Monrovia in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
The Oaks
Photographed By Craig Baker, May 7, 2023
1. The Oaks Marker
The Oaks, c.1885, has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior.
City of Monrovia Historic Landmark No. 4, home of founder Wm. N. Monroe - "The Oaks"- 1885.
Erected by United States Department of the Interior, and City of Monrovia. (Marker Number 4.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1885.
Location. 34° 9.362′ N, 118° 0.181′ W. Marker is in Monrovia, California, in Los Angeles County. Marker is at the intersection of Primrose Avenue and Monroe Place, on the right when traveling north on Primrose Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 250 N Primrose Ave, Monrovia CA 91016, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Upton Sinclair House (approx. 0.4 miles away); Neville Building (approx. 0.6 miles away); Monrovia Savings Bank Building (approx. 0.6 miles away); The Banning Block (approx. 0.7 miles away); Pacific Electric Railway (approx. 0.8 miles away); Hitching Post (approx. one mile away); Transportation Evolution (approx. 1.6 miles away); Monrovia - Our History (approx. 1.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Monrovia.
this page online
Regarding The Oaks. This mansion was built in 1884-1885 for William N. Monroe, after whom the city of Monrovia is named. Finished entirely in redwood with five fireplaces and thirteen high-ceilinged rooms, the house was one of the principal show places of the San Gabriel Valley. Since it was one of the few homes in the area, travelers would often stay with the Monroes, as hotel accommodations were scarce. The Oaks, which took its name from all the oak trees on the property when the house was built, is an elaborately decorated Queen Anne style mansion with Eastlake detailing.
Named for the English interior designer, Charles L. Eastlake, Eastlake was a popular style of ornamentation. It was frequently added to American homes of the Queen Anne style during the 1870s and 1880s. The long vertical windows, exposed decorative roof brackets, elaborate frieze below the roofline, rectangular corner tower and fancy gable decoration are all characteristic of the Eastlake style. Queen Anne features of the home are its asymmetrical plan, ornate second story porch, multi-gabled roof, and corbelled chimneys. At some later time, the
porch on the second story was enclosed.
The Oaks was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 because of its excellent architectural design and the important role it played in the
Photographed By Craig Baker, May 7, 2023
2. The Oaks Marker
- excerpts from Historic Homes Tour 2023 brochure
This is private property - Not open to the public.
Also see . . . Monrovia Historic Preservation Group. (Submitted on May 8, 2023.)
Photographed By Craig Baker, May 7, 2023
3. The Oaks
This is private property - Not open to the public.
Photographed By Craig Baker, May 7, 2023
4. The Oaks
During Monrovia’s annual Historic Homes Tour.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 21, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 8, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 136 times since then and 38 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 8, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.
