On February 22, 1913, the Holmes-Walton real estate agency hosted a huge barbecue to promote its new community of Montrose. It had purchased 250 acres of mostly sage brush in the foothills north of Glendale and held a contest to name the development.
Or was this contest just a stunt? No matter where the name Montrose came from Holmes-Walton thoroughly embraced the mountain rose theme, laying out the streets in the fanciful pattern of a rose with the planned town center at the heart of the flower.
The construction of the 210 freeway in the 1960s pruned off the top of the rose, but the remaining curved roads still confuse drivers today. Though the town center formed two blocks south of the intended location, Montrose has as much heart and remains as charming today as when it blossomed 100 years ago.
100% of the author royalties go to the Historical Society of the Crescenta Valley so that it can continue to offer special events to the community and help preserve the history of the valley.
Highlights of Montrose include:
• Contains the first published view in over 100 years of the ad announcing the contest that resulted in naming the new community Montrose.
• Offers over 225 photos and graphic images from many different sources including the Glendale Library Special Collections, historic postcards, and private collections.
Available at area bookstores, independent retailers, and online retailers, or through Arcadia Publishing at (888)-313-2665 or online.
Arcadia Publishing is the leading publisher of local and regional history in the United States. Our mission is to make history accessible and meaningful through the publication of books on the heritage of America’s people and places. Have we done a book on your town? Visit www.arcadiapublishing.com.
