Historic Downtown Riverside California - A Walking Tour

[@richardmcleod1930]

The Old Spaghetti Factory was originally an orange packing house. I don't think it was ever a train station? I could be wrong but there is a Santa Fe Station and a Union Pacific Station nearby that were the original train stations in Riverside. I lived at the Mission Inn from 1980 until it closed in 1985 and remember this building well when it was closed up and in a great deal of dis-repair as was the entire area. The area at the time was isolated and rather scary. Glad it was restored and is now The Spaghetti Factory. Downtown Riverside's greatest loss was The Loring Opera House, as it was sadly allowed to burn down.

[@milky_wayan]

Such a great video. Thanks! I happened to be researching historical Downtown Riverside and this was the perfect little walking tour.

[@gloriachapman839]

Hi thank for the for the wonderful video Iived in riverside miss it

[@antoniahamilton3201]

This tour was well done. I really enjoyed it. These buildings are absolutely stunning. Can't wait to check them out. I appreciate your expertise. Keep up the good work.

[@adealerinwhimsy]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@jessiev7322]

Thanks for the research on these buildings. I have always wondered about their history.

[@jessiev7322]

You work at California Adventure? :)

[@adealerinwhimsy]

You’re Welcome…. Thank You for watching the video

[@adealerinwhimsy]

No I don’t…. Just a massive Disneyland fan Maybe when I retire in a few years 😀

[@alanolson6913]

I was born and raised in Riverside. The reason I was born there was a part of the Depression. Somewhere around World War One one of my great uncles took the train to Pasadena to visit friends. He would write to my relatives back in Kansas telling them that it was warm, pleasant and “the wind isn’t blowing “. That convinced my grandmother’s folks to come see Southern California. The purchased land in Riverside on Locust street and had a house built. They rented it out. In 1934 the wife died. My grandmother’s Dad didn’t want to move out there alone. It remained a rental. As it happened, by 1937, my grandparents left Kansas to move to California. Lo and behold, the house was available. They were my Dad’s folks. He married after WW2 and I came to be born at Riverside Community Hospital in October of 1954. The Universal church you showed (after the Congregational church) was constructed of adobe clay. I remember when the police station was downtown. We used to go to the Auditorium for travelogue talks by folks who would show slides of their travels. Just behind the Congregational church was a Pep Boys car parts store. My Dad would trade there . My Dad graduated high school with Skip Fordyce who owned Fordyce motorcycle shop on 14th not far from the Press Enterprise building. I grew up on Strong street off north Main. It used to be a good place. There were lots of trees and everyone had lawns and we kids would play on the sidewalk. I remember when the downtown mall actually was Main Street before it was paved over. The Vista Hotel at one time had quite the ballroom. Known for some elegant dances. Just down from the Securities building was Thresher’s Sporting Goods and next to that was one of my favorite places, a toy store called The Toy Box. Just down from the Loring Building was a place called Diamond Lil’s. My brother was the assistant manager of the Fox Theater for a few years. The building that is now a photo museum for UCR was where my Mom would shop, it was Kress’s variety. My Dad would take us kids to Imperial Hardware and Pringle Drugs.

[@dlnorton3001]

My wife and I got married in that church (Universal Unitarian) .. 😁👍 10:39

[@jackstickler1705]

G. Stanley Wilson. You goofed his name a few times. Great video