Redlands

Randy Briggs, Fred Edwards

• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
• Year: 2006
• Print ISBN: 9780738546803
• eBook ISBN: 9781439634042
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: North American History
• Index: History

Cultural traditions coalesce in the city of Redlands like nowhere else in the Inland Empire. The University of Redlands is distinguished by a century of academic leadership to the community, the Fortnightly Club is one of the oldest literary organizations in the United States, and Spinnet plays favorites as one of the oldest musical societies in California. The rich cultural legacy of this sun-drenched San Bernardino County municipality intertwines with its past as a farming, citrus-growing, and health-care community, and lives on in the Redlands Symphony Orchestra, Redlands Art Association, and other regionally recognized organizations. The renowned A. K. Smiley Library remains an enduring tribute to one of the city's pioneering twin brothers (A. H. was the other) who oversaw its formative years.

Two

A THRIVING BUSINESS CENTER

This is a wonderful view of Orange Street, probably taken from the top of the YMCA building at Vine and Cajon Streets. It shows the Fisher Building on the right and the Triangle with its flagpole on the left. The Enterprise Grocery is just beyond. Taken about 1905, this picture shows the streetcar bound for Smiley Heights.

This turn-of-the-century photograph shows Redlands from the north. An enterprising photographer snapped this shot from the balcony of the Casa Loma Hotel on Colton Avenue. Careful examination of the picture reveals several lumber companies as well as the overall downtown district. The low-lying ridge to the right is Cañon Crest Park.

The dark and massive building at the center of the picture is the YMCA, built in 1895 and located at the corner of Cajon and Vine Streets. The Fisher block is on the left.

Probably taken in the early 1900s, this view of the heart of the city shows Orange Street as it crosses State Street. No cars yet, but bicycles, horses, and buggies abound to transport the shoppers and business people. The First National Bank of Redlands is on the right, and the Star Grocery is on the left.

In this similar view of Orange Street, the First National Bank on the right has had a major remodel, adding columns to its facade to portray that depositors’ money is safe here.

The Redlands National Bank is visible in the shadows on the right. During the early 1900s, it issued its own currency. The paper money was standard government issue but bore the name of the local bank. In the extreme distance is the tower of the Casa Loma Hotel.

Henry Fisher built his grand Fisher Building in 1899 to house not only shops for retail but also the offices of the Redlands Street Railroad Company, of which he was president. The streetcars stopped right outside his office.

This first photograph of Orange Street, taken in the early 1900s, shows dirt streets and few automobiles. The second photograph, taken a few years later, shows a modernized downtown with paved streets and automobiles on both sides.

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Table of contents

• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
• Table of Contents
• PREFACE
• INTRODUCTION
• One - REDLANDS OUR TOWN
• Two - A THRIVING BUSINESS CENTER
• Three - HOTELS AND INNS COME TO VISIT, AND STAY
• Four - THE SMILEYS A HERITAGE OF VISION AND GENEROSITY
• Five - A PLACE OF BEAUTY AND ENJOYMENT
• Six - A CITY OF CHURCHES
• Seven - EDUCATION THE KEY TO THE FUTURE
• Eight - STATELY HOMES AND NEIGHBORHOODS
• Nine - PANORAMAS AND VISTAS
• Ten - A MID-CENTURY VIEW
• BIBLIOGRAPHY
• ACROSS AMERICA, PEOPLE ARE DISCOVERING - SOMETHING WONDERFUL. THEIR HERITAGE.