Ramona Parlor was organized by a small group of men in their early twenties and met once a week in the historic Patriotic Hall on Figueroa Street in Los Angeles.


In its heyday, the group boasted over 1200 members and was considered one of the most influential organizations in southern California. Senator Stephen M. White, Los Angeles Mayor Fred Eaton and Ex-President Richard M. Nixon were all members of Ramona Parlor #109.


In the late sixties, member Edwin Fletcher passed away and willed a large amount of money to his brothers. It was his wish that the money be used to build a permanent meeting place and a museum. Ramona members found an ideal location. It was a huge lot next to Sycamore Park near the Southwest Museum, the historic Lummis Home and Heritage Square. They carefully constructed a beautiful 10,000 square-foot Hall on Figueroa Street in Highland Park. The two story building was built around a large patio like a hacienda with a tile roof and wooden balcony. The bottom floor, with its modern kitchen facilities and fully outfitted stage, was used for meetings and rented for community events. The upstairs was set aside for the Ramona Museum of California History. Artifacts were retrived from where they had been on loan for so many years and painstaking displayed for public viewing. One of the prize exhibits was a Concord Stagecoach. The stagecoach became a symbol of their committment to preservation and soon appeared on all of their stationary and newsletters.

Twenty years later, the City of Los Angeles became interested in the building for use as a community center. Membership had aged and dwindled over the years and as the burden of management threatened to overwhelm the group the decision was made to sell the building to the City. The artifacts were carefully packed and stored while the group searched for another home.

Mary Cammarano, one-time mayor of San Gabriel, had been to the Ramona Museum and was committed to finding a location for Ramona Parlor in the Historic San Gabriel Mission District. Many locations were considered, but when the California Literacy Building became available, Ramona members knew that they had found a home. Ideally located between Mission San Gabriel and the historic San Gabriel Playhouse, it lies across the street from one of the oldest grape vines in the San Gabriel Valley. The museum occupies the front of the building, the George A. Lyman Memorial Library has been located upstairs and Ramona members meet in the back. The group meets one a month, on the second Thursday, at the Grape Vine Room across the street from the Musuem.

Today, Ramona is self-supporting and strong. We raise money for local organizations and contribute generously to cleft palate research. We support education through speech and essay contests. Our museum offers visitors a uniquely personal view of California history to its visitors free of charge.

Ramona Parlor has come a long way. We believe that Brother Edwin Fletcher would have been proud of our progress.