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LarsThorwald takes you to another beautiful site in the Pasadena area: the historic Gamble House, designed by the much-heralded architects Charles and Henry Greene.
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!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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