Julia Morgan YWCA

Julia Morgan was the first female architect licensed in the state of California. She's famous for creating Hearst Castle at San Simeon. She also designed the YWCA building across the street from Pasadena's City Hall. You know the place--it's been boarded up for years, sliding into ruin.

A couple of years ago, Pasadena's City Council voted to exercise its powers of eminent domain and take possession of the building. I think that was a smart move. The building obviously needed protection and its owner wasn't lifting one single, proverbial finger to care for it.

I'll post more pictures next week. In the meantime, there's another opportunity for you to see inside the Julia Morgan YWCA Saturday morning (tomorrow), from 9-10 am. Enter at 78 N. Marengo Avenue and the docents of Pasadena Heritage will be there to answer your questions and keep you from stepping into any holes. After your tour, stop by City Council chambers from 10:15-11:30 for a presentation and comments.

Neglect takes a toll. Years of doing nothing are going to cost. I admit, though, I find great beauty in ruins.

The Bridge Endures

It can't hurt to post a photo of the Colorado Street Bridge, can it? This one's not perfectly framed, but I wanted a shot of that climbing, clinging vine. I don't know if the vine's still there; I took this shot quite a while ago. But we've had cloudy days of late, so it's a fitting picture.

There will be a Bridge party this year, on July 14th. Watch the Pasadena Heritage website for information. If you haven't attended one of these parties, give it a try. Though it gets crowded there's something magical about being able to hang out on a major thoroughfare while you drink a locally-brewed beer and listen to music. They close the road to vehicles and you can walk across, gaze out over the Arroyo and enjoy one of Pasadena's loveliest landmarks.

If I'm not mistaken, one of the reasons for the founding of Pasadena Heritage was to preserve this very bridge. Thanks to them, the bridge will celebrate its 100th birthday in 2013. This year, we're going to party like it's 99.

Christmas at Heritage Square

Here's something Christmasy to do this weekend:

The holidays are a good time to visit Heritage Square Museum, a whole neighborhood of preserved buildings straight out of the history of Los Angeles. This time of year they deck the place out to do Charles Dickens proud.

This picture was sent to me by Brian Sheridan, Director of Development and Communications at Heritage Square. Brian will soon be leaving to take a new position with the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers Watershed Council. (I don't think I'll lose track of him there.)

Brian has invited me to Heritage Square many times in hopes that I'll blog about it, and I've done so because it's my kind of place. I'm so compelled by architecture, especially of old places. There's something about the buildings people used and lived in before us. Heritage Square preserves some unique specimens. The top photo is of the Ford House, where the exquisite woodwork was all carved by hand.

Of Heritage Square Brian says, "before the museum’s existence, few people thought twice about tearing down historic structures. In 1969, long before the LA Conservancy, Pasadena Heritage and others would begin making an impact, a group of concerned citizens moved the Castle and the Saltbox from Bunker Hill to Heritage Square, signaling a tremendous shift in the way we thought about old buildings."

Of course the Museum is more than just a collection of old buildings. They've constantly got something new going on, from movies to school programs. You can even get married there. Heritage Square is a place where, as Brian says, "you can learn about history...where you can see, smell and feel the past. Where you can experience a history often forgotten in the textbooks."

Right around now you can experience Christmas past. But although I mentioned Charles Dickens, I don't think the Ghost of Christmas Past will be in evidence. If you want to see ghosts, you should go at Halloween.

The Bridge is Back

Do I recall we didn't have the Colorado Street Bridge party last year? Sure enough. The 2009 event was canceled due to budget cuts. Well, hallelujah! It's back.

Food, music, food, people, fun for kids and more food all begin at 6pm on Saturday night--that's tomorrow, July 10th. Discounted advance tickets are available until 5pm today. Sponsored by Pasadena Heritage, the party is a unique opportunity to hang out on the bridge without traffic--auto traffic, that is. There will be plenty of people traffic, I guarantee. And the extra information link at the bottom of the event page warns of other traffic as well: there's a soccer game at the Rose Bowl tomorrow night (what a great place for a soccer game!), so be forewarned.

Have a good time and take pictures!

Busch Gardens Pasadena: Sleuthing

I've enjoyed showing you some of the traces of Pasadena's Busch Gardens we discovered on our tour last weekend. It was a special event to benefit Pasadena Heritage, a worthy organization that works to safeguard traces of Pasadena's history. This fencepost and other traces like it might have remained lost if not for the enthusiastic research of Michael Logan and his colleague Gary Cowles. The fencepost is another one of those items from which they literally pulled away the vines (see Wednesday's comments). It's located at the corner of Madeline and Stoneridge Drives.

Bellis was so enamored of the fencepost that she couldn't resist searching for more. (I wonder what that sign says? Probably "Please don't touch the ivy.")

The garden's terraced hillsides can be seen clearly today, especially on Stoneridge Drive just north of Madeline. Here's the Altadena Hiker reminding Bellis that this terraced hillside is on private property. Oh, that zany Bellis!

We had a wonderful time on our tour. Many thanks to Pasadena Heritage, Logan, Cowles and especially our tour guides in the field: the energetic Pat Lambert and our lifeguard, Michael Grady. These people volunteer their time and expertise to educate and entertain us, and to preserve Pasadena's past.

Busch Gardens Pasadena: Gateway

If you ever get a chance to hear Michael Logan speak about Pasadena's Busch Gardens, go listen and enjoy yourself. He's got a great collection of photos and post cards, he's knowledgeable, and best of all he loves his subject. Last Saturday Logan spoke to a crowded auditorium at Westridge School before we headed out in tour groups to find the traces of Busch Gardens.

My first two posts about these traces are here and here. Today's photo is of one of the pillars that marked the entryway to Busch Gardens at Arroyo Blvd. and Busch Gardens Drive. There were originally two of these (if I remember correctly what Logan said), one at either side of the entrance, and the ticket takers sat beside them. During his lecture before the tour to benefit Pasadena Heritage, Logan showed a couple of rare, early photos of the ticket takers at their posts.

For the first couple of years there was no charge to enter the grounds, but soon they started charging 25 cents for adults and 10 cents for children, a high price in the years before the first World War. As Bellis mentioned in comments yesterday, the proceeds went to charity.

Care of the gardens required the employment of 40 full-time gardeners. Adolphus Busch died in 1913 and Lilly Anheuser Busch died in 1928. The gardens remained open until 1938.

Saturday

Yesterday I did what you're supposed to do on a Saturday: something fun, with friends.

When you freelance, you tend to work 24/7. It's rare to do something just for fun. But yesterday was fun.

First we enjoyed a lecture about Pasadena's historic Busch Gardens (1904-1938), given by Michael Logan as a fundraiser for Pasadena Heritage. Later, as part of the event, we toured Busch Gardens sites in west Pasadena, some of which were on private property. I took lots of pictures (though not on private property, alas) and I'll share the best ones with you in the coming week.

Between lecture and tour, however, lunch on a beautiful terrace with my delightful friends was my favorite part of the day.

Deja View

I know. You're thinking I posted this photo the other day. I don't blame you.

Look again. Since I took last Sunday's photo on May 1st, the Crown City Loan And Jewelry "Money To Loan" signs have been removed on both the Colorado Blvd. and Raymond Avenue sides of the building. According to one commenter on that post, that signage has been up since the 1970's.

The older lettering--"For Values," above, and I'm not sure what, below--has suffered in the intervening years. So has the black grid, which I'm going to guess was once clear glass.
I suppose I would have noticed this eventually, but what drew me to Old Town this time was Terry Griest, PDP's Bay Area designer friend, who was in Pasadena for a short family visit. She saw the changes and emailed me, so I ran over to get a shot. This time I actually stopped into the pawn shop. I had never been there before. Nice girls don't go to pawn shops, or something like that.

Well. This is Pasadena after all. Our pawn shop is not your creepy, greasy TV kind of pawn shop but rather a bit upscale. Sunlight streams in through big windows, gleaming on all sorts of cool stuff including jewelry, guitars, rare coins, power tools and three beautiful, antique cash registers. I asked the woman behind the counter about the changes to the facade and she said the plan is to remodel the building to its original appearance. When I told her I thought that was pretty cool, she said she thought so, too. She was excited about it.

I haven't read anything about this in the Pasadena Star-News or on the Pasadena Heritage website. But restoration of one of Pasadena's oldest Greene and Greene buildings, and, according to this 2006 article by Janette Williams, the only commercial building the favorite sons ever designed, is worth getting excited about.

Update 5/26/10:
I heard from Robert Montano, the Project Manager at Pasadena's
Economic Development Division. He says:

"As background to your post, the Owners, helped by a façade grant from the City of Pasadena’s Redevelopment Department are embarking on a façade restoration of the Kinney Building – the only Greene and Greene commercial building. The “Black Grid” is actually a panel of purple glass tiles frequently used in transom windows as can be seen at 55 E Colorado (above the future Intelligentsia and existing Foot Locker), just around the corner.

No one was certain as to the condition of the building when we started out, so needless to say, we are pretty happy to find so much original character in place. We have a long way to go until completion, but are very excited about starting down the path."

I know there's an online photo of 44 E. Colorado, but I couldn't find it today. But this post about Pop Champagne Bar from Fightin' Mad Mary shows the same kind of transom windows, just around the corner from the Pawn Shop.

Crown City Jewel

Someone once told me the Pawn Shop at the corner of Colorado Blvd. and Raymond Avenue was one of the oldest buildings in town. But I hadn't known until I took the Pasadena Heritage Old Town Walking Tour that it was designed by our famous local brothers, Charles and Henry Greene.

Today's first photo was taken by Terry Griest, looking toward the building from the southeast. Terry has contributed several photos to the blog, all taken in Old Town in 1984 for a college report. Aren't we glad she saved them?

Built in the late 1800's, the Kinney-Kendall Building was at first the home of Metcalf's Pharmacy and Charles Gardner's Dry Goods. I don't know how long it's been a pawn shop, but the online reviews for Crown City Loan & Jewelry are positive, and I see "over 50 years experience."

My first photo was taken looking directly north, across Colorado Blvd.

Here's a closer look on the Raymond Avenue side of the building. I've messed with my photos a little, removing shadows so you can see the details.

I told Terry I think the difference between our photos is that it looks like the Kinney-Kendall building had received a new paint job in 1984 and it's still sporting that same paint job today.

Here's something cool: I found the plans for the building online.

I Say Dodworth, You Say Dodsworth?

Yesterday's photo of the Dodworth Building was different from today's in many ways.

Yesterday's photo was taken by me in 2010, looking at the north face of the building on Colorado Blvd. Today's photo was taken by Terry Griest in 1984, looking at the building from the northeast. Terry's our graphic designer friend from the Bay Area who used to live in Pasadena. I'm so glad she continues to check in here. In the 1980's she did a thorough study of Old Town for a college project, took a lot of pictures and saved them. Terry has contributed to the blog twice before. Lucky for us!

About today's photo, Terry says,
"Here's what I wrote in 1984:
'Originally classical when built in 1902, it was twice remodeled, most recently after the 1929 street widening. What exists now is a combination of the original Classic style of the arched entrance on Fair Oaks, some Spanish Colonial in the tile roof and ornamentation, and even some Moderne in the slim vertical pilasters.'
I think that is college-essay-speak for 'superfluous details.'
I never noticed until today that the Cheesecake Factory spot used to house a T.V. rental joint. Only 25¢ a day!"

The 1929 remodel refers to a time when many buildings along the Old Town stretch of Fair Oaks lost their facades for the sake of widening the road.

This structure's been cleaned up nicely since the '80s. This is my recent shot of the eastern face of the building, which I grabbed as we scurried by on the Pasadena Heritage Old Town Walking Tour. I wonder what the interior's like.

I'm still not sure if the building is the Dodworth or the Dodsworth and I'm not the only one. Google (scroll to the map) and Wikipedia both have it as Dodsworth, as did my guide on the Tour.

It's one of Pasadena's venerable architectural treasures no matter what you call it.

Update, 10/26/10: I happened to notice as I drove by the other day, that the sign painted on the door says "The Dodsworth Building." So go figure. 

Superfluous Details: Dodworthy

Designed by J.J. Blick, the Dodworth Building has stood at the corner of Fair Oaks and Colorado, directly south of the building I featured yesterday, since 1902. Right now it houses the Cheesecake Factory (warning: talking website).

Get a load of all those superfluous details!

The Pasadena Heritage Old Town Walking Tour is informative, and it's fast. That means it's not really a photographer's tour. I ran past a few cool places, snapping this way and that and thinking, "I'll have to come back and get a decent photo of this place." I've got one or two more, I think.

Update: I first posted this as the "Dodsworth" building. I received an email from S. correcting me. It is the Dodworth building. This explains why I had trouble finding information about it on the web! I assume when people email rather than comment that they prefer anonymity, but thank you, S., for setting me straight.

Update, 10/26/10: I happened to notice as I drove by the other day, that the sign painted on the door says "The Dodsworth Building." So go figure.

Iced Tea and Old Lace

It's my sister Margot's birthday. I thought I'd post a photo of this genteel veranda and imagine she and I might sit and have a glass of iced tea. We haven't had a chance to sit and talk together for a long time.

And cookies.

What?

Oh, okay, cake. It's a birthday.

On May first, I took the Pasadena Heritage Old Town Walking Tour. The tour moved quickly but I learned a lot. And I did get a few photos, so I'll show them to you over the next few days.

This one's from Castle Green. And yes, we got to go inside. But I think I like the veranda best.

Happy Birthday, Mo!

Bridge Benefits

Every year--except this year--Pasadena Heritage holds a fund-raising party on the Colorado Street Bridge. But due to the "challenging economic times," this year's party had to be canceled.

That doesn't mean you can't celebrate the bridge, and raise funds for Pasadena Heritage as well.

Today is Bridge Benefit Day at these local eateries who support Pasadena Heritage:
Big Mama's Rib Shack
Los Tacos
Cha Da Thai
Robin's Restaurant
Chandra Thai

Can't spare the bucks to eat out tonight? A walk in Lower Arroyo Park is free.

Home Shopping in History: the Stocks Home

North Los Robles Avenue has its imperfections. It's a broad, busy street. With direct access to the police station downtown, it serves as an artery for ambulances, fire engines and police cars, all of which use sirens. And let's admit it: when you live on north Los Robles, you live on the border of a troubled section of northwest Pasadena.

But take another look at Los Robles. The shady stretch between Washington Blvd. and Woodbury Avenue teems with historic homes. The Stocks home, so historic it's featured by Pasadena Heritage, is for sale. There are actually three homes on the property, all visible from the street. I couldn't see the pool without trespassing, though, and you know I'm a law-abiding citizen.

Oh yes I am! Don't start. Go harass the Altadenahiker.

What was I saying? Oh yes. They have a nice slide show about this house over at Pasadena Heritage, so go take a look. My favorite part is the porch. I pass this house regularly, and I drool over that porch. Not literally. It's set back a bit too far from the road.

Bridge Night

One night each year, Pasadena Heritage invites everyone in town over for bridge. Colorado Street Bridge, that is. They shut down traffic and from dusk 'til long after dark, Pasadena parties all across its favorite icon.

There's food, entertainment, more food...John and I first walked from one end of the bridge to the other (as did many people) to case the joint first and see what our choices were. We settled on beer from the Craftsman Brewing Company, which was so delicious that—well, let's just say "settled" is absolutely the wrong word; and barbecued pork sandwiches from Big Mama's Rib Shack, which were so delicious that—well, let's just say now I know why Mama is so big.

Various local organizations were there to show off not only what they do but what they contribute to Pasadena. We visited the Pasadena Heritage booth to thank them for the party. They've been instrumental in helping to preserve much of Pasadena's heritage, including important structures such as the Herkimer Arms and the very bridge on which we were standing. We even stopped by to visit our favorite heroes at the Altadena Mountain Rescue Team booth, which was being personned by the very team member who experienced her first rappel while I photographed it July 10th.

I'm not sure who worked harder last night: the barbecue servers or the guys pouring the beer or the security guards or the musicians or the volunteers from various organizations. But they all made it a great evening for those of us who didn't do a darned thing but enjoy it.

Hey! There's a new blog in town. Check out Laurie Allee's Glimpses of South Pasadena. A beautiful addition to the SGV blog family.

Safe House

For a couple of years now, the fate of the Herkimer Arms has been hotly debated. The only apartment building designed by the famed Greene and Greene architects, poor old Herkimer was destined to be either moved or demolished, and it sure looked like it was going to be the latter.

At the last minute, Heritage Housing Partners and saved the day. The building will be moved and converted to condos - expensive ones. According to some, that was the only way to pay for the project. Fine, I say. Better than tearing it down. I think plenty of folks around here will pay good money to own a piece of Greene & Greene.

Then again, we have yet to see what depths the California housing market can reach. But that's another story.

Kudos to Pasadena Heritage for keeping the spotlight on this and other endangered structures, and to Heritage Housing Partners for being the deus ex machina.

Thanks to Ben for asking in the comments section: for now, you can still see the Herkimer Arms at its original location, 527 Union Street.