Old Stomping Grounds

Key Milestones in South Pasadena History

• Early Era & Rancho Days: Originally inhabited by the Tongva/Hahamogna people, the area later became part of Rancho San Pascual and was tied to the Spanish mission system.

• Incorporation (1888): On March 2, 1888, residents in the southern portion of the Indiana Colony (Pasadena area) voted to incorporate, becoming the sixth municipality in Los Angeles County to separate and form its own distinct identity.

• Turn of the Century & Tourism: The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw South Pasadena flourish with landmarks like the Raymond Hotel nearby and the quirky Cawston Ostrich Farm (established in 1886 along the Arroyo Seco), which drew tourists from across the country.

• Red Car Era: The arrival of the Pacific Electric Short Line (Red Cars) made the community one of Los Angeles's earliest and most accessible suburbs. 

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Early & Indigenous Roots

• Tongva Land: The area was originally inhabited by the indigenous Tongva people and later tied to the lands of the San Gabriel Mission, which was founded in 1771.

• Mexican Land Grant: In 1830, a portion of the land was granted to Senora Victoria Reid (known as "Huerta de Cuati").

• El Molino Viejo: Built around 1816 as a grist mill for the San Gabriel Mission, it stands as San Marino's oldest building and a preserved historic landmark.

The Ranch Era (19th Century)

• Benjamin Davis Wilson: In the mid-19th century, pioneer Benjamin D. ("Don Benito") Wilson acquired extensive ranch lands and established the Lake Vineyard Ranch in 1854.

• Naming San Marino: Wilson's son-in-law, James De Barth Shorb, managed the properties, expanded the San Gabriel Wine Company, and named his 600-acre portion San Marino in honor of his grandfather's Maryland plantation (which in turn traced its name back to the ancient Republic of San Marino in Europe).

The Huntington & Patton Era (Early 20th Century)

• Henry E. Huntington: In 1903, railroad magnate Henry E. Huntington purchased the San Marino Ranch from the Shorb family. He transformed the estate into a cultural powerhouse, eventually deeding his collection and gardens to the public as the world-renowned Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

• City Incorporation: George Smith Patton (father of WWII General George S. Patton Jr.), who oversaw the local properties, led the effort to incorporate the community. San Marino incorporated on April 25, 1913, with George S. Patton II serving as its first mayor.

Development & Identity

• Estate City Design: San Marino was deliberately planned and zoned as an exclusive, low-density residential community with strict architectural and zoning standards (prohibiting apartments or commercial multi-family housing).

• Notable Landmarks: Beyond the Huntington estate and El Molino Viejo, the city features historic sites like Lacy Park and the Edwin Hubble House.

• Centennial: The city celebrated its 100-year centennial in 2013, highlighted by the publication San Marino: A Centennial History.

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Pasadena, California—known as the "Crown of the Valley"—was originally home to the Hahamog-na (Tongva) indigenous people for thousands of years before Spanish missionaries established the San Gabriel Mission.

Early Origins & Incorporation

• 1874: Midwestern settlers from Indiana formed the San Gabriel Orange Grove Association, purchasing land at the edge of the Arroyo Seco and calling it the "Indiana Colony".

• 1875: Residents chose the name Pasadena, an Ojibwa (Chippewa) word interpreted to mean "Crown of the Valley".

• 1886: The city officially incorporated on June 19, 1886, partly to enact strict local regulations against alcohol and saloons.

• 1887: The arrival of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway sparked a massive real estate boom.

Resort Town & Cultural Growth

• 1890: Pasadena hosted its very first Tournament of Roses Parade, an annual tradition that grew into an international spectacle.

• Turn of the 20th Century: The city flourished as a wealthy winter resort for Easterners, famous for grand luxury hotels (like the Hotel Green and Raymond Hotel) and fine Craftsman-style architecture.

• 1922: The historic Rose Bowl Stadium was built to host the annual Rose Bowl football game.

• 1924: The cheeseburger was famously invented at the Rite Spot in Pasadena.

• 1940: The opening of the Arroyo Seco Parkway connected Pasadena directly to downtown Los Angeles as California's first freeway.

Science, Tech, and Modern Era

• Science & Innovation: Home to the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and the NASA-managed Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Pasadena evolved into a major center for scientific research, astronomy (Mt. Wilson Observatory), and aerospace.

• Revitalization: After periods of urban decline in the mid-20th century, the historic commercial core of Old Pasadena was heavily revitalized in the 1970s and 1980s, transforming into a vibrant shopping and dining district.

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La Salle High School College Preparatory  Home of the Lancers 

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JB" Griffin, Publisher 

South Pasadena Tiger Alum Class of 1973 

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