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Today the small town of Montrose, known first as "Glendale's first suburb," hits the big 9-5, and the Founders Day Celebration is expected to be a big draw.
Founders Day festivities will include awards presented to community members for service, a nine-tier birthday cake, historic photos on display, and "the ringing of the bell from the last of the Glendale & Montrose Railway Cars." The event is scheduled to run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Shopping Park.
The celebration parallels regular Sunday activities in Montrose, "including the Montrose Harvest Market with its California Certified produce market, antiques, collectibles and memorabilia, as well as pony rides, the Montrose Bounce Company, Tiny Tots Gym, Critter-to-go Petting Zoo and Gremoli New Orleans Jazz Band."
Often merged with neighboring areas like La Crescenta, Montrose is nestled in the foothills between the San Gabriel and Verdugo mountains. It is known for its quaint "old town"-y charm and its shopping district, which runs several blocks along Honolulu Boulevard and houses shops and restaurants. According to the Crescenta Valley Sun, the vision of having a core business district was integral to the town's foundation, although initially the distinction was planned for a different street: "The intention was that Montrose Avenue would be the main business district. In fact, Montrose Avenue was constructed as the widest road in Los Angeles County and retained that distinction for many decades." The Shopping Park turns 40 this year.
A bit of Montrose history after the jump.
Information on the history of Montrose, via the Crescenta Valley Sun:
Founded on Washington’s Birthday in 1913, the subdivision of present day Montrose took place when developers Holmes and Walton auctioned off 300 acres of land at a catered barbecue at the approximate corner of what is today Verdugo Boulevard and Clifton Place. The original land office (the first building on this new tract) was located near the northeast corner of Verdugo Boulevard and Montrose Avenue, on the approximate site where Verdugo Liquor exists today.The name Montrose was suggested by a local resident in honor of a town in his home state of Pennsylvania. It was chosen because it appealed to the many rose fanciers in the area and because of the popular novel, “Legend of Montrose,” by Sir Walter Scott.
Happy Birthday, Montrose!
Photo of old Montrose from the Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce
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i just discovered this old town area on honolulu. i love it! you really don't feel like you're only 10 minutes from downtown la. it's not that interesting, but a nice place to visit if you want to escape "city" life.
Worth noting, as most people I talk to don't actually know this, that most of Montrose is actually within Glendale City Limits. The Honolulu Ave. shops that mostly define Montrose are all indeed part of Glendale.
Yes, franklinavenue, you're absolutely right. The neighborhoods up there are a mix of Glendale and unincorporated parts of LA County. Which makes for a lot of confusion at times for residents for civic services, I'll add. I spent part of my teen years in La Crescenta, but the Glendale portion, just above Montrose. Montrose has evolved in recent years, particularly as manifested in that shopping park. Old-guard stalwart shops & eateries remain (Critters, some antique stores,dive bars, Rocky Cola) but "trendier" spots are trying to draw a younger crowd--hence all the sushi bars. Sadly, the really cool gourmet market/wine shop/gelato shop couldn't sustain business and closed recently, despite the infusion of young families (and their money) in the area. It's an interesting spot of Los Angeles (County).