On Easter Sunday in 1895 (124 years ago this week), South Pasadena’s Raymond hotel went up in flames. It was the most massive single-structure fire in San Gabriel Valley history.
The “spark” that ignited the resort hotel was a glowing ember from one of its two dozen chimneys. The enormous amount of lumber used to build The Raymond became the fuel that unleashed a hellfire blaze unmatched to this day.
Fortunately, there was no loss of life.
Before and After Images
Note: Before and after photos above are from the point of view near the Oaklawn Bridge and War Memorial Building (today).
The Raymond hotel photo above was taken by A.C. Vromans who was coming up from the Arroyo Seco with camera equipment in his carriage. He pulled his carriage alongside Columbia Street in South Pasadena and began taking a series of spectacular photographs of the “Royal Raymond” engulfed in flames and shrouded by smoke.
Firestorm!
A closer view shows guests standing with their belongings gazing at the enormous blaze.
The devastation was total. Only a couple of chimneys were left standing. Ironically the spark that ignited The Raymond was a glowing ember from one of the two dozen chimney stacks. Now, these blacken brick columns stand as eerie reminders of the cause of the devastation.
The newly outfitted Pasadena Fire Department was woefully ill-equipped to battle the all-consuming intensity of The Raymond hotel blaze. The fully-trained professional firefighters were no match for the largest single structure fire in Pasadena history.
The City of South Pasadena with Raymond Hill in the background (without the iconic hotel on Raymond Hill) was taken shortly after the fire. Notice that our city had become a thriving citrus growing community.
Walter Raymond recovered some insurance money from the fire but not enough to rebuild the hotel. Instead, Raymond built a pavilion over the original hotel site and invited the public to enjoy the grand views of the mountains and the surrounding orchards and quaint city of South Pasadena. The hilltop had once again become a meeting place where dancing, food, and drink were plentiful.
Note: Walter Raymond refused to give up his dream. In 1901, he built a new hotel from the ground up with a generous loan from his friend R.T. Crane who was a frequent guest of the hotel.
Throwback Thursday is written and produced by Rick Thomas
