The Dwayne Hunn Collection, housed at the Rubel Castle Historic District located at 844 North Live Oak Avenue, Glendora, California, is made up of slides and photographs taken by Dwayne Hunn between 1966-1987. Other materials in this collection (not included as part of the digital project) include correspondence ephemera and audio cassette recordings (1966-2007). For more information on the collection see The Glendora Historical Society Newsletter & Archive (Jan.-Feb. 2023).
After completing high school in Cleveland, Ohio, and studying Political Science and Economics at a small college in Indiana, Hunn joined the Peace Corps, volunteering for two years in urban community development in Mumbai, India. Employment as high school teacher brought him to Glendora, California, where he rented a studio apartment from Michael Clarke Rubel. Hunn lived and helped with building projects at the "Rubel Farm" (also known as Albourne Rancho, Rubel Pharm, Tin Palace, or Rubelia) from 1968-1976. Hunn continued his education at San Francisco State University and Claremont Graduate University earning a Ph.D. in Government in 1984. He continued work as an educator, and Executive Director of People's Lobby Inc., advocating for political and environmental reform and lobbying for the creation of American World Service Corps. In 2010, Hunn published a Rubel Castle focused memoir titled, Every Town Needs a Castle.
Hunn captured rare glimpses of construction and transformation that would become the monumental folk art environment, Rubel Castle Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2013. The images document construction of the Tree House, Chip House, Castle Complex, Machine Shop, and Clock Tower. Other images show massive flood damage sustained in 1969 Glendora foothill area of the San Gabriel Mountains, as well as community gatherings and a celebration marking the completion of the Castle in 1986. Other images capture Hunn's life experiences, living space and his Peace Corps service work and conditions in India.
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The Glendora Historical Society is a 501c3 non-profit established in 1947 with a mission to preserve the history of Glendora and the surrounding area. Michael Rubel donated the Castle to the Society in 2005, with a goal to create a museum and educational space for the community.
The collection was generously donated by Dwayne Hunn to the Glendora Historical Society.