GLENDORA'S BACKYARD BIG DALTON CANYON

About the Book

As a Big Dalton resident from 1935-1951, I witnessed and was a part of the development of this microcosm. I was a silent observer to the interaction of Paul Keiser with the Forest Service, Los Angeles County, Glendora Irrigating Company, and the visitors to the San Dimas Experimental Forest facilities. Much conversation in our home was with authors during the development of their most current writing projects. I observed my hot rod/street racing brother, Keril, and his mechanical friends spend hours in the Keiser garage (in Big Dalton Canyon) modifying their vehicles-the bodies, the frames, the engines-and the transition from racing on public streets to the safety of quarter-mile tracks at abandoned airfields and on desert dry lakes. These experimenters were forerunners in automobile performance improvements. My canyon life observations, the experiences gleaned from others who were part of the Bid Galton Canyon activity, and photos (particularly the photos) are what ignited the writing of this unique book. It is unique because it is a combination of history, biography, and a little autobiography all spiked with bits of humor. Glendora´s Backyard Big Dalton Canyon is the culmination of the opportunity to share with others the 1935-1951 life in that canyon. The nucleus for the dam book is a photo collection. The intent for writing the book was to weave around those pictures the story they represent. Examples of unique history, psychological factors, and education are: flag twirling, creating good from adversity (depression years coping activities), and the big bird/shrew and “sassy” girls incidents. The historical period is one step beyond the horse and buggy era and prior to the electronics age. Airplanes were a novelty. Artistic license deviates from historical facts in the “Mountain peace musically” account about Alice (walking and singing at night is factual), but that deviation is fitting. Read and enjoy.

About the Author

Lahla M. Keiser is a Citrus College graduate, Sacramento State University alumnus, and a Toastmasters International DTM. Present activities include a little ballroom and a lot of country/western dancing, and dabbling in writing.