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Restoring a Place of Memory: The Campaign to Save Mountain View’s Stained Glass
21 Jul 2026
Mountain View Mausoleum has stood for generations as a place of remembrance, beauty and quiet reflection. During the January 2025 Eaton Fire, the historic structure escaped direct flames, but smoke, soot and extreme conditions caused significant damage and added new urgency to long-needed preservation work. Cleanup and restoration have continued in stages, and access to the Marengo Avenue mausoleum remains limited while scheduled remediation proceeds. The work is about more than repairing a building. It is about protecting a sacred space where families remember loved ones and where the history of Altadena and Pasadena is preserved.
Designed by noted mausoleum architect Cecil E. Bryan, the building includes a 180-foot Great Gallery, Martin Syvertsen’s hand-painted Story of Christianity ceiling fresco, more than 64 varieties of Italian marble and extensive stained glass created by Judson Studios. Many of these century-old windows are now showing serious deterioration, including weakened framing that could place sections of glass at risk. The Eaton Fire did not create every problem, but its heat, smoke and environmental stress intensified vulnerabilities already caused by age. Pasadena Cemetery Association has launched a $125,000 campaign to fully restore and stabilize the mausoleum’s stained glass. As of July 21, 2026, the campaign reports $18,398 raised by 104 supporters—approximately 14% of the goal.
Every contribution helps preserve the colored light, craftsmanship and stories that have filled these marble corridors for more than a century. Donations will support specialized conservation work needed to secure the windows, repair damaged components and protect them for future generations. Community members can also help by sharing the campaign with neighbors, preservation organizations, former residents and families whose lives have been touched by Mountain View. The mausoleum survived one of the most destructive events in Altadena’s history. Now the community has an opportunity to ensure that its remarkable stained glass does more than survive—it shines again.