Chamber of Commerce

Also known as the Underhill House or as the “Glass House,” was built in a “vernacular Italianate” style in 1918 by E. F. Underhill. It was occupied by his family until 1954 when his wife turned the property over (following the directives in her husband’s will) to the Glendora YWCA and Glendora Masonic Lodge who occupied the property until it was sold in the early 1980s. This location now houses Visiting Angels.

The Glendora Chamber of Commerce first came into existence in 1903, but back then it was called the Board of Trade. Samuel Purcell, the editor for the Glendora Gleaner newspaper, is credited with organizing the Board of Trade. Even then, Glendora business owners saw the necessity of organizing to promote their businesses. The first known order of business for the board of trade was to supply electricity to the city of Glendora. It was on June 12, 1912, that the Board of Trade officially became the Glendora Chamber of Commerce. In the 1920's, with a growing number of businesses and a sizeable packing house, the Chamber decided to advertise Glendora with a spectacular electric sign spanning across Foothill Boulevard. It was also during this time that they saw the need to promote Glendora and did so at booths at the county fair and even sent a float to the Rose Parade. In the 40's the Chamber organized a drive to collect funds to buy property in the city to hand over to the Forest Service, this property continues to house the U.S. Forest Service today on Foothill Blvd. In the 60's, the Chamber was credited with making the signage we see today to announce entrance into the city and for getting the Foothill freeway to run through Glendora. In 1964, they petitioned to change the name of Michigan Ave to Glendora Ave, feeling it would give more identity to Glendora's main street. The chamber exists to not only advertise the city, but also to bring together business and community members to work together to enhance the city and community through the tax dollars it receives.

The First 100 Years: 1887 - 1987 Glendora, California. Glendora, CA . Liberty Enterprises, 1986.

Glendora Chamber of Commerce: Behind the Scenes. The Glendoran. Jan/Feb, 1986.