Walter D. Valentine Cottage B, Altadena California
Historic Craftsman Style Valentine Cottage Destroyed in Los Angeles Wildfires
- Categories:
- California
- Arts and Crafts
- House

Walter D. Valentine, a real estate entrepreneur and dairy farmer, commissioned an unknown architect to construct at least three cabins in a rustic area of Altadena known as Wild Wood (or Wildwood) Park. Approximately ten years later, Valentine decided to alter and build additions to the cabins, hiring Henry M. Greene to complete the designs in the Craftsman style...
As an unincorporated area, Altadena during the 1920s was still more rural and pastoral than neighboring Pasadena. Period Revival houses were being built, along with those influenced by the Arts and Crafts Movement.
Although several small Craftsman-style neighborhoods came into being in Altadena during the first two decades of the century, development did not start to boom until the 1920s with the creation of the Altadena Country Club Park subdivision, a prestigious large-lot development across Allen Avenue from the golf course. Boosters of the time described Altadena as "the paradise of the foothills."
The Architect
The Greene brothers are considered iconic architects of the Arts and Crafts Movement as expressed in the American environment. Some of their more famous commissions include Tichenor House in Long Beach (1904), Blacker House in Pasadena (1907), Gamble House in Pasadena (1908), and Thorsen House in Berkeley (1909). In 1914 Charles left southern California to pursue work in Carmel and that became his subsequent home. Henry was ill for a time, then resurrected the Pasadena office, resuming his practice actively in 1922 under the name "Henry M. Greene, Architect". Living in Altadena during the 1920s, the Wildwood houses are an interesting example of Henry's work during the period immediately following his illness and during the time when he was rebuilding the office's business.
Building Description
Walter D. Valentine Cottage B is a single-family Craftsman-style building originally constructed as a small cabin in 1912 by an unknown architect/builder in a rustic area of northeast Altadena. This suburb of Los Angeles in Los Angeles County just south of the Angeles National Forest is known as Wildwood Park. The building measures approximately 1,734 square feet according to Assessor records. The original 1912 cabin has been enlarged significantly from its original footprint. Between 1922 and 1924, the cabin was remodeled and enlarged by famed architect Henry Greene. The cabin is irregular in plan, wood frame, clad in rustic-cut board-and-batten, with natural Arroyo stone boulders used to create prominent design elements throughout. Wildwood Park is a unique natural setting and the building has a strong relationship to its surroundings.
The property originally belonged to Walter Valentine and his family, who operated a dairy. The cabin was first constructed in 1912 by an unknown builder. Circa 1922-24 Henry Greene was commissioned to remodel and expand the cabin into a residence. The building embodies the rustic aesthetic Henry favored in this period.
Access is gained by driving to the end of Palm Street where it appears to end in a cul-de-sac, then driving down a narrow street flanked by stone pillars marking the entrance to Wildwood Park. Small winding paved roads, almost path-like, lead to "Cottage B," one of two similar cabins built next to each other. The first view of the cottage/cabin reveals a gable end with a large stacked Arroyo stone chimney with clinker brick accents and a terrace oriented to the chimney. Multi-pane French doors flank the chimney.
Moving past the terrace, a paved drive curves around-following the L-shape of the building. The main front entrance is marked by a small covered gable at the center. The gable is supported by substantial wood posts, and characterized by exposed rafter tails that step into brackets with a lantern marking the center of the gable peak; the front door is made of rustic paneled wood. This main entrance leads to the living room, which is a large long room paneled in wood with open beamed ceiling, the large fireplace marking the end of the room.
The other wing that extends from the main entry wing has a covered porch that extends across its length. A large Arroyo stone chimney marks the end of this wing. Finishing off the front portion of the house is a garage with a room above, circa 1930 based on the Assessor's record. The connection between the house and the garage features a second-story glassed-in space, circa 1970, that marks the transition between the main house and the garage with living area above. Around the side of the garage is a workshop with carriage doors that sits below an upper deck nestled into the hillside.
The rear of the building reveals the 1970s-era alterations, such as sliding glass doors and a small bump-out addition of a bathroom. The assessor inspected the property in 1953 and drew a plot plan that shows various alterations that occurred over the years. Essentially, there is a central 1912 portion with 1920s additions on the ends, and then a garage with living quarters above (c.1930), and a workshop at the rear of the garage constructed c.1950. A 1973 building permit shows $10,000 worth of alterations completed by Volker-Traor (designers) and Theodore Evergreen (contractor).
The interior of the cottage features many elements that characterize and fully embody the Arts and Crafts period. These features include wood-paneled walls, rustic Arroyo stone fireplaces, open wood-beamed ceilings, multi-pane wood windows and doors, handmade iron hardware, built-in cabinetry, wood flooring, and plaster wall finishes.

Wildwood Park Entrance Markers (2014)

Front of property from driveway (2014)

East facade (2014)

Additional view of outdoor fireplace (2014)

West facade (2014)

Front door (2014)

Living room (2014)

Dining room (2014)

Bedroom (2014)

Bedroom (2014)

Kitchen (2014)

View of windows from stairway (2014)

Upstairs bedroom (2014)

Rear facade (2014)

View of workshop and deck (2014)

Garage and workshop (2014)
