Tag Archives: Riverside

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The Past Opened

Photo by isabel garger on Unsplash

Once a year Riverside celebrates it’s beautiful historic architecture with the Doors Open event. It’s an alluring evening for those who love history, architecture, mystery and all things beautiful. The doors to Riverside’s most iconic buildings are opened to the public with free tours that are gateways to Riverside’s illustrious past. Few today know that Riverside was once the wealthiest city per capita in the United States and that statesman, land developers and a who’s who of the gilded age flocked to Riverside for business, respite and entertainment.

The architecture of Riverside is eclectic and much of it was created by illustrious and famous architects. There are buildings that were designed by Myron Hunt, Julia Morgan, Arthur Benton, G. Stanley Wilson, Peter Weber and many others.

I love volunteering for this event. It’s a fast paced, fun and exciting night. It’s usually in the middle of the week, after work and school. Even though it’s at a very busy time, people come from far and wide to experience the beauty of old Riverside. It’s starts at six in the evening when the tours begin. The tours are usually short in duration and present the historical and architectural highlights of the building. There are approximately 20 buildings to see, so it’s a race to see how many you can actually tour within the allotted four hours the buildings are open.

The best part is meeting the people that have journied to see these fabled buildings. I’ve met so many wonderful and interesting people from all walks of life that love history just as much as I do and are fascinated by architecture. Many of the guests recount personal stories that took place in the buildings. Stories that have been passed down through generations in their families. People also come to see the buildings they have passed by for years and wondered what was in it and who created it; coming to satisfy their curiosity.

Photo by Christian Fregnan on Unsplash

The grand dame of the night is The Mission Inn Hotel, created by Frank Miller in 1903 and finished in 1931. A magical wonderland of architectural styles from all over the world. Frank Miller loved the people of the world and devoted his life to promoting peace and building a beautiful community. His legacy is the Mission Inn and speaks for itself. During Doors Open a mini tour is provided that gives a good overview of Frank Miller’s vision and a primer of the varied architectural styles gleaned from around the world. It’s a teaser for a 75 minute tour that is presented seven days a week by the dedicated Mission Inn Foundation for a nominal fee.

The Doors Open event, held every May, is just one of the wonderful events held annually in the Inland Empire and makes the I.E. such a fantastic place to live.

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Salvage

Photo by Nathan Anderson on Unsplash




I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to attend the Redlands Historical Glass Museum auction some weeks ago. I wandered through the coolness of the host’s dark, ancient house. The air was calm, but gently stirred by the other guests attending the function.  We all moved quietly and carefully, navigating spaces between ancient furnishings, books and each other.  Long tables were set out with small delicate glass dishes that sparkled and caught the faint rays of light permeating the room. Beautiful antique furniture, carved carefully and with love, stood sturdily and elegantly in their places.  The dark wood glowing and emanating a warm and earthy smell with hints of oil and polish.  The walls reached upward toward lofty ceilings coated with glossy dark paint, the color of an overripe strawberry.  I gazed upward at the vaulted ceilings coated with ancient plaster. Small rivulets of cracks twisted indiscriminately across the palette of plaster. I knew the air was cooler up there, because I could feel it circling softly around my head.  Burnished mirrors hung strategically around the room to reflect  light that managed to make a path into the dim room. This was salvage.  Preservation.

When I moved into my old house over a decade ago, I was entranced by the thought of waking up everyday surrounded by old wood, wavy glass, carved molding and soft wood floors. The essence of many lives lived, were within the walls and permeated the old structure.  The home had been well cared for and loved and that’s why she stood so solid and still as the decades past.  Her joints and fittings holding strong and true.  Her foundation rising  rock solid from the old farming dirt she stood upon.  She had been cared for well.  This was preservation.

Part of preservation is salvaging.  It’s hard to find new parts for old houses of the same quality from hundreds of years ago.    If you get into the process, it’s important to connect with resources and delve into it.  Preservationists are a unique breed.  They usually love history and everything left that’s still tangible and connected with it.  Every part is valuable, even old nails, fittings and broken tile.  You never know where that odd piece might fit.  To connect with another likeminded salvager is a joy. To know another person that understands the joy of finding that perfect piece or working on something until it becomes just what you need to complete a project.   Salvagers often pass pieces back and forth just for the joy of sharing a find or finding it a safe home.

It’s not easy work.  Old house parts are musty, dirty and old chemicals often cling to the pieces.  The parts of an old house are put together so well that it’s difficult to wrench pieces free.  Besides using brute strength, you have to use grace and coordination to make sure you twist and pull just so, or the piece maybe fatally deranged beyond repair. You must pry and  tap with just the right amount of pressure as not to leave marks in  old wood grain or on old metal pieces. Why do it?  Why expose yourself to hot old houses caked in grime and toxic chemicals from the past?  Because beneath it all lies the treasure and a legacy.  A legacy of craftsmanship that stemmed from people being proud of their trade and working hard in every sense of the word. Craftsman, who worked with their hands and crude tools to create beautiful and incomparable pieces of a caliber that is little seen today.




Among my travels perusing the various local events that offered to lovers of history  I ended up at the Peter Weber House in Riverside the other day. I had some vintage light fixtures I’d found abandoned in my alley and thought they may come of use to  a local restorer. The Old Riverside Foundation manages the salvage program there;  they  have a great collection of salvage and I needed a front door too.  The Weber house is a work of art and a fine example of old world craftsmanship.  Weber, a local architect; who built his home from scratch in the 1930’s, created artful patterns using brick and carved wood.  Every inch of the house, from floor to ceiling has a creative flair. Many of the designs are Moorish in origin and inspired by his travels abroad.  He brought back a treasure trove of design inspiration which he incorporated into his home. Stars carved into wooden panels,  painted turquoise, coral and green, punctuated the panels in strategic locations.   It’s a tiny home, but completely magical in form. As I walked through the home, inspiration hit me and I tried to picture myself carving intricate wood paneling and placing brick in unique patterns to build my walls. Luckily, I had the morning free to daydream and take my time walking through the home.    On the way out, I picked up a really cool bumper sticker for a dollar to help save the Riverside Chinatown archaeological site.  This was a perfect morning to me, this was preservation.




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Drive of The Artists


Photo by Rob Morton on Unsplash




Being a field nurse definitely has it’s perks. Especially if you enjoy getting out and seeing the sights and the land where you live. The other day I had an appointment  out in the East Valley beyond Moreno Valley and decided to take the back roads from Corona. This means taking Old Temescal Canyon Road to Cajalco Road and then heading up towards Lake Mathews and then traversing along  a two lane highway that passes Perris and then feeds into the East Valleys. The best part of this drive is when you reach the top. The air is cleaner and cooler up there and the sky a clear, happy shade of blue. Hawks and assorted birds are abundant. The view is spectacular. On a clear day, Mount Baldy is magnified and visible. Defining characteristics are easily made out. The cities of Chino, Ontario and Rancho Cucamonga sprawl before the mountain base and street grids lay like a tattoo against the valley floor.

Back in the 80s the Inland Empire was still a sleepy and slower kind of place. Downtown Riverside was filled with antique and thrift stores throughout the historic downtown. It was a treasure trove of history. Historic buildings remained untouched by progress. Many without plumbing to the upper floors. The shops were jam packed with vintage dating back to the 1800’s.  The Mission Inn, the historic gathering place of auspicious city fathers and visiting presidents,  was struggling to arise to it’s former glory. The Inn rested, waited and hosted the public in the truest sense of the word. A restoration and fight to preserve the unique national landmark was underway.




The shops were filled with old paintings that depicted the landscapes and vistas of the Inland Empire. a consistent theme was one of the mountains and valleys in varying shades of dusky blue with a hazy purple and pink sky. I always thought these artists had  great imaginations and were embellishing what they saw. Now having lived in the area for more than 30 years; I realize I was wrong. At certain times of day the landscapes do become an assortment of dusky shades and of blue and green and the skies morph into a purple and pink haze.  It’s absolutely stunning and moves the soul. These views beckon the past often depicted in old cowboy novels and a past that is not really that far away. Riverside had managed to stay lightly developed until just recently due to it’s distance from Los Angeles. I love that these paintings appear to embellish and veer off into fantasy, but are in fact a realistic interpretation of how the valleys and mountains appear here.

These lands are the high desert.  Sometimes receiving water and sometimes not.  More than a hundred years ago, brave men and women came to seek a new life, better health and opportunity in this harsh, but forgiving landscape. Leaving cold and crowded cities for the sun and room to grow.  The air was dry and clean and the land unspoiled by industry and harsh chemicals. It was a place to start new and become great if you wanted to.  If you worked hard enough, success was yours.  The climate was warm compared to the frigid climate of the East.  Muscles and tendons relaxed and the lungs opened.  It was relief not to have to fight off the cold. The energy freed from the burden of fighting against the elements was directed into new and exciting adventures.




Moving across the ridge, I drive through countryside dotted with small developments. It’s scrubby and green at the same time and birds soar overhead relishing in the clean, clear currents. As I drive, I wonder how long these areas will remain fairly unspoiled and host this relaxing drive. I  quickly remind myself to stay present and appreciate this. This is the best gift that anyone could receive and it’s ongoing and there for the taking.