The Old Mill El Molino Viejo
Bryant Irawan / Indonesia Media
 Presently, San Marino has thrived into a small, yet flourishing city. Its residence consists mostly of professionals and its school system ranks as one of the best in California. San Marino has definitely earned the title of the “ Beverly Hills in the San Gabriel Valley” since its nascent years. In fact, the first commercial building, El Molino Viejo, in Southern California was built in San Marino.
El Molino Viejo or The Old Mill was completed at 1816 as a grist mill for Mission San Gabriel at 1120 Old Mill Road, San Marino. It measured 53 by 26 feet and its lower walls were five feet thick. Construction was traditional 19th century Spanish design with brick and adobe walls with tiled ceilings and covered with a mortar made from a substance derived from burnt sea shells. The mortar was to provide a strong reinforcement in case of earthquakes and to withstand strong vibrations from machinery.
 Of course, the Old Mill is not in service any longer so grinding room was rebuilt to house paintings and historical facts which is now the present entrance room. The entrance room also shows a model to demonstrate how the milling procedure would have taken place.
The diagram shows that once the grain was grounded, it would be stored in the Granary room, now the second floor of the Old Mill which is now used as a two-room walk in gallery The mill might have been very petite, but its two acre lush gardens make up for it. Inside, visitors are welcome to sit in patios or walk around and witness a variety of plant life. It’s nothing compared to the Arboretum or the Huntington Library, but it is a great location to bond with nature and enjoy the breeze while divining into a book or simply cleansing a  troubled mind. Henry Huntington was one of those owner at a time, and he used the sturdy structure as a clubhouse for the golf course below his huntington hotel. In the 1960’s ownership passed to the City of San Marino, which briefly considered using the venerable adobe as a branch library. In its current life, El Molino Viejo is operated by the Old Mill Foundation as a precious landmark.
In addition, the admission is free so you’re free to come by as much as you please.
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