Five Acres Honors Architect Myron Hubbard Hunt

Celebrating his February 27 birthday and 100 years in Altadena

As Five Acres celebrates 100 years at our historical headquarters in Altadena, we pause to honor the architect who imagined this campus as “an outstanding child-oriented facility”: Myron Hubbard Hunt, born February 27, 1868, in Sunderland, Massachusetts. A pioneering architect of Southern California, Mr. Hunt left an enduring mark on Los Angeles and the San Gabriel Valley—and on generations of children and families served at Five Acres.

An Architect for Children’s Care

In the 1920s, as Five Acres outgrew its original Los Angeles location, our Board of Trustees commissioned renowned architect Mr. Hunt and his firm (Hunt & Chambers) to design a new residential campus and administrative center in Altadena. Mr. Hunt responded with a purpose-built complex at 760 W. Mountain View Street, opened in 1926, specifically designed for the care and well-being of children.

The building represented an investment of about $800,000 at the time (approximately $13 million in today’s dollars), reflecting the community’s extraordinary commitment to creating a safe, nurturing environment for vulnerable children. Combined with Mr. Hunt’s thoughtful planning, that investment helped establish a campus that has remained Five Acres’ home for a century, continuing to serve thousands of children and families each year.

A Legacy Written Into the Landscape of Los Angeles & the San Gabriel Valley

Mr. Hunt was more than Five Acres’ architect—he was one of the designers of modern Southern California. Over his career he completed hundreds of buildings across the region, including schools, libraries, hospitals, hotels, and private homes.

In the San Gabriel Valley, his work helped define the civic and cultural heart of Pasadena and its surroundings:

  • Pasadena Central Library, the Mediterranean-style landmark anchoring the Pasadena Civic Center, designed by Hunt and H.C. Chambers and opened in 1927.
  • The Huntington estate in San Marino, where Hunt and partner Elmer Grey designed Henry and Arabella Huntington’s home—now the Huntington Art Gallery and a cornerstone of the Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.
  • The Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena, one of the most iconic sports venues in the world, designed by Hunt and Chambers in the early 1920s.
  • Occidental College’s Eagle Rock campus and key buildings for Pomona College and Caltech’s predecessor Throop Institute, extending his influence on higher education across the region.
  • Altadena projects such as the La Viña Sanatorium and other institutional facilities, alongside Five Acres, further weaving Hunt’s architectural legacy into the foothills community we still call home.

From grand civic buildings to intimate residences, Mr. Hunt’s style blended Beaux-Arts discipline with Mediterranean warmth, creating spaces that feel both dignified and welcoming—qualities that continue to define the Five Acres’ historical headquarters today.

Virginia Pease Hunt: Educator, Founder, Civic Partner

The story of Myron Hunt’s legacy is also a story of his second wife, Virginia Pease Hunt, an educator, founder, and civic leader in her own right. Before their marriage in 1915, Virginia founded and served as the first principal of Pasadena’s Polytechnic Elementary School, which became nationally known for its innovative approach to education.

Together, Mr. and Mrs. Hunt were deeply involved in Pasadena’s civic life, supporting organizations such as California Junior Republic, La Viña Sanatorium, Huntington Memorial Hospital, the Pasadena Army & Navy League, and the Pasadena Association. During the Great Depression, Mrs. Hunt helped organize the Block-Aid Committee, coordinating local efforts to find work for unemployed residents. Both received Pasadena’s Arthur Noble Award for outstanding service to the community, underscoring the couple’s shared commitment to public good.

Their partnership—his in shaping physical spaces, hers in shaping educational and civic institutions—reflects the same spirit of care and community that has animated Five Acres for 138 years.

Honoring the Hunts as Five Acres Turns 100 in Altadena

As we mark 100 years at our Altadena headquarters, Five Acres proudly honors Myron Hubbard Hunt on his February 27 birthday and celebrates the shared legacy of Myron and Virginia Hunt. Their vision helped ensure that children in crisis would not simply have a roof over their heads, but a thoughtfully designed place to heal, thrive, and belong.

Today, when you walk our hallways, play yards, and gathering spaces, you’re experiencing the living history of a campus created expressly for children’s well-being—a rare and enduring gift from an architect and a family who believed deeply in the power of community.

Join us in celebrating this legacy. As we look to the next 100 years in Altadena, your support helps us continue the Hunts’ vision: building safe, stable, and loving futures for every child and family we serve.