OpenStreetMap (new tab)

Google Map (new tab)

Google Streetview (new tab)

Overview

This residence, named as #27 on the list of Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments in 1964, was one of the last two Queen Anne survivors left on Bunker Hill. Enought was thought of the residence that local preservationists arranged to have it moved to Highland Park in 1969. Arsonists burned it and a neighboring house at the Heritage Square Museum in 1969.

Building Notes

The lot on which "The Castle," as it was known colloquially, was built was owned originally by the Davis Family in the Bunker Hill neighborhood of Los Angeles, CA. Historian Christina Rice, writing on the web site, On Bunker Hill, said of the house's development: "Located on Lot 16, Block L of the Mott Tract, early owners of the property were tee-totaling Los Angeles pioneer Virginia Davis and her husband John W., who sold the land for $450 to G.D. Witherell in March of 1882. It has long been believed that the Castle was built around this time, but an 1888 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map reveals the structure as being constructed. In 1887 the property changed hands again, so it probably was capitalist Reuben M. Baker who built the large Victorian structure that would be a mainstay on Bunker Hill for over 70 years." (See Christina Rice, On Bunker Hill, "The Castle – 325 S. Bunker Hill Avenue," accessed 01/22/2018.) It appears that the core of the building was erected before 1888 and, between 1888 and 1894, this was enlarged greatly, probably by Baker.

The paving contractor, Daniel F. Donegan, his wife and four children moved into the property in 03/1894. Eight years later, Colton Russell had purchased the 20-room house, and turned it into a boarding house. It contained 15 single-room-occupancy apartments, with all residents sharing six baths. From 1919-1936, Charles Merrifield and his wife, Bertha, ran the rooming house operation, although Charles killed himself in 1928. By the late 1950s, urban renewal planners had other ideas about renovations that should occur in this neighborhood, and it was gradually cleared of "blighted" buildings. By 1968, only two 19th-century houses remained, this residence and one known as "The Salt Box" at 339 South Bunker Hill Avenue. The Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Commission arranged to have the two moved to the Highland Park Heritage Square Museum in 03/1969 at a cost of $43,000.

Building Notes

The On Bunker Hill web site indicated that the house's original number was 225 South Bunker Hill Avenue, but the city renumbered the street in 1889-1890 to 325 South Bunker Hill.

Alteration

The house and freestanding carriage house/stable were substantially enlarged between 1888 and 1894. As one can see from the Sanborn maps snippets published on the On Bunker Hill site, the house received extensions in length, width and height. The house went from a relatively simple rectangle, to a much more complicated form, with various bays, dormers and porches added to give it an asymmetrical and diverse Queen Anne Style building. Most distinctively, a mansard roof covered one front turret, but this was removed following the 1933 Long Beach Earthquake.

Colton Russell erected a separate guest house on the property in 1927.

Demolition

About seven months after being moved from Bunker Hill, on 10/09/1969, vandals burned both houses (the Castle and Salt Box) while they awaited restoration in the museum.