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.
Racial Change Over Time

Racial Change Over Time

by | Jun 12, 2023 | | 0 Comments

Just as a pencil line drawn on a map of California in the 1850’s influenced the future of where Lake Avenue would be built — another pencil line drawn from the 1930s-60s denied or limited financial services, such as home loans…

We’re All Going to Die!

We’re All Going to Die!

by | Jun 11, 2023 | | 0 Comments

By Claire Smith It’s true, the inevitable will arrive for us all! So consider your heirs. To be in grief and not have any direction on where to start to settle a deceased family member’s affairs can be crippling. Think of your legacy, what can…

Join Us For a Drink

Join Us For a Drink

by | Feb 23, 2023 | | 0 Comments

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...