Denham, Mary E., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1895 on Pasadena's former "Millionaires' Row," this large single-family house at 297 South Orange Grove Boulevard was designed by architect Frederick Louis Roehrig. It is an oversized American Foursquare with Richardsonian Romanesque influences, with clapboard walls, a two-story curved bay, a hipped roof with a front dormer, and a front elevation faced partly in rock-faced Tehachapi sandstone. The arched entry, carved stone garlands, decorative ironwork, and shaped corbels reflect the craftsmanship of the period. Roehrig was a prolific architect who also designed Hotel Green and Castle Green, and this house is among his earliest surviving designs and the last of his Millionaires' Row houses still standing. It was listed for its architecture. Later changes, including a 1965 rear addition and rebuilt chimneys, are minor, and the house still reads as the home of a prosperous 1890s family. The altered carriage house at the rear is not counted as contributing.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a significant example of the work of prominent Pasadena architect Frederick Louis Roehrig under Criterion C. It combines American Foursquare form with Richardsonian Romanesque detailing and retains a high level of integrity. It is also described as the last of Roehrig's 'Millionaire's Row' houses still standing.
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 11000491, listed August 9, 2011. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 297 S. Orange Grove Blvd.,, Pasadena |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | August 9, 2011 |
| Reference number | 11000491 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1895 |
| Architect / builder | Roehrig, Frederick Louis (architect) |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian (American Foursquare with Richardsonian Romanesque influences) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling; the detached carriage house/garage is non-contributing because of alterations, and the house has had minor alterations, mostly at the rear. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 34.14072, -118.15991 (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 11000491.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q133289687
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.