Monthly Archives: March 2007

Leroy’s New Sign, originally uploaded by ~db~.

I’ve yet to try Le Roy’s, but I know they have some very loyal fans. Another great shot by Doran.

The city is going to be taking public commentary over the next few months on the direction of three important projects: South Myrtle from Old Town to Station Square, the Station Square Transit Village, and the West Huntington Drive Corridor, which will include commercial and mixed-use projects. For more details, read the city’s documentation here.

Here’s the first architectural rendering of what the southwest corner of Myrtle and Colorado could look like after remodeling. City officials are hoping to put a pub or restaurant into the space. “I would anticipate that there’ll be a new owner or tenant in that spot, and operating, by the time the Colorado Commons mixed-use development up the street is completed and folks start moving in—December 2007 or January 2008,” says Monrovia’s public information officer Dick Singer.

What a difference that would make!

(Rendering by Dahl Architects)

Myrtle Ave. Monrovia, Ca, originally uploaded by KeithJ.

I like this photo by Keith J. He got a glowy feeling on the abundant light globes. Personally I think they could have put about half as many on Myrtle and used the rest for some of the side streets, but I know that some people really appreciate the extra illumination.

I’d love to see a blur motion ghosting of a person crossing the street in this image.

A fun old postcard from Byegone Byways. They have a page on their site devoted to Route 66.

I found this succinct little history of Monrovia on a website called Village Profile. I think it’s quite good. Should there by any mistakes, alert readers, do point them out.

During the late 1880s, a group of men who were successful in both banking and railroad building, converted what had once been part of the vast lands of Mission San Gabriel into a community. With only scattered homes and several dirt roads, they managed to build a small town which was “typical of its time, yet unique in spirit.” It still is.

On May 17, 1886, lots were sold for the first time at $100 or $150 each. However, to purchase a lot, each owner was required to build a house within the first six months which cost at least $2,000. This protected the town from land speculators and allowed it to survive during the collapse of the land boom several years later. The founders, as officers and directors of the Monrovia Land and Water Company, promised to plant 8,000 pepper trees along the streets, provide free water to the town, and install electric street lights. The company’s president was William Monroe. Mr. Monroe was not the first settler in the City of Monrovia. He was, however, the most important of the founders and the town is named for him.

Following the Civil War, Mr. Monroe was superintendent of construction for the Southern Pacific Railroad. In 1875, after several lines were built, he moved his family to Los Angeles. By 1880 he had become a member of the Los Angeles City Council and was very active in the community. He left Los Angeles in 1882 for another construction project, but returned in 1884. With money earned from the construction project and from the sale of a railroad car of mules, Mr. Monroe bought 210 acres of Rancho Santa Anita from E.J. “Lucky” Baldwin. He moved his family into a tent on the property until they built a small cottage where they lived until their permanent home, “The Oaks,” was completed. “The Oaks” is still standing at 250 N. Primrose Avenue. Myrtle Avenue, Monrovia’s Main Street, is named for his elder daughter Myrtle.

The Monroe’s periodically returned to Monrovia many times over the years. Mrs. Monroe died at the age of 86 in 1932, and three years later Mr. Monroe died at the age of 94. William Monroe and his family are buried in Live Oak Cemetery on Duarte Road in Monrovia. William Monroe found success in a variety of careers, including school teacher, banker, hotel manager, mayor, council member, real estate developer, broker, railroad contractor and railroad superintendent. He will be remembered here, though, for the town he founded.

Does anyone know if there are any Monrovia descendants still living in the area?

I’m happy to be able to write that Measure L was approved by voters, albeit a small margin. I think it will be a great boon for the city and will likely raise property values around the neighborhood. I can hardly wait!

Charlotte Schamadan, a library proponent and board member, was relieved that the Measure passed. “Election Night turned out to be a real nail-biter as we watched the precinct vote talleys come in slowly and not much higher than the 66.7% Yes votes we needed to build a new Monrovia Library,” she said today. “We shall break ground in the early Fall, and work hard to have it built by Spring of 2009. It shall be an exciting time for our little burg!”

Visit the city’s website to view actual tallies on all election items.