Former Arcadian and Rock Artist Coming Home

Pat Robinson, whose local Arcadia band Fenwyck launched a successful career in recording and performing all over the United States and abroad, will be my guest speaker at the Arcadia Historical Society's Brown Bag lunch talk beginning at 12:00 noon, Thursday, October 15 at the Ruth and Charles Gilb museum in Arcadia.

I will have more information and background in another post, please stay tuned.

Gene Glasco-Realtor
Century 21 Ludecke, Inc.
Arcadia CA 91006

We Loved Horses Didn't We

The Bridle Path: Arcadia in the 50s and 60s

By Gene Glasco-REALTOR e-PRO- Century 21 Ludecke, Inc.

My family and I became residents of Arcadia in 1954. With the exception of overseas military service in the sixties, and college (Northern California) in the seventies, Arcadia has been "home" for last fifty-three years. Arcadia, not unlike many other small towns within the San Gabriel Valley was somewhat obscure back in the 50s, 60s. Acquaintances that lived in Los Angeles twenty miles away from our pastoral paradise had no idea where Arcadia was situated. I remember mixed emotions when people would ask me, "where is Arcadia"? Embarrassment, because I didnt want them thinking I lived in some rural backwater settlement, and elation that they might never come to disturb my isolated bucolic bliss. Today, most Arcadians connect horses to the Santa Anita Race Track. But back in the 50's and early 60's, horseback riding citizens were seen trotting up and down Santa Anita Avenue commonly referred to as "Double Drive". Before todays grass and pretty trees, the dirt and eucalyptus tree legacies of Elias "Lucky" Baldwin, Arcadias first mayor, lined the center median. On this well traveled trail equestrians were seen galloping their trusty steeds, dust clouds behind them, up Elkins to the north in the "Highlands" and down past the park and golf course to the south. The commercial horse stables and riding corral were located next to a small bowling alley on Morlan Place, just north of Huntington Drive and diagonally across from the back entrance of the Elk's lodge. Those of us who didn't own horses could "rent" a fully saddled riding horse out on an hourly/daily basis. (About $2.50 an hour). We would walk or (depending on the horse's temperament) trot one block over to Santa Anita. Motorists gave courteous right of way to our horse back riding citizens, stopping at intersections to allow our equisterian street crossings.
About a year ago or so I was interviewed by some Arcadia High School History class members whose assignment was to find out what it was like growing up in Arcadia in the sixties. They were incredulous--if not envious--in learning about the horse and riding stables we had, and the opportunity to tell it to them brought back some very fond memories of growing up in a town with a sense of community that prevails today. Gene Glasco is a local REALTOR and e-PRO with CENTURY 21 Ludecke Inc. and can be reached at: 626.456.4366 or Gene@Geneglasco.com.

Gene Moves To Arcadia

My Mom and Dad moved to Arcadia in 1954! Before they selected our house in the Highlands, we temporarily stayed with some friends of theirs in the "Rancho" area of Arcadia. I remember thinking that their house on Volante was so large and beautiful. They even had a little house in the back yard where we stayed. I now know that this was their guest house. I loved the Rancho area, with its quiet tranquility and silence punctuated with ocassional exotic peacock calls. I loved watching "Ramar of the Jungle" an adventure television series, all the more exciting knowing that portions of it were filmed in the famous Arcadia Arboretum with For a short while, I attended highly acclaimedHugo Reid elementary school. I remember waiting on the corner of our host's property waiting for the yellow school bus to pick me up and transport me a few blocks away to the school. The neighborhood and surrounding environ was safe for kids back then, and it was commonplace to see kids walking to school unaccompanied by parent or guardian; something unheard of these days. The Rancho district of Arcadia has changed a little since the mid Fifties; the demographics are different, but homes there are still very well kept, and those folks who put up their homes for sale usually have no trouble in attracting good buyers.

Please re-visit my blog, as I will be adding more tidbits of interesting information about the San Gabriel Valley and our local real estate happenings !

The Best Time To Buy Real Estate Is Now

Ordinarily one should never try to time the real-estate market, but there are reasons why buyers have been cautious. Few want to buy in down markets, just as stock buyers avoid bear markets. And for most people, of course, buying a house is a much bigger decision than buying a stock. But with real estate prices nationally now down about 30% from their 2006 peak, and showing signs of turning up, the prices aren’t likely to go much lower. Every real-estate market is local, and so there may be a few exceptions. Overall, though, there could not be a better time to buy than right now.

In addition to bargain prices, buyers should find plenty of homes to choose from. The inventory of unsold homes was 4.09 million units in July, up 7.3% from June, according to the National Association of Realtors. And mortgage rates this week were at a two-month low of close to 5%, according to Zillow. Even the stricter appraisal process is working to the advantage of buyers. Appraisals are coming in far lower than most sellers have been expecting, forcing them to face the new reality of sharply lower prices. And with stricter standards, lenders aren’t going to let buyers borrow more than they can afford, which protects buyers and helps to keep prices down.

Fires Rage In Foothills Above Us

Recent fires in the Angeles National Forest have destroyed homes and wildlife in its path, and has devastated thousands of acres in the mountains surrounding the Los Angeles basin. In addition to the regrettable human tragedies, pets and domestic animals have been displaced and disoriented in the calamity Yesterday, at our Arcadia Chamber of Commerce Ambassador's meeting, we took up a collection to buy feed for many dogs and cats that have been brought to the Pasadena Humane Society.

To make matters worse, newscasters today reported that Southern California has not yet (officially) entered the "Fire Season" and the accompanying Santa Ana winds prevalent during the September/October months.

If only we could get some rain from the hurricane stirring in Baja California!

Gene Glasco
Century 21 Ludecke, Inc.