GOING BACK TO 1847; TREATY-SIGNING CELEBRATION HELD AT CAMPO DE CAHUENGA.Byline: Phil Davis
Joel Chavez thought it was ``pretty cool'' to learn that the very spot where he wrestled his buddies at Campo de Cahuenga Campo de Cahuenga in North Hollywood, California, near Cahuenga Pass, was an adobe farmhouse on the Rancho Verdugo where the Treaty of Cahuenga was signed between Lieutenant Colonel John C. in North Hollywood was where the Mexican-American War The Mexican-American War[1] was an armed military conflict between the United States and Mexico from 1846 to 1848 in the wake of the 1845 U.S. annexation of Texas. Mexico did not recognize the secession of Texas in 1836; it considered Texas a rebel province. ended in California 152 years ago this week. But his mind still wandered to teaching his playmates more practical lessons. ``I'm teaching them about momentum and gravity - by sitting on them,'' the 13-year-old said, shrugging off an assault by two smaller boys at the 49th annual celebration of the signing of the Campo de Cahuenga treaty, which was held Sunday. It's tough to blame Chavez for his mental wanderings. The historical significance of the Campo de Cahuenga site has eluded many adults for decades. The boys were among a crowd of about 200 who turned out for a celebration marking the anniversary of the treaty, which was signed at a little adobe house in the park at 3919 Lankershim Blvd. on Jan. 13, 1847. Since then, the site has languished in historical obscurity. It is not listed on the National Register of Historic Places This article is about the U.S. Register. For the National Register of Historic Places in Canada see Canadian Register of Historic Places. The National Register of Historic Places . Part of the original adobe is sealed under the blacktop of Lankershim Boulevard. ``We're the best-kept secret in the world, and these fences and walls don't help,'' Campo de Cahuenga curator Jim Gulbranson said. ``But we're here. We're surviving. In a year and a half, this will all be done, and we'll be a gem in the middle of 50 acres of blacktop.'' Gulbranson led Sunday's ceremony to remind San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. residents about this piece of history. Actors dressed in historical garb re-created the meeting between Lt. Col. John C. Fremont and Mexican Gen. Andres Pico, who ended the Mexican-American War in California with their signatures at the site. Historians say the treaty cleared the way for the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo is the peace treaty, largely dictated by the United States[1][2] to the interim government of a militarily occupied Mexico, that ended the Mexican-American War (1846–1848). in 1848, the agreement that ended the war and forced Mexico to surrender 525,000 square miles of territory - including California - for $15 million. ``The policy of manifest destiny manifest destiny, belief held by many Americans in the 1840s that the United States was destined to expand across the continent, by force, as used against Native Americans, if necessary. that began with the Lewis and Clark expedition Lewis and Clark expedition, 1803–6, U.S. expedition that explored the territory of the Louisiana Purchase and the country beyond as far as the Pacific Ocean. ended here,'' said Guy Weddington McCreary, president of the Campo de Cahuenga Historical Memorial Association. ``It all came together here. We came together as one nation from ocean to ocean. Really, the signing of this treaty was the prelude to all that.'' Donna Johnson of Los Angeles was pleased to learn the mysterious little cluster of trees and grass across from her workplace held such historical significance. ``I love history,'' Johnson said. ``I always wondered what this place was, but I didn't find out until I read about it in the paper.'' Chavez, the young wrestler, also appreciated the history lesson, but an encore of authentic frontier dancing sent him in search of some wrestling buddies. ``I never knew this place existed,'' Chavez said. ``It's pretty cool.'' CAPTION(S): 3 photos PHOTO (1) Dancers perform at Campo de Cahuenga as part of the celebration of the 152nd anniversary of the treaty that ended the Mexican-American War. (2) Actors dressed in authentic 1840s field clothes prepare to re-enact re·en·act also re-en·act tr.v. re·en·act·ed, re·en·act·ing, re·en·acts 1. To enact again: reenact a law. 2. the signing of the treaty. (3) Jim Gulbranson, curator of Campo de Cahuenga, talks with visitors Sunday. Andy Holzman/Daily News |
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