Chronicle of Eagle Rock's First Century

"I still have absolutely no idea where that came from or who that is,” says author and historian Eric Warren, peering down at an inexplicable picture of a trio of clowns cavorting somewhere in Eagle Rock in the hills south of La Loma Road.

It’s a rare occurrence when Warren does not know what has transpired in Eagle Rock over at least the past century. As the community’s foremost historian and the president of the Eagle Rock Valley Historical Society, he maintains the organization's impressive archive of Eagle Rock memorabilia in the basement of the , where the "Three Clowns" photo (see above) is preserved.

The recent publication of his second book of historic images, Eagle Rock 1911-2011 (Arcadia Publishing)—the sequel to his first book, Eagle Rock—presents a well-researched pictorial legacy of Eagle Rock’s flight path from independent town to vital community in Northeast Los Angeles since its 1923 annexation to the city.

The book's publication coincides with the centennial year of Eagle Rock, and its chapters are arranged in chonological order, starting with revealing photos of the barely broken countryside, historic homes and real estate speculators during the town’s inception.

As the Great Depression impacted American livelihoods, Eagle Rock continued to grow, albeit at a slower pace. Included in the images is an invitation to a “Depression Party” held in 1932, where a prize was offered for “the most depressed costume.”

Of particular pride to Warren is a chapter titled “At Home and At War,” which contains portraits of community members who served the country in wars ranging from World War I through Desert Storm.

From hot rods and bungalow courts to demolitions and revivals—concluding with a chapter titled “Diversity and Revitalization”—Warren reveals how Eagle Rock became the community we know today.

As an Eagle Rock native who has spent most of his life here, Warren possesses an expansive knowledge of the people, places and history of Eagle Rock.

“We don’t invent the wheel here,” he says of Eagle Rock. “We don’t have big factories. What we do is live our lives, raise our children and have good times.” His book, adds Warren, is intended to give readers “an idea of how people live.”

You can meet Eric Warren and purchase a signed copy of Eagle Rock 1911-2011 on Saturdays, 10 a.m. to noon, at the Center for the Arts, Eagle Rock, 2225 Colorado Blvd. For more information, call 323-257-1357 or visit www.eaglerockhistory.org.