Sam directed me to Hermon over the weekend, a heretofore mysterious little place that I thought he was making up… until one afternoon when I missed my exit on the 110 and saw a sign confirming its existence. It’s jammed between Monterey Hills, South Pasadena and Highland Park. Apparently, the town is named after the biblical Mount Hermon, which Sam and I have been pronouncing “hair-mone.” I met some Eagle Rock old-timers who referred to it as “Hurmin,” though, so I think we are mistaken.
Anyway, the town was founded by Free Methodists over 100 years ago, and has since become a part of the City of Los Angeles. I don’t know much about the Free Methodists — other than that they are involved with Azusa Pacific University, not too far from here. According to the internet they are based in the Midwest and have abolitionist roots. Anyone else?
My favorite discovery was this beautiful façade on a corner of Monterey:
On the side there is a sign that says “Fellowship Center.” It belongs to a decidedly medieval-looking (Normans? Saxons?) church across the street. Though it’s hard to tell from the image, both are painted the same mellow shade of minty green:
Otherwise, what we saw were quiet residential streets, a cafe, an elementary school, and very big dogs in people’s yards. (Sam also spotted this fungus, which he photographed while I took a phone call from my elusive girlfriend Ruth.)
