Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPopeHat: Who was Mrs. Fred J. Martin (Altadena fire)
Domestic Enemy Hat
@kenwhite.bsky.social
20m
Who was Mrs. Fred J. Martin — likely named Carol? Who still loved or even remembered her, 90 years after this condolence telegram that blew from a fire-ravaged neighborhood in Altadena into a distant yard?
A neighbor found this in her yard and posted it on Facebook.
/1

Domestic Enemy Hat
@kenwhite.bsky.social
17m
/2 Winds are strong in the foothills of the San Gabriels at the edge of the Angeles National Forrest. One year they blew our front doors open, tearing the deadbolt through wood. This year they have scattered the precious detritus of lives, of the history of people, across the area of the Eaton fire.
Domestic Enemy Hat
@kenwhite.bsky.social
10m
/3 Thousands of homes were destroyed in the Eaton fire. Out of the firestorm, into the winds, arose a cloud of charred letters, documents, photos, pages from books, bits of art. These were how we measure people’s lives.
Domestic Enemy Hat
@kenwhite.bsky.social
7m
/4 It’s obviously tragic because of the lives lost, the homes lost, the communities lost. But it makes me pensive. Maybe it’s because I am still going through my father’s things, looking at old pictures of people I don’t know, people whom nobody alive can identify for me.

Domestic Enemy Hat
@kenwhite.bsky.social
/5 Anyway, if anyone knows a descendent of Fred J. Martin of Los Angeles, a descendent who lived in the Altadena area, someone has some of their memories they thought were gone.
January 24, 2025 at 1:08 PM
@kenwhite.bsky.social
20m
Who was Mrs. Fred J. Martin — likely named Carol? Who still loved or even remembered her, 90 years after this condolence telegram that blew from a fire-ravaged neighborhood in Altadena into a distant yard?
A neighbor found this in her yard and posted it on Facebook.
/1

Domestic Enemy Hat
@kenwhite.bsky.social
17m
/2 Winds are strong in the foothills of the San Gabriels at the edge of the Angeles National Forrest. One year they blew our front doors open, tearing the deadbolt through wood. This year they have scattered the precious detritus of lives, of the history of people, across the area of the Eaton fire.
Domestic Enemy Hat
@kenwhite.bsky.social
10m
/3 Thousands of homes were destroyed in the Eaton fire. Out of the firestorm, into the winds, arose a cloud of charred letters, documents, photos, pages from books, bits of art. These were how we measure people’s lives.
Domestic Enemy Hat
@kenwhite.bsky.social
7m
/4 It’s obviously tragic because of the lives lost, the homes lost, the communities lost. But it makes me pensive. Maybe it’s because I am still going through my father’s things, looking at old pictures of people I don’t know, people whom nobody alive can identify for me.

Domestic Enemy Hat
@kenwhite.bsky.social
/5 Anyway, if anyone knows a descendent of Fred J. Martin of Los Angeles, a descendent who lived in the Altadena area, someone has some of their memories they thought were gone.
January 24, 2025 at 1:08 PM
https://bsky.app/profile/kenwhite.bsky.social/post/3lgiyhxgo322e
10 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies

PopeHat: Who was Mrs. Fred J. Martin (Altadena fire) (Original Post)
Dennis Donovan
Jan 24
OP
Not everyone does. They hesitate, or put it off and someone else does it. You did it. So thank you! :)
chia
Jan 24
#8
hlthe2b
(107,860 posts)1. Wow. That is poignant...

chowder66
(10,143 posts)2. I sent him information about the family. I found them via Ancestry.
A great grandson is in Altadena.
chia
(2,463 posts)6. You are a good person.
chowder66
(10,143 posts)7. Thanks. I saw an opportunity to help and jumped on it. : )
chia
(2,463 posts)8. Not everyone does. They hesitate, or put it off and someone else does it. You did it. So thank you! :)
chowder66
(10,143 posts)3. He's going to pass the information along to the neighbor that found the letters/telegram in their yard.

Dennis Donovan
(29,262 posts)4. Thank you! That was way cool of you!!!!



chowder66
(10,143 posts)5. I just hope it works!
There aren't a lot of genealogists on bluesky yet so I figured I would take a crack at it and see if I could find someone.
Fred Martin is a very common name. Even with the middle initial it isn't easy but the address was the key.
LeftInTX
(32,340 posts)9. My hunch tells me that you found them!
chowder66
(10,143 posts)10. Oh I definitely found a great grandson... who is 80 years old.
I might follow up with the bluesky poster in a few days to see if there are any updates.