The Gamble House is one of the finest examples of American Arts and
Crafts style architecture in the country. The house and furnishings
were designed by the brothers Charles and Henry Greene in 1908. The
house, a National Historic Landmark, is owned by the City of
Pasadena and operated by the University of Southern California and
is open for public tours Thursday - Sunday, 12-3. Well worth the
planning!
The Gamble House was commissioned by David and Mary Gamble, of
Cincinnati, Ohio, as a retirement residence. David Berry Gamble, a
second generation member of the Procter and Gamble Company in
Cincinnati, had retired from active work in 1895, and with his
wife, Mary Huggins Gamble, began to spend winters in Pasadena,
residing in the area’s resort hotels. By 1907, the couple had
decided to build a permanent home in Pasadena. In June of that
year, they bought a lot on the short, private street, Westmoreland
Place, passing up the more fashionable address, South Orange Grove,
known at that time as “Millionaires’ Row.” (See
another one of our caches, GHOST COLLEGE VIRTUAL!) At the same time
that the Gambles were selecting their lot on Westmoreland Place, a
house designed by the firm of Greene & Greene was being built
for John Cole on the adjacent property. Perhaps meeting the
architects at the construction site, and certainly impressed with
the other Greene & Greene houses in the neighborhood, the
Gambles met with the brothers and agreed on a commission. The
architects worked closely with the Gambles in the design of the
house, incorporating specific design elements to complement art
pieces belonging to the family. Drawings for the house were
completed in February 1908, and ground was broken in March. Ten
months later, the house was completed, the first pieces of custom
furniture were delivered, and The Gamble House became home to David
Gamble, his wife Mary, and two of their three sons: Sidney and
Clarence.
The Gambles realized the artistic importance of the house and it
remained in the Gamble family until 1966, when it was deeded to the
city of Pasadena in a joint agreement with the University of
Southern California School of Architecture. Today, you can take
docent-led tours of the house, or simply drive up and walk about
the gardens. There's also a great bookstore in what was the garage
of the house, featuring a fine selection of Arts and Crafts books
and gifts. It's open Tuesday - Saturday, 10-5, and Sunday
11:30-5.
But... back to walking about the gardens: you'll want to be
discreet with this cache - we were in placing it! There are a lot
of trees, but if you stand on the lawn you'll get good reception
and be able to tell in what direction to head.
But don't just look for the cache - look around! The house has a
beautiful fish pond and a nice little rose garden. Next door to the
east is part of the Pacific Oaks School; to the west is
Neighborhood Church.
Whatever your mood, take in the beautiful house, and enjoy the
cache!
