When wildfires devastated Altadena in early 2025, they destroyed much of the town’s residential architecture—but not all of it. In hundreds of homes, original tile fireplace surrounds remained intact amid the rubble. Now, a volunteer army of residents, preservationists, and heritage groups is racing to save what’s left: century-old handcrafted tiles tied to the town’s Arts and Crafts legacy.
Altadena Arts and Crafts Tile History
While many of the region’s tiles are attributed to Ernest Batchelder, other local makers like Claycraft Potteries and Gladding-McBean also contributed to Altadena’s historic tilework. These tiles were designed to withstand the heat of kilns—making them remarkably resilient against wildfire. Today, they’re often the only visible remnants left behind.
Ernest Batchelder, a pioneer of the Arts and Crafts movement, began producing tiles in 1910 from a small kiln behind his Pasadena bungalow. His tiles—earthy in tone, matte in finish, and inspired by medieval and Art Nouveau motifs—quickly found their way into homes throughout Altadena and beyond. At their peak in the 1920s, Batchelder’s designs adorned civic buildings, private residences, and even the Hotel Hershey in Pennsylvania.
Credit: Save the Tiles
‘Save the Tiles’ Group
The group behind the recovery, Save the Tiles, is removing, cataloging, and storing tiles at no cost to homeowners. So far, they’ve salvaged over 12,000 pounds of tile from the burn zone. Volunteers work in safety gear to extract tiles from chimneys and hearths before demolition crews clear the lots. The ultimate goal is to return preserved tiles to families rebuilding their homes or to preserve them in the town’s historical record.
These efforts are more than salvage missions: They’re statements of identity, and let’s face it, reproductions tiles don’t carry the same weight. Altadena was founded by naturalists, artists, and engineers over a century ago and has long been characterized by its embrace of handcrafted design and harmony with nature. The tiles represent not only a design aesthetic, but a community’s values—ones that still endure.
Even amidst the destruction, Altadena is determined to rise. As the group puts it, “These tiles may be the only surviving link between Altadena’s historic homes and our town’s future.” If you’d like to support the recovery efforts, you can donate to the group’s GoFundMe.
