[Photo credit: South Pasadena Preservation Foundation]
South Pasadena Preservation Foundation President Jennifer Trotoux emphasized the variety within Craftsman architecture, stating, “While Craftsman-style residences are easily identifiable, they are not all alike!” She noted that Southern California’s Craftsman residential architecture encompasses several major substyles, from the original Stickley version to Swiss Chalet variants.
Architectural historian John Ripley will present current and historical images of Craftsman home variants in and around South Pasadena on June 27. Ripley, co-author of the book, “Pasadena’s Bungalow Heaven,” about Pasadena’s first and largest landmark district, has contributed to previous South Pasadena Preservation Foundation tours and programs.
“John Ripley retired from a career in aerospace design engineering and management, where he worked on Space Shuttle, missile defense, and aircraft subsystems,” Trotoux said. She added that Ripley’s move to Pasadena’s Bungalow Heaven neighborhood in 1983 sparked his dedication to local architecture.
Ripley has compiled a database of 15,000 area building permits issued before World War I, which has proven invaluable for researchers.
The meeting venue itself exemplifies the Craftsman style. Built in 1913, the Woman’s Club of South Pasadena Clubhouse is listed on the South Pasadena Cultural Heritage inventory. It was built after local women raised funds to house the group they organized in 1899 as the Women’s Improvement Association. A club member will share information about the organization’s history.
In addition to Ripley’s presentation, the meeting will include Trotoux’s annual report on the foundation’s activities and its current state. Attendees will also vote on new members for the South Pasadena Preservation Foundation Board of Directors.
The event promises to showcase the rich architectural heritage of South Pasadena, with a particular focus on the Swiss Chalet substyle of Craftsman bungalows. For more information, contact Jennifer Trotoux at jennifer@trotoux.com or Félix Gutiérrez at ffgutier@usc.edu.
To learn more about the SPPF, visit https://sppreservation.org/.
