by John Neiuber

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

– Margaret Mead

Anthropologist Margaret Mead possessed insights into culture, education, and the power of the individual to bring about change. This column looks at some of the people whose individual and collective efforts are the stuff of which legacy is made as we celebrate the 50^th anniversary of Claremont Heritage.

Judy Wright

If not for Judy Wright the preservation focus of Claremont would not be as strong as it is today. When Judy arrived in Claremont in 1972 it was a year after a group of citizens worked to establish the Claremont Historic District. She immediately became involved in those efforts and in 1976 helped found Claremont Heritage.

The late Judy Wright’s contributions to the preservation movement in Claremont are immeasurable.
Courier file photo

Judy formed the Claremont Historic Resources Center, which was staffed by Claremont Heritage and conducted the initial historic resources survey. Throughout her tenure and guided by her leadership the center worked on the Claremont General Plan’s Historic Preservation Element, prepared a demolition ordinance designed to protect historic structures, conducted a survey of the remaining citrus areas, developed self-guided walking tours, and numerous other preservation projects.

After an architect hired to survey the town concluded it had few preservation-worthy buildings, Judy was inspired to publish the first edition of “Claremont – A Pictorial History” in 1980. It was often said that “the men built the colleges but the women built the town.” In response, in 2007 she published “Claremont Women: 1887-1950” about the many women who contributed to the city. She also wrote a history column for this newspaper until her passing in 2012.

Ginger Elliott

For 25 years Eugenia “Ginger” Elliott was the public face of Claremont Heritage. After working closely with Judy Wright and others as a volunteer with Claremont Heritage and the Historic Resources Center, she became the executive director in 1983 until her retirement in 2008.

Ginger earned her master’s degree in history from Boston College. She and her husband Thomas moved to Claremont in the 1970s via Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she had been an assistant dean at the University of Michigan. In Claremont she worked as a registrar at the University of La Verne School of Law and as an admissions counselor at Pomona College.

The late Ginger Elliott was Claremont Heritage’s executive director of for 25 years.
Courier file photo

During her tenure as the executive director of Claremont Heritage, Ginger put her degree in history to work. She researched, wrote, and conducted walking tours of the Claremont Village and Claremont Colleges. She was responsible for the content and creation of the third grade history program and personally visited classrooms and delivered lessons, bringing a trunk full of artifacts that illustrated the history of Claremont. She arranged buses for each classroom and took children on tours of Claremont to see and experience all of the places she shared in the lessons.

Ginger was also responsible for negotiating with the city for the rental of the Garner House for the Claremont Heritage offices. She also raised funds to begin the restoration of Garner House. She was also instrumental in the city’s establishment of the Mills Act and its expansion to cover all historic properties in 2009.

David Shearer

David Shearer has been the executive director of Claremont Heritage since 2010. During his tenure the status and activities of the organization have grown measurably. Its income and budget have increased in excess of 700%, allowing it to expand its stature, influence, and programs. He has mounted several highly praised exhibitions, expanded the educational programming, produced documentaries, and overseen the restoration of the Garner House.

David was born in Colorado, grew up in Minneapolis and Chicago, and moved with his family to Glendora when he was in high school. He studied architecture and art history at the University of Minnesota and did postgraduate work at the Drucker Institute at CGU.

David Shearer has served as executive director of Claremont Heritage since 2010. Photo/courtesy of Reine Bouret

After college, he embarked on a career focused on design and architecture. He coordinated interior designs for BWBR Architects in St. Paul, Minnesota, founding Geometrie Gallery of 20^th Century Design in Minneapolis. In New York City he managed three Modern Age stores and was the founder and creative director of Totem Design Group, which focused on contemporary design and decorative arts. David also mounted several exhibitions for Exhibitions International, including traveling shows of Louis Comfort Tiffany and Frank Lloyd Wright. After moving back to California, he opened OBJCT Gallery in Claremont, which focused on the intersection of art and design.

Through his creative exhibitions documenting the history and culture of Claremont, producing documentaries, and consulting with homeowners and city planning staff, David continues to strengthen the preservation initiatives of Claremont Heritage.