COMPLIMENTARY COPY
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK Thursday, January 25 - January 31, 2018
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VOLUME 22, NO. 3
MONROVIA APPROVES $15,000 PUBLIC ART FUNDS FOR ALLEN ALLENSWORTH MONUMENT Terry MILLER tmiller@beaconmedianews.com
“I
t’s a long time coming…” Mayor Pro Tem Gloria Grudgington declared at the conclusion of last week’s Monrovia City Council meeting when council approved $15, 000 for a public art monument to honor the late Allen Allensworth outside the Second Baptist Church in Monrovia. “This is really cool Stuff,” Mayor Tom Adams said. While there were no objections to the project, long-time resident Gwendolyn Jones spoke up and said the council needs to approve considerably more to honor a man of Allensworth’s stature. “I think you’re not giving this project enough money…this is a man who came here and was killed in Monrovia. It’s embarrassing to me. He founded the town of Allensworth. I’d like them to consider getting more money for this important cultural project.” Mayor Adams said the council will look into her request at a later date. In addition to his work in developing churches, he was notable for founding the township of Allensworth, California in 1908;
intended as an all-black community. Environmental conditions inhibited its success as farming community and the residents abandoned, much of the former town has been preserved as the Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park. It marks the founders' dream and the thriving community that developed for some time. Allensworth was a member of Los Angeles Second Baptist Church (SBC), established in 1885. SBC helped establish Friendship Baptist Church in Pasadena in 1893 and Reverend Allen Allensworth became the first pastor for Monrovia’s Second Baptist Church, established in 1902. Both remain thriving African American congregations today. Monrovia’s Second Baptist Church received a generous five hundred dollars from the First Baptist Church of Monrovia, then pastored by Dr. Russell Greaves. In fact, the First Baptist Church intended to donate some pews to the Baptist Church in Allensworth. Unfortunately, Allen Allensworth died unexpectedly and the pews still remain at the First Baptist Church in Monrovia. Allensworth died on Sept. 14, 1914 from injuries acquired in a motorcycle incident on Myrtle Avenue in Monrovia. He was walking from the train station to Second Baptist Church.
$15,000 have been approved by City Council for a public monument honoring the late Allen Allensworth outside the Second Baptist Church in Monrovia. - Courtesy photo
Former Mayor of Monrovia Mary Patricia "Pat" Ostrye Passes
THE MONROVIA OLD TOWN REPORT Pam FITZPATRICK |
Ostrye passed away on January 13 Mary Patricia "Pat" Ostrye died peacefully on January 13, 2018. Pat was born January 12, 1924 in Minneapolis the oldest of five children born to William and Cecelia O'Brien. After high school, Pat worked at Butler Bros in Minneapolis and attended Beck School for
Radio at night. She subsequently landed a radio show on KYSM in Mankato, Minnesota. In 1944, she joined the Navy (WAVES) and was ultimately stationed at Naval
There are so many behind the scenes happenings in Old Town that it’s sometimes hard to keep up with what’s going on. I was, for instance, surprised to find out that as of the end of this month my neighbors (and friends) Seng
SEE OSTRYE PAGE 4
pam@oldtownreport.com
MONROVIA MAN GUILTY OF WORKING WITH CARTELS
and Carla will be selling Cold Stone Creamery. The only information I got from my sister, Cindy, is that the new owners-to-be are two really nice guys. As for the other
A federal jury has convicted a Monrovia man for his role in an international money laundering organization that conspired to move millions of dollars in proceeds
SEE OLD TOWN PAGE 7
SEE CARTELS PAGE 4
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