USA > California > San Bernardino County > History of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, Volume II > Part 10
USA > California > Riverside County > History of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, Volume II > Part 10
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64
When Riverside abandoned the citrus fair in favor of county fair with all the usual accompaniments of such a fair, San Bernardino County took up the citrus fair and for several years past has made a complete success of it, and in a great measure the two counties co-operate together, each helping the other's fair and thus making a greater success than would be alone. Exhibits come to these citrus fairs from all parts of the State where oranges are grown. At the fair of 1921 about $50,- 000 was taken in from all sources.
THE WOMAN'S CLUB. The Woman's Club may well be classed among the older organizations of Riverside, for it has been in existence for a period of over twenty-five years.
At first when a Woman's Club was heard of, it was received as a wonder by the men folks and the question was asked, whatever could the women want by organizing a club? We had been hearing of woman's right and woman suffrage away in the dim and misty past, and of bloomer costumes with a good deal of ridicule, and even of active opposition from certain quarters so long ago, in fact, that the name of Susan B. Anthony is not to the younger generation much more than a tradition, but for all that, universal suffrage is today a fact without creating a revolution. But a "Woman's Club," whoever heard of such nonsense? What is it anyway? No one seemed to be able to throw any light on the movement. Could not the women "ask their husbands at home" as had been written ages ago, and submitted to for just as long?
At first Women's Clubs were looked on by men as something sort of mysterious, and as no men were admitted, there was all the more curiosity manifested by them. However, they came to be recognized as legitimate institutions as time went on.
Mrs. M. E. Hewitt is the original suggestor of the idea in Riverside, and in conjunction with Mrs. Dr. Sarah E. Maloy, a recent comer from Chicago, a club was organized with 16 charter members at the office rooms of Dr. Sarah E. Maloy on January, 1896, membership increasing immediately to about 35 members.
There were four subdivisions almost from the start, viz., an Art Class, a Home Class, a Review Class and a Music Class.
668
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES
Started with the design to make an organization where character, not social position or wealth, should be the basis of club aristocracy, the Woman's Club has grown until it is one of the permanent and most valued institutions of the city. The meetings were held at first in the homes of the members, later in leased public halls, but finally in the splendid Woman's Club house erected for their use. The club had some 200 members to start with. While educational and social features have been its leading characteristics, the club has given its influence and material assistance in behalf of other organizations and for the beautifying of the city. The first building on the corner of Main and Eleventh streets was built by stock issued, which was bought up, not only by the members, but the citizens also, the organization that had charge of the building and building fund was incorporated under the title of the Woman's Club House Association, the board of directors being chosen from active mem- bers of the Woman's Club. In 1908 the building was completed and occupied, the building and contents representing an outlay of $25,000.
The Wednesday Morning Club, with a charter membership of one hundred, was organized in 1902 primarily to study parliamentary usage and train its members in presenting orally their views on important cur- rent events, and also to stimulate a public spirit, which should induce improved sanitary conditions and the further beautifying of the city. Mrs. Mary E. Darling, former president of the State Federation of Clubs was the founder of the Wednesday Morning Club. They were very active during the war in all the various labors in connection with the soldiers welfare, both at home and abroad, and in providing for the com- fort and welfare of those who were called out. So also were they active in promoting the sale of all the various bond issues by the National Government, and in seeing that Riverside did her full share in raising the money. Also working with the Red Cross and the Salvation Army in every useful and necessary work.
In 1916 the club sold the fine building that had been occupied so use- fully and beneficially, to the Elks. Since that time being without any building the women have not been idle, but have been meeting in rented quarters. This was found to be inconvenient and another movement was made in 1921 looking towards a new building, the result of which has been that a large lot was secured on the corner of Walnut and Tenth streets, which is likely to be ample for the needs of the club for many years to come. Mrs. H. E. DeNyse president of the club was one of the active members in raising the funds for the new building, quite a large balance being held over from the former building sold. The total invest- ment in the new building will represent something like $25,000, part of which has been raised gradually by the active work of willing members.
Not the least part of the useful work of the members has been in influencing legislation along special lines in which women have been especially interested. Membership in the club is gradually increasing. The new building was ready for occupation on January 31, 1922. -
MISSION INN
The Mission Inn of Riverside it might be said is one of the wonders of the world and is a great reminder of the Arabian Nights and Aladdin and his wonderful lamp. The foundation was laid about 1877 and was an unpretentious two-story building made of adobes or unburned clay blocks which Mr. Miller, the "Master of the Inn." helped make by taking off his shoes and tramping the clay with his bare feet. The buildings today occupy a whole city block of two and a half acres, between Sixth
669
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES
and Seventh and Main and Orange streets, three stories high with a solid frontage of buildings on three streets, the main entrance being mainly occupied by the frontage and grounds on Seventh Strect. In addition to this two and a half-acre block there are two large buildings adjoining on the opposite side of Sixth Street containing quarters for the employes, etc., as the original buildings are inadequate for the needs of the hotel proper. The open court in the center of the square is used as an open air dining room in the summer with a spacious awning to shut out the direct rays of the sun. It would be impossible in the space at command to give anything of a detailed description of the inn; there are so many features apart from an ordinary inn. The aim has been to build up and perpetuate all the best features of the Spanish colonization of both North and South America, and old Spain.
It is an extensive museum for curiosities of all sorts of Spanish and Indian antiques, crosses, bells, pictures, etc. (as well as speciments of curios from other parts of the world), mainly illustrative of the religious life of the padre missionaries. The music room and chapel are in con- stant use for services and meetings and in connection with the Sunday evening song services which are a great attraction to guests of the Inn and specially invited guests from the outside and one has only to attend one of these musical evenings to be put in a frame of mind that would convince without any argument how easy it would be to be good while enjoying the harmonies of the occasion. Space will only permit the following :
THE GLENWOOD MISSION INN-FAMOUS TOURIST HOTEL
BY J. R. GABBERT OF TIIE RIVERSIDE ENTERPRISE
Story of Frank A. Miller's efforts to reproduce outstanding archi- tectural features of all old missions of California commemorating early Franciscan Fathers and their work :
While at Atlantic City last summer in attendance upon the sessions of an international organization, with about 8,000 delegates present, I wore a badge upon which was the name of Riverside. Some of the expressions from those who saw that name were as follows :
"Riverside, California. How well I remember being there once at the Mission Inn."
"Do you know Frank Miller? Well, when you get back to California, say 'Hello, Friend Miller,' for me."
"Riverside! Say, isn't that the place where they turned an old mission into a hotel ?"
"Beautiful Riverside, the Mission City of California."
These are fair paraphrases, written down shortly afterward, to be treasurer and printed sometime in Riverside and to record the impression that at least 90 per cent of the people met with during five weeks of travel about the East, immediately associated the Glenwood Mission Inn and its master, Frank A. Miller, with the name of Riverside. At least that large a percentage of the people who have ever heard of Riverside refer, casually or directly, to the most unique hotel of this country. Those who have never visited Riverside but have heard of it at all, have also heard of the Mission Inn and Mount Rubidoux. Some of them have fantastic ideas about both, but they do have ideas and that is a lot.
Writing this story of the Glenwood Mission Inn and its dominant personality, I am not doing so from the point of view of a reporter, or space writer, but from the point of view of an observer of eight years standing. The impressions I am voicing will probably appear hackneyed and commonplace to most Riversiders, but they may appear to some of
670
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES
the hundreds who have never visited Riverside in such a light as to create within their hearts a desire to come to Riverside and spend some of their days at the Inn and to become acquainted with its master in his own home, for the Inn is literally the home of Frank Miller and his family and has been for many years. What the Glenwood Mission Inn is today is an embodiment of a life's dream, nearing completion, but not com- pleted, growing each year a little nearer to an ideal establishment in the mind of its great creator, many years ago.
The building of the Inn was the first attempt in California to per- petuate California Mission traditions and the history of their influence upon West Coast civilization as the traditions of Plymouth Rock and the Old South Church have been preserved along the Atlantic Coast. Every village and hamlet of New England is treasuring the mementoes and keepsakes of the Colonial days and the stories of the heroes who make American independence a possibility. Everywhere is still felt the influence of the Pilgrim Fathers. The old burying grounds are preserved as sacred, even in the middle of great cities, where the property so dedicated is worth fabulous sums.
But Frank Miller, son of a veteran of the Civil war, intensely patriotic and holding in greatest reverence the eastern traditions of his forebears. grew from boyhood in California and, being a poet by nature and a dreamer, siezed in his early youth upon the fact that the old California had a civilization antedating the American Revolution and began to wonder what it was that had made such a civilization possible. He learned of the Franciscan Fathers, who braved the dangers of the explorer and landed on the California coast, building, under the leadership of Father Junipero Serra, a chain of Missions from San Diego to San Francisco, established one full day's journey on foot apart, and connected by El Camino Real, the King's Highway, in reality little more than a winding trail among the foothills of which the California poet, John McGroarty. says in one of his stanzas :
It's a long road and sunny, it's a long road and old, And the brown padres made it for the flocks of the fold, They made it for the sandals of the summer-folk that trod From the fields in the open to the shelter-house of God.
It hurt Frank Miller's sense of the fitness of things that the work started so wonderfully well by the "Brown Padres" should have been allowed to be obscured by the onrush of Americans. Grasping greed of the money-makers and the rush of settlers, who came along with the gold- seekers, and before, resulted in the abandonement of some of the missions and their walls were alowed to fall into ruins. Some of them, around which towns and cities were builded, were preserved and others were rebuilt. The Riverside innkeeper had a vision of the possibility of creat- ing a great building which would preserve in solid masonry all of the outstanding architectural features of the missions of the padres. He realized that such a structure would be ideal for Southern California weather, delightfully cool in summer and warm and cozy in winter. It should be surrounded by pepper trees, introduced by the Mission Fathers, and handed down to California city builders as an ideal ornamental tree for street decoration.
So this hotel man became the leading spirit in the revival of mission architecture in Southern California. He planned, fought for and built the hotel of his dreams, a Mission Hotel, with cool cloistered walks, shaded court, tower of the bells and the other wonderful mission features which have been imitated so often in recent pieces of architecture, but
671
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES
equalled by no other building in this country. He began the collection of the mementoes of the Spanish and Mexican occupation. He secured valuable Spanish paintings, which lead to the building of a Spanish art gallery in a new wing of the hotel, and he is still planning new features that it will take several years to complete.
This brief story of the Glenwood Mission Inn is entirely inadequate, but gives some of the outstanding features of the hotel. No stranger to the community feels that he has seen Riverside until he has visited it. It has influenced the entire character of the community life. Instead of being an industrial center, the city has become an educational city, a city of happy, prosperous homes, of churches, parks and shaded streets. It has come to take on many of the characteristics of the Inn, being roomy, well shaded, comfortable and is constantly attracting more and more people to it who desire to live in it all of the remaining years of their lives.
When the present Glenwood Inn grew into tangible form, it imme- diately attracted national attention and since has come to be known inter- nationally as a hotel unique among hotels. It breathes the spirit of the old mission days, the hospitality of the Mission Fathers and the holders of the old Spanish grants. There is a dignity about the place which develops an immediate feeling of quietness and repose. The gilded palaces that are commonly met with in the great hostelries, with their garish decorations and marble halls are conspicuous by contrast with the Glenwood Mission Inn. It is said at the Inn that you cannot be grand and comfortable at the same time and the Miller family prefers to be comfortable and it happens that the people who come to the Inn year after year to spend a few months of the winter, prefer the same thing.
The demand on the part of the tourists for California keepsakes, has resulted in the Curio Room at the Inn and innumerable corridors and sequestered nooks in the basement, where there are Oriental curios, old Indian relics and all sorts of pioneer mementoes, which may be purchased for the collection of those to whom they appeal. Through all of these underground passages are reminders of the Missions, including a com- plete collection of the Ford paintings of all of the Missions, as they appeared in the early '80s, some of them showing a number of views. There are also many mammoth photographs of mission scenes, appearing as transparencies in the windows of the corridors.
The most conspicuous feature of the Inn, and the one most loved by its friends, is the Cloister Music Room, fitted with a great pipe organ, where there are several programs of music each day and from where the ringing of bells of the bell tower is controlled. It is in the quiet, semi- religious atmosphere of this room, that a Sunday night hour of music, including the familiar old songs, is held. It has grown out of the family custom of years standing and is continued through the year. Those present participate in group singing and there are readings of some appropriate selections from the fund of literature selected by DeWitt Hutchings, son-in-law of Frank Miller.
A few years ago, after returning from a European tour in quest of ideas for hotels in keeping with the Spanish architecture and ideas of the Inn, Mr. Miller established his famous court dining room, out under the blue sky, and shaded during the day from the sun by immense awnings, spread from one of the wings of the hotel to another. The larger part of the year, diners have their meals in this court, including breakfast, luncheon and dinner. It is a pleasant experience for the eastern tourist, fleeing a January storm at the old home, to have his first meal, after coming over the Cajon Pass and into Southern California, in this open air dining place.
PANORAMA OF MISSION INN AND PUBLIC LIBRARY
673
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES
Frank Miller is a leader in the community life of Riverside and the hotel is the center of many social features. He has been in the forefront of the outstanding civic movements that have made Riverside distinctive among the cities of Southern California in a number of ways, in addition to mere attractiveness. It was his vision that made an annual event of the Easter Morning service on Mount Rubidoux. The first service came as a suggestion from Jacob Riis, the world famous philanthropist and philosopher. Its permanence has been the result of the perseverance of Frank Miller. The service has grown steadily each year, until it has come to mean that from 15,000 to 20,000 people each Easter Sunday morning make their way to the summit of the mountain and participate in a service that has become ritualistic in character.
Many worthy community movements are given their inception in the Glenwood Mission Inn. The master of the Inn has been a leader in many campaigns of the other days to secure such improvements as Sherman Indian School, the United States Army aviation field and school at March Field, the University of California Citrus Experiment Station, the Uni- versity Farm School, putting over the war drives and many efforts in behalf of worthy local institutions, all of which have been successful as a result of the "luncheon plan," devised by Mr. Miller. In these efforts, leaders of different community activities were usually called to the Inn as the guests of the master of the Inn. There, following a delightful repast, there would be unfolded to them some fine community idea. Before the meeting would disperse there would be a substantial start made toward a permanent organization and the success of the venture was always assured from that time forward.
The people of Riverside participate in the social life at the Inn and mingle with the guests. During the season there are dances given every Saturday night for guests and there are usually a large number of dinner parties made up of Riverside society folk who participate in the social affairs that follow. Every other week night dancing is enjoyed in the refrectory dining room between the hours of 9 and 11 o'clock.
The true character of the Glenwood Mission Inn may be tested by the condition that obtain behind the scenes as well as in the lobby. The traveling tourists are as greatly interested in and really marvel more at the kitchen than they do about the beauties of the rest of the hotel. The kitchen is as spotless as a perfectly appointed drug store. It has attractive Mission Day paintings on the ceilings and walls. The floor is of tile and the comfort of the operatives is carefully planned with perfect ventilation. The average temperature there is little higher than that of the rest of the hotel. It is in the management of this department and the household features of the entire hotel that Mrs. Alice Richardson, sister of Frank Miller, is an important personage. Mrs. Richardson is in reality the manager of the great hotel and efficiency expert in making things go. She is one of the dominant characters of the family group.
Mrs. Frank A. Miller is an essential partner in the Inn. She has apparently always been essential for its success and welfare. She is the constant companion of Mr. Miller in all of his rest hours, many of which are spent at Arch Beach in the family cottage and she is also his constant confidant and advisor in all business matters relating to the operation of the great hotel.
Mrs. Alice Hutchings, daughter of Mr. Miller, has grown up in the Inn from girlhood. It is as much a part of her life as any home could be. She specializes in the purchasing department, particularly for the curio room.
The employes of the Inn form a part of the Mission Inn family, also. They are intensely loyal to the institution and all of the executives have
674
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES
been there for many years. They participated during all the war period as a distinct group, always co-operating on a 100 per cent basis in all of these activities. Many members of the official family, including women as well as men, enlisted in different forms of war service, the service flag now including some golden stars.
It would be impossible to do justice to the Mission Inn. To describe it is beyond the writer's powers, and nothing short of a complete catalogue of the almost innumerable curios, antiques, works of art, historical relics of not merely momentary but also of historical value, the like of which is probably not to be found in the museums and depositories of the whole world. There is probably the greatest collection of bells to be found anywhere collected from the whole world of belldom. The collection of crosses is also large, rare and invaluable. The whole inn is a museum of everything in connection.
The wonder is how Mr. Miller coming here a comparatively poor boy, without anything more it might be said than the merest rudiments of education, has been able to do so much of what really requires a world wide experience.
At a complimentary informal surprise dinner given to him on Febrit- ary 3, 1922, Mr. Miller in giving an acknowledgement of the honor tendered him, whose whole knowledge of inn-keeping and building the most remarkable monument to the Mission Fathers and their labors in California, embracing all that is best and most valuable, not only in California but in Europe, Spain especially, a monument that will be lasting and which will perpetuate a feature of the Roman Catholic Mis- sion and the unselfish labors of a past devotion, enthusiasm, self-sacrifice (almost fanaticism) thas has passed away and can never return.
But the Mission Inn has another feature of the missions that is almost forgotten. They were the only inns of California and the traveler could travel the whole length and breadth of the land and fare on the best at the missions without money and without price. Almost the Mission Inn has reproduced the same features ecclesiastically, for if there is ever a poor preacher traveling for his health or otherwise he is always welcome at the Mission Inn and it would seem that the more Mr. Miller gives in this way the more he receives. And this is not given ostenta- tiously for "his right hand knoweth not what his left hand doeth" and it is only incidentally that these things are known at all. His minis- trations are not confined to religious objects for they are everywhere when you come to inquire and not confined to his friends but to his enemies, or detractors and the only question is, are you needy, not merely of the necessities but do you need sympathy or encouragement? Are you unfortunate? For instance, the writer was burned out of house and home a few years ago, with a sick wife. When Mr. Miller heard of it he came out with the message: "Come to the Mission Inn for ten days. If your wife is sick she can have her meals in her room and every attention." Fortunately a loving daughter had responded and taken her mother to her own home. At a later period, when that loving companion, after fifty-three years of companionship, passed over the silent river and the home was solitary and silent, again the message came sympathetically. "I know how you feel, I have been through the troubled waters come to the Mission Inn for a time and new scenes will renew and revive your lonely and sad heart." The invitation was accepted and the good-will and prayer beneficial. Mr. Miller is the good Samaritan to many a down and out one who needs not only assistance but encouragement until the tide turns and employment elsewhere turns up, and the needy one goes rejoicing on his way. These are the things that make the Inn prosperous
675
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES
and that is the spirit that starting out without a penny, as it were, has drawn to itself a something that millions could not create. Mr. Miller has well said, that he does not know just how he got the Mission Inn. It just "growed." It is indeed like a fairy tale from out the Arabian Nights. Mr. Miller got the magician's wand and he waved it and wished and we have the Mission Inn, and the end is not yet. "Blessed are the poor in spirit ; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.