Batchelder House
Why it's listed
Ernest and Alice Batchelder's home on South Arroyo Boulevard in Pasadena is a two-story, L-shaped Craftsman bungalow covered mainly in dark brown cedar shakes. It was built around 1909-10 and enlarged in 1913 and later. Ernest Batchelder, an author and former design teacher at Throop Polytechnic Institute, set up an arts and crafts school and kilns on the property and became a noted maker of ornamental tile. His tiles line the living room fireplace, which includes patterns such as the Viking Ship and carries his rabbit logo beside his wife Alice's lyre. A board-and-batten kiln house from 1909 and a 1927 brick garage and guest house display his Spanish Colonial, Mayan and Art Deco tiles. The house was designed and built by its owner with carpenters and artisans, and its woodsy exterior was meant to harmonize with the Arroyo Seco. Alice founded the Coleman Chamber Music concerts and held informal concerts on a tiled stage in the back yard.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the house as the personal expression of Ernest Batchelder, a designer, teacher, author and tile manufacturer central to the Arts and Crafts movement in the Arroyo Seco area. Unlike the Greene and Greene houses, it was designed and built by its owner with carpenters and artisans. Its tilework, garden ornament and guest house serve as a museum of his ideas and work, and it also reflects his wife Alice's role in Pasadena's musical life.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 78000695, listed December 14, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 626 S. Arroyo Blvd., Pasadena |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | December 14, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78000695 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Ernest A. Batchelder |
| Architectural style | Craftsman |
| Areas of significance | Art, Education, Architecture, Performing Arts |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied private residence, in excellent condition and altered. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Within district | Pasadena Arroyo Parks and Recreation District |
| Coordinates | 34.13498, -118.16591 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 78000695.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4868718
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.