Adventure 051, Site 154 – Old Mill

Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 051, Site 154 – Old Mill

California Landmark Number: 302

National Registry ID: 1971000154

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  October 6, 2012

Location:

Latitude: N 34° 07.112

Longitude: W 118° 07.661

Address: 1120 Old Mill Rd, San Marino

Description:

Date Built: 1823

Architect: Father José María Zalvidea

In a very nice part of San Marino—everything which I have seen in San Marino is nice—we find the the landmark sign for the Old Mill. It is now the California Art Club. We walk up the driveway, as there is a sign saying limited parking and no turn around. The Old Mill is behind an adobe wall with a locked gate. The Art Museum does not open for another three hours. So we have to be content with the shade of some broadleaf trees and looking over the wall before retreating back to the car.

NO. 302 OLD MILL - The Old Mill, El Molino Viejo, was designed by Father José María Zalvidea and built of fired bricks and adobe about 1816 to serve Mission San Gabriel. Another grist mill was built in 1823 near the mission and the old mill was gradually abandoned - it passed from mission control in 1846. The property remained in private hands until 1903, when Henry E. Huntington bought the building and used it for a golf clubhouse. Later owners, Mr. and Mrs. James Brehm, had the mill restored in 1928 by Frederick Rupple.
Location: 1120 Old Mill Rd, San Marino



From the NRHP:
In designing the mill, Father Zalvidea pioneered the use a horizontals direct impulse waterwheel. Built by Mission Indians under the supervision of the Majordomo, the mill was finished about l8l6 in the Spanish tradition. Cement and lime were locally made. The thick lower walls and foundations are. of quarried volcanic stones arid are strengthened by corner buttresses. The upper walls,3' thick, and the arched water chambers are of fired, hand -made adobe brick. The tile roof is supported by a wood frame structure.






References:

• Wikipedia
  
• National Registry of Historical Places-Documents and Photos
  
• Waymarking
  
• Old Mill Web Site
  

Overall Landmark References:

• David Schmitt's California State Historical Landmark (Schmitt)
  
• Wikipedia: California's National Landmarks (WCNL)
  
• State of California's California Historical Landmarks (CHL)
  
• Wikipedia: California State Landmarks (WCSL)
  
• State of California Historical Resources (CHR)
  
• National Registry of Historical Places (NRHP)
  
• WayMarking (WAY)