Is it myth or reality that a hermit lived in Laurel Canyon? In fact August 1, 1907 was the day local newspapers report the actual Hermit of Laurel Canyon was to be brought down out of the Cañon. The hermit was referred to as “Professor” C.E. Watson by those who met him because of his apparent education and refinement.
However, the tale begins much earlier. In the late 1800s the Hermit was occasionally seen in Hollywood. And on November, 30, 1894 the L.A. Times reported A.C. Watson [presumably the same C.E. Watson], Hermit of Laurel Canyon, had begun harassing Spencer Millard, a Los Angeles lawyer. At the time of the incident, Mr. Millard was the Lieutenant Governor-Elect of California. One of Mr. Millard’s clients had recently sued to “Quiet Title” to property in Laurel Cañon. The property in question included the Hermit’s home. Apparently our Hermit of Laurel Canyon visited the Lieutenant Governor-Elect in his offices in Los Angeles, and blaming him for the legal action, threatened Attorney Millard’s life. The death threat remained only that, a threat. However, Professor Watson may well have had the idea that he had “homesteaded” his claim to his piece of Laurel Cañon. In the 1800s as land passed from the Missions to privately held Ranchos here in Los Angeles, squatters often made claims to the Ayuntamiento (City Council), seeking proper title to property that the Rancho owner was not otherwise using. Maybe Professor Watson thought he had “proved up” his rightful claim to his land by building the required homestead residence, which in other parts of the West was “to be at least 10 by 12 feet, with one window, suitable for permanent residence.” In his 1894 encounter with Millard, the Hermit would have already been 77-years-old. If he were “addled,” simply confused or out-of-touch about his property rights, it would not be surprising. However we know that in the early history of Laurel Cañon, it was set aside as a public recreational area. Maybe he wasn’t so crazy.
When the L.A. Times ran the story of the Hermit Watson’s evacuation, the paper showed a sketch of a wizened old man with wild hair and a full beard down to his chest. His home, referred to as a hovel, appeared much as this picture, not significantly different from Abraham Lincoln’s log cabin. The Hermit’s merciful evacuation from the Cañon in 1907 stemmed from a young couple visiting the Cañon on an outing. The young woman was a nurse and braved the stench and deplorable conditions to find the Hermit, immobile on his bunk, with an arm outstretched, staring blankly skyward. At the noise of the approaching couple, the Hermit had stirred himself to moan over and over, “I’m dying.”
In 1894 Attorney Millard had begun insanity proceedings against the Hermit. He later relented, and the Hermit returned to Laurel Cañon. It was speculated that Watson had come to the Cañon as a prospector, where he simply remained. In his later years he did not venture out of the hills. He was treated generously by picnickers to the area, who offered him food. A man named Edwards made regular trips to the Hermit’s shack with provisions, “but no one looked after him lately.” No one knew where he came from, or what he had done before settling in the Cañon.
He was thought to be 90-years-old when he was escorted out of the Cañon “where charity may add warmth to the chill of death.”
