Fire Destroys Historic 1886 Alhambra Home

On August 9, 2010 a fire of unknown origin destroyed one of Alhambra’s oldest homes, an 1886 Victorian located at 18 Elgin Street. Tucked away on a small street, northeast of the busy intersection of Garfield and Main, many Alhambrans may have never even noticed the home. Still, this two-story residence has sheltered several families and witnessed many changes in its one hundred twenty four-year history.

Alhambra was a sleepy little hamlet of barely one thousand people just before the turn-of-the-century, but it boasted an elegant Victorian hotel at the northwest corner of Garfield Boulevard and Main Street that housed the town’s only post office and a popular restaurant named Tilley’s. More than a century later, the intersection of Garfield and Main remains a center of commerce, and is now home to the Renaissance Theater Complex, as well as multiple retail and dining establishments.

In the 1880s, most of Alhambra’s residents lived in Victorian homes and farmhouses, similar to the one on Elgin Street. Few of these examples still remain. The turn of the 20th Century saw the emergence of the Arts and Crafts style and the simple Craftsman bungalow. The 1920s and 30s brought to Alhambra the revival of many architectural types including Tudor, Colonial, Dutch Colonial Spanish Colonial, and dozens of variations in between. Following World War II, during a period of rapid home construction, the Ranch style and Mid-Century Modern were frequently represented. Excellent examples of each of these diverse architectural styles can still be found throughout Alhambra’s residential neighborhoods.

The house on Elgin Street was home to many families through more than twelve decades. Most of them came to make a new start in Southern California, seeking a better life in a sunny climate. For these families, the growing community of Alhambra was the perfect choice. Charles and Amanda Brink lived in this home in the Roaring 1920s. Originally from Canada, Charles Brink immigrated to America in 1865. Amanda was a midwestern gal from Iowa. Together they made their way to Alhambra, where Charles was employed as a carpenter.

Other early residents of this home were Dean and Natalie Stewart who lived here during the Great Depression of the 1930’s. Originally from the Midwestern U.S., the Stewarts came to California by way of Texas and lived in Alhambra with their three young children, Allen, Jeanne and Charles. Dean worked as a bank teller while Natalie gave private piano lessons to local children. We can imagine that, during those difficult and challenging economic times, the home on Elgin Street was filled with sweet music.

The destruction by fire of the home at 18 Elgin Street was a loss to the community of Alhambra’s historic architecture and a reminder to be thankful for the examples that still remain. Drive, walk or cycle through Alhambra one day soon and appreciate the many architectural styles that are represented in its neighborhoods. These homes have important stories to tell about the history and development of our community.

Alhambra's own Norman Rockwell may very well have used one of the local soda fountain shops as a background as in this painting.

Soda Fountain Memories From Other Alhambrans