When Mr. and Mrs. James R. Brehm died in 1962 they bequeathed El Molino Viejo to the City of San Marino. A special Mayor’s Committee was created to explore all the possibilities of appropriate use for The Old Mill. In 1965, after much discussion and many field trips to other historical landmarks, the Mayor’s Committee and the City of San Marino invited the California Historical Society (CHS) to take up residency and operate The Old Mill as their Southern California Headquarters. CHS operated and created community historical programs at The Mill for thirty years. In 1995, the Society consolidated their operations to a central office in San Francisco.

The Old Mill Foundation was formed in 1995, as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with its sole purpose to maintain, preserve and operate The Old Mill. As a part of that mission, the Foundation develops and creates many artistic, educational and community programs at The Old Mill. The Foundation is comprised of two part-time staff members and a volunteer Board of Trustees.