Mervin J. Monnette -- 951 South Western Ave.

The Los Angeles Herald put a very large picture at the top center of its real estate section on that Sunday in 1905. Mr. Alfred Jeremy, a "Pittsburgh capitalist", had announced plans to build a new home on a small knoll located at Western Avenue and San Marino Street. The Herald explained:

"Some weeks ago Mr. Jeremy purchased four lots in the Country Club Heights tract, with frontage of 196 feet on Western avenue and 255 feet on San Marino street. The ground surmounts a knoll from which a fine view of the surrounding country can be had--the ocean to the south and Hollywood and the mountains on the north.

On this knoll will be erected a highly ornamental and commodious home of the old mission style of architecture from plans drawn by Dennis & Farwell, architects, at a cost of about $10,000. The porch and terrace on the south and east fronts are 12 to 14 feet wide. The reception hall finished in oak and with recessed seats will be 18x21 feet, with ornamented staircase at the rear of the hall. At the right of the hall the plans show the parlor 15x18 feet, and the living room 18x26 feet. In each room is a tile mantel, and French windows separate the living room and conservatory at the rear. Provision is made in the conservatory for a fountain.

The family dining room 19x26 feet with large mantel in oak, is at the left of the hall, and at the rear is the butler's pantry, a large kitchen and other home conveniences; also the servant's hall and a screen porch. The patio, 16x30 feet, is at the rear of the center of the residence, flanked by the living room and the kitchen.

On the second floor are five large bedrooms, two mantels, two bath rooms, besides numerous closets and balconies, one on the east front and one at the rear.

This improvement will be one of the show places of the southeastern [sic] section of Los Angeles."

As pictured in the L.A. Herald of June 11, 1905
(courtesy of cdnc.ucr.edu)

Another article later that year in the Herald mentioned Mr. Jeremy's intention to "be in by Christmas".

Meanwhile, in Goldfield, Nevada in September of 1905, a Mr. Mervin Jeremiah Monnette (1847-1931) had just signed an agreement with a Mr. Granville Hayes for 1/2 ownership in a two-year lease on a not-so-well-performing mine. Mervin, who was a cattle rancher in Omaha at the time, was sent by Chicago business associates earlier that year to check out an offered lease on another mine. The associates knew that Mervin, who had previously operated in Cripple Creek, was an "honest" man who would provide an impartial report. Mervin concluded that the mine was worthless and had been "salted". But since he had spent the time and effort to reach Goldfield, he remained in town to see if anything else might be worthwhile.

1906 Caricature of M. J. Monnette

He soon met Granville Hayes, who owned the previously mentioned lease, and who had been working it when he ran low on capital. Trusting Granville's long experience in mining, along with some promising assays of prior workings, Mervin decided to sign up, contributing $10,000 in capital for the 50% ownership position. He quickly saw that this would not be enough money, so he convinced two of his Chicago business partners, J.W. Smith and Harry Benedict, to join him. Another $25,000 was expended without uncovering any ore worth shipping, when in April, 1906 they hit the "mother lode".

From the Goldfield News, 1906-1907:

"...At this point in the sinking, Hayes had wanted to drift on the big body of low-grade ore then in evidence, believing that it would narrow down to a good-sized high-grade vein, and he had cut a station at the 80-foot point with that in view, but he had been dissuaded. He now returned to demonstrate his theory.
Hardly had the miners fired their first round of shots, when lo! and behold, the long-expected bonanza was at hand. Here was ore that needed no assayer's test. Sulphide ore which, by its very weight and dull yellow color in the glare of the candle light told that it was rich in gold. As the miners pushed inwards with their work the discovery became even more startling. It was one monstrous ore chamber that had apparently neither walls, tops nor bottom. Ore everywhere!" [1]

They ended up taking over $5 million in ore by January, 1907 when their lease expired.

Granville and Mervin ended up in Los Angeles and went their separate ways. Mervin contacted his son Orra (1875-1936), a successful lawyer back in Ohio, who came to L.A. to manage his father's new-found wealth. They spent a goodly sum on L.A. banks, installing Mervin as President of one purchase, American National Bank, and VP of another, Citizens National Bank. And for a new L.A. residence Mervin bought Mr. Jeremy's house out on South Western Avenue for $55,000.

911 S. Western Ave. in 1910

In 1910, living in the house when the census came by, were Mervin, his wife Olive (1850-1912), a niece Cora, and two maids.

The next year son Orra published the family genealogy, a tome of 1100+ pages, making approximately 350 copies, which over time were distributed to libraries across the country. You may find one in your city's main library. Archive.org has a digitized copy (#229) from the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana. In the book the house on S. Western Avenue was featured.

911 S. Western Ave. in 1910

A closeup of Mervin, Olive, and possibly Cora

Just a guess but standing in front of the steps were most likely Mervin and Olive, while on the porch to the right was probably their niece Cora (who lived there in 1910).  The plantings have grown, and a driveway across the front had been added to accommodate visitors who arrive by new-fangled auto. Sadly the next year Olive contracted pneumonia and passed away. She was buried in Inglewood Park Cemetery, Inglewood.

Mervin decided to remarry in June, 1913 but it was not to be.  Elizabeth Spencer, 38, (Mervin is now 66), abandoned him for another man within two months.  The San Francisco Call on its front page reported that Mervin "quits wife". He tried again, however, and remarried this time to 36 year-old Ethel Clark. They resided in the house until well into 1917. In 1921 the city renamed the one-block long street directly across from the mansion from Gage Place to Monnette Place. Even though younger, Ethel passed away from cancer in 1927, preceding Mervin. She, too, was buried in the Monnette family plot at Inglewood Park Cemetery.

After the Monnettes left, the house entered a new era. As many older, close-in houses did in that time period, it appeared to have been broken up into rental units. By 1926 three families are living at various addresses between 901 and 951 S. Western.

In 1927 Dick Whittington Studio decided to do a photo shoot of Western Ave. from Olympic Blvd. to 3rd St. While they didn't catch the house (except for a small bit of the tower), they did catch a shot of the front yard and street with the now-large trees surrounding the property.

Driveway of 951 S. Western Ave. at right of photo. Notice the current height of the palm trees.
The last palm tree on the right is about where the light standard is located in the image below.
(courtesy of USC Digital Collections)

In 1930, there are 16 people now living at 901, 909, and 945 S. Western.

In 1938 a new owner arrived.  The National Institute of Music & Arts located its headquarters in the building, relocating from its formative location in Seattle. Along with music and art, they rent out space in the building (Ralph Hoffman and Laurence Smith show up in the 1940 census). The Institute remains through 1951.

Then in 1965 a new list of businesses appear at 945 S. Western, which we can assume was the new two-story building we see today.  The back of the building's parking lot enters to the upper level, thus keeping the original knoll intact. From today's photo, it can be seen as an integral element of Koreatown.

945-955 S. Western Ave. recently

More info:
Mervin in 1910
M. J.'s purchase of the house in 1907
Mervin's breakup in 1913
The Hayes-Monnette mine[1]
[1]from Monnett Family Genealogy

Richard V. LeGrand -- 149 N. El Molino Ave., Pasadena

Richard Virginius LeGrand (b. 1860 TX), after attending Georgetown College in Washington D. C., pursued the mining business for 20+ years. With a large silver vein coming in at the "Mountain King" mine in the Lucky Boy, Nevada area, he decided to leave Texas and settle in Los Angeles, where he formed the Alamo Mining Co. to work various mine properties in Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico.

The family settled in Pasadena around 1906, purchasing a home just a block north of Colorado Blvd. The 1910 census showed quite a crowd at their new Pasadena house. Along with wife Dixie (b. 1863 AR), many of their seven children lived with them, along with a few grandchildren. The house's occupants included son Joseph (b.1886,  TX), his wife Ethel, and their granddaughter; son George W. (b.1890 TX); son Richard V. (b. 1893 TX); daughter Edith V. (b.1896 TX); daughter Annie W. (b.1899 TX); daughter Myrtle N (b.1904 TX); and Dixie's older sister Georgie. No doubt the large number of people in the house was a premonition to its major use later in life.

149 North El Molino in 1909

  It appears that R.V. had everyone who was at home come out on photo day.  Here's a close up of the front porch.

Picture Day

From left to right a guess of the family would be Dixie, Annie, Richard Jr., Edith, R.V. holding granddaughter Heriot's hand, and Myrtle sitting on the step.

But Pasadena was unable to keep the LeGrands and by 1915 the family had packed up and moved to West Adams, moving in at 640 West 21st St. The street directory for that year, which only recorded adults, showed that along with R.V. (and presumably Dixie), sons Claude, George, Joseph (now known as J. Mastella), and Richard V. were in residence.  R.V. was listed as a mining engineer. The family moved again by 1920 to 2118 Oak Street, where ten people were recorded for the 1920 census.

Clinton C. Clarke
(original fm pcta.org)

Meanwhile back at 149 El Molino, the Jay C. Hills family had moved in, seeking relief from Chicago winters.  Their son Gerald attended Occidental College, while spouse Myrtie was a member of the nearby Shakespeare Club, where she no doubt knew the B. O. Kendalls, who lived next door to the Club. By 1930 the Hills had moved to the new Vista Del Arroyo Hotel overlooking the Colorado Street Bridge.

Interestingly it was also the home of Clinton C. Clarke (1873-1957) and his wife Margaret, who were soon to be involved with the El Molino property, which by now had become the Altadena School for Girls, a private boarding school that listed two teachers and five students in residence in 1930.

Clinton C. Clarke was listed as "retired" in the 1920 census, when he was 46 years of age. In 1910 his occupation was "own income". It appears inheritances from his Chicago lawyer father and his mother's family allowed Clinton to pursue his own agenda. A recorded lawsuit in 1898 appears to have provided 2/24ths of his mother's father's estate, which was ample.  He married Margaret in 1906, and from 1920 on, they lived in hotels.

In 1924 the Pasadena Playhouse built their historic building at 39 South El Molino, just two blocks south of the  house. While Clinton was its first President and on the founding Board of Directors, Margaret was keenly involved with the Playhouse too, as indicated by numerous articles in the Pasadena Star-News of the '20s and '30s. One 1926 headline stated:

"'You and I' is poignant comedy : Margaret Clarke, Samuel Hinds, Lois Austin and Maurice Wells lead : Are favorites at Playhouse : Credits charm of new production to skill of entire cast"

 By the 1930's the Playhouse was a major force in Southern California, attracting would-be actors in droves. In order to house the many students wishing to participate, the Playhouse purchased three houses on El Molino Ave. and named them in honor of their major patrons.  One of these places--149 North El Molino Avenue --was appropriately named "Clarke House", and was a female dormitory through the early '50s, before becoming mixed in the 1960's. Actress and former Playhouse student Joan Taylor, who was in the movie Rose Marie and TV's Rifleman series, stayed in the houses during her early career. Here's an excerpt from a 2007 interview with her discussing the topic of Playhouse dorms:

"It was very special. I lived in a Playhouse 'dorm', an old Pasadena house that had been taken over by the Playhouse; there were two or three of these marvelous old homes that they took over."

USFS Plaque
for Clarke

In addition to supporting the Playhouse, husband Clinton had a love of hiking, and is given credit for first proposing the Pacific Crest Trail in 1932. Along with sponsoring multiple activities supporting the trail, he also advocated politically for the trail, continuing until his death in 1957, twelve years before the actual designation. In honor of his long-time efforts, a plaque was placed by the U.S. Forest Service in Soledad Canyon along the trail in 1998.

By the end of the 1950's, the Pasadena Playhouse was slipping, as evidenced by its 1963 sale of the three dorm properties to supporters, and then leasing the properties back from them. After founder Gilmor Brown's death in 1969, the Playhouse entered bankruptcy. Clarke House was in the hands of Playhouse supporters, but ultimately all three houses (127, 139, and 149) were demolished, resulting in the building and parking lot of today.

Approximate view of 149 N. El Molino today
(part of Ironworkers Office Plaza)

Additional Info:
Photo of R. V. LeGrand (1909)
Clinton Churchill Clarke obituary (1957)

Lloyd C. Haynes -- 217 Pine Avenue

Born in New York, Lloyd Haynes (1862-1924) was a man who seemed to try a lot of different businesses. As a teenager he worked in merchandise brokerage, followed by a journey through the Pennsylvania oil fields for four years. Then in 1885 he went into the tailor business, opening several stores in New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio. In 1890 he met and married Dora L. Mayer (1864-1949) in Olean, New York, where they became parents of their only child Henry Lewis Haynes (b.1894), who went by H. Lewis.

In 1898 Lloyd ventured to the Alaskan gold fields for two years, then sold those holdings to return to New York and begin in the bond business, under the name of Manhattan Securities. In that business, he found many stocks and bonds were being written on western assets, including the Haynes Copper Mine (relationship unknown) near Jerome, Arizona, so in 1907 he moved the family to Los Angeles, along with relocating headquarters for Manhattan Securities.

Upon his arrival, Lloyd quickly made local headlines with the announcement that he was buying the Howells mines in Yavapai County, Arizona for $100,000 cash. The article goes on to describe multiple ore assays implying the properties are loaded with gold.

In 1908 architect Frank M. Tyler, known for multiple residence designs in Los Angeles, announced the building of a new residence for Mrs. L.C. Haynes, to be located at 217 Pine Avenue in Hollywood. Our photo was taken shortly after its completion, judging by the landscaping.

217 Pine Ave. Architect: Frank M. Tyler

In addition to his securities business, Lloyd started up the

Ad for Oil & Metals Bank
L.C. Haynes, V.P.

Union Exchange Bank of Los Angeles, naming himself president. Within a year the bank had merged with a trust company to become the Oil & Metals Bank. A short biography on Lloyd indicated he dropped affiliation with the bank by 1913, as "he found that his private interests did not permit of him giving much time to banking, so he resigned his offices, and now devotes his time entirely to his own enterprises," which included the Modoc County Irrigation Co., and Beaver Gold Dredging Company, entities located in northeastern California, as well as the East Side Land & Water Company, which was involved in irrigation near Elko, Nevada. 

As for the bank, it did not seem to stir consumers, and by 1918 it had disappeared.

By 1920 the Hayneses had moved to 1303 N. New Hampshire. Son H. Lewis was still in the house and had formed a printing business, named logically the Haynes Corporation. In addition, Lloyd had formed a movie picture business. The census indicated that Lloyd is president of the "moving pictures" and H. Lewis is "superintendent, job printing".

In 1924 at age 62, death took Lloyd, and his remains were interred in Hollywood Mauseoleum.  Dora takes a vacation to Hawaii in 1928.  H. Lewis marries and keeps at his printing business, in the process writing two books which have lived on--one named Potential Printing Craftsmen.

And the house at 217 Pine?  It lasted until around 1938, when it was demolished to put up a two-story apartment building, which is there today.

217 Pine today
(courtesy of google maps)

Oh, when Hollywood joined Los Angeles, they changed the name and address of the street. If you know today's location, put in a comment....



More on Haynes

Lloyd's photo in 1910
Biography in 1913

(updated 9/21/18)

Rose La Monte Burcham -- 4900 Pasadena Avenue

It's been a small sadness that each time a vintage photo is posted, that residence is only a memory for the most part. So it was quite a delight to find that today's home is still in place.

Our story begins in 1895, when Dr. Rose Burcham (1857-1944), the first woman doctor in San Bernardino, decided to grubstake her husband Charles (1856-1913) for a search in the Mojave desert for gold. He met up with two other miners, John Singleton and Fred Mooers (1847-1900), and they hit big-time paydirt--we know it today as the Yellow Aster mine, which yielded over $12 million through its 30+ year life. Charles split his one third with Rose, who was elected by the group as secretary to run the business end of the mine, which included numerous lawsuits and counterclaims. Rose's impact on the business end was such that in Charles's biographies of the era, her capabilities were often quoted.  Here's an example from a 1904 biography of Charles:

"Mrs. Burcham, who is a native of New York, of Scotch and French ancestry, has the dual distinction of having been the first woman physician in San Bernardino, California, and of being a directing force in the practical operation of a great gold mine. She had attained a prominent position in the medical profession, as physician and surgeon, before she became identified with her husband's mining enterprises and in the latter field has become noted as one of the most capable business women in the United States."

By 1900 both Fred Mooers and John Singleton owned elegant Los Angeles homes. Singleton purchased the Longstreet mansion just off West Adams (only the palms are left today on the site of the Orthopedic hospital), where Charles and Rose were recorded as living in the 1900 census. By 1907 the Burchams had purchased a large house of their own on the edge of town and remained there through the 1910 census. A photo below of the house then:

4900 Pasadena Avenue in 1910

Their neighbors included William J. Washburn, a prominent local banker who lived nine blocks south.

Dr. Rose Burcham in 1910

With Charles's death in 1913, only Rose was left of the original owners to the mine. Squabbling with the other partners' heirs was an ongoing theme, but Rose kept the mine operation together until 1918. The mine was reactivated in the early 1930's. It ultimately shut down in late 1996.


Rose moved from the Pasadena Avenue house to the city of South Pasadena around 1915, and then later to an address in Alhambra, where she died in February, 1944.  Her husband Charles is buried in Rosedale Cemetery in Los Angeles.  Her burial site has not yet been confirmed.

Rose sold the house to another oilman, Nathan W. Hale. A former Congressman from Tennessee, he went west after losing re-election to the 1909 Congress. He formed Hale-McLeod Oil Company as well as engaging in local real estate. He left by 1930.

The house today is at 4900 Figueroa Street, as Pasadena Ave. was renamed. It is a building of Sycamore Grove School, a private, religious school associated with the Pillar of Fire Church. The exterior is relatively unmodified--the chimney is gone, and an enlargement of that section of the house can be seen in an aerial view of the property.

4900 N. Figueroa Recently
(courtesy of the author)

References:
Rose Burcham--Men of Achievement in the Great Southwest
The Yellow Aster Mine--mineral resource of Kern County (1914)
A 1905 aerial of the neighborhood (our house is lower right)

J. Ross Clark

James Ross Clark (1850-1927) followed his older brother William A. Clark into Montana, where for 20+ years he worked in mining and banking, becoming successful in copper mines, as well as delving into railroads. In 1892 he moved the family, consisting of wife Miriam (1858-1951), daughter Ella (b.1879), and son Walter(1885-1912), to Los Angeles, where he became heavily involved in railroading and sugar beets, owning a large operation in Los Alamitos. J. Ross envisioned a railroad between Salt Lake City and Los Angeles (as did E.H. Harriman of the Union Pacific) that would allow for Montana mining materials to be more quickly shipped to Los Angeles. Brother William agreed, and along with Harriman formed the San Pedro, Los Angeles and Salt Lake Railroad in 1902. An area in southern Nevada appeared to be a good mid-point for the railroad, supplying water and crews, so in 1905 Las Vegas was born, with J. Ross auctioning off 600 plats (at the direction of Harriman).

Meanwhile the family was enjoying the new house at 710 West Adams Street, part of a growing high-end neighborhood, with families such as the Dohenys mere blocks away, Stephen Dorsey a few doors to the east, and William Kerckhoff second house to the west (you UCLA grads who think you've heard that name--yes it's THAT Kerckhoff). The house as it looked in 1906:

710 W. Adams Street

 Living in the house during the 1910 census were J. Ross and Miriam, son Walter and his wife Virginia Estelle, daughter Ella and her husband Henry Carlton Lee, along with four servants.

In early 1912 it was decided that Walter and Virginia would travel out of the country and return on the maiden voyage of the world's soon-to-be most famous ship. Walter filled out the passport paperwork in January, 1912 and all was set to travel.

J.Ross Clark witnesses son Walter's signature on his passport application Jan. 31, 1912

Ross Clark and grandparents J. Ross
and Miriam--courtesy of UNLV Collections

Virginia survived the Titanic, but Walter died in the tragedy. She returned to Los Angeles, and the house at 710 W. Adams, in grief. That fall Virginia took a "vacation" to assist in recovery, only to notify the Clarks that she had remarried to a man named Tanner. The Clarks, taking care of their grandson, immediately filed for custody of the child, which was awarded, then taken away, ending in Virginia's presence in the Clarks living room with two lawyers and two sheriffs in order to pick up the two-year old.
Interestingly, by 1920 the Clarks had the boy at their house during the census, and took little Ross with them when trips permitted.

In 1913, Homes and Gardens of the Pacific Coast Volume II Los Angeles had this to say about the Clark house on West Adams:

"The home of Mr. Clark shows many interesting English features, notably the brick and half timber construction. The training of the vines over a large portion of the exposed surface, the placing of the small trees and shrubs, and the fine old palms, give the home an air of quiet seclusion. The grounds are well laid out, and are enclosed with wrought iron fences supported by heavy cement posts, over which vines have been trained in a very pleasing manner."

Clark Mausoleum
(Note Date on steps at left)

J. Ross died in 1927, and was laid to rest in a large private vault at today's Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Miriam and James Ross II stayed in the house until after 1944, when it was demolished to make way for an expansion of the Auto Club of Southern California headquarters.




Reference: William Andrews Clark; PBS profile


710 West Adams Boulevard

Senator John P. Jones -- Santa Monica

John Percival Jones (1829 - 1912)

Santa Monica had always been a resort town--even when it was just a couple of small hotels close to the beach in Santa Monica Cañon. But in 1874 John Percival Jones purchased a 2/3 interest in the San Vicente Rancho from Col. R. S. Baker, and the duo began the platting of Santa Monica.

Keeping a beautiful location on the bluff for himself, Senator Jones (Nevada 1873 - 1903), in 1887 built a large Queen Anne style home facing the ocean, mainly for his second wife Grace, and his elderly mother. By 1910 with its mature landscaping and 17 bedrooms, it was a sight to behold. Known as Villa Miramar, it took up the entire block that is today's Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows.

 

J. P. Jones Residence 1910

A pioneer of California, Jones arrived in 1850 from Cleveland by way of ship around South America. Not finding gold in California, he got his first taste of politics as sheriff of Trinity County, keeping order in the many mining camps. From there he became a California State Senator. 

His luck improved when in 1867, upon hearing of the Comstock Lode discovery, he relocated to Nevada and subsequently struck his first fortune as superintendent and investor in a large Nevada mine. By 1870, he was worth $10,000 and living in Gold Hill, Nevada, with his wife H.C. and only son Roy, age one year old.

In 1912 Senator Jones, now 83, fell ill and did not recover. He is buried in Cypress Lawn Cemetery in Colma, California.