Pacoima Historical Society

09/01/2026

08/31/2026

08/27/2026

Remembering Alvia “Al" Jackson

The Pacoima Historical Society honors the memory of Alvia “Al” Jackson, a respected educator and community figure who served as Dean of Boys at John F. Kennedy High School in Granada Hills.
Mr. Jackson’s story was one of hard work, determination, and service. He worked his way up from janitor to become a dean—an achievement that reflected both his perseverance and his commitment to young people.

At Kennedy High School, Mr. Jackson was more than an administrator. He mentored, advised, disciplined, encouraged, and befriended countless students. For many, he was a steady and caring presence during important years of their lives.
His legacy lives on in the many students, families, colleagues, and community members whose lives he touched. We remember Alvia Jackson with gratitude and respect.

Did you know Mr. Jackson, attend Kennedy during his years there, or have a photograph or memory to share? Please add it in the comments.

08/24/2026

From PHS archives: The Hernandez family historic photo on Filmore Street. Victoria and Connie Hernandez with the young boys, while Manuel Hernandez tends to the family’s 1929 Ford Model A Tudor Sedan.

08/22/2026

Watch the official trailer for PacoimaStories: Land of Dreams. Available in HD Digital and on DVD at PacoimaHistoricalSociety.org



https://youtu.be/KRJxkOlrYB8

PacoimaStories: Land of Dreams is a two-hour documentary written an...

08/22/2026

Valley Chronicles Historical Moments Podcast, hosted by Crystal Jackson. Episode 6: Jenaro Ayala & the Birth of the Chicano Movement in the San Fernando Valley


PacoimaStories
Crystal Jackson
Baitcal Publishing

08/20/2026

Pacoima’s early future was shaped by the Southern Pacific Railroad—and by Leland Stanford, the railroad magnate, former California governor, U.S. senator, and founder of Stanford University.

In 1888, Stanford began building the impressive Pacoima Hotel at Third Street and Taylor Avenue, now Van Nuys Boulevard. The hotel hosted legislators and prominent visitors, and local accounts recall President Benjamin Harrison speaking from the nearby train platform.

But Stanford’s plan to build a locomotive roundhouse in Pacoima created a major conflict. Residents opposed the smoke, noise, railroad workers, and industrial activity they believed would threaten their new residential community and lower property values.

In response, Stanford reportedly had the Pacoima Hotel dismantled board by board—chandeliers and all—and shipped away by rail. The loss of the hotel was a major blow to Pacoima’s hopes of becoming an elite railroad-centered town.

Soon afterward, the Southern California land boom collapsed. Developer Jouette Allen’s investments, civic improvements, and dream for Pacoima began to unravel. His home burned in 1889; he left California, and devastating floods in 1891 destroyed much of the young community.

Pacoima’s story is one of big dreams, railroad power, land speculation, conflict, and resilience. Even after economic collapse, fire, and flood, the community endured and rebuilt. For the full story of Pacoima’s progress and challenges after statehood, check out Valley Chronicles: Told & Untold Stories of the San Fernando Valley, available on Amazon and signed copies at PacoimaHistoricalSociety.org.

08/19/2026

From the Archives - Van Nuys Blvd in Pacoima during the early 1950s

08/16/2026

Do you know the remarkable history of Pacoima? Discover its untold legacy in Crystal Jackson’s The Entrance: Pacoima’s Story, featuring rare photos, archival documents, and stories spanning Native, Latino, Black, Japanese, and American history.

In The Entrance: Pacoima’s Story, author and historian Crystal Jackson uncovers the remarkable history of a Southern California community whose story mirrors many of the struggles, transformations, and triumphs that have shaped America.