Balboa Park History 1918
January, 1918, Art and Archaeology, Vol. 7: 8-9. “An opening of the new museum,” by Dr. Edgar Lee Hewett.
January, 1918, Art and Archaeology, Vol. 7: 50-52. “An opening of the art galleries,” by Dr. Edgar Lee Hewett.
(Note: Page numbers of annual January 1st edition may be confused because of the number of different sections.)
January 1, 1918, San Diego Union, Supplemental Sections, ?. 21st Infantry known as “San Diego’s Own”; famous regiment regards this city as its home; General O’Neil’s former regiment is fighting unit; one of oldest organizations in Army; has supplied many officers.
January 1, 1918, San Diego Union, Supplemental Sections, ?, Y. W. C. A hostess house popular with soldier boys, by Alice M. Brookman.
January 1, 1918, San Diego Union, Supplemental Sections, ?, San Diego women dedicate music to military band; “Our Pledge” composed by Mrs. Rae Copley Raum and Mrs. Corinne B. Eaton.
January 1, 1918, San Diego Union, Supplemental Section, 2:1-3. Friendship Fiesta, pageant of freedom, spectacular events.
January 1 ,1918, San Diego Union, Supplemental Section, 2:3. San Diego Museum succeeds Exposition as cultural center.
January 1, 1918, San Diego Union, Supplemental Section, 2:4-5. San Diego Proud of Great Record Made by “Exposition Beautiful.”
January 1, 1918, San Diego Union, Supplemental Sections, Industries, 2:4-8. League of the Southwest organized; Exposition brought city world-wide fame; Museum succeeds as cultural center; San Diego proud of record made by “Exposition Beautiful.”
January 1, 1918, San Diego Union, Supplemental Sections, 2:6-7. Advertising Club has active part in city’s growth; prominent visitors to San Diego entertained by organization of “live wire” men, by G. Howard Robinson.
January 1, 1918, San Diego Union, Supplemental Sections, 3:1-8. 2,000 bluejackets from western states study in great park.
In time of peace prepare for war.
That’s what San Diego did when she constructed the handsome buildings for the 1915-16 Exposition at Balboa Park.
During the two years that the arts and crafts of the world were on the peaceful display at the Exposition, few entertained or had the remotest idea that the buildings where these exhibits were housed would be converted within a few short months into a great naval training station. The unexpected happened, however.
Today the Exposition grounds, exquisitely beautiful as ever, are the home of more than two thousand bluejackets gathered from all sections of the west and middle west. These boys — for the majority are still in their teens — are training to fill responsible billets with the high seas fleet or with the naval air service.
San Diego is fundamentally a great military and naval city. Every phase of governmental activities connected with the army and navy is to be found here. The officer, the bluejacket, the soldier and the marine are as closely identified with the civic affairs of the municipality as is the civilian resident. And Uncle Sam is expending millions of dollars in furnishing these military and naval representatives with homes of which they may well be proud.
Aside from Camp Kearny the three chief governmental installations at San Diego are the army and navy flying academy at Rockwell field, North Island, the $4,000,000 marine base on Dutch Flats, and the naval training station at Balboa Park. All are or will be extremely picturesque and beautiful. They could not be anything else in this, the garden spot of the world.
The bluejackets at Balboa Park eat the daily meals under the canopy of a matchless blue sky, the dining tables paralleling one of the most beautiful flower gardens to be found in Southern California. Each afternoon the lads are treated to an organ recital on the largest outdoor organ in the United States. The parade grounds is of concrete, banked by shrubbery and flora. Therefore, it is no wonder that the San Diego naval training station, since its inception, July, 1917, has turned out more healthy, qualified seamen according to its pro rate of satisfied personnel than any other training station in the country.
Buildings Put to Use
It is interesting to note to what uses the former Exposition buildings were utilized by the navy. The Cristobal café, the scene of many a brilliant banquet during the Exposition period, was converted into a galley, bakeship and mess hall within twenty days after the government took possession. The government fisheries building at the head of the “Isthmus,” or amusement street, was converted into a wash house and shower bath establishment. The first comers hung their “scrub and wash clothes” on nearby rose bushes. Now the bushes are left to the roses while the clothes hand out to dry on regular clothes lies. It is more efficient and neater even though less picturesque.
The Varied Industries and Canadian buildings were converted into barracks, stanchions being placed so that the bluejackets could wing their hammocks in regular seagoing style. The sides of the building were lined with big racks. The naval administration building formerly housed the exhibits of Southern California.
Study for Naval Air Service
The ground school of the naval air service is located in the San Joaquin Valley Building. Here hundreds of bluejackets are being taught the fundamentals of naval aviation from the assembling and operation of high speed aeronautical engines t the maintenance and handling of huge coast patrol dirigibles or “blimps.”
The bluejackets attached t the naval training station proper are being instructed in every phase of naval life. Owing to war conditions they are not sent to sea on training cruises, but, after leaving Balboa Park, are sent directly to ships and shore stations for active duty. Due to the splendid physical training received, however, the lads quickly attain their sea legs once they are added t the ship’s company of one of Uncle Sam’s sea fighters.
Captain William E. Brotherton is in command of the naval training station. Lieut. Earl Spencer, Jr. is in command of the naval air service school.
. . . .
Sharing the popularity of sailors and soldiers, the stalwart marines of the Balboa Park camp enjoy life in this favored clime. Several hundreds of the “soldiers of the sea,” most of them from training stations of the north, are occupying the delightful location of the marine camp on the southern edge of the park and overlooking Cabrillo Canyon, while, on the opposite side, the beautiful gardens of the park present a constant picture of brilliant flowers and foliage.
January 1, 1918, San Diego Union, Supplemental Section, 3:1-8 (?), Nothing like this in San Diego . . . comparison of climatic conditions at military camps on the east coast to conditions in San Diego.
January 1, 1918, San Diego Union, Supplemental Sections, 3:1-3. Artistic development keeps pace with civic growth; famous artists perform in city within past year; music clubs promote study and bring noted musicians to San Diego for concerts, by Gertrude Gilbert.
January 1, 1918, San Diego Union, Supplemental Sections, 3:3. Diva [Schumann-Heink] delights in singing for benefit of service men.
January 1, 1918, San Diego Union, Supplemental Sections, 3:4-8. Out-of-doors organ gives pleasure to thousands, by Dr. Humphrey J. Stewart.
January 1, 1918, San Diego Union, Supplemental Sections, 4:1-4. Playgrounds of city available for servicemen; soldiers and sailors welcomed at parks and athletic fields here, by Frank S. Marsh.
January 1, 1918, San Diego Union, Supplemental Sections, 4:1-4. Naval Training Station occupies splendid location; buildings at San Diego Exposition home of recruits.
January 1, 1918, San Diego Union, Supplemental Sections, 4:5-6. Training camp for officers soon to open.
January 1, 1918, San Diego Union, Supplemental Sections, 4:6. Future seamen find blue water [of San Diego Bay] of deep interest.
January 1, 1918, San Diego Union, Supplemental Sections, 4:7. Towers of wireless [at Chollas Heights) largest in world.
January 1, 1918, San Diego Union, Supplemental Sections, 4:8. Radio plants at San Diego give world connection; aerial messages from capitals of entire glove heard in great stations here.
January 1, 1918, San Diego Union, Supplemental Sections, 5:1. Youthful sailors drill, study in fragrant gardens; “Model Farm” at park is delight of service men.
Sailors, soldiers and marines in training at Balboa Park find especial delight in what was one of the most interesting exhibits during the exposition years of 1915 and 1916. This is the “Model Farm,” showing what can be accomplished on a five-acre tract in the way of diversified horticulture, making it an object lesson, not only to horticulturists in general, but to those contemplating the development of such a proposition.
From the time of its inception until the close of the exposition, December 31, 1916, the exposition commissioners from the eight southern counties of the state, and their efficient superintendent Charles Wilson had charge of the model farm along with their excellent exhibit in the Southern Counties building.
Since the close of the fair, the board of park commissioners has maintained the model farm and gardens as near as possible to the high standard of the exposition period.
Farm Is Interesting
The farm is still one of the most interesting sections of the park for the service men and their visitors, who seen to know all about it, from letters and published literature distributed all over the country. When told that the orchard is but five years old, they marvel at the luxuriance of the growth, which is only possible in Southern California.
It is interesting to see such a large selection of flowers, fruits and vegetables growing on a small farm, and the variety is very large, viz. navel oranges, Valencia oranges, Mediterranean sweets, grapefruit, tangerines, citrons, Mexican limes, sweet limes, kumquats and lemons in the citrus orchard, and peaches, apricots, almonds, plums, prunes, pears, apples, persimmons, quinces, figs, walnuts and chestnuts in the deciduous orchard.
Varieties Are Many
There are also planned for experimental purposes avocados, cherimoyas and sapote. Berries and small fruits comprise the following varieties: grapes, raspberries, loganberries, blackberries, dewberries, guavas, rejoia mellowiana (pineapple guava), and pear guava. Vegetables grown include tomatoes, celery, lettuce, beets, carrots, peas, beans, squash, turnips, parsnips, rhubarb, sugar beets, stock beets, sweet corn, field corn and milo maize.
The ornamental features must not be overlooked. There is a large lawn and a choice collection of shrubs, roses, palms, etc., surrounding the residence which tend to add to the attractiveness of the farm. There is also a complete poultry equipment consisting of modern chicken houses and yards, incubator house and store house.
The model farm, which was an interesting feature during the fair, is, at present, the residence of the superintendent of parks.
January 1, 1918, San Diego Union, Supplemental Sections, 5:1. 1,000 men coming to Aviation School [at Balboa Park and North Island] in San Diego; study of aerial navigation to be followed by recruits from western states.
January 1, 1918, San Diego Union, Supplemental Sections, 5:8. County library cares for needs of service men; branches opened at Camp Kearny and North Island supplies reading matter.
January 1, 1918, San Diego Union, Supplemental Sections, 6:1-2. San Diego sends many men into country’s service; more than 2,600 men join fighting force, by E. L. Switzer.
January 1 ,1918, San Diego Union, Supplemental Sections, 6:3. Defense Council does active work in war measures; food conservation urged; sweaters knitted; bandages, dressings prepared.
January 1, 1918, San Diego Union, Supplemental Sections, 7:1-3. Beautiful parks form attractions for all visitors.
January 1, 1918, San Diego Union, Supplemental Sections, 9:3. New Year’s Day festivities many all over city; “Open House” held by society leaders; Mrs. U. S. Grant gives luncheon.
January 1, 1918, San Diego Union, Supplemental Sections, 9:6. “Community Sing” at Balboa Park delights throng; Civic Music Committee expresses gratification at interest shown.
January 2, 1918, Correspondence, John Morley, San Diego Public Library. . . . Letter, C. W. Spencer, Jr., U. S. N., requesting use of Fair Station by Naval Air Station, Balboa Park.
January 2, 1918, San Diego Union, 1:3-7, 12:1-5. Navy beats Army at football; sailors humble Utahans, old rivals, before great crowd; 24 to 13 clash is played for benefit of Red Cross; patriotic scenes prevail as 15,000 spectators see championship decided, by Lewis H. Falk.
January 3, 1918, San Diego Union, 1:3-6, 5:2-3. One hundred and twenty-seven boys, future aircraft pilots, march from recruiting station at 8th and Broadway to school at Balboa Park.
January 3, 1918, San Diego Union, 1:6, 5:6. New drive to begin; $10,000 wanted here to provide healthful amusements of U. S. fighting men.
January 3, 1918, San Diego Union, 5:1. G. A. Davidson, speaker, explains purpose of thrift stamp campaign to Ad Club members.
January 4, 1918, Minutes of the Board of Park Commissioners.
The Executive Secretary was directed to get together all the facts and records concerning existing accounts between the Park Department and the Panama-California International Company and to turn same over to the City Attorney with request that he take necessary steps to secure an accounting.
January 4, 1918, San Diego Sun, 1:8. Park Board demands money of Red Cross; 15 percent of rodeo demanded; intended to save our wounded soldiers.
January 4, 1918, San Diego Sun, 9:1-2. Rodeo opens today at Stadium; noon parade attracts much notice.
January 4, 1918, San Diego Union, 6:3 and January 8, 1918, San Diego Union, 8:3. Naval air service ground school to be expanded; will include exy-acetylene plant, coppersmith shop and carpentry establishment.
January 9, 1918, San Diego Sun, 8:4-5. Camp Kearny versus Balboa Park again Saturday; on baseball diamond.
January 10, 1918, Letter, Louis H. Bailey, 1st Lieut., Signal Corps, Asst. to A. Q. M., Office of the Quartermaster, Camp Walter R. Taliaferro, to Board of Park Commissioners, City of San Diego (San Diego Public Library).
Subject: Gate in Indian Village Wall
I request that we be allowed to place a gate in the Indian Village wall on the south center side so
that we can have the doctors pass from their tents to the Hospital without losing any time.
Yours respectfully.
January 11, 1918, Minutes of the Board of Park Commissioners.
Present: Commissioners Ryan, Grant and Cosgrove.
- W. Bell requested that the local Grand Army of the Republic be granted the use of the Organ Pavilion on February 12th for a patriotic celebration. The request was granted by unanimous vote.
A letter from J. B. Pendleton requesting the free use of the Stadium on January 12th be given National War Work Council for benefit game read and request granted by unanimous vote.
Adolf Kramer requested that the Panama Canal auditorium and Streets of Panama Building be leased to him for moving picture studio. After going over the building and hearing Mr. Kramer’s ideas on the subject, the Board advised him to prepare a definite statement of his needs and to make a definite offer for the desired lease.
The following resolution was introduced and adopted:
RESOLUTION CREATING POSITION OF REFRESHMENT
STAND MANAGER
WHEREAS the growth of the refreshment business in Balboa Park has increased so greatly that it no longer is possible for the executive secretary to manage and buy for this business in addition to his regular duties, and
WHEREAS the City Auditor and City Purchasing Agent have approved the suggestion of the executive secretary that the position of general manager be created and Mr. C. H. Arthur appointed to fill same, now therefore
BE IT RESOLVED that the position of general manager of refreshment stands be and hereby is created and that the compensation for and the duties of such position shall be as follows, to wit:
The general manager shall receive Four Dollars per day for each day that he works.
The general manager shall be under the direction and control of the park superintendent at all times
The superintendent shall employ such help as he may deem requisite for the proper conduct of the stands now in operation and such other stands as the Board of Park Commissioners shall subsequently order opened, to which help the civil service commission shall certify, and shall be personally responsible for the conduct of the help so employed and for all merchandise and moneys handled by said help.
The general manager shall act as buyer for all refreshment stands of the Park Department and shall have charge of a general storeroom, issuing to the several stands such merchandise as may be needed from time to time and keeping an accurate record of all merchandise to or used by each stand. He shall at all time work in harmony with the city purchasing department, furnishing such records and requisitions as shall be required by the purchasing department.
The general manager shall read all cash registers at least once daily and shall demand of all stand managers and salesmen that all sales shall be promptly rung on the proper registers in such a manner as to insure an absolute record of each and every sale. He shall collect all cash from each stand at the close of each and every day’s business, and shall turn same in to the cashier of the Park Department, together with a statement from each stand showing register readings and signed y the stand manager and the general manager.
The general manager shall furnish at each regular meeting of the Park Board a statement showing the weekly sales, together with an estimated gross profit and the cost of doing business in each stand for each weekly period. He shall furnish on or before the tenth day of each month a statement showing the following records from each stand:
- Amount of stock on hand at close of preceding month.
- Amount of stock on hand at opening of preceding month.
- Amount of stock issued to each stand during preceding month.
- Cash sales during preceding month.
- Wages and all other expense.
- Actual net profit and actual percentage of profit on gross sale.
It shall be the duty of the general manager to buy where, when and in such quantities as
shall enable him to obtain the best prices, excepting that he shall comply with the provisions of the city ordinance governing purchases, and further excepting that he shall when possible give the preference to San Diego industries.
He shall be responsible in all respects for the sanitary condition of the stands and the merchandise in them, for the conduct of the employees under him, and for a proper accounting of all funds received and all merchandise purchased. In all matters of importance, he shall consult with the park superintendent and in the event of a difference of opinion between the general manager and the park superintendent on any matter of importance, the matter shall be laid before the Board of Park Commissioners for decision.
The general manager shall furnish a good and satisfactory bond in the amount of Two Thousand Dollars for the faithful performance of the duties and responsibilities herein before described.
The executive secretary reported that the Naval Training Station sentries were refusing to allow sailors to trade at No. 3 refreshment stand and was directed to address a courteous letter to the commandant, requesting that sailors be given the same freedom in trading with the Park canteens as they are with the Navy canteen. Executive secretary further instructed to forward to the executive officer a copy of the Navy lease on Exposition grounds in order that he might fully understand the rights of the Naval Training Station and of the Park Department.
Permission was given the Twenty-first Infantry to cut a door in the South wall of the Indian Village under supervision of the Park Superintendent.
By unanimous vote the insurance policies on the Organ Pavilion and Starr piano were approved.
Weekly report of refreshment stands filed and approved.
The superintendent and electrical foreman Harper directed to secure from San Diego Consolidated Gas & Electric Company a form of contract satisfactory to them and to present the same to the Board for approval.
Superintendent presented for approval a bill of $76.90 covering actual expenses incurred by the Park Department in preparing the Stadium for Rodeo and cleaning up afterward. He was instructed to demand payment of the Red Cross Society for this amount.
January 11, 1918, Correspondence, Board of Park Commissioners, San Diego Public Library; Executive Secretary to Capt. W. D. Brotherton, U. S. Naval Training Station: Sentry placed before refreshment stand, opposite detention camp, is refusing to permit men to enter the stand.
January 11, 1918, San Diego Union, 6:4. Park lake for navy swimming lessons planned; Botanical Building reflecting pool to be converted into a swimming pool.
January 12, 1918, Letter, Board of Park Commissioners to Louis H. Bailey, 1st. Lieut. Signal Corps. Assistant to A. Q. M. : Permission granted to place a gate on the south center side of Indian Village.
January 12, 1918, San Diego Union, 5:3-4. Chamber of Commerce reports on activities; Committee expresses opinion that tax assessing and collecting offices should be consolidated.
January 12, 1918, San Diego Union, 9:1. Big influx here due to [Camp Kearny] cantonment shows; 8,000 to 10,000 in San Diego on this account.
January 12, 1918, San Diego Union, 9:2-3. Sweaters are presented to 517 of 21st Infantry; work of patriotic women of service league praised by Colonel Uline, commander.
January 13, 1918, San Diego Union, 4:4. “Abraham and Isaac,” ancient miracle play, to be give in modern way at the navy Y. M. C. A., Balboa Park, tonight.
January 14, 1918, San Diego Union, 6:6. “Abraham and Isaac,” ancient miracle play, presented for Army, Navy, by J. A. D.
January 15, 1918, San Diego Union, 1:2-4 Mayor Wilde scores Chamber for opposing project of Craig plant here; declaring city is “top-heavy with parks and playgrounds,” Wilde asserts protect comes from misstatement of facts; speaks of “jealous self-interest and vacillating boneheads.”
January 16, 1918, Correspondence, Board of Park Commissioners; Executive Secretary to Chief Yeoman Valors, U. S. Naval Training Station: Permission given to U. S. Navy to use baseball diamond at Stadium Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons until further notice; Park Department reserves the right to claim any of the afternoons so granted.
January 16, 1918, Correspondence, John Morley. . . . Letter, E. W. Spencer, Jr., U. S. N., regarding location and construction of sheds south of Organ Pavilion.
January 16, 1918, San Diego Union, 1:6-7, 5:4. Manufacturers back Chamber as to Craig; Melville Klauber, president Chamber of Commerce, states opposition to lease.
January 16, 1918, San Diego Union, 4:2-3. Mayor Wilde scores Chamber of Commerce for opposing project of Craig plant here; declares city is “top-heavy with parks and playgrounds.”
January 16, 1918, San Diego Union, 6:6. Navy men rush work on school [at North Island] for their fliers; ready to begin operations as soon as hangars are erected.
January 16, 1918, San Diego Union, 6:6. San Diego Conservatory of Music gave concert for 4,000 bluejackets last night at outdoor stage in Plaza.
January 16, 1918, San Diego Union, 6:6. Class in the second radio night school at the Naval Training Station in Balboa park were opened last night; more than 100 men joined.
January 17, 1918, Correspondence, John Morley. . . . Letter Morley to Spencer, granting approval to construct sheds; color scheme must conform to that of exposition buildings.
January 18, 1918, San Diego Sun, 9:4. Madame Schumann-Heink heard by thousands at Camp Kearny yesterday.
January 18, 1918, San Diego Union, 8:1-2. Craig withdraws; City will seek conference.
January 19, 1918, Correspondence, John Morley. . . . Letter from Spencer saying it is impractical to undertake further repairs to San Joaquin Building on account of cost.
January 19, 1918, San Diego Sun, 1:5. Recreation problem not solved; thousands of servicemen walk streets here; funds are needed.
January 19, 1918, San Diego Union, 14:1. Daughters of American Revolution urge swimming pool in park.
January 20, 1918, San Diego Union, 1:6-7, 12:3. Major General Frederick S. Strong, commander at Camp Kearny, praises city’s moral condition.
January 20, 1918, San Diego Union, 6:2-7. Army-Navy ball game for hospital benefit planned; big contest next Sunday at Stadium will provide funds for open-air camp, where sick men discharged from service will be cared for.
January 20, 1918, San Diego Union, 5:2-4. Zoological Gardens at Balboa Park contain more than 50 rare animals.
The San Diego Zoological gardens at Balboa Park, reached by cars on Route 7 and 11, containing fifty rare animals, is regarded as one of the most interesting places on the park grounds. This is especially true at mealtime which takes place daily, excepting Monday, between 3:30 and 4:30 in the afternoon.
The war has made it extremely difficult, according to Dr. Harry M. Wegeforth, to obtain animals for exhibition purposes but, in this respect, the local zoological society has been more fortunate than others.
The collection of different species here is not at present equaled on the Pacific coast, and includes:
Two lionesses, three pumas, one buffalo, one sacred cow, one raccoon, two coyotes, on buffalo wolf, one striped hyena, one badger, two Russian wolves, ten monkeys, two baboons, two eagles, two kangaroos, two ferrets, two prairie dogs, eleven snakes, one beaver, one wildcat and three lion cubs.
January 21, 1918, San Diego Union, 7:1-2. Open-air cam carries on fight against tuberculosis; more than 150 patients treated yearly; directors hope to make needed changes with money derived from benefit baseball game to be played at Stadium, January 27.
January 22, 1918, San Diego Union, 4:6. County Federation of Women’s Clubs, Daughters of American Revolution, San Diego Women’s Civic Center, Federated Congress of Mothers, and Parents-Teachers’ Association urge lily pond as pool to teach sailors swimming.
January 22, 1918, San Diego Union, 4:8. Art Notes, by R. R, comments on a green jade figure, does not say where it is kept.
January 23, 1918, San Diego Sun, 8:3. Closing bouts stages at “Y” tent of 21st Infantry in Park.
January 23, 1918, San Diego Union, 6:4-5. Three hundred and fifty mechanicians trained at park naval school; from 40 to 60 skilled ground men graduate weekly.
January 26, 1918, San Diego Union, 4:1. EDITORIAL: Give the Boys A Chance.
Certain advocates of the “city beautiful” idea have protested against the use of the lily pond for swimming purposes. There also has been an argument in favor of a salt water bathhouse at the foot of Date Street. The naval authorities answer that it would require too much time to take the men to the waterfront and back each day. A natorium right on the ground is declared to be far more practical.
San Diego can afford to sacrifice many lily ponds rather than sacrifice the life of even one of the young men who are so soon to take their place on America’s fighting ships.
January 28, 1918, San Diego Union, 1:3, 3:2-3. Will rush aviation buildings; $6,000,000 joint Army and Navy schools will make North Island center of air training activity of government.
January 29 1918. Regimental History 21st Infantry. A Regimental Canteen was established at Camp Walter R. Taliaferro, on January 29 1918.
January 30, 1918, Correspondence, John Morley, Letter from Spencer promising not to run motors in machine shops during organ recitals.
January 30, 1918, Letter, ________ to Lieut. E. S. Spencer, Commanding, U. S. Naval Air Station, San Diego California (San Diego Public Library).
Dear Sir:-
Complaints came to this office yesterday that the noise at the machine shop South of the Organ Pavilion was so loud that the Organ Recital was stopped.
There was also scheduled a vocal concert after the Organ Recital Sunday afternoon which would have had to be postponed had it not been that Mrs. Rowan, the lady in charge of that part of the program, spoke to one of your men in regard to it, and he very kindly has the work stopped so as not to interfere with the vocal concert.
There are organ recitals every afternoon, weather permitting, but if the noise is such that Dr. Stewart is unable to play, it will be very unpleasant for the public.
I hope we did not make a mistake in locating the building, as we want to cooperate in every way possible for the success of the Navy Aviation School. It will be very much appreciated by the public, Dr. Stewart and myself if these conditions can be remedied during recitals and especially on Sundays when the shop should be closed.
Please give this your attention and oblige,
Yours very truly.
January 31, 1918, San Diego Union, 9:1-2. Mayor Wilde applies hot terms to Councilman Moore in wrangle; Moore’s attitude in Hanafin matter starts fireworks; Wilde jumps from rostrum when cowardice is intimated in denying hearing to employee.
February 1, 1918, Minutes of the Park Commission.
Present: Commissioners Ryan, Grant and Cosgrove.
By unanimous vote permission was given the Twenty-first Infantry to occupy the Streets of Panama Building as a hospital.
Report of the executive secretary covering business done in refreshment stands during the year 1917 approved and ordered filed.
Report of Stands Manager Arthur covering business for current week at refreshment stands read and approved.
Permission granted British Vice Consul to have an address delivered by Lieutenant Colonel Earl of Dunmore, England, at Organ Pavilion, on afternoon of February 17th.
By unanimous vote permission given San Diego Museum to occupy entire second floor of Administration Building, excepting built-in vault, for period of one year from date, on condition that the Museum defray all its own bills for lighting, janitor service, etc. and one-half of the cost of heating the building.
The agreement by and between the parties interested in the use of the Stadium, relative to division of dates, was presented and unanimously approved by the Board for the year 1918 and same ordered filed.
Mr. Barnet, Stadium concessionaire, personally requested that he be put in charge of all park concessions, and was directed by the President of the Board to put his proposition in writing in order than the Board might take definite action.
The bond of Stands Manager C. H. Arthur in the sum of $2,000 filed and approved.
The executive secretary requested that an order be issued making it necessary for all requisitions to pass through his hands, in order that, as head of the office department and the person responsible for proper accounting, he might see that requisitions were properly drawn and charged to the proper budget items. The President of the Board stated that, in his opinion, such an order would complicate matters and detract from the simplicity of the system previously devised by the Board. The request was not granted.
Letter of thanks from Major General Strong for plants furnished Camp Kearny read and ordered filed.
Permission was given the Naval Training Camp to construct a small emergency hospital in the rear of the Pepper Grove Surgery on condition that the Naval Training Camp either construct an adequate septic tank or connect with the city sewer system and build a fence sufficient to insure privacy to adjacent comfort station, all of which should be done under the supervision of the Park Superintendent.
February 2, 1918, San Diego Sun, 6:2. D. C. Collier married a New York widow.
February 3, 1918, San Diego Union, 4:5. Mrs. Theodore Barnes, soprano, will sing at Organ Pavilion this afternoon.
February 4, 1918, San Diego Union, 8:1-3. Army baseball team defeats Navy 3 to 0 in 12 fast innings; 10,000 fans cheer wildly as rally by Divisional Nine of Kearny ends great game.
February 5, 1918, San Diego Union, 5:2-4. Union photographer shows between 3,000 and 4,000 apprentice seamen taking their meals in Plaza de Panama at Naval Training Station.
February 6, 1918, Letter, Edgar L. Hewett, Director, The San Diego Museum, Balboa Park, San Diego, California, to Board of Park Commissioners, San Diego, California.
Gentlemen:
I enclose herewith an inventory of furniture, fixtures and equipment in the Administration building and Museum buildings, the greater part of which has been for sometime past used by the San Diego Museum Association, and all of which would be permanently useful in the Museum.
As you are aware, the collections and equipment assembled by the Ethnological Division of the Exposition, costing over $113,000.00 were deeded by the Exposition Company to the San Diego Museum Association on condition that said material be used for the establishment of a free public museum on Balboa Park, and forever maintained as such by the Museum Association. This deed covered several thousand dollars’ worth of furniture, fixtures and equipment purchase on the budget of the Ethnological Division, but never segregated in separate inventories from all other Exposition furniture, fixtures and equipment.
Subsequently the Exposition Company transferred to the Board of Park Commissioners all its furniture and fixtures invoiced at something over $18,000.00. This included furniture, fixtures and equipment above referred to as conveyed by blanket deed to the Museum Association. Since there would be no possible way of identifying which belonged to the Museum Association; and since the Museum is one of the permanent attractions of the park, though maintained without expense to the city, I beg leave to recommend that, if the Park Board has selected what is needed for its use, the remainder covered by the inventory hereto attached, be formally transferred to the possession of the Museum with the understanding that it shall be retained in the buildings used by the Museum on Balboa park.
In order to get the matter before your Board, I attach hereto a tentative resolution which may afford a basis for appropriate action.
Very sincerely yours.
(Signed) Edgar L. Hewett,
Director.
February 7, 1918, San Diego Union, 9:1-3. Mayor Wilde and Council unable to agree on vital matters affecting city’s interests; chief executive agrees to appoint efficiency expert selected by City Planning Commission; lawmakers pass resolution exonerating foreman of Sewer Department whom Mayor has discharged.
Just before adjourning the meeting, the mayor said: “If there is anything I have said that I’m sorry for, I’m glad of it.”
February 7, 1918, San Diego Union, 9:4. “Sunshine” 40th Division’s new name.
February 7, 1918. San Diego Union, 9:5. Y. M. C. A. facilities in the old Sacramento Building have proved inadequate to accommodate sailors stationed in park; a part of Science of Man Building has been utilized through the courtesy of Dr. Edgar L. Hewett, museum director.
February 8, 1918, San Diego Union, 4:1. EDITORIAL: Use For Out Lily Pond (microfilm in California Room, San Diego Public Library does not contain entire editorial; however The Union still wants lily pond converted into a swimming pool.)
February 8, 1918, San Diego Union, 14:1. February chosen as drive month of war savings.
February 9, 1918, San Diego Union, 5:2-3. Sailors to have lily pod for swimming instruction; Park Board agreed yesterday afternoon by unanimous vote of members present; opposition failed to develop; pool between buildings 7 and 10 about 4-1/2 feet deep; to be used for instruction purposes; Naval Training Station to pay for work.
February 12, 1918, San Diego Sun, 9:3-4. Abraham Lincoln honored at Organ Pavilion.
February 13, 1918, San Diego Union, 5:1-3. Memory of Abraham Lincoln is honored by thousands in exercise held at Organ Pavilion; Reverend F. A. Ferris, First Methodist Episcopal Church and C. A. McGee, San Diego attorney, speak.
February 13, 1918, San Diego Union, 4:5. Mayor Wilde’s picnic success by city employees; Lincoln’s Birthday observed at mountain retreat of Minnewawa Lodge.
February 14, 1918. Regimental History 21st Infantry. Company G was relieved from duty at Tecate, California by a detachment of 11th Cavalry, rejoined regiment at Camp Walter R. Taliaferro, San Diego, Calif., preceding to new station by auto trucks.
February 14, 1918, San Diego Union, 5:1-6. San Diego’s ship plant at the foot of 28th Street lustiest “war baby” born on Pacific coast this year; huge freighter to be completed in 11 months; means monthly payroll of more than $100,000.
February 15, 1918, San Diego Sun, 1:4. General Strong, commander, pleads to close dance halls.
February 15, 1918, San Diego Union, 5:2-4. Union photograph of apprentice seamen drilling in Plaza de Panama.
February 16, 1918, San Diego Sun, 1:2-3. Think it Over regarding Park Board policy toward concessionaires.
February 16, 1918, San Diego Sun, 6:1-2. Ocean Beach job park to open April 1.
February 16, 1918, San Diego Union, 4:6. Art Notes, by R. R. comments on representation of the Indian world on one of the wide doors in Indian Arts’ hall.
February 16, 1918, San Diego Union, 5:1. Councilmen Bruschi and Moore oppose closing of public halls as requested by Major General F. S. Strong.
February 20, 1918, San Diego Union, 7:3-4. Councilmen will assist in big health problem; Bruschi and Moore, after conference with Board, agree to give $8,000 to task of keeping city conditions good; quarantine plans will be carried out if Council favors.
February 20, 1918, San Diego Union, 7:5. Merchants’ Association votes thanks to John D. Spreckels for retention of Dr. H. J. Stewart, official organist.
February 21, 1918, Correspondence, John Morley, San Diego Public Library. Letter, Board of Park Commissioners to E. W. Spencer, Jr., U. S. N., stating that the Park Commission will rend three rooms on the ground floor, east side of the Administration Building, to U. S. Naval Air Station for $10 per month; light and heat will not be included.
February 23, 1918, San Diego Union, 6:6. Reverend M. Arthur Spotts, M. A., first chaplain, Naval Training Station, will be formally introduced at Organ Pavilion tomorrow at 10 a.m. by Captain W. D. Brotherton, commanding officer.
February 24, 1918, San Diego Union, 11:3-4. Report of Zoological Society shows balance, Fred Baker, treasurer; receipts of $2419.24 since its organization in November, 1916; deficit of $211.69 offset by animals which are available for sale or exchange, but which cannot be counted as cash; members urged to be their annual dues of $5 for 1918 at once.
February 26, 1918, San Diego Sun, 1:2-3. EDITORIAL: Think It Over
About eight months ago The Sun exposed a plan whereby the park board illegally let a concession for park stands to a private party for $125 a month. In eight months that would have netted the city just $1,000.
Following The Sun’s expose, the contract was revoked and the park board themselves operated the concessions.
IN EIGHT MONTHS THIS POLICY HAS NETTED THE PARK BOARD $9,500 CLEAR PROFIT.
February 26, 1918, San Diego Union, 5:1-2. Ready for finish, Mayor Wilde whangs Bard; latter silent; declares Councilman has “yellow streak” and challenges him and other members to start something; repeats Otay Dam changes; Council adjourns.
February 26, 1918, San Diego Union, 14:1. Naval Training Station plans outdoor dance at Balboa Park Saturday evening; first dance held about two weeks ago; more than 5,000 officers, enlisted men and their friends enjoyed the evening.
February 26, 1918, San Diego Union, 14:3. B. A. Buker, basso-cantante, soloist at Organ Pavilion Sunday afternoon, under auspices of Civic Music Committee.
February 27, 1918, San Diego Union, 2:3. Sailors start work to make swimming pool.
February 27, 1918, San Diego Union, 10:4. Navy boys plan baseball league in Balboa Park; battalion teams will be formed; will give more than 200 men an opportunity to enjoy sport.
February 28, 1918, San Diego Sun. ANNIVERSARY NUMBER
1, 2 The story of San Diego
3 Miracles of water conservation now in the making
4:3-4 Camp Kearny
6:1-8 San Diego County is an empire itself
7:1-8 The Water Resources of San Diego County
16:1-8 Sisters of Mercy to build new modern hospital, Harrison Albright, architect
16:3-6 New Years’ day crowd in Balboa Park
February 28, 1918, San Diego Sun, 16:1-3. Camp Kearny is finest training spot in all America.
February 28, 1918, San Diego Sun, 26:7-8 United States chooses San Diego as finest location for her great military centers.
February 28, 1918, San Diego Sun, 28:4. Mayor Wilde and Colonel Ed Fletcher mix things.
March 1, 1918, San Diego Sun, 4:1. EDITORIAL: Complaints of Navy School.
In time of war a newspaper office is deluged with rumors, reports, spy information, etc. The present time is no exception and The Sun has had its share of this information and misinformation.
That’s where the great problem comes in, weeding out the former from the latter.
In the past two weeks a number of interested people have come to us to complain of conditions at the Balboa Park naval training station.
The consensus of opinion seems to be that the officials in charge of this school, the doctors in charge of the hospital and the navy officers stationed there are doing their utmost to care for the health and the welfare of the men. But there are complaints as to the conduct of some petty officers, as to the routine of handling the sleeping quarters, and as to the allotment of clothing for the boys while on liberty.
It is charged that the barracks are too crowded; toilet facilities are entirely inadequate; the floors of sleeping quarters are often scrubbed late in the afternoon, and that the men sleep in their hammocks above a partly wet floor all night, tending to aggravate colds. It is also charged that the under officers do not report sick cases promptly, and that a cold is often allowed to develop into pneumonia where prompt action would have saved a life. As to the sweaters and jackets the men should have when on liberty, we do not know — except that we see many very chilly looking sailor boys on the street on cool days and late afternoons.
March 1, 1918, San Diego Union, 7:1-2. James W. Cofforth’s fight films will be show at Naval Training Station in near future.
March 1, 1918, San Diego Union, 8:4. Grace Bromfield Haver, soprano, to sing Sunday at Balboa Park.
March 2, 1918, San Diego Union, 5:4-5. Balboa Park Naval Training Station Found to be Shipshape; rumors that dissatisfaction exists among 4,000 bluejackets attached to station attributed to pro-German sources; Union reporter makes inspection.
Rumors, attributed to pro-German sources, that considerable dissatisfaction exists among the 4,000 bluejackets attached to the Naval Training Camp at Balboa Park over sanitary conditions, disciplinary methods, and lack of proper clothing gained official cognizance from the school authorities yesterday.
Some of the rumors were that the dormitories were poorly ventilated, that the bluejackets were compelled to sleep over floors that were “sloppy wet,” that the galley was unclean, the sick bay facilities inadequate, the heads of toilets unsanitary, and that peacoats were as scarce as fleas in Alaska.
Captain William Brotherton declared that the training camp is open to the public at all hours of the day, and that the public can trace down the rumors by taking as long and as many inspections of the camp as it desires.
A Union reporter was requested by the school authorities to inspect the camp. He did so at 5 o’clock last night and this is what he found.
The dormitories, according to custom on Friday and Friday only, has been scrubbed down. The floors were dry.
The hammock hooks are placed further apart than those aboard ship. The hammocks when slung are five feet from the floor and twenty feet from the roof of the buildings, affording ample ventilating space. Aboard ship the hammocks are about five feet from the deck and less than three feet from the beams.
The galley was scrupulously clean. The mess tables in the old Cristobal Café were being cleaned, but there was no litter.
The sick bay facilities, probably inadequate at first, have now been amplified until they are sufficient to meet the needs of the station.
The scarcity of peacoats is attributed to the fact that thousands of bluejackets attached to eastern training camps first had to be issued this particular item of clothing. In San Diego it was not thought that the need of a peacoat for a bluejacket enjoying liberty in a semi-tropical climate was a necessity. The needs of the bluejackets serving in the frigid climate of the east naturally came first.
Another report given much credence was that chief petty officers failed to report bluejackets who were sick. It was pointed out that the naval training camp is no nursery, and that if a youth of 18 or 20 years does not know enough to go to the sick bay when he is ill, he does not need the tender services of a chief petty officer, but rather of an attendant at Patton.
The school authorities thoroughly understand that many of the young bluejackets now at camp had, during the days they were attached to the old rooftree, been more or less pampered. Disciplinary methods, scrubbing down floors, cleaning off mess tables, doing sentry duty, drilling, making their own beds, and washing their own clothes naturally proves irksome, but mother cannot be in the navy no matter how much she loves her boy, and the boy, for the first time in his life, is left to shift for himself.
March 2, 1918, San Diego Union, 8:7-8. Navy lads to dance at Balboa park tonight; station commander and wife will be guests of honor; Plaza to be lighted with hundreds of colored lights; music to be furnished by 45-piece station band; grounds will be carefully policed and only respectable people of this city will be admitted; program will begin at 8 o’clock.
March 3, 1918, San Diego Union, Society & Club, 3:1-2. Mrs. Grace Bromfield, soprano, to appear in concert at Organ Pavilion today.
March 4, 1918, San Diego Sun, 4:7-8. Navy student defends Balboa Park school.
In reference to the article that The Sun published March 1, I wish to say that whoever submitted such an article to the public have put before the public an absolute lie.
March 5, 1918, San Diego Union, 1:6-7, 7:3-4. Mayor Wilde scores City Council; vetoes water raise; refuses to preside over future Council meetings.
March 5, 1918, San Diego Union, 7:2. Mrs. Grace Bromfield Haver, dramatic soprano, sang Sunday afternoon at Balboa Park following the organ recital
March 6, 1918, San Diego Union, 7:4. Famous cartoons to be show in Museum Art Gallery; work of Louis Raemakers more harmful to Kaiser than many troops; will remain on display for several weeks.
March 9, 1918, San Diego Union, Classified, 9:2-3. Havrah W. L. Hubbard, music critic of the Chicago Tribune, has arrived at his home on Grossmont and yesterday took up his duties at Balboa Park as song leader appointed to the War Commission to teach enlisted men how to sing; General Pershing in favor of singing soldiers.
March 12, 1918, San Diego Union, 9:1-2. Councilmen laugh at talk by Fletcher of compromise; say it is impossible to given him city rights; engineer says proposed diverting dam would take nearly half of water belonging to city.
March 12, 1918, San Diego Union, 9:2. Mayor Wilde vetoes bill for new sweeper; urges operating department be required to advertise for bids.
March 12, 1918, San Diego Union, 9:4. Spooners must sit near lights in Park orders Police Chief McMullen; J. Keno Wilson, former chief, and Fred Doty start task of patrolling tract.
March 12, 1918, San Diego Union, 10:3-4. Fast boxing bouts please Balboa Park servicemen.
March 15, 1918, San Diego Sun, 4:6. Mrs. D. M. Tebbetts praises naval hospital.
Some of the boys, who were terribly sick a few weeks ago, are now on the road to recovery, owing to the skill of the physicians in charge and the good care bestowed by the nurses. A spirit of kindness and good will, which is a comfort to the boys and their loved ones, prevails, and which I, as a friend of all the boys in the navy, appreciate.
March 16, 1918, San Diego Sun, 4:4. Robert R. Hamilton says Park Board should pay for water used.
Today the city is not charging to the park board for water. This loss the city water department must bear. No wonder there is a deficit.
March 16, 1918, San Diego Union, 4:1-5. Photographs of sailors doing calisthenics and street riot drill at Balboa Park Stadium.
March 19, 1918, San Diego Union, 6:3. Dr. G. L. Spinning of Pasadena, veteran of Civil War, will address soldiers at Balboa Park this evening under auspices of Y. M. C. A.
March 19, 1918, San Diego Union, 6:5. Army, Navy men to have Easter service in park.
March 21, 1918, Letter, Camp Committee, San Diego Council Boy Scouts of America, San Diego, California, to Board of Park Commissioners, San Diego, Cal.
Gentlemen:
As the camp committee of the San Diego Council, Boy Scouts of America, we are addressing you in behalf of the 1200 Boy Scouts of this city and vicinity.
It is not necessary for us to go into detail as to the aims of the organization. It has come to be recognized nationally as a potent factor in the upbuilding of boys of the nation, not only physically, but mentally and morally as well. The primary object of the organization is character building, and that it is successful is evidenced by the assistance it has been able to render in the Red Cross, Liberty Loan, Special Messenger Service for the Government, etc.
An important requisite in our work with boys is the wholesome exercise in the open air and sunshine. It is essentially an outdoor organization. In accordance with this fact the boys take frequent hikes and weekend trips under proper guidance and control. In other cities of the coast definite camp sites have been established at points that are convenient for these outings. The boys avail themselves most heartily of these opportunities, and the camps are proving one of the strongest activities of the Scout Program.
Up to this time no provision of any kind has been made in San Diego. Therefore it is our purpose in addressing you to request that a portion of Balboa Park, comprising, perhaps, 40 acres, along the northern boundary abutting Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas streets be designated as a Boy Scout Weekend Camp, and that the San Diego Council of the Boy Scouts of America be permitted to use this area for this purpose, it being expressly understood that the Park Board will be put to no expense in the matter; that this organization will pay for all water used; that no nuisance will be committed; that the site will be kept clean and sanitary; that no buildings or apparatus of a permanent nature will be erected; and that drills for soldiers now held there will not be interfered with; we can assure you that the camp will be kept in a condition that will be a credit to the Boy Scouts and to the City of San Diego.
We shall be glad to go into details more fully if deemed necessary.
Assuring you that the granting of this request will meet with the heartfelt appreciation by the Boy Scouts and the members of the San Diego Council of the Boy Scouts of America.
Very sincerely.
March 22, 1918, San Diego Sun, 4:3-5. Letter: Sailors only ask for square deal.
I know it to be a fact that the hotel keepers and proprietors of other establishments renting rooms to the public have raised the rent of the rooms on the nights when the soldiers and sailors are given liberty.
The uniformed men are not asking to be favored; they are men and want to be treated as men.
March 25, 1918, San Diego Sun, 4:3. Letter from A. K. K.: Criticism of Navy School.
I have heard two petty officers use language not becoming gentlemen.
Petty quarrels and pets should have no place in neither army nor navy, but all should work together for the world’s freedom.
March 25, 1918, San Diego Sun, 7:3. Beautiful pansy bed just east of Fine Arts building.
March 27, 1918, Letter, Executive Secretary, Board of Park Commissioners to Elwood E. Barley, Scout Executive, 503 Scripps Building, San Diego, Calif.
Dear Sir:-
Confirming oral permission given you for use by local organization of Boy Scouts of the Cavalry Camp site in Balboa Park, I wish to advise that I have presented to the Board of Park Commissioners your request in this matter, and the following action was taken:-
Upon motion duly made and carried, San Diego Boy Scouts are authorized to establish a camp site on the old Cavalry Camp site in north end of Balboa Park, on condition that the commanding officer of the Twenty-first Infantry is willing that the grounds should be used for this purpose, and on the further condition that the laying out of your camp, all construction work and conduct of the camp shall be under the supervision of the Superintendent of Parks.
I shall be very glad at any time to render the Boy Scout movement in San Diego any aid in my power.
Very truly yours.
March 27, 1918, San Diego Union, 9:4. Fisk Jubilee Singers will give two concerts at Organ Pavilion next Wednesday afternoon and evening for benefit of poor under auspices of Associated Charities of San Diego.
March 28, 1918, San Diego Union, 4:4. Art Notes, by R. R. on beauty of Montezuma Gardens.
March 28, 1918, San Diego Union, 4:5-6. Letter, Lester H. Thorton, praising Montezuma Gardens.
March 28, 1918, San Diego Union, 10:4. Easter song service in Park plan.
March 29, 1918, San Diego Union, 4:4. Outdoor concert for sailor boys last night.
March 29, 1918, San Diego Union, 8:1-8. Photograph of 3,400 bluejackets on Plaza de Panama spelling out the name “NAVY.”
March 30, 1918, San Diego Union, 6:5. Open-air dance to be held this evening on the Plaza; San Diegans invited to attend.
March 31, 1918, San Diego Union, Classified, 1:6. Organ programs to include many popular numbers; increased attendance drawn to recitals by Dr. Stewart at Balboa Park
April 1, 1918, San Diego Union, 4:4-5. H. J. Stewart, official organist, submitted annual report to city park commission; 307 organ recitals given in 1917; 267 of these played by official organist and 40 by visitors and resident organists; ten recitals omitted because of unfavorable weather and on two occasions there was a failure of electric current.
April 1, 1918, San Diego Union, 5:3. Easter services held at Organ Pavilion beginning at 2 o’clock in the afternoon; song service arranged by Miss Gertrude Gilbert and Mrs. L. L. Rowan; chorus from 144th Field Artillery, Camp Kearny.
April 2, 1918, Letter, John R. Brook, Captain, Infantry, A. Q. M., to Board of Park Commissioners stating that it is the purpose of the Government to renew lease of campsite, maneuver and drill grounds located in Balboa Park for one year, beginning July 1, 1918.
April 2, 1918, San Diego Union, 7:2-5. Photograph of Naval Training Camp with students forming a pennant spelling out “NAVY.”
April 3, 1918, Letter, A. A. Farmer, Captain of Infantry, Commanding Company “H” stating members of Company want to use Lipton Tea Building as a library.
April 3, 1918, San Diego Union, 7:3. Fisk University Jubilee Singers to give two concerts today at Balboa Park for Associated Charities.
April 5 1918, San Diego Union, 7:1-4. Madame Melba, famous diva, sings for Sunshine Division at Camp Kearny.
April 7, 1918, San Diego Union, 7:2-7. Photograph of ten thousand attending open-air ball at Naval Training Station.
April 9, 1918, Letter, Executive Secretary to Captain A. A. Farmer, Commanding Company “H,” 21st Infantry, San Diego, Calif.
Regarding: Use of Lipton Tea Pavilion for Library
Dear Sir:
I wish to advise you that your letter of April 3rd, last, requesting use of Lipton Tea Pavilion for Company Library has been taken up by the Board of Park Commissioners and your request granted on the following conditions, namely:
“Due precaution shall be taken for the proper protection of the premises. The building shall be inspected by an officer of your company together with a representative of the Park Department before same is occupied by you and again when you no longer require the building. It is understood that you will return the building to this Department in equally as good condition as when you receive it.
Precaution shall be taken to protect the lawn, flowers and shrubs surrounding the building, and reasonable order shall be maintained among the men using the building.”
These conditions have been made necessary by past experience, when this and other buildings have been damaged, fixtures removed, and the premises left in an unclean and unsanitary condition.
This Department will gladly cooperate with you in every possible way to make conditions more pleasant and agreeable for your men, and we have taken steps to have this building vacated during this week.
Very truly yours.
April 9, 1918, San Diego Union, 7:4. Photograph of visiting Japanese officers at Exposition grounds; street riot drill put on in honor of visitors; toasts to all entente rulers feature banquet (article is incomplete).
April 11, 1918, San Diego Union, 4:4-5. Letter from Frank L. Hardesty, father, thanking San Diegans for kind treatment given son at Naval Training Station.
April 12, 1918, San Diego Union, 7:4. Mrs. A. W. Roberts, soprano, to sing at Balboa Park Sunday.
April 14, 1918, San Diego Union, 8:1. Request numbers feature Dr. Stewart’s recital at organ today.
April 14, 1918, San Diego Union, Classified, 2:3. David Goldstein, Knights of Columbus lecturer, to speak on Catholicity this afternoon at Organ Pavilion.
April 21, 1918, Camp Walter R. Taliaferro, San Diego, California
Report:
Robbery of the Park Canteen opposite Officers mess. Sometime between 5:50 p.m. of April 20th and 7:40 a.m. April 21st the Park canteen opposite the Officers mess was broken into. The robbery was first discovered at 7:40 a.m. by Pvt. N. P. Sullivan, Company “I”, 21st Infantry, who went to the store to make a purchase, but finding the store closed looked towards the back entrance and noticed that there was no lock on the door. Pvt. Sullivan sometime ago had assisted the saleman in closing up and knew the location of the rear entrance to the store. When he saw that the lock was not on the door he assumed that the saleman was inside and immediately went to the front entrance and called out for Mr. James Johnston, who is at present acting as saleman for the Park Board at this store. After repeated calling and getting no response Pvt. Sullivan again looked into the small alleyway between the end of the cages and the North side of the store and noticed that the staple was off the hasp. He waited until Pvt. Joseph M. Brookfield (859261) Company “L” , 21st Infantry , the sentry on post no. 3, came along and then told the sentry that someone had probably broken into the store. Both of them then went into the alleyway and examined the staple and the hasp. Looking around Pvt. Sullivan found the lock on a small ledge at the end of the animal cage. The sentry stepped inside of the store with Pvt. Sullivan following and noticed that the cash register till was opened. The sentry stepped outside to call the guard, when Sergeant Smith, George W. (859199) Company “L”, 21st Infantry happened to be going by to breakfast. Pvt. Brookfield immediately called Sergt. Smith and explained the matter to him. Pvt. Sullivan went to the telephone outside and called up Mr. Arthur the superintendent of the canteen for the Park Board. After Sergt. Smith had examined the lock and hasp, he brought the matter to my attention. I immediately went to the store and had a talk with Pvt. Sullivan and Pvt. Brookfield, sentry on post no. 3 and finding everything in order and not being certain that anything was missing ordered Pvt. Allison, Floyd O. (85913) Company “L” 21st Infantry, to remain on guard at the side entrance to the store. Pvt. Allison was on guard until the arrival of Mr. James Johnston saleman at the store. When Mr. Johnston arrived we went inside to ascertain what was missing. No money was kept in the store, but there was about 25 to 30 cartons of Camel Cigarettes and a box of 50 cigars missing, Mr. Johnston was unable to say whether there was any thing else missing or not without taking an inventory. There after I explained the matter to the Officer of the Day, 1st Lieut. Hart who instructed me to investigate the case.
The staple in the hasp had been pried loose by some instrument and the lock removed. I called the sentries together who had been walking this post and inquired into the matter. The sentries were Pvt. Brookfield and Pvt. Thompson and Pvt. Lundin, all of Company “L” 21st Infantry. About 11:00 p.m. April 20, the sentry on post no. 3 was told to keep a lookout for a prisoner from the naval training camp who had escaped. The sentry was instructed to spend considerable of his time keeping a lookout for sailors boarding the streetcars. They therefore remained in front of the store from about 11:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m. The sentries stated they heard no noise of any kind around the store, furthermore that they looked into the alleyway leading along the side entrance and noticed nothing unusual. They alleyway was very dark and it would have been impossible to see whether the lock had been removed. None of them saw any one approaching the store from the side gate and the thief must have entered from behind the animal gages.
(Sentries who walked post no. 3 and the hours they walked follows (not included)
(Signed) Aaron N.Cohen.
2nd Lieut., Inf. R.C.
April 21, 1918, Memorandum
Adjutant:-
The burglary of the Park Board canteen was reported to me about 8:30 this a.m. I immediately ordered the Officer of the guard (Lt. Cohen) to investigate the matter and report all details up until the report was made to me. The sentries, Pvt. Sullivan and Mr. Johnston, the salesman in the Park Board canteen were questioned by the Officer of the guard and my self and in my opinion there statements are in perfect order.
Mr. Johnston expected the loss to be approximately 20 cartons of Camel Cigarettes, 1-50 box of Owl cigars and 1 box of candy. I found the candy on the ground between the store and the car station, where it has evidently been thrown by the thief. I found no clew that would lead to the identification of the thief or at what time the robbery was committed.
(Signed) Henry L. Hart
1st Lieut., Infantry R.C.
Officer of the Day.
April 27, 1918, San Diego Union, 1:3, 4:3-6. General F. S. Strong, commander at Camp Kearny, moves crowd with address during Liberty Day celebration in city; long military parade from foot of Broadway to Organ Pavilion; Colonel R. C. Means, Major Howell speak.
April 27, 1918, San Diego Union, 8:1. Navy to hold outdoor ball tonight, Balboa Park.
April 28, 1918, San Diego Union, Society-Clubs, 12:4. Throngs attend outdoor dance at Balboa Park; officers and men of Naval Training Station entertain 8,000 at Plaza; there were as many as 1,000 couples dancing at the same time.
April 30, 1918, San Diego Union, Society-Clubs, 14:2. May festival of Miss Hulda Hanker’s dancing students will be held at Balboa Park Saturday; this will be the third time the festival has been staged in the park and the second time it has been given as a Red Cross benefit
May 5, 1918, San Diego Union, 5:2. Balboa Park gardens supply blooms for 11th annual rose display in California Building; show held yesterday afternoon.
May 6, 1918, San Diego Union, Society-Clubs, 14:2-4 (also May 11, 1918, Classified, 9:2-4; May 12, 1918, 2:4). Paulist choristers to sing at Organ Pavilion Sunday afternoon, May 12, 1918.
May 8, 1918, Correspondence, John Morley, San Diego Public Library; Letter, John Morley to E. W. Spencer, Jr., U. S. N., claiming men of the Air Station are wearing out lawn on west side of park during drills and requested that the men drill where they did formerly.
May 8, 1918, San Diego Union, Classified, 9:1 (also May 9, 1918, 5:2-3; May 12, 1918, 13:1). Special Mothers’ Day program at park announced; Carrie Jacobs Bond to sing; no charge for admission.
May 9, 1918, San Diego Union, 5:2-3. Interesting program prepared for observance of Mothers’ Day, Sunday, at Balboa Park.
May 9, 1918, San Diego Union, 6:4-5. Sailors at Balboa Park school show keen interest in studies, such as math, literature, history, according to Edward A. Rechsteiner, secretary of Knights of Columbus Building in camp.
May 9, 1918, San Diego Union, 6:7. Navy men must learn to swim; instruction will be given at former lily pond in Balboa Park.
The pond has been completely reconstructed and is now lined with a cement coating.
May 11, 1918, San Diego Union, 9:2-5. National songs of Allied countries to be given by Paulist choristers at Balboa Park tomorrow afternoon.
May 11, 1918, San Diego Union, 14:1. Captain Arthur J. Francis, delegate of Red Cross, returns from investigations abroad; will speak at Organ Pavilion tomorrow morning.
May 11, 1918, San Diego Union, 14:3. Rally of Girl Scouts to be held at Park this afternoon; troops will demonstrate features of training at Organ Pavilion.
May 12, 1918, San Diego Union, 13:1. Service mothers will be honored in program at Organ Pavilion this afternoon.
May 12, 1918, San Diego Union, Classified, 2:2-5. 100 boys of Paulist Chorus to sing at Organ Pavilion today.
May 13, 1918, San Diego Union, 4:3. G. A. R. and other patriotic societies will honor Nation’s dead at services in Balboa Park, May 30.
May 13, 1918, San Diego Union, 9:1-4. Paulist Choristers sang for war-ravaged France; 10,000 people at Organ Pavilion yesterday afternoon heard boys and men of world-famous organization.
May 15, 1918, San Diego Union, 4:5 (also May 22, 1918, 2:4). “Wake Up America” war lecture to be given at Park by T. D. Whyte of National Bureau of Public Information next Tuesday evening, May 21, at Organ Pavilion; heard by 3,000.
May 16, 1918, San Diego Union, 6:3-6. Night classes in algebra and trigonometry upstairs over the Fine Arts building for sailors.
May 16, 1918, San Diego Union, 6:4-5. Y. M. C. A. maintains branch of Public Library at Naval Camp; room for 500 men to write and read in Science of Man building; classes in mathematics in connection with the ground school of naval aviation meeting daily in various parts of Science of Man building.
May 16, 1918, San Diego Union, 8:3 (also May 18,1918, Society-Clubs, 10:1). Navy plans 5th outdoor ball Saturday, May 18.
May 17, 1918, San Diego Union, 3:4-5. Dancing class entertains sailor lads in Training Camp; Mrs. Jessie M. Ratliff and her pupils performed under auspices of Y. M. C. A.
May 18, 1918, San Diego Union, 10:1. Sailors to be hosts to thousands; fifth outdoor dance scheduled tonight on Plaza in Park.
May 19, 1918, San Diego Union, 4:3. Mrs. S. E. Piper, soprano, will sing at Organ Pavilion today.
May 21, 1918, San Diego Union, 4:3-6 (also May 25, 1918, 9:4 and May 26, 1918, 1:3, 3:6). Madame Schumann-Heink will sing at Red Cross rally on Sunday afternoon, May 26, 1918.
May 22, 1918, San Diego Union, 2:4. W. H. Burns gave “Wake Up, America” at Organ Pavilion last evening; 3,000 in audience.
May 24, 1918, LEASE OF CERTAIN BUILDINGS IN BALBOA PARK TO U. S. MARINE CORPS (San Diego Public Library)
- By authority of the Board of Park Commissioners given in regular meeting of May 14, 1918, permitted the use of certain grounds and buildings now occupied by the Fourth Regiment of the U. S. Marine Corps, permission is hereby granted the U. S. Marine Corps to occupy the Utah Building, Montana Building, New Mexico Building, Kansas Building and the Washington Building in Balboa Park so long as needed by the U. S. Marine Corps during the present war period, under the following conditions:
- That none of said buildings are to be used for “Mess Halls” and no cooking shall be permitted in said buildings.
- That said U. S. Marine Corps shall not make any changes of any description in any of the
buildings included in this permit without the full knowledge, consent and written approval
of this Board or its Superintendent of Parks.
- That said U. S. Marine Corps shall not disturb any trees, plants, shrubs, or lawns or make
any changes of any nature in the area adjacent to said buildings, erect any building, dig
trenches, or in any manner disturb the grounds surrounding or adjacent to any of said
buildings without the full knowledge, consent and written approval of this Board or its
Superintendent of Parks.
- That said U. S. Marine Corps shall maintain and care for the grounds surrounding said
buildings and keep same in as good condition as when turned over to said Marine Corps.
- That said buildings are to be kept in a good state of repair by said U. S. Marine Corps and
said buildings are to be turned over to this Board in as good condition as when occupancy
is acquired by said U. S. Marine Corps, ordinary wear and tear excepted.
- This permit shall not in any manner interfere with any employee of this Board in going from
or coming to work, or in carrying out any order of this Board, or interfere in any way with
the general improvement of the landscape feature of that part of Balboa Park occupied by
or adjacent to said buildings.
BOARD OF PARK COMMISSIONERS
Signed by _______________
Lieutenant Colonel, U. S. Marine Corps,
Commanding.
May 24, 1918, Letter from E. P. Chatres-Martin Health Officer, to Board of Park Commissioners stating the 21st Infantry has complained that the premises occupies by the zoo are infected with rodents and, therefore, immediate action is necessary.
May 27, 1918, San Diego Union, 1:7-8, 3:4-8. Madame Schumann-Heink thrilled 15,000 persons gathered to hear her at Organ Pavilion yesterday; starts Red Cross contribution with $500 gift; description of war conditions by Sergeant Verne Marshall; $10,000 raised in cash and pledges; 144th Field Artillery band and Fr.. H. J. Stewart, at the organ, furnished music; Miss Edith Evans accompanied Schumann-Heink at the piano; she sang “Oh Rest in the Lord,” “When the Boys Come Home,” and “The Rosary.”
Before she left Madame Schumann-Heink, with pipe-organ accompaniment, sang “The Star Spangled Banner.” The audience stood, and at the end joined with the diva. At the last strains of the organ peeled deeply and loud, but above it the clear tones of the “soldier’s mother” rang in perfect consonance with it.
May 27, 1918, San Diego Union, 4:3. Celebration at rally forecast; keynote of meeting tonight at U. S. Grant Hotel to be happiness, pride at result accomplished, by G. J. Morganstern
May 27, 1918, San Diego Union, 4:4-6. History of Balboa Park interwoven with that of city; tract of 1400 acres set aside for future generations fifty years ago on May 26, 1868.
(NOTE: Missing from files or misfiled, August 2, 1999.)
May 27, 1918, San Diego Union, Society-Clubs, 14:2-3. Knights of Columbus recreation rooms opened in Indian Arts Building, Balboa Park, Saturday evening, May 25.
May 28, 1918, Los Angles Daily Times. San Diego’s mayor castigates city.
San Diego is full of old tight-wads, pessimists, vacillating visionary dreamers, distrust, jealousy, meddling old hens, mustard seed politicians, office-seeking bellyackers, hypocrites, pacifists, high taxes and knockers.
May 28, 1918, San Diego Union, 7:2-4. New swimming plunge for service men to be opened tomorrow afternoon with sports at foot of Date street.
May 31,1918, San Diego Union, 5:2-3. Parade and exercises mark Memorial Day; E. P. Sample, attorney, delivers patriotic address; Reverend Ferris pays tribute to living and dead at Organ Pavilion.
May 31, 1908, San Diego Union, 8:1. Fifth outdoor dance to be held tomorrow night; naval station hosts.
June 1, 1918, San Diego Union, 4:4-5. Oil painting of Naval Training Station and outdoor mess by Dr. Walter B. Taylor sent to President Wilson.
June 1, 1918, San Diego Union, 4:6. Sailors to give outdoor dance at Park Plaza this evening; civilians from northern cities expected to attend Training Station affair.
June 3, 1918, San Diego Union, 7:3 (also June 5, 1918, 4:3). French war films to be shown at Organ pavilion tomorrow night; no admission charge.
June 5, 1918, Letter, C. G. A., Lieutenant Colonel U. S. Marine Corps, Commanding, to Board of Park Commissioners, San Diego, California (San Diego Public Library)
Gentlemen:
The comrades of Private John J. Awkerman, M. C., a member of the 27th Company, 4th Regiment, U. S. Marines, who was killed in an engagement in Santo Domingo, D. R., June 27, 1916, having subscribed to a memorial which they desire to be placed at this post his memory, and the design having been approved by the Major General Commandant, Marine Corps, I have the honor to request permission to place this memorial on the plat of grass to the left of the side entrance to the Kern County Building, or directly opposite the Alameda County Building. The memorial will consist of a marble plate approximately two fee square, to rest on a cement base approximately two feet high at the back and one foot in the front, the base to rest on the surface, or, if imbedded in the ground, nor more than six inches. As it is the intention to place this memorial at the permanent Marine Barracks when these have been completed, the memorial will, in all probability, be moved when the Marine Corps discontinues the use of the present buildings.
If the Board of Park Commissioners will kindly grant this request, it will be greatly
appreciated by myself as well as the comrades of Private Awkerman who contributed toward the acquisition of this memorial.
Respectfully,
Signed ___________
Lieutenant Colonel, U. S. Marine Corps
Commanding
A written notation at the bottom of the letter reads “Granted.”
June 5, 1918, San Diego Union, 4:3. Official French war films shown at Park; pictures depict French Army and Navy in action and in repose.
June 7, 1918, San Diego Union, 1:6-7, 7:1-5. Strike of entire high school follows discharge of teachers; condemnation of Board’s action voiced throughout city.
June 7, 1918, San Diego Union, 8:1. Schumann-Heink to sing for men in local camps; diva will return to San Diego next week; appearing in series of concerts.
June 7, 1918, San Diego Union, 8:3. Mrs. Stanley E. Piper, soprano of this city, will give song recital at Organ Pavilion next Sunday afternoon.
June 7, 1918, San Diego Union, 9:4. Mrs. A. G. Spalding of Point Loma gave eight silver pheasants and a large macaw to Balboa Park for west side aviary and a bird house for the Botanical Building.
June 12, 1918, Correspondence, John Morley, San Diego Public Library; Letter, Morley to E. W. Spencer, Jr., U. S. N., stating that a complaint was received that air station men using the lawn adjacent to the Pansy Garden had been acting disorderly.
June 12, 1918, San Diego Union, 7:3. Madame Schumann-Heink sang last night at the Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park for 5,000 men in uniform; Edith Evans at piano.
“I’m now going to sing my favorite song, and I hope you’ll like it, too,” she said. “It’s ‘Danny Boy,’ a mother’s farewell to her son. Of course, all the young girls say it is a sweetheart’s farewell, but don’t you believe them: it is a mother’s farewell to her son.”
June 14, 1918, Minutes of the Park Commission.
A statement of accounts between the Panama-California International Exposition Company and the Department was presented by the Executive Secretary and he was directed to take the matter up of President G. A. Davidson with a view to securing an amicable settlement.
June 14, 1918, Letter, R. C. Dewey, U. S. Marine Corps, Quartermaster’s Department, Depot of Supplies, San Francisco, CA. To Post Quartermaster, Marine Barracks, San Diego, Calif. (San Diego Public Library).
Subject: Rental of Buildings at Marine Barracks, San Diego, and of Pueblo Lands.
References: (a.) QM letter 27156, 5-29-18, to DGSF.
(b.) Permit of Park Commissioners for the Occupancy by the Marine Corps of
buildings in Balboa Park, accepted by the Marine Corps, May 3, 1917.
(c.) Permit of Park Commissioners for the Occupancy by the Marine Corps of
buildings in Balboa Park, approved by the Marine Corps, March 10, 1917.
Inclosures: (a.) “Lease of Certain Buildings in Balboa Park to the U. S. Marine Corps, May
24, 1918.
(b.) Tentative agreement in sextuplicate covering lease of buildings in Balboa Park,
July 1, 1918 to June 30, 1919.
- In view of the fact that inclosure (a.) does not mention the Kern and Tulare, Salt Lake, or
Joaquin Valley buildings and does not definitely stipulate the period of the lease, it is recommended that the Board of Park Commissioners be requested to execute inclosure (b.) in lieu
of inclosure (a.) and that the papers be returned here for acceptance, if the Board of Park Commissioners approve of the modifications and additions suggested. If they disapprove, appropriate advice in the premises is requested
(Sig.) R. C. Dewey
June 14, 1918, San Diego Union, 14:1-2 (also June 15, 1918, 5:4-5). Community rally at Organ Pavilion tonight in honor of Flag Day.
June 15, 1918, San Diego Union, 1:6. Spectacular gas attacks staged in Balboa Park; watchers getting sniff of tear gas; leave field to Grizzlies rapidly.
Lt. Von Puhl, regimental gas officer, and several “non-coms” lighted dozens of gas bombs. Men in perfect order marched through gas clouds wearing masks. No one was seriously injured.
June 21, 1918, San Diego Union, 8:6 (also June 23, 1918, 3:4). Miss Wilma Gardine, contralto, to sing at Organ Pavilion next Sunday afternoon.
June 22, 1918, San Diego Union, 9:3-4 (also June 30, 1918, 4:2-4). Welcome to new citizens to feature celebration; Americanization Day committee arranges July 4th ceremonies at Organ Pavilion; parade abandoned; music pageant to be given in evening in line with President’s request.
June 23, 1918, San Diego Union, 4:1. EDITORAL: San Diego’s Patriotic Pageant
Jerome B. Pendleton, chairman of the war camp community service for San Diego, urges the hearty cooperation of all San Diegans in the effort to make a conspicuous success of the patriotic pageant scheduled for presentation in Balboa Park on the evening of the Fourth of July.
It is a reasonable request for various reasons, chief among which, or course, is the universal desire that San Diego shall on this occasion give full expression to its spirit of patriotism.
June 25, 1918, San Diego Union, 10:8. More than 1,500 soldiers and marines gathered last night in the Plaza at Balboa Park to witness a boxing card arranged by F. L. Hunt of the Y. M. C. A., under the guidance of Lt. Conover of the Training Station.
June 26, 1918, San Diego Union, 8:4-5. Stage Women’s Organization of War Workers gives plays for boys in San Diego camps.; first program Monday night at the army Y. M. C. A. in the Harvester building; the program consists of three one-act comedy sketches.
June 26, 1918, San Diego Union, 14:1. (also June 29, 1918, 8:1). Outdoor dance Saturday, June 29, Balboa Park.
June 29, 1918, San Diego Union, 8:1. Will dance tonight at Balboa Park; sixth outdoor ball of series will be held by Navy men; each dance will be announced upon a screen which will be erected to the left of the newly-constructed bandstand.
June 29, 1918, San Diego Union, 9:3. Six week summer school of art planned with studios in California Building, Balboa Park.
June 30, 1919, San Diego Union, 4:3. Rehearsal held of pageant to be presented July 4.
June 30, 1919, San Diego Union, 4:4-5. Flag presentation feature of Americanization Day; nation’s emblem to be given July 4 1o 151 new citizens who have pledged allegiance within last year; program one of series at request of President Wilson.
June 30, 1919, San Diego Union, 4:6. Leaders of both parties work for Kettner’s return to Congress.
July 3, 1918, Letter, T. N. Faulconer, Executive Secretary, Boar d of Park Commissioners, to Colonel Willis Uline, commanding, 21st Infantry, requesting that small room and toilet at east side of north gate to Exposition grounds be vacated.
July 3, 1918, San Diego Union, 6:6. Three hospital buildings and a nurses’ home are to be erected at the Naval Training Station at Balboa Park at an estimated cost of $50,000. The new buildings will be an addition to hospital facilities at the station. They will be erected at a site given by the Park Commissioners last week.
The plot is 200 by 500 feet and is located across the tracks east of the east entrance to the park. Each of the buildings will be 100 feet long and 25 feet wide, accommodating 30 patients each. The nurses’ home will be large enough for 40 nurses.
July 4, 1918, San Diego Union, 4:3. Living pictures to show facts of United States history; plans completed for patriotic celebration at Organ Pavilion tonight.
Plans for the pageant which is intended to be San Diego’s form of celebration for the Fourth of July, and which will be held at the Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park this evening, have been completed according to an announcement made yesterday, and those in charge are emphatic that the program will carry out to the fullest President Wilson’s expressed conception of the day. It is expected that the evening program will be an ample ending to the local Fourth, which officially will start with the Americanization day exercises to be held at the Organ Pavilion beginning at 10 a.m.
Both military and civilian talent have been drafted for the evening celebration, the chief feature of which is to be a series of living representations of the principal facts of the history of the United States. Particular attention has been paid, it is declared, to the idea of presenting the pageant in as noble and inspiring a manner as possible. Experienced actors from civil and army life will appear in the chief roles, and among the singers to take part is Madame Edna Darch, grand opera star.
The music for the pageant will be furnished by the 21st Infantry and the Naval Training Camp and the Spreckels Organ, which will be played by Dr. H. J. Stewart. The choral parts will be sung by the People’s Chorus and the Fort Rosecran’s Soldiers’ Chorus. The principal address will be a four-minute speech by J. Edward Keating, chairman of the four-minute men. The program was prepared under the auspices of the War and Community Service.
July 5, 1918, Letter, John R. Brooke, Jr., Captain, 21st Infantry, to Executive Secretary stating that room and toilet at east side of the north gate to the Exposition grounds will be vacated.
July 5, 1918, San Diego Union, 1:5, 6:8. Celebrations at park draw thousands.
July 5, 1918, San Diego Union, 9:1, 10:4. Throng applauds historic pictures at organ.
July 5, 1918, San Diego Union, 9:2-7. Welcome extended to new citizens at Organ Pavilion yesterday morning under auspices of Rotary Club.
July 5, 1918, San Diego Union, 10:1. Mrs. W. Carlton Smith, dramatic soprano, to sing at Organ Pavilion Sunday afternoon.
July 5, 1918, San Diego Union. 10:1. Tropical blooms which fill lagoon underneath Cabrillo bridge make spectacle of beauty.
July 6, 1918, San Diego Union, 7:1-3. “Coming together of flags” impressive Knights of Columbus ceremony; presented to more than 2,500 members and friends of order at Organ Pavilion last night; band of 21st Infantry played national hymns of allies.
July 7, 1918, San Diego Union, Society-Club, 3:3. Mrs. Charles Franklin Fletter, contralto, to sing at Organ Pavilion today.
July 8, 1918, San Diego Union, 4:1. EDITORIAL: San Diego’s Mob Manners.
People in front seats at Organ Pavilion block view of people in back by standing on their seats or by hoisting parasols; situation gives rise to loud protests which drown out performers; incidents happened during Madame Schumann-Heink’s singing and during presentation of Fourth of July pageant.
July 8, 1918, San Diego Union, 6:1-8, 7:1. U. S. Naval Training Station in Balboa Park Finest in Land; Uncle Sends Embryo Sailormen Across Continent That They May Have Advantage of Ideal Training Conditions Offered at San Diego’s Exposition Grounds.
Jack is going to sea! On the farms of the middle west; in the factories of the crowded east; with the cattle on the plains — everywhere has he heard the call of the open road and felt the lure of the surging waves — and today, several hundred thousand strong, he is either doing his bit or learning to do his bit for his Uncle Sam on the ships that Uncle owns.
But if Jack is a lucky boy, the powers that be will send him to Balboa Park, where San Diego has turned her Exposition grounds over to the navy, and where the navy, as a measure of thanks, has built up one of the finest and most successful training camps for sailors in the land. That his naval training camp is the finest is due primarily to its location in one of the most spacious and beautiful parks on the Pacific coast, and that it is one of the most successful is proved by the number of boys, fully prepared, who have taken their ditty-bags upon their shoulders since the institution of the camp and gone down to the sea in ships. And when it is remembered that Uncle is now sending men all the way from the eastern coast to have them trained at Balboa Park for the ships that Uncle owns, it is evidence that Balboa Park’s training camp has done as much — maybe a little more — than the navy expected.
But to get back to Jack. He has probably rowed a boat on the old mill stream, or spent the long winter nights with a favorite volume of sea tales, or seen a natty man-of-war’s man rolling down the village street — and then comes the war, with his country calling for man to walk upon the decks of her navy and the merchant marine which she is busy creating. So Jack kisses his mother good-bye and goes to town to see the recruiting officer.
Accepted, for he is husky and full of pep, he immediately began to leave the old life behind him, and finds, from day to day, that he is gradually becoming a more polished gear in the machinery of the world’s greatest institution — the United States navy.
If he is lucky, as had been mentioned before, he is sent to Balboa Park, He is instructed to wear his old clothes for they will be discarded anyway, and if he can give them to the Salvation Army it will save the expressage on sending them back home. Then, will all those who have gathered together for the same purpose, he is sent to the training camp.
The detention camp has all the comforts of a modern hotel — and some that a modern hotel never had. After his meal he is assigned to what is called a “compound,” a group of 36 men, and discards his civilian clothes. His issue of navy garments is given him, and he is ready for an examination by a camp surgeon. The examination finished he is placed in the detention camp for 21 days, and is always under a doctor’s observation.
His training begins immediately with preliminary instructions on discipline and other navy specialties, and so thorough are these that the detention camp is familiarly known as “the school for recruits.” When the 21 days have passed, he is placed in a company, and his real training as a sailor begins.
The value of discipline has already been impressed upon him, together with a preliminary knowledge of the rules and regulations of the navy. His first period of training outside the detention camp is passed in taking him around the camp, showing him its borders; the places where he will eat and sleep, where he may smoke and lounge and recreate. He is also shown the offices or the different departments and the officers in charge are pointed out to him, together with their rank and duties. This phase of the training is necessary in order that, when detailed to orderly or messenger duty, he may know “what’s what.”
He has already been schooled in the care of his person and his clothing, so, after his tour of the training camp, he is ready for his routine training. The thoroughness of this may be gathered from the fact that it includes regimental drill, physical drill, with and without accouterments; bayonet exercises, signal practice, compass and lead-line practice; instruction in the use of small arms and the standard manual of arms; nautical nomenclature; splicing of various sizes of ropes and wires; knotting; instruction in all the types and uses of vessels of the U. S. navy; handling of boats under oars and _____; rules of the road; swimming and artillery drill, and first-aid. In addition, he is given comprehensive lectures on the “Life and Duties of a Man-o’war’s man,” which covers all the important parts of his training.
The physical drill used at the training camp is the Swedish system of setting-up exercises without arms. But Jack has other forms of physical drill, among which the most spectacular is a physical drill with arms, which is gone through at the conclusion of dress parade. This drill is accompanied and timed by the training station band, and at this season of the year, when Jack is garbed in “whites,” it provides a stirring a scene as can be found in military life.
While Jack finds that even on dry land is life is really that of a sailor at sea, there are of necessity some phases of his training in which the salt flavor is more apparent than in others. This is particularly true of those studies which are included in the generic terms: “Instruction in the compass and the lead-line,” which has to do particularly with the handling and navigation of ships. “Boxing the compass,” has always been the sailor’s favorite indoor sport, and Jack learns to box the compass in as many ways as the law allows while at Balboa Park. He learns the quaint sea terms that go with navigation, and “By the deep, six!” becomes as familiar an expression as any that came to him on the farm.
Most of the instruction takes place in a large room which has been fitted specially for it. On the walls are pictures of all the various types of United States battle craft; signal flags; special insignia, and pennants. Along one side are exact duplicates in rope of all the knots and “bends” which a real sailor should know, while in the center of the room is a “jack stay” — a heavy rope hung to four posts in the manner of a prize ring in pugilism and carrying at small intervals lengths of smaller rope. Jack stands by the “jack-stay” with an instructor before, and learns the “bow-line,” the “figure-eight,” and all the knots and splices upon which his safety or convenience at sea may depend.
In handling small boats, Jack gets instruction on two regulation navy 25-foot cutters in the swimming pool. The pool is too small for maneuvering, but, nevertheless by the time his instruction is finished, he has learned the handling of oars and sails, how to take his position, and the understanding of every command which may be given him. Here, too, he gets his swimming lessons, which are among the most pleasurable of his tasks. The method of instruction is the navy dry-land system, and is under the direction of the navy’s experts in swimming instruction on the Pacific coast. By this method Jack really learns to swim before he ever strikes the water — but whether he has learned to swim or not, the pool has greater attractions for him these summer days than any other form of amusement, and he gets as much fun from wading as he does from the use of the breast stroke.
When Jack has a pair of shoes to be half-soled, a torn jacket to be mended, or hair to be trimmed, he goes to the station’s own shops, where other Jacks, skilled in their trades, perform these little tasks for him. The barber shop is a model of cleanliness. Every tool is sterilized after each operation; fresh towels are present in an unending supply, and it is as bright and sanitary as the best civilian shops. The shoe shop is filled with the latest shoe-repair machinery, and, in the manner of the up-to-date shop of the city, repairs are turned out “while you wait.”
All repairs in the tailor shop are free to Jack, but the other work is assessed against him at cost price. What it means may be appreciated from the fact that the prices average a little less than one-half of those paid by a civilian. The same thing is true of the canteen, where Jack buys almost everything under the sun which may strike his fancy, and in some instances they are so low as to make the civilian tear his hair at the thought of the “margin of profit: which is exacted in ordinary life.
If Jack is specially fitted for some particular kind of work he will be sent to a school in which he will learn to do thing in the navy way. For example, there is a cooking school, where he is taught to cook and bake, and where the kitchen is the regulation gallery of the deep-sea ship. He learns the intricacies of wireless apparatus at a well-appointed radio school; if he shows aptitude for signal work he is detailed to a school of signaling where he is prepared for the navigation department, which is radically different from the quartermaster’s department in the army which has to do with supplies and like matters. The signal systems in which Jack is trained, irrespective of whether he wishes to specialize in this department, are the atmosphere dot-and-dash, international signal code, and the navy general signals.
In the navigation school Jack will be given an advanced course in seamanship, ordnance and navigation. This advanced course will fit Jack for a commission, and thus Jack of the farm may speedily become Mr. Jack of the quarter-deck if he minds his p’s and q’s at Balboa Park.
Another large field of advancement is the clerical department, which takes care of all the bookkeeping records and general clerical work of a ship. If Jack’s talents are of this king and he is successful in passing through the school which is maintained for this work he attains the rank of yeoman, which as Jack would say. “ain’t so worse.”
But the striking fact concerning the navy training station at Balboa Park, aside from the success it has attained in making a sailor out of Jack, is the atmosphere of the sea which is maintained at the camp to a degree which makes it readily apparent even to the civilian. The nomenclature is that of the sea — Jack never scrubs a floor or cleans a pavement, he “scrubs down the decks.” He is never at home, but “aboard ship”; he is never in town, but always “on shore.” He sleeps in a hammock which is hung at regulation navy height, and he never climbs into it — he swings himself into it as he would have to do on shipboard. He never pulls on a rope, but he often “mans the halyards.”
With all his studies, sports and recreation, Jack is vitally interested in one phase of his day at the training camp above everything else — and his commanders and instructors are as keen about it as he is. This is the question of food, or “mess” as Jack terms it. Jack is usually a person of well-developed appetite, and he not only wants good food, but he wants lots of it.
Therefore, the galley and mess arrangements at the training camp are among the most interesting and important phases of the training course. The outstanding feature is, of course, the great open-air dining room, which is in the street in front of the former Cristobal Café, now the galley or kitchen. A large awning has been erected to protect Jack from the sun during mess times, but after he has arisen from the table it is rolled back and the bright California sun is allowed to play upon the tables and their furniture, providing a means of antiseptic, it is said, which makes this the most sanitary dining room in the country.
The foot is prepared in the gallery, or, as Jack’s mother would prefer, the kitchen in the Cristobal Café. The galley, where any number of cooks and bakers hold way over the pots and pans, can feed 5,000 sailors at a meal. The menus are prepared a week ahead, and include everything from ham to eggs to the turkey of holiday time. There is no limit to the foot which is allowed Jack. He can come back for “seconds,” and “thirds,” and even for “fourths,” but particular care is taken to eliminate waste.
The camp at Balboa Park, as has been said, is considered by naval men to have achieved a full measure of success. In the last body of recruits received at the camp there was a contingent of youths who had been sent to San Diego from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and other cities of the east, while but a few of the remainder were from California. One reason for this success, of course, is the excellent climate, which permits of uninterrupted training throughout the year, while the beautiful environment of the former Exposition grounds makes the camp a thing of perpetual joy to Jack. But one thing, according to those in charge of the training is lacking in the camp, and that is sufficient opportunity for aquatic instruction. There is to the south of the camp a canyon, which may be so damned that if filled with water, it would make a lake behind it approximately 1200 feet long and 200 feet wide, providing plenty of space for maneuvering of boats, races and water sports. If this feature is added to the camp it is believed that the government will make the present camp a permanent station and will replace the Exposition buildings, many of which are deteriorating rapidly, with edifices specially adapted to Jack’s needs.
While the old buildings have been used with great success, it required much ingenuity on the part of the naval engineers to fit them and arrange the course of training with regard to them, but today this detail has been actually accomplished. With permanent structures erected by the government according to its own ideas, it is believed that still finer results could be obtained.
But Jack doesn’t worry about this. His training, though strict, is pleasant. His environment is delightful. He is welcome in the city, and the feminine heart still holds a niche for him — especially since this is the first port in which Jack may have a wife, and she has not yet thought of the ports where Jack may lure another maid. And when, with his ditty-bag on his shoulder, and any number of things crammed in his head, he swings down to the harbor of the sun to board his first ship, he knows, and the world knows, that he is that finest product of any country’s training — an American sailor, as expert with a steering wheel as with a cutlass, as merry in a battle as he can be with a girl.
July 8, 1918, San Diego Union, 7:1-2. Band of Balboa Park sailormen ranks with best in southland.
July 11, 1918, San Diego Union, 7:1. Naval Training Station band to pay at Warner Springs Saturday and Sunday; assigned to French Independence celebration to be held at resort, 13th and 14th.
July 12, 1918, Minutes of the Park Commission.
President Ryan stated that he had seen Mr. G. A. Davidson, president of the Panama-California International Exposition, in regard to the settlement of existing accounts between the Exposition and this Department, and that committees representing the Exposition and the Park Department would meet at some early date to discuss a final settlement. Upon motion duly made and carried, President Ryan Superintendent Morley and the Executive Secretary were named to represent the Park Department, and the Executive Secretary was directed to so advise Mr. Davidson.
July 15, 1918, San Diego Union, 1:4-6, 2:1. Celebrate Bastille Day at Balboa Park organ yesterday afternoon; more than 10,000 San Diegans joined with French people; main address by Judge Allen R. Rodgers, Fernand Amandes of 158th Infantry sang songs in French and English; Major General Frederick S. Strong, commander of 40th Division, expressed admiration for French people.
July 15, 1918, San Diego Union, 4:3-4. Navy Band heard at Warner Springs.
July 15, 1918, San Diego Union, 5:4-6. Tribute paid to flag at War Council rally last evening; gathering at Organ Pavilion held in honor of Stars and Stripes; also to advance work of organizing citizens in community movement; address by Governor Stephens.
July 19,1918, San Diego Union, 7:5. Fernand Amandes, baritone, now with 158th Infantry, Camp Kearny, to sing at Organ Pavilion Sunday afternoon, July 21.
July 19, 1918, San Diego Union, 8:1. Men instructors wanted for army classes at Park; courses in elementary subjects given to soldiers of 21st Infantry.
July 19, 1918, San Diego Union, 8:2-4. Dancers to entertain army and Navy men at the Knights of Columbus recreation center at Balboa Park this evening.
July 21, 1918, San Diego Union, 15:3-5. Miss Marguerite De La Motte to give interpretative dances at Knights of Columbus recreation building, Balboa Park, Tuesday evening, July 23, for men of Naval Training Station, Marine Corps and 21st Infantry.
July 26, 1918, San Diego Union, Society-Clubs, 7:2. Seventh outdoor dance to be held at Balboa Park tomorrow evening.
July 16, 1918, San Diego Union, Society-Clubs, 7:5. Mrs. W. Carlton Smith, soprano, and Mrs. E. S. Barr, pianist, will give recital at the Organ Pavilion Sunday afternoon.
July 27, 1918, San Diego Union, 5:5. Bernard Hollenhauer, violinist, will appear at Dr. Stewart’s organ recital tomorrow.
July 31, 1918, San Diego Union, 6:4-5. Men of 18 nations drafted into 21st Infantry are learning English rapidly; progress made by man at Balboa Park declared amazing by teaching corps; classes taught by education department of Y. M. C. A., assisted by Normal School teachers; classes held in front of Natural History Building beginning at 5:45 p.m. and in the mess hall of the Third Battalion.
August 1, 1918, San Diego Union, 11:3. Wallace Moody, tenor, to sing at Organ Pavilion Sunday afternoon, August 4.
August 3, 1918, San Diego Union, 4:4-5. Dr. H. J. Stewart, organist, Bernard Mollenhauer, violinist, and Mrs. Mollenhauer, cellist, to be heard in recital at regular Sunday afternoon concert.
August 3, 1918, San Diego Union, 4:4-5. Letter from W. H. Wilshire recalling F. F. Grant’s action as Park Board member:
As I recall it, it was Mr. Grant who allowed the refreshment concessions of the park to be transferred to a private individual for $150 a month, when, at the time, the Park Commission was enjoying an income of $1,500 monthly from the same concession.
August 4, 1913, San Diego Union, 3:5. Navy boys put on clever Minstrel and Variety Show at Isis theater last night; scenes written by members of Section Naval Base.
August 5, 1918, San Diego Union, 3:1. More than 4,000 persons attended Sunday afternoon concert at Organ Pavilion yesterday; organ, cello and violin trios on program.
August 5, 1918, San Diego Union, 4:6. F. F. Grant, Secretary of Park Board, writes letter answering W. H. Wilshire:
The Park Department is being maintained in 1918 with less than one-half as much of the taxpayer’s money as was used by the Department in 1916. The income to the Department from sources other than taxes will be in excess of $20,000 for 1918, against practically nothing for previous years.
The Stadium is now practically self-supporting instead of a heavy burden to the taxpayers as it had been previously.
There is no private individual who has a concession in the park to which Mr. Wilshire refers. The Park Board has charge of all concessions.
August 6, 1918, San Diego Union, 12:4. Miss Edna Mae Scofield, the artist, gave tea Saturday afternoon, August 3, in her picturesque studio in the Ethnological Building, Balboa Park.
August 7, 1918, San Diego Union, 6:6. Tenth in series of Plaza dances on Saturday to be elaborate; special lighting effects will be used; the affair will begin promptly at 8 o’clock and will be brought to a close at 11:30 because of the rule closing the park before midnight.
August 7, 1918, San Diego Union, 7:1-2. Sailors at Balboa Park heard Rabbi Nathan Krass on causes and purposes of war Monday evening, August 5; a new feature of the Y. M. C. A. building is the pergola erected by the camp; hickory chairs and tables have been placed on the Plaza and during liberty hours the place is well filled with sailors smoking, reading, playing games and just lounging.
August 9, 1918, San Diego Union, 4:3-4. Thousands attend reception marking 40th anniversary of Marston store.
August 10, 1918, San Diego Union, 6:1-2. Training Camp sailors to dance again tonight.
“It is the announced desire of the officers that only respectable persons attend.”
August 10, 1918, San Diego Union, 13:8. The opening round of a 5-week boxing tourney will be held Monday evening, August 12, on the Plaza de Panama and will consist of six bouts.
August 11, 1918, San Diego Union, 1:7. Mayor Wilde punches Councilman Walter P. Moor in eye at U. S. Grant Hotel as a climax to their long-standing feud.
August 11, 1918, San Diego Union, 6:1-2. Volunteers sought to teach English at soldiers’ school, Balboa Park.
August 11, 1918, San Diego Union, Classified, 1:8-4. Bessie Barriscale, screen actress, inspected her “godsons” at Naval Base yesterday.
August 11, 1918, San Diego Union, Sports and Auto Section, 1:2. Navy boxers in trim for tournament which starts tomorrow night.
August 14, 1918, San Diego Union, 6:3. English school for soldiers at park reorganized; classes being regrouped according to progress made by men; teachers needed.
August 17, 1918, San Diego Union, 3:4-6. San Diego Floral Association will hold a one-day Dahlia show tomorrow
August 17, 1918, San Diego Union, 4:3-5. John D. Spreckels celebrates 65th birthday; life-sized portrait in oils come as surprise as anniversary gift.
August 17, 1918, San Diego Union, 8:1. Training Camp sailors to be hosts at dance; tenth semi-monthly affair to be held tonight at Balboa Park Plaza.
August 18, 1918, San Diego Union, 1:7. Governor William D. Stephen’s speech at Organ Pavilion this afternoon will be patriotic.
August 18, 1918, San Diego Union, 10:3 Dahlia Show today (Sunday) in California building.
August 19, 1918, Regimental History, Twenty-First Infantry, 1918. The regiment, under instructions, telegram War Department, became a part of the 16th Division, organized at Camp Kearny, California, and changed station from Camp Walter R. Taliaferro , San Diego, California, to Camp Kearny, California.
Company C having been relieved from guard duty at North Island, California, by the 25th Battalion, U S. Guards, returned to Camp Walter R. Taliaferro for duty.
August 19, 1918, San Diego Union, 1:5-6, 3:4-5. Governor William D. Stephen’s gave stirring patriotic talk, with politics left out, at Balboa Park yesterday.
August 21, 1918, San Diego Union, 10:4. 21st Infantry to try Balboa nine Sunday afternoon at Stadium; Naval Training Station has reorganized with new lineup; Taliaferro strong.
August 22, 1918, Letter, Executive Secretary, Board of Park Commissioners, to Col. Willis Uline, Commanding, Camp W. R. Taliaferro, San Diego, Calif.
Dear Sir:-
The superintendent of parks, Mr. Morley, has requested that I report to you the following incidents:
Between 11 o’clock p.m. Wednesday, August 21, and daylight this morning, the home of the executive secretary on the Model Farm, Balboa Park, was entered and rifled. From the clothing of the executive secretary a small amount of change was taken. A breast pin composed of a dark brown topaz (about four to six karats) set in 18-karat filigree gold mounting was taken from a dressing table. This being an heirloom, the intrinsic value is not known definitely, but is estimated at $20 to $40.
Entrance was gained by a screen window in the living room being raised.
The burglar apparently worked without light, as clothing and contents were scattered promiscuously about the bedroom, and several articles of value were overlooked.
The occupants of the residence were asleep on a screened-in porch adjacent to the bedroom and were not awakened.
At 10:05 a.m., this date, a soldier was seen prowling about the chicken runs in the model farm. One of these runs containing peach trees, now bearing fruit, was entered and considerable fruit taken. The soldier was ordered out and left, but returned a few minutes later, remaining in the chicken run until a gardener was summoned.
Very truly yours.
August 22, 1918, Correspondence, John Morley, San Diego Public Library; Letter, Executive Secretary to U. S. Naval Air Station, North Island, stating cost of cornice work on San Joaquin Building will be approximately $65.00.
August 23, 1918, San Diego Union, 10:2-3. First call for football issued at Naval Training Camp, Balboa Park.
August 23, 1918, San Diego Union, 10:5. 21st Infantry Baseball Team ready for two games; North Islanders play on Saturday and Naval Training Camp/Taliaferro Sunday.
August 23, 1918, San Diego Union, Classified, 9:4. Mayor throws down gauntlet to Councilman Moore.
August 27, 1918, San Diego Union, 7:4-5. “Old Doc” Cook hero at Balboa Park fights; knocked out Kid Benson in the first round and boxed three rounds to a draw with Mike Russell.
August 27, 1918, San Diego Union, 7:5 Jack Ryan, pitching for the naval training camp, won his game from the 21st Infantry at the stadium last Sunday.
August 28, 1918, San Diego Union, 6:3. 21st will remove to Camp Kearny; Regimental Headquarters in Balboa Park to be transferred last of week.
Camp Kearny, Aug. 27. — San Diego’s own fighting infantry, the 21st , which for years acted as escort of President William McKinley, is about to break camp and depart from its pleasant surroundings in Balboa Park. The announcement came from the regimental headquarters this morning, stating that the 21st would pack up and march to Camp Kearny the latter part of this week to take up new quarters in the old camp of the 18th brigade.
This is the “old, well-known army brigade,” mentioned sometime ago which is to form the foundation for the 21st Infantry brigade now being formed here.
Colonel Willis Uline, commander of the 21st, will take over temporary command of the camp and the 18th division by seniority of rank, unless a few brigadier generals are assigned here to precede the division commander.
The command of the camp has been shifted so often and so rapidly in the last two weeks that it has been hard to keep track of who was in supreme authority.
Officers of the 21st Infantry have been frequent visitors to this camp the last few days, locating their camp and preparing everything for their move.
August 29, 1918, San Diego Union, 8:3 (Thursday morning). Training Camp boys to stage “deep sea” vaudeville show at the Isis Theater of the evenings of September 6 and 7; sailors will seen footlight honors; many former professionals to appear.
The men who will take part in the show are enlisted men and are men who have had experience on the stage. Vernon Dent, who will head the program, was on the Orpheum circuit before he enlisted in the Navy and appeared on the Keith circuit in the east about three years ago.
August 29, 1918, San Diego Union, 8:5. War Work Council of Y. M. C. A. experiences busiest season.
The transfer of the 21st Infantry from Camp Taliaferro to Camp Kearny has brought to a close the educational work of teaching English to the foreigners of that regiment. More than 200 men have been receiving their first lessons in English for the last five or six week under the direction of the educational department of the association. . . . The teaching force was composed of volunteer teachers from the city schools and students in the summer school of the State Normal.
August 30, 1918, San Diego Union, 4:3. Marines honor former comrade killed in action; memorial unveiled in park in presence of entire command stationed there; granite memorial resting on a concrete foundation.
Private John Awkerman of the 27th Company, 4th Regiment of the Marines, killed in action in Santo Domingo, June, 1916; memorial erected opposite entrance to Kern Building, the building now being used as a barracks for the marines.
August 30, 1918, San Diego Union, 6:4-5. Raja Yoga College students give entertainment at park last evening in the building that is occupied as the service headquarters of the International Brotherhood.
The large reading writing and recreation rooms in this building have been used constantly by the men of the army and navy since they were opened over a year ago.
August 30, 1918, San Diego Union, 6:6. Company D, 21st arrived at Camp Kearny from Long Beach last evening.
The rest of the men in the 21st will start their hike from Camp Taliaferro this morning and probably will pull in soon after noon mess.
August 30, 1918, San Diego Union, 11:5. Concert Sunday, September 1, at Organ Pavilion, by war savings music bureau of Southern California; Mrs. Bertha Winslow Vaughn, soprano, and Roland Paul, tenor, soloists; no collection will be taken at concert.
August 30, 1918, San Diego Union, 11:8. Navy to give semi-monthly outdoor dance; predicted that 14th in series of affairs at Park will cap climax.
August 31, 1918, San Diego Union, 3:6. Number 11 street car from Balboa Park crashed into rear of Number 7 car near the high school last evening; lead car stopped at Stadium to discharge passengers and car following behind struck it; seven people slightly hurt.
August 31, 1918, San Diego Union, 6:3-6. 21st Infantry now established at Camp Kearny; becomes active participant in organization of 16th Division, according to plans.
August 31, 1918, San Diego Union, 6:6. Plan to observe Pennsylvania Day at Organ Pavilion this afternoon by sailor boys at Training Station; Mrs. L. L. Rowan will sing; college songs and cheers will be given; refreshments will be served by Y. M. C. A. at Pepper Grove after the program.
September 1, 1918, San Diego Union, 6:6. Pennsylvanians meet to honor boys at Station; 400 youths from Keystone State take part in celebration at Organ Pavilion.
September 1, 1918, San Diego Union, 14:1-5. Section naval base at La Playa transforming youths of today into fighters of tomorrow.
September 1, 1918, San Diego Union, Society and Club, 1:1-2. Naval Training Station boys of Balboa Park to give “Deep Sea” vaudeville performance at Isis Theater, Friday and Saturday evenings, September 6 and 7; seats reserved; prices 50 cents and 75 cents.
September 1, 1918, San Diego Union, Sports and Auto, 3:5. Opening patriotic concert of series to be held at Organ Pavilion under auspices of war savings music bureau of Southern California; Lyman J. Gage will preside; Miss Gertrude Gilbert chairman for San Diego County war savings concert bureau.
September 2, 1918, San Diego Union, 5:3-4. Splendid musical program at Organ Pavilion; Los Angeles artists greeting with enthusiasm at meeting designed to promote patriotic and community spirit.
September 4, 1918, San Diego Union, 5:3-6. Naval Training Station never busier than now (photographs of about 6,000 bluejackets doing exercises and part of a battalion drill).
September 7, 1918, San Diego Union, 8:3-6. Men in Uncle Sam’s Training School at Balboa Park in Love with Place, Shown.
That the men in Uncle Sam’s training school in Balboa Park like their job is evident and there does not seem to be a general desire to get away from the school and is associations. On liberty days hundreds of the men instead of making an early break for downtown and larger liberty choose to stay in camp all day, seeking and finding diversion enough there.
On Labor Day, fully 1500 remained in camp, and in the evening witnessed and participated in the humorous athletic students, and incidentally found an outlet for the unlimited energy stored up during two days free from duty.
The events took place on the Plaza before the Y. M. C. A. hut.
September 10, 1918, San Diego Union, 2:4. Patriotic national registration rally at Balboa Park tomorrow night at eight o’clock; executive committee of Community Council of Defense asks churches, fraternal and civic organizations to adjourn their meetings so attendance may be present at rally.
September 10, 1918, San Diego Union, 5:3-6. Several hundred young men receive instruction in swimming at section naval base on Point Loma.
September 10, 1918, San Diego Union, 6:7. Sailors at Park saw boxers mix last night; show good work; more than 3,000 cheer as last of preliminaries are given on big Plaza.
September 10, 1918, San Diego Union, 6:7-8. Oriental program to be given at Park tonight by Mrs. Carl Johnson, contralto, and Miss Lois Brown, pianist, illustrating costumes and languages of India, China, Japan and Hawaii; to entertain servicemen.
September 12, 1918, San Diego Union, 1:6. City ready to register manpower; big crowd at Organ Pavilion; hear orators in patriotic utterances; 6,000 men and women attended; registration tomorrow.
September 12, 1918, San Diego Union, 5:1-6. Photograph of 5,000 sailors forming service flag for navy on Plaza de Panama.
September 16, 1918, San Diego Union, 7:1. Champions in football and baseball. That is the record the Naval Training Camp of Balboa Park has made during the two seasons of 1917-1918.
September 16, 1918, San Diego Union, 7:7-8. Final boxing bouts at Balboa Park tonight.
September 16, 1918, San Diego Union, 8:4. San Diego in line for U. S. hospital; Navy Department has started an investigation for a hospital and San Diego is included in list of eligible cities.
September 19, 1918, San Diego Union, 8:4-5. Government decides to build big hospital in Balboa Park; City Council provides 10-acre tract on convenient site; plan will call for an expenditure of $100,000; bids to be called in the near future; two large buildings, each with a capacity of 1,000 or more beds; site is old Howard tract, northeast of Stadium; large eucalyptus trees surround site; resolution tendering use of grounds presented to Council yesterday by Councilman Walter F. Moore and unanimously adopted; in case the Navy Department may later require more ground the Council will offer land north or west of the present site; Dr. R. A. Buker, in charge of the hospital at the Naval Training Station in Balboa Park, declared yesterday the site, commanding a view of the bay and the mountains, is ideal.
September 27, 1918, San Diego Union, 1:5. Great relative and sweetheart film to be made tomorrow afternoon at Balboa Park in cooperation with Union and Evening Tribune; film will be shown here and abroad.
September 27, 1918, San Diego Union, 1:6-7, 3:6. Draft call postponed by General Crowder account of influenza epidemic.
September 28, 1918, San Diego Union, 7:1-2. Balboa seamen keep busy though tied in; quarantine placed on the station by the war department.
September 28, 1918, San Diego Union, 7:3. Section Base baseball challenge accepted by Balboa Park heads; offer to stage the game on the first Sunday following the lifting of the quarantine.
September 29, 1918, San Diego Union, 12:4-7. Bluejackets at Balboa Park pass hours of quarantine at sports and games.
Bluejackets in training at the naval training camp, Balboa Park, have readily adjusted to the rigorous quarantine placed on the camp by the naval authorities at Washington last Wednesday as a precaution against an outbreak of the influenza epidemic sweeping the country. They have cheerfully accepted the denial of liberty three times each week as part of the program for winning the war.
Order has been passed out that there is to be no expectorating on the streets of the park. The punishment is that the lad spitting on the street or the plaza must wear a cigar box swung about his neck, and this box is partially filled with sand and serves as a receptacle for the cigarette and cigar stubs of the victim’s shipmates.
September 30, 1918, San Diego Union, 7:1. Balboa seamen hold another day of sports events; quarantined sailors enjoy their “should be” liberty at camp Sunday, September 29.
September 30, 1918, San Diego Union, 7:8. Naval trainers held vaudeville at Plaza de Panama Saturday evening, September 28; prizes given by local firms to sailors who did the best acting.
September 30, 1918, San Diego Union, 8:1-3. Quarantined sailors have “stunt evening” Saturday, September 28.
October 3, 1918, San Diego Union, 9:3. Naval trainers celebrated the end of the first week in quarantine yesterday afternoon by turning out and rooting for their favorite volleyball, basketball and baseball teams; games on Plaza; exhibition boxing match of four three-minute rounds.
October 4, 1918, San Diego Union, 7:2-5. Photograph of shut-in sailors playing volleyball.
October 6, 1918, San Diego Union, 4:3. Naval camp boys subscribed $73,250 yesterday in opening day for fourth Liberty Loan drive.
October 6, 1918, San Diego Union, Sport and Auto, 1:6. Seaman guard battalion at Balboa defeated in volleyball yesterday but retained lead in quarantine pastime.
October 7, 1918, San Diego Union, 6:4-5. Captain MacArthur, who assumed command last week, in charge of Balboa naval training.
October 8, 1918, San Diego Sun, 6:4. The regular Monday evening, October 7, athletic program of the Balboa Park Naval Training Camp was featured by three wrestling matches and two fistic encounters. The program was given on the Plaza de Panama and was attended by more than 4,000 sailors.
October 8, 1918, San Diego Union, 8:4. Featured by three wrestling matches and two fast boxing bouts the regular Monday evening program of the naval training camp proved a huge success last night when it was presented on the Plaza de Panama.
October 9, 1918, San Diego Union, 6:1-8 (Group photograph of Battalion C of Naval Training Camp, Balboa Park; so far 725 of this battalion have subscribed to present Liberty Bond drive.
October 10, 1918, San Diego Union, 4:1. EDITORIAL: Union’s 50th Anniversary, giving the history of the San Diego Union.
October 10, 1918, San Diego Union, 12:3-4. Naval training football eleven has many college stars; team given first stiff workout yesterday afternoon; Lt. Conover working on game schedule.
October 11, 1918, San Diego Union, 1:4-5. All theaters, moving picture shows, dance halls, churches and bathhouses will be closed until further notice beginning at midnight tomorrow night as a precautionary measure against the spread of influenza; City Board of Health issued the order last night.
October 12, 1918, San Diego Union, Classified, 9:1-4. Every precaution is taken to guard against epidemic.
October 13, 1918, San Diego Union, 9:2-3. Anti-influenza quarantine closes all public places.
October 13, 1918, San Diego Union, 10:4. Marston doubles subscription to Liberty issue; increases figures from $40,000 to $80,000.
October 13, 1918, San Diego Union, Classified, 1:3-4. Lt. J. S. Conover writes letter to J. J. Green, superintendent, expressing appreciation of training received by sailors in shops and drawing rooms of San Diego High School and Junior College.
October 13, 1918, San Diego Union, Sport and Auto, 1:7. Naval officers meet today on baseball field; teams from section base and training station play at Balboa Park.
October 13, 1918, San Diego Union, Sport and Auto, 1:8. Volleyball finals at Naval Station played yesterday afternoon.
October 13, 1918, San Diego Union, Sports and Auto, 14:3. Naval Training Camp sets goal of a quarter of a million dollars in Liberty Bond drive; list shows the various units of the training camp with the number of men in each who have bought bonds to date with the amount subscribed.
October 13, 1918, San Diego Union, Sport and Auto, 14:6. Strict embargo placed on all military camps; preventive measures taken to protect good health of San Diego County.
October 14, 1918, San Diego Union, 7:7-8. Naval Base officers downed Naval Training Station by score of 10 to 8 yesterday morning.
October 15, 1918, San Diego Union, 6:4. Balboa Park boys subscribed $131,050 to Liberty Loan at closing time yesterday.
October 18, 1918, San Diego Union, 6:4-5. Record loan subscriptions reached at Naval Training Camp, Balboa Park, announced.
October 20, 1918, San Diego Union, 1:3-6, 4:6. San Diego’s great airplane exhibition yesterday morning by the aviators at Rockwell Field (photograph).
October 20, 1918, San Diego Union, 14:3-5. Captain Arthur MacArthur’s navy record includes service in first submarine.
October 21, 1918, San Diego Sun, II, 7:4-5. Marston is for Charles F. O’Neall for state senator.
October 21, 1918, San Diego Union, 8:5. Sailors continue with big shut-in program at Naval Training Camp.
October 22, 1918, San Diego Union, 5:3. Naval Training Camp men paid; sum of $50,000 distributed; yesterday was semi-monthly payday; new recruits given swimming instructions in large pool near the lath house; instructions were suspended when precautions against the Spanish influenza were adopted, but will be resumed in a day or two.
October 22, 1918, San Diego Union, 9:3-4. Balboa shut-ins saw fast boxing program last night at Plaza.
October 24, 1918, San Diego Union, 9:1-2. Naval trainers start football play; two teams fight to tie yesterday afternoon on 21st Infantry grounds before more than 6,000 bluejackets and soldiers.
October 25, 1918, San Diego Sun, 4:3. Henry Schumann-Heink, diva’s son, wins post of ensign.
October 26, 1918, San Diego Union, Classified, 7:-2. City Council “requests” that gauze masks by worn; not compulsory.
October 27, 1918, San Diego Union, Sport and Auto, 1. Eddie McLarney made boxing instructor at Balboa Park.
October 27, 1918, San Diego Union, Sport and Auto, 1:2-5. Naval Training Camp football contenders (photograph).
October 27, 1918, San Diego Union, Sport and Auto, 1:7. Balboa Park sailors swamp 21st team.
The athletic program for the quarantined sailors at Balboa Park yesterday afternoon was confined to a baseball game between Battalion A and a team rounded up by the soldiers at Camp Taliaferro, the contest being fought out on the 21st Infantry playgrounds.
October 29, 1918, San Diego Union, 9:1. Navy camp “Allies” football team is ready for match; over 100 players and near players report for first workout at Balboa Park; the “Allies” team will be organized to oppose the regulars; men worked out on 21st Infantry grounds.
October 30, 1918, San Diego Union, Classified, 9:1-2. Influenza cases increase; more precaution necessary; Health Department warning; Health Office has not received vaccine.
October 31, 1918, San Diego Union, 6:3. Four battalions passed in review before Captain MacArthur at Balboa Park yesterday afternoon.
November/December, 1918, Art and Archaeology, Vol. 7, No.7, 411.
- War Work at San Diego
The Museum placed its equipment and staff at the disposal of the government for war service. As the remaining buildings of the Exposition house the six thousand men of the San Diego Naval Training Station, the demands upon the Museum by the various war activities have been great. Its buildings accommodate the work of the Young Men’s Christian Association, Young Women’s Christian Association, Knights of Columbus, Red Cross, Camp Musical Director and Chaplain. In the library and galleries of the Science of Man Building not less than a thousand sailors in uniform may be seen, every afternoon and evening, reading, writing and drawing, while every lecture room in the Indian Arts and Fine Arts buildings is occupied by classes in the study of language, mathematics, engineering, navigation and aeronautics. The auditorium is in constant use for lectures, band practice, evening entertainments and religious services. In the anthropological laboratories the physical and mental measurement of approximately a thousand children has been accomplished for the government under the direction of Dr. Evangeline Caven and Miss Montana Hastings, Associate in Psychology, with the assistance of a corps of physicians and other volunteers. The tabulation and analysis of date secured are in the hands of Mr. Herbert Sallee, Fellow in Psychology.
Paul A. F. Walter.
November 3, 1918, San Diego Union, 6:1. Stunt night program at Naval Training Camp success last night.
November 3, 1918, San Diego Union, 6:3. Company 3, Battalion A of Naval Training Camp, won first honors in drill contest; drills held every liberty day during quarantine as a form of recreation for men.
November 3, 1918, San Diego Union, Sport and Auto, 1:5. Navy teams may play Wednesday, November 6, in Stadium if quarantine is lifted.
November 3, 1918, San Diego Union, Sport and Auto, 1:8. Mike Goliado, Pacific coast reserve fleet lightweight champion, will battle for title tomorrow evening at Naval Training Camp with Dutch Crozier.
November 4, 1918, San Diego Union, 9:3-4. Balboa Park to see fast fight tonight.
November 4, 1918, San Diego Union, 9:3. Everything is in readiness for the lightweight championship bout between Dutch Crozier and Mike Golindo, scheduled for this evening at the naval training camp, Balboa Park.
November 6, 1918, San Diego Sun, 1:1-8. Huns sent for terms.
November 6, 1918, San Diego Sun, 1:7-8. Ed P. Sample beats Charles F. O’Neall for state senate.
November 7, 1918, San Diego Sun, 1:1-2. Armistice is signed and the fighting stops.
November 9, 1918, San Diego Sun, 1:7-8. Kaiser abdicates.
November 7, 1918, San Diego Union, 6:3. Bluejackets drilled at Naval Training Camp before Congressman Kettner yesterday afternoon.
November 9, 1918, San Diego Union, 6:4-5. Naval camp Thespians to give program tonight at Red Cross Building in Park; musical numbers from “Deep Sea” vaudeville, jazz band will have part in program.
November 11, 1918, San Diego Union, 1:1-8. WORLD WAR ENDS; Armistice signed.
November 12, 1918, San Diego Sun, II, 7:1-2. Make November 11, “Democracy Day,” and international holiday; San Diego celebrates in joyous fashion; rousing parade and jubilee held.
November 12, 1918, San Diego Union, 1:8, 5:1-4. City celebrates big news; parade along Broadway led by Captain Arthur MacArthur, commandant of Naval Training Station, and Admiral Tallman, commander of the Reserve Force of the Pacific Fleet; sailors, 21st Infantry, civilians in parade.
November 12, 1918, San Diego Union, Classified, 7:5. Red Cross House at Park opened; first series of afternoon teas given by Society Women at dedication, 200 feet by 60 feet.
November 13, 1918, San Diego Sun, 3:1-2. Few realize great work being done at new Marine base on Flats.
November 13, 1918, San Diego Union, 1:3-6. Millions being spent around San Diego on military, naval work.
November 13, 1918, San Diego Union, 1:6. “Flu” quarantine here to be lifted next Sunday; decision reached at meeting of Health Board; situation shows improvement.
November 13, 1918, San Diego Union, 6:2. Camp Taliaferro exceeds its quota; rally in the interests of the United War Work campaign at the army Y. M. C. A. building at Camp Taliaferro; the camp, representing less than 300 men, was divided into respective companies, each in charge of its company commander, and a battle royal was staged to see which division would be the first to “go over the top” in subscriptions to assist their comrades overseas.
After a spirited address by Judge H. H. Handee, the battle began and in six minutes team no. 3, consisting of the headquarters staff, the medical corps, the quartermaster’s corps, the 44 battalion, U. S. guards and the motor transportation corps, had subscribed its quota. Team 2 followed with its full quota in 18 minutes and in 31 minutes Camp Taliaferro had exceeded the margin of its quota by $32. Much credit is due to C company for its excellent team work and the enthusiasm displayed in the contest.
Major Kay and his entire staff were present during the campaign.
November 14, 1918, San Diego Sun, II, 9:1-4. Big parade, carnival to be staged Friday night, November 15.
November 14, 1918, San Diego Union, 6:4-5. Red Cross House haven for many lads at Park; homelike place offered boys regaining health; San Diego and Coronado women serve tea and things to eat; open fireplaces prove fascinating; games wanted.
November 15, 1918, San Diego Sun, II, 9:1-4. All set for big carnival tonight.
November 15, 1918, San Diego Union, 4:3. Paved park road meets with favor; proposal to dedicate road to memory of fallen soldiers receives approval; idea of R. A. Chapman to pave driveway through Balboa Park from 18th Street to northeast corner of park at 28th Street; road to be named “Pershing Drive”; Chapman appeared before Park Commissioners yesterday.
November 16, 1918, San Diego Sun, 4:3. “Dig Up” is slogan now, last appeal.
November 16, 1918, San Diego Union, 1:8, 3:5. Last night’s mammoth Broadway parade and carnival held under auspices of United War Work campaign committee; $85,000 mark has been passed; 10 military divisions in procession.
November 17, 1918, San Diego Sun, 4:5-6. M. O. Hall opposes name of “Pershing Plaza.”
November 18, 1918, San Diego Sun, II, 9:2. R. A. Chapman suggests “Liberty Drive” through Balboa Park from 16th Street to northeast corner of park.
November 18, 1918, San Diego Union, 1:6. Quarantine ended midnight yesterday; schools still closed; churches, theaters and other public places open to public.
November 18, 1918, San Diego Union, 4:6. Proposal to pave Park boulevard through Park crystallizes in temporary organization; R. A. Chapman, chairman; B. F. Radcliff, secretary.
November 19, 1918, San Diego Sun, II, 7:2-6. Story of North Island, vast aerial province, is told as grip of war censor ends.
November 20, 1918, San Diego Sun, 7:3-6. North Island is busy place; they’re up and doing all the time.
November 20, 1918, San Diego Union, 12:1. Naval, military ball to dedicate Red Cross House; formal opening of social season in dance Tuesday on spacious floor of building in Balboa Park; affair to be strictly invitational.
The Red Cross House is 200 feet long and the floor will accommodate 800 couples.
Music for the dancing will be furnished by the naval training station band of 50 pieces, the naval orchestra of 15 pieces, and the famous navy “jazz” band.
- B. Dohrmann, acting manager of the Pacific Division of the American Red Cross is coming from San Francisco with a party to attend the ball and to hand over the key to the Red Cross House to Captain Arthur MacArthur, commandant.
November 21, 1918, San Diego Sun, II, 9:1-6. Permanent improvements feature flying fields at North Island schools.
November 21, 1918, San Diego Union, 11:2. Balboa sailors fast with oval; park team in practice game shows speed; Johnson plays quarterback.
November 22, 1918, San Diego Sun, II, 9:1-5. Camp Kearny, San Diego’s ideal cantonment, shelters 18,000 now.
November 22, 1918, San Diego Union, 9:3. Victory pageant to be feature of monster athletic program at Stadium Thanksgiving Day.
November 23, 1918, San Diego Union, 3:2. Red Cross House dedication will be made social event for Tuesday night; photograph of Red Cross House, formerly the San Joaquin Building at the Exposition and recently converted into a comfortable home for convalescent soldiers and sailors at Balboa Park.
The old San Joaquin building of Exposition days will be the scene of a smart event next Thursday evening when members of San Diego and Coronado social circles unite with the officers of the naval training center in dedicating it as the Red Cross House, a convalescent home for soldiers and sailors stationed at Balboa Park. A military and naval ball will follow the dedication ceremonies, which will be featured by A. D. Dohrmann, acting manager of the Pacific division of the Red Cross, handing over the keys of the building to Capt. Arthur MacArthur, commandant.
Many changes have taken place within the building during the last few weeks, while a big Red Cross on top of the building points the way to the home for Uncle Sam’s convalescent nephews. Within, two immense fireplaces have been constructed to add the necessary comfort of warmth, big leather chairs have been placed all around for the boys to rest in, with just about as many real upholstered couches for them to sprawl out on, and dozens of canaries sing for the sick ones all day long.
The building has proved a real haven of joy to the convalescent soldiers and sailors, and local people will have an opportunity Tuesday evening of seeing what a fine men’s club they have furnished for the boys. Brilliant electrical effects and beautiful floral decorations are being planned to add to the attractiveness of the scene for the occasion.
Dr. Bucher, senior medical officer of the naval training station, assures the guests that there will be absolutely no dance of contracting the influenza at the affair as the building is perfectly sanitary. His endorsement was obtained by the naval officers before any step was taken to give the ball.
Capt. John B. Brown, who is in charge of the Red Cross House and who is a member of the management committee for the ball, announced last night that he has a few invitations that may be obtained by army and navy officers by telephoning. The affair is strictly invitational and cards have been sent out to more than 500 couples.
November 24, 1918, San Diego Union, 11:4. Public responds to call to pave memorial drive; nearly $200 contributed so far to build tribute to men fallen in battle.
November 24, 1918, San Diego Union, Sport and Auto, 1:3. Athletic show Thanksgiving gives promise of packing stadium; hundreds of men are training.
November 25, 1918, San Diego Union, 7:1-2. Thanksgiving benefit plans about complete; wrestling, track, circus pageant, massed band; price of general admission is $1.00.
November 25, 1918, San Diego Union, 10:1. Army-Navy ball to be brilliant; commanding officers of the various training camps in San Diego will attend dedication at Red Cross House.
November 26, 1918, San Diego Sun, 4:7-8. Fort Rosecrans and La Playa, scene of Army-Navy activities.
November 26, 1918, San Diego Union, 6:6. Lieutenant Commander W. R. Cushman succeeds Lieutenant Commander S. W. Wallace as executive officer of U. S. Naval Training Camp, Balboa Park.
November 27, 1918, San Diego Sun, 1:1-2, 2:4. Thousands see great air review here.
November 27, 1918, San Diego Sun, 4:2-3. Point Loma, a nest of big guns, shelters thousands of troops; needs roads now.
November 27, 1918, San Diego Sun, 7:3. Announce program for community Thanksgiving service at Balboa Park tomorrow.
November 27, 1918, San Diego Sun, 7:3. Red Cross House dedicated at ball in Balboa Park.
November 27, 1918, San Diego Union, 4:5. Choir of 32 voices representing choirs from churches of the city will sing at Thanksgiving service Thursday morning at Organ Pavilion.
November 27, 1918, San Diego Union, 4:6. Willard B. Thorp writes letter giving history of trouble with school board members; recall election next Tuesday, December 3.
November 27, 1918, San Diego Union, 14:2. Red Cross House at Balboa Park presented Navy; brilliant military, naval ball dedicates use of building to convalescent men.
November 28, 1918, San Diego Union, 1:7-8, 5:1-3. Great pageant of sky makes aerial history as fliers circle over city; 212 planes go through daring feats in mass flight without mishap.
November 28, 1918, San Diego Union, 6:3. Boys that trained at Kearny now in camp near Verdun; 40th Division is located among others of American Army in France.
November 29, 1918, San Diego Union, 1:5, 2:2-3. 18,000 people at great sports carnival in Stadium; thrilled by Army-Navy contests, crashing music and impressive scenes; Navy athletes win at football, 35 to 6; boxing draws cheers.
(December 9, 1968, San Diego Union, B-5:1-4. “Spanish Flu” major killer; dreaded plaque reached its peak here 50 years ago today, by Joe Stone.)
(March 10, 1985, San Diego Union, B-1. In 1918 the flu wasn’t inconvenient, it was deadly, by Lew Scarr.)
December 2, 1918, San Diego Union, 7:2-3. Balboa Park fails to schedule game with Mather Field eleven.
December 4. 1918, San Diego Sun, 6:1-2. Board of Commissioners ordered playground activities stopped.
December 4, 1918, San Diego Union, 1:7-8. “Solid Three” ousted in School Board recall election; third of vote is cast.
December 6, 1918, San Diego Union, 1:8. “Flu” ban on; to run four days unless Council decides to keep it on; masks must be work in business places.
December 6, 1918, San Diego Union, 4:3-6. “F” Battalion was presented with a loving cup yesterday afternoon at Plaza de Panama for having the highest score of the athletic and drill tournament which has extended over a two-month period.
December 7, 1918, Letter, Executive Secretary, Board of Park Commissioners, to Major E. C. Long, Post Quartermaster, U. S. M. C., Marine Barracks, San Diego, Cal.
Re: Alteration of Buildings and removal of shrubbery.
Dear Sir:-
In the absence of Mr. Morley, your letter of December 4, last, has been referred to men, and authority is hereby given for the following work:
(1.) Installation of ventilators and heating arrangements in Salt Lake Building.
(2.) Installation of four windows in south wall of Alameda Building.
(3.) Building of office within Montana Building, cutting of three windows in east wall of said
building, and installation of two coal stoves.
(4.) Permission also is given for pruning overgrowth of trees and for removal of such trees on
south and west sides of Alameda Building as may be decided upon between the medical
officer of the Marine post and this department.
All work above mentioned to be done in a neat and workmanlike manner, and under the
supervision of and in a manner satisfactory to this department or its representative.
Very truly yours.
December 9, 1918, San Diego Union, 7:2-5. Rockwell Field aviators are ready for Balboa Park sailors, by John W. Swallow.
December 9, 1918, San Diego Union, 7:5. Balboa team back from north; will play flyers Saturday.
December 10, 1918, San Diego Sun, 9:4. Mayor Wilde opposes higher gas rate.
December 10, 1918, San Diego Sun, 11:7. City playgrounds to reopen.
December 15, 1918, San Diego Union, 4:3-6, 5:1. Millions will be spend here by Government in extending work of great Naval Air Station now firmly established.
December 15, 1918, San Diego Union, Sport and Auto, 1:1-2. Balboa Park sailors win southern gridiron title at Stadium yesterday; Navy defeats fast-flyer football team; final score 6 to 3; Rockwell Field gains most ground but fails to win contest.
December 16, 1918, San Diego Union, 4:3. Engineer draws plans for city’s memorial drive; monuments will bear names of San Diego County boys who gave lives.
December 17, 1918, San Diego Union, 4:3. Improvement in Influenza cases here.
December 17, 1918, San Diego Union, 11:3. Balboa sailors saw fast bouts last night on Plaza de Panama.
December 20, 1918, San Diego Sun, 4:3-6. Just Among Ourselves . . . regarding influenza in San Diego.
With approximately 5,000 cases of influenza in San Diego to date, five percent or 250 have resulted fatally.
December 20, 1918, San Diego Union, Classified, 9:3. Ten sailors for Naval Training Station helped Red Cross make gauze face masks yesterday.
December 21, 1918, San Diego Union, 4:4-5. Encouraging figures show decline of flu epidemic.
December 21, 1918, San Diego Union, 4:4-5. Major Herbert R. Fay, former councilman, proposes memorial at Organ Pavilion to San Diegans who aided in winning war; wants flag pole and granite marker containing two bronze tablets in open space in front of Organ Pavilion, which is to be called “Liberty Circle.”
December 21, 1918, San Diego Union, 14:1. Boy Scouts’ camp located in park, volunteers building weekend quarters on north side near Mississippi Street.
“Oh, Boy! Where do we go from here?” is what local Boy Scouts are saying. At last the weekend camp plans for the San Diego Boy Scouts have matured and actual construction of the first camp buildings will be underway in a few days. This will be good news for everyone one of the 1500 Boy Scouts of San Diego county.
The camp is to be situated at the north side of Balboa Park, at the intersection of Mississippi Street. The first building to go up will be headquarters or administration building. Scoutmaster Walter Stiern of Troop 12 will have charge of the construction work, which will be done entirely by volunteer scouts.
The parade ground is already cleared, and a large flagpole will be raised from which the stars and stripes will float in the breeze every weekend.
On these grounds will be carried out an intensive weekend scout program. Thorough training in patrol and troop drills will be given and every scout will have an opportunity to pass all tests for which he is prepared.
The platforms and tents will be provided with complete camp equipment, and scouts will be accommodated in the various tents under official supervision.
The camp will be formally opened with an appropriate scout program in the near future.
December 22, 1918, San Diego Union, 11:1-3. Artists and builders of replica of Statue of Liberty at Stadium commended; model of Bartholdi “Statue of Liberty” unveiled at Stadium Thanksgiving Day; statement by George W. Marston; supposed to be temporary but Marston thinks it should remain in front of the stadium peristyle as long as possible; Frank Mead was supervising architect.
December 22, 1918, San Diego Union, Classified, 9:3. Big Xmas dance to be given for men in uniform; soldiers and sailors away from home will be guests at Red Cross House, the old San Joaquin building, in Balboa Park.
December 24, 1918, San Diego Union, 3:3. Knights of Columbus arrange Christmas entertainment at Balboa Park; held last night; music, Santa Claus, Christmas tree, dancing.
December 25, 1918, San Diego Sun, 1:7-8. Christmas, 1918, is marked by spirit of peace.
December 25, 1918, San Diego Union, 5:1. Santa Claus does not overlook soldiers, sailors; Red Cross sees that every man in camps here gets gift.
December 25, 1918, San Diego Union, 6:6. Santa is guest of sailors at Naval Station; Christmas Even party will presents for all held at Balboa Park.
December 26, 1918, San Diego Union, 2:3. Christmas carols sung at Balboa Park; vested choirs sang in Park to large audience despite cold weather last night; presented by War Camp Community Service; four quartets placed on balconies.
December 26, 1918, San Diego Union, 8:2. Uncle Sam sets real Christmas dinner for tars.
As far as Christmas “eats” were concerned the 1000 men at the U. S. naval training camp at Balboa Park couldn’t have fared better yesterday had they been at home.
Uncle Sam set an elaborate dinner for the boys in blue. There was more than enough to go around, and the husky young men were finally forced to admit their inability to “lick the platter clean.”
The menu card was both elaborate and unique. The outside cover, in colors, displayed a beautiful view of the camp, and men in the formation of a blue and white flag, showing anchor and star.
The slogan on the menu card was “Stand by. All hands turn to!”
The feast that followed included such wonderful dishes as “Destroyer,” which was roast young turkey; “Mess Gear,” which was giblet gravy; “Sea-going Gob,” which was oyster dressing; “Slacker, no crust and yellow all the way through,” which was pumpkin pie; “Italian violets,” meaning green onions, and so on. There was nothing lacking to make it a real feed. The boys thought last night that they wouldn’t want to eat again for a week. But they will.
December 26, 1918, San Diego Union, 8:6. Balboa Park soldiers have Xmas celebration.
“High Jinks” were let loose at the Y. M. C. A. building at Camp Taliaferro Christmas night. The army personnel, the Red Cross and the Y. M. C. A. all helped to make the occasion an enjoyable one. The program was given in four parts. The first was a musical show given by a trio from Troop G, 11th Cavalry, composed of Privates Duckman, Henry and Murray. Private Parker made a hit with his “Song of the Army.” Miss Hesse, a visitor, concluded the musical program with a Christmas solo, “Holy Night.”
Santa Claus then made his entry, and great fun was had when the gifts were distributed, some of the parcels containing things which made an appeal to the crowd. The Red Cross packages and other gifts from various sources were gladly received. The games then started and cause the greatest laughter of the evening.
The closing number was composed of two-reel comedies. The entertainment was arranged by the camp Y. M. C. A.
December 26, 1918, San Diego Union, Classified, 1:3. Soldiers and sailors way from home will be guests at Red Cross House for big Christmas dance.
December 27, 1918, San Diego Sun, 1:5. Evidence that the Navy Training Station is to remain in Balboa Park for sometime at least came today when work started on a big $4,000 bakery on the Isthmus opposite the Fisheries Building.
December 27, 1918, San Diego Sun, 4:3. William Templeton Johnson has just returned from Newburgh, New York, where for the past four months he had been in charge of the government housing plan for the big Diamond Shipbuilding Corporation, one of the greatest enterprises of the Emergency Fleet Corporation.
December 27, 1918, San Diego Union, 1:3. Music festival plan to honor fighters; Madame Schumann-Heink hopes to bring great artists to program at Organ Pavilion in Spring; proceeds to be devoted to an appropriate memorial to soldiers and sailors who participated in war.
December 28, 1918, San Diego Sun, 2:1-2. Mayor Wilde names new charter committee.
December 29, 1918, San Diego Union, 13:5. Memorial road in park favored; subscriptions for drive pass $1200 mark.
Return to Amero Collection.
BALBOA PARK HISTORY
pre-1900
1900 | 1901 | 1902 | 1903 | 1904
1905 | 1906 | 1907 | 1908 | 1909
1910 | 1911 | 1912 | 1913 | 1914
1915 | 1916 | 1917 | 1918 | 1919
1920 | 1921 | 1922 | 1923 | 1924
1925 | 1926 | 1927 | 1928 | 1929
1930 | 1931 | 1932 | 1933 | 1934
1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939
1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944
1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949
1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954
1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959
1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964
1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969
1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974
1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979
1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984
1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989
1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994
1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999
