Larson Lemon Lodge
Moved into July 1962
Originally 7733 Easley Canyon Rd, in unincorporated LA County. Changed to 833 Easley Canyon Rd when became part of the incorporated City of Glendora, late 1970's.
Purchased 1 acre (from Chans?) for $16,000?
Built for $80,000
Dedicated around 1970 when paid off.
Protected from floods, fires, earthquakes:
1968 Summer fires - one of the fires started at the Northeast corner of Palm Dr. and Easley Canyon Rd. behind the large white house that was there (until around 1980). They were plowing the field of the weeds, to comply with the fire prevention measures recommended. The plow struck a rock, sparking and catching the weeds on fire. The fire quickly spread up the hill, burning all the brush along the entire mountain just north of Glendora; similar to the fire of 2014.
As winter approached, there was some concern about possible mudslides. Because of the fires, the brush/watershed had been burned away and rain water coming down the mountain would quickly become mudslides. Dad consulted with the neighbor who, as an engineer, had been involved in the design and construction of the catch basin/dam at the north end of the street in 1960. He reported, that unless there was a seriously heavy rain, it would be able to hold back any mudslides. Because of that conversation, a day was spent with the employees from Price Books and Forms, Inc. filling sandbags along the front of the property, from the top/north end, closing off the driveway on the north, and extending to the south/bottom end, with only a small opening at the south driveway entrance.
Jan 1969
On a morning in late January, Brian and others left to go to early-morning Seminary. They were not able to return home when Seminary was over. In the time they were gone, the rains that were the heaviest in 100 years, had caused the mountain to become a large mud slide. Mud flowed down the mountain, quickly filled and overflowed the dam and continued on down the canyon.
The sand bags were pretty much all washed away, but it deflected the major flow from doing anything to the house, other than a trail through the ivy. The Parsons had most of their front yard mudded over, creating the circular driveway they paved later. Ferrell's pool was filled with mud. I spent most of the day digging out Pash's yard, the older white house across the street.
Bishop Porter (on Via Estrella) had a basement full of mud which was dug out by the ward over the course of time.
We evacuated to the office one night when more heavier rain came. We had cut thru the fence (later made into a gate) and left a car parked at Moehle's (where Dard later built) and were able to get over there. Dad and Brian came back to the house to watch/guard for looters. We had people trying to enter the house while we were still there at times.
Had been part of a lemon grove, nearly 50+ trees when we moved in.
We would pick lemons for friends
Finally told anyone who wanted to come on up and help yourselves.
Had the Boy Scouts pick a number of times and sell the lemons to the packing house for a fundraiser.
As of 2020, about five of the original trees still exist
We each had our own tree that we would climb, even making tree houses in some.
Anytime you wanted a lemon, or lemonade, you'd just go out and pick one.
Dad always went out and got a big lemon before going to his favorite restaurant so that he had enough lemon for his fish.
Brian once addressed a package to the house, while he was on his mission, to the Larson Lemon Lodge. Mom really liked that, so it stuck.
She made a family tree with branches and lemons.
The family newsletter in the 80's was the Lemon Branches.
I still really like lemon on veggies and fish.
