Workman & Temple Family Homestead Museum

08/30/2026

Following yesterday's Route 66 centennial program at Glendora Public Library, the second part of a post on The Homestead Blog looking at routes of travel through the San Gabriel Valley from 1851 to 1926 examines mail and stage routes, early railroads and public and private roads through the area from 1854 to 1874. We'll return soon with part three: https://homesteadmuseum.blog/2026/08/30/trails-tracks-and-thoroughfares-routes-of-travel-through-the-san-gabriel-valley-1851-1926-part-two/

by Paul R. Spitzzeri With two principal Los Angeles County public highways traversing the eastern San Gabriel Valley in the 1850s, these being the modern Mission Road/Valley Boulevard and Ramona Bo…

08/30/2026

Following a Route 66 centennial event at the Glendora Public Library this morning, the first part of the newest post on The Homestead Blog sharing some history of routes of travel through the San Gabriel Valley from 1851-1926 looks at roads and travel to and from the area during the 1850s, with part two tomorrow: https://homesteadmuseum.blog/2026/08/29/trails-tracks-and-thoroughfares-routes-of-travel-through-the-san-gabriel-valley-1851-1926-part-one/

by Paul R. Spitzzeri It was a pleasure this morning to take part, with collector and enthusiast John Atwater, in a program at the Glendora Public Library marking the centennial of the creation of R…

08/29/2026

The concluding second part of a post on The Homestead Blog, following a reading of a 1937 biography of Bank of California cashier William C. Ralston, looks at the stunning failure of the institution in August 1875 and the effect on the banks of Los Angeles, one of which was Temple and Workman, run by F.P.F. Temple, the "Ralston of Los Angeles": https://homesteadmuseum.blog/2026/08/28/our-business-here-is-to-keep-cool-and-self-possessed-the-failure-of-the-bank-of-california-in-san-francisco-and-the-banks-of-los-angeles-26-august-1875-part-two/

by Paul R. Spitzzeri Following the 26 August 1875 crash of the Bank of California, the Golden State’s largest and most powerful financial institution, and the almost immediate death of its ma…

08/28/2026

Tomorrow morning at the Glendora Public Library! https://www.cityofglendora.gov/Events-directory/Road-Trip-through-History-Route-66-at-100

Celebrate 100 years of Route 66 with local historian Paul Spitzzeri and Route 66 enthusiast and collector John Atwater as they trace the road's remarkable origins through stories, artifacts, and nostalgic memorabilia.

08/28/2026

A recent reading of George D. Lyman's 1937 book on San Francisco banking titan William C. Ralston is the impetus for the newest post on The Homestead Blog concerning his bank's late August 1875 suspension amid a financial panic that soon spread to Los Angeles, where the "Ralston of Los Angeles," F.P.F. Temple faced a devastating run on his Temple and Workman bank. Part two is tomorrow: https://homesteadmuseum.blog/2026/08/27/los-angeles-never-stood-so-well-as-she-does-now-the-failure-of-the-bank-of-california-in-san-francisco-and-the-banks-of-los-angeles-26-august-1875-part-one/

by Paul R. Spitzzeri An interesting recent read in California history was George D. Lyman’s 1937 book, Ralston’s Ring: California Plunders the Comstock Lode, which, despite the subtitle…

08/27/2026

The eighth part of a post on The Homestead Blog dealing with the August 1924 killing of Theresa Weinstein Moers by her lover, retired boxing champion Norman Selby (Kid McCoy) looks at media coverage before the setting of the trial date, including a hunt for missing jewels, further evaluations of his sanity and her funeral: https://homesteadmuseum.blog/2026/08/26/i-want-to-tell-the-world-about-it-the-death-of-theresa-weinstein-moers-by-boxer-kid-mccoy-august-1924-part-eight/

by Paul R. Spitzzeri As Norman Selby, known to the public as Kid McCoy, former boxing champion and film actor, prepared to be put on trial for killing his lover, Theresa Weinstein Moers (Mors), his…

08/26/2026

Part seven of a post on The Homestead Blog covering the August 1924 slaying of Theresa Weinstein Mores (Mors) by her lover and retired boxing champion Kid McCoy (Norman Selby) further examines the investigation into the killing, new developments and a remarkable look at the potential role of psychoanalysis in the case. The eighth part is tomorrow. https://homesteadmuseum.blog/2026/08/25/divorce-scandal-and-slime-is-what-we-seem-to-live-on-nowadays-the-death-of-theresa-weinstein-moers-by-boxer-kid-mccoy-august-1924-part-seven/

08/25/2026

The sixth part of a post on The Homestead Blog looking at the August 1924 killing of Theresa Weinstein Moers by her lover Norman Selby, famed as ex-boxing champ Kid McCoy goes into further media coverage as the investigation continued and celebrity fascination remained in high gear. Part seven is tomorrow: https://homesteadmuseum.blog/2026/08/24/in-his-adventuring-in-his-fighting-and-love-making-he-had-appealed-to-the-uncivilized-streak-that-exists-in-all-human-beings-the-death-of-theresa-weinstein-moers-by-boxer-kid-mccoy-august-1924/

by Paul R. Spitzzeri As the Los Angeles Police Department and Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office investigations continued into the August 1924 homicide of Theresa Weinstein Moers (…

08/24/2026

Part five of a post on The Homestead Blog covering the August 1924 slaying by ex-boxing title holder Norman Selby (Kid McCoy) of his lover Theresa Weinstein Moers continues examining heavy media coverage, as well as noting a critical editorial by the Hollywood Citizen of the sensationalizing of its peers. A sixth part is soon: https://homesteadmuseum.blog/2026/08/23/a-remarkable-and-tragically-pathetic-example-of-both-physical-and-mental-deterioration-and-decay-the-death-of-theresa-weinstein-moers-by-boxer-kid-mccoy-august-1924-part-five/

by Paul R. Spitzzeri As the investigation into the August 1924 homicide of Theresa Weinstein Moers (Mors) entered its fourth day, a startling new element entered into the case, with the Los Angeles…

08/22/2026

The fourth part of a post on The Homestead Blog detailing the August 1924 killing of Theresa Weinstein Moers by former boxing champion Kid McCoy (Norman Selby) continues with intense Los Angeles newspaper coverage from a variety of angles, most dramatic and sensational from two days after the crime was committed. Tomorrow is part five: https://homesteadmuseum.blog/2026/08/22/a-sentimental-ending-for-the-triumphant-cynic-the-master-of-life-the-immortelle-of-love-the-death-of-theresa-weinstein-moers-by-boxer-kid-mccoy-august-1924-part-four/

by Paul R. Spitzzeri Despite the absolute certainty expressed by Los Angeles Police Department detectives investigating the August 1924 shooting death of Theresa Weinstein Moers, a.k.a. Mors, that …