Golden Park Winery, circa 1914-16. (Photo – Courtesy of Pasadena Museum of History; Ettienne Collection).
A donated collection on the Ettienne family to the Archives of Pasadena Museum of History showcases the Golden Park Winery in Pasadena that was run by John and Peter Ettienne from the late 1800s up to 1920.
By Anuja Navare
The winery was located at the intersection of East Villa Street and Allen Avenue and it is partially occupied by Pasadena High School today.
The winery made red, white, sweet, and dry wines; brandy; sherry; and port. It was incorporated in 1911 and survived several defeated California prohibition propositions in 1914,1916, and 1918 and remained in operation until the passage of the 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which prohibited the manufacture, sale, transport, import or export of alcohol.
We encourage you to check out this wonderful collection and view the many interesting pictures of the winery, the vineyard, and the family by visiting the Research Library & Archives at the Pasadena Museum of History. Make a point to see pictures of horse-drawn carriages piled high with wine barrels.
Open from Thursday to Sunday,1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Pasadena Museum of History maintains the area’s largest and most comprehensive collection of documents and artifacts relating to the history of Pasadena and neighboring communities. The ever-expanding collection spans the years 1834 to the present and contains well over one million historic photographs, rare books, manuscripts, maps, architectural records, art, costumes and textiles, and objects.
> Anuja Navare is an archivist at Pasadena Museum of History.
The Etienne family spelled their name with one t.
There were many wineries and vineyards all over Pasadena, but mainly in Lamanda Park, which township was founded by LJ Rose, the winemaker and vineyardist of Sunnyslope Vineyards at Huntington Drive and San Gabriel Blvd, for the sole purpose of making wine and shipping it to markets in the east. Pasadena was a “dry town” and Lamanda Park was the opposite, and resisted Pasadena’s annexation moves. Prohibition law of 1920, broke the business of Lamanda Park and the township was annexed by Pasadena at that time.
No idea there was a winery in Pasadena. so much history in our own backyard!