Institution

When built in 1922 the City Hall contained a jail, library, and administrative offices and the council chambers also served as the local municipal court. Volunteer fire department facilities were located on the west side and to the rear of the building. The building was constructed for about $40,000 with money partly raised by a bond issue approved by voters in a 1920 election. A reception for the opening of the new building occurred on April 1st, 1922 where the Woman's Club of Glendora welcomed guests to inspect the new bulding from top to bottom.At one time an old cannon graced the front lawn, but unfortunately it was donated to the war effort and used as scrap metal. There is also a time capsule buried in City Hall's front lawn that is opened every 25 years.

Alfred Wrea and Charles E. Garstang constructed Glendora City Hall, located at 116 E. Foothill and the corner of Glendora Ave., in a mixed neoclassical/Italianate style.

	Looking west on Foothill Blvd., just east of Michigan Ave. as two vehicles approach the intersection. City Hall can be seen on the north side of Foothill (between the two trees), with the short-lived Glendora Bank and Mission Theater farther back. In the distance, seen across Foothill Blvd., was an electrically lighted sign welcoming all visitors to this lovely city. This photo was taken in the late 1920s.

City Hall was constructed in a mixed neoclassical/ Italianate style in 1922 (the cornerstone was laid in 1921) to replace the previous city hall on Glendora Avenue and to accommodate the needs of a growing community. It is a large white two-story Spanish style structure with a red tile roof. This building continues to serve the community today as the City Hall. An addition has been added on the east side to house the Council Chambers and the community services offices.

Glendora City Hall

Starting at the Glendora Public Library, this relatively short walk offers a way to learn about the historical buildings of Glendora, including the namesakes behind some of the community's most iconic buildings. This tour was created with the Glendora Public Library and Glendora Historical Society.

The Glendora Library traces its beginning all the way back to 1903, when a group of local women began the Athena Club. The club worked to create a reading room, which opened in 1904. The collection was eventually transferred to the new Glendora Woman's Club, which established a free library. The collection continue to grow until 1912, when the city of Glendora assumed control and the Library became a city department. The Library's location moved several times in the intervening years, including the current location of City Hall.By 1971 the Bidwell Memorial Library had outgrown its quarters and a new building was erected on Glendora Avenue between City Hall and the Police facility. The doors were opened to the public on February 28, 1972.In 1989 the library introduced its first computer-based catalog, replacing the traditional paper card catalog. In 1992, the Glendora Reads! adult literacy program was started. That year also saw the opening of the Friends of Glendora Library Book and Gift Shop. In 1993 the Glendora Public Library Friends Foundation was formed as a 501{c}3 non-profit corporation. The foundation partners with the City of Glendora to provide volunteer and financial support to enhance library services. The foundation provides this support through gifts, grants and donations.Library programs and events sponsored by the foundation include the Summer Reading Clubs for children, teens and adults, special programs and events for all ages, cultural events, volunteer recognition and the adult literacy program.In April 1994, the library opened the Computer Learning Center, giving the public access to computers and eventually the Internet. The library hosted the first City of Glendora’s website and employee e-mail network. All of this was made possible by the Friends Foundation.On January 24, 2004, the library celebrated its centennial: 100 years of information, imagination and inspiration to the Glendora community! The Glendora High School’s Tartan Pipe and Drum Corp. and the Boy and Girl Scouts as color guards kicked-off the event. Dignitaries from the community and the political arena gave speeches and proclamations in honor of the library and its volunteer roots. After the formal ceremony was completed, music, food, a historical portrayal of Pio Pico, games, prizes and a puppet show kept adults and children entertained.In April 2009, the Library held its dedication ceremony for the newly completed Friends Room and the City’s first extreme water-wise garden. Community support for the Friends Room was captured by their hand prints placed on a metal oak tree as the leaves. The art work was created by Conrad Brazzel. The water-wise garden was created through a partnership with Monrovia Growers, who donated the plants and expertise, and the City’s Planning, Public Works and Community Services departments.May 11, 2012, marked the Centennial celebration of the Glendora Woman’s Club handing over their library to the Glendora City Council. This generous act created the Glendora Public Library. Linke all other public buildings, the library building was closed to the public during COVID, but library services continued uninterrupted and staff provided research assistance, conducted virtual programming, and distributed library materials to the public through the "Library to Go" service.

The current Glendora Library building opened on February 28, 1972. Over 1600 people attended the dedication and open house two days prior. The Glendora Library traces its beginning all the way back to 1903, when a group of local women began the Athena Club. The club worked to create a reading room, which opened in 1904. The collection was eventually transferred to the new Glendora Woman's Club, which established a free library. The collection continue to grow until 1912, when the city of Glendora assumed control and the Library became a city department.The Library moved several times in the intervening years before the current location was built. 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the Library's current location: "50 @ 140".

Glendora Public Library 

The Frank Chance Building, also known as the Cub Building, was located on the corner of Michigan and Minnehaha avenues (now Glendora Avenue and Foothill Boulevard) and was built in 1912 by Frank Chance. Cub Grocery occupied the north portion (Glendora Avenue side) of the building for many years and was famous for offering 10 cent loaves of bread that were express shipped every morning from the Buffalo Baking Co. in Los Angeles. Frank Leroy Chance, first baseman for the Chicago Cubs, was a member of the famous "Tinkers to Evers to Chance" double play combination that completed 1,213 double plays in eleven seasons; he was also famous for being the first player ever to be ejected from a World Series game (in 1910). Chance eventually went on to manage the Cubs.

This vernacular brick commercial building was constructed in 1912 by Frank Chance, best known as the first baseman in the famous (c. 1912-15) Chicago Cubs double-play combination “Tinkers-to-Evers-to-Chance.” It was also known as the “Cub Building” because it housed the Cub Grocery for many years. A fire several years ago led to the structure being seismically retrofitted with senior citizen apartments created on the second floor.

Cub/Chance Building

In 1926 the store enlarged and changed to include women's wear, and a larger variety of ready to wear items. The new building also housed a beauty shop which was operated by several different owners, including Dorothy Evans Singleton, and Delore Watkins Fay. It was Glendora's first department store and became one of the longest continuing operating businesses in Glendora. The Venberg family lived on Vermont Avenue originally but eventually built their own home at 535 N. Michigan, later building another house across the street at 550 N. Michigan Avenue.Andrews Inc., is a family owned business and when they bought the building in 1985 there was much time and money spent refurbishing and updating it. The ware which had been the beauty shop now serves ad the office, and the area which had been a mezzanine now houses tailors for the customers alterations. The interior is tastefully decorated and new lines of merchandise have been introduced. The Andrews, as did the Venburg family, contributes to local affairs and continue to serve the community as a business as well as individually.

Now occupied by Andrew’s, Inc., this structure housed the first department store in Glendora. Arthur Venberg was an early Glendora merchant who originally began his store in what became the Reed’s hardware building. This building was constructed in 1925 at a cost of $25,000. The architect was L. E. Richardson, the contractor was Mans Hopper. Also a “vernacular brick” structure, it is representative of many commercial buildings built here and throughout foothill communities during the period c. 1900–1920.

Venberg Building 

Eddie Nelson, a U.S.C. graduate and pharmacist, was set up on a blind date with Helen Wilson by one of Helen's sisters. Helen, herself was a UCLA graduate and public school teacher. In 1934, they married and two years later they bought what would become the first Nelson's Drug store on the southwest corner of Michigan (now Glendora Ave) &amp; Foothill. In 1943, Eddie and Helen Nelson moved their pharmacy north from it's residence on Michigan &amp; Foothill to the Converse building. Helen and her sister Louise worked at the store alongside Eddie. Early on in Eddie's career he had been a "soda jerk", he enjoyed it so much they decided to add a soda fountain. Eddie would run his soda fountain alongside being the pharmacist. Nelson's soon became "the place to go" in town and they started serving up light lunches, convenient to the workers on the main street. Helen and Eddie had a bustling social life in Glendora and were members of the Glendora Country Club, Bridge club and Dance Club.Around 1965, the building was stripped of it's Italian style and overhanging corner offices and “modernized” at least twice to its present vernacular “style.” The first modernization removed the cornices and decorative items, leaving the extended corner windows on the second floor. The second reconstruction, flattened the area at the corner windows and added some other decorative features.After Eddie passed away in 1976, Helen sold the store to the Lee family. In 1992, Dean Lee sold the business to his son, Dan. The building was renamed the Lee Building.

Originally known as the Converse Building, it was built c. 1905 in an Italianate style and was graced in front by a water fountain installed in 1909 by the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU). The fountain was a fully operational drinking fountain, for horses on one side, and people on the other. One of the first tenants of the Converse building was The Confectionery Shop, in 1909 which sold ice cream, cigars and chocolates.

Nelson's Drug Store

In those early days the Opera House was the cultural and social center of the whole city. It housed the city’s library for a short while, then in 1908 the Women’s Club formed and they held their first meetings there until the completion of their own clubhouse. Many musical shows took place there. The Masons held their meetings here, as well, until their own Masonic Lodge was built. Since city hall hadn’t been built yet, it was the early meeting place for many of the city’s founding fathers. In 1937, Bank of America took over the main floor and First National bank and occupied the space until 1970. Various Glendora merchants have occupied the space since then such as Martha’s Candies, the Andrews family who owned the Venberg Store, and the Sizzler restaurant. The building is presently occupied the Village Vault Restaurant. The original vault door still remains and can be seen inside the Village Vault Restaurant.

Built in 1906 by C.A. Weaver, this is one of the most historic buildings in downtown Glendora. When the building first opened it was occupied by the First National Bank on the main floor while the city’s Opera House made up the second floor. The First National Bank was opened in 1907 with Carrol Whitcomb, son of George Whitcomb as President and M.C. Whitcomb as cashier. Early photographs of the building show statues of Mozart and Beethoven decorating the outside of the Opera House. On the north side of the building double doors opened up to a grand entry way leading to the second floor of the building, this entry way still remains today mostly as it did in those early years.

First National Bank/Opera House

The Gem building was at least the third key contribution by Weaver in establishing Glendora (then known as Michigan) Avenue as the central business district of the community. Weaver’s work in bringing the Pacific Electric to Glendora, along with his construction of the Bank/Opera and Gem buildings assured that business would be concentrated where it is today rather than along Vista Bonita Avenue as had been the case earlier.In early April 1911 it was announced that the reading room would be opened to the public on Monday, April 10 with Mrs. Coulter as the librarian. This was the foundation from which the Glendora Public Library grew. Mrs. Suydam stated in her history of the Library that this reading room was a front room in the Gem Building rented from Mrs. Weaver.

The Gem building was built by C.A.Weaver in 1910. It has been used and rented for many different organizations and events over the years. It adjoined the bank to the north.

Gem Building

Matthews and Wamsley ran a grocery store in this building, built c. 1905. It is where Venberg’s began before moving to 111 North Glendora. It later housed Reed’s Hardware for many years which was succeeded by Glendora Hardware. Shen and Roland Reed ran Reed's hardware and a sporting good store. The building was seismically retrofitted when it was converted to restaurant use.The Reeds were known for their expertise and personal service, they greeted everyone with a smile. They had a complete line of fresh and salt water fishing supplies with the hardware store supplying general hardware, plumbing fixtures, electrical appliances, and water heaters.

This building was built in 1905. It originally started as a grocery store but transformed to a hardware store, sporting goods store, and eventually as a restaurant. The hardware store was run by father-son team Shen and Roland Reed. The Reeds were a very prominent family in Glendora and were part of many committees and groups in the community.

Reed's Hardware

Built in 1900, this structure is unusual both for Glendora and other local downtown districts in that it is constructed of stone rather than of brick. The walls are about 18 inches thick and the building also features extra-wide doors where the horse drawn wagons could pull in and deliver or unload goods. It was modified c. 1946 into the vernacular style popular at the time through the plastering of the exterior walls. For much of its recent history, the building was occupied by Finkbiner’s Market (preceded, perhaps as early as 1939 or 1940 by a market owned by the Kussart family) and operated by Joe Finkbiner, long time mayor of Glendora. After Joe Finkbiner, Tony and Nedra Miller owned it for many years and turned it into a old fashioned establishment.In 1983 a television commercial was filmed at the store for a new tortilla chip product. Six actors dressed as cowboys rode horses up and down Glendora Ave. with the market being used to shoot interior scenes.The building has gone through many owners but most recently is a restaurant.

This building was constructed in 1900. In 1945, Joe Finkbiner, former mayor of Glendora, bought the store and in 1949 it moved to its present location. In addition to its grocery shelves, there was a delicatessen, frozen food, and ice cream freezer. At the time, the store was considered very modern.

Finkbiner's Market

Seimears later opened a bicycle shop at this location then added a furniture store and a funeral parlor upstairs. When business was booming at the funeral parlor, he built a brick building and moved his business, Glendora Undertaking, to 138 N. Michigan Ave (Glendora Ave). In 1926, he extended his corrugated original building to a concrete building with a 50 foot frontage and 70 foot deep and it became one of the biggest furniture stores in the San Gabriel Valley. When Frederick Seimears retired from business in 1945, his twin son and daughter, Dan and Margaret, took over the business. Seimears was the oldest furniture store in California and the longest continuously operated family business (70 years) in Glendora when it closed it’s doors in 1973. The furniture store then became Orange Tree Bazaar, an antique mall. This location now houses a local restaurant, Luca Bella Fine Foods.

Frederick A. Seimears came from Howard, Kansas to Glendora in the year 1901. His parents were German immigrants who settled in Kansas in the 1800's. Seimears first job was with the Covina Telephone Company as a linesman, which was housed in a tin building at 216 N. Michigan Ave (now Glendora Ave).

Seimear’s Furniture (Orange Tree Bazaar)

The boulder at the northeast corner of Bennett and Glendora Avenues (in front of the First Christian Church, completed in 1923, though the congregation originated in 1888 in a building at the northeast corner of Bennett and Wabash) commemorates the sale of the first Glendora lot at this site by the Glendora Land Company, April 1, 1887. Jefferson Patten paid $400 plus $75 for the priviledge of making the first purchase. By nightfall, 291 lots had been sold at prices ranging from $200 to $600. This lot later became part of property on which Glendora’s first City Hall (and present Museum) was built. The city sold the corner lot to the First Christian Church in 1922 after moving into the present City Hall.

This boulder is the site of the first lot sold in Glendora. It later became part of property on which Glendora’s first City Hall (and present Museum) was built. The lot was originally sold on April 1, 1887 by the Glendora Land Company. The boulder represents the start of a new Glendora.

First Lot Sold in Glendora

On October 1 of 1930, the Independent Brethren Church of Glendora officially formed with 140 charter members. In it's first years, the Independent Brethren Church met downtown in the Kamphefner Building on the northwest corner of Glendora and Meda, the former location of Kussart's Grocery and later, Finkbiner's Market. During this time period, to save on building costs, the men from the IBCG started mining the rock quarries in the San Gabriel Canyon above the bustling citrus groves in Glendora and brought down large stones out of which they built the structure that stands as Cornerstone Bible Church today.

This church is a stone structure that was completed in 1931, on the corner of Glendora and Whitcomb Avenues. In 1930, a group of families, with spiritual differences, had been searching for stronger bible teachings and chose to break off from the Glendora Brethren Church to form the Independent Brethren Church of Glendora (IBCG).

Cornerstone Bible Church

Several lots were offered to the Women's Club for a clubhouse location, including one offered free of charge by George Whitcomb, the city's founder, but they had definite thoughts in mind and wanted a particular location. As a result of their flurry of activities, including a series of card parties held in 1917 and a concert by the world-renowned vocalist, Ellen Beach "Lark Ellen" Yaw, they raised enough money to purchase the lot at 424 N. Michigan (now Glendora) Avenue for the price of $350.After purchasing the lot, they had had to raise money for the construction of their building. One of the ways they raised money as through a subscription contest, held by the Los Angeles Examiner. The club sold enough subscriptions to win the prize of a Cadillac (which they then sold for $1,892.00). Bidding instruction stressed, "Only contractors who are residents or property owners in Glendora are eligible to bid." On June 4, 1912 they accepted the low bid of $5,600 for construction of the clubhouse from R. M. Goebel. Plans were prepared by T.W. Wamsley. Total cost of construction ran $6,136.40 and with furnishing was $7,873.14.On November 5, 1912, just 3 1/2 years from their initial gathering, the members held their first meeting in their new clubhouse.

The Glendora Woman’s Club, which met initially at the Opera House, built a wood frame Craftsman style club house on this site in 1912 and held its first meeting here on November 5, 1912. That building still exists within the heavily “modernized” exterior and interior resulting from a renovation in 1955. It as used as a setting for countless social gatherings and still houses the Women's Club today.

Glendora Woman's Club 

This Victorian wood dwelling, sometimes known as the Woodworth Home or the Sheppard Home, was built in 1890 as a maternity home. The earliest known recorded owners were W.G. Hall and Frank Sheppard. Legend has it that when the house was first built there was a cesspool hole that became so large that a team of horses fell in. Since there were no hospitals in the area, this maternity home was very important to Glendora. Pregnant women would stay in this private home and as the birth date grew near, the doctor would be summoned. This house has withstood more than 100 years of progress.

This building was one of a few maternity homes in Glendora. It was built in the 1800s. The house was constructed with square nails and kiln-dried redwood which supposedly makes it termite free. It claims to be the first home wired for electricity and one of the original light globes remains with the house today.

The Woodworth Home

This is a simple Victorian home with some Craftsman features. The original owner, O. D. Fay, was active in many Glendora businesses. His son, Dan Fay, was a longtime (1947-64) Glendora police chief.The History of Public Safety in Glendora The first police officer in the city was actually known as the City Marshal. The Marshal’s office was created in 1911 with the incorporation of the City of Glendora, a position first held by Frank Kuhry, who was paid $90 a month to be the Marshal, which included $50 a month to be the night watchman, and $15 a month to be street superintendent. Prior to that, the only law enforcement in the area was provided by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department from Station #8 (San Dimas) and the Azusa tree warden. Anyone found injuring a tree was fined $100.00, a testament to our Citrus industry heritage. Glendora’s population at that time was about 700 people.Nine different officers held the title of City Marshal from 1911 to 1926, at which time the Glendora Police Department was formed. Glendora officers didn’t wear formal uniforms until 1934. From 1926 until 1931, Officer Milton Squires and Chief Sam Baxter, the first Chief, who doubled at the department’s traffic officer, were the entire staff of the police department until a third man was hired as an officer and fire truck driver. The population had increased to 2,700 by this time. From 1920 until the 1950’s, the City of Glendora had an appointed Police Commissioner, a position held by a member of the City Council as a civilian figurehead. The first city jail consisted of a wooden jail in the barn of City Marshal O.D. Fay; whose son O. Dan Fay Jr eventually became the Chief of Police in 1947 and is who the present police facility is named after. The old wooden jail eventually became the dog pound when the office of Poundmaster was established in 1914. The new jail was located in what is now the Glendora Historical Society building at 314 N. Glendora Ave, what was previously known as Michigan Ave. When the current city hall building was completed in 1922, the jail and police department were located upstairs at city hall. It has been said that city council meetings were often interrupted by the yelling and screaming of intoxicated arrestee’s who had to be literally dragged upstairs to the city jail. Our current facility was dedicated in 1966 at what used to be a city park, with legendary LA County Sheriff Peter Pitchess in attendance to help celebrate the dedication.

This building is a Craftsman home. The original owner, O. D. Fay, was active in many Glendora businesses. His son, Dan Fay, was a longtime (1947-64) Glendora police chief.

Fay House

Built in 1902 in a “Victorian Vernacular” style and is virtually unique in Glendora with its vertical wood plank siding. The Detwilers were early settlers in this area having settled in the area at the turn of the century. Four of the six Dewitler children were born in this house. The house was sold in 1948 after the death of Mrs. Dewitler. The new owners restored and remodeled the house and added a family room, two fireplaces, and a front porch.The Dewitlers were an influential family in Glendora. Withe the early death of their father, it was necessary for all members of the family to work. The older boys especially took on all kinds of work in the community. In fact, they were seen so often a fellow resident once said "...there was a Dewitler behind every pepper tree."The majority of the Dewtiler children stayed in Glendora and took on prominent places in the community. Dutch Dewitler grew up as a star athlete on the football team for Citrus Union High School. He stayed in Glendora and continued to live just a few blocks from his childhood home. He served as City Councilman of the city from 1958-1966.Webb Dewitler was known as the keeper of Venberg's department store where he was a buyer and window dresser. He designed the Glendora City seal that is used on all official correspondence. He also set up exhibits at the LA County Fair for the City of Glendora where he won many prizes.

The historic Dewitler house was built in 1902. Many changes have occurred throughout the years, but the outside of the house looks very much the same. The Dewitler family built and settled in this home after residing in a smaller house on Alosta Ave to accommodate their growing family. The Dewitler family consisted of Edna and Wilbur Dewitler and six children, five boys and one girl.

Detwiler House

The landmark was dedicated on January 7, 1978 and was attended by local and state dignitaries. The monument’s plaque sits on native rock and states that the plants were first brought to California in 1870 on a whaling ship. L.J. Pittman was the landowner in which the monument stood and was said to have provided the historical information for the plaque. Some years later an article was written about the historical landmark in Sunset Magazine in the 1970’s and struck up a controversy about the planting of the bougainvillea. Mrs. Ivan Hanley, whose family lived on the land during the thirties wrote a letter debating the facts stated on the plaque. She said that her family had Merrill and Frank West plant the bougainvillea in the early 1930’s. A letter was written to the Glendora Historical Society by the Landmark Society to further research the origins of the bougainvillea and the historical society called in people who had been in Glendora for at least 50 years to stir up more information. Responses were tabulated and there was no majority to substantiate whose claims were most factual, so this topic remains a controversial subject in Glendora’s history.

On the northeast corners of Minnesota and Bennett you will find Glendora’s own California Registered Historical Landmark #912- Glendora’s Bougainvillea. This is the largest known stand of bougainvillea in the United States. The bright bougainvillea climb the trunks of stately palm trees that stretch along Bennet and Minnesota Ave. Residents say that the bougainvillea and the palm trees were used to promote California as a paradise during the land boom of the 1800’s.

Bougainvillea State Monument

The historic two story woodd frame house, located at 301 E. Meda Avenue, was typical of the farm houses that once populated this area. At the time, most of Glendora consisted of citrus ranches and this was how the pioneers supported themselves. Usually they were forced to have jobs on the side as the citrus industry was very unpredictable in those early days. It is not known who originally constructed the house on Meda. The Brunjes family were the first known occupants: John Brunje, his wife, and daughters Phyllis, Gertrude and Winifred.In 1997, this beautifully restored dwelling was given Landmark status by the Glendora City Council.

The Brunjes family, active in early Glendora, built this 2200 square foot Victorian home in 1905. Mr. Brunjes was the manager of a local packing house. In 1997, this beautifully restored dwelling was given Landmark status by the Glendora City Council. This home is a typical example of the farm houses that once populated the area.

Brunjes House

In the 1920's, there were two ranger stations, in both Big Dalton and San Dimas Canyons. Arthur Shay was the District Ranger in Glendora and he was responsible for overseeing all of the Angeles National Forest south of Mt. Baldy and east of the San Gabriel Canyon. The most important of the rangers job was ensuring fire prevention and fighting fires, should they arise. After a devastating fire in 1919, plans were made to reforest the devastated area. Coulter pines, locust, osage trees, and chaparral seeds were planted (over 100,000 pine seedlings in total). In 1925, Spence D. Turner became County Forester and Fire Warden and was distressed to find most of the seedlings had died. To find out the source of their failure, he pushed to establish an experimental tree nursery. 13,000 acres was set aside for the San Dimas Experimental Tree Forest. It was the first ever, permanent center for research on wildfires, and prevention of deposition and stream erosion. Many of the testing instruments and techniques were originally established here.

On the northeast corner of Foothill Blvd and Wabash Ave, you will find what some consider the “most beautiful ranger station in the entire National Forest system.” - Glendora's U.S. Forest Service Station. The land for the new headquarters in Glendora was purchased for $3,500 through the fundraising efforts of the Chamber of Commerce, an early example of the community participation for which Glendora is well known. One of the headquarters units for the operation of Angeles National Forest (Mt. Baldy District) and the San Dimas Experimental Forest, this building was constructed in 1940 by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). During World War II, it was also the facility for the Office of Price Administration.

U.S. Forest Service Ranger Station

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.

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.

Glendora Brief Historical Walking Tour

Glendora City Hall

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources