by Laura Monteros
The Swan Estate on Holliston Avenue is an unusual, perhaps unique, example of early Greene & Greene architecture. While on first glance it seems to be in their Craftsman tradition, there are elements of Art Noveau and other touches requested by the original owners, James and Frances Swan. Fraser said that the Swan House was the first commission the Greene brothers received that was not for a family member, and they had to cater to the whims their client.
The Swans made their fortune in flour, and budgeted $21,000 for their dream home. It is the only Greene & Greene that uses Art Noveau, Fraser said, and is “a mishmash of a lot of different architectural styles.” The house was built in 1898-1899 on Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena, and moved to the current site in 1925 to allow Oakland Avenue to be extended north. Henry Greene oversaw the moving process.
The Frasers are restoring the house bit-by-bit to the original plan, currently working on enclosing a semi-circular porch outlined in Greek columns. The yard is home to a pair of goats, who made a public appearance in last summer’s Sonoma Street Independence Day Parade, a few rabbits, and a couple of pooches.
For the annual meeting, members of Altadena Heritage were welcomed for hors d’oeuvres and cookies by cellist Tara Atkinson playing Bach suites on the broad stairway entry and a plethora of seasonal camels. The meeting recapped the events of 2012, elected new officers to the board of directors, voted to oppose development of a Walmart Neighborhood Market on Lake and Calaveras, and accepted a certificate from U.S Representatives Adam Schiff and Judy Chu in honor of Altadena’s 125th anniversary and the 25th anniversary of Altadena Heritage.
Goldschmidt recapped the year’s activities, which included five events: workshops on gardening and urban timber harvesting, Tomatorama, and lectures on tree damage at the Los Angeles County Arboretum after last year’s windstorms and urban runoff. Altadena Heritage also sponsored the Golden Poppy Awards and a party for Altadena’s 125th birthday.
New board members that were elected at the meeting are Karin Bugge, Debbi Swanson Patrick, Hugo Arteaga, Adele Shakal, John Zoraster, and Peggy Sue Davis.
A short talk on the house by Jim Fraser, who owns the house with his wife Holly, followed the meeting.
1. Holly and Jim Fraser, owners of the Swan Estate.
2. Altadena artists and Folly Bowl impresarios James Griffith and Susanna Dadd.
3. Matt-Del Tufenkian and Altadena Heritage chair Mark Goldschmidt.
4. The Swan Estate elevator door.
5. Cellist Tara Atkinson welcomed Altadena Heritage members with music.
