DeWenter Mansion, Guest House and Grounds
Also known as: DeWenter Ranch
Why it's listed
Set on a gentle rise in the hills north of La Verne, this former citrus ranch estate centers on a two-story Spanish Colonial Revival mansion completed in 1940 and a smaller guest house finished in 1939. Los Angeles architect William Werner designed the mansion, which has stucco walls, red clay tile roofs, wrought iron balconies, stained glass and decorative tilework inside and out. The guest house was built by Pacific Systems Homes to a design by Saul H. Brown. The 4.22-acre remnant of a ranch once exceeding 299 acres also keeps a live oak canyon, an aviary, specimen plantings and part of the orange grove. The DeWenter family bought the ranch in 1937 and worked it for decades. The property was recognized for its architecture and as a rare surviving example of the homes built by prosperous citrus ranchers when citrus drove La Verne's economy. Other comparable ranch houses nearby have lost their settings or been demolished.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the mansion is a superior, finely detailed example of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture in the La Verne area. It also represents the prosperity of the citrus industry, La Verne's principal economic force, and the homes of its successful ranchers. Few comparable ranch houses and settings survive nearby.
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 92001559, listed November 5, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 6100 Brydon Rd., La Verne |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | November 5, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92001559 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1939-1940 |
| Architect / builder | William H. Werner (mansion architect); Saul H. Brown (guest house architect), built by Pacific Systems Homes |
| Architectural style | Mission/Spanish Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as retaining about 95% of its original architectural elements and finishes; the new owners plan cleaning, repairs, grounds restoration and a kitchen update, with continued residential use. |
| Acreage | 4.2 |
| Coordinates | 34.15189, -117.75719 (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 92001559.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.