Welcome to Downey, future unlimited

Last Thursday night I went to Downey City Library for a book signing and presentation by Larry Latimer. Larry's book "Images of America DOWNEY" was the reason for the event. It was a fun, informative evening filled with pictures of Downey's humble beginnings brought to life through Larry's stories. It was a good reminder that pictures alone are not enough. You need the stories, the details to help understand the past.

Larry really knows Downey history. (He spent the last 3 years researching at the Downey Historical Society.) I was amazed to learn the first land grant of this area was in 1784 for 300,000 acres that stretched from Whittier to the ocean! Equally surprising were the pictures of the first schools in Downey — from the begining we were diverse with kids of many races attending.

The second picture was taken in 1890 at the northeast corner of what is today Firestone Blvd. and Downey Avenue. I just can't get over that it looks like it was taken somewhere in the old west. Included in the picture, sitting on the porch is "Indian Joe," who is buried in Downey Cemetery and was mentioned in a previous Downey Daily post.

I continue to be amazed at the depth of history we have surrounding us and I appreciated Larry's insight and willingness to put together this book so we can all learn a little bit more about our city.

The Old Downey Cemetery

The quote at the bottom of this tomb stone says "Always in our hearts." It is one of many infant graves in the Old Downey Cemetery.

Ranging from a baby who died a few days old to a woman who lived 115 years, the cemetery at Lakewood and Gardendale is definitely a historical landmark for Downey. It started as a family plot but was sold to the Masons a few decades later and then given to the Los Angeles County who now owns it. One headstone reads, "Indian Joe- A good Indian while he lived. He belonged to the Kaweahs and lived in Downey for 22 years. Died Nov. 2nd 1895."

The cemetery holds roughly 7,000 "residents" and still has 400 more open plots. The most interesting thing about the cemetery is that every grave site is still hand-dug, a job that died out years ago almost everywhere else.

Click here for an interview with the current "sexton".