Madison Heights Neighborhood Association

History

The neighborhood was laid out in the 19th century, and the oldest house still standing dates from 1890. Some of the origins of our street names go back to this era. The most prominent is El Molino Avenue, named for Col. E. J. C. Kewen’s El Molino Ranch with its “old mill of the padres.”

Euclid Avenue was opened in 1885 by C. M. Skellen who took the name from Euclid Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio. Glenarm Street was named by Thomas Banbury after his wife’s hometown in Canada. Los Robles Avenue was named after Governor George Stoneman’s ranch which was at the southern extremity of the road. Oakland Avenue originally did not extend south of California. It was named after the City of Oakland and the street was also lined with oak trees. The section of the street in Madison Heights was originally called Eastern Avenue.

The original “Madison Avenue Heights” subdivision consisting of 63 lots was opened in July, 1906. Lots were priced from $1,500 and carried a stipulation that homes to be built should cost at least $3,000.

The Madison Heights neighborhood was largely developed between 1910 and 1917. It consisted of family homes of professional people. A number of architects and contractors who worked in the neighborhood also lived here. Many early residents subdivided their lots to build homes for their grown children. To this day, it's common for multiple generations of a family to own separate homes in the neighborhood.

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Boundaries

Madison Heights Neighborhood Association is located in the City of Pasadena, in the County of Los Angeles, in the State of California. The MHNA boundaries are Lake, El Molino and Los Robles Avenues to the east and south, Marengo Avenue to the west and California Boulevard to the north - more than 1,400 proud residents.