Friday, August 7, 2009

Time Well Spent

I mentioned yesterday I had a photo from the Pasadena Historical Society. To be more clear about it, the Pasadena Historical Society operates as the Pasadena Museum of History, which houses its archives/treasure trove in the museum basement.

It's darn near impossible to finish a project at the PMH archives in a single day because there's more information than you thought possible. But that's okay, because you'll want to spend a lot of time there. And Laura Verlaque and her impressive team of volunteers run the place like a friendly study room. It's a nice place to do your research.

Plus the volunteers know stuff. They keep it in their heads. Plus, there will be someone else, I guarantee you, who knows about the thing you're researching. Or you'll know something about the thing they're looking up. And sooner or later...

I remember that! My grandfather owned the bakery on the corner. We used to go after school and wait until my mother came to pick us up after work.

I remember that bakery, that's where all the rich people shopped.

We never saw the rich people, only their servants. Isn't that funny? The servants did the grocery shopping, too. The grocer was--what was his name?


Someone else will know and the conversation goes on from there. You leave with your head spinning. You wouldn't leave at all, but they have to close and you have to eat and sleep. You'd stay and dig in the archives and listen to more stories if only you had all the time in the world.

10 comments:

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

Things were very much the same here in the UK. The servans used to do the shopping, enjoyed your post.

Yvonne.

Dina said...

Darn that eating and sleeping--such a time drain when you could be studying!
Lovely pic and post.

Shanna said...

Looks very inviting and reminds me of the lure of the Pasadena Public Library. These are places where time can seem to stand still - until - darn it, time to eat again.

eamon@ewmphotography said...

Someone who loves researching like myself. Great photo today too Petrea. There is something about old books...

Birdman said...

Remind me... I need to get a book. I like this one, in its simplicity.

Petrea Burchard said...

Not all of America was like that, WTMWOP, but Pasadena started out as a resort town, and many wealthy people moved here from the east coast. There's still some old money here, but most folks do their own shopping now.

I know, Dina! I really do feel that way sometimes.

Shanna, that's exactly how I feel. Eamon describes it too. I love the research.

Hi Birdman. You look familiar.

elizabeth said...

I love that place. I desperately want to steal the giant old map of Pasadena off the wall, but it won't fit under my coat.

I am fascinated by imagining about all the ghost streets and buildings that disappeared when the freeways were built.

Petrea Burchard said...

Elizabeth, I was looking at that type of map the other day. Something from the 1950's, I think. I wanted to copy it but it was too big. I fantasize about walking along Maple or Corson and finding the ends of streets that got cut off.

It awakened me to why South Pas is so determined to keep the 710 from traversing their town. I'm with them.

Italo said...

Your photos, history, books. MY PASSIONS. You know, for months I "lived" in an old castle library. So beautiful!

Petrea Burchard said...

Italo, I would love to see that library. Libraries in old castles are a passion of mine.