While looking for the Standard Stations Inc gas station that
e_r posted a day or two ago, I came across this image titled
"Southeast corner of Colorado and Oakland showing Standard Oil Company service station, 520 East Colorado, and Pasadena Furniture Company, Pasadena. 1924." On the right is the extant First Church of Christ, Scientist, Pasadena.
Huntington Digital Library
I was originally planning a simple "then and now", but then I found a load more images. This one shows the Pasadena Furniture Company at 530 East Colorado in 1925. The windows advertise a "Reorganization Sale". I'm guessing that the lights on the right belong to the service station.
Pasadena Public Library
Another year later and the service station had been flattened. The same church is visible in the background. This image is dated 6/3/1926.
Huntington Digital Library
The reason for the site clearance was so that construction could begin on the Singer Building at 520 East Colorado. The sign on the side of the Pasadena Furniture Company building says "Now in Progress ANNUAL CLEARANCE SALE". This image is dated 7/15/1926.
Huntington Digital Library
Here's a close-up showing all the contractors.
Detail of picture above.
The completed Singer Building as it appeared on 10/19/1926. That's a great-looking lamp post on the left.
Huntington Digital Library
In 1932, 532 East Colorado Street became Pasadena's Sears, Roebuck and Company. The description says that
"Sears bought the building after the Pasadena Furniture Company went out of business." Part of the Singer Building can be see on the right. Does anyone recognize the building on the left?
Pasadena Public Library
Someone should be prosecuted for defacing builings like this! At least the Singer Building seems to have survived reasonably intact. The old Pasadena Furniture Company building in now home to Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Los Angeles (Pasadena).
GSV
The Pasadena Furniture Company/Sears building can be seen in the background of three photos in
post #9775, two posted by
rcarlton, and one in a quote of a post by
BifRayRock which is a larger version of one posted by
kznyc2k.
Before I leave the Pasadena Furniture Company, here's another of their buildings. The description says,
"Picture taken from 1915 Tournament of Roses Program." I assume the company moved from this building to the one on E Colorado rather than using them concurrently. Again from the description,
"According to the 1916 Pasadena City Directory, the Pasadena Furniture Company was at 83-91 Raymond Avenue."
Pasadena Public Library
Despite being earlier, no one has vandalized this building, although they have added plenty of windows to the side elevation.
GSV