Visit Garner House: Virtual Tour
In 2001, Claremont Heritage moved into the Garner House in Memorial Park, a site deeply connected to the city’s history. The Spanish Colonial Revival home was built in 1926 by Herman and Bess Garner, Pomona College alumni and prominent members of the community, who also helped develop Padua Hills. They lived in the house with their three sons for many years.
At nearly 5,000 square feet, the Garner House was one of the largest residences in Claremont at the time, featuring exceptional wrought ironwork, oak and cork flooring, and a distinctive, complex floor plan. In 1946, the City of Claremont purchased the home along with its surrounding citrus groves, which were later cleared to create Memorial Park. Over the years, the house has served a variety of civic groups, as well as the City’s Human Services Department.
Since becoming tenants in 2001, Claremont Heritage has led the restoration of the Garner House. Today, both the first and second floors have been returned to their original configuration through generous community support. Many original furnishings—donated by the Garner family—have been preserved, and the courtyard has been thoughtfully reimagined as an event space, including the addition of an ADA-compliant restroom and café lighting.
Under Claremont Heritage’s stewardship, the Garner House has become the city’s center for historic programs and community engagement.
Please join us in celebrating the 50th anniversary of Claremont Heritage and the 100th anniversary of the historic Garner House. |
Garner House History
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Originally built in 1926-27 by Bess and Herman Garner (and their three sons) and surrounded by an orange grove. Both Mr. and Mrs. Garner graduated from Pomona College in 1910; he was a very successful businessman and inventor of an air cleaner for truck engines. His company -Vortox Co.- is still in operation further south on Indian Hill Blvd. She was a history buff, an author, chair of the school board and very active in community affairs. Their pictures are on the table in the living room.
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Building had 15 rooms and six bathrooms (only three still remain). LA architect Arthur Munson designed it. First floor had an entry, two guest bedrooms and a bath (now our gift shop and office), large living room, library, dining room (now our special collections library) kitchen, maid’s room, bath and utility rooms (laundry).
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You will see all but the maid and utility areas. On the second floor were two wings - one for parents and the other for the three boys. All those rooms are now used as archives, offices, and storage for history items.
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Before the Garners built this house, it had been a site of a house since the mid nineteenth century. One was an adobe for the sister of the owner of Rancho San Jose (included Pomona, Claremont , La Verne, San Dimas).
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Tales of buried treasure in the park were told...one tale describes an Mexican Rancho owner buried gold “under a great limb, bending sharply upward like an elbow”. A perfect description of the Sycamore tree that once stood in front of the house! Gold was never found.
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The living room has been restored to its 1920s look. The Garner family gave us the trestle table and bench, original floor lamps, the two side chairs and a standing globe (in the library). All other furnishings are new but recreate the look of the original. All the wrought iron work is original and hand forged by craftsman, Hayrold Glick. The family’s library on the right has become Heritage’s Circulating library - You can check out books if you are a Claremont resident. They are about local and California History and restoration of historic buildings. You can see a small balcony where the Garner boys learned to play piano. A piano is, once again, there.
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