Inside the Zerell House

The Monrovia property titled the "Ocean View Tract" went up for sale in September 1887. 

Purchasing a lot in the tract was S.R. Palmer, deemed by the Monrovia Planet just a month earlier as one of Monrovia’s most eligible bachelors. He was identified as one of the first settlers of Monrovia, and it was said that he had plans "ready for a very fine house, which will be built as soon as the bird is caught.”

By “bird,” the newspaper was of course referring to a potential mate. 

He must have been successful, since the following year he built a modest Victorian home at the site, today located just south of the water reservoir at 336 N. Ivy Ave. Palmer lived there for just eight years, selling the house to Mrs. W. Bushnell, who then sold it to Herman Zerell in 1900. The house remained in the Zerell family for over 85 years.

Herman Zerell, who was born in Germany, came to Monrovia in 1886, opening a bakery on Myrtle Avenue the following year. When Herman died in 1944, his daughter Mary Alice continued to live in the house until 1987. 

Interestingly, the current owners had lived across the street for 10 years and were beginning to look for a larger home to accommodate their growing family. Because they had known Mary very well and had helped her with chores around the house, the heirs felt that they would be the perfect fit to occupy and care for the Zerell family house.

Like many other Victorian houses of the time, the house had no original indoor plumbing. It wasn’t until sometime around 1910 to 1920 that one bathroom was added downstairs. When the current owners purchased the house they made a sensitive addition to the back of the house, enlarging it to four bedrooms and two bathrooms to provide the room for their six children.

A lucky few visitors have been treated to the charm of the interior of the house. It has been on the twice, in 1987 and in 1994. And for the last 15 years or so, third graders from have toured the house as part of their yearly research .

Dorothy Zerell Jefferson, whose grandfather was Herman Zerell and who grew up in Monrovia, fondly remembers her Sunday visits to the Ivy house. 

As she recalls, “Some days I would read a book, and then there were times when I was restless and wanted to gain attention. The doorbell at the front door was made like a key in a round ball. If you turned the key, it would cause a bell to ring. I liked to do this and then run away. It was very annoying to the grownups.”

She remembers that the men would sometimes play horseshoes, but mostly they got into long and loud political arguments. Evidently, things have not changed much over the years!

A special thanks to the current owners Kent and Sue Cornwall, Monrovia City Historian , and Dorothy Zerell Jefferson for their contributions in compiling the history of this house.