Davies Farnsworth
The William D. Davies Memorial Building is the centerpiece of Farnsworth Park and an iconic landmark in Altadena. It was constructed in 1933–34 as a Public Works Administration project, providing local jobs during the Great Depression. Built in the American Arts & Crafts style, it featured native cobblestone walls, heavy timber framing, a shingled roof, and a broad stone fireplace. An adjacent open‑air amphitheater hosted free concerts, plays, weddings, and countless community gatherings over the decades.
I had painted the Davies Building many times before the Eaton Fire, along with scenes throughout the park. After the fire reduced the building to little more than cobblestones, it was a key site I intended to document. The ruins, however, were encircled by an eight‑foot chain‑link fence wrapped in an opaque mesh fabric that was stretched tight; each section fixed to metal piping attached to a square base. Repeated requests for access through friends with connections and county agencies were denied. The structure was considered unsafe due to the possibility of falling stones and toxic debris.
After the last refusal, I quietly prayed (or should I say lamented to God), expressing how much I longed to paint the building before the wrecking ball and bulldozers rolled in. The next morning, I received a text from one of my friends with connections: “Keni, go to Farnsworth Park now—the fence blew down.” I grabbed my paint kit—always packed and ready—and rushed to the park. A section of fencing lay flat on the ground. I painted the ruins that day