Joe Finkbiner Home

This 1800 square foot charming, historic, craftsman style home at 249 East Foothill Boulevard (then Minnehaha Avenue) was built between 1911 and 1913. The first documented mention of this property was on May 27, 1887, a mere two months after the city of Glendora had been established. It sold for $200 in gold coin to C.E. Sumner by the Glendora Land Company. The original deed was written by one of the city’s founders, George Whitcomb and stated that liquor could not be consumed or manufactured on the land or ownership would be given back to the Glendora Land Company. 

Joe Finkbiner, “Mayor Joe,” is one of the most prominent names in Glendora history. He is said to be one of the most instrumental men in the formation of the Glendora that we know today. He was the longest serving mayor in Glendora history, at 16 years (1964-1980) and served for four years (1960-1964) on Glendora's city council. Born and raised during the height of the Great Depression, Finkbiner grew up in a small town in Missouri. In 1936, when everyone was making their way out to California, Finkbiner asked his wife to cover his home store for him with the intention of making some extra cash out in California. The last thing on his mind at the time was moving out to California. Surprised with the amount of work he found in California, he went home and sold his store in Missouri and moved his family to northern California. He landed in Glendora when the grocery store he was working at, Walker’s Market, then located on the west side of Grand and Alosta, opened a new store in Glendora and he transferred there as a manager. Joe and his wife Ilene immediately fell in love with Glendora’s small town, family atmosphere and decided to plant roots. Five years after moving to Glendora, Finkbiner bought Frank Teter’s Grocery store and opened his own store, Finkbiner’s Market. Finkbiner would eventually amass more properties downtown in the village. Except for his lakeside property in Big Bear, all of his other properties were located in Glendora. 

His Town: The Finkbiner Story. Glendoran Magazine. Jul/Aug, 2001.

"Mayor Joe and his House" Battler, Bobbie. Glendoran Magazine. Mar/Apr 1993.