In the early spring of 1949, the stately red brick buildings of Claremont Manor were, according to its founders, “surrounded by black dirt, blacker mud and some orange trees.” With dedication ceremonies planned for April 30 of that year, prominent Claremont citrus rancher Lee Pitzer, who had donated the 10- acre site, took matters into his own hands with a sledge and a team of ranch horses. By the Saturday afternoon of the dedication, Pitzer had smoothed a road from Harrison Avenue south to the front entrance of the Manor. And with glorious flower arrangements from local Claremont businesses adorning the third floor hall, Claremont Manor was officially born.

During the remainder of 1949, the original “Lords and Ladies of the Manor” lived without the amenities of sidewalks and contended with, as one resident put it, “dust when dry and mud when wet.” But the residents numbered 177 by the end of that year, and according to one account, “kept arriving as fast as their rooms were ready. Each new improvement was greeted with joy.”

Over the years, Claremont Manor has grown and blossomed into a diverse neighborhood that continues to attract the same kind of spirited individuals seeking a carefree retirement life. Today, as you stroll among the redwood, ash and jacaranda trees, you’ll discover a variety of different places to live beyond the main red brick manor – from studios, apartments and villas to cottages, many with garages and extra storage.

And like all great neighborhoods, there’s an eclectic blend of architecture that gives the place a distinct character and charm, made all the more lush by gardens at every turn. It’s a community rich with choices, with the flexibility to live where you want, and how you want.

Claremont Manor is part of the Front Porch family of retirement communities and is supported philanthropically by the Pacific Homes Foundation.