VILLAGE NEWS
Scott Appleby & Kerry ApplebyPayne
LA JOLLA
A Family Tradition of Real Estate Success
858-775-2014
LA JOLLA’S PREFERRED SOURCE FOR LOCAL NEWS
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2011
San Diego Community Newspaper Group
DRE#01197544 DRE#01071814
www.SDNEWS.com Volume 17, Number 10
Wartime La Jolla revealed Holiday Heroes In anticipation of Pearl Harbor’s 70th anniversary, historical society opens exhibit on life in La Jolla during World War II
Don Schutte, left, and his family pose for a photo before the war. Schutte said he carried the photo in his wallet during his time in the Army and as a POW. Below is the telegram his parents received when their son went missing and was assumed captured during the Battle of the Bulge. Schutte’s father was the head of the USO in La Jolla.
BY MARIKO LAMB | VILLAGE NEWS he La Jolla Historical Society is readying itself for an exhibit that has never been done before — one catered specifically to the effects of World War II on La Jollans and bringing visitors back in time to discover the quaint village that had a life of its own during the 1940s. Archivist and curator Mike Mischler and his volunteer staff diligently uncovered little-known facts about La Jolla and its residents during the war for a one-of-a-kind exhibit, titled “Homefront La Jolla,” showcasing previously undocumented biographies, photos and war artifacts, which will be on display at Wisteria Cottage from Dec. 7 — the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor — through Memorial Day. Although the idea of a World War II exhibit had bounced around the historical society’s staff for several years, Mischer nailed down the concept two years ago when he stumbled upon the footlocker of Robert Larimer, a WWII veteran from La Jolla. He knew if there was a perfect
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time for the exhibit, it was now. “We’re at the point now where it’s the 70th anniversary for Pearl Harbor and it’s almost impossible to get [interviews with] the people who were there,” said Mischler. A d d i t i o n a l l y, research for the exhibit fills a gap in the historical society’s archives. Iller’s department store is pictured on the “We have a really corner of Girard Avenue and Wall Street in good collection from 1943. The store has sand bags and camouflage netthe founding of La ting up to remind La Jollans to buy war bonds. Jolla through the Photos courtesy of the La Jolla Historical Society 1930s,” he said. “All the stuff we’ve lived through we don’t for La Jolla,” he said. “We tried to really think of as history. Now, we’re find a mix of people with different able to add to the war periods and perspectives. We didn’t just want to get the story of the soldiers, the years after the war.” The only trick was telling the story although that’s an important part. of World War II in a way that has We wanted to know what it was like to be a woman in La Jolla in the never been told before. “There are tons of histories on 1940s, what it was like to be a young WWII — and there are a few on the SEE HISTORY, Page 7 homefront experience — but not one
Calling all dogs for holiday treats Barfly and Muttropolis are teaming up for a holiday event of a decidedly furry nature. On Dec. 3 from 9 to 11 a.m., dogs and their owners are invited to visit Barfly’s pet-friendly patio for “Deck the Dogs with Bows and Holly,” a breakfast social to celebrate the festive season. Dogs (and owners, if they wish) can come dressed in their finest holiday attire to enjoy a breakfast entree and a “Barkfly” mimosa, coffee or tea. Pups
will take home treats from Muttropolis and Aroma Bakery. In addition, Muttropolis is offering a one-day, 10percent discount to customers who present a Barfly receipt. The price for breakfast is $19.95, reservations required. For information or reservations, call Maryann Roberts at (858) 454-2323 or email maryannPitbull Chaos enjoys a day on the patio @barflylajolla.com.
of Aroma Cafe and Barfly during the “Deck the Dogs with Bows and Holly” — Staff and contribution event. Courtesy photo
Editor’s note: Throughout December, the La Jolla Village News will feature community members who go above and beyond to help others as our “Holiday Heroes.” June Barrymore Ash, this year’s grand marshal of the La Jolla Christmas Parade, has proved her holiday spirit through a number of philanthropic endeavors over the years.
June Barrymore Ash poses with one of her late husband’s Rolls-Royces during one of the many La Jolla Christmas parades she has been a part of. She and her first husband helped revive the parade after a hiatus during World War II.
Revisiting LJ Christmas parades past with the grand marshal BY MARIKO LAMB | VILLAGE NEWS The 54th annual La Jolla Christmas Parade and Holiday Festival will transport holiday-spirited guests back in time with a flyover of antique aircraft, a display of numerous historic streetcars and dozens of handcrafted floats decorated with old-fashioned flair. June Barrymore Ash — a living legend in the La Jolla community — was the inspiration for putting “class” in this year’s “Classic Christmas” theme for her endless contributions to the village as well as reinvigorating the parade many years ago with her late husband, Bob Barrymore. Although she has driven classic cars in the parade in the past, this is the first year Barrymore Ash will be riding in her own car — either a 1958 Drophead Rolls-Royce or a newer Bentley Drophead — as grand marshal of the parade. Had it not been for Barrymore Ash, her late husband and their 15 classic Rolls-Royces, La Jolla’s annual holiday parade may never have re-emerged after the parade ended during the second World War. Approximately 35 years ago, Bob Barrymore — who was president of the La Jolla Historical Society at the time — was adamant about bringing the Christmas parade back to La Jolla. Despite insistence from others on the
La Jolla Town Council presents...
La Jolla Christmas Parade & Holiday Festival
board that it was much too late to begin planning for a December event (as it was already autumn), he forged on with his plans. “He proceeded to make sure that La Jolla had a Christmas parade,” Barrymore Ash said. “He contacted the fire department and I suppose the authorities to get permits, he put in about 15 of his classic cars and we had dignitaries, members of the town council, maybe some from the City Council and the ‘old time’ La Jollans in the parade.” The “old time” La Jollans, she said, were people who lived in La Jolla their whole life and loved every facet of it. “In the 35 years, it’s all changed, and the poor old-timers are no more. I think it ended with Ellen Revelle,” she said. “The old-timers were great people, had great stories to tell, and loved La Jolla — the magical La Jolla. So many of the old-timers rode in the parade.” The first parade, she said, after the gap many years ago was a brief one. There were no floats, no Christmas tree lighting and certainly no airplane flyover. She does recall music sounding from the high school marching band, but nothing like the multiple bands that will play at the La Jolla Recreation Center in this year’s parade. “The following year, it really did change. They started getting more parSEE PARADE, Page 3
SUNDAY, Dec. 4th Girard Avenue (See progam in this issue)