Miss Orton's Classical School for Girls (Dormitory)
Also known as: Lutheran Home
Why it's listed
Built in 1900 at 154 South Euclid Avenue in Pasadena, this 2-1/2 story Colonial Revival building served as the dormitory of Miss Orton's Classical School for Girls. Anna B. Orton founded the school in 1890 to prepare young women for entrance to Eastern colleges, and it was the only non-parochial private girls' school in Pasadena for twenty-three years, until 1913. The school closed in 1930. The wood-sided dormitory has a brick foundation, an L-shaped plan, a columned porch, fluted pilasters, and foliage-decorated front gables. Frederick L. Roehrig designed it, and it is probably his only Victorian Colonial Revival work in Pasadena. A Craftsman bungalow he designed in 1908 for Miss Orton's household stands nearby but was moved in 1947 and is counted as non-contributing. The dormitory is considered the oldest surviving educational building in the city and reflects growing opportunities for women's higher education.
Significance in brief: It is argued to be significant locally under Criterion A as a leading early private academy in Pasadena that prepared young women for Eastern colleges, and as the oldest remaining educational building in the city. It is also tied to architect Frederick L. Roehrig, probably his only Victorian Colonial Revival work in Pasadena and possibly his only educational structure.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 95000998, listed August 4, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 154 S. Euclid Ave., Pasadena |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | August 4, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95000998 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900-1930 |
| Architect / builder | Roehrig, Frederick L., Architect; Daniels & Perry, Builders |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Exterior described as in excellent condition; the property is currently used as a sanitarium/healthcare facility (Lutheran Home), and the integrity of the wider site has been affected by relocated and demolished structures. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 34.15269, -118.14294 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 95000998.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15253641
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.