The PaperInk presents

The Time Traveler

As published in The Downey Eagle
Downey, California, USA

By John Adams


The time traveler columns are a series of pieces on the history of Downey and the area around it compiled by John Adams during his years as a reporter and editor in the area. All rights reserved.

Most of the articles are on file with the Downey Historical Society.



Early Americans were a peaceful people from July 16, 1993
Two historic colleges were founded here from August 13, 1993
Leader of Women's Movement taught locally from August 20, 1993
Downey as it was in the last century from September 3, 1993
Lummis crossed America to Los Angeles from September 17, 1993
The General in dusty streets of Downey from October 8, 1993
Ralph family has made Downey proud from October 15, 1993
Painting recalls rowdy days of old 101 Cafe from October 22, 1993
Rancho Los Amigos wasn't always hospital from October 29, 1993
Some odd aircraft were once built here from November 5, 1993
The lady from Downey was quite a pilot from November 12, 1993
Great Depression made residents pull together from November 19, 1993
Aviation history here that led to Rockwell from November 26, 1993
'Bedsheet Boys' once made an impact here from December 3, 1993
Golfing teens once desecrated the cemetery from December 10, 1993
Downey engineer tried to sell 'Stealth' secrets from December 17, 1993
Old soldier's own tales of the South Pacific from December 24, 1993

When balloonist tried his luck in Downey from January 7, 1994
Downey hose made international headlines from January 21, 1994
Even libraries tend sometimes to forget from January 28, 1994
When women wrestled in salad dressing here from February 4, 1994
Library recalls Mary Foy: But still no room from February 11, 1994
Old newspaper reflects events like today's from March 3, 1994
The women who dared to take to the air from March 18, 1994
Amelia learned to fly in nearby South Gate from March 25, 1994
Historic ranch house on Stewart and Gray Road from April 1, 1994
Pioneer woman Marine receives medal today from April 22, 1994
Those days of illegal booze in old Downey from June 3, 1994
Women's Club of Downey has colorful history from August 26, 1994
Early aircraft tenant of what is now Rockwell from September 9, 1994
Old friends meet again at Vultee party from September 30, 1994
300,000 acres once belonged to Nieto from October 7, 1994
Downey's Kiwanis is 70 years young from November 11, 1994
How John Downey brought the rails here from November 25, 1994
'Midas' of John Downey spurred growth from December 2, 1994

The growth of our fine school system from February 24, 1995
Names that survive from school archives from March 3, 1995
Industries developed during the 1880s from June 23, 1995
School named for Pioneer Lewis Family from August 4, 1995
The rush west continues in the 1880s from August 25, 1995

The first Old River School still stands from August 9, 1996
Downtown Downey grew after railroad from December 6, 1996
Country village eyes war from December 6, 1996
Constable 'Spoony' looked good on horse from December 6, 1996
When 'The Baron' taught school here from December 6, 1996

Governor's political loss was city's gain from December 5, 1997
Inferno proved need for fire department from December 5, 1997
Anglo Don Carpenter once owned Downey from December 5, 1997
Loss of father cast shadow over her diary from December 5, 1997

Corps of Engineers celebrates 'century' from June 19, 1998