La Crescenta-Montrose in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

St. Luke’s of the Mountains

Photographed by Craig Baker

1. St. Luke’s of the Mountains Marker

Inscription. The chimes in this church, St. Luke's of the Mountains of La Crescenta, California, were presented by Mr. and Mrs. Robert Watchorn in memory of their beloved son Lieutenant Emory Ewart Watchorn, 1926.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Religion & Religious Structures • War, World I. A significant historical year for this entry is 1926.

Location. 34° 13.281′ N, 118° 14.088′ W. Marker is in La Crescenta-Montrose, California, in Los Angeles County. It is at the intersection of Foothill Boulevard and Rosemont Avenue, on the right when traveling west on Foothill Boulevard. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2563 Foothill Blvd, La Crescenta CA 91214, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s The Valley — the San Fernando Valley,

in Greater Los Angeles,

and in the Transverse Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically,

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it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Theodore Pickens & Benjamin Briggs (approx. ¼ mile away); The Bell of La Crescenta Elementary School (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Great Flood of 1934 (approx. half a mile away); Bonetto House (approx. half a mile away); Paul McCarton (approx. 0.9 miles away); Montrose Shopping Park Redevelopment (approx. one mile away); Montrose Shopping Park Association (approx. one mile away); Hollywood Location (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in La Crescenta-Montrose.

More about this marker. Lieutenant Watchorn died of tuberculosis contracted while fighting in World War I.

Regarding St. Luke’s of the Mountains. In 1923, artist Seymour Thomas looked at a vacant stretch of land in the Crescenta Valley and envisioned a stone church, one that would look like the rocky hillside community in which it would be built. His vision became a painting, and the painting became a plan. Men, women, and children collected stones that

Cornerstone - 1924 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, April 30, 2022

2. Cornerstone - 1924

would become St. Luke’s of the Mountains.

By 1949, the congregation required a larger space to worship, with a parish hall where the community could meet. Again, Seymour Thomas painted a vision. Again, the call went out for stones, and people gathered to collect them.

By the 1950s, St. Luke’s acquired the old County Fire Station No. 19 adjacent to the church that would later become the Fire House youth center.

St. Luke’s of the Mountains and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, April 30, 2022

3. St. Luke’s of the Mountains and Marker

Original Design - 1923 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, April 30, 2022

4. Original Design - 1923

This oil painting was used as the church design.

Expanded Design - 1949 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker, April 30, 2022

5. Expanded Design - 1949

Oil painting used for church expansion.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 21, 2022, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 682 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 21, 2022, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.