Historical Observer
419 So. Lorraine Avenue, Windsor Square
From “The Historical Observer” Fall 1988 “Sunshine Hill” is the name given to the Greek Revival estate originally designed for Mrs. Jeanette Donovan by architect Theodore Eisen in 1913. Built of sold California redwood, the house is a rare example in this area of the Classical Revival style so widely imitated on the west coast at the…
Read More404 So. Irving Boulevard, Windsor Square
From “The Historical Observer” Fall-Winter 1991 Built in 1919, the Golay home is a two-story Mediterranean house with 4,888 square foot of living space including 7 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms. In the foyer of the house are Directoire style sconces and a Chippendale settee. The house features a French chandelier of crystal and gilt in the…
Read More454 So. Windsor Boulevard, Windsor Square
Windsor Square, Hancock Park and Fremont Place have traditionally valued solitude, privacy and anonymity which might explain why the area is not a mecca for Hollywood personalities whose life styles call for public attention. In earlier days, however, some of Hollywood’s biggest stars lived in the neighborhood including Mary Pickford, John Barrymore, Harold Lloyd, Lewis…
Read More455 So. Lorraine Boulevard
Architects: J. Martyn Haenke, William Dodd, Julia Morgan When architects J. Martyn Haenke, William Dodd, and Julia Morgan designed this house for Dr. Peter Janss in 1913, Beaux-Arts was the last word in design. Julia Morgan‘s most famous designs and collaborations are the Fairmont Hotel, the Hopi gift shop at the Grand Canyon, and numerous projects…
Read More601 So. Lorraine Boulevard, Windsor Square
The Lee Chases are only the second owners of the Paul Williams’ designed, two-story French Normandy home built in 1932 for the William Collins family. The house has five bedrooms, five baths, a three-room basement and a full attic. Mr. and Mrs. Chase purchased the home in 1967 after it sat vacant for seven years.…
Read More325 So. Plymouth Boulevard, Windsor Square
Augusta A. and Mary Leona Nelson are listed as the first owners of the property in 1919. Mrs. Mary L. Nelson was one of the founding members of the ladies’ auxiliary branch of the Ocean Queen Rebekah Lodge, chartered August 3, 1895 in the Harbor District of Los Angeles. The building permit lists Leona H. Tyler…
Read More332 So. Plymouth Boulevard
This home, an 11-room residence, was built in 1919 for Mr. Edgar S. Dulin by the Milwaukee Building Company. The estimated cost of construction was $25,000. Mr. Dulin was born in San Diego, educated in Los Angeles and attended the University of California. In 1915 he started working for Blankenhorn-Hunter as a salesman in the bond…
Read More340 So. Plymouth Boulevard
This home was built in 1926, during a time of prosperity following World War I, at an estimated cost of $20,000 plus $2,500 for the garage and servants’ rooms. Although Old Windsor Square began its development around 1911, it was in the 1920s that Los Angeles experienced growth in enormous proportions. The lot was purchased in…
Read More413 No. McCadden Place, Hancock Park
This home at 413 No. McCadden Place was built in 1926 for Frank G. Sprake at an estimated cost of $10,500 by notable contractor Sanson Milligan Cooper (1858-1935), and was designed by Phil Brinckerhoff, who was working under the supervision of S. M. Cooper at the time. While Brinckerhoff was known for designing homes in…
Read More425 North McCadden Place, Hancock Park
The property at 425 No. McCadden Place was valued for tax purposes at $1,650 when originally purchased in 1925 by Max Trautschold, a plasterer (who lived at 756 So. Orange Drive). This is another example of investing as he held the land until it was sold in 1927 to Harlow B. Potter who worked for…
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