The Catalina islander. : (Avalon, Calif.) 1918-current

              Published weekly at Avalon, Santa Catalina Island, California. Avalon's official newspaper, containing the local news of this wonderful Island World. Official publication of the Light Tackle Club, an organization of sea-angling sportsmen. Baseball training field for Chicago "Cubs." By Ernest Windle APRIL, 1925, at Catalina! Imagine that! It has been several months since we wrote one of these articles. Perhaps we have forgotten how to do it. Let's try. On the board walk, near the postoffice, a group of Congregational ministers are standing.- They are serious and studious. Possibly they are trying to solve some weighty problem in theology. The other evening, at the Congregational church, one of the ministers, in discussing the Southern California climate, intimated that the automobile kept a good many people in the great out-doors, or words to that effect, thereby keeping them from the churches. Another minister expressed the thought that communion with Nature would not lead people far astray. The first speaker might have added, also, had he thought of it, that the radio, broadcasting sermons, music, etc., Had made it possible for thousands of people to enjoy the upbuilding influence of Christian teaching while they were happy in the comfort of their own homes. APRIL at Catalina! As we proceed toward the pleasure pier, a group of children are playing on the beach. They have a big medicine ball and, dressed in bathing suits, they seem to enjoy the freedom to romp, yell, rush in and out of the water, and have a general good time. At the entrance to the pier, several visitors are walking rapidly, so that they may go on board the cruiser Betty 0. for an outing to the Isthmus. A little farther down Crescent avenue is a sight-seeing bus, almost ready to start with its load of passengers for a trip to Pebbly Beach and back over the hill road by the Wrigley Home, and through the beautiful flower-covered grounds of Mt. Ada. Some two hundred yards farther on along the board walk, beyond the almost invisible bridge over the arroyo, Mayor Reyes, at his seaside home, is using a pick and shovel excavating under the building. Ten years ago he planned to dig a den for himself "unthe house," and since that time he has worked spasmodically at the excavating. This is one of his spasmodic days! On the opposite side of the street, at the entrance to the new Strand Theatre, Manager Peter Lubetich is arranging some bouquets of beautiful flowers. Persons are passing by the hank towards the Magic Isle Confec­ tionery, the Waffle House and Price's Confectionery. In the middle of the next block of stores, Percy Mackey has just stepped out of the Island Pharmacy to listfen to the radio installed above the C. & F. Art Shop. There are in the group of interested listeners ten or twelve persons. H. D. MacRae, who owns the curio store on the corner of Crescent and Sumner avenues, is also out on the sidewalk. He and his daughter are talking to one of the Congregational ministers. In this same block are the stores of the Carver Grocery, the Avalon Dry Goods Company, and four eating plac- PRICE FIVE CENTS AVALON. SANTA CATALINA ISLAND, CALIFORNIA, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 1925 VOL. XII No. 20 April, 1925, at Catalina Family Residence of General Manager David M. Renton es—the B. & F. Cafe, Carver's Tea Room, Seal Rock Cafe, and Avalon Cafe. There are also Reyes' Curio and Art Store, the number two store of the H. D. MacRae Co., and the Pool Room. Stairways leading to the Carver Apartments, the St. Francis Apartments and the MacRae Hotel are all in this 500 block on Crescent avenue. April 1925 at Catalina. Let's turn in the opposite direction. Boos Brothers' gardner is watering the beautiful green lawn that extends in front of that popular eating establishment. Gee, we nearly missed one whole block of industrial activity! That's the business block located between Sumner and Metropole avenues, right opposite the post-office, the entrance to the steamer pier, and the office of the Avalon Transfer company. At this time of the day, 9 o'clock, "The Grill Cafe," seems to be a busy place. George Feltrop, Joe Cameron's next door neighbor to the Grill on the south side, who is manager for the Hevren and Richardson establishment, is putting the final daily polish on the cigar cases. George's white apron, a long one that almost reaches to his feet, is fluttering in the gentle morning breeze. Several persons have passed in and out of the Lefavor department store since we commenced to make these notes. The delivery wagon for Otts Grocery at the corner of Metropole avenue has just arrived with supplies brought across the street from the freight shed. Charley German the enterprising proprietor of "Charley's Place," has his own problems to solve. Charle\r wants to make his place of business so popular that he wants it to work 26 hours in a 24-hour day. Charley opened his place a couple of years ago and then threw away the key. Last Halloween someone carried off part of the front door. Charley said, "Let it alone! I only have time to go home and change my collar and tie, anyway!" In this same business block, next to the grocery store is the Catalina Novelty Company's collection of novelties, jewelry, etc, managed by Miss Helen Stoughton. April 1925 at Catalina. The Allen home begins to show up in great shape on Sunshine Terrace. T-he stucco finish, in a light tan with brown trimmings, is quite a- contrast to the delicate pale green with white trim of the West home, and both houses are a very pleasing addition and a decided improvement to the vacant lots which have been there since 1915. When the remaining lots adjoining are built on the effect will be very pleasing. Such homes are a (Continued on Page 6, Column z~) SANTA CATALINA ISLAND: IN ALL THE WORLD NO TRIP LIKE THIS! Avalon Year-round mecca for tourists and travelers. Boating, bathing, golf, tennis, baseball, riding, fishing, walking, marine gardens. Unexcelled accommodation!. THIRTEENTH ANNUAL RETREAT BEST YET By Rev. Chester Ferris For the thirteenth season the Congregational Ministers of Southern California have held their post-Easter convocation on Catalina Island. The custom was started when the venerable James M. Campbell, D. D., was pastor of the local church. Each year he has attended. Tho nearly eightyfive years of age, he^gave an address Wednesday evening in lucid and forceful style, and was the first on Friday morning to reach the height of Round Top where the forenoon sessions were held. While the ministers came here primarilly to renew friendships and for rest following the weeks of strenuous labor that culminate in Easter, they do have a schedule of programs in the forenoons and evenings, when some leader starts a discussion and that is followed by a free-for-all in which everyone may join. Always they are interesting and at tunes exciting. One great event is the picnic on Wednesday, when as guests of the Avalon Church all take the glass-bottom boat for White's Landing, where the day is spent. Bounteous luncheon is served by the ladies at noon. In the afternoon all manner of events are enjoyed. Two friends who for years have loved to be at Avalon during these convocations are Mr. and Mrs. Whitney of the Glenmore Hotel. Mr. Whitney considers there is much real humanity with the ministers, and pays them this tribute: "There is no place you can have so much fun as with a bunch of ministers." A number of the men day by day took much pleasure at the golf links, so generously secured for their use by Mr. D. M. Renton. Thursday evening resolutions of most hearty thanks were voted to Rev. and Mrs. LaRue C. Watson and their congregation, to the hosts in the hotels and homes, to the Wilmington Transportation Co., the Pacific Electric Railway, the Santa Catalina Island Company, The Catalina Islander, and Rev. Geo. F. Kenngott. Dr. Kenngott, Superintendent of the State Conference, has been untiring in his efforts for the pleasure of the men. All expressed themselves as greatly charmed with the hospitality of the minister and his (Continued on Page 10, Column 2)