I was honored to participate in the Sunland-Tujunga Open Studio tour this last weekend. Thank you to all that attended.
A LITTLE HISTORY
McGROARTY ART CENTER
a.k.a. "Chupa Rosa"
Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument No. 63
My little area/booth was set up at on the porch of the Mcgroarty Art Center. This was a great location with a nice view of Tujunga. The building almost burned in the La Tuna fire in early September. The two homes that were lost in the fire were on the hill directly above the Mcgroarty Center. The scorched earth and blackened scrub and trees could be seen just feet from the property line.
John Steven McGroarty
The McGroarty Art Center was built as a primary residence by John McGroarty. The first home burned down but was rebuilt and finished in 1923. The home was nicknamed Chupa Rosa.
John was designated the Poet Laureate of California in 1933 and he was voted to the 74th United States Congress in 1935. He served to terms. He is most famous for playing a part in pushing the Townsend Bill, the precursor to Social Security.
The Townsend Plan proposed $200 per month for every person over 60 years of age, supported by a national sales tax. The requirements of the plan were:
- They had to be retired
- They had to be free from habitual criminality
- They had to spend the money within 30 days.
"One of the countless drawbacks of being in Congress is that I am compelled to receive impertinent letters from a jackass like you in which you say I promised to have the Sierra Madre mountains reforested and I have been in Congress two months and haven't done it. Will you please take two running jumps and go to hell."
— Letter from John McGroarty to a constituent in 1934. Quoted by President John F. Kennedy in Profiles in Courage, 1956