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.
Where does the stuff in the Green Bin go?

Where does the stuff in the Green Bin go?

Where does the stuff in the Green Bin go? On a cool and cloudy Saturday in late October, Athens Services staged one of its semi-annual “Community Give Backs” and dumped 20 tons of fragrant steaming compost on a Loma Alta Park parking lot. Athens welcomed Altadenans to...

Map Your Neighborhood

Map Your Neighborhood

Map Your Neighborhood“People, not kits. If you really want to be ready for the next big earthquake, forget the earthquake kit and go talk toyour neighbors.”– Lucy Jones, June 12, 2021 Los Angeles Times. Altadenans have a long history of working together to help one...

Our Endless River of Waste

Our Endless River of Waste

Our Endless River of Waste by Mark Goldschmidt I would love to know when regular trash hauling service began in Altadena. Former Historical Society chair, Jane Brackman, told me that before the War it was the Altadena Historical and Beautification Society, and that...

Altadena Tree Committee

Altadena Tree Committee

Altadena Tree CommitteeThe Tree Committee plus one at this year’s Tree Giveaway. From left Michele Zack, Kathy Musial, Lisa Wintner, Val Zavala, Anne Chomyn, and AH Member Michelle Huneven with Tatty Jane. Not pictured: Janet Castro, Mark Goldschmidt, Kathleen...

Old Marengo Park Cleanup

Old Marengo Park Cleanup

Old Marengo Park CleanupAltadena Heritage staged another clean up day at Old Marengo Park on a recent Saturday morning. Altadena got the ball rolling with a design and a grant from Metropolitan Water on this little park on a piece of barren waste ground at Marengo and...

In Memoriam – Linda World 1948 – 2021

In Memoriam – Linda World 1948 – 2021

AHA? Uh-huh! AH Designates a New Altadena Heritage Area Linda World passed away on June 1st. She was immediate past Chair of the Board of Altadena Heritage and many of you knew her. We announced her death in our July e-news, but as Linda was also a “print” journalist...

From Walter Cronkite to Fake News

From Walter Cronkite to Fake News

From Walter Cronkite to Fake News​Val Enthralls at Monte Cedro Altadena Heritage Board Member Val Zavala, a journalist and 30-year KCET TV news anchor, spoke to MonteCedro residents in November about her career, and changes she’s witnessed in the way news is consumed...

Recycling Dos & Don’ts

Recycling Dos & Don’ts

Recycling Dos & Don’ts Please do Rinse and clean food debris from containers Empty all contents from bottles Remove lids from glass jars, then put lids in recycling Keep lids or caps on plastic bottles. Keep labels on beverage containers Broken glass ok to recycle...

Odes to Altadena

Odes to Altadena

Odes to AltadenaAltadena Heritage asked a number of local authors and poets to tell us what Altadena means to them. The results are wonderfully varied and diverse views of our local community - from a refuge to return to after a tough day in LA, a place to watch the...