For the last entry in this series, we're going back to the first house Walter Knott built for Cordelia after they were married in 1911. As you can see in the "after" photo above (and another below), it still stands at 1040 W. 4th St., in Pomona. 
Walter had a good, stable job as a foreman for a cement contractor. It was this job and this home, along with friends, family, and the comforts of life "in town," that the Knotts left behind in 1914 to homestead in desolate Newberry Springs.
.
But that's how much farming, and the prospect of affordable land meant to Walter. From the time he was a child, tending gardens on borrowed patches of ground, he had agriculture in his blood. Who knew what it would lead to someday?
.
I should have done this Knott series in chronological order, but I didn't originally see it growing the way it has. Here's a set of links to the various parts of the series, along with some of my other Knott-related posts, presented in more-or-less historical/chronological order:
- Pomona (this post)
- Newberry Springs (1)
- Newberry Springs (2)
- Shandon
- Marion Knott
- Buena Park
- Norco
- Chicken Dinner Restaurant (1)
- Chicken Dinner Restaurant (2)
- Wing Lee's Laundry
- Goldie's Place
- Knott's Steak House
- Glass Blowing
- The Old Mill Stream
- Knott's Volcano
- California Mission Models (4-part series)
- Calico (1)
- Calico (2)
- Calico (3)
- Church of Reflections
- Cable Cars
- Calico Mine Ride
- Bud Hurlbut
- John "Glow Man" Waite
- Whittles
- The First Halloween Haunt
- Marshal Max
This has been a really outstanding series, Chris. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteFantastic!
ReplyDeleteJust wondering... do the current residents/owners of 1040 W. 4th St., Pomona KNOW the origin of their house? Does anyone in the City of Pomona or the Local historical society?
ReplyDeleteThe owners know now, Glenn. Phil told them when he shot those photos.
ReplyDeleteThat is cool... I bet the owners were surprised to hear that!
ReplyDeleteWOW - I'm shocked its still there! With the exception of the enclosed porch addition it looks remarkable the same - even the stone work is all still there. Since it lasted 98 years shouldn't it be a "historical landmark" to prevent it from ever being torn down?
ReplyDeleteExcellent work Chris, loved this series - thank you so much!
Yes, thanks for all of this wonderful research and information. Oh yeah, and the PHOTOS! Great job!
ReplyDeleteWOW! And again WOW!
ReplyDeleteGreat capper to an amazing series. Thanks so much for doing it!
I coverd this story awhile back I have this blog called
ReplyDeleteimagesofpomonabyren.blogspot.com
I also take pictures for the Pomona Historical Society and during our art walks so stop by and check it out.