Henninger Flats
Encyclopedia
Henninger Flats is a small hanging basin 2600 feet (792.5 m) above sea level
in the San Gabriel Mountains
in the Angeles National Forest
. It was part of the Mt Wilson Toll Road. The trailhead to reach the flats is at the top end of Eaton Canyon
in Pasadena, California
.
Around 1880, William K Henninger settled in a small basin above Altadena. Henninger was born in Virginia and had been a gold prospector. The area was originally purchased by Mr. Peter Stiel through the Homestead Act
. Stiel’s friend Henninger had been squatting on the area since 1884.
Henninger was given the title captain by the other miners he worked with as a sign of respect. Henninger married a Baja California
Indian known to us only as Teresa. Their first born, a son named Natividad, was baptized at the San Gabriel Mission on December 1858. He and Teresa had three daughters: Louisa, Susana and Jesefa.
Henninger built a house and a cistern
for water storage. He planted fruit, vegetables, and hay and nut trees. The produce he then carried into town a mile and a half down the steep trail that ended in Eaton Canyon. In 1892 Henninger was visited by T. P. Lukens and R. J. Busch who started the very first experimental reforestation in California at Henninger Flats. Upon his death in March 1894, the property was willed to his daughters. The property was auctioned in 1895 to Harry C. and Harriet M. Allen of Pasadena. In October 1895, the Allens sold the property for $5,000 to four men who then sold the property to the Mt. Wilson Toll Road Company for $76,600 as part of the Mount Wilson Toll Road
.
In 1903, under the direction of Lukens, a nursery
was established at Henninger Flats. During the years that followed the road was widened to accommodate the passage of equipment up to the observatory
at Mt. Wilson
. By 1917 the road was widened to the present width of twelve feet.
Since 1928, the flats have been used as a high elevation forest nursery by the Los Angeles County Fire Department
.
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
in the San Gabriel Mountains
San Gabriel Mountains
The San Gabriel Mountains Range is located in northern Los Angeles County and western San Bernardino County, California, United States. The mountain range lies between the Los Angeles Basin and the Mojave Desert, with Interstate 5 to the west and Interstate 15 to the east...
in the Angeles National Forest
Angeles National Forest
The Angeles National Forest of the U.S. National Forest Service is located in the San Gabriel Mountains of Los Angeles County, southern California. It was established on July 1, 1908, incorporating the first San Bernardino National Forest and parts of the former Santa Barbara and San Gabriel...
. It was part of the Mt Wilson Toll Road. The trailhead to reach the flats is at the top end of Eaton Canyon
Eaton Canyon
Eaton Canyon is a major canyon beginning at the Eaton Saddle near Mount Markham and San Gabriel Peak in the San Gabriel Mountains in the Angeles National Forest, USA. Its drainage flows into the Rio Hondo river and then into the Los Angeles River...
in Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
.
History
Homestead Act
A homestead act is one of three United States federal laws that gave an applicant freehold title to an area called a "homestead" – typically 160 acres of undeveloped federal land west of the Mississippi River....
. Stiel’s friend Henninger had been squatting on the area since 1884.
Henninger was given the title captain by the other miners he worked with as a sign of respect. Henninger married a Baja California
Baja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
Indian known to us only as Teresa. Their first born, a son named Natividad, was baptized at the San Gabriel Mission on December 1858. He and Teresa had three daughters: Louisa, Susana and Jesefa.
Henninger built a house and a cistern
Cistern
A cistern is a waterproof receptacle for holding liquids, usually water. Cisterns are often built to catch and store rainwater. Cisterns are distinguished from wells by their waterproof linings...
for water storage. He planted fruit, vegetables, and hay and nut trees. The produce he then carried into town a mile and a half down the steep trail that ended in Eaton Canyon. In 1892 Henninger was visited by T. P. Lukens and R. J. Busch who started the very first experimental reforestation in California at Henninger Flats. Upon his death in March 1894, the property was willed to his daughters. The property was auctioned in 1895 to Harry C. and Harriet M. Allen of Pasadena. In October 1895, the Allens sold the property for $5,000 to four men who then sold the property to the Mt. Wilson Toll Road Company for $76,600 as part of the Mount Wilson Toll Road
Mount Wilson Toll Road
The Mount Wilson Toll Road is a historic roadway which ascended Mount Wilson via a vehicular passable road from the base of the foothills in Altadena. It was accessible from Pasadena via Santa Anita Avenue which drove right to the front porch of the toll house...
.
In 1903, under the direction of Lukens, a nursery
Nursery (horticulture)
A nursery is a place where plants are propagated and grown to usable size. They include retail nurseries which sell to the general public, wholesale nurseries which sell only to businesses such as other nurseries and to commercial gardeners, and private nurseries which supply the needs of...
was established at Henninger Flats. During the years that followed the road was widened to accommodate the passage of equipment up to the observatory
Observatory
An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geology, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed...
at Mt. Wilson
Mount Wilson (California)
Mount Wilson is one of the better known peaks in the San Gabriel Mountains, part of the Angeles National Forest in Los Angeles County, California. It is the location of the Mount Wilson Observatory and has become the astronomical center of Southern California with and telescopes, and and tall...
. By 1917 the road was widened to the present width of twelve feet.
Since 1928, the flats have been used as a high elevation forest nursery by the Los Angeles County Fire Department
Los Angeles County Fire Department
The Los Angeles County Fire Department , serves unincorporated parts of Los Angeles County, as well as 58 cities and towns that choose to have the county provide fire and EMS services, including La Habra. It should not be confused with the Los Angeles City Fire Department, which serves the city of...
.