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Overview

Heineman and Heineman, designers and builders of notable bungalow designs in Southern CA, erected this large residence for the mining engineer Willis E. Hindry and his wife Mary E. Titus. Aside from brief time spent in MA during the 1920s, Willis Hindry lived in this house until his death in 1931.

Building History

Architect Alfred Heineman(1882-1974)served as the designer of the Hindry House, erected for the mining engineer Willis E. Hindry (born c. 1870 in CO-d. 1931)and his wife Mary E. Titus(born c. 1876 in IA). Born in CO, Willis attended the Colorado School of Mines and then wed Mary in Denver, CO, on 05/24/1893.(See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. Colorado, County Marriage Records and State Index, 1862-2006 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016, accessed 07/17/2023.) By 1897, Hindry had worked for the De Lamar gold mines in NV. (See "Mercur Mercury Briefs," Salt Lake Herald, 11/13/1897, p. 3.) In 1907, Hindry managed the Esperanza Mine in Mexico, "the best-paying gold mine in the world," according to the Gilpin Observer(Central City, CO) newspaper. (See "News from the Mines and Mills," Gilpin Observer, 02/21/1907, p. 7.) He likely returned to Southern CA c. 1909 flush with cash from this lucrative Mexican mine.

In 1910, the Hindrys lived at 781 Prospect Boulevard with their daughter Anita Hindry (born 06/1898 in CO-d. 10/12/1991 in Los Angeles County, CA), and two household staff, Leon Brzeski (born c. 1852 in Germany) and Martha Brzeski (born c. 1870 in Germany) (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1910; Census Place: Pasadena Ward 2, Los Angeles, California; Roll: T624_86; Page: 2b; Enumeration District: 0305; FHL microfilm: 1374099, accessed 07/17/2023.) The couple had had two children, but one died in infancy on 07/06/1899. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Utah Division of State History; Salt Lake City, Utah; Utah Cemetery Inventory, 1847-2000, accessed 07/17/2023.) The Hindry Family resided in Cambrdige, MA, in 1920, but they moved back to 781 Prospect Boulevard in 1930, at which time the dwelling had a signficant approximate value of $65,000 .(See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1920; Census Place: Cambridge Ward 9, Middlesex, Massachusetts; Roll: T625_708; Page: 18A; Enumeration District: 84, accessed 07/17/2023 and Ancetry.com, Source Citation Year: 1930; Census Place: Pasadena, Los Angeles, California; Page: 20A; Enumeration District: 1220; FHL microfilm: 2339903, accessed 07/17/2023.)

The California Preservation Foundation said of the house: "The Hindry House is an exceptional example of the work of master architects Arthur and Alfred Heineman, who were influential in the development of the Craftsman style in California, and across the country. Although the brothers were responsible for designing over a thousand buildings throughout California, only twenty of those buildings were located in Pasadena. The Hindry House represents the Heinemans’ first major commission and the pinnacle of their residential architectural career, as it displays highly distinctive design features that were utilized in a number of their later designs. The 1910 Hindry House site and landscape design was believed to have been designed by Alfred Heineman and exemplified the popular landscape aesthetic of the arts and crafts movement." (See California Preservation Foundation.org, "Hindry House," accessed 07/17/2023.)

Building Notes

The Hindry House Cultural Landscape Report and Landscape Rehabilitation Project received a Preservation Design Award from the California Preservation Foundation on 10/19/2018.

Alteration

The California Preservation Foundation said of a 1970 pool built on the grounds of the Hindry House: "In 1970 Dr. Albert Hibbs, the “voice of JPL,” and his wife Marka Hibbs, commissioned master landscape architect Courtland Paul to design a naturalistic swimming pool that would allow the family to learn to scuba dive. The design was heavily publicized and was influential in the evolution of naturalistic pool design. The Hibbs pool is considered pivotal in Paul’s career, a landmark on his path to becoming a globally recognized resort designer." (See California Preservation Foundation.org, "Hindry House," accessed 07/17/2023.)

From the air, the Hindry House looks to have been greatly expanded over time.

PCAD id: 1534