South Pasadena is a far cry from a gated community. Okay, there's that one weird fortress of a neighborhood near the high school. (I confess, I've never explored it. Could I even manage to sneak in without a passcode?) But the rest of the city is beautifully accessible. That doesn't mean there aren't some mighty fine gates to admire and, in my case, photograph for all of you.
Here is one of the two historic Oaklawn portal gates. (You can read about the portals and see a wider shot here, and find out even more about the entire Oaklawn neighborhood here.)
Join me this week I take a look at some of South Pasadena's interesting and photogenic gates.
17 comments:
I love the sound they make as they creak open and closed. This is like I'm about to go through a portal to another time.
The "weird fortress" used to be a mental hospital, I think, called Braemoor. I actually met a guy who's mother was a patient there. After Braemoor was torn down, they built several high-end homes there and made it a gated community. I have no idea if this is true but my theory is this: This was in the path of the proposed 710 freeway, I believe, and the high-end homes would add many millions of dollars to Cal Trans' cost of securing the land. Not sure if this was part of a plan by the city, but I always liked the idea.
Mister Earl, you always seem to have the most interesting facts to share here with us. Love that. I think it's interesting to see who feels like they need gates on their property. I do know people who put up a gate on their emotions, and literally have gates on their homes. I don't think that is a coincidence. And yes, I do remember some very beautiful gates in South Pas so this should be interesting.
... great photo to launch a great interesting series! Thank you :) Love the hidden histories of gates ...
Yesterday morning.....my thoughts went straight to you and your blog..... with all the interesting cars etc...
Do take a look. Stavangerdailyphoto.com
I look forward to see more gates, and will be back soon.
"called Braemoor"
I thought it was called "Braewood".
That was a spooky place. Kind of isolated. My school pals made tons bad jokes about it. I never paid it any mind.
Now it's a gated community? Oh my.
I remember a walking path kids took from the high school or where ever to get to the tract subdivisions in the Monterey Hills.
Can't remember if it was all that close to Braewood. I have a vague recollection of being able to at least glimpse the place from that path.
Arguing Guy: You might be right. I won't argue with you, although that might disappoint you!
Here's the scoop: http://www.hospital-data.com/hospitals/BRAEWOOD-CONVALESCENT-HOSPITAL-SOUTH714.html
It was called Braewood. It was a convalescent hospital, but it did have mental health facilities.
I love you guys! It's so great to keep learning things about our community. I have never heard of the hospital. I thought I was beyond getting surprised by South Pas history since I have read so much about it.
Gunn, I should visit your wonderful blog more often! Everyone, head over and check it out.
One of the No 710 scholars informed me that although Caltrans was very unhappy with the development at Braewood because of the increased amount it would cost them to buy the properties, it was not part of a plan by the city to block the freeway.
I've always liked these gates!!!
These gates were designed by Greene and Greene for the Oaklawn subdivision. They also design the bridge from Oaklawn to Fair Oaks that is now closed to cars.
That pathway to Monterey Hills was called the snake trail. Cutting right passed The old Breawood. There was always a lot of talk about the 4th floor as being the mental ward filled with crazys, and later ghosts. That was in the 70s.
My grandmother was in Braewood in 1976.
I worked as a nurse's aide at the old Braewood Sanitarium during the memorable summer of 1968 (between my sophomore & junior year of university) while living w/friends on Diamond Ave., near the HS. Each floor of Braewood had a different level of care, with the top floor being what would today be called an Alzheimer's unit. There were memorable characters, both as patients and staff, and tho' it wasn't an experience I was anxious to repeat, I wouldn't trade it for the world. I live in IN and was curious about the history of Braewood, if it still existed, and in my search, found this site. Thank you!
Braewood Convalescent was where the first movie cowboy star, Gilbert “Broncho Billy” Anderson, passed away in 1971. From the looks of things, I think the hospital was demolished and a gated community took its place. There is a Braewood Court running through the middle of it.
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