Historic photograph of the Pinney House (Photo – City of Pasadena).
Attention Pasadena history lovers, the fate of a historic house in Downtown Pasadena hangs on technicality.
By Marguerite Kribs
The Pinney house, named after R. H. Pinney, is located at 180 S. Euclid Avenue, near Pasadena Civic Auditoirum. This Pasadena landmark is one of three structures designed by C.W. Buchanan, whose great-grandson, Frederick Gaylord, was president of McClellan Cruz Gaylord (relocated from Pasadena to Cleveland, Ohio in 2011 and was incorporated as MCG Architects.) The Pinney House is an example of a rare residential Mission Revival Style structure that’s still intact.
History
Los Angeles Herald headline, March 13, 1908 (Photo – cdnc.ucr.edu).
A historical search of the house (built in 1908) revealed few things about its owner, R.H. Pinney.
Under the headline “Pasadena Council Meets,” the Los Angeles Herald stated on June 9, 1896, the following:
…A meeting of property owners on Marengo avenue was held Friday evening at the home of F. D. Stevens. Mr. Vedder was chosen chairman and R. H. Pinney and J. C. Cahlll a committee to find the cost of paving the avenue with concrete. The proposition to widen the avenue has been made, but was not taken up at the meeting.
On September 30, 1896, under the Los Angeles Herald headline “NEWS NOTES FROM PASADENA,” with the sub-headline “The Anti-Liquor Ordinance Finds a Victim. THOMAS SOLD SOME BEER,” Mr. Pinney was mentioned petitioning to bring electricity from L.A.:
…A. Weymouth, R. H. Pinney and G. W. Donneli applied yesterday for right of way for the erection of poles to carry electricity from the power house of the Los Angeles Electric railway to a point where the above named gentlemen are digging a well. The right of way was granted.
One last mention in the Los Angeles Herald dated back to March 13, 1908 (the year the Pasadena landmark was built), under the headline “LEADING BUSINESS MAN TO BE LAID AT REST,” with a sub-headline “Funeral of William H. Pinney, Presi.dent of the Newitt Advertising Company, Will Be Held Today in Pasadena, ” with funeral news details of Mr. Pinney’s son:
The funeral of William H. Pinney, prominent business man of Los Angeles, will be held at the residence of his father, R. H. Pinney, 180 Euclid avenue, Pasadena, at 1:30 o’clock this afternoon. Mr. Pinney was born in Nebraska thirty-four years ago. He came With his parents to Pasadena in 1885 and was graduated from the public schools of that city, after which ho entered the University of Southern California…
Two years prior, Mr. R.H. Pinney was mentioned in the 1906 bulletin of First Methodist Episcopal Church in Pasadena.
In 1922, the wife of Mr. R.H. Pinney was mentioned in the “WHO’S WHO AMONG THE WOMEN OF CALIFORNIA” in the City of Pasadena (page 375).
The house on 180 S. Euclid Avenue served as the location for the Pasadena Chapter of the American Cancer Society, as stated by a documentation on a photo taken in 1955.
Present
Hearing sign for the Pinney House (Photo – Staff ⒸColoradoBlvd.net).
On November 26, 2013, an evaluation prepared by GPA Consulting concluded that 180 South Euclid is eligible for local designation as a Pasadena Landmark, because it is a distinctive example of a Mission Revival style bungalow and the work of important local architect Charles W. Buchanan. The evaluation reiterated that “Alterations to the buildings materials and setting have not interfered with its ability to convey it’s significance under Criterion C.” (See full document here).
On November 24, 2015, the Design Commission denied an application for Consolidated design Review to demolish the potentially historic house at 180 South Euclid Avenue.
The current property owner appealed Commission’s denial (see initial re-evaluation request and staff determination). When contacted by phone, City Senior Planner Kevin Johnson stated that the owner claims the historic house may not currently have its original roof. The new information may affect the Commission’s determination that the building is historic and, consequently, its decision to deny the application.
The Pasadena City Council will hold a public hearing on Monday, Feb. 1, 2016 regarding the appeal of the Design Commission’s disapproval.
The Design Commission recommends that the City Council remand the applicant’s appeal to the Design Commission so that it may review the additional information provided, and come back with its final recommendation to the council regarding the fate of the historic house.
The Pinney House on 180 S. Euclid Ave. (Photo – Staff ⒸColoradoBlvd.net).
Located across from the Ice Skating Center, the house seems frozen in time, a witness to a rich history of Pasadena’s past that’s overshadowed by tall office buildings lining up Cordova Street. Will the historic house be recommended for demolishing based on a technicality, or will Pasadena save a piece of its own history one more time?
Stay tuned.
Meeting Date and time: Feb. 1, 2016, City Hall Council Chambers at 7:00 p.m.
You may comment on the appeal in person at the meeting. Written comments may also be mailed (or emailed) to City Council. Contact Person: Kevin Johnson, Senior Planner (626) 744-7806, email: kevinjohnson@cityofpasadena.net Or by sending mail to: Design & Historic Preservation Section Planning & Community Development Dept. 175 North Garfield Ave. Pasadena, CA 91101
> Chris Wood and Wafic Khalil contributed to this article.
I lived in this historic house for 38 years. The orginal tin roof all made was renovated in 1967 by my father. The relocating of this Beautiful Spanish Mission Home is heartbreaking. Purchased on July 5th 1955 by William, Christine lusvardi for $17,500 by Jim Pyle.
Wayne C. Lusvardi who took stewardship of the home in 1994 lied to Pasadena City officials to escape a hefty fine. All in relation in the Original Roof of Spanish Title only made of tin.
I hold written proof of my above comment. When my father William Lusvardi renovated this roof in 1967 is was in full decline starting to rust away. The restored tin roof came from Disneyland from a land called Holidayland now known as Fancyland. The tin roof from Disneyland was moved to it’s new location in 1967 to replace the old rusted roof in full decay.
Amazing how City Officials know nothing about this Historic House. To say nothing of the 1926 murder of a Red Cross Nurse.
I hope the City of Pasadena contact’s me of the real story about the roof. The orginal design by H W. Pinney was build in 1906 with all the lumber carted to the 180 South Euclid address by horse drawn carriage.
The City of Pasadena hopefully will not loose the House but being moved to a new location is OK to persevere it’s beauty.
S.W. Christopher
04/29/2019
Will the historic house be recommended for demolishing based on a technicality, or will Pasadena save a piece of its own history one more time?
I hope the city doesn’t side with the developers on this. The city is already overcrowded with too much traffic and not enough parking, especially in that area.
You’ll be happy to know, then, that the city council finally voted to affirm the Design Commission’s decision and prevent the demolition, in a victory for adaptive reuse in Pasadena.