CANYON PARK IN THE 20TH CENTURY AND BEYOND
by Oliver Beckwith, MHM Board Member
 | Part Two of Two (see January Newsletter for Part One) From the beginning of Monrovia’s existence as a city there was awareness of Monrovia Canyon and its falls. Local residents would hike or take horses up there and enjoy the visit. With the introduction of automobiles in the early 20th century there was a desire for residents to visit the place in their vehicles. |
In 1911 work began on building a road, and in 1913 Canyon Park was opened. People have been driving up to the park with its charming falls for the past 113 years. The experiences of the people who visited the place in the past century would be immeasurable. Monrovians have had the luxury of a natural retreat just minutes from their homes and businesses in the city. But the place has not been without its characters and challenges.
There was a Civilian Conservation Corps camp in Canyon Park in the 1930’s, part of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal. When World War II began, that location was used as a Conscientious Objector’s camp for a time. In both cases people were put to work upgrading trails, creating firebreaks, and doing general forestry work.
Ben Overturff (1877-1954) moved to Monrovia from Iowa in 1901. In 1903 he rode the first Pacific Electric car into Monrovia, and in 1951 he rode the last Pacific Electric car to Monrovia. While on a hunting trip, Overturff discovered a wonderful area three miles up from Canyon Park, and in 1907 the U.S. Forest Service issued him a lifetime lease for the area, which he called Deer Park. He lived on Walnut Avenue and could be seen taking his mules up to Canyon Park over several decades. Overturff hosted many guests in his cabin for a few decades. But in 1938 a terrible flood hit the area and it washed out the trail to Deer Park. When World War II started a few years later, access was limited to Canyon Park because the city wanted to protect its water supply from sabotage. Aged 70 years in 1947, he stopped coming to his beloved Deer Park cabin.
By that time, access to Deer Park had been limited, owing to its proximity to Sawpit Dam. The Los Angeles Flood Control District emphasized the importance of protecting the water security of Monrovia and other cities downstream. The Forest Service destroyed the cabin in 1958 to discourage squatting and vandalism, but the remains of the cabin built by Overturff more than a century ago are still there.
I hiked up to Deer Park in November of 2025. It’s a seven mile round trip, all uphill to get there and all downhill coming back. Overturff used natural granite rocks to build much of his cabin, and a lot of rusting metal can be found in the form of old bedsprings, tin roofing, and an unused bale of barbed wire. By chance I ran into a bear on the way back from the cabin. I called out to the bear to alert it of my presence and it promptly scampered off.
Fire and Flood have been the big natural challenges for the region. Ben Overturff managed to weather floods in 1914 and 1938, events of nature that closed the park and damaged the city. He also witnessed the Great Fire of 1924. Started by a smoker in San Gabriel Canyon on August 31st of that year, the fire was not put out until 19 days later. Deer Park was used by firefighters as a base of operations. According to Monrovia historian John L. Wiley, every available man in the city was drafted to organize this fighting force. Officer Tom McGaff and Sheldon A. Stubbs went from house to house in the early morning hours and hastened the quickly forming crews to the places of action.
In more recent times Monrovians will remember the wind storms in late 2011, which knocked down trees and power lines all over the city. It also closed Canyon Park for a time. In 2020 the Bobcat fire burned into Canyon Park and created destruction which closed the park. The fires left the mountains around the park barren, which led to flooding and park closures until June of 2025. Mention should be made of the valiant efforts of Monrovia’s firefighters to save the city from destruction in both 2020 and 2025. Their determined efforts saved Monrovia.
Weather events of the past century, along with careless actions of individuals, and perhaps corporations, have reduced our ability to enjoy the beauty of nature in these nearby places. When these places are available to us, we should take some time to visit places like Canyon Park. It’s a refreshing change from our daily pursuits.
In making a comparison between The Bear, a fictional account of a future time, and the history of Monrovia’s Canyon Park, it’s important to consider the interaction between humans and nature. Whether the vehicle for interaction is a mountaintop or a canyon, wild places provide their visitors with a new perspective on life. We are all part of nature and the world does not revolve around us. If we embrace our place in the natural world with its conflicts and beauty, we will all be in a much better place. I encourage you to read the book and think about the nature that is around us here in Monrovia.
There was a Civilian Conservation Corps camp in Canyon Park in the 1930’s, part of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal. When World War II began, that location was used as a Conscientious Objector’s camp for a time. In both cases people were put to work upgrading trails, creating firebreaks, and doing general forestry work.
Ben Overturff (1877-1954) moved to Monrovia from Iowa in 1901. In 1903 he rode the first Pacific Electric car into Monrovia, and in 1951 he rode the last Pacific Electric car to Monrovia. While on a hunting trip, Overturff discovered a wonderful area three miles up from Canyon Park, and in 1907 the U.S. Forest Service issued him a lifetime lease for the area, which he called Deer Park. He lived on Walnut Avenue and could be seen taking his mules up to Canyon Park over several decades. Overturff hosted many guests in his cabin for a few decades. But in 1938 a terrible flood hit the area and it washed out the trail to Deer Park. When World War II started a few years later, access was limited to Canyon Park because the city wanted to protect its water supply from sabotage. Aged 70 years in 1947, he stopped coming to his beloved Deer Park cabin.
By that time, access to Deer Park had been limited, owing to its proximity to Sawpit Dam. The Los Angeles Flood Control District emphasized the importance of protecting the water security of Monrovia and other cities downstream. The Forest Service destroyed the cabin in 1958 to discourage squatting and vandalism, but the remains of the cabin built by Overturff more than a century ago are still there.
I hiked up to Deer Park in November of 2025. It’s a seven mile round trip, all uphill to get there and all downhill coming back. Overturff used natural granite rocks to build much of his cabin, and a lot of rusting metal can be found in the form of old bedsprings, tin roofing, and an unused bale of barbed wire. By chance I ran into a bear on the way back from the cabin. I called out to the bear to alert it of my presence and it promptly scampered off.
Fire and Flood have been the big natural challenges for the region. Ben Overturff managed to weather floods in 1914 and 1938, events of nature that closed the park and damaged the city. He also witnessed the Great Fire of 1924. Started by a smoker in San Gabriel Canyon on August 31st of that year, the fire was not put out until 19 days later. Deer Park was used by firefighters as a base of operations. According to Monrovia historian John L. Wiley, every available man in the city was drafted to organize this fighting force. Officer Tom McGaff and Sheldon A. Stubbs went from house to house in the early morning hours and hastened the quickly forming crews to the places of action.
In more recent times Monrovians will remember the wind storms in late 2011, which knocked down trees and power lines all over the city. It also closed Canyon Park for a time. In 2020 the Bobcat fire burned into Canyon Park and created destruction which closed the park. The fires left the mountains around the park barren, which led to flooding and park closures until June of 2025. Mention should be made of the valiant efforts of Monrovia’s firefighters to save the city from destruction in both 2020 and 2025. Their determined efforts saved Monrovia.
Weather events of the past century, along with careless actions of individuals, and perhaps corporations, have reduced our ability to enjoy the beauty of nature in these nearby places. When these places are available to us, we should take some time to visit places like Canyon Park. It’s a refreshing change from our daily pursuits.
In making a comparison between The Bear, a fictional account of a future time, and the history of Monrovia’s Canyon Park, it’s important to consider the interaction between humans and nature. Whether the vehicle for interaction is a mountaintop or a canyon, wild places provide their visitors with a new perspective on life. We are all part of nature and the world does not revolve around us. If we embrace our place in the natural world with its conflicts and beauty, we will all be in a much better place. I encourage you to read the book and think about the nature that is around us here in Monrovia.
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