Ninety-three years ago, when the subdivision of present-day Montrose took place, the original developers, Holmes and Walton, held a contest to name the new 300-acre tract.
The name "Montrose," suggested by a resident in honor of a town in his home state of Pennsylvania, was chosen because it appealed to the many rose fanciers in the area and because of the popular novel "Legend of Montrose," by Sir Walter Scott.
The original land office (the first building on this new tract) was located approximately on the site where Verdugo Liquors exists today, with the intention that Montrose Avenue would be the main business district.
This plan did not materialize, however, and by the 1920s, a two-block business district had grown up along Honolulu Avenue, foreshadowing the opening of the Montrose Shopping Park.
Today, along shady, tree-lined streets, Montrose is more the center of life in the foothills than ever before, with 245 independently owned stores offering high-quality gifts, retail merchandise, men's, women's and children's apparel as well as art galleries, antique shops, dance studios, service businesses of every imaginable type and restaurants, cafes and bakeries with outside dining, serving up everything from baguettes and burritos to sushi and spareribs.
The Montrose 93rd birthday celebration will feature Gremoli New Orleans Jazz Band, the San Gabriel Seven Jazz Ensemble, an old-time photo exhibit from the archives of the late Montrose Founders Award Winner Jay Drayman, a nine-tier birthday cake representing nine decades since the founding of Montrose, presentations, public speakers and the honoring of Montrose business pioneers.
Among those being honored this year are Mayor Rafi Manoukian, Glendale city staff members Roubick Golanian and Henry Abrari, as well as civic leaders Joe Kroening, Jon Planovsky and former Postmaster Robert Thompson.
The event will be lin the 2200 block of Honolulu Avenue from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. with award presentations from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Please join us for the food, rides and family fun.
