About Us
 Summer social at the Pinney House, 1984. |
About Us
The Sierra Madre Historical Society was founded on April 21, 1931 when Sierra Madre was preparing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its founding. The constitution and bylaws were drafted by Anetta Carter, widow of the founder of the town, and she was named honorary president. Harold Carew, book editor of the Pasadena Star-News served as the Society's first president.In 1950 the Society published Annals of Early Sierra Madre. Edith
Blumer Bowen, a
member of one of the pioneer families, had collected accounts of early
Sierra Madre and compiled these into a book. C.W. Jones, Sierra
Madre's first mayor, was president of the Society at that time.
During the 1970s the Society sponsored several historic bus
tours
of Sierra Madre with stops at old homes and points of interest. In
1974 the Society began restoring the Richardson House in Mount Wilson
Trail Park in order to open it to the public as a museum. Also
in that year the Society erected the bell tower in Kersting Court to
house the old school bell. In 1976 the Society was involved in
planning the community celebration on July 4th and brought a converted
Pacific Electric Red Car back to town for rides with conductor Red
Dowding. The group also
placed a time capsule in front of City Hall.
In April of 1991, the Preservation Society of Sierra Madre
joined
the Historical Society and together they became the Sierra Madre
Historical Preservation Society. In 1999 the Society partnered
with the Sierra
Madre Public Library to establish the Sierra
Madre Historical Archives, a local history collection. An
archivist was hired to oversee preservation and access to the
collection.
In 2004 the Society began work on an updated, authoritative
history book and in September announced that Michele Zack would author
the book. The group is actively raising funds to support this
ambitious project. The goal is to complete the book by 2007, the
centennial year of Sierra Madre's incorporation as a California city.
The purposes of the Society are the collection, preservation,
and
exhibition of historical documents and artifacts pertaining to the
founding and subsequent development of Sierra Madre, California and
its surrounding community; the gathering and cataloging of current
history for future generations; provision of archival access for
research purposes; and the continuation of the restoration and
preservation of Lizzie's Trail Inn and the Richardson House.
The Society actively promotes local history and preservation
efforts. The Board of Directors meets
on a monthly basis, the third Thursday of each month, and meetings are
open to the public.
To contact us, please write to the Sierra Madre Historical Preservation Society at P.O. Box 202, Sierra Madre, CA 91025 or call 626.355.8129.