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A Drive On The Boulevard - Highway 80 via El Cajon Blvd. in San Diego
Рет қаралды 17,583
Күн бұрынFrom 1926 until 1953, Highway 80 traveled along El Cajon Blvd. on its way towards its western terminus in Downtown San Diego, California. Highway 80, while not as well known as its cousin Route 66, is filled with history and by the 1950s more people entered California by Highway 80 than Route 66. San Diego's El Cajon Blvd. features a number of historic sites, as well as some newer things to check out as well (such as the 7-11 of the future).
In this video we travel from the intersection of El Cajon and Euclid to El Cajon and Park Blvd., the 1926-1953 route of Highway 80.
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@williamcharnow9038 3 жыл бұрын
Around 9-10 years ago I actually walked the entire El Cajon Blvd up and down about 7 seperate times. The blocks are longer than most average city blocks. This video brings back a lot of memories and makes me Thank God for protecting me and walking with me during those hard times I endured back then.
@craigpeterman27 3 жыл бұрын
I walked from Hoover High to my home in North Park a few times. Never walked from San Diego State.
@kop1579 2 ай бұрын
I moved to simi valley after living in San diego in normal heights for 33 years and I watch your videos when I miss home
@donnasmith2720 3 жыл бұрын
So cool. I lived at the corner house on Euclid and Monroe when I was growing up.
@CalTxDude Жыл бұрын
I had no idea that highway 80 was So rich not only with American history but With pop culture and icons! Thank you so much for this video ! I lived in San Diego for over 20 years, and although I've lived all over the world, I do miss that beautiful city.
@fastsetinthewest 3 жыл бұрын
NEW SUBCRIBER. My grandparents started driving Hwy 80 in 1935. They'd drive it about February and became friends with the Knot Berry family writing letters back and forth. They owned an Allis Chalmers dealership in Lennon Michigan and farmed. They sold more combines than any dealer. I grew up on a Michigan farm, got drafted, and sent to the Republic of Vietnam '68. I lived near Hwy 80 about 40 miles Northeast of Savannah too after my Army days. I've had a couple of friends killed on Hwy 80. From near Fort Worth, Texas. I've driven big portions of 80. Great video. Eaglegards...
@craigpeterman27 3 жыл бұрын
Growing up in North Park in the early 50s I recall taking El Cajon Blvd all the time.
@williambliss6087 3 жыл бұрын
Wow, memory lane. I kept looking for the water tower as the video ran and sure enough, there it was right along with the electrical substation. I grew up in the neighborhood near Fairmont and University and frequently drove on El Cajon. I'd forgotten about the Lafayette Hotel. The Normal School at the corner of Park and El Cajon became San Diego State University. My mother got her teaching credential there in the 1920s. My sister graduated from Hoover and went to school with Ted Williams. I left California 50 years ago, but the memories remain.
@sdguy2653 3 жыл бұрын
Welcome back Mr. Bliss, though you're elsewhere, you've never left.
@williamstudleyiii2068 3 жыл бұрын
As a kid in the early 50's, my parents would drive us to Gillespie Field. El Cajon Blvd was the only highway. It was very wide and had signs telling speed for traffic signal timing which changed depending on traffic conditions. San Diego was a wonderful place to grow up.
@lucask4330 3 жыл бұрын
as in the speed limit would change?
@SomeplaceOrAnother 3 жыл бұрын
Great driving tour of San Diego 👍 cool water tower 👍
@SidetrackAdventures 3 жыл бұрын
Thank you 👍
@113charlie7 3 жыл бұрын
Been seeing that water tower since I was a kid didn't know it was vintage
@kathleenmarion 3 жыл бұрын
When we first came to San Diego in 1959 Highway 8 was not open yet but under construction. I remembered driving both El Cajon Boulevard out to El Cajon and the Farm Road through Mission Valley to get to El Cajon. But the best was in 1968 when I had a 55 Chevy and drove the boulevard! That was the in place to be on Friday and Saturday nights. Stopping at Oscar's for shakes and fries. Think American Graffiti San Diego style! It was the best!
@HoldFastLife 3 жыл бұрын
Just came across your site. Love the videos. I grew up in San Diego (La Mesa, El Cajon, etc) live in Ny now. Visit from time to time. Sucks I have to vacation where I grew up! Your videos remind me of my childhood years.....
@mypl510 3 жыл бұрын
The scene in Top Gun where Maverick picks up Charlie at the club was filmed at the Lafayette in it's ballroom! Hollywood Magic!
@askulkingfox 3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the recommendations and highlights along the way. Going to check out that 7-11 and the Chicken Pie Shop. Maybe get some Vietnamese food too!
@SidetrackAdventures 3 жыл бұрын
Definitely check out the Chicken Pie Shop. Its so good. Thank you for watching.
@lewiskalb 3 жыл бұрын
Wonderful video...enjoy all of yours
@SidetrackAdventures 3 жыл бұрын
Thanks so much!
@brown-eyedman4040 7 ай бұрын
This one really hits home. My grandparent's house was in this neighborhood long before it was Little Saigon. My mother actually attended Hoover High School. And yes, we actually went to the original Jack-in-the Box. Yhank you so much.
@AtagoJRPG 3 жыл бұрын
Japan always has had the 7-11 of the futures, it would be wise if the 7-11 corporation here would catch up with its cousin in Japan cause they offer way more than just groceries. cool videos btw, been binge watching them and it's always awesome to see a fellow road geek covers a lot of lesser known highways here in California
@CH3NO2Semonious Жыл бұрын
In the late 60s on weekends El Cajon Blvd looked like a scene from American Graffiti I practically lived at that Der Wienerschnitzel in my van back then.
@blondebobbi4505 Жыл бұрын
Wow. What memories. Empire Beauty Supply. The hospital. Chicken Pie Shop. Rudfords. Lived on Park in one of my grandmother's apartments. Both good memories and bad.
@Corgis175 Жыл бұрын
Thoroughly enjoyable as a passenger on your drive.
@DeezNutz617 6 ай бұрын
I'm now living in SD and I'm glad I found your channel! Lots of historic info I wasn't aware, thanks for all the insight!
@jjarm 3 жыл бұрын
What a cool drive, nice work. Thanks for the info. Great water tower!
@mariebrundridge2679 Жыл бұрын
I just loved your video on El Cajon BL. I used to live right off 41st and El Cajon brought back good memories.
@SidetrackAdventures Жыл бұрын
Glad you enjoyed it!
@naomidavis8649 Жыл бұрын
Lived there in the 50’s and 60’s on swift st. Walked it many times remember pres. Kennedy coming down El Cajon blvd and also the El Cajon drag race also went to Edison Wilson and Hoover
@threeshocks5769 6 ай бұрын
Chicken pie shop rolls for Christmas is a must
@johntaylorjr4344 4 ай бұрын
I'll have to try it next time I'm down there.
@wilsonpicket8505 3 жыл бұрын
I grew up in that area. My old stomping grounds. That Florist Building used to be a Bekins Moving storage facility.
@Porsche996driver 3 жыл бұрын
Added the Chicken Pie to my places for next visit! Thanks brother! 🐔
@THEoriginaljmelford 3 жыл бұрын
The Lafayette hotel was where the offices of the San Diego Chargers were in the 1960's. I went in there and asked where their office was and the clerk wouldn't tell me but he gave me a Chargers bumper sticker and asked me to leave. I was hoping to see Earnie Ladd or one of the other players. I was 17 or 18 years old at the time.
@ericpederson3105 3 жыл бұрын
Hey! At 14 seconds you can see my place. The picture you use of El Cajon Blvd. and Alabama is amongst my pictures of "Old Time San Diego" I even have one of El Cajon Blvd. when it was a dirt road and the TTA No. 1 was the biggest building in the area. Great stuff, I love my towns history, short as it is.
@CalTxDude Жыл бұрын
I lived just half a block from that water tower and there are so really great collector car gatherings at that park directly behind it
@Michael_the_Servant 3 жыл бұрын
I lived right there at Florida and El Cajon where the Boulevard sign is, just drove past it the other week after years living out of the area, boy it has changed, but that Sign stays the time.
@PhredsArmy Жыл бұрын
Really enjoyed this particular video (just catching up on all of the ones you've done so far). I went to high school in the mid-70s in Clairemont and did my college in the mid-90s after my stint in the Army. Both times, I used to drive the entire length of El Cajon Blvd and did loop on University Ave and I'm amazed at how much keeps changing. It looks like they did a lot of clean up on the road and buildings as everything looks brighter and cleaner now. Will have to do this loop again next time I'm in town.
@hle619 19 күн бұрын
My old neighborhood. It can be a little rough around the edges, but it does carry it's own charm as well.
@RayRomanMedia 3 жыл бұрын
Just discovering your channel! You definitely do your homework and very thorough on the details within your video. I recently created a similar style video in Rancho Bernardo and have found an interest in continuing such videos more often. Keep it up!
@Sir-Gerlad 3 жыл бұрын
Nice drive video. I love the Chicken Pie shop. Good food at a low price. What equipment did you use to record your drive?
@SidetrackAdventures 3 жыл бұрын
We used a DJI Osmo Action for the driving footage.
@Sir-Gerlad 3 жыл бұрын
@@SidetrackAdventures The footage looks really good. Your vids make me want to go out and drive.
@raulrod2147 3 жыл бұрын
Cool. I pass that 7-11 frequently but never stopped in (used to be an independent liquor store). I'll stop in next time!
@GrumpyCat24 Жыл бұрын
I thought I remembered that it's crazy how San Diego is phasing out liquor stores for markets now
@ericwharton1953 14 күн бұрын
Your are the best, bro
@sdguy2653 3 жыл бұрын
I do hope you get east of Euclid, one of the most important, which is very not known, is what is now Amherst St., but was then known as El Cajon Ave. You can still see the stamp on the corner of Amherst and 67th. This was before El Cajon Blvd. (Ave.?) was redirected over the creek to what is now known as Montezuma.
@joedyke3415 3 жыл бұрын
Mystery building was the SDG&E substation.
@SO_Teric 3 жыл бұрын
More specifically, the San Diego Gas & Electric Co. Building (SDG&E), Substation F. It was designed by architect Eugene Hoffman in 1926. More information is here: theboulevard.org/home/landmarks-on-the-boulevard/
@sdguy2653 3 жыл бұрын
@@SO_Teric THANK YOU!!!!! I've not found any documentation on El Cajon Ave before! I knew it had to be there, but I couldn't find it!
@sdguy2653 3 жыл бұрын
@@SO_Teric And that site reminds me of the Carnation shop, oh so many years ago.... :)
@ejude83 3 жыл бұрын
@@SO_Teric wow! Great informational site! Thanks for sharing!!
@tristanwwsd 2 жыл бұрын
@@sdguy2653 Which Carnation shop? Lips? Do you know what the SD Floral building was before they moved in? Nobody knows.
@JPER-cv2lq Жыл бұрын
outstanding video, thanks from Germany, tho I grew up in Pasadena California.
@KB6YAF Жыл бұрын
My brother played briefly for the San Diego Padres in the early 80's and was friends with the San Diego Chicken. My Bro was a pitcher.
@CalTxDude Жыл бұрын
There are some fantastic photos of JFK In his limousine that were taken right in front of Rudford's When he visited San Diego in the summer of 1963
@JAGRAFX 3 жыл бұрын
The old Spanish Colonial Style structure at the Southwest corner of El Cajon Blvd and the 805 intersection is part of one of SDG&E's electric substations. The sub appears to be fed by two circuits of sub-transmission [probable sixty-nine thousand volts] from the North and two more from the South. Output would be distribution voltage of about 12 thousand volts of which most is underground. Power companies normally transmit at high voltage for long distance and then step that voltage down for neighborhood distribution of electricity. This sub was probably integral with the San Diego Street Car Transportation System until about 1947.
@SidetrackAdventures 3 жыл бұрын
Thanks. I figured it was something to do with SDG&E but with no signage wasn't sure of the history.
@ejude83 3 жыл бұрын
...and the building itself is a facade. When I first moved here, I was also intrigued by that building. My partner works for SDGE and he told me that it’s not really necessary to the functionality of the substation - it’s just a decorative shell for aesthetic purposes to hold all the equipment so that it’s not so visible - and ugly, though I’m sure that, in the end, it also offers some kind of security and safety as well. Many communities in California require that SDGE do this so they don’t have to look at it. I’m surprised that the Trolly Barn Park in University Heights hasn’t made them do more to hide that substation. I love your videos, btw! As a SD transplant, you’ve really helped me learn a lot about my new adopted home! Keep up the awesome work!!
@ejude83 3 жыл бұрын
I also have a soft spot for that specific area of the Boulevard, since on my first trip down ECB I also saw the Botánica Chango, when it was in the much cooler old white building on the corner of Illinois - I took it as a sign I should move here immediately! 😆 unfortunately, it’s all boarded up and covered in graffiti now, and it looks like they’re going to tear it down and build another humongous condo in its place. I’m all for progress, and we definitely need more housing, but that was such a cool building. I’m glad I got a picture of it in all of its Botánica Chango glory!
@etarter 3 жыл бұрын
I love your videos!
@scotthatlestad2548 3 жыл бұрын
You missed mentioning Frank the Train Man. Great vid as usual!
@SidetrackAdventures 3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for watching. Good call on Frank the Train Man.
@sdguy2653 3 жыл бұрын
Moved from his place next to the school to across the street, indeed.... Great guy!
@PineValleyDigital 3 жыл бұрын
My father was a model RR buff and we went to Frank's quiet a number of times. It was always fascinating to see all that train stuff in there. Wall to Wall.
@johntaylorjr4344 4 ай бұрын
With the highway renumbering system of 1964 Highway 80 was slowly truncated (and expanded) into what is now Interstate 8. This was shortly after I was born in 1962. A lot of people still referred to it as Highway 80 well into the 70s even the 80s.
@mr.m4602 3 жыл бұрын
Thanks for the video.
@rocketdog2723 4 ай бұрын
Good ol El Cajon blvd , corner of Illinois and El Cajon ask for the ‘toe curler’ special
@killersopinion1829 3 жыл бұрын
I live on 80 not too far from where Bonnie & Clyde wreaked havoc & mass mayhem before meeting their Maker. I love your videos about old 80! One day I will drive all 2736 miles of its current & former routes. Subbed!
@SidetrackAdventures 3 жыл бұрын
Thank you. We really appreciate it.
@beefcakes27 3 жыл бұрын
My parents graduated from Hoover 51' and 52". My grandparents were career Salvation Army officers and my grandmother knew Ted Williams' mother threw her work. She said Ted's mother was a troubled woman, a foul mouthed drunk. Later hearing Ted Williams interviews I saw the gruffness of his upbringing. My mother said there were no other high schools east of Hoover except Grossmont. She told me the that where I-8 dips through Mission Valley was only a two lane road with an intersection somewhere down there. I remember the giant woman on top of the gogo strip join. Other people of note from Hoover, Bob Boone hall of fame baseball player and track coach Bob Larson- Grossmont College and UCLA.
@PineValleyDigital 3 жыл бұрын
Bob Boone went to Crawford High, class of 65'
@beefcakes27 3 жыл бұрын
@@PineValleyDigital Yes, Ray Boone
@CalTxDude Жыл бұрын
My 1st job shortly after I moved to San Diego, was at the Lafayette hotel! The night security guard Head worked As a bellman at the hotel In it's heyday in the 1940s. Oh the stories he told me about A list stars That frequented the cloister! Betty Grable and Harry James were Search frequent guests that they knew all the staff By name Where Very personable, warm and pleasant
@johndough201 Жыл бұрын
Btwn WWII & Korea both of my parents frequented the Red Fox Room
@CalTxDude Жыл бұрын
The hotel Originally consist of a bigger footprint of properties and buildings. If you look at the immediate surrounding blocks and There are still some of the original bungalows and apartments that match the original design of the hotel
@CalTxDude Жыл бұрын
Scenes from the original Top Gun Wuerfelmed at the Lafayette. Of course the bar scenes, And the "dormitories" Where the pilot's allegedly lived were actual rooms at the hotel. Shortly there after began the huge remodeled
@barneyevans6940 3 жыл бұрын
So many things on that stretch of road that has come and gone over the years. I worship a the church of Christ next to San Diego Florist building has been there since the 1930s. Current building was built in the 1960s.
@GrumpyCat24 Жыл бұрын
The chicken pot pie shop was in another location but I thought they moved downtown for some reason within the last 10 or 20 years
@beckyweissberg7644 4 ай бұрын
Just the opposite. There were two previous locations before El Cajon Blvd. One in downtown San Diego and then the one in Hillcrest. My family moved to San Diego in 1952. We lived in Linda Vista and for $1.00, we could ride the bus to downtown, have lunch at the Chicken Pie Shop and have something left for an inexpensive trinket AND ride home on the bus. Good food and good fun, and my sisters and I always felt safe.
@GrumpyCat24 4 ай бұрын
@@beckyweissberg7644 where are they located now? El cajon blvd? I thought they moved from that location?
@coyotegrad-collectables 3 жыл бұрын
Cool!
@GrumpyCat24 Жыл бұрын
Watch a video of the same area by the county of San Diego back in the '70s so dang crowded now!
@deandupont5503 2 жыл бұрын
Hup, correction time. The 'San Diego Chicken' was originally the *KGB Chicken,* named for (and sponsored by) KGB-FM, the only half-decent rock station back in the 70s. (God, I'm showing my age, huh?l
@barbaralawrence7360 3 жыл бұрын
It’s pronounced FAIR-mont, not mount. Remember the Pierson Ford Commercial? Good video though
@imaangel7185 3 ай бұрын
The Boulevard sign was designed by Frank Carson.
@AbandonedMines11 3 жыл бұрын
I remember once reading that large water fountains were also planned for El Cajon Boulevard’s median starting at Park Boulevard and continuing east. The fountains, unfortunately, never came to fruition.
@SidetrackAdventures 3 жыл бұрын
It is probably for the best they gave up on that idea. While it would look cool I can just imagine the problems they'd cause.
@AbandonedMines11 3 жыл бұрын
@@SidetrackAdventures I think you're right about that! I stayed at the Lafayette Hotel back in the summer of 2006 for about a month while my apartment was being renovated. I wasn't impressed with the hotel. It seemed to have been past its "glory days" when the Hollywood elite would stay there. It didn't seem very luxurious to me. Maybe it was more exclusive and upscale back in the 1950s or so. It's a historic place, though, that's for sure!
@sdguy2653 3 жыл бұрын
@@AbandonedMines11 Luxurious during the 40's actually. Our modern day idea of luxury is quite different than it was then. By 2006 it was no more then a glorified motel, small rooms, no real amenities. Back in the middle of the century, it was the epitome of luxury and class, so your reflection has no meaning when compared to when it was in it's heyday. I prefer to think of it in the big band era, hosting wonderful concerts downstairs (from the clamshell stage), and the stars of the day exiting upstairs to their lovely rooms afterward. It was a different era.
@DanqueDynasty 3 жыл бұрын
The Annex no1 building is where a branch of USC (University of Southern California) was supposed to be built, and what gave the neighborhood name University Heights. Those plans fell through, but the site would become home to San Diego Normal School. Which eventually became San Diego State University.
@catherinemcleod7378 2 жыл бұрын
South East El Cajon Bl
@donkeedic9825 3 жыл бұрын
Lived in San Diego almost my entire life been to the chicken pot pie restaurant twice..... Worst chicken pot pie I have ever had ever...... I've had better Frozen chicken pot pies from Swanson....lol
@GrumpyCat24 Жыл бұрын
Marie Calendars were always my favorite. And their quiches and pies. Yummmm!!!!
@DeannaRose-rx5hs 9 ай бұрын
El cajon is the worst place to live. Actually it hasn't change much.
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