Altadena Anthology
Altadena was opened as a subdivision in late 1887 by John and Fred Woodbury from Marshalltown, Iowa. The Woodburys envisioned a millionaires’ rural suburb north of busy Pasadena, hoping to add to the wealthy class already gathering here, including Col. Charles Greene and Andrew McNally. Their timing was off, the real estate bubble burst in 1888, and the region was thrown into an economic panic that grew worse as it merged into a great national depression lasting through much of the 1890s. A bright spot in this period was the development of Thaddeus Lowe’s elegant mountain railway, which created a connection from Los Angeles though Pasadena and up to Altadena and beyond, to the many hotels and camps in the mountains. There, temperance was not an issue.
Join Us For a Drink

Join Us For a Drink

Meet People in Your Altadena CommunityDear New Altadena Resident, If you would like to learn more about the rich history of our little town or just want to meet some of your neighbors, we invite you to be our guests for a glass of wine at a terrific local hotspot...

Our Urban Ecosystem

Our Urban Ecosystem

by Mark Goldschmidt – Our mountain backdrop has changed little, but 150 years ago paleo-Altadena was virtually barren of trees, only seasonal grasses, chaparral and poppies covered the gravelly outwash. Then wells were dug and water was channeled from

Letter from the Chair

Letter from the Chair

Letter from the ChairVal ZavalaHello All, I am honored and excited to become the Chair of Altadena Heritage, taking the reins from Sharon Sand who served AH so well as chair for six years. Her leadership and dedication were remarkable, and we are grateful for some...

Wildlife Immigrants

Wildlife Immigrants

Mark Goldschmidt – Some native wildlife species have found ways to make their lives in our patchy “natural” environment of yards, streets, and open spaces. Skunks, coyotes, raccoons, and blue jays thrive here. But non-native wildlife species

Hunting the Highlands

Hunting the Highlands

Hunting the HighlandsBy Michele Zack Careening on a jubilant bender through Los Angeles’s muddy streets at Christmas, 1873, Southern-minded Dr. John Griffin chortled that he’d finally got the best of those “Damn Yankees!” Anyone in earshot, including journalist...

Coyote

Coyote

CoyoteBy Mark Goldschmidt In the lore of many Native American peoples, Coyote has been around from the beginning: he was there at creation, he is a link to the other world. Coyote is “the Tricky One.” He is bad, but he’s also good, he’s always changing, no one likes...