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.
Wildfire Insurance Heating Up

Wildfire Insurance Heating Up

by | May 20, 2022 | | 0 Comments

Wildfire Insurance Heating UpBy Val Zavala When my husband and I bought a home in Eagle Rock in 2004 we were unpleasantly surprised that our previous fire insurance company would not insure us, they said our home was in a high-risk wildfire area. So, we had to get our...

Where Does the Stuff in the Blue Bin Go?

Where Does the Stuff in the Blue Bin Go?

by | Nov 30, 2021 | | 0 Comments

Where Does the Stuff in the Blue Bin Go?​by Val Zavala We see them every week. Those monster gray and red Athens trucks with giant metal arms that reach down to grab bins holding tons of garbage, yard waste and recycling Altadenans throw away each week. And the stuff...

Letter from the Chair

Letter from the Chair

by | Nov 30, 2021 | | 0 Comments

Letter from the Chair In its role as an advocate for the protection and preservation of Altadena, Heritage Board and committee members often spend time communicating with LA County officials, agencies, and utilities (Supervisor’s Office, LA County Public Works,...

Integrating Rooftop Solar Into Our Grid

Integrating Rooftop Solar Into Our Grid

by | Nov 30, 2021 | | 0 Comments

Integrating Rooftop Solar Into Our GridThe original Luddites were 19th century textile workers in England who sought to protect their livelihood by resisting the mechanization of their trade in the Industrial Revolution in the early 1800s. Weavers, out of work in a...