Edward Libbey

In 1888 Edward Libbey moved the New England Glass Company from Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Toledo, Ohio.

He saw the Ojai Valley and 'fell in love,' thinking up many plans for expansion and beautification of the existing rustic town.

Afterwards Libbey helped design, finance, and build a new downtown more in line with the newly popular Spanish Colonial Revival style of architecture.

To thank Libbey for his gifts to the town, the citizens proposed a celebration to take place on March 2 of each year.

The arcade and bell tower still stand, and have come to serve as symbols of the city and the surrounding valley.

Edward Drummond Libbey (1854-1925) and his wife Florence Scott Libbey (1863-1938), ca. 1901.