Arcadia Historical Society

Wine & cheese tasting draws crowd

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The Arcadia Historical Society’s opening event of 2020 was a big hit, with a standing-room-only crowd enjoying fine wine and cheeses donated by the Trader Joe's store in Monrovia. On Friday, Jan. 24, the Floretta K. Lauber Education Center was alive with old friends and new ideas, as Ed Andersen presented "The Future of Arcadia History" on the big screen. The highlight of the evening was a short video of historian Carol Libby giving a history lesson on the early days of … [Read more...]

How the Arcadia Bulletin came to be

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The Arcadia Historical Society has revived the name of the city's first newspaper for its quarterly membership newsletter. Here is an article about the original Arcadia Bulletin: Arcadia was incorporated in 1903, with Elias J. "Lucky" Baldwin elected its first mayor. The city Board of Trustees was handpicked by Baldwin and was composed entirely of reliable business associates and daughter Anita’s husband, Hull McClaughry. Getting the Los Angeles County Board of … [Read more...]

Crime story and an elegant dinner

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In the spring of 1934, a kidnapping in Arcadia made national headlines. William Gettle, a local millionaire, hosted a grand party to celebrate the improvements he had made on the Clara Baldwin Stocker estate. During the festivities, Gettle was kidnapped by two armed men. Authorities set up road blocks to prevent a "clean getaway." What happened in this real-life crime drama? Get the inside story at the The Arcadia Historical Society's "elegant dinner and … [Read more...]

Baldwin Lake gets historical marker

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The Baldwin Lake marker is the latest addition to the History Lives Here series. Dedicated Sept. 13, the marker stands along the roadside on the east side of Baldwin Lake, directly across from the Queen Anne Cottage. Richard Schulhof, CEO of the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, said people "will be standing in line" to read the Baldwin Lake marker and learn the history of this unique place. At the dedication ceremony, Arcadia Mayor Pro-Tem April Verlato … [Read more...]