Pasadena History: Beach Trips Cause Traffic Jams in 1918
Mountain Road and beach vacations were a source of traffic even in 1918.
Traffic jams on Mountain Road were common even in the early 1900s.
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Here is your weekly dose of some Pasadena history thanks to The Pasadena Peninsula by Isabel Shipley Cunningham:
Even in the early 1900s, beach-goers snarled traffic when returning home from their weekend getaways on Sunday evenings. A gas station located where Mountain Road branched from Baltimore-Annapolis Boulevard did a booming business with beach traffic.
“For those who came to the peninsula by car, Lipin’s Corner was the landmark where they left the main road to Annapolis and started down Mountain Road to the resorts they had been dreaming of all week,” Cunningham wrote.
“John Lipin opened a gas station there in 1918, advertising gasoline, tires, and accessories. His business grew to include the sale of food and drinks and motorists often stopped there for gasoline or refreshments.
“Later, Lipin’s Corner was the location of massive traffic jams on Sunday evenings when everyone tried to return home from the beach at the same time. While long lines of cars waited to enter Baltimore and Annapolis Boulevard, passengers (and sometimes even drivers) could go into the store and buy a cold drink while the cars in line would move only a few cars’ length.
On Sunday evening July 12, 1937 traffic stood still from Lipin’s Corner to Lake Shore and Fort Smallwood.”
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Ellen Cerasuolo
12:11 am on Monday, July 16, 2012
We would come by car to Pasadena, going to Pasadena Beach, Altoona, or Kurtz's Beach on the weekends! Ritchie Hwy to Mountain Road....I think (can't remember, kid then). Hogneck Rd jammed with traffic all the way out Bayside beach (you'd think it was OC).
Inner Tubes, Rafts hung from what is now the now "marina" stores for last minute shopping. Sometimes a live band would play at a beach house. Families would picnic and swim all day. There was a slide out in the water. Low tide it was to your knees, high tide your neck (4 or 5 ft). Never word about "yuk, dirty water" etc. We were hot, so now we're cool! I can still hear "where have you been Mrs. Robinson" being played by a local band.
Later, us kids roasting marshmallows, after over stuffing on burgers etc. It was awesome here in the late 60's to 70's. Then things started to change...."no more public beaches".