100 Years of 'Leven Oaks

During 1911, the citizens of Monrovia were looking to build a hotel “…attractive and yet not too large to be supported by this community," according to the paper of record back then--the Monrovia Daily News. 

It was generally acknowledged that visitors were unable to readily find accommodations, and a new hotel would allow visitors to spend time in the city and eventually, it was hoped, take up permanent residence. Up stepped Louis B. Vollmer who offered to sell 50 lots of the Loftus-Vollmer tract, located between Lime and Palm Avenues just east of Violet Avenue.

The proceeds of this lot sale would exclusively be used to build a hotel of approximately 34 units on four lots of land with a 200 foot frontage on Myrtle Avenue near White Oak (Foothill).  The plans called for a building in the shape of the letter “U” with a plaza occupying the space between the two wings.

It took only a month to sell 48 lots to raise most of the $40,000 needed for the hotel’s construction. Among those purchasing a lot were Dr. F. M. Pottenger (founder of the Pottenger Sanitorium), the Tifal Brothers (well-known local architects and builders), and John D. Bicknell, one of the founders of Monrovia.  The hotel lot sale was completed by March 28, 1911, and construction of the two story building was begun on May 25, 1911. 

Several large oak trees were located on the property, and they were to be left undisturbed (some of them remain to this day). Originally, the hotel was referred to as the Vollmer Hotel, but that name was later changed to the 'Leven Oaks Hotel--reportedly because of the eleven oak trees on the property.

Architects Eager and Eager drew up the plans for the new tourist hotel, designing it along the lines of Swiss architecture and attempting to have it harmonize with the locality. The hope was that the hotel would open by November 20, when winter tourists would begin to return. But opening night did not occur until December 11, when the town celebrated with over 500 guests on hand to mark the occasion.

Current owner Lisa Magno, only the fifth owner of the hotel, purchased 'Leven Oaks in December, 1984. At that point, the hotel had a somewhat disreputable character, and following her desire to provide safe and affordable senior housing, she turned it into a room and board facility for seniors. In 2000, it became a fully licensed facility for assisted and independent living, and it remains so today (at that point the word “hotel” was dropped from the name, per state regulations).  Currently, there are 36 residents.

In honor of its 100^th anniversary in Monrovia, 'Leven Oaks will be one of the buildings open for viewing on the MOHPG Mother’s Day Home Tour on Sunday, May 8, 2011.  Visitors will be able to view the interior and grounds of this updated facility which provides senior accommodations in a historic setting. 

Complete information and ticket prices for the tour can be found by logging onto www.mohpg.org.

A special thanks to 'Leven Oaks owner Lisa Magno for sharing information about her association with the facility.