Eaton Fire victims unite to recover, preserve historic pieces of Altadena

A month after the deadly Eaton Fire burned thousands of homes and buildings to the ground, Altadena’s tight-knit community is working together to save pieces of the town’s history.

Hundreds of community members and volunteers have joined a mission to comb through piles of ash and rubble, hoping to identify and save historic tiles.

Organizers of the “Save the Tiles” mission said on their website that they believe these tiles might be the only salvageable, surviving link to the town of Altadena’s identity.

“While these homes are gone, tiles remain,” said Altadena resident Eric Garland. “They’re as beautiful as the day they were made and our intention is to rescue every last one of them.”

Garland spoke with KTLA’s Angeli Kakade on Saturday, explaining the history of these tiles, which starts with an artist named Ernest Batchelder who was a tile maker at the turn of the century.

“Immediately after the fire, my daughter, Lucy, and I were walking on our block and there was this perfect Batchelder fireplace my daughter asked me ‘Dad who’s going to save this time, who’s going to save this artwork?’” said Garland.

Garland told KTLA that the artist, Batchelder, got his start in Altadena and soon set up a commercial organization in 1910.

“By 1912 he had enormous public commissions he was getting famous,” explained Garland. “And the homes in Altadena are full of his work.”

That’s why Garland, along with hundreds of volunteers, has joined the mission to save the iconic tiles – which involves using masonry experts to remove them from the burned fireplaces where they once adorned before carefully restoring them.

Another Altadena resident and Eaton Fire victim, Vance Weisbruch, spoke with KTLA, saying he’s touched by this effort.

“It’s going to be awesome because that was the main focal point of the house,” said Weisbruch. “When you have a Batchelder fireplace, that just enhances the price of the property.”

For Garland, he said it’s the least he can do for the community his family has called home for more than eight years.

“That we can see them returned to Altadena in new homes on new fireplaces where the next generation of Altedenans can enjoy them forever,” said Garland.

So far the team has saved about 30 tiles, but there’s a lot more to do.

To donate to the mission, visit www.savethetiles.org.