Celebration set for historic Alhambra Ward in California's San Gabriel Valley
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The Alhambra Ward, the Church's first outpost in California's San Gabriel Valley, will observe its Diamond Jubilee Oct. 9th. This year marks the 90th anniversary of the ward and the 75th anniversary of the dedication of the Alhambra Ward building.
The Alhambra Ward began as a branch in the California Mission in 1920; it later became part of the first stake in California. The Alhambra became a ward in 1923.
Construction of the current Alhambra Ward building began in March of 1931 during the depth of the Great Depression. The tile-roofed Spanish Mission style building was constructed by the members themselves. For many of the unemployed men working on the building, the meal provided each day by the Church's Relief Society sisters was the only meal of the day. The building was completed in 1935; President Heber J. Grant dedicated it on Dec. 1 of that year. It is located at 1212 South Eighth St. in Alhambra.
Mary Simmons of the Alhambra Ward was there at the dedication; she was 8 years old. Her most vivid memory was when President Grant invited all the children to come up and shake his hand. She thought shaking the prophet's hand was very special. One child said that she would never wash her hand again.
At the time of the meetinghouse's dedication, the Alhambra Ward had a membership of 740. Ward boundaries included the cities of Alhambra, El Sereno, South Pasadena, San Marino, San Gabriel, Temple City, Rosemead, and Monterey Park. The Alhambra Ward's building served as the area stake center until the Pasadena Stake Building was completed in the early 1950s.
Among those who have spoken in the chapel are former Church presidents Heber J. Grant, George Albert Smith, Joseph Fielding Smith, Harold B. Lee, David O. McKay, Spencer W. Kimball and Howard W. Hunter. President Hunter was a member of the Alhambra Ward before the El Sereno Ward was organized and he was called as the bishop. The Alhambra chapel is featured in the film about his life.
The Alhambra Ward has had 20 bishops. Over the years, 160 missionaries have served from the ward.
The chapel is noted for its beautiful stained glass window, which was done by the same craftsmen who produced "The Last Supper" window at Forest Lawn Cemetery. The Young Women of the ward raised the money and commissioned the window.
The ward's celebration and reunion on Oct. 9 will include a dinner 4:30-5:30 p.m., plus time to share memories 4:-5:and 6:00-6:30 p.m.
