The Redlands Area Historical Society, Inc.
October Program
“Larry Dierdorff, Muralist of Redlands”
Monday, October 29, 2024
7:00 p.m.
Contemporary Club
173 S. Eureka Street
The Redlands Area Historical Society is excited to present Larry Dierdorff, the muralist of Redlands, for our October 29 program at the Contemporary Club at 7:00 pm.
Every citizen of Redlands has enjoyed his painting for decades in the downtown and schools. Dierdorff has close to 150 murals throughout Redlands. His work is displayed in Umbrella Alley on the brick walls of businesses.
Most Redlanders began to notice his murals when Dierdorff completed restoration of the advertising on one wall facing Ed Hales Park. Dierdorff chose to restore one advertisement for soap choosing from several ads on the wall hidden by an old post office and furniture store that was torn down in the 1970s.
Dierdorff enjoyed a career teaching art at Fontana’s A. B. Miller High School. He switched to murals after retirement and is a self-taught artist. He credits his wife Gail, for providing a second pair of eyes to guide his paintings.
One of the latest restoration projects appears on the oldest warehouse of Redlands on Stuart Street opposite the Santa Fe Depot. The restored signage recalls the 1920s when Allen Wheaton, a Redlands mayor, owned the building. The colorful exterior brick wall advertises hay, grain, wood, coal and fertilizer. Former owners such as E. M. Cope, Grigsby and James Edwards once owned the 1889 warehouse. A photo copied from the Redlands Daily Facts shows Larry Dierdorff stretched out high on a ladder painting high letters.
His work also includes the giant road map on the wall at the Union 76 station on Redlands Blvd. The restoration shows a map from 1946 when Redlands Blvd. was Highway 99 before Interstate 10 in 1962.
Larry Dierdorff makes us all recall bits of Redlands history from the citrus industry, advertising signage, and children playing at school. We hope he continues to mural our history for years to come.
Historical Society’s programs are open to all. The author will have copies of his book for sale at the program.
Visit rahs.org/calendar to view the program via Zoom. For further information call the Historical Society at (909) 307-4661.
