History of Library Stained-Glass Windows

Monterey Park’s first library building opened its doors in 1929 at 256 W. Garvey Avenue, where St. Stephen's School is now located. The library was a gift from Judge Mancha Bruggemeyer in memory of his first wife Roberta Pauline Bruggemeyer. Her portrait can be viewed in the Library's Local History Room.

The stained-glass windows were created prior to World War l and were originally installed at the Redlands home of Mancha Bruggemeyer. In 1929 when the Bruggemeyer Memorial Library was opened, these windows were installed in a room dedicated to Mancha Bruggemeyer’s late wife, Roberta Pauline.

May 2, 1948
The Library celebrated a redecoration and expansion and honored Judge Bruggemeyer, who had recently moved back to Monterey Park from Redlands. With the Library’s expansion, this room became the Children’s Room and the window, “with its center similar to the Aztec sun symbol,” became familiar to all Monterey Park children who attended story hours there and learned the joys of reading.

July 7, 1960
The new library at 318 S. Ramona Avenue (the present site) was dedicated. Moving operations was a huge undertaking as 20,000 books, many tons of records, office equipment, furniture and artwork had to be carefully moved into the new building. The City was careful to salvage equipment that could be installed in the new library or used in other City departments. The salvage efforts were handled by Cleveland Wrecking Company.

October 1960
It was discovered that the stained-glass windows had somehow been misplaced. With all the excitement of the move, the huge glass pieces had seemingly disappeared and no one was sure where they were. The chief librarian at the time, George Anang, began a dogged search that lasted five years.

1965
Five years later, Monterey Park hired a contractor to catalogue the items in the City Yard. During the inventory, they discovered three wooden crates weighing about 400 pounds each leaning against a gravel pile. Inside these crates were the missing stained-glass windows!

June 14, 1965
Chief librarian George Anang reported the discovery to the Library Board of Trustees. He suggested that the Bruggemeyer family might like to have the windows back. The Board of Trustees unanimously voted to offer the windows to the family.

2021
Mr. James Kurilich, great-grandson of Judge Mancha Bruggemeyer, donated two of the 4’x8’ stained-glass windows to the City of Monterey Park.

2024
The windows are installed at the Monterey Park Bruggemeyer Library.