Pacific Grove Monarch Conservancy :: Brokaw Hall & Del Monte Mil. Academy

The small cottage located within the boundaries of the Pacific Grove Monarch Sanctuary dates from 1914, when the property was owned by Del Monte Hotel manager Holden R. Warner. In these early days, the Sanctuary property lay outside the city of Pacific Grove's boundaries. Mr. Warner also owned the large two-story c.1914 house on the property, and probably planted the row of eucalyptus trees that now forms the monarch butterflies' favorite roost site.

Brokaw Hall has been demolished by its owner, the City of Pacific Grove.

The space where Brokaw Hall stood for 97 years















The space where Brokaw Hall stood for 97 years, photo bt Sharon Blaziek (taken on July 6, 2011).

Brokaw Hall condemned & fenced










Brokaw Hall on March 31, 2011. It has been condemned (notice posted on door) and fenced off.














Brokaw Hall c.1925, from promotional material from Del Monte Military Academy (courtesy Pat & Sally Herrgott).

In 1924, the property became the grounds of the Del Monte Military Academy, an educational institution dedicated to a well-rounded education that included academics, as well as swimming, fishing, boxing, dancing, camping, baseball, basketball, and horseback riding. The small house became housing for some of the staff, and was dubbed "Brokaw Hall."














The motel adjacent to the Monarch Grove Sanctuary still uses some of the buildings originally built as student barracks (courtesy Pat & Sally Herrgott).

boxing at DMA














Photo from Del Monte Military Academy promotional material, c. 1925, (courtesy Pat & Sally Herrgott).

The DMMA yearbook, The Pointer, boasted that the school was "located in Pacific Grove, adjacent to 'The World-Famous Del Monte Forests,' overlooking Monterey Bay. In the Pine Forests, surrounded by the most beautiful works of nature."
Lamb Hall, the main building at Del Monte Military Academy still sits on the Butterfly Grove Motel side of Pacific Grove's Monarch Grove Sanctuary. Warner house in 2011
(Left) Lamb Hall, the main building at Del Monte Military Academy still sits on the Butterfly Grove Motel side of Pacific Grove's Monarch Grove Sanctuary. c.1925, from promotional material from Del Monte Military Academy, The house dates from 1914. (photo courtesy Pat & Sally Herrgott). (Right) The Warner house in 2011.

"The Moorings," home to Del Monte Military Academy's infirmary.













"The Moorings," originally the home of Admiral Chancy Thomas, is at 254 Grove Acre Avenue. In the 1920s, it housed the Pine Grove Sanitarium, operated by Mrs. Roe Shepard. It was leased as as the Del Monte Military Academy's infirmary. c.1925, from promotional material from Del Monte Military Academy, (courtesy Pat & Sally Herrgott).
Views of the Warner house c. 1925 and in 2011
Views of the Warner house c. 1925 and in 2011

Del Monte Military Academy staff:
QuinnCommander Quinn
 hicksCapt. F.W. Hicks taylorCapt. G.D. Taylor
loveland
Capt. Carl Loveland		 lovelandLt. J.W. Loveland inmanCapt. D.W. Inman

evansMiss Ann Evans
 markoCapt. R. Marko greenMiss D. Green

Del Monte Military Academy Students:
Raymond George MartinRaymond George Martin
Willioam BuckmanWilliam Hibbs Buckman
Robert KerrRobert George Kerr
Frank CraigFrank Edward Craig


pointer21
William Hart, Cedric Geary, Jack Otten, Robert Jones
John Rourk, Jack Reynolds, Park Norton
Linwood Leffler, Henry Martin, Stewart Dinwiddie
"Wannie" Cooper, "Rex" Shields, Herman Rauhut, Howard Thew

Pointer p.24






















Carl Loveland, Robert Ford, David Small
Lee Lundqvist, David Rhoades, Edwin Beatty, Ralph Chelli
Curtis Shoemaker, William Rhoades, Eugene Robinson

Del Monte Military Academy was hard-hit by the Great Depression, and ceased functioning. The property served as a forestry camp through the 1930s.

In the mid-20th century, the Warner house became the home of Milar's Butterfly Museum, which interpreted the Butterfly Trees for visitors and sold souvenirs. Today, it is part of the Butterfly Grove Inn.

Butterfly Tree sign next to the Warner house














Butterfly Tree sign next to the Warner house.

Souvenirs from the Milar Butterfly Museum


















Souvenirs from the Milar Butterfly Museum

Pacific Grove Mayor Flo Shaefer cuts the ribbon to the Monarch Grove Sanctuary. August 20, 1992.













Pacific Grove Mayor Flo Schaefer cuts the ribbon at the opening of the Monarch Grove Sanctuary on August 20, 1992.
Photo courtesy Sally Herrgott.

The small house (Brokaw Hall) eventually got remodeled into a duplex rental unit. When the City of Pacific Grove obtained the property in the early 1990s, the duplex was boarded up. In the mid-1990s, Pacific Grove City Council voted to discontinue any use there, and electrical and plumbing was removed. Since then, it has deteriorated further.