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IN ONE EAR
By Jozelle Smith
Culver City moved closer to the end of an era last week, when Ronald W. "Brick" Coombs passed away at the age of 89. It was Brick, "Sully" (Dr. Joe Sullivan), LeRoy Koos, Joe Lawless, "Shep" Shepherd, Bob Curry, Ed Juline and Mayo Wright who were considered a few of this community’s young turks some 50 years ago. Lodge and service club founders, city council members, hunters, fishermen and gin rummy players all, their businesses built the city and published its news. Scores of Lions Club members, family and friends said a final goodbye to Brick (who was preceded in death by wife Esther) in services at Gates-Kingsley-Gates.
Hysterical? No, Virginia, it’s the Culver City Historical Society, and it’s hard to believe that in 2000 the organization will celebrate it’s 20th anniversary! Membership Co-Chairs Lupe Smith and Linda Edell urge anyone who’s ever been even slightly star-struck (and who hasn’t?) to join the CCHS and get in on all the exciting plans for the new year, not the least of which is the prospect of the long-awaited Culver City Heritage Museum taking its first steps toward becoming a reality.. For further information, call (310)838-1073.
Looking forward to eating your way through the coming two months? If you’ve got a lot to work with, then consider working it off at Westside Extension with Beginning Belly Dancing , set for five Wednesdays, January 12 – February 9, 2000. The class costs $49.00, and runs from 7:30-9:00PM. If Tap Dancing is more your style, consider five Mondays beginning January 10 from 8:00 – 9:15 PM for $44.00. The new year will also bring classes in Jazz, Ballet and Hip-Hop, so go ahead and enjoy those calories! Call (310)287-4475 to enroll.
Long-time Culver Citizens were also saddened recently to hear of the passing of Irene Towsley, former owner of Culver Office Products, located on Main Street for many years (it’s the current site of the Gregg Fleischman gallery). Irene, who was a member of Soroptimist International of Culver City, had been living in Torrance in recent years.
Hanging out at the Library can mean a lot more than reading, or so it seems these days: one of several free Small Business Seminars, this one titled "Market Your Products and Services" will be conducted on December 21 and again on January 18 at the Culver City Library, 4975 Overland Avenue. All programs are free, and all begin promptly at 6 PM. Other Small Business Development Center seminars are taking place this fall and winter – call the Library at (310)559-1676 for more information.
It’s all in the family, at least in the Culver City Lions Club: with a rousing hurrah, amid whistles blowing and thunderous applause, the club welcomed its one and only third-generation member. Scott Quirarte joined the pride under the proud gaze of dad Jimmy Quirarte, who is currently the district Vice Governor, and will move up to District Governor in 2000. The late Gonzalo "Gus" Quirarte, Scott’s grandfather and Jimmy’s dad, was a member from September 1958 until his passing in 1993.
Something new in the way of a Holiday Party is taking place for members of the Culver-Palms Y’s Men’s Club this year: they’ll be heading to Santa Monica College’s Planetarium on Friday, December 10 for its "Night Sky" and special "Star of Wonder" shows, then motor over to nearby Gagnier’s Creole Kitchen for jambalaya, greens, etc. Somewhere in all of this new president Andy Weissman will be installed for the coming year, along with a board comprised of Y’s men and women. Club members (married couples or singles) are dedicated to help raise funds for Culver-Palms Family YMCA scholarships, equipment, and general operating expenses. New members are always welcome: call Y Exec Charmaine Gudgeon at (310)390-3604 for details.
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ASK Julie
Who was Linwood E. Howe?
G. M., Culver City
Linwood E. Howe was a very popular principal in the Culver City Unified School District. Mr. Howe‘s tenure ended at Culver Grammar School, although he also served as principal at Farragut Elementary School. When Culver Grammar was originally built in the 1920s, it was located north of Braddock Drive on "School Street." At that time, Braddock Drive cut through to Van Buren Place, separating the school from a large asphalt playground. Linwood E. Howe school was constructed on that play area. After Culver Grammar was closed in 1966, it was rebuilt but the name was changed to honor this exemplary principal.
The marker on the outside of the school states that the school was erected in 1968. The School Board at that time consisted of Alvin H. Weissman, president, Mrs. Jeannette Carl, vice-president, J. Paul Spector, clerk and members Mrs. Edna Larkin and Dr. Wm. E. Vickrey. The Superintendent at the time was listed as Earl D. Patton, Ed.D.
There is a plaque in the foyer area of the school, which offers insight into the feelings of the community. It reads:
 Dedicated in Memory of
Linwood E. Howe
Principal of the School
September 1962-February 1969
A Man who Identified Himself
With Children
And who was sensitive
To their needs and feelings
A man whose gifts to those he touched
Were Enthusiasm, Vitality and Purposefulness
June 8, 1969
Although I was not acquainted with Mr. Howe, personally, from some local resources, I learned that Linwood E. Howe lived in town, was a member of the Exchange Club and a serious golfer. His son, Lin Howe Jr. attended Culver City schools, graduated in the early 60’s, and eventually became a police officer in Los Angeles.
Former school board member Edna Larkin, whose tenure included the time when the school was rebuilt, characterized him as simply as " very personable." Both Howe and his wife were active in the community. Edna served in PTA with Howe’s wife, Dorothy, and was surprised to learn from her that Howe graduated from Long Beach Polytechnic High School. Edna checked her yearbook and found they were both at Poly together. Howe was on the football team the year Long Beach Poly won the CIF championship.
What’s a Luddite?
Ed Wolkowitz
Gee, is this one of those "stump the historian" questions, Ed? Just to prove I know there is life outside of Culver City, I will take a stab at this one.
From cross checking several historic references, it appears a Luddite is a word that has been used to describe a group of nineteenth century workmen in England who protested the reduction of wages by wrecking machinery. They attributed their economic hard times, more specifically between approximately 1811-1816, to the Industrial Revolution. It was a reaction to the introduction of the new labor saving machinery. Some Luddites were hanged and others were transported to penal colonies, like Australia. One source offered that the leader of the Luddites was referred to as General Ludd, but this seems doubtful.
In Webster’s Dictionary, the explanation of the word suggests that it may have been derived from the name of a British fellow, Ned Lud, who was described as a "feeble-minded man who destroyed two frames belonging to a Leicestershire employer," (circa 1779).
One source broadened the definition to refer to anyone who is opposed to technological change. Maybe that falls within my favorite current usage, of "The only person who likes a change is a wet baby." Now, Ed, does that sound like anyone we know?
Julie Lugo Cerra, a sixth generation Californian, is the Honorary Culver City Historian, author of two books, "Culver City, Heart of Screenland," "Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble…" and a private consultant (Cerra Enterprises) who specializes in public/private partnerships, development projects and educational, art and historic projects.
Send your questions to: Ask Julie, c/o The Culver City News, P.O. Box 5214, Culver City, CA 90231, or email the news:
CCNEditor@aol.com. Put "Ask Julie" in the subject line of your email.
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