Holiday Celebration

I’m Warren Stirling, great great grandson of Captain Fred James Woodbury, builder of this house. Fred’s Captain title is from his service in the Civil War. After the war, Fred became a successful and well-to-do businessman in Marshalltown, Iowa. In 1880, he came out to Southern California and apparently he liked the area, because in 1882 he returned and purchased 900 acres for $5 per acre. In today’s money, that’s about $140,000. What he bought was rocky, scrubby dry, and useless land — so everyone thought. There were certainly no Albertsons or 7-11s anywhere. It’s an incredible story. It seemed like back in Iowa he had it made, doing well, married with children, but decided to be a pioneer and move out here.

He built this magnificent house which was a copy of his home in Marshalltown. This is now the oldest, still standing house in Altadena. We have glass plate photos of the house from early days. It’s really out in the wilderness with nothing in sight but tumbleweeds and rocks. But still, men are in 3-piece suits and women in their hoop skirts.

Fred obtained water rights from Eaton Canyon just up behind us. He planted vineyards and orchards; things began to prosper. His home became the center of social activities where the gentile and correct folks gathered for social events.

Fred learned that deodar cedar trees, native to India, would do well in Southern California. He planted deodar seeds in a greenhouse behind the big house. By 1885, after they reached about 18 to 24 inches, his ranch hands set 135 trees out along the lane which led up to his house. It is said that one afternoon while relaxing on his porch, Fred said he just wanted to do something nice that people would enjoy in the future. Lights were added to his trees in 1920, and last weekend they were again turned on for the 104th time. Once again it was Christmas Tree Lane. There were hundreds – probably thousands — of folks here to watch the lights being turned on — enjoying a pleasant evening — and just being a community. Fred really did do something nice for the folks. I think today he might be amused to see how big a deal his trees have become.

Captain Fred had planned to subdivide his 900 acres into ranchos for resale, but the real estate market took a big downturn in 1888, and his hopes were destroyed. Fred and his family left the house and moved to Pasadena. We can be sure that family members must have contemplated this potential real estate bonanza, but that windfall of inheritance never filtered down the ancestral staircase. Too bad, because his 900 acre ranch became a big part of Altadena.

In 1953, the Star News did a story about the Woodbury house including a picture of my two brothers and me on the stairs, looking around the corner to see what’s going on. At this time, there still was lots of open land with trees and gardens around the house. Things have changed a little.

Fred died in 1909 at age 75. Although I never met him, I think I would have liked Fred. I have a picture of him and his family in my office. He looks like a nice old guy. I certainly do admire his courage, and its nice to be part of a family with such pioneering spirit and foresight.
Fred would be pleased to see so many people enjoying themselves, coming for a visit to see his home. If Fred were here, I’m pretty sure he would say it’s very nice that you came. Welcome and Merry Christmas.