Sobs, tears mark victims' reaction to ruined homes
Alternative Title
Valley Times Photo Collection
Creator
Robbins, Jeff
Contributor
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 Made accessible through a grant from the John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation and Photo Friends
On December 14, 1963, the dam collapsed, spilling 300 million gallons of water into the hillsides that swept away houses and cars and left three dead. Most of Baldwin Village, including the historic Village Green community, was flooded as well. The crack in the dam was ultimately attributed to subsidence caused by overexploitation of the Inglewood oil field. The disaster caused the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power to phase out small local reservoirs, opting instead to store water in groundwater basins and behind the Hansen Dam in Lake View Terrace. Photograph caption dated December 16, 1963 reads, "Last look at flood-crashed automobile - Reporter, left, discusses auto damage with owner, B. E. Hathaway, as Mrs. Hathaway takes last look at family car before it is towed away. Bob Halfman and Ike Matsura help clean up debris and salvage remaining contents. Auto was parked on Rodeo Road, near La Cienega Boulevard, while owners were shopping at nearby store. It was one of more than 400 vehicles smashed by rampaging flood waters in Baldwin Hills area."; See images #00117255 through #00117263 for all photos in this series.
Type
Image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w ;21 x 26 cm. Photographic prints
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