Glendora District Office
Introduction
Text-to-speech Audio
The historic Glendora District Office is very eye-catching because of its unusual construction: Among 1930’s government buildings, how many feature Spanish and Moorish-inspired elements and elegant water features? One of the most significant features of the overall design is the interior courtyard garden that is formed between the two sections of the complex. This space is one of the finest design elements of the complex, and is responsible for providing a strong sense of place to the complex. In Spring 2018 HistoriCorps will be visiting the site to restore the exterior courtyard.
Images
Backstory and Context
Text-to-speech Audio
Glendora is a city in the San Gabriel Valley in Los Angeles County, California, 23 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. The historic Glendora District Office caught HistoriCorps' eye as a preservation project because of its unusual construction: Among 1930’s government buildings, how many feature Spanish and Moorish-inspired elements and elegant water features? According to the building's architectural evaluation, it was:
“…designed by Architect Robert M. Williams, whose practice was located in Pasadena. Williams was also responsible for designing an addition to the dining / assembly hall and possibly other buildings at Tanbark Flats on the San Dimas Experimental Forest 7. Both buildings attributed to him are elegant architectural statements with eclectic references and beautifully understated stone work....
“…designed by Architect Robert M. Williams, whose practice was located in Pasadena. Williams was also responsible for designing an addition to the dining / assembly hall and possibly other buildings at Tanbark Flats on the San Dimas Experimental Forest 7. Both buildings attributed to him are elegant architectural statements with eclectic references and beautifully understated stone work....
One of the most significant features of the overall design is the interior courtyard garden that is formed between the two sections of the complex. This space is one of the finest design elements of the complex, and is responsible for providing a strong sense of place to the complex, providing an historical reference to the collection of eclectic characteristics blended by Williams."
The bulk of the construction work was undertaken by Forest Service and Works Progress Administration (WPA) personnel in the mid-1930s.
In Spring 2018 HistoriCorps will be visiting the Glendora District Offices to restore the courtyard. Visit www.historicorps.org to find out how you can support this project!
Sources
Glendora District Office. HistoriCorps. January 26, 2018. Accessed February 08, 2018. https://historicorps.org/events/glendora-district-office-ca/.