Pasadena Heritage Celebrates Acquiring Historic Blinn House, The “Chance of a Lifetime”

Jim McDermott, City Manager Cynthia Kurtz and Pasadena Heritage Executive Director Sue Mossman.

Pete Kutzer, Sue Mossman, Teresa Lamb Simpson

Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo with John McAustin

Pasadena City Councilmember John Kennedy and and Patricia Harris

Ali Barar, Staci Nesbitt, Armando Gonzalez, Brenda Berg, Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo, Margaret McAustin

Claire Bogaard, Alexandra Rasic, Stephen McAvoy

Former Pasadena Mayor Bill Bogaard and Vicky Laidig

Brian Baker, Betsy Tyler, Pasadena Vice-Mayor Andy Wilson

William W. Ellinger III and Armando Gonzalez

Lake Payne, Scott Olsen, Lena Louise Kennedy

Councilmember Felicia Williams and former Councilmember Margaret McAustin

Joanne and Ethan Lipsig

Marcos Gonzales Bode, Liz MacLean, Teresa Grimes

Christopher Muno, Negin Nazemi, Arsineh Ananian

Paul Jacoby and Bob Ritter

Janet Stevenson, Betsy Tyler, Nancy Pine

Phyliis Miller and Lauren Cody

Janny Mulholland, Lynne Itamura, Joseph Kilanowski

Kim Elsesser and William Marelich

Lake Payne and Scott Olsen

Pete Kutzer, Rebecca Kutzer, Eleanor Kutzer, Kate Kutzer, Vivian Kirby

Alice Schulman and Randy Shulman

Annette Bull, Julie Lawson, Maria Schweitzer, Kirk Smith, Gail Jamentz

Felicia Williams, Madison Baker, Marsha Rood, Emily Taylor, Emily ware

Thomas Seifert and Dianne Philibosian

Reflecting that it was ‘a bit of a surprise to think of taking on’ acquiring and restoring Pasadena’s historic Edmund Blinn House when the possibility arose, Pasadena Heritage Executive Director Sue Mossman told hundreds of Pasadena civic A-listers that the courageous ‘huge decision’ to leverage the opportunity will open a new door for the organization to the community.

“We decided we should go forward. It was a chance of a lifetime. And we’re very proud of the success we’ve had so far,” Mossman said at a festive outdoor reception and garden party Sunday on the grounds of the landmark property.

Pasadena Heritage acquired the Blinn House through a transfer from the Women’s City Club of Pasadena, which disbanded in 2020.

The structure, located at 160 N. Oakland Ave. in the Ford Place Historic District, was designed by renowned Chicago architect George Washington Maher, built in 1905 and had been owned by the Women’s Club of Pasadena since the group’s founding in 1945.

The club felt it was leaving the home in good hands, Women’s City Club President Suzanne Burger said at the time.

City Councilmember John Kennedy, whose District 3 encompasses the property, described the Blinn House celebration as “a milestone of incomparable significance.” He said Pasadena Heritage, as its new owner, “has touched many individuals and set an example for the local and world community.”

The Blinn House is listed on both the National Register of Historic Places and the California Register of Historic Places, as well as being designated a Pasadena Cultural Landmark.

Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo referred to Blinn House’s status as a landmark when he spoke.

“I want to say congratulations to Pasadena Heritage not just for preserving the Blinn House and taking ownership and stewardship of it, but for 45 years of protecting Pasadena’s architecture. I had the recent opportunity to acquaint our Attorney General with some of that history. And I’ll tell you, it was fun to acquaint him with Pasadena … because I know the work that’s been done for a long, long time to preserve Pasadena’s beautiful, historic architecture, not just individual properties, but — as we acquainted him — entire landmark districts and historic districts.”

At Sunday’s event, Pasadena Heritage Board Members joined Mossman to describe the restoration work done so far and the need to do much more.

“This is a massive project,” explained Chairman of the Board Emeritus Brian Alan Baker. “A lot of what we’ve been doing for the last year is not obvious to you. It’s infrastructure. We spent over half a million dollars on this house so far, and we’re not halfway there on what we think needs to be done.”

Baker said Pasadena Heritage plans for the building to house not just its offices but those of other local not-for-profit organizations.

One of the groups is the Civitas Pasadena, a group of committed civic leaders who believe in the power of conversation to share points of view and mutual education about important issues facing the community.

Civitas Board Member and Vice-Mayor of Pasadena Andy Wilson presented Pasadena Heritage with a $25,000 check from the Club during Sunday’s program.

“We think Civitas and our mission around engaging community leaders would be an ideal fit for the Blinn house. And I think frankly, consistent with key principles of the women’s city club in some ways,” Wilson said.

After thanking Wilson, Mossman turned to the audience and said Pasadena Heritage was also “extremely grateful to you.”

“We have a long way to go, but we’ve gotten this far and we’re very proud and humbled by your support.”