Made accessible through a grant from the John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation and Photo Friends This project was supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian
On June 30, 1955, Downey resident Ruth Di Peso's daughter went out to water the ivy in the front yard, but soon returned with a tale that the water hose was stuck in the ground. They could not pull it out. Dad George Di Peso could not pull it out. What followed was an international mystery of epic proportions. The hose sank deeper into the ground until it was 30 feet down. The media and public descended upon the Di Peso property. A water department official and a geologist could not explain the situation. United Press International received a wire from Japan stating that they were on the lookout for the hose there. The family grew tired of all of the disruption so dad George decided to cut the hose with shears to end the spectacle. Within a month or so, similar occurrences started happening in other parts of Los Angeles County, and then across the country for several years. Copycats were suspected. It seems no one was ever able to fully explain the strange phenomenon. Photograph caption dated May 3, 1958 reads "Mrs. Carlson Jacobs, tugs futilely at garden hose which began to snake mysteriously into ground as her husband installed sprinkler system in front lawn. Watching mommy are her children, Pamela, 7, and Russell, 2. Jacobs live at 9351 Nagle Ave., Pacoima."
Type
Image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w ;26 x 21 cm. Photographic prints
Women--California--Los Angeles Children--California--Los Angeles Mother and child--California--Los Angeles Hose--California--Los Angeles Lawns--California--Los Angeles Plants--California--Los Angeles Curiosities and wonders--California--Los Angeles Pacoima (Los Angeles, Calif.) Valley Times Collection photographs
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