A trip down memory lane – San Bernardino’s E Street

2 min read

8 years ago Contributing Writer

Courtesy of the San Bernardino Historical and Pioneer Society Platt Building (at the corner of Fifth and E Streets) ) in San Bernardino where President Lyndon Johnson worked in 1925.

Originally named, “Salt Lake” by the Mormons in 1852 was the main artery leading into the heart of San Bernardino.

Cruisin’

If you were one of the fortunate people (like me) who was raised in the Inland Empire during the late 1940’s to the early 1970’s, I am sure that some of your fondest memories of junior high and high school years would be cruising down E street in San Bernardino — the Car Cruising Capital of Southern California!

Shopping

E street runs north to south with a portion being a part of Historic Route 66. Back in the day it was a one-stop shopping mecca with hundreds of shops and stores on both sides of the street. The stretch started at the northern part of town, Highland Ave., traveling 5 miles south through downtown along 5th to Rialto Ave., ending south of town at Orange Show Road, the home of the National Orange Show Fair Grounds.

McDonald’s

In October 1948, Richard and Maurice McDonald opened their very first McDonald’s restaurant, 1398 North E street, which became a very popular hang-out when cruising E. The Original McDonald’s restaurant is still standing and is operating as the McDonald’s Museum.

Presidents

Courtesy of the San Bernardino Historical and Pioneer Society President Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson in "his" elevator at the Platt Building in San Bernardino in 1964. — Courtesy of the San Bernardino Historical and Pioneer Society
President Johnson and Lady Bird Johnson in “his” elevator at the Platt Building in San Bernardino in 1964.

E street has been host to a number of United States President’s with the first being Theodore Roosevelt in 1903, Ronald Reagan in 1988, Clinton and George W. Bush to name a few, but for me it was Lyndon B. Johnson’s visit that stands out in my memory!

Johnson was a resident of San Bernardino in 1925 and operated an elevator in the Platt Building on the south-east corner of 5th and E Street.

In October of 1964 during his presidential election campaign, I was among the many in a crowd of 20,000 who stood in front of the Platt Building to welcome him back to San Bernardino and show our support for the upcoming election!

Fast forward to present

San Bernardino once known as, “The Car Town” has changed drastically, with a designated City Transit Bus lane in the middle of E street, and all the businesses that boomed with success, except for a few, have been torn down or boarded up with no sign of those glorious times when cruising E Street was happening!

By Bobby Joe Holman