Garfield Heights Landmark District

The homes featured here were part of our Home Tour in 2008. Click on any photo to view it larger

Vernacular Victorian

1251 N. Garfield Ave.
Built: 1902

This home was originally located in Echo Park. It was moved to its current location (formerly the sunken garden of the Gilmore House) in 1990. The home features a spacious front porch with clapboard covered columns, a second story porch with turned pilasters above the front porch, and leaded glass windows accenting the first and second floors. The beautiful leaded glass front and side doors were added by the current owner, who also rejuvenated the woodwork in the parlor, and the mahogany breakfront in the dining room. The dining room walls have the original box paneled wainscoting. The renovated kitchen includes wonderful vintage-style cabinetry and retro-styled tiling, a breakfast nook and an antique stove.

1255 N. Garfield Ave
Built: 1914

Cost: $1.00 (house only, 1991)

This house was moved from its original site at 820 S. Fair Oaks Ave. where it had become part of the Bellefontaine Nursery. The current owners have extended the Craftsman theme of the house to the interior decor, and are in the process of restoring an old Murphy bed in an upstairs bedroom.

Violett Bungalow

377 Douglas St.
Built: 1907 or 1909

Builder: H.F. McDowell

Cost: $1,700

This one and a half story five room Craftsman bungalow and detached one car garage were built at the height of the housing boom for Addison Violet, a driver for the Mission Store, who had come west with his wife Bessie, from Illinois, in 1900. A side facing main portion, and front-facing gabled porch are of original wood clapboard and shingles over Arroyo stone. The Elwell family lived here from about 1918 until the 1930's, Mrs. Elwell was a piano teacher, and may have had students come in the side door that leads from the porch to the front room.

"Bachelor" Bungalow

375 Douglas St.
Built: about 1905

The three room bungalow and garage may have been built by H.F. McDowell, as some of the same details, such as the wainscoting and dining room woodwork, are identical to those at 377 Douglas. It was listed as a rental property as early as the 1910 census, with its own driveway and garage off of Cowgill Alley. Despite numerous renters living in the house over the past 100 years, it retains its original charm, including the claw foot bathtub. The kitchen was completely remodeled in 2005.

The Haase House

1185 N. Marengo Ave
Built: 1912
Architect: Sylvanus Marston
Builder: John H. Simpson
Cost: $5,900

This two-story craftsman home with Swiss Chalet influence was built for Leo G. Haase and his wife Katherine. Mr. Haase was the proprietor of Art Concrete Works. The original craftsmanship is evident in the carved mantel in the living room, the Batchelder tile fireplace, the wide central staircase, the massive pocket doors, and the lovely built-ins with leaded glass motif in the dining room.

Photos by Michael O'Brien

For home tour information e-mail ghnaboard@garfieldheights.org
or call 626-388-2174