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Earl!! in 1928, Los Angeles
Times photographer George
R. Watson was inspired by
the massive St. Francis Dam
ancl the tranquil waters of
the reservoir he!Jond. He
could not have imagined
then that he would soon
retum to record the horrible
aftermath of Southern
California's worst disaster,
including the cover photo
of the monolith which stood
like a memorial tombstone
for the hundreds who lost
their lives.
photos courtesy of
Watson Family Archives

NA STILL MARCH NIGHT in 1928, most of the
0 residents of San Francisquito Canyon, Santa Clarita Progran1.
Valley and the Santa Clara River Valley had gone to sleep.
Only a handful of the proverbial night people - the
telephone operators, policemen and utility employees -
were awake as midnight approached. 1-2: 30 Reception for survivors and guests in banquet room
of the Ranch House Inn.
They were the first ones to hear, feel and finally see the
thunderous hell that had been unleashed upon them. Others
2:30 Invocation/Rev. RaymondP. Smith
were jolted from their sleep and swept away in the churning
Memorial dinner.
deluge.
The more fortunate were given at least some advance notice 3:30 Welcoming remarks/Prof. William S. Thomas
by sirens, barking dogs or loved ones. They barely had Presentations/Don Ray, memorial dinner host
enough time to scramble to higher ground and shiver in the
darkness until the dawn unveiled an unimaginable scene Introductions, historical account, video
of destruction. Monday, March 12, 1928, would be the last program and special recognitions by California
time the survivors would see many of their loved ones, their Highway Patrol and Los Angeles County.
homes and, at best, the way things used to be. Bell rededication and group picture will follow
Fifty years later we gather in honor of the more than 400 presentations.
who lost their lives and were spared the scene on that
morning after.
Lest we forget.