Sierra Madre Memorial Park

Sierra Madre Memorial Park is a historic landmark park in Sierra Madre, California. The public park is dedicated to Sierra Madre residents who have served in the U.S. Armed forces. The park has monuments, a band shell, tennis court, playground, covered picnic area and a historic house, called the park house, that is a historic landmark. The park is on Sierra Madre Boulevard and Hermosa, next to City Hall.
The Park House built in 1884, was once the winery of Professor John Jacob Hart, one of the city's founding fathers. In about 1884 Mr. Hart moved his family, , from Cleveland to Sierra Madre and purchased 40 acres of land. His main instruments were the violin and piano, teaching both into his 70s. Professor Hart added to his income as a music teacher, by growing and selling his high quality "Monte Vina" wines, his winery was on his property, which ranged from Sierra Madre Boulevard on the north to Orange Grove on the south, the park house on his property was just south of Sierra Madre blvd. In 1980 the house was dedicated as the Senior Citizens’ Center Memorial Park House. It was of adobe construction. After many renovations the house has few of its original construction, but the original grand fireplace remains. The house is site #42 on Sierra Madre historic landmark list. There are 50 properties listed on Sierra Madre's Designated Historical Properties List. Hart help establish the city's first public library, he also helped bring the Pacific Electric street car to town in 1905 on the Sierra Madre Line, it ran each day till service ended in 1950. At the start of housing subdivision construction south of Central Avenue, now called Sierra Madre Boulevard, Hart insisted on some of the streets having Spanish names. These included Mariposa, Ramona, Manzanita and Esperanza avenues. The park house is used by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3208 of Sierra Madre once a month.

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