AN URGENT MISSION
to preserve Altadena's history
Our beautiful mountain town burned. But miraculously, hundreds of original historic tile fireplace surrounds have survived in Altadena. We are a volunteer army of residents, preservationists, and heritage organizations in a race against time to help owners rescue their treasured original craftsman tiles from homes destroyed by the wildfires. We remove, preserve and store the tiles at no cost to the homeowners. But we must act fast because the bulldozers are here and ready to sweep this history away forever. Please help us save the tiles!
WHY SAVE THESE TILES?
In truth, these tiles may be the only surviving link between Altadena's historic homes and our town's future.. Well over a hundred years ago, Altadena began as a dream for the future that rejected much of the modern convention of the day. The people who architected, designed and built our community were artists, engineers, and naturalists. Altadena rose up inextricably bound to the Arts and Crafts movement in America. In reaction to mechanization and industrialization, these first Altadenans prioritized harmony with nature, simplicity of design and the beauty in handcrafted things.
Today, Altadenans are a truly diverse group of artists and mail carriers and small business owners and rocket scientists. And we love to talk about our town. We are "town proud" for the same reasons as ever. We love our tight-knit foothill community, our unrivaled access to nature, and the collection of bungalows and modest houses of so many styles, well-loved and well looked-after.
Even in the ashes, our identity is stronger than ever. We will never be the town that burned down. We will be the town that rises. And so we walk forward now in the footsteps of the people that built Old Altadena, as we imagine and build a dream for the future that celebrates the past.
PRESERVING A PIECE OF HISTORY
Empower
Growth
Ernest A. Batchelder, a pioneer of the Arts and Crafts Movement, began producing hand-crafted tiles in 1910. Inspired by Southern California's booming construction industry and the region's embrace of Arts and Crafts aesthetics, he built a kiln behind his bungalow on the banks of the Arroyo Seco. Initially, Batchelder's tiles were made using this portable kiln with a capacity for just 150 tiles per firing. His early designs drew on medieval, Renaissance, and Art Nouveau themes, often featuring intricate low-relief patterns with muted earth tones and blue accents achieved through a single-fire engobe process.
Local architects like Greene & Greene quickly embraced his work, incorporating it into homes and buildings across Pasadena and Altadena. By 1912, Batchelder formalized his operation as Batchelder & Brown, Inc., securing larger facilities on Arroyo Parkway and later expanding to Los Angeles as demand for his tiles grew nationally.
Batchelder's tiles became synonymous with fireplaces, fountains, and architectural details in both residential and commercial spaces. Notable commissions included the Dutch-themed Chocolate Shop in Los Angeles and the Hotel Hershey in Pennsylvania. At its peak in the 1920s, his factory employed up to 175 artisans, producing tiles that adorned homes, civic buildings, and even chapels across the U.S. While the Great Depression forced the company to close in 1932, today Batchelder tiles remain celebrated as iconic elements of Altadena's architectural heritage.
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Empower
Growth
Alongside Batchelder, several other manufacturers produced tiles with similar aesthetics and techniques:
Claycraft Potteries. Established in Los Angeles in 1921, Claycraft produced tiles with a similar handcrafted aesthetic to Batchelder’s. Their tiles often featured nature scenes and rustic motifs, making them a popular choice for Craftsman homes in the area.
Gladding-McBean. Though more industrialized, Gladding-McBean also created decorative tiles that were used in Craftsman homes. Their designs included earthy tones and motifs that complemented the Arts and Crafts style.
California Faience. While based further north in Berkeley, California Faience tiles occasionally found their way into Southern California homes. Their designs shared similarities with Batchelder’s early work, featuring muted glazes and nature-inspired patterns.
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Because all of these tiles were kiln fired, they survived the Eaton Canyon fire that burned virtually everything around them. In the burn area today, brick chimneys and tile fireplace surrounds are often all that is left. Our commitment is to remove, repair and restore, and finally return these beautiful tiles to Altadenans at no cost to homeowners. If you wish to support our work, please donate now.
