Miller and Herriott House
Encyclopedia
The Miller and Herriott House, also known as the Miller and Herriott Tract House, is a historic Victorian house
in the North University Park
section of Los Angeles, California
. Built in 1890, the house is considered to be a combination of Stick
and Eastlake
styles. The identity of the architect is not known, though some have attributed the design to Joseph Cather Newsom.
district to the north and the nascent University of Southern California
to the south. They subdivided the land into 98 lots, building "substantial and tasty residences, costing not less than $3000 each." Considered a "suburb" at the time, the Los Angeles Times
correctly predicted: "The whole city is growing rapidly to the southwest, and it will not be long before it will be a misnomer to call that section a suburb." The Miller and Herriott House is the oldest surviving structure in the Harper Tract.
By 1980, the house had gone through 27 owners. It was restored in the early 1980s, though the original stained glass in the front door transom was removed for use in a restaurant near Disneyland. After touring the house in 1980, Los Angeles Times columnist Jack Smith
called it "tall and lacy, with a plush, ornate and comfortably cluttered interior in Victorian style." Commenting on the removal of the stained glass to an Orange County
restaurant, Smith noted: "There was new glass in its place, but it looked like that wooden leg must have looked on Sara Bernhardt
."
in 1979 and designated as a Historic Cultural Monument (HCM #242) by the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission in 1981. It is also part of the North University Park Historic District
.
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
in the North University Park
North University Park, Los Angeles, California
North University Park is a subdistrict district of West Adams, Los Angeles, California a few miles south of Downtown Los Angeles. North University Park refers to the area immediately north of the University of Southern California, bordering University Park. It includes Mount St...
section of Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. Built in 1890, the house is considered to be a combination of Stick
Queen Anne Style architecture (United States)
In America, the Queen Anne style of architecture, furniture and decorative arts was popular in the United States from 1880 to 1910. In American usage "Queen Anne" is loosely used of a wide range of picturesque buildings with "free Renaissance" details rather than of a specific formulaic style in...
and Eastlake
Eastlake Movement
The Eastlake Movement was a nineteenth century architectural and household design reform movement started by architect and writer Charles Eastlake . The movement is generally considered part of the late Victorian period in terms of broad antique furniture designations...
styles. The identity of the architect is not known, though some have attributed the design to Joseph Cather Newsom.
History
The house was built as part of the Harper Tract developed by Miller & Herriott. In 1888, the two developers bought a 25 acres (101,171.5 m²) piece of land west of Hoover Street, between the prestigious West AdamsWest Adams, Los Angeles, California
West Adams, also known as Historic West Adams, is a large district located in the center of Los Angeles, California, southwest of Downtown and west of USC...
district to the north and the nascent University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
to the south. They subdivided the land into 98 lots, building "substantial and tasty residences, costing not less than $3000 each." Considered a "suburb" at the time, the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
correctly predicted: "The whole city is growing rapidly to the southwest, and it will not be long before it will be a misnomer to call that section a suburb." The Miller and Herriott House is the oldest surviving structure in the Harper Tract.
By 1980, the house had gone through 27 owners. It was restored in the early 1980s, though the original stained glass in the front door transom was removed for use in a restaurant near Disneyland. After touring the house in 1980, Los Angeles Times columnist Jack Smith
Jack Smith (columnist)
Jack Clifford Smith was a journalist, author, and newspaper columnist who wrote about Los Angeles during its period of greatest growth and increasing influence...
called it "tall and lacy, with a plush, ornate and comfortably cluttered interior in Victorian style." Commenting on the removal of the stained glass to an Orange County
Orange County, California
Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County...
restaurant, Smith noted: "There was new glass in its place, but it looked like that wooden leg must have looked on Sara Bernhardt
Sarah Bernhardt
Sarah Bernhardt was a French stage and early film actress, and has been referred to as "the most famous actress the world has ever known". Bernhardt made her fame on the stages of France in the 1870s, and was soon in demand in Europe and the Americas...
."
Landmark
The house was listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1979 and designated as a Historic Cultural Monument (HCM #242) by the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission in 1981. It is also part of the North University Park Historic District
North University Park Historic District
The North University Park Historic District is a historic district in the North University Park section of Los Angeles, California. The district is bounded by West Adams Boulevard on the north, Magnolia Avenue on the west, Hoover Street on the east, and 28th Street on the south. The district...
.