Pasadena : Flagstaff Refurbished
The city’s 68-year-old War Memorial Flagstaff, which snapped in two pieces during the October, 1987, Whittier earthquake, has been repaired, and a ceremony is planned later this month to celebrate its refurbishment.
The pole, at the northeast corner of Colorado and Orange Grove boulevards, began flying the American flag about two weeks ago, after an estimated $173,000 worth of repairs. Most of the cost will be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said Erin Osborne, a Pasadena senior analyst.
During the earthquake, half of the pole tumbled to the ground, denting the 70-pound bronze eagle that had topped the flagstaff. The eagle was repaired and returned to the top. A bronze frieze with figures representing those who served in World War I was also refurbished and reattached to the foundation, Osborne said.
Meanwhile, crews dug into the 20-foot-deep foundation to reinforce it with steel and concrete to enable the pole to sway during earthquakes but not break.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
