speeches from local and regional VIPs, a parade, stunt-driving exhibition, open-air barbecue and evening entertainment.

The La Mesa Scout reported that more than 5,000 attended the festivities.  Photos showed that the downtown was decorated with banners, bunting, flags, plants and greenery.  The San Diego and Cuyamaca Eastern Railroad sent an old 1912 gas-powered motor coach similar to ones that had served La Mesa until passenger service was abandoned in 1928. The railcar was set up next to the depot and featured an exhibit of historic La Mesa photographs.

The Scout noted the efforts of all who volunteered to make the week and day possible, especially general event chairman D. Frank Park. 

Great thanks were made to Rube Levy leader of the “barbecue crew” who worked all day Friday and Saturday to prepare the “supper” served from the open-air pits in the back of the old American Legion Hall.  Highlights included the 1 p.m. filming of the town, including an open microphone for “old-timers” to regale their stories of old La Mesa to the crowd.

Then at 2 p.m. “daredevil driver” Billy Russell drove through downtown while blindfolded—with miraculously no reported damage.  The local La Mesa Grammar School and Grossmont High bands performed during the afternoon with speeches from Mayor Polak and other local dignitaries such as then state Sen. Ed Fletcher. 

After the 4 p.m. parade,  “supper” was then served till 7 p.m. when the local vaudeville show started in the grammar school auditorium, followed at 9 p.m. by the Old Time Dance at the American Legion Hall.

One of the more interesting programs was the La Mesa Scout’s Old Timers Contest.  The paper offered prizes for the oldest living and native residents of the city.  Winners included the oldest living La Mesan (93-year-old Matilda Denny); the oldest married couple—combined ages (Mr. and Mrs. Luther Anthony, 168 years); the longest continuous resident (Ted Oliver, who arrived in 1893); couple married earliest in La Mesa (Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hinck, 1895); and the oldest native-born La Mesan (Luther Gordon, 1895).

As celebrations ended, the San Diego Chamber of Commerce arrived with a special gift—a “silver embossed gavel” to be used at council meetings in honor of its Silver Jubilee. The San Diego chamber’s actions were recognition of La Mesa’s legitimacy among its neighbors and the region.  

For a small city hoping to attract activity and commerce—and pull La Mesa out of the Great Depression—the Silver Jubilee Week of 1937 showed the civic exuberance that would continue to characterize the city’s pride in its heritage, and hope for its future success.

The Scout editorialized on the week’s events in the Feb. 26 edition:

History already has engulfed the Silver Jubilee. Memories of a great and pleasant time still linger.  The city founders and the old-timers who had a hand in building La Mesa have been honored, and in a manner and spirit that does them credit.

Twenty-five years later, the city’s Golden Anniversary would feature an even larger and longer set of celebratory events and activities—but that’s a story for  another time.

How to Learn About the Centennial and Play a Part

For more information on the city’s centennial celebration plans for 2012—including how to become an official sponsor, make a donation or have a Centennial Committee member make a presentation to your group or organization on how to get involved—visit the city of La Mesa’s website at cityoflamesa.com/centennial; e-mail  LaMesa100@ci.la-mesa.com or call 619-667-1300.

The La Mesa Historical Society, meanwhile, is looking for historical photos and memorabilia for its archives, along with candidates and volunteers for oral history interviews.  The society is also interested in providing assistance in organizing your La Mesa organization’s archival collections. 

For more information on these centennial-inspired efforts, contact the society at lamesahistoricalsociety.com, e-mail information@lamesahistoricalsociety.com or call 619-466-0197.