Horace Dobbins

Dobbins in an automobile, early 1900s

Horace M. Dobbins (August 29, 1868 – September 21, 1962) [1] was a Philadelphia-born businessman and politician who served as Mayor of Pasadena, California, United States in 1900-1901.

Horace Dobbins was known for building the California Cycleway from Pasadena to Los Angeles.[2] Horace Dobbins had the exclusive idea of incorporating an elevated bicycle and other horseless vehicle tollway from the Green Hotel in Pasadena to Los Angeles. Dobbins personally secured the rights of way for six miles and the finished way was almost nine miles long. This idea was brought to mind on 23 August 1897. Unfortunately, the innovation came to a halt once the invention of the automobile had come around. Although the Cycleway stopped being used, its path was transformed into what is now the Arroyo Seco/Pasadena Freeway which now is better known as 110.[3]

Dobbins was had been a part of politics very soon after he arrived at Pasadena. He was elected a member of the city board of trustees which he then became the president of. It was during the cycle craze that Dobbins was elected mayor of Pasadena on April 16, 1900. He served for one year in this position. Following the failure of the cycleway, Dobbins turned to other pursuits, including the refurbishment of Los Angeles' Agricultural Park (now Exposition Park), management of a hotel of in Philadelphia, and the design and sailing of yachts.[1]

Dobbins was also involved with the Americus Club of Pasadena. This club was credited for saving the state for the Republican party in 1896.[4] The idea of Pasadena should organize a marching club was formed on a summer day of 1869. The starters searched for people who were interested and as a result, Dobbins and few more people were invited in a meeting that was called for this purpose. There were parts in this organization and Horace Dobbins served as an adjutant working with many other companies. Later on, after a period of about ten years of continuous active existence in the club, he then succeeded Stearns (who was another member in the club) as president in the second campaign. Along with him, there were also others who succeeded jobs in other parts of the club.[4]

During this period, before and after he became the mayor of Pasadena, he also had many other activities in addition to the Americus Club of Pasadena. For example, he was also involved with business, the California Cycleway can be a good example of that. Before 1900, he was the vice-president of the El Cajon Valley Company in San Diego county, California. This was a well-working company at the time which supported his life for a few years.[5] As well of this after he retired from the office of mayor, he became a member of the Pasadena board of trade and the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce which is what now Southern California’s dominating business federation. It represents hundreds of thousands business interests in California, making it the largest not for profit business federation in Southern California today.[5]

Other than business, Dobbin was also very into the medical area. He had been part of many medical organizations such as hospitals. To name a better known one at the time was the Pasadena board of health. His position in this was the president. After a few years, he then moved on to Pasadena Hospital Association and again served as the president of this. Unlike other organization he had been in, this had preserved to modern-day. Nowadays, it is better known as Pasadena’s Huntington Memorial Hospital.[5]

In addition to the medical, business, and trade areas that he had been into, Dobbin also participated in many entertainment organizations. Out of all them, he was especially very actively connected with the Pasadena Tournament of Rose Associations.[5] This includes what Pasadena is known for: the Rose Bowl Game, Rose Parades, and Rose Queens.[6]

In his later years, Horace Dobbins became more involved with even more activity and non-profit organizations. A few to name is the Pasadena Country Club and the Cumberland Club (which is in Portland, Maine).[5]

References

  1. 1 2 Charles P. Hobbs (2014). Hidden History of Transportation in Los Angeles. The History Press. ISBN 9781626196711.
  2. ↑ Erdman, Anna. "Mystery History Solved". Pasadena P.I.O. Blog. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
  3. ↑ "The Dobbins Veloway". The Arroyo Seco Bikeway. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
  4. 1 2 Wood, J. W. (1917-01-01). Pasadena, California, Historical and Personal: A Complete History of the Organization of the Indiana Colony, Its Establishment on the Rancho San Pascual and Its Evolution Into the City of Pasadena. Including a Brief Story of San Gabriel Mission, the Story of the Boom and Its Aftermath, and of the Political Changes and Personages Involved in this Transformation. Churches, Societies, Homes, Etc. Brought Down to Date and Fully Illustrated. The author.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Guinn, James Miller (1902-01-01). Historical and Biographical Record of Southern California: Containing a History of Southern California from Its Earliest Settlement to the Opening Year of the Twentieth Century. Chapman Publishing Company.
  6. ↑ "Tournament of Roses". Tournament of Roses. Retrieved 2016-05-25.

External links

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