Historic Star of Palawoo Continues Tradition Above Altadena After Nearly a Century

A 35-foot illuminated star that has graced the mountains above Altadena since the Roaring Twenties will continue its holiday custom through Jan. 7, 2025, traditionally shining nightly through Christmas and New Year’s in concert with Altadena’s Christmas Tree Lane lights.

The Star of Palawoo, visible from the 210 Foothill Freeway and various vantage points in Pasadena and Altadena, stands as a testament to early outdoor lighting innovation and community preservation efforts spanning nearly 100 years.

“Just below the lighted star will be the famous ‘Mile of Christmas Trees’ on Santa Rosa Avenue, which attracts thousands of autoists each year from all parts of Southern California. The star, alone on the crest of the Sierra above, will be the only light in the dark, silent mountain area,” reported the Pasadena Star-News in December 1929.

F.B. Nightingale, then manager of the Lighting Department of the General Electric Supply Corporation of Los Angeles and known as “the Father of Garden Lighting,” constructed the original wooden star in 1928. He erected it above his distinctive home in the Altadena foothills on an estate he named “Palawoo,” reportedly a Native American word for “bird’s nest.” The original structure featured 50 forty-watt light bulbs, and was featured in the Electrical Dealer magazine in November 1930.

In those early days, before Altadena’s forestation had grown to its current state, the star had a perfect alignment with Santa Rosa Avenue. The star’s history reflects a pattern of destruction and renewal. The original structure was destroyed by winds, and its replacement was lost to a fast-moving brush fire that swept across the Altadena foothills on Oct. 25, 1935 — a blaze that also claimed the Echo Mountain Incline Railway trestle. Undeterred, Nightingale rebuilt the star again, this time in metal.

The landmark faced potential extinction in 1989 when Phil Elkins purchased the Nightingale estate. He had lived there for some time before noticing old broken wires running up the hill behind his house. Using binoculars to investigate, Elkins discovered the star lying on the ground, subsequently restored it using conventional outdoor Christmas lights, and successfully lit it for Christmas in 1994.

Nature challenged the star again in January 2006, when winds gusting over 40 miles per hour knocked it down. Despite significant difficulties, Elkins managed to restore it once more.

In 2019, facing structural concerns, a volunteer group including members of Altadena Scout Troop 1 undertook a complete reconstruction. The team, led by local residents Dave Andrews and Bill Westphal, rebuilt the star using aluminum and installed LED bulbs that replicated the original 40-watt bulbs used by Nightingale.

The reconstruction was no small feat. Metal pieces weighing between 25 and 50 pounds each had to be carried up the steep hillside by Scout volunteers, including Senior Patrol Leader Cobhan Kale and Scouts Devin Paton, Andrew Boatman, Hollis Blanton, and Bradley Boatman, under the leadership of Scoutmaster Craig Snodgrass. After assembly, the star was tested for two nights and proved visible from as far away as South Pasadena. The project’s success relied on careful engineering, with the star anchored both front and rear to withstand high winds that had damaged previous iterations.

Most recently, in fall 2024, a new group of volunteers tackled maintenance challenges. Brendan Loudermilk, Josh Haas, Kim Jansen, Whitney Westphal, Bill Westphal, Mark Duncan, and Cristine LeVasser replaced failing light bulbs and upgraded the mounting system, switching from UV-resistant zip ties to more durable EMT conduit straps, ensuring the star’s continued brilliance.

The star’s significance extended beyond holiday celebrations during the COVID-19 pandemic, when it was illuminated as a symbol of hope for the community. Today, according to Westphal, it shines during various holidays throughout the year, including Veterans Day and Thanksgiving, maintaining its status as a notable feature of Altadena’s landscape and culture.

The Star of Palawoo continues to draw visitors from across Southern California, preserving a legacy of community spirit that began in the late 1920s, while going dark each year in concert with the conclusion of the Christmas Tree Lane lights.