Mystery History -- Solved!

I stumped everyone this week.

In the photo above, an unidentified man stands on the beginnings of the foundation of Pasadena City Hall. Construction began in 1926 and the building opened for business in 1927.

The original photo is in the Holtzman album of City Hall construction photos in the Centennial Room at Pasadena Central Library.

Here's a photo of Wilfred Holtzman and his wife Ina. Holtzman was the contractor who oversaw the construction of Pasadena City Hall.


I've posted photos of City Hall under construction in the past.

I think it's time for a reminder that the first dedicated Pasadena City Hall was at the northeast corner of Fair Oaks Avenue and Union Street. It was built in 1903 and served its purpose until 1927:


The building was demolished decades ago. That corner is now the site of the Container Store. I like to think it was designed with a nod to that early City Hall, but I don't know.


Where was city business conducted before 1903? Find out here.


Many thanks to Pasadena Public Library. The photo of the Container Store was shot by the mighty Zack Stromberg of the Public Affairs Office.

The Light Through City Hall's "Secret" Windows

For your viewing pleasure, some more historic 1920s construction photos of Pasadena City Hall:

Petrea's "Secret Window" over at Pasadena Daily Photo inspired me to show you these two photos:




Parking Day or Nite (but not for much longer!):

A couple of early, early photos when the land was still being cleared:



OK, just one more for now:

That will just have to hold you for awhile! There are plenty more for future posts.

By Popular Demand. . .

More City Hall historic 1920s construction photos:

Two lone cast-stone torches:


Check out the wagon in the lower left:


Where the big clock would be placed in the grand entrance (the clock still runs beautifully):


There's no way to know what the photographer was going for. The hat? The pick axe? What grabs you about this one?

Historic City Hall 1920s Construction Photos, Continued

I think this must have been shot from the top of All Saints. Petrea over at Pasadena Daily Photo had a couple of great posts last week showing St. Andrew's Church, and it inspired me to find this photo. That's the St. Andrew's Church tower in background, mid-right. I'm not sure what the church is on the far right. Maybe Pasadena Congregational at the southeast corner of Los Robles and Walnut? Anybody have a better guess?


No hard hats, no knee pads, no steel-toed boots, no nail guns. Just hard, honest work.


Oh, my aching back!

More Original City Hall Historic 1920s Construction Photos

Note Pasadena Public Library on Walnut Street in the background. It's now called Pasadena Central Library because there are nine branches throughout the community.



Here's a shot with All Saints Church on Euclid Avenue.



The building on the right in the background with the tower is First Baptist Church at the southwest corner of Marengo Avenue and Holly Street.



I'll show you some more another time. This is fun!

When City Hall was a Hole in the Ground

I was scrolling through my digital photo files yesterday, looking for some images to go in the August issue of "Pasadena In Focus."

It's so easy to get sidetracked when I do that! I came across a folder I hadn't looked at in a long time -- original 1920s historic construction photos from the mid-1920s when Pasadena City Hall was being built.

There are about 200 of them in all, so I'll show you just a few.

The blank canvas:



"Dig" the steam shovel:



Dome in progress:



Taking a break:



Stairwell in the making:



Dome in progress II:



Dome in progress III:



Two also-ran designs: