Boy Scouts of America Receive Torrance Home as Legacy Gift

For Immediate Release
Contact Name: Nate Nusbaum

Contact Number: 213-413-4400, ext 310

Email: nate.nusbaum@boyscoutsla.org

Local Teacher and Historian leaves home to the Boy Scouts

Scouting’s original founder, Lord Robert Baden-Powell, lived by an interesting motto: “We only have a short time to live, so we must do things that are worthwhile, and do them now”.

Few things are as important as making a difference in a young person’s life unless its seeing the difference that same young person can make in the community, and in the lives of others. Glen Dale Schwendemann a long term Torrance resident recognized the value Scouting had to society and bequeathed his home to the Los Angeles Area Council serving the south bay communities.

According to David Meshulam, Endowment Chair for the LAA Council, Mr. Schwendemann was most generous and quite fond of Scouting. Meshulam said Schwendemann specifically restricted his gift for camperships. He wanted the proceeds from the sale of his house to benefit children who could not afford to attend summer camp. Meshulam said the Council was told by his surviving sister, Ruth Yospha that Glen was a boy scout and even served as a scout master.

Glen Schwendemann was a native of Oklahoma. He was a graduate of the University of Oklahoma, Norman. He moved to California in the 60’s. Schwendemann was a historian writing papers about post civil war activities in the plains of Kansas and Missouri. He was a collector of rare books and in 2005 he donated his collection dating from 1556 to California State University, Dominguez Hills. After retiring as a Torrance history teacher he became a book binder and personally rebound and repaired hundreds of books. Mr. Schwendemann's interest in rare book collecting reflects both his interest in historic exploration and excavation, and his skill at repairing books damaged by misuse or age. As reported on the CSCU web site, Schwendemann worked in his garage/book bindery and would de-acidify the books, sew the binding and cover the books with decorative paper and a leather, cloth or vellum casing. The books are both beautiful and usable thanks to Schwendemann's expertise. He also was phenomenal at cabinetry making many of his own tables.


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Local Teacher and Historian leaves home to the Boy Scouts


While he was not married and did not have children he was quite active. In his personal files were letters from several of his students who would correspond with him in later years to thank Schwendemann for being such a wonderful role model for young people. These testimonials were numerous and spoke volumes about his teaching style said to be “interesting and fun”. Many of his students referred to him as Schwendy for his easy going style.

The house is located at 1515 Acacia Avenue was built in 1927 on a beautifully tree lined street in Torrance. It has beautiful hand laid parquet wood floors and is approximately 1460 square feet. Glen Schwendemann’s home is listed with David White, South Bay Brokers in Manhattan Beach. Contact information is 310-916-1533.

On a wonderful note, a number of Contractors of which many were Scouts themselves have donated their labor, time and resources to repair the home to its former stature. The Los Angeles Area Council gratefully acknowledges; Troy Kumprey and Kevin Quartemont – TKO Painting, Robert Padron – Alto’s Construction, Bob Levy – Bob Levy Roofing, Liz Dye and Eagle Scout David Dye – Pacific District Committee.

Donating your home to the Scouts could entitle you to some significant benefits, and at the same time provide important resources for the youth of our community. To learn more about the many giving opportunities available through Scouting, please contact the Los Angeles Area Council for a private consultation (213) 413-4400.

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