A Civic Story in Altadena California

Saving Owen Brown’s Gravesite

Owen Brown (long beard) with brother Jason at mountain homestead above Altadena, 1880s

Saving Owne Brown’s Gravesite

Owen Brown (long beard) with brother Jason at mountain homestead above Altadena, 1880s

Archival Gravesite News

Click any article to read

Harpers Ferry - New York Tribune 20 October, 1859

Harpers Ferry – New York Tribune 20 October, 1859

“At Las Cacitas” - Chicago Daily Inter-Ocean Feb. 9, 1889

Open PDF (enables enlargement)

Los Angeles Herald - January 30th 1898

Star News - 1940

For fifty years the gravesite was maintained by a local, Edward Simmons, who attended the funeral as a boy.

When Edward Simmons passed away the site fell into disrepair, and the area became popular with off-road motor-cyclists. The grave was vandalized on more than one occasion, with the stone being rolled down the hillside. 

Mid 1970s

In the mid-1970s, the United States Forest Service restored the gravesite —but placed the gravestone about 15 feet from its correct location. They added a square concrete collar for protection and built a low wooden fence around it to discourage vandalism.

100 Years Later

Gravesite Under Threat, 1989

Gravesite Under Threat 1989

To Historical Landmarks and Records Commission County of Los Angeles

Please find enclosed our completed application for a Point of Historical Interest status for the Owen Brown Gravesite. We have also today forwarded to the State Historic Resources Board a completed Application for Registration of an Historical Landmark and a National Register of Historic Places Registration Form.

Because the owner of the site is threatening to remove the grave, we wish to deterrnine landmark eligibility as soon as possible.

Thank You

1989 Historic Designation Advocates

1989 Historic Designation Advocates

Along with Altadena Heritage, Adelene Ruth Craig and Eleanor Blangsted, great-great granddaughters of John Brown, advocated for preservation of his gravesite.

Designation Denied
by State and County!

STATE CALIFORNIA —THE RESOURCES AGENCY

May 9, 1991 – Dear Mr. Monteilh: The State Historical Resources Commission, sitting in regular session in Sacramento on May 3, 1991, considered the application for registration of the Gravesite of Owen Brown, Altadena, Los Angeles County, as a California Point of Historical Interest. I regret to inform you that the Commission did not recommend registration. The point criteria states that an individual must have had a profound influence on the history of the local area . The primary emphasis shall be the site or sites of achievement of an individual, not his birthplace, death place or gravesite.

Thank you very much for your continued interest in our Point of Historical Interest program.

Public Access Lawsuit Prevails!

In 2006, community members gathered on Little Round Top to celebrate MLK Day and Save the Altadena Trails (STAT’s) winning lawsuit against property owners who blocked the trail to the gravesite. Public access to it was thus protected. The gravestone had been missing since 2002 — presumably removed by vandals and not yet recovered. STAT considered placing a new marker/memorial on Owen’s gravesite so his story wouldn’t be forgotten.

Public Access
Lawsuit Prevails!

In 2006, community members gathered on Little Round Top to celebrate MLK Day and Save the Altadena Trails (STAT’s) winning lawsuit against property owners who blocked the trail to the gravesite. Public access to it was thus protected. The gravestone had been missing since 2002 — presumably removed by vandals and not yet recovered. STAT considered placing a new marker/memorial on Owen’s gravesite so his story wouldn’t be forgotten.

Gravestone Recovered and a Replica is Made

Gravestone Recovered
and a Replica is Made

Ian White, son of famed artist Charles White, spots the concrete corner of the gravestone’s collar poking out from the mud after a storm in 2010. He recovers it from where it had been buried a distance from the gravesite near his home on Rising Hill Road. Because foul play was suspected (it had never been buried or moved so far in previous disappearances), he declares he will place the gravestone in a “secure location” until the site has a friendly owner. A few years later, Ian has a replica made — which in 2017 Altadena Heritage installs in the remodeled Triangle Park (at Altadena Drive and Lake Avenue) to keep the story alive.

Altadena Town Council
Committee puts Restoration on Track

A committee of the Altadena Town Council forms to consider “give back” to the community in exchange for permission to build 18 new homes in the La Vina housing development, located immediately southeast of Owen Brown’s gravesite. After considering many options, the committee comes up with a “Parity Plan” in which the developer agrees to purchase the gravesite, place it in a land conservancy, and provide funds for public education. The Altadena Town Council approves the plan. Ian White agrees to relinquish the gravestone, so that it may be put back on Little Round Top. Pictured: Michele Zack, committee member, Ian White, Developer Tim Cantwell, and Dr Sandy Thomas, Altadena Town Council.

Altadena Town Council
Committee puts Restoration
on Track

A committee of the Altadena Town Council forms to consider “give back” to the community in exchange for permission to build 18 new homes in the La Vina housing development, located immediately southeast of Owen Brown’s gravesite. After considering many options, the committee comes up with a “Parity Plan” in which the developer agrees to purchase the gravesite, place it in a land conservancy, and provide funds for public education. The Altadena Town Council approves the plan. Ian White agrees to relinquish the gravestone, so that it may be put back on Little Round Top. Pictured: Michele Zack, committee member, Ian White, Developer Tim Cantwell, and Dr Sandy Thomas, Altadena Town Council.

LA County Board of Supervisors passes motion for “Parity Plan.”

In 2019, the Supervisors vote to allow Cantwell Anderson to build 18 new homes, after it meets many conditions. Among these is the “Parity Plan” to restore Owen Brown’s gravesite. This calls for the formation of a new Committee overseeing that provisions are met — with representatives from Altadena Town Council, Altadena Heritage, the trails community, and the Meadows neighborhood in which the gravesite is located. Pictured: Marietta Kruells, committee member, Tim Cantwell, developer, Michele Zack, committee member, and Sussy Nemer, Chief Deputy to Kathryn Barger, who helped coordinate among the parties.

Triumphant Return of Gravestone to Little Round Top

New Gravesite Committee convenes April, 2021. Job number one is to restore gravestone which is accomplished by July. Attorney Paul Ayers, whose lawsuit secured public access to the site, determines the correct placement of gravestone using forensic photography techniques. Because the western shoulder of Little Round Top had eroded, he and landscape architect Mark Goldschmidt design a retaining wall to create a flat space for the grave, and to prevent further erosion. The square concrete collar added in the 1970s, was removed so the stone could be reset properly, with the same amount above ground as in 1898. Cliff Douglas Masonry and his crew reinstalled the stone securely, making it virtually impossible to remove.

Plaque Memorializing Owen Brown

Fifth District Supervisor Kathryn Barger and Developer Tim Cantwell of Cantwell Anderson unveil plaque memorializing Owen Brown at Mountain View Mausoleum November 4, 2022.

Plaque Memorializing
Owen Brown

Fifth District Supervisor Kathryn Barger and Developer Tim Cantwell of Cantwell Anderson unveil plaque memorializing Owen Brown at Mountain View Mausoleum November 4, 2022.

Committee members (left to right) Marietta Kruells, John Burton, Michele Zack, and Diane Marcussen with Kathryn Barger, along with Committee Partners: Developer Tim Cantwell, Project Historian Dr. Bill Deverell, and site consultant Paul Ayers.

Major Horatio N. Rust

Presentation of the historic figure.