2009 Home Tour
2009 Mother’s Day Tour a Hit With Visitors
"Horseless carriages" line the street as visitors wait to view one of the homes.
A mild, breezy Sunday afternoon, short lines, and seven homes located on one of Monrovia’s most picturesque streets combined to make the 2009 tour one of the best in recent memory. With all the homes located on a short city block, tour goers were able to park their cars once and then casually walk from tour home to tour home. Officially, there were a total of 769 tickets sold prior to the tour and on the day of the event. Add to that number the almost 200 volunteers involved in some way with the production of the tour, and it added up to a lot of people enjoying themselves on a picture perfect day.
Over 20 antique cars lined the street during the afternoon and lent an air of nostalgia to the event. Period music was provided by Jim Constantian with his antique phonograph and the Les Amis quartet (with members Mark and Carol Burrill, Ned Boyer, and Jim Scheel) . The Monrovia restaurant Something Healthy sold wraps and drinks for those in need of refreshment. Local realtor Donna Baker once again provided cookies and punch free of charge.
The Les Amis quartet serenades tour goers from a shady porch location.
The tour is the primary fundraiser for MOHPG, allowing the non-profit organization to fund worthwhile opportunities in the community. In the past these opportunities have included purchasing over 300 restoration-related books for the city library, helping to subsidize one evening of music for the annual summer music concert series, contributing to both museums in town, and funding a matching-grant program to encourage homeowners in their restoration efforts.
For all of you who attended the tour, thank you for your support. We hope to see you at the 2010 tour!
Photos by Larry Marotta
Update on the USPS Bear Mural
Since 2004 the Monrovia Historic Preservation Group has been pursuing a dream to once again provide the residents of Monrovia the opportunity to view the 1940 United States Postal Service mural. The mural was stored in the basement of the Monrovia Post Office since it was remodeled in the early 1960s.
That dream is now a reality! On April 7, 2009, the placement of the mural in the new Monrovia Library was completed. The mural hangs on the wall just above the Heritage Room in the adult section of the new library.
The mural can be seen from the information desk of the library looking north towards the adult section.
When the library officially opened to the public on Saturday, May 16, 2009, visitors were able to view the mural as it first appeared in the post office in 1940 where it had been painted by Helen Katherine Forbes. Funding for the restoration was provided primarily by the city’s Art in Public Places fund which was designed for this very purpose. MOHPG also paid for part of the restoration.
The contract with the postal service, which continues to own the mural, stipulates that it will in essence remain in the library in perpetuity. Future Monrovians will be able to enjoy this piece of the city’s history.