On October 14th the Monrovia Historical Museum received two distinguished guests. Doug Pottenger and his wife Aleta came bearing some gifts for the Pottenger Sanitorium display at the museum. Doug is the great-great grandson of Francis Marion Pottenger Sr. (1869-1961), founder of the Monrovia Sanitorium which bore his name. They came bearing three gifts: A silver mechanical pencil inscribed with Dr. Pottenger’s name on it, a crocheted cloth piece with the family name, and a framed photo with Dr. Pottenger and his line of descent.These items will be a fine addition to the exhibit.

“Welcome to the Museum! Is this your first time here?”

When you visit the Monrovia Historical Museum these are the words you will first hear from one of our volunteer docents. Our guides are warm and inviting and want to make your visit fun, informative and special.

Andrew Miller is one of those wonderful volunteers; a Monrovia local who came to the museum looking to expand his resume and knowledge. He has learned a lot about our local history and does a great job passing that information on to our visitors.

At Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941, three Monrovians paid the ultimate price for our freedoms. Seaman First Class Dwight J. Orr (MHS class of 1940) was stationed on the Battleship USS Arizona, and became one of 1177 sailors and Marines killed on the ship. Nearby at Hickam Field Sergeant Gerald Anglich, an Army Air Corps gunner from Monrovia, was shot down by a Mitsubishi Zero as he ran to a machine gun emplacement, one of 139 soldiers killed there. The third Monrovian who perished at Pearl Harbor on that infamous day was Navy First Lieutenant Richard Rall, one of 18 men who perished on board the Battleship USS Pennsylvania.
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