Latino "hidden history" helps complete Monrovia's story


There's a certain irony in having the city's first celebration of its Latino heritage at the former Monrovia Plunge, which has been the Monrovia Historical Museum since 1992. And it's not lost on Jimmy O'Balles, Henry Olivas and Ralph Walker.

When the vintage 1925 building opened as part of the municipal swimming pool complex, the three organizers - two Latino, one African American - could have gone swimming only on the "colored days" that traditionally came before the water was changed. Times have changed dramatically, the three said, but it won't be long before there's no one around who remembers how it was - and how far we've come. "Monrovia is about to celebrate its 121st birthday, and I believe the full story of the city and its people needs to be told," said O'Balles, a Monrovia native. "There's a forgotten story, and if it's not told now it will be lost forever - and we are still here, like in the past."

There's no real reason that until now there's never been a celebration of the historic presence and rich contribution of Monrovia's Latinos - many of whom came to work on Lucky Baldwin's Rancho Santa Anita, said Stephen Baker, the city's official historian. "I don't think there was a conscious effort to draw attention away or a purposeful withholding of information - it almost needed someone to serve as a flashpoint," Baker said. "I think it's taken one person who had first of all the knowledge of the Latino heritage in the community, and was a member of that community as well - Jimmy O'Balles." READ MORE


You need to be a member of HispanicPro Network to add comments!

Join HispanicPro Network

© COPYRIGHT 1995 - 2020. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED