Altadena Revealed Lecture Series - Itinerant Craftsman: Lessons from the Duntley-Blackburn Residence
In 1910 a grand Craftsman-style home was built for realtor G.M. Duntley. By 2025 the building was slated for demolition, but was ultimately saved and relocated from Los Feliz to a fire-ravaged plot in Altadena. The house had been saved once before, by owner Alice Blackburn who threw a huge party in the house the night it moved from East Hollywood to make way for the Hollywood Freeway. Although the party was unusual, at the time it was common practice to transport and reuse threatened buildings. It's time to revive this building relocation tradition at scale — a process that will require revised historic ordinances, streamlined permitting, and regular coordination among local governments.
Graham Larkin lives in a home that narrowly escaped the Eaton Fire. At various times he has been a curator, a professor, and a leading advocate for liveable streets. A member of the Altadena Village collective, he now works mainly as an architectural historian, focused on the preservation of historic homes and neighborhoods. Like his hero Jane Jacobs, he is intrigued by the organized complexity of communities that haven't been stifled by top-down "expert" planning. For more information, see: www.grahamlarkin.com
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The Foothill Catalog Foundation is happy to present a monthly lecture series and social hour in collaboration with Pasadena Heritage, Altadena Heritage, Bungalow Heaven Landmark District, and the Altadena Historical Society, hosted by Altadena Libraries. Through this series, we aim to highlight the unique history and diversity of our community. There are many stories to tell, so you can look forward to hearing from experts and community members alike. Whether you are a local looking to learn something new about your neighborhood or a building professional interested in contributing to the rebuild efforts, this series is for you. Truly, it's for all of us - to gather together and celebrate what makes this place special. We hope to see you there!
A $10 suggested donation is requested with your registration. All event proceeds will support the mission of The Foothill Catalog Foundation and allows us to continue hosting the Altadena Revealed lecture series monthly!
Thank you to our food and beverage sponsor.