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Difference between revisions of "Devil's Gate Dam"
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The Tongva people were the earliest known inhabitants of the Pasadena area. They believed the location around Devil's Gate Dam was highly spiritual and regarded it as a gateway between worlds. The Tongva thought the water passing over the rocks in the gorge mimicked the sound of a coyote spirit laughing and held the site as sacred, but also a place to be avoided due to the trickery of coyotes. | The Tongva people were the earliest known inhabitants of the Pasadena area. They believed the location around Devil's Gate Dam was highly spiritual and regarded it as a gateway between worlds. The Tongva thought the water passing over the rocks in the gorge mimicked the sound of a coyote spirit laughing and held the site as sacred, but also a place to be avoided due to the trickery of coyotes. | ||
===1800s=== | |||
John C. Frémont is thought to be the first white person to visit Devil's Gate. In the 1840s, his exploration crew drove an iron survey stake into a rock near the dam site. | John C. Frémont is thought to be the first white person to visit Devil's Gate. In the 1840s, his exploration crew drove an iron survey stake into a rock near the dam site. | ||
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In 1888, there was an outbreak of poison oak among people who visited Devil's Gate and a public campaign was undertaken to eradicate it at the site. | In 1888, there was an outbreak of poison oak among people who visited Devil's Gate and a public campaign was undertaken to eradicate it at the site. | ||
===1900s=== | |||
In 1920, the Los Angeles County Flood Control District built the first flood control dam in Los Angeles County at Devil's Gate gorge. Construction was contracted to the Bent Brothers Company. The dam had to be greatly strengthened in 1932 due to an improper geological survey conducted when the dam was first built. | In 1920, the Los Angeles County Flood Control District built the first flood control dam in Los Angeles County at Devil's Gate gorge. Construction was contracted to the Bent Brothers Company. The dam had to be greatly strengthened in 1932 due to an improper geological survey conducted when the dam was first built. | ||
Early rocket-engine-testing began in the Arroyo Seco in 1936 and this led to the establishment of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) just north of Devil's Gate Dam. During the 1950s, JPL was heavily involved in rocket testing, and the roar of rocket engines could be heard from the Arroyo Seco area for miles. | Early rocket-engine-testing began in the Arroyo Seco in 1936 and this led to the establishment of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) just north of Devil's Gate Dam. During the 1950s, JPL was heavily involved in rocket testing, and the roar of rocket engines could be heard from the Arroyo Seco area for miles. | ||
In the 1950s and 60s, college students routinely engaged in hazing rituals involving the consumption of raw meat as part of | In the 1950s and 60s, college students used the wooded area around Devil's Gate Dam for their fraternity initiations. Various fraternities routinely engaged in hazing rituals involving the consumption of raw meat as part of a bizarre initiation rite. In June 1960, 35 Woodbury College students were caught in the act by police and the hazings stopped soon after. | ||
==Child disappearances== | ==Child disappearances== | ||
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On 23 March 1957, 8-year-old Tommy Bowman disappeared while hiking with his father and others near Devil's Gate Dam. Bowman walked through the ranger station with his friends, but he then ran ahead and disappeared after rounding a corner obscured by bushes. Despite an exhaustive search, he was not found and police believed he had been kidnapped. | On 23 March 1957, 8-year-old Tommy Bowman disappeared while hiking with his father and others near Devil's Gate Dam. Bowman walked through the ranger station with his friends, but he then ran ahead and disappeared after rounding a corner obscured by bushes. Despite an exhaustive search, he was not found and police believed he had been kidnapped. | ||
Police began rounding up vagrants and transients known to frequent the Devil's Gate area after 10-year-old boy said he last saw Bowman in the company of a "man who was dirty." Another witness said she saw a "strange-looking character with blond hair" carrying a small boy who was crying around the time Bowman went missing. | Police began rounding up vagrants and transients known to frequent the Devil's Gate area after a 10-year-old boy said he last saw Bowman in the company of a "man who was dirty." Another witness said she saw a "strange-looking character with blond hair" carrying a small boy who was crying around the time Bowman went missing. | ||
Two months after the disappearance, | Two months after the disappearance, Bowman's parents received a postcard from Oklahoma stating that Tommy was alive and doing well. Eleven months after the disappearance, Tommy Bowman's mother received a phone call from a man who told her he and his partner were holding the boy and that he would be returned if she walked outside and went down the street. She complied with the instructions, but no one ever arrived to drop off the child. | ||
Three years later, on 9 May 1960, 12-year-old Doug Headrick disappeared a few miles from Devil's Gate Dam while making a trip to the grocery store. Twenty-two days later, the suspect in that case attempted to kidnap three-year-old John Charles Dailey at a location even closer to the dam, but was frightened off by Dailey's older brother before he could complete the attack. | Three years later, on 9 May 1960, 12-year-old Doug Headrick disappeared a few miles from Devil's Gate Dam while making a trip to the grocery store. Twenty-two days later, the suspect in that case attempted to kidnap three-year-old John Charles Dailey at a location even closer to the dam, but was frightened off by Dailey's older brother before he could complete the attack. | ||
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It is thought that Parsons selected the site to build the Joint Propulsion Laboratory due to its proximity to the Devil's Gate. | It is thought that Parsons selected the site to build the Joint Propulsion Laboratory due to its proximity to the Devil's Gate. | ||
Many modern day ghost hunters have visited the dam searching for evidence of haunting activity. | |||
Occultist [[Travis McHenry]] used the dam site as a primary location for his unfinished horror film ''Cult of Cthulhu'' in 2016. | |||
[[Category:Locations]] | [[Category:Locations]] | ||
[[Category:Featured Articles]] | |||