How did Garfield Heights get its name?
While there is no conclusive evidence as to the origin of the name of our neighborhood, research in conjunction with the Pasadena Museum of History and the Pasadena Public Library has gleaned several interesting tidbits:
Maps show that southern parts of Garfield Avenue today used to be Adella and Worcester, at least till 1898. Dr. Hiram Reid gives a history of street names in his book “History of Pasadena.” Adella Street was named by Mr. A. Ninde in 1886 who named it after his daughter; the same year Worcester Avenue was opened by E. L. Farris who named after his wife's birthplace in Massachusetts. No documentation was found as to why the names were changed to Garfield Avenue.
The street name of Garfield existed prior to 1904, before the subdivision was created. According to Sanborn Insurance maps, it was named sometime between 1894 and 1903. Garfield Avenue is a boundary for the tract, so it is likely the existing street name was the impetus for naming of the neighborhood.
U.S. President James A. Garfield was assassinated in 1881; and the educated guess is that the street was named for the late President. There used to be a school at California and Pasadena Avenue (now Orangewood Plaza Shopping Center) which started as California Street School in 1888 and was renamed James A. Garfield Elementary School in 1890. In 1904, Garfield’s widow, Lucretia, bought a house in South Pasadena (designed by Greene and Greene). That same year the Block R tract was named Garfield Heights and annexed to the City of Pasadena. The supposition is that Lucretia’s arrival in the area may have precipitated a bit of “Garfield revival;” and Garfield Heights (which already had Garfield Avenue running through it) may have been named in the former President’s honor. No proof, but a guess based on what was going on at the time.
The street name of Garfield existed prior to 1904, before the subdivision was created. According to Sanborn Insurance maps, it was named sometime between 1894 and 1903. Garfield Avenue is a boundary for the tract, so it is likely the existing street name was the impetus for naming of the neighborhood.
U.S. President James A. Garfield was assassinated in 1881; and the educated guess is that the street was named for the late President. There used to be a school at California and Pasadena Avenue (now Orangewood Plaza Shopping Center) which started as California Street School in 1888 and was renamed James A. Garfield Elementary School in 1890. In 1904, Garfield’s widow, Lucretia, bought a house in South Pasadena (designed by Greene and Greene). That same year the Block R tract was named Garfield Heights and annexed to the City of Pasadena. The supposition is that Lucretia’s arrival in the area may have precipitated a bit of “Garfield revival;” and Garfield Heights (which already had Garfield Avenue running through it) may have been named in the former President’s honor. No proof, but a guess based on what was going on at the time.
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The Pasadena Public Library was able to provide us with two historic images from the Pasadena Evening Star (the local newspaper), which gave us a glimpse into the founding of our neighborhood. The first article, dated November 25, 1904, actually shows a map of the first 100 lots offered for sale in the new neighborhood, which was bounded by Mountain Avenue, Marengo Avenue, Garfield Avenue and Roberts Street (which is now Hammond Street). |
Pasadena Evening Star – November 25, 1904.
(image courtesy of Pasadena Public Library) |
Pasadena Evening Star – December 8, 1904
(image courtesy of Pasadena Public Library) |
The second article, dated December 8, 1904, exclaims how quickly lots have been selling in the new subdivision and talks about the infrastructure improvements being made. While we may never know the story behind the naming of Garfield Heights, we are thrilled to have these images that give us a window into the history of our neighborhood. Many thanks to Anuja Navare, Archivist at the Pasadena Museum of History; and Nick Smith and Dan McLaughlin, Research Librarians at the Pasadena Public Library, for helping us to gain insight into our local history. |