Résumé

Draftsman, Sylvanus B. Marston, Architect, Pasadena, CA, 1907-1914.

Principal, J. Cyril Bennett, Architect, Pasadena, CA, c. 1914-1923.

Partner, Bennett and [Fitch] Haskell, Architects, Pasadena, CA, c. 1924-1934. Bennet and Haskell collaborated with Los Angeles architect George E. Bergstom, on the design of the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, completed in 1932.

Principal, J. Cyril Bennett, Architect, Pasadena, CA, 1935-1941. Bennett had an office at 595 East Colorado Boulevard, Room #311 between 1935 and 1940. (See Pasadena, California, City Directory, 1935, p. 89 andPasadena, California, City Directory, 1940, p. 61.)

According to the Pasadena, California, City Directory, 1943, (p. 62), Bennett worked as a draftsman, presumably helping the war effort.

President, 1st Trust and Savings Bank of Pasadena, Pasadena, CA, c. 1941-1956. He served as the president of this bank for about 16 years, retiring one year before his death.

Partner, Bennett and [Robert E.] Bennett, Architects, Pasadena, CA, c. 1947-1955.

Professional Activities

Member, American Institute of Architects, Pasadena Chapter, c. 1955.

College

B.Arch., University of California, Berkeley (UCB), Berkeley, CA, 1910.

Relocation

Born in the Hereford, Herefordshire, England, John Cyril Bennett moved to the U.S. in 1891, at the age of 3 months. His family first resided in Chicago, IL, before relocating to California. During the period 1907-1910, he attended the University of California, Berkeley.

Bennett was naturalized on 01/22/1915 in the U.S. District Court, Southern Division of California, Los Angeles, CA.

Voting records placed Bennett as residing at 755 East Walnut Street in Pasadena, CA, in 1916. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1900-1968, accessed 02/25/2020.)

Between 1917 and 1920, at least, he and his family lived at 233 Elm Avenue, Pasadena, CA. (The 1920 U.S. Census confirmed this address.)

During the years 1930 through 1940, he and his family lived at 1447 Casa Grande Street, Pasadena, CA; (See Pasadena, California, City Directory, 1940, p. 61.) Bennett owned the house at this time, and it had a value of $15,000, a significant sum.

Between at least 1946 and 1952, Bennett and his wife resided at 6 Westmoreland Place, Pasadena, CA. They lived at 968 South Orange Grove Avenue in 1954.

He died at his South Orange Grove Avenue home in Pasadena, at the age of 65. He had a memorial service at the All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, and was interred at the Pasadena Mausoleum. (See "Cyril Bennett, 65, Dies: Pasadena Civic Leader," Los Angeles Times, 05/26/1957, p. 3.)

Parents

His father was Charles Bennett, born in England; his mother's maiden name was Probert.

Spouse

Bennett married Olevia Cobb (born c. 1889 in ID), 04/16/1913. (On at least one official form, a U.S. passport application of 1924) her name was recorded as "Olivia.") She re-married after Cyril's death to Charles R. Seward, 04/25/1967; he was 76, she 78.

Children

He had two children: Robert E. Bennett (born 01/13/1915 in Pasadena, CA) and Margaret Bennett, (born c. 1920 in Pasadena, CA).

Margaret became Mrs. Angus McLeod.

Biographical Notes

Bennett claimed an exemption from the WW I Draft in 1917 citing his support of his mother, wife and child.

A US passport registration form described Bennett at age 27 as having a stout build, medium height, brown eyes and dark brown hair.

He and his wife, Olivia, took a study tour of the British Isles, France and Italy in 1924; they departed New York, NY, aboard the liner Berengaria on 06/04/1924. According to his U.S. Passport application of 1924, Bennett was born on 06/21/1890. Most records indicate his birth to have been in 1891, including the England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915, available via Ancestry.com.

Bennett was a registered Democrat in voter's records of 1916. He and his wife were registered Republican voters as of 1948, 1950 and 1954 (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1900-1968, accessed 02/255/2020.)

President, Pasadena Tournament of Rose Association, Pasadena, CA, 1936.

According to his obituary in the Los Angeles Times, Bennett led Pasadena's highly successful war-bond fund raising effort during World War II: "He was cited by President Eisenhower in 1954 for the role he played as head of the war bonds drive in Pasadena during World War II. Under Mr. Bennett's leadership, more war bonds were sold there than in any other city its size in the nation." (See "Cyril Bennett, 65, Dies: Pasadena Civic Leader," Los Angeles Times, 05/26/1957, p. 3.)

Member, Pasadena Historical Society, Pasadena, CA.

Member, Pioneer Club, Pasadena, CA.

Member, Elk's Lodge, Pasadena, CA.

Founding Member, Pasadena Kiwanis Club, Pasadena, CA.

Member, Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Pasadena, CA. Bennett was a Scottish Rite 32nd-degree Mason.

Trustee and Adviser, Episcopal Home for Children, Pasadena, CA.

SSN: 552-24-8830.

• Pasadena, CA (Architect's Death)
  Pasadena, CA

  ---

  OpenStreetMap (new tab)

  Google Map (new tab)

  

  ---

• Hereford, Herefordshire UK (Architect's Birth)
  Hereford, Herefordshire UK

  ---

  OpenStreetMap (new tab)

  Google Map (new tab)

  

  ---