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Monrovia Historic Homes Tour set for next weekend

The 40th Historic Homes Tour is set for next weekend in Monrovia, tour organizers announced Wednesday.

The tour, hosted by the Monrovia Historic Preservation Group, features three museums open for viewing and four Craftsman bungalows on the 300 block of Wildrose Ave. on Sunday, May 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The street will be closed to motor-vehicle traffic to provide space for the vendors, vintage cars and other attractions such as music from the band B Foundation and Jim Constnatian on a vintage phonograph, tour organizers said. The event’s food vendors will serve beef brisket, pulled pork, sandwiches, tacos and more. Freebies include lemonade and cookies, as well as free popcorn at Fred’s Museum, 525 S. Shamrock Ave.

Tickets — which are available at Charlie’s House, 430 S. Myrtle Ave., or online at  www.mohpg.org — purchased on or before May 3 cost $20 for preservation group members and $25 for nonmembers, according to organizers. On tour day, tickets cost $30 and will only be sold at the Monrovia Historical Museum, 742 E. Lemon Ave.

The tour of Monrovia’s historic homes has been a yearly event since 1983 with the exception of two tours that were canceled during the coronavirus pandemic.

A video about this year’s tour is available at youtube.com/watch?v=pQjkdpxjcv4 .

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Monrovia Historic Homes Tour Scheduled

Apr 7, 2019

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The Monrovia Historic Preservation Group (MOHPG) is pleased to announce the homes that will be open for visiting on the annual Historic Homes Tour. There are six vintage homes that embody the variety, charm, and character of Monrovia’s neighborhoods. Advance ticket sales will be begin at the end of March. Tickets can be purchased online or in-person at the Monrovia Chamber Commerce (620 S. Myrtle Ave), Dollmakers’ Kattywompus (412 S. Myrtle Ave), or Foothill Gym (202 S. Myrtle Ave).

We hope that all of you will join us as we celebrate Monrovia’s unique and special architectural heritage!

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Monrovia’s 37th Historic Homes Tour

Photography by Larry Marotta

Hosted by the Monrovia Historic Preservation Group, the 37 th Historic Homes Tour offers the public a chance to experience a number of Monrovia’s architectural treasures. Featured on the tour will be six of Monrovia’s “First Houses;” meaning homes built before the end of 1887. The Monrovia Historical Museum and the Anderson House Museum will also be open for viewing. The event, which will take place on Sunday, May 5 th from 10am to 4pm, invites visitors to step back in time to a bygone era where “horseless carriages” cruised the streets of the foothill community. Tour guides stationed at each of the homes will offer stories and anecdotes relating to the architectural gems.

Advance tickets are on sale now and can be purchased from the Online Store . Tickets will also be sold at the Monrovia Chamber of Commerce (620 S. Myrtle Ave), Dollmakers’ Kattywompus (412 S. Myrtle Ave) or Foothill Gym (202 S. Myrtle Ave).

The Historic Homes Tour is not to be missed as it is the Monrovia Historic Preservation Group’s primary fundraiser of the year. The Monrovia Historic Preservation Group is dedicated to preserving Monrovia’s rich architectural heritage. Every year, over 200 volunteers work to make the tour a success. This year visitors can enjoy sweet treats provided by Rivanis Baking Company as well as popcorn from none other than Deasy Penner Podley!

Tags: architecture , deasy penner podley , design , historic preservation , Monrovia , Monrovia Historic Preservation Group

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Monrovia Old Homes Tour

How come a "2012" built home is on the 'historic homes tour'? I mean it was already laughable was for all intent and purpose the original house was razed in order to build this new one. Yes; the house 'adds character' to the neighborhood -- but it is far from what a 'historic home' is supposed to be. It debases the city's efforts at historic preservation.

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Booming in LA

Things to do in Los Angeles at any age.

Old Town Monrovia is Hometown USA off Historic Route 66

historic buildings , Los Angeles , Things to Do / January 17, 2024 by Rebecca O / Leave a Comment

Old Town Monrovia is 8 miles east of Pasadena just past Arcadia in Los Angeles County. Myrtle Avenue is its historic core lined with vintage brick buildings. Here you’ll find unique boutiques, Mom and Pop shops, and homey restaurants. It’s got an All-American hometown vibe, for sure. Set against the foothills of the beautiful San Gabriel Mountains, it’s a lovely spot to take a stroll.

Watch my video walking tour of Monrovia

Founded by William Monroe

Monrovia was settled in the late 1880s by a group of bankers and railroad men who turned the San Gabriel Valley enclave into a community. The town was named after its first Mayor and founder William Monroe who was superintendent of construction for the Southern Pacific Railroad.

Monroe purchased land and formed the Monrovia Land and Water Company in 1886. Monrovia was officially incorporated on December 15, 1887. It is the fourth oldest general law city in L.A. County. The cities of Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and Pasadena are older.

The community is quiet and family-centered, and the neighborhood is attractive and friendly.  It still has a small-town feel with only about 37,000 residents.

The Look Theatre

The movie theater on Myrtle opened in 1920 as the Colonial Theatre and was later renamed the Monrovia Theater. Look Cinemas took it over and it is now a modern dine-in movie theatre that serves good food and cocktails.

A beautiful park

Library Park opened on Myrtle Ave. in 1908 and its Carnegie Library served the community for the next 45 years. It was succeeded by the Monrovia Public Library.

The vintage Farmers Club drinking fountain that stands near Myrtle Ave was built in 1919 and is Historic Landmark #159.

Samson the Hot Tub Bear

As you stroll on Myrtle Ave, you may notice several Samson the Hot Tub Bear Statues. They were created to honor a 500-pound bear who made himself at home in Monrovia during the 1990s.

Route 66 hotspot

The ornately decorated Aztec Hotel opened in 1925. It’s an iconic stop on Historic Route 66. Its architect, Robert B. Stacy-Judd built it in the style of the Mayan Pyramids in South America but named it the Aztec Hotel because, at the time, more people were familiar with the Aztec Tribe in Mexico.

A collection of old homes and landmarks

If you drive through the neighborhood, you will see classic Victorian, Craftsman, Revival, and other vintage-style homes. Other landmarks include the Boxx Jeweler’s Street clock (Historic Landmark #36) and the C.O. Monroe House, located at 225 Monroe Place built in 1884. (Historic Landmark #82)

Old Town Monrovia – 119 W. Palm Ave. Monrovia, CA 91016​

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The Monrovia Historical Society

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The George H. Anderson House in Monrovia.

This time capsule of family life in Monrovia's early days was built in 1886. 

215 E. Lime Avenue. 

The Museum is now open to the public on the 3rd Sunday of each month from 1-4 pm.

Take a 3D Digital Tour Inside

Watch a short video of the anderson house.

Take a peek inside.

Help with Repairs

Thanks to all who made a new roof possible. Watch the process: http://oodles.us.com/ahroofdone/ahroofdone.m4v Watch the backstory leading to this exciting moment:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M195QzvmnKQ.

We need  to continue restoration work -- more painting, shoring up the foundation and more. Please consider donating to the next steps.

The George H. Anderson House

A brief history.

This home at 215 E. Lime Ave. is one of the very first in Monrovia -- built by John Anderson for his family.   He also built the first commercial building in Monrovia –- the Mills Hotel, where prospective settlers often stayed when they inspected land and made plans for homes.

Lots in the new Town of Monrovia were first offered for sale on May 17, 1886.  Two of the first were bought by William Mills, who promptly hired John C. Anderson to build the Mills Hotel (the Monrovia Hotel, as it soon came to be known). 

John Anderson was a Los Angeles contractor. Impressed with promise of the new town, he purchased three lots for himself and built this family home for his wife, Lizzie, son Lewis and the baby on the way, George. George would occupy the home for the rest of his long life.  

John Anderson was active in the business life of his new community, serving on the Monrovia City Council in the early days.  After he died in 1902, Lizzie would live in the home with their son George until her death in 1929.  George, who never married, lived in the house until his death in 1974, nearly 88 years of age.

As a young man, George went to work for the First National Bank of Monrovia.  He remained with the bank for his entire career, retiring as an assistant manager in 1934.  By that time, the First National Bank had become part of the Security Trust and Savings Bank, later to become Security Pacific National Bank.

George left his entire estate to the Security Pacific National Bank as trustee for the California Community Foundation.  His brother Lewis had married, but had no children.  The executor of George’s estate attempted to sell the old family home as part of settling the estate, but years of deferred maintenance discouraged any potential buyers. 

In the meantime, the Historical Committee of the Friends of the Monrovia Public Library had been looking for an early Monrovia house to purchase and restore for the purpose of providing later generations of Monrovians an insight into life in Monrovia in its early days.  The house was also to serve as a depository for early day records, pictures, papers, etc. Learning of the Friend’s interest, the California Community Foundation gave the Friends a grant to purchase the Anderson house for this purpose.  Title to the Anderson House passed to the Friends of the Monrovia Public Library on July 10, 1975, just a year after George’s death.

The Monrovia Historical Society was formed in 1979 to take over the responsibility from the Friends of the Monrovia Public Library, which had come to see it as outside its area of focus.

Under the leadership of the late Brice Tulloss, a restoration committee was formed, and work began.  The restoration was designated as an American Bicentennial project, and won recognition from the National American Bicentennial Committee.  Many civic organizations contributed supplies and volunteer labor for the restoration, and a number of generous individuals donated or loaned period furnishings for the refurbished interior to replace the original furnishings that had been sold to raise funds.  A formal dedication ceremony in memory of Brice Tulloss was held on September 16, 1979.

The Anderson House is open the 3rd Sunday of each month 1-4 pm and by appointment.

Copyright © 2018 Monrovia Historical Society - All Rights Reserved.

Victorian, Craftsman Homes Featured on Monrovia Tour

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Monrovia preservationists will showcase six architecturally significant homes at the 18th annual Old Homes Tour on Sunday, May 14, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The event includes the 113-year-old Victorian-style Idlewild house. The house, constructed by Northern California architects Samuel Cather Newsom and Joseph Cather Newsom, was built for Gen. William Anderson Pile. It’s been repainted in its original colors.

Also on the tour is the Victorian-style Burr House, which was built in 1893 for a reported $2,800, and the Maynard Best House, a Craftsman built in 1908.

The Bliss House, a 1911 Craftsman that was moved by its original owners from a ranch in Duarte to its current location on South Mountain Avenue, will also be shown, along with the Tuft-Baker House, a 1909 Craftsman that is being remodeled.

The event, sponsored by the Monrovia Old House Preservation Group, will include demonstrations by restoration specialists.

Tickets can be purchased through Friday, May 12, at the organization’s booth at Old Town Monrovia’s Family Festival on Myrtle Avenue, Fridays from 5 to 9 p.m. Advance tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and $6 for teens.

Tickets on the day of the event can be purchased until 2 p.m. at the Anderson House, 215 E. Lime Ave., Monrovia, for $18 for adults, $15 for seniors and $9 for teens.

For more details visit https://www.mohpg.org.

Image / F.W. Burr House 150 N. Myrtle Ave

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Festivals & Events

64th annual old island restoration foundation home tour.

When: March 16, 2024 1:00 PM

Where: Old Island Restoration Foundation, 322 Duval St, Key West, FL 33040

Old Island Restoration Foundation's Key West Home Tours, Opening Doors for 64 Years Strolling through Key West, do you ever wonder what lies behind a door that is beautiful, historic, intriguing...private? Key West is home to what is considered to be the largest predominantly- wooden historic district in the United States. One weekend a month, from December thru March, the doors open on 5 distinctive homes and their gardens, revealing a range of architectural gems, eclectic art, transformed cigar-makers' cottages, shipbuilders' craft, re-imagined Victorian mansions and the stories behind the facades. The homes are different each tour, so enjoy a glimpse through time, across architectural vision and into these cultural legacies while the doors are graciously opened. The Key West Home Tours are presented by the Old Island Restoration Foundation as part of its mission to protect, preserve and celebrate Key West's architecture, culture and intangible heritage since 1960. Tickets are now on sale for individual tour dates, or a new discount package for all 4 tours. Home Tour tickets provide entry to 5 homes at your self-guided pace, between 1-4 pm during the Friday-Saturday tour.

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( Brytann Busick )

‘The Worst House on the Block’: Here’s Why This Couple Bought a Fixer-Upper Victorian

Brytann Busick and Tim Moreno ‘s new home isn’t your everyday house.

The couple recently purchased a Victorian for $360,000—a bargain in Ferndale, CA , where homes are typically listed for $624,000.

The catch? This 1873 build is more than old and run-down. It’s a complete wreck.

“We’re not just pulling out carpet or retiling,” Busick says. “We’re rebuilding.”

Over the next year and a half, Busick and Moreno plan to spend an additional $250,000 on renovations. They need to take the home down to the studs, then build a 600-square-foot addition before adding some history and character.

Perhaps most ambitious of all, they plan to do most of the renovation work themselves—all while planning their upcoming wedding in September.

Here’s more on why they chose this arduous path to homeownership, along with the pros and cons of tackling such a massive renovation in case you’ve ever dreamed of doing one yourself.

Why first-time homebuyers are shopping for fixer-uppers

In today’s housing market, where prices and interest rates are extremely high, homing in on budget-friendly fixer-uppers can be a way for homebuyers to bridge the affordability gap.

“Expanding a search to include ‘fixer’ homes can be a powerful tool in competing with all-cash investors and combating rising interest rates,” says  Max Carr , a real estate agent in California’s Orange County.

Plenty of real estate listings signal their fixer-upper status by describing a need for renovations or repairs, with the Midwest leading the pack at 6.4% of listings, followed by the Northeast at 6.3%. The South and West come in last, at 4.4% and 4% respectively.

While not everyone is up for the hassles of a fixer-upper, for Busick, it’s been a lifelong dream to renovate a Victorian home in her hometown of Ferndale, known for its beautifully restored old homes.

In fact, the entire town was designated a California Historical Landmark. Busick recalls growing up in town and admiring all the old houses.

“I remember thinking, someday, I wanted to live in one of these Victorians,” she says. “I just thought they were so amazing.”

She grew up and moved away for school and work. However, when she met her fiancé, she was happy to learn he was willing to help her accomplish her childhood dream.

“I never dreamed of being in a Victorian house, but I wanted a nice family home,” Moreno says. “Family is really important to both of us, and Ferndale is great for that environment.”

Although home prices seemed beyond their reach, one thing they had going for them was time. They didn’t need to buy right away, which was good because Ferndale doesn’t typically have many homes for sale. (Currently, there are just 13 on the market.)

“We were just kind of watching the market and trying to get a good feel for what homes were being valued at,” she says. “We were trying to learn how to spot an opportunity.”

Luckily, the young couple had some help: Busick’s dad was a recently retired contractor, so he could see things in homes that the average buyer might not notice.

“He’d tell us, ‘Well, this looks nice, but that roof needs to be redone, or this doesn’t look structurally sound, or it’s on a post and pier foundation, you probably don’t want that,'” Busick recalls.

In 2023, a “little, dumpy, derelict house” came on the market, she says. The two-bedroom, one-bathroom, 150-year-old home needed serious help.

“It was pretty sad,” she says. “It is absolutely by far, leaps and bounds, the worst house on the block.”

It looked nothing like the beautiful old homes Busick had been dreaming of, or the warm family home Moreno wanted, but they saw its potential.

“Tim and I both are not afraid of hard work,” she says. “And with my dad’s knowledge and experience, we thought, ‘Hey, maybe this is a great chance for us to learn some skills, learn how to build.'”

(Brytann Busick)

The house was listed at $465,000, which seemed overpriced given its condition. It sat on the market for months.

“It was a reverse mortgage, a foreclosure,” Busick explains. “So eventually, the bank took it.”

At that point, the price dropped significantly.

“We started to think that we could make sense of it financially,” Moreno explains.

Between the down payment, future renovation costs, and the time it would take to fix it up, this home was a big commitment. But the more they thought about the home, the more they liked the idea.

The interior left much to be desired, but the location couldn’t be better.

“We thought it’s a great investment,” Busick says. “It’s a block from our favorite coffee shop. It’s two blocks from the local park. It would take 5 minutes to walk to the elementary school.”

They eventually landed the house for $360,000.

“It’s not as simple as, ‘Yeah, we drove by and saw it was cute and put an offer in,'” she explains. “A lot of thought, planning, and time went through thinking about this house.”

Doing it ourselves—with some help

Transforming a fixer-upper is an HGTV fantasy, but the reality is more complicated.

“The first key to the successful renovation of a fixer home is to understand the scope and scale of the work to be done,” Carr says. “That needs to be the result of rigorous layers of due diligence. This could mean sewer-scoped camera inspections, mold tests, roof inspections, and more.”

Carr also warns that learning the skills to renovate a home takes time, and in the end, the work might not be quite as nice as you’d get with a seasoned professional.

“When you see those imperfections at the end of the work, which will be there with any nonprofessional, are they going to bother you for years or are they going to serve as a mark of personal pride in the accomplishment?” he asks.

But Moreno proudly says that his future father-in-law, a contractor for over 40 years, has been a huge help.

“I don’t think we could take on a project like this without his guidance,” he adds.

With his help, Busick adds, “we’re doing everything ourselves, aside from some of the electrical or plumbing that really takes a skilled craftsman. And maybe some of the flooring, depending on if we’re able to afford real hardwood.”

Busick and Moreno have started documenting their renovation on Instagram: @ourvictorianrenovation .

Does buying a fixer-upper really save money?

Many homebuyers might presume purchasing a fixer-upper will save money, but with the cost of renovations and time investment, they might not save as much as they expect—even if they take the DIY route.

“You may be able to shave 20% off of the price of renovations by working directly with subcontractors,” says Carr. “But that level of coordination takes time and is always more than anticipated.”

To this end, Moreno and Busick are trying to be realistic with timing and financing. They expect the renovation to cost about $250,000 and take a year and a half. However, if things get behind, they plan to do the project in phases.

“One of the attractive things about this home is there’s a downstairs bedroom and downstairs full bath,” says Busick. “And so, if the primary suite isn’t done upstairs or we need to save up more money to keep going, we have that full bedroom, bathroom that we could live in downstairs and kind of do the project in phases.”

But what about their upcoming nuptials in September?

“Our goal is to get it watertight and have the framing done before our wedding in September,” Busick says. “Then we’ll work on getting the new roof in the winter, then work more on the finishings next year.”

They’re a few months into the project, and she’s “pumped about it, really.”

She adds, “It’s really hard and messy work, but it’s my dream come true.”

Jillian Pretzel is a Southern California writer who covers lifestyle, relationships, home, and money management.

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How to plan an architectural walking tour of Kaunas, Lithuania’s capital of culture

With its medieval Old Town and baroque monastery sitting alongside a modernist ensemble recently awarded World Heritage status, Kaunas is the perfect place to unravel the architectural paradoxes of the Baltic states.

Located 64 miles west of Vilnius, the Lithuanian capital, Kaunas is a small city of less than half a million people that often goes unnoticed. But to those in the know, its interwar architecture is every bit as valuable as Riga’s Art Nouveau gems or Tallinn’s gothic beauties. This was validated in late 2023 when UNESCO added Modernist Kaunas to the World Heritage register and in 2022 when Kaunas was awarded the European Capital of Culture .

When Kaunas was chosen as Lithuania’s provisional capital in 1920, it ushered in two decades of rapid development, giving rise to an architectural golden age. The city’s history reaches much further back, however, and a survey of the skyline shows that Kaunas was able to embrace progress without turning its back on the past. Modernism flourished in the presence of gothic, baroque and neo-byzantine architecture, fusing the styles of the day with references to Lithuania’s rich vernacular.

To best discover the city’s architectural highlights, dedicate a full day to cover Kaunas’s core and the nearby Pažaislis Monastery on foot, calling on the funicular and trolleybus system as required.

Christ’s Resurrection Church

Start by orienting yourself with a sweeping view from the rooftop observation deck at Christ’s Resurrection Church. Positioned atop Žaliakalnis   (‘Green Hill’), the largest basilica in the Baltic states deviates from other Roman Catholic designs with its sharp lines and soaring skyscraper-like verticality. Sketched out in the days following Lithuania’s independence from the Russian Empire in 1918, the church’s cornerstone was laid in 1934, though its construction was halted by the Soviet occupation two decades later. Repurposed as a radio factory, its long overdue consecration only came in 2004. On nearby Ožeškienės Street, the 1937 Evangelical Reformed Church is a scaled-down version of Christ’s Resurrection, complete with a miniature duplicate of its 230ft-tall tower.

Putvinskio Street

Descend Žaliakalnis   by funicular to Putvinskio Street, where Kaunas’s unique brand of modernism is on proud display. An assortment of buildings were constructed in the New Town between 1919 and 1939, with architects synthesising deco, Bauhaus and functionalist tenants to carve out their own oeuvre. An easy stroll down tree-lined Putvinskio reveals a gamut of notable addresses, many of them private apartment houses for prominent physicians, lawyers and city officials. Highlights include the imposing MK Čiurlionis Museum of Art , dedicated to the Lithuanian painter-composer, and the Antanas Žmuidzinavičius residence , which now displays its patron’s unusual sculpture collection under the auspices of the Devils’ Museum . Further along the street, The Kaunas Artists’ House , designed in 1930 by Vytautas Landsbergis-Žemkalnis, features reading rooms and performance spaces.

The Amsterdam School Museum

From the eastern end of Putvinskio Street, skirt the park to find another iconic edifice. A lone example of the Amsterdam School architectural style, this convex facade was erected in 1928 by Jakub Peras. Set inside one of its 1,464sq-ft apartments, the Amsterdam School Museum , established by Karolis Banys and Petras Gaidamavičius — the same duo behind the Art Deco Museum two blocks away — offers visitors a chance to cross the threshold and experience a preserved period interior. The five-room exhibition is a window onto life in the First Lithuanian Republic and the optimism of the interwar years. Set aside two hours for the tour — tickets should be purchased in advance.

Laisvės Avenue

Cross the road and head one block west to Laisvės (‘Liberty’) Avenue, one of Europe’s longest pedestrianised streets. Each step down this one-mile, tree-lined boulevard highlights a different side of Kaunas’s urban identity. Start with the neo-byzantine Church of St Michael the Archangel and culminate with the Central Post Office, another example of interwar architecture that artfully incorporates traditional Lithuanian flourishes including carved wooden windows. Pause for a pick-me-up at one of the sidewalk cafes then continue past the National Kaunas Drama Theatre , the Puppet Theatre and the spectacular State Musical Theatre . The latter was built in 1892 and reconstructed in 1925 with a neo-baroque style in mind.

Perkūnas House

Leave the leafy avenues of the New Town behind and delve into the tightly wound cobbled streets of Kaunas Old Town. While here, make sure to visit the 14th-century, gothic Kaunas Castle , which houses an exhibition dedicated to its illustrious history. From here, pick a path through the low-rise buildings of the Old Town towards the riverfront, where the Perkūnas House immediately distinguishes itself with its ornamental red brick facade. Built in the late 15th century by merchants of the Hanseatic League, its name actually honours Lithuania’s pre-Christian traditions (Perkūnas being the Baltic god of thunder). The first drama theatre of Kaunas was established here in 1843, however at present Perkūnas House belongs to the Jesuit Gymnasium, who are still known to host occasional performances.

Pažaislis Monastery

To end the day, hop on a trolleybus and follow the Nemunas river east. Situated on a peninsula close to the Kaunas Reservoir, Pažaislis Monastery dates to 1667 and is a paragon of baroque ideals. Italian architect Giovanni Battista Frediani endowed the complex with its rich marble interiors, while the 140 surviving frescoes were painted by Florentine master Mikelios Arkangelo Palonio. The largest monastery ensemble in Lithuania, it contains various crypts, a museum and a hotel-restaurant all of which is surrounded by parklands with hiking trails and river beaches. Every summer, the Sisters of St Casimir , a Roman Catholic community of women founded in 1907, hold the Pažaislis Music Festival at the monastery. This is Lithuania’s biggest classical music gala, set to take place on 31 May until 25 August, 2024.  

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• ARCHITECTURE

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