Things you didn't know about Downey: history center
We are very happy to announce that the Downey Historical Society/Museum has opened its doors for people to visit.
Many people might not know what is housed in the museum and how important it is to the city of Downey.
Hours are 10 am to 2 pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays and the third Saturday of the month. The address is 12540 Rives Ave. (half block north of Imperial Highway) in Downey. Phone number is (562) 862-2777.
Resources available to the public include:
Newspapers: 1918-1969 (complete), 1888-1917 (some broken runs)
Clippings: an ongoing project, this includes newspapers and magazines
Photographs: 1870 to present; originals, copy negatives and prints; 35mm slides of historic scenes and current events; and postcards
Library: books, pamphlets and periodicals on Downey and Los Angeles County; indians, missions, archeology, architecture, photography, biographies, ethnology, necrology, and directories; Downey High School yearbooks dating back to 1911; all Warren High School yearbooks; genealogical research on local pioneers and history of Gov. John Downey.
Microfilm: federal censuses for Los Angeles County from 1850-1900; Sanborn fire insurance maps of the area
Original records: early Downey school account books; insurance registers; Los Angeles County District Attorney’s registers of arrests (1883-1919); walnut growers’ stock certificate books; pioneer water company records; post office money order books; burial and cemetery records
Periodicals: City of Downey and Downey Chamber of Commerce; subscriptions to many publications about museum preservation and history
Artifacts: relics of Downey’s past and other items representative of those used in the area.
Next to the Downey History Museum is the Dismukes House built in 1887 which can be toured on special days.
Photo by Pam Lane
The museum is staffed entirely by volunteers and depends upon donations to maintain the center and keep the center in operation. Please come to visit and learn the history of your city.
Gen. Patton
Here are some famous quotes to inspire young and old given by George S. Patton Jr.:
“By perseverance, study and eternal desire, any man can become great.”
“Do everything you ask of those you command.”
“If everybody is thinking alike, then somebody isn’t thinking.”
“May God have mercy upon my enemies because I won’t.”
“A man must know his destiny. If he does not recognize it, then he is lost. By this I mean once, twice or at the very most, three times, fate will reach out and tap a man on the shoulder. If he has the imagination, he will turn around and fate will point out to him what fork in the road he should take. If he has guts, he will take it.”
“Tanks are new and special weapons - newer than, as special and certainly as valuable as the airplane.”
“The obvious thing for the cavalryman to do is accept the fighting machine as a partner, and prepare to meet more fully the demands of future warfare.”
Gen. Patton visited his aunt in Downey many times when he was a child.
Bobbi Bruce is a docent with the Downey Historical Society.