House at 574 Bellefontaine St.
Why it's listed
Built in 1911 at the corner of Bellefontaine Street and Bellefontaine Place in Pasadena, this hillside house was designed by architect Sylvanus B. Marston for G. Roscoe Thomas, who developed other properties nearby. Its L-shaped plan steps down a sloping site, with a one-story entrance facade facing east and a fuller lower level to the west. The design draws on Swiss or Tyrolean Chalet vocabulary: front-facing gables, decorative wooden porch and balcony enclosures, half-timbering against stucco walls, and an octagonal stair tower with a pointed roof. Exterior changes have been minor, mainly altered window patterns and an enclosed former sleeping porch, and the interior has been rehabilitated to recover original features such as a fireplace and window seat. A 1939 garden cottage and a garage are not counted as historic. The house was listed for its architecture, as an example of Arts and Crafts residential design in Pasadena.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an excellent example of the Swiss Chalet style within the 'two-story house' subtype of Arts and Crafts single-family residences in Pasadena. It reflects the design, craftsmanship and materials of Arts and Crafts residential architecture. Key features include hillside siting, decorative wood details, half-timbering and a picturesque roofline, and the house retains integrity.
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 98000958, listed August 6, 1998. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 574 Bellefontaine St., Pasadena |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | August 6, 1998 |
| Reference number | 98000958 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1911 |
| Architect / builder | Marston, Sylvanus B. |
| Architectural style | Swiss Chalet (Swiss or Tyrolean Chalet bungalow) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling; a later garden cottage (1939) and a garage are non-contributing, and the exterior has had only minor alterations. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 34.13147, -118.16130 (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 98000958.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16995942
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.