Sep 13, 1979
California SP House at 530 S. Marengo Avenue - National Register of Historic Places
Statement of Significance: The Louis B. Easton House at number 530 So. Marengo Ave., built in 1905 is significant for its historic association with the Arts and Crafts Movement, with which Pasadena was prominently identified- at the turn of the century, and is also significant for the excellence of its craftsmanship and design. Easton arrived in Pasadena in 1902 at a time when her architects and designers were Just beginning to use the Arts and Crafts vernacular. Using his background in manual training and stimulated by his interest in the Arts and Crafts movement, he went into business as a contractor/builder in 1905. His sign, located in his front yard, indicated he would contract for bungalows and furniture. One of the first' bungalows he designed and built was number 530 So. Marengo, located next to his own home. On this point, ^David Gebhard and Robert Winter, A Guide to Architecture in Los Angeles and Southern California (Peregrine Smith, Inc., 1977) » p. 339. ^For a fuller discussion of Easton's designs see Craftsman March, 1908, pp. 682-688; August 1908, pp. 534-538 and November, 1912, pp, 218-220, and V/interstate: Easton built #540 for his own residence, improving upon a plan he found in a book. But according to the story, which should be true even if it is not, he cast away precedent and relied on his own intelligence in designing #530, easily recognized as the better of the two. #530 is a simple, well-built house in the Swiss Chalet version of Craftsman architecture and is the first in the line of very fine Craftsman texture and is the first in the line of very fine Craftsman houses by Easton The number of Easton houses in the Pasadena area is probably twenty-five, most of which are gone today. Easton and his family left the Pasadena area “in 1914. Louis Easton houses Combine design and craftsmanship in a way that most bungalows in the area didn't. In number 530, one easily recognizes Easton's background as a manual arts teacher. Complex Joinery such as hand-cut mortise - and tenons, butterfly and scarf-Joints and extended dowels are in abundance in both the interior and exterior. This craftsmanship, coupled with his original designs of the fireplace, hardware and lighting fixtures, represent the highest ideals of the Craftsman Movement. All of the other buildings he designed in the area seem to be variations of this first one. Although number 530 was never given national recognition^ many of his later homes were featured in Gustav Stickley's Craftsman magazine. ^ Recently much interest has been generated by preservationists to restore this historic structure to its original state. The buyer of this property has indicated he intends to destroy the building. Regarding Easton's interest in the Arts and Crafts, he had displayed his furniture designs in the 1903 Handicraft Exhibit of the Chicago Art Institute, and his wife was the sister of Elbert Hubbard, founder of the Roycrofters of East Aurora. See Andersen, Moore and Winter, California Design;1910. p. 127, David Gebhard and Robert Winter, A Guide to Architecture in Los Angeles and Southern California (Peregrine Smith, Inc., 1977) » p. 339. ^For a fuller discussion of Easton's designs see Craftsman March, 1908, pp. 682-688; August 1908, pp. 534-538 and November, 1912, pp, 218-220,
California SP House at 530 S. Marengo Avenue - National Register of Historic Places
Statement of Significance: The Louis B. Easton House at number 530 So. Marengo Ave., built in 1905 is significant for its historic association with the Arts and Crafts Movement, with which Pasadena was prominently identified- at the turn of the century, and is also significant for the excellence of its craftsmanship and design. Easton arrived in Pasadena in 1902 at a time when her architects and designers were Just beginning to use the Arts and Crafts vernacular. Using his background in manual training and stimulated by his interest in the Arts and Crafts movement, he went into business as a contractor/builder in 1905. His sign, located in his front yard, indicated he would contract for bungalows and furniture. One of the first' bungalows he designed and built was number 530 So. Marengo, located next to his own home. On this point, ^David Gebhard and Robert Winter, A Guide to Architecture in Los Angeles and Southern California (Peregrine Smith, Inc., 1977) » p. 339. ^For a fuller discussion of Easton's designs see Craftsman March, 1908, pp. 682-688; August 1908, pp. 534-538 and November, 1912, pp, 218-220, and V/interstate: Easton built #540 for his own residence, improving upon a plan he found in a book. But according to the story, which should be true even if it is not, he cast away precedent and relied on his own intelligence in designing #530, easily recognized as the better of the two. #530 is a simple, well-built house in the Swiss Chalet version of Craftsman architecture and is the first in the line of very fine Craftsman texture and is the first in the line of very fine Craftsman houses by Easton The number of Easton houses in the Pasadena area is probably twenty-five, most of which are gone today. Easton and his family left the Pasadena area “in 1914. Louis Easton houses Combine design and craftsmanship in a way that most bungalows in the area didn't. In number 530, one easily recognizes Easton's background as a manual arts teacher. Complex Joinery such as hand-cut mortise - and tenons, butterfly and scarf-Joints and extended dowels are in abundance in both the interior and exterior. This craftsmanship, coupled with his original designs of the fireplace, hardware and lighting fixtures, represent the highest ideals of the Craftsman Movement. All of the other buildings he designed in the area seem to be variations of this first one. Although number 530 was never given national recognition^ many of his later homes were featured in Gustav Stickley's Craftsman magazine. ^ Recently much interest has been generated by preservationists to restore this historic structure to its original state. The buyer of this property has indicated he intends to destroy the building. Regarding Easton's interest in the Arts and Crafts, he had displayed his furniture designs in the 1903 Handicraft Exhibit of the Chicago Art Institute, and his wife was the sister of Elbert Hubbard, founder of the Roycrofters of East Aurora. See Andersen, Moore and Winter, California Design;1910. p. 127, David Gebhard and Robert Winter, A Guide to Architecture in Los Angeles and Southern California (Peregrine Smith, Inc., 1977) » p. 339. ^For a fuller discussion of Easton's designs see Craftsman March, 1908, pp. 682-688; August 1908, pp. 534-538 and November, 1912, pp, 218-220,
Sep 13, 1979
Posted Date
Mar 17, 2022
Historical Record Date
Sep 13, 1979
Source Name
United States Department of Interior - National Park Service
