​Yes, they braved the summer heat! On July 11, the City's recreation coordinator for the youth program, Hailey Villalobos, led a group of 37 high school students to the Monrovia Historical Museum (MHM) for a private, educational tour. The group comprised those students who were accepted to the Youth Employment Services (YES) Summer Internship program, sponsored by the City of Monrovia's Community Services’ Recreation Department. 

"It was an honor to share the history of our city with this wonderful group of young people," said Oliver Beckwith, museum board member and lead docent that day. Along with Oliver, the other board members who helped guide the students that day were Mark Harvis and Ili Lobaco, as well as Nennette Ferris and our support team of volunteers, Clara Fouser, Matthew Chen, Andrew Miller and Katie Dinh, who showed up to help.

"The tours went well--the interns seemed to particularly enjoy the high school exhibit, perusing past yearbooks and trying on the police uniforms in our Police Department exhibit, as well as tinkering with our collection of vintage telephones. It was really fun having them in the museum," commented Mark Harvis, Museum Board Vice President. At the end of the tour, the students were joined by last year’s YES Interns, Gisselle Nunez, Meredith Dickinson, Kaila Vachani and Jiahao Li. They spoke to the group about their successful experiences with the program. 

The future is bright for MHM and our capacity to provide this valuable service to our community. And YES, our best wishes go to the YES Summer Internship Program, for its success and to the City of Monrovia, for continuing to offer this annual opportunity to our youth!

A FORGOTTEN POET:  ANNA KENNARD
by Gail Kennard

Anna Kennard was my paternal aunt, my father, architect Robert Kennard’s, oldest sister. Until recently, none of us in the family knew her as a poet.  Then, an uncovered poem titled “Compensation” led us to recognize her in a new light and ponder what might have been.  

For more than a decade, I have been researching and writing a book about my father’s life and work.  The Kennard family had moved to Monrovia in the early 1920s, and all four of the Kennard children graduated from Monrovia Arcadia Duarte High School.  The family lived in a two-story house on East Walnut Avenue, a few blocks from where the Monrovia Historical Museum* is located today.  

I first read the poem in a small faded blue three-ring notebook my father had kept with him while he was in the US military during World War II.  There are about 60 pages of entries, and the oldest one is this poem by his sister, Anna. He carefully typed each line of the poem, attributed it to her, and dated the entry September 1941.  

Clearly, the poem was very meaningful to him.  But I did not know if or when it had ever been published.  I was not even certain that Anna had written it. Neither of her two children remember her writing poetry.   I reached out to the Monrovia school district, the public library, and even the Library of Congress.  Then I visited the Monrovia Historical Museum, and I was assisted by volunteer, Nennette Ferris, to search through the documents in their high school collection.  We found nothing.  But to my surprise, a few months later, she reached out to me to say she had found the poem in the process of re-organizing their library archives.  And there it was, indeed, printed and published in the Monrovia-Arcadia-Duarte High School, English Department’s 1932-1933 Anthology, and  Anna’s poem was on page one! 

The message of the poem must have resonated with my father as he faced an uncertain future as a soldier in war.  And today, some 90 years later, the poem carries a message that is still relevant.

COMPENSATION
By Anna Kennard, 12A

In years to come when I am tired and old,
And vagrant thoughts stir in my weary mind---
Of days too full of toil and care untold,
Of wretched jealousies and words unkind,
Of griefs too fierce to bring a comforting tear,
Of parting smiles that I no more shall see,
Of hopes that vanished like each fleeing year---
There still will shine one spark in life for me.

I’ll never let the misery and strife,
The ugly things that have been said and done,
Subtract from these last tranquil years of life
The gladness that was brought by hearts I’ve won.
Each memory of friends will be the light
That guides me bravely through the darkening night.

As a woman and African American, born in 1913, her poem speaks to the challenges she faced in her life.  She wrote this poem when she was about 18 or 19 years old, a senior in high school.  For her to have such insight as a young woman, no doubt helped her persevere. 

In high school she was a member of the scholarship society and was one of seven high school students recognized by English teachers at Monrovia Arcadia Duarte High School; Anna Kennard was recognized for sonnet writing in 1933 [Monrovia News-Post, June 10, 1933].  She graduated from Frank Wiggins Trade School, the precursor to the Los Angeles Trade Technical College, and worked in accounting for the Los Angeles Unified School District.  By the 1960s, she was “the only Negro woman employed by the Board of Education as a financial manager” according to the Los Angeles Sentinel newspaper [July 19, 1962].  She persevered.     

*In January 2019, the Monrovia Historical Museum hosted a program about architect Robert Kennard (1920 – 1995).  My father had a distinguished career, designing more than 700 projects including public buildings, schools, colleges and residences.  Here's the link to the article about that event. 

​The Monrovia Historical Museum is proud to showcase this vintage, turn-of-the-century, 800-pound safe. It stands 36" tall and 24" wide and is currently displayed in our 'Lost Businesses of Monrovia' exhibit. 

It was originally owned and used by the Monrovia Telephone and Telegraph Co. to store their cash payroll, and subsequently given to the Monrovia Van and Storage Company in exchange for services rendered. Click this link to read about them. We express our deepest gratitude to Don Samuels for this valuable piece of Monrovia history! See below to read its history. 

Visit us on any Thursday or Sunday between 1:00-4:00pm to view this precious relic!  (Note: we do have the combination to the safe and it is in working order, but due to its weight and vintage condition, we will not be able to allow visitors to try to lock and unlock it.) 

1903 MacNeale & Urban Company Safe (in Don Samuels' words)

Owner-Donor of the Artifact: Don Samuels, Diamond Bar, California 

Donor's Connection to Monrovia: I was born and raised in Monrovia. My father and grandfather owned and operated Monrovia Van and Storage Company from the early 1940s to 1979. 

How I Acquired this Item: From time to time the Telephone Company, on the 100 block of East Lime Avenue would call on Monrovia Van and Storage to move the safe from office to office. At some point in the mid-1950s the safe was no longer needed by the Telephone Company and it was offered to Monrovia Van and Storage for the cost of removing the safe from the premises. The safe was housed in the office of Monrovia Van and Storage at 141 East Colorado until 1979 when my father sold the business. The safe was not included in the sale and my father had no room for it at his home. So I "inherited" the safe and it has served as a conversation piece in my home for the last 45 years. 

Description of the Safe: The safe is 36 inch tall by 24 inch wide and 24 inch deep and weighs around 800 pounds. The safe was manufactured by The MacNeale & Urban Company of Hamilton, Ohio. The MacNeale & Urban Company made their last safe in 1903.  Therefore, the safe was made sometime between 1888 when the company moved to Hamilton, Ohio and 1903 when it ceased making safes. The safe has the words Monrovia Tel & Tel Co. painted in red and gold across the top.

Historical Background: The earliest reference to the Monrovia Telephone and Telegraph Company on the Monrovia Legacy site was 1914. The safe was probably purchased by the Telephone Company soon after it opened offices in Monrovia. The story I was told as a child by my father and grandfather was that in the early years of the Telephone Company, employees were paid in cash and that the safe was used to store the weekly payroll. I was also told that at sometime in the past, someone attempted to blast a hole in the bottom of the safe. A steel plate attached to the bottom of the safe Is evidence that there is some truth to this story. The safe was disposed of once the Telephone Company no longer needed it to safely store cash.

~ ~ ~

When Don Samuels stepped into the museum one Spring afternoon to offer to donate an 800-pound, vintage safe once used by the Monrovia Telephone and Telegraph Co., we were all ears!  But behind the story of the safe is Don's family's long history as local residents and owners of Monrovia Van and Storage, a family-owned and very successful business operation spanning four decades.​ Read the short story below. 

Monrovia Van and Storage was a business owned and operated by the Samuels family from the early 1940s to 1979. Clifford Samuels moved his family to Monrovia from Iowa in 1937. He used funds from the sale of the family farm to purchase his home at 956 West Olive and to buy his first truck. The trucking business started slowly during the war years. However, with the end of World War II and the subsequent influx of people to Southern California, the business thrived.

From the beginning, the business office was located at 141 East Colorado, the current home of the Peach Café. By the mid-1950s, Monrovia Van and Storage had five trucks and was moving families and businesses, locally and across the state. Their trucks displayed the name of Monrovia wherever they went. In 1958, the business opened a used furniture store next door at 137 East Colorado. The original office at 141 East Colorado as well as five store fronts on the 100 block of East Olive were used for temporary storage of their customer’s belongings. My grandfather's woodshop was located on an elevated platform at the back of 141 East Colorado. To this day, that same elevated platform is at the rear of the Peach Cafe.

In 1953, Clifford continued to work in the office but turned the business over to two of his sons, Kenneth and Duane. My father, Kenneth, brought his family to Monrovia shortly after Clifford and built his first home at 514 West Olive. By the late fifties the grandsons Larry, Dick and Don (myself) were old enough to spend their summers helping out with the family business. Both Kenneth and Duane were active members of the Monrovia business community. Kenneth was long time member of the Monrovia Elks Club and Duane an active member of the Monrovia Kiwanis club.
​
Clifford continued to answer the phone until his death in 1968. Eventually, the company was purchased and absorbed by a large national affiliate and the doors of Monrovia Van and Storage at 141 East Colorado were closed for the last time in 1979.

​by Vicky Hansen, MHM Exhibit Chair and Development Coordinator

​Our historic home exhibit continues to advance, thanks to the generous support of local businesses and contractors. Recently, Jeff Anderson, Branch Manager of ABC Supply in Monrovia, donated roofing materials, while Mike Marshall and his team from Sedona West Roofing provided labor for the installation of our exquisite shingle roofing. Additionally, Sherwin Williams of Monrovia contributed the paint, for which we extend our gratitude to store manager Anabertha Soto.
​
Further enhancing our exhibit, Monrovia residents, Tom and Tina Posen, owners of Arcadia Sash and Door, are generously donating the door and windows. These contributions significantly enrich our ongoing exhibit, which chronicles Monrovia's history through its architectural heritage.

​Scheduled for completion this fall, we sincerely thank Jeff Anderson, Mike Marshall, Tom and Tina Posen, and all involved for their invaluable contributions in making this project a reality.

Did you know about "Aunt Kate" Wright? 
by Sarah Farmer Earll (former MHM Board Member, written originally in June 2022)

While Pottenger’s Sanatorium led the way for tuberculosis treatment in Southern California in the early 1900s, their clientele was almost exclusively white. The Jewish Consumptive Relief Association started a free non-sectarian tuberculosis sanatorium in nearby Duarte, which became the City of Hope National Medical Center. Others relied on Kate Wright for care.   

Fondly known as “Aunt Kate,” Kate Wright (1861-1937) was a former slave who came to Monrovia in 1901 after emancipation. Wright purchased property on East Cypress Avenue with savings earned from domestic work. Around 1904, she had a religious conversion, and that experience led her to devote her life to the care of the sick and indigent.  

She sought donations of lumber and labor to build small cottages on her property, where she tended to tuberculosis patients who had no family or resources to assist them.  Without many resources herself, Aunt Kate believed “the Lord would provide.” She served selflessly for over 30 years, and she cared for all alike, regardless of color, nationality or creed. 
​
Kate Wright is respected and revered by Monrovians from all walks of life. In 2018, the City named her as one of the first honorees of the Monrovia Neighborhood Treasure program. In 2020, KGEM-TV posted this YouTube video of Steve Baker speaking about Kate Wright's legacy for the Monrovia ChangeMakers. Also, see this Facebook post tribute on Juneteenth 2022.

​William Newton Monroe: Monrovia’s Father
Written by Oliver Beckwith, Monrovia Historical Museum Board Member

William Newton Monroe (1841-1935) did many things in his long life. While still in his teens he was a teacher in Iowa. When the Civil War began he served two years in 1st Iowa Cavalry where, among other things, he saw action against Quantrill’s Raiders at Pleasant Hill, Missouri. Monroe joined the 7th Iowa Cavalry Regiment in 1863, and completed his military service as a brevet Major in 1864 at Ft. Kearney, Nebraska. It was there he met a teacher, Mary Jane Hall, and on Christmas Eve, 1863, they were married. Together they raised five children, Milton, George, Myrtle, Annetta and Mabelle. 

After the war William joined his father-in-law Milton Hall in building a part of the transcontinental railroad. Monroe was good at supervising train construction, and in the following decades he built railroads in the American Southwest, Mexico, Alaska, and Chile. As a result William Monroe supervised construction of the northernmost and southernmost railroads in the Western Hemisphere. 

We all recognize William Monroe as the father of Monrovia, and those of us who live here are beneficiaries of the city he created. In the postwar years Monroe had been supervising the building of railroads in Arizona and Texas, but in 1884 he and Mary Jane decided to settle down in Southern California. They were attracted to the beautiful foothills and water sources that came from them. In 1885 Monroe purchased some land from Elias J. “Lucky” Baldwin, and built the home we know today as The Oaks on Primrose Avenue.  

In that same year Monroe teamed up with Edward F. Spence, then Mayor of Los Angeles, real estate attorney John D. Bicknell, railroad entrepreneur James F. Crank, and local landowner Jeremiah Falvey to purchase the land needed to create the city of Monrovia. The land was organized into lots and put up for sale in 1886, and by 1887 Monrovia became the 4th city in Los Angeles County to be incorporated. 

In his lifetime Monroe faced many challenges. As a young man he served in the Civil War, and after Monrovia was incorporated its citizens suffered through more wars and economic downturns. He accomplished many things and had some failures too, but William Newton Monroe could always look at his greatest success, the City of Monrovia. If you would like to know more about William Monroe’s story please visit us at The Monrovia Historical Museum. On your visit you can purchase Richard Singer’s book, 1887: A History of Early Monrovia to find more details about William Monroe’s life.

Biographical Links: 

• City of Monrovia Legacy Project - Short Bio of William N. Monroe by T.M. Hotchkiss, 1985
• PPOlinks - Ten-page Biography of William N. Monroe by Edithe Harbison Hathaway, 1931
• Wikipedia - Vocation and Public Service History of William N. Monroe

Long-time councilman, six-time mayor, past president of Rotary Club of Monrovia, Realtor (Century 21 Adams and Barnes) and generous sponsor for the Monrovia Historical Museum's Historic Homes Exhibit, Tom Adams, came to tour the Museum on Saturday, June 15th, with his family on the occasion of a pre-Father's Day celebration. The honor was ours, of course!

"For years I knew the Monrovia Historical Museum existed but it never occurred to me to be a tourist in my own town," says Cory Adams. "My family has many connections to Monrovia and I thought a great way to celebrate Father's Day would be connecting all those dots.  My father, Tom Adams, was born at the Monrovia Hospital in 1951 and moved back to Monrovia in his early 20's to raise his family.  My Uncle, James Adams, served as a member of the Monrovia City Police Department back in the 1960's. My late mother-in-law, Sandra Freeman, who passed last year, graduated from M.A.D. High School in 1954. Seeing her pictures in the yearbooks was really heartwarming for my husband, Gage Freeman. It was so great to learn more about this wonderful community and its history. We had an amazing time and really appreciate Oliver Beckwith, Mark Harvis and Sharon Motheral for taking time out of their Saturday. Thank you!" 

Board member, Oliver Beckwith, who served as the main tour guide said, "Tom really enjoyed the tour and admitted he hadn’t been through the museum in a long time." Well, Tom, it was a pleasure getting re-acquainted with you and meeting your wonderful family! And thank you, Cory, for choosing to visit us as part of your Father's Day weekend celebration! 

​The Monrovia Historical Museum wishes to give special acknowledgment to our dedicated City Manager, Dylan Feik. Throughout Monrovia, Dylan is hailed as an outstanding leader who consistently engages with the public on various fronts. 

In addition to his regular responsibilities of overseeing city employees and managing policies, budgets, and personnel, Dylan tirelessly addresses a wide range of issues—from organizing special events to managing weather-related disasters, responding to inquiries, addressing concerns within the unhoused community, and even handling complaints on social media platforms. His commitment to problem-solving knows no bounds, and he goes above and beyond the call of duty. This unwavering dedication has made a significant impact on our community, and we extend our heartfelt appreciation for everything he has done for our organization and the beloved city we serve.

A short biography: 

Dylan Feik assumed the role of City Manager following his appointment by the Monrovia City Council in October 2019. With a rich background in various facets of local government, Dylan brings a wealth of expertise in formulating and executing policies, managing personnel and budgeting. His academic credentials include a Masters of Public Administration from the University of Kansas and a Bachelor of Arts from Weber State University.

Dylan resides in Monrovia with his wife, Kira, and their children.  Outside of his professional duties, he finds joy in pursuits such as mountain biking, hiking, and restoring vintage cars, particularly his collection of Ford Mustangs and a Chevrolet pickup.