Located at 2713 Honolulu Ave., Rockhaven Sanitarium was established in 1923 and built into its current configuration by the 1930s with a mix of Craftsman and Spanish bungalows surrounded by lush and beautiful gardens. Rockhaven Sanitarium, which was also known as the Screen Actors Sanitarium, was originally founded in January 1923 by a nurse named Agnes Richards. The Rockhaven Sanitarium, located at 2713 Honolulu Ave., first opened in 1923 as a private women's facility that provided specialized care in beautiful gated surroundings. Rockhaven Sanitarium was established in 1923 by a nurse who was appalled at the treatment of mental illness in women and thought she could do better. Three years later, the City of Glendale purchased the property, which consists of approximately 150,000 square feet on 11 separate parcels, some of which remain undeveloped. Home to many of Hollywood's family members in need of a stable and caring environment, including Marilyn Monroe's mother and Billie Burke, it became known for compassionate care of those with "a mental affliction". The sanitarium was founded in 1923 by a nurse named Agnes Richards. She established Rockhaven as a "home for the feeble-minded". Many sanatoria in the United States specialized in treatment of tuberculosis in the twentieth century … The City of Glendale purchased the 3.3 acre property for $8.25 million in April 2008. I covered Rockhaven’s history extensively in my post about the place last October, so I will just give you the CliffsNotes version here. Website Design by Granicus - Connecting People and Government. Click on the tour buttons below and take a trip around our beautifully-landscaped grounds, well-designed and attractive buildings, and spacious and charming apartment interiors. TGHS IS MONITORING STATUS  I  NO ACTION REQUIRED AT THIS TIME. Opened by Agnes N. Richards as a women-only health care facility, Rockhaven is the only intact example of the many sanitariums that once existed in the surrounding area. In the 1920s, when Rockhaven was founded, running a sanitarium was a lucrative business.

Shortly after watching a news report on the subject from Rock Haven, Baker was found unconscious in her room, her left wrist slit. TGHS remains troubled by the state of the Rockhaven property and will continue to press City officials for a preservation solution that results in full restoration, rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of the site. Rockhaven Sanitarium Historic District is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places at the state level of significance under Criterion A in the area of Social History as one of the best extant examples of an early twentieth century woman-owned, women-serving private sanitarium in the State. According to The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe , … Celebrating our history and conserving our heritage. Rockhaven Sanitarium Historic District is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places at the state level of significance under Criterion A in the area of Social History as one of the best extant examples of an early twentieth century woman-owned, women-serving private sanitarium in the State. The period of significance is 1923, reflecting the date Rockhaven was first established by Agnes Richards, through 1967, when Richards, who was the visionary and driving force behind Rockhaven's philosophy and development, died. But for much of the 20th century, the lot was home to the Rockhaven sanitarium—a feminist institution for mentally ill women, founded as an antidote to the prison-like atmospheres of the asylums of the time. See for yourself. Therefore, the district meets Criteria Consideration G for properties that have achieved significance within the past fifty years. 1 review of Rockhaven "Rockhaven Sanitarium, built in 1923, marked an important historical turning point in the development of safe and humane treatment of women with mental illness. Pleasure Way on the east and culminates mid-block on the west. Supporting the haven in the middle of the Crescenta Valley, Rockhaven Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America's historic and archeological resources. 1.4K likes. The City received 10 responses to the RFQ, which offered a variety of preliminary proposals, including mixed-use, senior housing, condominiums and a school campus. Friends of Rockhaven, Montrose, CA. It was one of the first of its type in the nation. Video Gallery TGHS supported the City’s issuance of a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) in April 2014 to solicit interest from developers with experience in rehabilitating and restoring historic properties. In the 1920s, when Rockhaven was founded, running a sanitarium was a lucrative business. TGHS views a public-private partnership as the most viable option for saving Rockhaven and, to that end, has asked that any development project: 1) identify, retain and preserve historic structures, features and landscaping in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards; 2) ensure that any alterations and additions to the property not radically change, destroy or obstruct character-defining features; 3) result in placement on the Glendale Register of Historic Resources and nomination to the National Register of Historic Places; and 4) provide public access so that the community has an opportunity to experience and enjoy the historic property. In California, Rockhaven Sanitarium Historic District is one of three remaining women's mental health facilities from the period. The site has 15 buildings, patio areas, and gardens with mature oak trees. Located at 2713 Honolulu Ave., Rockhaven Sanitarium was established in 1923 and built into its current configuration by the 1930s with a mix of Craftsman and Spanish bungalows surrounded by lush and beautiful gardens. The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation's historic places worthy of preservation. Agnes wanted to create a home-like sanctuary to treat women suffering from mental illness and found the perfect spot to start it in Montrose. It reflects the vision of Agnes Richards, R.N., and represents a small but significant movement that sought to improve the conditions of mentally ill women in the early twentieth century. All Rights Reserved. Press Enter to show all options, press Tab go to next option, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Resources, Contact Federal, State, and County Officials, Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce, Top 10 Reasons You Want Your Business in Glendale, City Licensing, Inspection, and Permits Portal (CLIPP), Comment on the Proposed Biogas Renewable Generation Project DEIR, Differences Between Federal & State Fair Housing Laws, Affordable Housing Commercial Development Impact Fee, Home Occupation Business Permit Requirements, Transportation Demand Management (Chapter 6), Historic Preservation Ordinances, Community Plan Historic Contexts, and Preservation Element. In later years, Rockhaven operated as a senior health facility until it closed in 2005. Government » Departments » Community Development » Planning » Historic Preservation. Concerned about the poor condition of the abandoned property and the lack of proper maintenance, TGHS has advocated for an adaptive reuse solution to ensure that the property is preserved for future generations. Rockhaven Sanitarium Historic District remained associated with founder Agnes Richards until her death in 1967.
Rather than housing women in large public institutions under deplorable conditions, smaller, privately run homelike facilities were created by women exclusively for women. Don’t just take our “word” for it that Rockhaven is beautiful, comfortable, lovely, convenient, inviting and homey. The site has 15 buildings, patio areas, and gardens with mature oak trees. The District reflects exceptional importance due to the rarity of extant resources associated with early twentieth century mental healthcare, its significance as a woman-owned facility established to care for mentally ill women, its continued association with women's healthcare throughout the life of the institution, and its long association with Richards, who continued to be actively involved at Rockhaven until shortly before her death in 1967. © 2001-2020   I   THE GLENDALE HISTORICAL SOCIETY   I   PO BOX 4173   I   GLENDALE, CA 91202   I   info@glendalehistorical.org. The following is a list of notable sanatoria (singular: sanatorium) in the United States.Sanatoria were medical facilities that specialized in treatment for long-term illnesses. However, due to lack of broad community support at this time, the City has decided to postpone consideration of any project options for at least one year. Free viewers are required for some of the attached documents.They can be downloaded by clicking on the icons below. The City of Glendale purchased the 3.3 acre property for $8.25 million in April 2008. © 2020 City of Glendale, CA. Properties are listed in the National Register of Historic Places under four criteria: A, B, C, and D. For information on what these criterion are and how they are applied, please see our Bulletin on How to Apply the National Register Criteria, National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior, https://www.nps.gov/nr/feature/places/pdfs/16000355.pdf, How to Apply the National Register Criteria, 2713 Honolulu Avenue bounded by Hermosa Avenue on the north, Honolulu Avenue on the south.
Tour Rockhaven. Please enable JavaScript in your browser for a better user experience. The Rockhaven Sanitarium, located at 2713 Honolulu Ave., first opened in 1923 as a private women's facility that provided specialized care in beautiful gated surroundings.