Mountain Views News          Saturday, March 14, 2015

Section B

SPECIAL WISTARIA FESTIVAL SUPPLEMENT


SECTION B

SATURDAY, MARCH 15, 2015

The Wistaria Vine 

Celebrating Sierra Madre’s Most Well Known Landmark

The Vine

Sierra Madre’s121-Year Old Wistaria* Vine By Phyllis Chapman

Legends of the Wisteria Vine, Art, 
Literature, and Lore

By Elizabeth Converse – Sierra Madre

In 1894, William and Alice Brugman 
purchased a home on what was then 
called Piedmont, which is now called 
W. Carter Ave. The house had been 
built one year before by builder Amos 
Trussell for his daughter Winona and 
son-in-law Edward B. Jones when 
they married. It was the first wedding 
celebrated in early Sierra Madre.

 The Trussells and the Jones had a 
change of plans, sold to the Brugmans 
and moved away. To enhance her 
new home, Alice Brugman and her 
neighbor Mrs. W. B. Crisp, drove by 
horse and buggy to the R. H. Wilson 
Pioneer Nursery in Monrovia and for 
$.75 purchased a gallon can of wistaria. 
It was the Chinese Wistaria variety 
(Wisteria sinensis). She planted it in a 
corner of her front porch remarking to 
her neighbor: “They say Wistaria grows fast.” And 
grow it did.

 Mr. Brugman, a mining engineer, was in 
Mexico when the vine was planted. He died 
in 1899 and Mrs. Brugman sold the home in 
1906. The property changed hands until it was 
purchased in 1913 by Henry T. and Estelle Fennel. 
Mr. Fennel, who was a bit of a horticulturist, loved 
the vine, and gave it devoted care, even building 
support trellises.

 Although the Wistaria is a vigorous grower, 
the added support of the trellises may have 
contributed to this vine’s phenomenal growth. 
The arbors prevented the end tendrils from 
hanging down and causing the tender terminal 
buds to die from the added weight. Wistaria 
requires good drainage, certainly provided by 
this hilly, terraced location. There may also be an 
underground spring providing water to the tap 
root. 

 The vine eventually destroyed the original 
home, growing into the walls and fireplace and 
causing the roof to collapse. Mr. Fennel built 
a new home 200 feet to the north (the present 
upper home) and trained the vine to grow up to, 
but not covering the new residence. A portion of 
the foundation of that original home was saved 
to continue to provide support for the vine as its 
branches extended such a distance.

 When the vine was in bloom, the Fennels would 
invite friends to come and enjoy the blossoming 
plant. Visitors also came from Pasadena’s main 
hotels: The Green, The Huntington, and The 
Raymond. In 1918, the Fennels opened the vine 
to the Sierra Madre Chapter of the American 
Red Cross, which sponsored a very successful 
fundraiser to help the war effort. 12,000 people 
attended the event. This was the beginning of 
many Wistaria festivals that took place year after 
year. Sierra Madre became known as the Wistaria 
City. Many local organizations, including the 
Board of Trade (now the Chamber of Commerce), 
the Woman’s Club, the Masons and Eastern Star, 
the Sierra Madre Volunteer Fire Dept., etc. were 
involved.

 Many homemade items, fancy work, ceramics, 
artwork, gift books, and Wistaria fragranced 
perfume, hand lotion and bath salts were sold 
at booths under the vine. Luncheons and teas 
were served, often with young Japanese women 
wearing their kimonos.

 The hard work and money earned at the vine 
by the Woman’s Club paid off the mortgage of 
their first clubhouse. One year the Fire Dept. 
parked 30,000 cars on the parking lot that existed 
in Floral Canyon. (This is now Sierra Meadow 
Dr.). Easter sunrise services were among vine 
activities. People came from all over the world and 
extra street cars were added to handle the crowds. 
Among the famous were Fritz Kreisler, Janet 
Leigh, Mary Pickford, and Norman Rockwell. 
These two helped select the festival’s Wistaria 
Queen. Packard Automobile Co. used the vine as 
a backdrop to advertise its automobile.

On December 5, 1936, Carrie Ida Lawless 
purchases the vine property from Mrs. Fennel, 
who was now a widow, for $17,000.00. December 
5th was Mrs. Lawless’ birthday, and according to 
one account, she was making a present to herself 
of the world’s largest bouquet. Also a widow, her 
husband William J (Bill) Lawless was mayor of 
Sierra Madre during 1928-29. She, herself, was a 
successful businesswoman having founded the 
Weaver Jackson Beauty Co. in Los Angeles and 
was active in the community, serving as president 
of the Woman’s Club and the Garden Club.

 Mrs. Lawless spent a small fortune (around 
$100,000) enhancing the grounds of her new 
property and caring for the vine. When the 
festivals were held they often lasted for the weeks 
the vine was in bloom, not just for one day. Mrs. 
Lawless, a patron of the arts, also sponsored vine 
activities all year long.

 She hosted art exhibits, musicales, and poetry 
readings. Nearby residents objected to the 
constant activity and took their complaints to the 
City Council. Nothing was done as Mrs. Lawless 
presented the argument that the vine existed 
before these neighbors purchased their properties.

 
In recognition for her contributions to the 
community, the Garden Club planted another 
Wistaria in the terraced garden on the west side 
of what is today the Solt’s garden. It blooms a 
bit later than the original vine and the plaque 
commemorating the occasion is gone.

 When Mrs. Lawless died in 1942, she provided 
for the vine by leaving a legacy to her nephew 
and heir, Bruce McGill, to continue care of 
the property with a committee headed by the 
Garden Club President. In 1944, the property 
was purchased by Richard and Marian Thayer. 
Marian is the daughter of M. Penn Phillips, a 
well-known developer of desert property. In 1944 
the vine was overgrown and in poor condition. 
Richard Thayer planned to chop it up and get rid 
of it. A protest was raised and an association was 
formed to protect the vine, with money provided 
to pay property taxes and provide year-round care 
for the vine.

 In 1961, after Richard Thayer died, the lot 
was split. Marian married builder Ronald Cook 
who developed the west side of the property 
with homes and built the present Solt home for 
he and Marian in1962. The upper home was sold 
to Joseph and Marie Feeney who raised eight 
children there. In 1972, Ron and Marian sold the 
lower home to Bob and Nell Solt. In the late 1990s, 
Joe Feeney died and Maria sold the property. It 
was purchased in 2003 by the present owners, 
Dan and Dana Dorrance.

 By the 1970’s Vine Festival activity had about 
ended. It started up again in the late 70’s when 
sponsored for one day each year by the Chamber 
of Commerce. The Sierra Madre Beautification 
Committee was the yearly sponsor in the 1980’s. 
Approximately 500-600 people attended the 
festival each year. In the spring of 1989, Huell 
Howser came to film the vine for his program 
Videolog, which aired on KCET. The next year, 
approximately 6,000 people came to view the vine. 
The festival organizers were unprepared for such 
a turnout; lines stretched for two blocks. Howser 
returned in 1992 to film again for his California 
Gold program. Sierra Madre and the Chamber 
of Commerce quickly organized and combined 
the annual Vine viewing with a downtown street 
fair. A shuttle bus is provided, and people procure 
tickets to see the vine at a pre-scheduled time.

 The Guinness Book of World Records has 
named the Vine the World’s largest flowering 
plant. It is estimated that at the height of bloom it 
has 1.5 million blossoms with 40 blossoms per sq. 
ft., weighs 250 tons and has branches that extend 
500 feet. Wistaria is a member of the pea family 
though its seeds resemble a flat bean. Seed pods 
burst open in the summer. The plant is deciduous, 
losing its leaves in the winter. Wistaria seeds were 
brought from China by Marco Polo in the 13th 
century.

 Today, the vine covers approximately one acre. 
Over the years, it has shown distress and seemed 
to be dying. Experts have been brought in from 
Cal Tech, Occidental, and Cal Poly Pomona. 
Correct pruning, treatments with hormones, and 
vitamin B have helped the vine to recover and 
to flourish. To help maintain the Vine’s health, 
records of vine growth and care are now kept on 
a computer log. The Vine seems to produce its 
greatest flowering after a cold winter followed by 
a sudden hot spell.

 What is the correct spelling for wisteria—
wisteria or wistaria? In the Sunset Western 
Garden Book it is spelled wisteria. Sierra Madre 
has always spelled it wistaria. According to L. A. 
County Arboretum and Botanic Garden senior 
biologist Jim Bauml and Librarian Joan De Fato, 
the plant was named to honor Caspar Wistar 
(1761-1818), an American physician and teacher, 
who taught at the University of Pennsylvania. 
Among his accomplishments, he wrote the first 
text-book on anatomy. When the name of the 
genus Wisteria was put into the books, it was 
incorrectly spelled, says De Fato. So, one could say 
that all along, Sierra Madre has correctly spelled 
Wistaria!


“The languid and aromatic Wistaria, topping the 
garden trellis, bears a multitude of delicately hued 
flower, pale purple, light blue ,mauve and white.” Its 
dappled sunlit walkways are a calm and peaceful 
place to reflect and think.”

 Last Tuesday Watercolorist, I, sat with 
watercolorist, Pete Morris, under The Vine in 
Sierra Madre on Hermosa Street. In multihued 
shades from light to dark, the blooms and trailing 
whispers of blossoms and petals above and below, 
inspired us. We spoke of art, teaching, and the 
amazing the complexity this beautiful vine 
presented us. 

 Born in a pot just down the road, “Jack’s 
Beanstalk,” “Lavender Lady,” and “The Monster”, 
Sierra Madre’s glorious vine, weighed in at 250 
tons when it entered the Guinness World Records 
in 1990. It is legendary. Businesses of every kind in 
town: open their doors, streets are filled, Avenues 
are lined with booths of other crafters, artisans, 
sellers. Visitors throng to The Vine during the 
Annual Festival and the city of Sierra Madre itself 
becomes an open house of festivities and displays 
of our town’s abundant offerings.

 Among them, Friends of the Artists, FOA, a 
membership organization sponsors an Art Alley 
on Windsor Lane. Pat Ancona is President of 
this vigorous organization that teams with the 
Chamber of Commerce to create art events for its 
members and the community at large. During 
the Wistaria Festival, the Art Alley is open to all 
members of FOA as Windsor Lane is set aside for 
local artists of every ilk. 

 “FOA sponsors are an amazing support system 
and space to give local artists representation. Sierra 
Madre has always had a thriving art community 
and it’s important to keep that spirit alive and visual 
in the streets” Jennifer Lindstrom , artist, Sierra 
Madre, CA (Jennifer’s Bird Painting attached)

 But there is more Art in the Festival in other parts 
of the Festival. On North Baldwin there is Creative 
Arts; in Kersting Court is the Mission Renaissance 
Art School. There is also Art on Display on East 
Montecito and at many of the vendor booths.

 Digging into Wistaria culture, it is mentioned 
in literature and lore, with attributed magical, 
powers, mystical qualities, archetypal energies 
healing properties. Symbolic meanings include: 
Love Grace, Bliss, Honor, Memory, Patience, 
Endurance, Longevity, Exploration, Creative 
expansion, Release. The duality of love. Victory 
over hardship. Aligning with its energies helps 
manifest, opportunities, awakens inspiration, and 
awakens the “poet’s ecstasy”. It stimulates the 
brain, aids in keeping thought organized, develops 
creativity, intellectual development. And the oil 
maybe used, or the flowers made into tea.

 A century ago, Claude Monet painted Wistaria 
in his garden at Giverny (1917-19 ) Today artists of 
every medium draw inspiration from it. It’s various 
artistic expressions are hung in galleries, homes, 
street fairs and artists venues.

 It’s many Literary references include: Sir Arthur 
Conan Doyle, The Adventure of Wistaria Lodge 
- Sherlock Holmes; William Faulkner, Absalom, 
Absalom - “It was a summer of Wistaria. The 
twilight was full of it … the odor, the scent,…”; 

Patrice Greenwood, The Wistaria Tearoom 
Mysteries; Laura Joh Rowland -The pillow book of 
Lady Wistaria and don’t forget, Wistaria Lane of 
Desperate Housewives!

Enjoy the LEGEND…