>> VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.

[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KCET PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] Huell: WELL, HELLO, EVERYBODY.

I'M HUELL HOWSER, AND HERE WE ARE IN BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN CLAREMONT, CALIFORNIA, THIS WONDERFUL COMMUNITY, LOCATED ABOUT 30 MILES FROM LOS ANGELES, EAST OF LOS ANGELES, RIGHT OFF THE 10 FREEWAY, A COMMUNITY THAT TRADITIONALLY HAS BEEN KNOWN AS A PLACE FILLED WITH HISTORY, WITH CHARM, WITH BEAUTIFUL OLD TREES, WITH LOTS OF PhDs BECAUSE THEIR CLAREMONT COLLEGES ARE LOCATED HERE.

LOTS OF WONDERFUL HISTORY, BUT THERE'S ALSO SOMETHING VERY EXCITING--NEW AND EXCITING GOING ON IN CLAREMONT THESE DAYS.

I'M STANDING IN FRONT OF IT RIGHT NOW, AND TO TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT IT, WE'RE HOOKIN' UP WITH-- INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO EVERYBODY.

>> HI, HUELL.

I'M MARK VON WODTKE.

Huell: OK, NOW, WE ARE STANDING IN FRONT OF THIS WONDERFUL BUILDING, WHICH IN A WAY LOOKS NEW, BUT IT'S REALLY NOT.

IT'S OLD AND NEW COMBINED.

GIVE US THE HISTORY OF THIS BUILDING.

>> WELL, THIS IS A PACKING HOUSE THAT WAS PUT TOGETHER BY CLAREMONT FAMILIES, RANCHING FAMILIES, TO PACKAGE THE CITRUS THAT WAS THE FOCUS OF THIS AREA.

Huell: THIS WAS CITRUS COUNTRY.

>> INDEED IT WAS.

AND SO, THEY CAME TOGETHER AND, UH-- AND CREATED THIS PACKING HOUSE, WHICH IS A VERY INTERESTING INDUSTRIAL BUILDING.

IT HAS A-- LOTS OF, UH, CLEAR-SPAN, VERY FLEXIBLE SPACE AND OTHER THINGS THAT WE'LL SEE INSIDE.

Huell: YEAH, WE'RE GONNA TAKE A TOUR OF THE BUILDING IN A MINUTE.

NOW, THE STORY IS THIS BUILDING WAS ORIGINALLY BUILT BACK IN... >> OH, IN THE TWENTIES--ACTUALLY THE TEENS AND THE TWENTIES.

IT EVOLVED OVER A PERIOD OF TIME.

Huell: AND ITS HEYDAY WAS THE TWENTIES, THE THIRTIES, THE FORTIES, THE FIFTIES, AND THEN... >> IN THE SEVENTIES, IT WAS SOLD TO, UH--ACTUALLY A DEVELOPER, CHARLES COOK, AND HE HAD VISIONS OF WHAT MIGHT HAPPEN WITH IT, BUT THOSE NEVER CAME TO PASS, AND IT FELL INTO HARD TIMES.

BUT A LOT OF INTERESTING TIMES.

THERE WAS A FOOD CO-OP HERE.

THERE WAS A WORM FARM IN THE BASEMENT THAT GREW FASTER THAN THEY COULD SELL THE WORMS.

UH, THERE WERE, UH, ROCK BANDS IN HERE.

A LOT OF INTERESTING STORIES COME OUT OF THIS PLACE, NOT FROM THE CITRUS INDUSTRY-- ERA, BUT ALSO FROM THOSE TIMES.

Huell: OK, THAT TOOK US UP TO THE NINETIES OR ACTUALLY INTO THIS CENTURY.

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

Huell: COME ON OVER HERE AND INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO EVERYBODY.

YOUR NAME IS... >> JERRY TESSIER.

Huell: OK. NOW PICK UP THE STORY FROM THE DAYS THAT THERE WAS A WORM FARM GOIN' ON DOWN IN THE BASEMENT.

>> WELL, IT SAT EMPTY FOR MANY YEARS, AND THE CITY OF CLAREMONT PURCHASED THE PROPERTY ABOUT 8 YEARS AGO, AND THERE WAS VARIOUS REDEVELOPMENT NOTIONS TO PUT A INN IN THERE, TO PUT THE POLICE STATION IN THERE.

NONE OF 'EM WOULD PENCIL OUT, SO, UH, MY COMPANY THAT REDEVELOPS HISTORIC BUILDINGS CAME TO TOWN-- ACTUALLY NOT CAME TO TOWN.

I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN CLAREMONT 7 BLOCKS FROM HERE, SO I ALWAYS KNEW OF THE BUILDING AND HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PETITION THE CITY, RESPOND TO AN R.F.P.

TO, UH, RENOVATE IT.

SO WE DID.

WE WON THAT, AND WE BOUGHT IT ABOUT 18--ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO.

Huell: AND WHEN YOU BOUGHT IT, IT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE THIS, DID IT?

>> IT TOOK SOME REAL COURAGE AND VISION.

HE--HE WAS UP TO THE TASK.

Huell: SO IN OTHER WORDS, IT WAS A MESS WHEN YOU BOUGHT IT.

>> IT WAS A RED-TAGGED BUILDING WITH A LEAKY ROOF AND 3 INCHES OF--OF BIRD CRAP ON THE FLOOR AND NO--NO ELECTRICAL, NO PLUMBING.

IT WAS THE WORST POSSIBLE BUILDING YOU COULD PURCHASE.

Huell: IN FACT, I HAD HEARD THAT OVER THE YEARS, THERE WAS A REAL DEBATE ABOUT WHETHER TO TEAR THE BUILDING DOWN OR SAVE IT, AND IT JUST TOOK HERCULEAN EFFORTS FROM SOME OF THE LOCALS TO KEEP THIS THING JUST STANDING OVER THE YEARS.

Jerry: THAT'S CORRECT.

THERE WAS A HUGE "SAVE THE PACKING HOUSE" DRIVE, AND MARK WAS A PART OF THAT, AND THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY, AND AT ONE POINT, I THINK, ACTUALLY, THE CITY COUNCIL KIND OF DID A PRELIMINARY VOTE TO ACTUALLY DEMOLISH THE BUILDING, SO IT WAS REALLY A LAST-DITCH EFFORT.

IF-- IF OUR PROPOSAL WASN'T ACCEPTED, IT WOULD'VE BEEN TORN DOWN.

Huell: WELL, YOUR PROPOSAL WAS ACCEPTED, AND WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO ON THIS ADVENTURE IS TAKE A LOOK AT THE OLD PACKING HOUSE, BECAUSE SO MANY WONDERFUL, OLD PLACES FILLED WITH HISTORY AND GREAT ARCHITECTURE AND GOOD BONES AND GOOD VIBES ARE TORN DOWN IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF AN HONEST-TO-GOODNESS SUCCESS STORY RIGHT HERE IN DOWNTOWN CLAREMONT.

CAMERON, COME OVER HERE.

LET'S JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THE BUILDING.

WE'RE GONNA BE GOIN' INSIDE, OUTSIDE, ALL THROUGH THIS BUILDING TO SEE JUST EXACTLY HOW THEY'VE TURNED IT AROUND AND MADE IT ONE OF THE CROWN JEWELS HERE IN DOWNTOWN CLAREMONT.

OUR TOUR BEGINS WITH A SIGN THAT SAYS "THREE FORKS."

AND YOU'RE EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

I HAVE NO REASON TO KNOW WHY YOU'RE EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THREE FORKS IS A BRAND-NEW, UH, 5-STAR STEAKHOUSE THAT'S OPENED IN THE PACKING HOUSE, AND WHAT'S NEAT ABOUT THIS SIGN AND WHAT THEY'VE DONE IS THEY'VE TAKEN 2 OF THE, UH, HARDWOOD POSTS THAT ORIGINALLY WERE IN THE BASEMENT, THAT SUPPORTED THE ENTIRE BUILDING, AND THEY'VE, UH, SALVAGED THOSE POSTS-- Huell: AND INCORPORATED 'EM INTO THE SIGNAGE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND IF YOU CAN-- YOU CAN EVEN NOTICE THE BOTTOM.

IT'S THE METAL CORE BOLT THAT KIND OF SUPPORTS IT, AND THIS WAS BOLTED INTO THE, UH, CONCRETE FOUNDATION IN THE BASEMENT.

Huell: SO YOU'VE SAVED A LOT OF THIS OLD MATERIAL TO INCORPORATE IT INTO THE NEW BUILDING.

>> YOU'LL SEE EVERYWHERE IN THE PACKING HOUSE, WE'VE SALVAGED A VARIETY OF MATERIALS, AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, TO SAVE A SENSE OF HISTORY, BUT ALSO, IT'S JUST-- IT'S COOLER TO LOOK AT, ISN'T IT?

Huell: AND FUNNY YOU SHOULD MENTION THAT, BECAUSE ISN'T THIS PART OF THIS HISTORY THAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SAVING AND USING?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THIS IS ONE OF THE ORIGINAL FREIGHT DOORS.

UH, THIS ENTIRE FACADE ON FIRST STREET WAS ALMOST ALL FREIGHT DOORS, AND THEY'D SLIDE OPEN AND SHUT.

WELL, WE OBVIOUSLY HAD TO REUSE THIS AREA AS STOREFRONT, SO WE HAD TO PUT IN NEW STOREFRONT DOORS, BUT WE SAVED ABOUT 5 OF THESE AND REFINISHED 'EM AND KEPT 'EM IN PLACE.

Huell: SO THESE ARE THE ORIGINAL DOORS.

>> 1922 FREIGHT DOORS.

Huell: WHAT KIND OF WOOD IS THIS?

THIS IS AMAZING WOOD.

>> ACTUALLY, I DON'T KNOW.

MARK, DO YOU?

>> WELL, IT'S A--IT'S A CLEAR FIR OR REDWOOD, PROBABLY.

Huell: NOW, YOU'RE THE ARCHITECT, ONE OF THE ARCHITECTS.

YOU HAD TO DECIDE WHAT TO USE AND WHAT TO REPLACE.

>> WELL, THERE WERE JUST A LOT OF GOOD THINGS TO REUSE, AND YOU KNOW, WE LIKE TO RECYCLE, AND HERE WE'RE RECYCLING A WHOLE BUILDING.

Huell: YEAH.

>> AND, UH--AND IT JUST MADE A LOT OF SENSE, AND--AND AS JERRY WAS POINTING OUT, THE CHARACTER AND THE QUALITY, EACH OF THESE THINGS HAS A STORY TO TELL.

Huell: YEAH.

YEAH.

>> AND SO, IT--IT REALLY MAKES IT A MUCH MORE INTERESTING PLACE TO BE THAN A--LET'S SAY A BRAND-NEW MALL.

Huell: NOW, WE'RE STANDING OUT ON--WHAT WOULD HAVE THIS HAVE BEEN, THE LOADING DOCK OF THE OLD CITRUS PACKING HOUSE?

>> EXACTLY.

THIS WAS ABOUT A 3-FOOT-WIDE LOADING DOCK, WHERE THE TRUCKS FROM THE CITRUS FIELDS WOULD COME AND UNLOAD THEIR LEMONS AND ALSO PICK UP SUPPLIES, SO WE EXPANDED IT TO A 10-FOOT-WIDE LOADING DOCK.

WE CALL IT, LIKE, THE BOARDWALK OR THE DECK.

Huell: AND WE ARE NOW STANDING ON THE SHINY, BEAUTIFUL, GLISTENING FLOORS WHICH ONCE AGAIN GO BACK TO THE ORIGINAL HISTORY OF THIS PLACE.

>> YEAH.

THESE ARE THE ORIGINAL HARDWOOD FLOORS, AND IF YOU LOOK AT 'EM, YOU'LL SEE LOTS OF SCRATCHES AND THINGS, BUT THAT ACTUALLY ADDS TO THE CHARACTER.

IT--IT WAS JUST AMAZING HOW--HOW THEY CAME UP OUT OF SOMETHING THAT WAS BLACK AND DIRTY AND BECAME THIS--THIS SHINING FLOOR.

Huell: WERE YOU SURPRISED-- BE HONEST--THAT THEY ENDED UP LOOKIN' LIKE THIS?

LOOK AT THESE FLOORS.

THEY'RE ACTUALLY SHINIER THAN FLOORS IN MOST PEOPLE'S HOUSES.

Jerry: WE WERE BLOWN AWAY.

I MEAN, WE--WE SANDED IT NOT TOO MUCH, BECAUSE WE DECIDED THAT WE SHOULD HAVE A VARIETY OF COLORS, BUT WE JUST THOUGHT IT WAS GOOD LOOKING OLD, AND WE EVEN KEPT-- IF YOU NOTICE BACK HERE, WE EVEN KEPT THE OLD, UM, VENTS, THE GRATES THAT WOULD GO INTO THE BASEMENT, AND THAT'S WHERE THE CONVEYOR SYSTEM WAS, AND THE LEMONS WOULD BE ON A SYSTEM HERE, AND THE LABORERS WOULD BE ON EITHER SIDE, PICKING THE LEMONS, MATCHING THE SIZES OF THE LEMONS, AND BOXING 'EM.

Huell: WOW.

NOW WE'RE GETTING IN--OH, BOY.

LOOK UP HERE.

Mark: THIS IS THE MAGIC OF THE SPACE.

IT HAS THESE LARGE TRUSSES, WHICH PROVIDED BIG, CLEAR SPANS, WHICH IS--MAKES A VERY FLEXIBLE BUILDING.

WE CAN DO ALL SORTS OF THINGS IN HERE.

FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE MU-- ART MUSEUM, WE'RE ABLE TO MOVE WALLS AROUND AND CHANGE THE EXHIBITS.

BUT THE OTHER MAGIC OF THIS SPACE ARE THE-- IS THE DAYLIGHTING.

YOU CAN SEE ALL OF THE NATURAL DAYLIGHTING COMING IN HERE.

Huell: OH, YEAH.

NOW, THESE WINDOWS WERE ORIGINALLY HERE LIKE THIS?

>> WELL, THIS, THIS WAS ADDED TO CREATE MORE LIGHT IN THIS FOCA--IN THIS AREA HERE, WHICH IS THE--THE INTERSECTION.

Huell: OH, BUT THESE WERE ALL HERE.

>> BUT THOSE ARE ORIGINAL.

YOU CAN SEE-- Huell: LOOK UP HERE.

THESE ARE ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL, AND THIS LOOKS LIKE ORIGINAL GLASS IN THOSE WINDOWS.

Mark: OH, YEAH.

ORIGINAL GLASS, AND YOU CAN SEE A LOT OF THE HARDWARE, UH, LEFT FROM THE OLD CITRUS DAYS.

Huell: LOOK AT THIS UP HERE.

THIS IS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL, THE OLD GLASS UP ON THE ROOF, AND IT GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE END.

JERRY, THE PLACE LOOKS LIKE IT'S FILLED ALREADY WITH TENANTS.

HOW DID YOU GET TENANTS TO MOVE IN HERE?

>> IT IS TOTALLY FILLED UP, AND IT WAS ACTUALLY EASIER THAN IT PROBABLY SOUNDS OR LOOKS.

UH, PEOPLE WERE JUST EXCITED ABOUT THE ARCHITECTURE, ABOUT THE VISION, ABOUT HAVING ALL THESE BUSINESSES UNDER ONE ROOF.

Huell: AND YOU'RE VERY CLOSE TO THE TRADITIONAL DOWNTOWN CLAREMONT, WHICH IS A HUSTLIN', BUSTLIN' PLACE.

>> RIGHT.

WHAT'S--WHAT'S CALLED THE VILLAGE OF CLAREMONT, WHICH IS CLAREMONT DOWNTOWN IS JUST A BLOCK AWAY, AND IT IS BUSTLING WITH DOZENS OF RESTAURANTS AND BOUTIQUE STORES, AND, UH, THE CITY'S MAKING CON-CONCERTED EFFORT TO EXPAND THAT AND BRING MORE BUSINESSES AND BRING IN A MOVIE THEATER AND A-- AND A HOTEL.

Huell: THIS IS JUST WITHIN EASY WALKING DISTANCE.

>> IT'S ALL WALKABLE.

AND IN FACT, WE'RE GONNA BE DOING THINGS LIKE STARTING UP A PEDICAB SERVICE WHERE PEOPLE CAN ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW, HOP IN THE BACK OF A PEDICAB, AND THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT A TROLLEY, AND THERE'S A--A METROLINK STATION AND A FUTURE GOLD LINE HERE, SO PEOPLE CAN COME OFF THE TRAIN FROM PASADENA AND SPEND THE DAY AND WALK THE WHOLE AREA.

Huell: WELL, NOW WE'RE STANDING IN FRONT OF A SIGN THAT SAYS THE CLAREMONT MUSEUM OF ART.

LET'S GO IN HERE AND TAKE A LOOK.

THIS IS ANOTHER SUCCESS STORY RIGHT IN HERE.

GOOD AFTERNOON.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON.

HOW ARE YOU?

Huell: I FIGURE YOU'RE SOMEBODY IMPORTANT.

YOU'RE STANDING HERE TO GREET US.

YOUR NAME IS... >> BILL MORENO.

I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE CLAREMONT MUSEUM OF ART.

Huell: OK, YOU ARE PROUDLY PART OF THIS BUILDING.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

Huell: TELL US THE STORY BEHIND WHY YOU'RE HERE AND WHAT THIS MUSEUM IS ALL ABOUT.

>> WELL, THIS MUSEUM IS REALLY-- REALLY THE CULMINATION OF A 25-YEAR-OLD DREAM THAT THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN WANTING TO HAVE A MUSEUM OF THEIR OWN FOR A VERY, VERY LONG TIME.

AS YOU KNOW, CLAREMONT HAS A VERY IMPORTANT HISTORY IN THE ARTS COMMUNITY.

THE COLLEGES, JUST THE ENVIRONMENT HAS LENT ITSELF TO THE ARTS FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, AND FINALLY AFTER 25 YEARS AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE IN THE PACKING HOUSE, HERE WE ARE, AND SO I'M EXCITED TO BE A PART OF IT.

Huell: IT KIND OF TIES IT ALL TOGETHER, DOESN'T IT?

>> JUST A LITTLE BIT.

Huell: IT'S A PERFECT PLACE TO HAVE IT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF HISTORY IN THE PACKING HOUSE, BUT THIS IS ACTUALLY A GORGEOUS SITE TO SHOW ARTWORK.

ARTISTS LOVE BEING IN THE SPACE.

Huell: WELL, LOOK.

YOU'VE GOT ALL THIS NATURAL LIGHT HERE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

Huell: YOU'VE GOT PLENTY OF SPACE HERE.

>> ABSOLUTELY, AND YOU KNOW, WE REALLY SEE THIS AS MUCH MORE THAN JUST A PLACE TO HOLD OBJECTS.

THIS IS A COMMUNITY CENTER, A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME AND JUST HANG OUT FOR THE DAY WITH THE RESTAURANTS AND THE OTHER ART ACTIVITIES IN--IN THE PACKING HOUSE.

Huell: WELL, IT ALL WORKS, AND IT'S BEEN A DREAM FOR HOW MANY YEARS?

>> AT LEAST 25.

THAT'S AS MUCH AS I'M AWARE OF, AND I THINK, UH, YOU KNOW, THE BOARD AND THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY HAS REALLY RALLIED AROUND THIS MUSEUM, AND WE'RE REALLY THRILLED TO BE A PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

Huell: WELL, IT'S CALLED THE CLAREMONT MUSEUM... >> OF ART.

Huell: OF ART, AND IT'S A DREAM COME TRUE.

RIGHT ACROSS THE ATRIUM FROM THE MUSEUM OF ART IS ANOTHER VERY INTERESTING SPACE, AND HERE TO TELL US ABOUT IT IS... >> NORA QUINN.

Huell: OK, TELL US ABOUT THIS, BECAUSE LOOK AT THIS.

TO ME, IT LOOKS LIKE A BOOKSTORE, A USED BOOKSTORE, BUT IT'S A LOT MORE THAN THAT, ISN'T IT?

>> IT IS MORE THAN THAT, BUT YOU'RE NOT WRONG.

IT IS A USED BOOKSTORE.

IT'S 2 THINGS.

IT'S THE PRISON LIBRARY PROJECT AND THE THOREAU BOOKSTORE, AND THEY'RE ALL IN THIS LOCATION, AND THEY'RE PART OF THE CLAREMONT FORUM.

Huell: NOW, WAIT A MINUTE.

THE PRISON... >> LIBRARY PROJECT.

Huell: LIBRARY.

WHAT IS THAT ALL ABOUT?

>> WELL, I'LL SHOW YOU.

WE GET 300 LETTERS A WEEK FROM PRISONERS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

PEOPLE DONATE THEIR USED BOOKS.

THESE PEOPLE ARE WALKING AROUND.

THEY'VE READ THE LETTERS.

THEY'RE TRYING TO FIND BOOKS THAT MATCH THE REQUESTS, AND THEY'RE GONNA PILE IT-- THEM UP ON THOSE SHELVES... Huell: AND SEND 'EM OUT TO THE PRISONS.

>> AND SEND THEM OUT TO THE PRISONS.

Huell: NOW, WHERE WAS THIS LOCATED BEFORE THE OLD PACKING HOUSE OPENED UP THIS SPACE FOR YOU?

>> WELL, WE HAD A REALLY MISERABLE, INSANELY HOT, INDUSTRIAL-SPACE BUILDING DOWN BY THE RAILROAD TRACKS, WHERE THE TRAINS WOULD COME BY AND SET OFF OUR CAR ALARMS.

Huell: UH-HUH.

>> AND WE USED TO GO IN THERE AND SWELTER UNDER THE TIN ROOF.

Huell: NICE AND COOL IN HERE.

>> IT'S WONDERFUL IN HERE, AND IT'S PRETTY.

Huell: BEAUTIFUL, SHINY FLOORS.

YOU HAVE NICE NEIGHBORS.

THERE'S GOOD ENERGY HERE.

>> AND AS A RESULT, MORE PEOPLE ARE COMING IN AND BUYING BOOKS, SO WE'RE MAKING MONEY, AND WE'RE GETTING MORE VOLUNTEERS.

Huell: SO PEOPLE CAN COME IN HERE AND BUY USED BOOKS AS WELL.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE A PRISONER TO TAKE CARE OF--TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT, BECAUSE IF YOU'LL LOOK, YOU'LL SEE THAT WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF HARDBACKS, POPULAR FICTION, AND WE CAN'T REALLY MAIL HARDBACKS OUT TO PRISONS, SO WE SELL THEM TO GET THE MONEY FOR THE POSTAGE.

Huell: PEOPLE OUT THERE WATCHING, CAN THEY DONATE THEIR BOOKS TO YOU?

>> THEY CAN DONATE THEIR BOOKS, AND THEY CAN DONATE THEIR MONEY, AND THEY CAN COME DOWN HERE AND WORK AND HAVE THE-- Huell: DONATE THEIR TIME.

>> AND DONATE THEIR TIME.

Huell: IN THIS BEAUTIFUL, HISTORIC SPACE.

>> YES, IN THIS BEAUTIFUL, HISTORIC SPACE.

Huell: WHAT A WONDERFUL ORGANIZATION.

CONGRATULATIONS ON THE GOOD WORK YOU ARE DOING.

>> THANK YOU.

Huell: AND WELCOME TO YOUR NEW HOME.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOU COMING DOWN AND PACKING BOOKS.

Huell: HA!

I'LL BE HERE.

>> OUTSTANDING.

Huell: LEAVING THE BOOKSTORE-- GIVE US A WAVE.

WE ARE PASSING BY... Jerry: REPLAY, WHICH IS A VINTAGE CLOTHING STORE AND ART GALLERY.

Huell: SO YOU'VE GOT A CLOTHING STORE, AN ART GALLERY HERE.

AND THEN LOOK, RIGHT ACROSS THE WAY HERE IS A PLACE THAT LOOKS VERY INTERESTING.

LOOK WHAT WE GOT GOIN' ON IN THERE.

Jerry: THIS IS STUDIO CLAREMONT, THAT DOES ART CLASSES FOR KIDS AND AN ARTS--UH, KIDS ART GALLERY.

Huell: AW, WOW.

WHO'S IN CHARGE AROUND HERE?

Woman: I GUESS THAT WOULD BE ME.

Huell: COME ON OVER HERE AND TALK WITH US FOR A MINUTE.

WHAT'S GOIN' ON IN HERE?

>> WE'RE MAKING CLAY COIL POTS.

Huell: I KNOW YOU GOT CLAY.

IS THIS A--THIS IS A-- A PRIVATE BUSINESS?

>> IT IS A PRIVATE BUSINESS.

IT IS A PRIVATE BUSINESS.

I'VE BEEN A--A CREDENTIALED ART TEACHER FOR OVER 20 YEARS, AND, UH, DECIDED TO OPEN A STUDIO FOR ALL THE KIDS IN THE COMMUNITY, AND WE HAVE ADULT CLASSES.

Huell: I WAS GONNA SAY, BIG KIDS CAN COME IN HERE, TOO.

>> YES.

THERE ARE SOME BIG ONES, AND THERE ARE SOME LITTLE ONES.

Huell: WELL, I MEAN BIG, BIG ONES, LIKE ADULTS CAN COME IN HERE.

>> YES.

YES, YES, WE HAVE 'EM BOTH.

Huell: AND WHAT ABOUT THIS SPACE?

BECAUSE WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE OLD CITRUS PACKING HOUSE HAVING A NEW LIFE.

>> IT'S A PRETTY COOL SPACE, HUH?

IT'S PRETTY COOL, HUH?

Huell: YEAH.

>> UM, WELL, BACK HERE, YOU CAN SEE THAT THERE IS A--A GRAY SLAB OF CEMENT THERE, AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE THEY USED TO HAVE A HOLE IN THE WALL, AND THE TRAIN GOES RIGHT BY.

HAVE YOU HEARD THE TRAIN GO BY?

Huell: NO.

>> WELL, IT'S GONNA GO BY A COUPLE TIMES.

Huell: THAT'S PART OF HISTORY, THOUGH.

>> YEAH.

Huell: AND THAT'S THE ORIGINAL BLOCK WALL.

>> THE ORIGINAL BLOCK WALL.

Huell: AND YOU'VE GOT THE OLD METAL.

>> THE ORIGINAL-- YEAH, TRUSSES AND ALL-- Huell: SO THIS IS THE PERFECT PLACE FOR ARTISTIC... >> NATURAL LIGHT, YES.

Huell: ENDEAVORS TO GO ON.

>> YES, NATURAL LIGHT.

THE KIDS LOVE IT.

WE'VE GOT LOTS OF SPACE.

WE'VE GOT A KILN DOWNSTAIRS.

Huell: AND YOU'RE RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO THE CLAREMONT MUSEUM OF ART, SO FOR THE KIDS, THEY CAN BE INSPIRED THAT IF THEY DO WELL HERE, ONE DAY, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO MAYBE HAVE THEIR WORK... >> LOOK AT THEIR ART.

I THINK THEY'RE READY TO GO.

Huell: YEAH?

>> [LAUGHS] Huell: IT'S TIME TO TALK ABOUT THE HISTORICAL, HARD-CORE HISTORICAL FACTS ABOUT THE CITRUS PACKING HOUSE, AND I HAVE A FEELING THAT WE'VE COME UPON THE EXACT RIGHT PERSON TO DO THAT.

YOUR NAME IS... >> GINGER ELLIOT.

Huell: AND YOU ARE REPRESENTING THE... >> CLAREMONT HERITAGE.

Huell: CLAREMONT HERITAGE.

NOW, HOW DOES THIS FIT IN TO THE HERITAGE OF CLAREMONT?

>> THIS SPOT IS ALMOST SACRED GROUND.

THIS IS IN FACT WHERE THE INDUSTRY THAT KEPT THE TOWN GOING FOR 50 YEARS WAS CENTERED.

IT WAS HERE IN ONE OF 4 PACKING HOUSES THAT USED TO LINE THE TRACKS, WHERE PEOPLE BROUGHT THEIR ORANGES AND LEMONS TO BE PACKED AND THEN SHIPPED ON RAILROAD TRAINS TO GO BACK EAST.

AND IF THIS HADN'T BEEN THE INDUSTRY, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO TOWN.

Huell: NOW, THIS IS THE ONLY ONE OF THOSE 4 PACKING HOUSES THAT STILL STANDS.

THE OTHER 3 HAVE BEEN TORN DOWN.

>> THAT'S RIGHT, SO WE WERE REALLY LUCKY TO HAVE THIS ONE.

Huell: AND I'VE SEEN THE PICTURES.

THIS ONE RIGHT OVER HERE... >> RIGHT.

Huell: THIS WHOLE AREA WAS NOTHING BUT CITRUS GROVES.

>> BUT GROVES.

EVERYBODY THINKS OF CLAREMONT AS A COLLEGE TOWN 'CAUSE WE'VE GOT 7 COLLEGES, BUT IT WAS REALLY THE CITRUS GROVES THAT GAVE PEOPLE THE LIVING THEY NEEDED IN ORDER TO LIVE HERE AND PROSPER, AND A LOT OF THOSE GROWERS GAVE MONEY TO THE COLLEGES, SO IT WAS A VERY NICE ARRANGEMENT.

Huell: GOOD RELATIONSHIP.

>> YES.

Huell: BUT ISN'T IT INTERESTING THAT FOR A LOT OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO LIVE HERE, THEY WOULDN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT THAT EARLY CITRUS HISTORY, BECAUSE IT'S REALLY ALL DISAPPEARED ALMOST COMPLETELY, EXCEPT FOR THIS BUILDING.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THERE ARE A FEW BUILDINGS MADE OUT OF ROCKS THAT WE TELL THIRD GRADERS ARE ALL CITRUS BUILDINGS, BECAUSE THEY'RE ALL MADE OUT OF CLAREMONT POTATOES, BUT THIS IS WHERE THE BUSINESS REALLY WAS DONE, AND WE'RE SO GRATEFUL TO THE TESSIERS FOR S--YOU KNOW, GRABBING IT BACK AND NOT LETTING IT GET DEMOLISHED.

Huell: AND WHAT A WONDERFUL PLACE FOR YOU ALL TO TELL YOUR STORY, BECAUSE YOU'VE GOT A--A DISPLAY HERE.

YOU'VE GOT ANOTHER DISPLAY DOWN HERE THAT HAS SOME GREAT PICTURES IN IT OF WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED INSIDE THIS VERY BUILDING.

THESE PICTURES WERE MADE INSIDE THIS BUILDING.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

ALL THESE WOMEN STANDING BY THE BOXES OF FRUIT ON STANDS JUST LIKE THAT.

THESE ARE ALL ORIGINAL ARTIFACTS.

WRAPPING THEM IN TISSUE PAPER BECAUSE THEY WERE SUCH PREMIUM FRUIT.

Huell: WOW.

>> YOU KNOW, AND THEN PUTTING THOSE BEAUTIFUL CITRUS LABELS ON THE ENDS OF THE BOXES.

Huell: THE PRIDE THEY HAD... >> THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

Huell: IN THE WORK.

>> EXACTLY.

Huell: AND ISN'T IT INTERESTING THAT WHEN WE STAND HERE TODAY, YOU CAN ALMOST GO BACK IN TIME AND FEEL WHAT IT MUST HAVE FELT LIKE, THE ENERGY THAT WAS TAKING PLACE RIGHT HERE.

>> WELL, SO MANY OLDER BUILDINGS GET REDONE, BUT THEY GET REDONE IN A WAY YOU NEVER RECOGNIZE WHAT THEY WERE.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS WELL-WORN FLOOR AND YOU LOOK AT THE--THE CEILING AND THE STEEL POSTS AND EVERYTHING, YOU KNOW THIS WAS AN INDUSTRIAL BUILDING... Huell: YEAH.

>> THAT PEOPLE REALLY WORKED HERE AND HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WORKED HERE, YOU KNOW.

Huell: AND WHEN YOU SEE THESE PICTURES AND LOOK AT THESE FACES... >> RIGHT.

Huell: IT PERSONALIZES IT, AND YOU REALIZE THAT PEOPLE'S HOPES AND DREAMS... >> YEP.

Huell: WERE CENTERED IN THIS BUILDING.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

PEOPLE MADE THEIR LIVES BY WORKING HERE AND THEN LIVING ELSEWHERE IN CLAREMONT, BUT COMING BACK TO WORK HERE EVERY DAY.

Huell: THINGS ARE HOPPIN' HERE AT THE OLD CITRUS PACKING HOUSE.

NOW WE'RE MEETIN' UP WITH... >> NANCY TESSIER.

Huell: AND, NANCY, WHERE ARE WE RIGHT NOW?

>> UH, RIGHT NOW WE'RE AT THE HIP KITTY JAZZ AND FONDUE LOUNGE.

Huell: THE HIP KITTY JAZZ AND FONDUE LOUNGE.

WHAT'S THE STORY ON THAT?

>> WELL, UH, WE HAVE LIVE JAZZ EVERY NIGHT.

UH, WE DO FONDUE HERE AT THE BAR.

UM, AND IT'S JUST KIND OF A FUN, COOL NIGHTSPOT TO COME AND--AND HANG OUT AND HEAR SOME GOOD MUSIC.

Huell: WE'VE BEEN LOOKING AT THE ARCHITECTURE OF ALL OF THE SPACES.

THIS IS PERFECT... >> IT'S--IT IS.

Huell: FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOIN' HERE.

>> IT IS.

THE--THE SOUND IS BEAUTIFUL.

UM, IT RESONATES REALLY NICELY.

IT'S--IT'S JUST A BEAUTIFUL ATMOSPHERE.

Huell: YEAH.

AND, UH, OBVIOUSLY WE'RE HERE DURING THE DAY.

THE PLACE IS HOPPIN' AT NIGHT.

>> IT IS HOPPING AT NIGHT.

Huell: GOTTA HAVE A GOOD VIBE IN HERE.

>> YES.

YES.

ALL THESE LAMPS, UH, JUST--IT GIVES IT A REALLY NICE GLOW.

UH, YOU KNOW, THE--THE STAGE HAS A-- IT'S A PERFECT SETTING FOR-- FOR, YOU KNOW, A NICE JAZZ BAND.

Huell: AND PEOPLE HAVE DISCOVERED THIS PLACE.

THIS IS A NEW DESTINATION IN AN OLD SPACE.

>> YES, IT IS.

UH, WE'VE BEEN PACKED.

WE--EVERY THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY NIGHT, IT'S STANDING ROOM ONLY.

Huell: WOW.

>> YEAH.

Huell: WELL, IT'S EASY TO SEE WHY.

IT'S A PERFECT PLACE.

AND ONCE AGAIN, IT'S CALLED THE... >> THE HIP KITTY JAZZ AND FONDUE LOUNGE.

Huell: HIP KITTY JAZZ AND FONDUE LOUNGE.

BACK OUTSIDE, THERE'S THE HIP KITTY JAZZ AND FONDUE SIGN, BUT WE'RE STANDING IN FRONT OF ANOTHER SIGN.

I'D ACTUALLY SEEN THIS EARLIER IN THE DAY.

IT DIDN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME THEN.

IT'S BEGINNIN' TO MAKE SENSE TO ME NOW.

THIS IS NOT HERE BY ACCIDENT.

>> NO.

THE OLD BUILDING HAD SIGNS ON IT, AND SO, IN THE SPIRIT OF THAT, UH, NEW SIGNS HAVE BEEN INCORPORATED AND-- THAT AFFIX TO THE WALL.

Huell: NOW, IS EL PRIMO PART OF A HISTORY OF THIS BUILDING, OR IS THAT NEW?

>> WELL, JERRY, YOU WANNA--WHERE DID THE EL PRIMO COME FROM?

>> IT I--EL PRIMO WAS ACTUALLY ONE OF THE LEMON CRATE LABELS, AND IT WAS ONE OF THEIR SECOND-GRADE LABELS, NOT THEIR PREMIUM GRADE.

Huell: WAIT A MINUTE.

WHY WOULDN'T YOU PUT THE PREMIUM-GRADE SIGN ON THERE?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

MY THEORY IS-- MY THEORY, IT'S THE ONLY ONE I FOUND IN THE COLLEGE HEIGHTS ASSOCIATION THAT ACTUALLY HAS A SPANISH NAME ON IT.

Huell: AH.

EL PRIMO.

>> AND SO, UH, I DON'T KNOW MUCH MORE OF THE HISTORY OF THAT, BUT THIS ONE--THIS BUILDING WAS ONLY LEMON PACKING--ONLY LEMONS, AND THERE'S ABOUT--ABOUT A DOZEN LABELS, DIFFERENT LABELS THAT WE HAVE... Huell: JUST FOR LEMONS?

>> JUST FOR LEMONS.

Huell: WOW.

AND YOU MENTIONED COLLEGE HEIGHTS, AND NOW IT'S BEGINNIN' TO MAKE SENSE.

THERE'S THE COLLEGE HEIGHTS SIGN, WHICH REFERS BACK TO WHAT PART OF THE HISTORY?

Jerry: COLLEGE HEIGHTS WAS THE, UH, GROWERS ASSOCIATION THAT ACTUALLY OWNED THE BUILDING, AND THEY OWNED MANY PACKING HOUSES IN THE AREA, I THINK 4 OR 5.

Huell: 'CAUSE, SEE, I THINK PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY TODAY WOULD LOOK AT THAT AND NOT MAKE THE CONNECTION.

COLLEGE HEIGHTS?

>> PROBABLY THINK IT'S PART OF THE COLLEGES, THE CLAREMONT COLLEGES OR SOMETHING.

Huell: YEAH.

SO SEE, YOU'RE REIGNITING AN INTEREST AND A CURIOSITY IN THE HISTORY OF CLAREMONT.

>> AND IT'S THE COMMUNITY COMING TOGETHER.

THAT'S WHAT COLLEGE HEIGHTS WAS, AND THAT'S WHAT IT IS TODAY NOW IN A TRANSFORMED TO--FROM--FROM LEMONS TO ART.

Huell: BACK INSIDE, WE ARE WALKING UP TO THE SECOND FLOOR, BECAUSE THERE'S A WHOLE SECOND LEVEL TO THIS OLD PACKING HOUSE.

NOW, WAS THIS HERE ORIGINALLY?

WAS THERE A SECOND FLOOR?

>> IT WAS.

IT WAS ACTUALLY BUILT IN ABOUT 1945.

THE BUILDING ADDED A SECOND FLOOR, THE COLLEGE HEIGHTS ASSOCIATION, 'CAUSE THEY WERE DOIN' SO MUCH BUSINESS.

SO WE RENOVATED THE SECOND FLOOR, AND WE HAVE ABOUT 16 OF THOSE LOFTS, THOSE WORK-LIVE LOFTS I WAS TELLING YOU ABOUT.

THIS IS A FUNCTIONING... Huell: LOOK AT THIS.

>> ART GALLERY, ART STUDIO, AND AN APARTMENT.

Huell: THAT'S--CAN WE GO INSIDE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

Huell: OK TO WALK IN?

>> I--I THINK THEY'RE IN THERE.

Huell: HELLO.

Man: HELLO.

Huell: OH, THEY'RE WAITIN' ON US IN HERE.

>> HOW ARE YOU?

Huell: YOUR NAME IS... >> MICHAEL KNOTT.

Huell: ALL RIGHT, NOW THIS IS YOUR GALLERY, YOUR HOME, YOUR... >> YEAH, ALL THAT.

ALL THE ABOVE.

Huell: OH, WELL, THE GALLERY KIND OF COMES INTO YOUR HOME.

>> YES, IT DOES, AND IT GOES ALL THE WAY UPSTAIRS AS WELL.

Huell: SO WHAT'S IT LIKE TO LIVE--HERE'S YOUR KITCHEN OVER HERE.

>> MM-HMM.

Huell: WHAT'S IT LIKE TO LIVE IN A SPACE LIKE THIS?

>> I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO IT.

IT'S JUST THE--IT'S SO FUN TO ACTUALLY LIVE WITH THE-- THE THINGS THAT YOU LOVE, THE ARTWORK AND EVERYTHING.

AND SO, IT'S JUST BEEN A WONDERFUL THING.

Huell: LOOKIN' OUT FROM THE BALCONY HERE BACK DOWN ONTO THE FIRST FLOOR, YOU REALLY GET A GOOD SENSE OF THE PLACE FROM UP HERE.

>> YEAH, THIS IS ONE OF THE-- MY FAVORITE AREAS, BECAUSE YOU GET A--YOU CAN LOOK DOWN FROM UP ABOVE HERE, SEE THOSE-- THE ATRIUM BELOW.

BUT THE SPACE OPENS UP, AND IT'S ALL DAY-LIT, AND YOU REALLY ARE UP IN THE TRUSSES HERE AND HAVE A GOOD FEELING OF WHAT--WHAT THE PLACE IS ALL ABOUT.

Huell: AND WE'RE STANDIN' IN FRONT OF ANOTHER PLACE OVER HERE, PHEBIE'S NEEDLE ART, SO YOU'VE KIND OF PICKED BUSINESSES THAT ARE LOCAL, THAT ARE KIND OF FAMILY-RUN, THAT KIND OF MATCH THE--THE FEEL OF THE PLACE.

>> YEAH, WE ACTUALLY TURNED AWAY LITERALLY DOZENS OF BUSINESSES, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T WANT THE CELLPHONE STORE OR THE-- Huell: YEAH.

>> YOU KNOW, YOUR TYPICAL STORE, AND WE ALSO WANTED MORE MOM-AND-POP, LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS.

THERE'S NO CHAINS HERE.

THERE'S NO CORPORATE-OWNED RESTAURANTS.

WE SET OUR RENT MUCH LOWER THAN NEIGHBORING, UH, NEW BUI-BUILDINGS, JUST SO WE COULD AFFORD TO ATTRACT PEOPLE LIKE PHEBIE'S NEEDLE ART.

YOU KNOW... Huell: YEAH.

>> THEY CAN'T AFFORD RENT, LIKE, IN PASADENA OR L.A. Huell: SO DO YOU FIND THAT PEOPLE JUST KIND OF COME IN HERE NOW AND WANDER AROUND AND EXPLORE THE BUILDING, THE NOOKS AND CRANNIES AND... >> THERE ARE PEOPLE IN HERE LITERALLY 24/7, AND IT'S-- I SEE STROLLERS AND DOGS AND-- AND SENIOR CITIZENS AND KIDS, AND IT'S JUST--IT'S SO MULTIGENERATIONAL.

IT'S AWESOME.

Huell: PEOPLE LIVING HERE, PEOPLE SHOPPING HERE, PEOPLE EATING HERE, PEOPLE LISTENING TO JAZZ HERE.

>> LITERALLY TILL 2:00 IN THE MORNING.

WE HAVE BUSINESSES THAT OPEN AT 6 A.M., THE COFFEE SHOP, AND THEN WE HAVE A JAZZ CLUB THAT CLOSES AT 2 A.M. Huell: WE'RE ENDIN' UP EXACTLY WHERE WE STARTED OUR ADVENTURE, AND THANK YOU, FELLAS, VERY MUCH.

YOU HAVE GIVEN US THE GRAND TOUR OF THIS WONDERFUL PLACE.

IS IT LITERALLY CALLED THE CITRUS PACKING HOUSE?

>> WELL, WE CALL IT THE CLAREMONT PACKING HOUSE.

Huell: SO IT--BUT EVERYBODY IN TOWN KNOWS IT AS... >> THE PACKING HOUSE.

Huell: THE PACKING HOUSE, WHICH IS NOW ALIVE AND WELL AND THRIVING.

IT'S A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE LIVE, WHERE PEOPLE WORK.

IT'S--IT COVERS ALL THE BASES, AND AS WE SAID WHEN WE STARTED THIS ADVENTURE, IT'S AN HONEST-TO-GOODNESS TRUE CALIFORNIA SUCCESS STORY, BECAUSE VERY EASILY-- LET'S REITERATE HOW EASILY-- THIS COULD HAVE VANISHED FROM THE LANDSCAPE FOREVER.

>> WELL, WE'RE SO HAPPY TO HAVE REBUILT IT AND BEEN PART OF THAT HISTORY, AND IT'S AN EXCITING PLACE TO VISIT AND HANG OUT AND GO TO THE RESTAURANTS AND THE RETAIL STORES AND--AND TO LIVE.

Huell: YEAH.

>> AND IT--WE THINK IT'S A GREAT PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO COME SEE.

Huell: WELL, CONGRATULATIONS.

AS THE OWNER, CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANK YOU.

Huell: WHO SAW THE VISION IN THIS RUN-DOWN, OLD PACKING HOUSE.

TO YOU AS ONE OF THE ARCHITECTS... >> THANK YOU.

Huell: WHO HELPED PUT ALL OF THIS GRAND PLAN TOGETHER.

>> WELL, A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE BEEN INVOLVED, AND IT'S REALLY FUN TO SEE IT ALL COME TOGETHER.

Huell: WELL, THIS IS A DESTINATION NOW.

WHEN YOU COME TO CLAREMONT, YOU GOTTA VISIT THIS PLACE TO EAT, TO LISTEN TO MUSIC, TO JUST KIND OF WALK AROUND AND SOAK IN THE HISTORY AND THE ENERGY OF THIS PLACE, BECAUSE NOT ONLY IS IT FILLED WITH HISTORY, BUT IT'S ALL ABOUT THE FUTURE OF CLAREMONT AS WELL, SO IT ALL COMES TOGETHER UNDER THIS ONE ROOF.

>> CLAREMONT'S A GREAT TOWN TO VISIT.

IT'S A GREAT DOWNTOWN, AND WE--WE HOPE--I THINK PEOPLE WILL COME IN DROVES NOW THAT THIS IS OPEN FINALLY.

Huell: I HOPE YOU DO COME AND TAKE A LOOK AT IT AND SOAK IT ALL IN LIKE WE DID TODAY.

LET'S TAKE ONE MORE LOOK AT IT.

THERE IT IS, THE OLD CITRUS PACKING HOUSE RIGHT DOWN HERE IN DOWNTOWN CLAREMONT, A WONDERFUL PART OF LIFE HERE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

IT'S BACK BETTER THAN EVER.

[CAPTIONING MADE POSSIBLE BY KEPT PUBLIC TELEVISION AND FRIENDS OF NCI] Announcer: VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.

[CAPTIONED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE --www.ncicap.org--]