February RAP: Rabbit Hunting in the 1950s

As I mentioned, with no personal experience of the 1950s, it is all Happy Days to me. Still, it is kind of hard to believe that six full decades have come and gone since the last of the 1950s passed. If you know where to look though, or happened to make the February Ride Around Pomona, you might be more ready to identify some of the marks of that decade that are still to be seen around us.

The usual tour of portions of the city took in a Millard Sheets mural above the entrance of, what is now, a Chase Bank, the civic center, including city hall, the council chambers, public library and court house designed by modernist architect Welton Becket, and various examples of '50s residential architecture, including that all-electric house of the future designed for the County Fair. We also took a spin past the city's newest park - Phil and Nell Soto Park (which, by the way will have its grand opening and dedication on Saturday 8 February. Since the landscape architecture firm I work for designed it, look for a potential future RAP to stop by for a little discussion of its design.

John's old Ranger was not the only bike of interest today. Lonni's custom painted Trek had some of us hunting for the rabbits hidden in the design. We weren't very good seekers, but ultimately I think we got them all. The delay was only a slight one, and did not keep us from our usual round table, naturally this month, reminiscing on our lasting impressions of the '50s - cars and music predominated. With that out of the way, and the usual group photo following, Otto cranked up the '50s tunes and we got under way. 

A good sized group of riders enjoying a spectacular morning; as good a reason as any to get out the door in time. The RAP spins and grinds the first Saturday of each month.

the familiar Pomona "P" was designed by Becket as well

hunting for bunnies

the gathering

glorious day

work of Millard Sheets

Marcus leads the discussion

on the road

to the civic center

city hall

public library

Stephanie and Tamera, on the road again

up and over the 73

John's Ranger

still fenced up and not quite ready to open - Phil and Nell Soto Park

not a good use of paint

  

a little rugby at the Colleges on the way home