Lester S. Moore

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[edit] Biography

Lester Sherwood Moore (1871-Abt1925) designed residential homes, and other buildings in the early 20th century. He was based in Los Angeles and is credited for being one of the first to recognize and appreciate Mission Style as a worthy architectural form.[1] Though not designed by Moore, Moore's office was located in the Tajo Building, #307, at the NW corner for First and Broadway in Los Angeles.

One of Moore's notable achievements is the "Montecito View Home" which was declared Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument #529 on 04/23/1991. This house, built in 1909, is a one and one-half story Craftsman bungalow overlooking the Arroyo Seco from Monetcito Heights, and is located at 4115 Berenice Place, Los Angeles, CA 90031. He also designed the Thomas J. Washburn House (1911) which was purchased in 1941 by Hattie McDaniel, the first black actress to win an Academy Award when she won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role as Mammy in Gone with the Wind.[2]

Moore became associated with Riverside, California when he submitted plans for a new Riverside County courthouse in 1902.[3] Moore did not win the contract, but he did subsequently design a number of homes and other structures in Riverside. Many of the Riverside homes Moore designed were located in the somewhat exclusive area now known as the Rubidoux Heights Historic District, which included one section commonly referred to as "Banker's Row".

Moore, born in Kansas in September of 1871, was the second of five children born to Douglas J. and Cynthia A. Moore. His father, a farmer, painter and occasional huckster, was a Canadian immigrant who fought with the 11th Kansas Cavalry for the Union during the American Civil War, but did not become a naturalized citizen of the United States until 1886. He enlisted in the war as a Private, but was a Corporal before the war's end. Moore's mother was born in Illinois.

After moving to California, Moore married Anna "Belle" Russ in Los Angeles on June 6, 1894. Initially the two lived with Anna's parents, John and Louise Russ, but subsequently moved to 3301 Griffin Ave, Los Angeles. They had two children. Dorothy L. Moore was born in 1901 and Barbara M. Moore was born in 1906. Around 1918 Moore and his family moved to Kern County, where he worked for the CCM (Chanslor-Canfield Midway) Oil Company as a Geologic Engineer. Moore died some time before the 1930 Federal Census, which shows his wife Anna, and Daughter Barbara, were back living in LA with Anna's mother, who was now living at their old address on Griffin Ave. The 1930 census also show's Anna was widowed at that time.[4]

[edit] Structures Designed by Lester S. Moore [5][6][7][8]

Year Built Style Location Structure Name & Details Ref Source
UNK South Pasadena, CA J. A. Hobert House; Built before 1911 Saylor
UNK Bungalow San Marino, CA The Hart Bungalow; Built before 1911 Saylor
UNK Los Angeles, CA Apartment Building at W. 6th St; Built around 1900 USC Digital Archives
1903 Montebello, CA (aka Newmark, CA) Mrs. G. Reeves-Collins House UofW Libraries
1908 Craftsman 3587 Mount Rubidoux Dr, Riverside, CA William B. Clancy Residence;Riverside Structure of Merit #350; Mt Rubidoux Historic District Klotz; Riverside Historic Resources DB
1909 Craftsman 4115 Berenice Place, Los Angeles, CA The Montecito View House; Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument #529 Fisher
1909 Spanish-Mediterranean Revival 3563 Mount Rubidoux Dr, Riverside, CA Stanley J. Castleman Residence; Riverside Structure of Merit #349; Mt Rubidoux Historic District Klotz; Riverside Historic Resources DB
1909 Craftsman 4540 University Ave, Riverside, CA M. B. Sleeper House; Riverside Structure of Merit #230; Mt Rubidoux Historic District Riverside Historic Resources DB
1909 Craftsman 4522 Indian Hill Rd, Riverside, CA A.M. Pier Residence; Riverside Structure of Merit #361; Mt Rubidoux Historic District Riverside Historic Resources DB
1910 Craftsman 4555 Mission Inn Ave, Riverside, CA Residence of Issac Logan; Riverside City Structure of Merit #339; Mount Rubidoux Historic District; Seventh St Historic District Klotz; Riverside Historic Resources DB
1910 Craftsman 3511 Mount Rubidoux Dr, Riverside, CA W. T. Densmore Residence; Riverside City Structure of Merit #347; Mount Rubidoux Historic District Klotz; Riverside Historic Resources DB
1910 Craftsman 4526 University Ave, Riverside, CA W.P. Danchy Residence; Riverside City Structure of Merit #169; Mount Rubidoux Historic District Riverside Historic Resources DB
1910 Craftsman 3471 Redwood Dr, Riverside, CA M.J. Wade Residence; Riverside City Structure of Merit #359; Mount Rubidoux Historic District Riverside Historic Resources DB
1910 Craftsman/California Bungalow 2041 Arroyo Dr, Riverside, CA A.D. Shamel House Riverside Historic Resources DB
1910 Craftsman 335 Monterey Rd, South Pasadena, CA Ezra & Ida Thompsan Residence Arroyo Vista Inn Web Site
1911 Mediterranean Revival 2203 South Harvard Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA Thomas J. Washburn House UofW Libraries
1911 4625 Glenwood Dr, Riverside, CA Bigelow's Bungalow Hall
1911 4495 Fifth St, Riverside, CA The Phillips House Hall
1912 Mission Revival  ? San Andreas Ave, Riverside, CA The University of Riverside Citrus Exp Station Klotz
1912 814 South Flower St; Los Angeles, CA Pierce Brothers and Company Funeral Home UofW Libraries
1912 Prairie 3783 & 3811 Mount Rubidoux Dr, Riverside, CA LeRoy and LaMonte Simms Houses (twins); Riverside City Structure of Merit #353 and 354; Mt Rubidoux Historic District Klotz; Riverside Historic Resources DB
1912 Craftsman 4509 University, Riverside, CA The Harry Stewart House Hall
1912 Craftsman 4495 Fifth St, Riverside, CA Residence of Nora A. Philips; Coloney Heights Historic District Riverside Historic Resources DB
1913 Rock Cabin / Lodge Big Santa Anita Canyon, CA Sierra Club's Muir Lodge; Destroyed by flood in March 1938 Sierra Club LA Web Site
1913 Wilmington, Los Angeles, CA Calvary Presbyterian Church UofW Libraries
1913 Buena Vista and Florida Ave, Hemet, CA Hemet Public Library - The Carnegie Library (razed 1969) SW Builder and Contractor, 7/27/1911
1914 Craftsman/American Foursquare 4477 University Ave, Riverside, CA The Hugh Craig House; Evergreen Quarter Historic District Klotz; Riverside Historic Resources DB
1915 Mediterranean Revival 4495 Mission Inn Ave, Riverside, CA Residence of Robert J. Lutz; Colony Heights Historic District, Seventh St Historic District Riverside Historic Resources DB
1917 Prairie 3354 Orange St, Riverside, CA E.E. Stewart Residence; Riverside City Structure of Merit #538; Heritage Square Historic District Riverside Historic Resources DB
1917 Mediterranean Revival 4541 Mission Inn Ave, Riverside, CA
(Orig. 1541 Seventh St)		 Residence of Mary E. Brehm; Riverside City Structure of Merit #338; Mount Rubidoux Historic District; Seventh St Historic District Riverside Historic Resources DB

[edit] References

  1. ^ Walker, Lester. 2002. "American Homes; An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Domestic Architecture". New York, NY: Black Dog and Leventhal Publishers.
  2. ^ Artunian, Judy and Oldham, Mike. 2006. "Movie Star Homes; The Famous to the Forgotten". Santa Monica, CA: Santa Monica Press LLC.
  3. ^ Riverside Daily Press, January 4, 1902
  4. ^ United States Federal Census
  5. ^ Saylor, Henry H. 1926. "Bungalows; Their Design, Construction and Furnishings". New York, NY: Robert M. McBride & Company.
  6. ^ Klotz, Esther H. and Hall, Joan H. 2005. "Adobes, Bungalows, and Mansions of Riverside, California Revisited". Riverside, CA: Highgrove Press.
  7. ^ Hall, Joan H. 2003. "Cottages, Colonials and Community Places of Riverside, California". Riverside, CA: Highgrove Press.
  8. ^ Southwest Builder and Contractor.

[edit] External links

[edit] General & Informational Links

[edit] Photo's of Lester S. Moore and Buildings he Designed