Step Back to 1923 Montrose with the
Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce

It is a crisp winter night, a starlit sky above. You turn north and find the foothills crowning the panoramic vista that seems to reach out from that narrow strip of silver – the sea – some dozens of miles to your south. Before you is a street, somehow familiar, yet altogether different. A Ford Model T drives toward the next town – Glendale – making its way through the dirt road, kicking up dust. Just where are we exactly? We’re standing astride Honolulu and North Verdugo. We are in Montrose and the year is 1923.

The only thing open in that sleepy little town is the local speakeasy where a celebration is going on. As you enter the establishment, a stark contrast from the quiet cool starry night, you come upon a “roaring ’20s” style celebration where the Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce is installing its first board of directors.

Jump to present day Montrose. Next year, Montrose is celebrating its centennial, and the Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce is installing its 90th board of directors and we thought it would be fun to celebrate it in a “Roaring ’20s” way. Join us on Jan. 24 as we take you back to 1923 Montrose and show you what it was like then. We will also be honoring our 2012 Community Recognition Awards winners:

Business of the Year – The Clothing Market; Organization of the Year – The Armenian Center; Business Person of the Year – Pat Longo of Andy’s Transfer and Storage; Educator of the Year – Jim Smiley, a CVHS history teacher; Peace Officer of the Year – Glendale Police Officer Matt Zakarian; Frank Roberts Award – Bill Dodson; Beautification Award – Gio’s in Montrose; Community Enhancement Award – Historians Mike Lawler and Robert Newcomb; Oktoberfest Volunteer of the Year – Crescenta-Cañada Rotary Club; Community Endearment Award – Lynn McGinnis, American Legion Post 288.

So put on your flapper dress and your Italian pinstripe suit and join us as we install our 2013 board of directors and hand out our Community Recognition Awards.

Also happening in 2013 is the 100-year celebration for the city of Montrose.  Save the date, or should I say weekend, to come celebrate this “once-in-a-lifetime” event, Feb. 23-24. The event is going to have a country western theme fashioned after the catered barbecue that developers Holmes and Walton threw to auction off 300 acres of land that eventually became the subdivision of Montrose. Note to history buffs: the land auction took place at the corner of what is today Verdugo Boulevard and Clifton Place near the site of the local Mobil Station. The auction was on President George Washington’s birthday in 1913.

Yesterday the Chamber welcomed its newest member House of Beauty at a ribbon cutting/grand opening ceremony. Business owner Knarik Kartunian has brought her successful business from Glendale to the Montrose area. House of Beauty was established in 1996 and is owned and operated by highly experienced cosmetologists who have been in the business since the ’80s. The salon specializes in haircuts, color, highlights, lowlights, Brazilian blowouts, up-dos, perms, eyebrow arching, make-up, and threading/waxing. They will also make you look great for your special occasions such as weddings, parties, graduations, and photo shoots. House of Beauty is located at 4050 La Crescenta Ave., Suite ‘A’ in Montrose.

Shop Montrose! Come to Montrose for the holidays. Montrose Old Town Christmas continues every weekend until Christmas. Need that perfect Christmas gift for someone on your holiday list? Remember to shop local this holiday season. For a complete list of merchants in the area, log onto www.shopmontrose.com.

Don’t forget: For only $99 you can become a chamber member or renew an outdated membership. Becoming a member ensures your business listing in our 2012-13 directory and a listing in our online digital directory. The directory is a great resource that is used by many people in the community.

Upcoming Events
Good Morning, Montrose today, Thursday, Dec. 20 at 8 a.m. at the Montrose chamber office, 3516 N. Verdugo Road in Glendale, 91208.

Installation and Community Recognition Awards on Thursday, Jan. 24.

Centennial February business mixer on Wednesday, Feb. 6 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Al’s Deli, 2332 Honolulu Ave., Montrose. Celebrating 60 years in business.

Montrose Centennial Celebration on Feb. 23 and Feb. 24 2013 in the 2200, 2300, 2400 blocks of Honolulu Avenue.

  melinda clarke