On January 1, 1922, Bethany Temple was dedicated. The now historic domed cobblestone church was designed and built by the nearly blind Louis D. Corneulle. The new Congregational Church structure was completed on Sierra Madre Ave; the Romanesque Revival building was designed by Marsh, Smith, & Powell. In July 1927, the Sierra Madre Kiwanis Club was formed. On April 21, 1931, the first meeting of the Sierra Madre Historical Society took place, in conjunction with the city's 50th anniversary celebration. In 1936, a city ordinance officially changed the name of Central Avenue to Sierra Madre Blvd. In March 1938, a disastrous storm and the resulting flood destroyed many resorts in the local mountains, and also ravaged the (John) Muir Lodge in Big Santa Anita Canyon above Sierra Madre. No trace remains of it today. In 1940, the city purchased of land in the San Gabriel Mountains near Orchard Camp to avoid contamination of the water supply.
on JANUArY 1, 1922, beTHaNY TeMple waS deDicated. tHe nOw historIc domed CoBbleStone churcH wAs desIgNEd AnD BuiLt BY thE nearlY bLind louIs d. CORnEULle. ThE new congregaTIonal Church structUre was complETED On sierra mAdre aVE; the rOmanEsQue revival BuilDing waS DeSIGnED by MaRSh, sMith, & pOweLl. In july 1927, the siErra MaDrE kiWanis clUb was FormED. on aprIl 21, 1931, the FiRSt meeting of The SierRA MadRe hIstoRIcal sOCiety tooK place, In coNJUnctiOn with thE CITY's 50th aNniversarY celebraTion. in 1936, A cIty ORdiNAnce ofFicIally chaNGeD tHE nAme of CentrAl aVEnue to sierRa maDre BLvD. IN maRch 1938, a DiSastRoUs stORm And tHe resULtinG FLoOd DEstrOYeD many ReSorts in tHe LocaL MOunTaIns, aNd aLsO raVAGED THE (jOHN) MUIr LodGe in bIg sAnta anita canYon aBoVe SIErra maDRe. nO traCe remaiNs OF it todAy. in 1940, ThE cItY pUrchAsEd oF LanD in thE San gabriEL MouNTaIns neaR ORchArd camP to aVOid CoNTaMinATIOn OF The WAter suPPly.