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Woodland Drive

 JUNE 19, 2021

Back in the 1940s, my paternal grandparents rented a home in Sierra Madre, California located at 838 Woodland Drive.

Week 23: Bridges

While this residence holds little to no ancestral value to our family, it interests me because it’s seated in a very unique location.

For one, it’s the second to last home on a private lane leading up into the mountains, far removed from the hustle and bustle of the California highways and cities, giving it a quiet and serene feeling. Its street name of Woodland Drive makes perfect sense, as it feels as though you’ve stepped into the woodlands.

For another, it’s at the crest of the Angeles National Forest. Considering this side of the mountain burns up nearly every fire season, it’s amazing to me that this house has stood the test of time.

And most relevant to this week’s topic, it’s positioned in such a way that one needs to cross a bridge over a reservoir ditch in order to access the front door. It’s definitely unique to have your driveway also act as a bridge! I’d definitely be concerned about the road or the house washing away one day, and yet, that hasn’t ever happened to my knowledge, so I guess no reason to worry. But the reservoir dam ominously looms nearby!


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