William S. Sparr, the Founder of Sparr Heights was a native of Indiana. He came to California from Florida in 1898 with the idea of investing in citrus, namely the neglected lemon groves that were numerous at the time. Sparr put his money into groves located in Ventura, Riverside and Orange counties. He also bought acreage now known as Sparr Heights. Sparr built and operated his packing houses in Lamanda Park and Glendale.The Sparr Heights Packing House was located along Glendale Avenue at Verdugo Road. Sparr made his fortune in lemons and later subdivided his holding and gained handsome financial returns. One of his projects was the Sparr Heights building. Dedicated on December 17, 1922, it was a joint venture of William Sparr, Leslie Franks, a Senator from Iowa, Harman Barnum of Eagle Rock, and M.C. Walters of Hollywood.
On dedication day, the keynote speaker was John Steven McGroarty, the poet laureate of California and resident of Tujunga. The building was used as the subdivision offices of the Sparr Heights Realty Corporation.
In 1930, Sparr Realty was selling property to the north and east of Oakmont Country Club in which was then known as Oakmont Park. The promotional brochure of the time offered homes costing from $15,000 to $40,000 dollars, heavy prices at the depth of the Depression.
The Sparr Heights building has since been turned over to the City of Glendale and used as a meeting place for Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Campfire groups and social events. In 1922, it was the only building in the area perched on a knoll. Today, the Sparr Heights area is located on the west side of Verdugo Boulevard and Montecito Park on the east. In November 1988, the Sparr Heights building was rededicated as the Senior Citizen Center in Montrose and is celebration its 71st year.