Keyes Bungalow
Why it's listed
Perched at about 1,200 feet in the foothills of Altadena, this brown shingle house was built in 1911 for Frank E. Keyes, an inventor. It is an "airplane" California Bungalow: a low-pitched roof with long eaves and a small upper room rising from the roof, here placed toward the rear to take in views of the mountains and the San Gabriel Valley. Bedrooms are staggered so each looks toward the front of the lot, and two porches on the east side reflect the era's emphasis on fresh air. Interior woodwork, fieldstone fireplace and built-in cabinetry show Craftsman influence. The property was listed because airplane bungalows were the final development of the shingle house and few were built in Altadena. It was also the home of Jackson Gregory, a prolific western author whose work reached the movies and who hosted film industry figures there. Later alterations include subdivided side yards and repainted woodwork, with restoration ongoing.
Significance in brief: It is argued to be a good example of the airplane bungalow, the last phase of the shingle house before the Craftsman movement faded around World War I. Few airplane bungalows were built in Altadena, and most surviving ones are heavily altered. It was also the home of western author Jackson Gregory in the late 1920s and early 1930s, where Hollywood figures visited him.
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 78000678, listed November 14, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1337 E. Boston St., Altadena |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | November 14, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78000678 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1911 |
| Architectural style | California Bungalow ("airplane" bungalow), Craftsman period |
| Areas of significance | Literature, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence; a restoration project was underway, with the living room, dining room and hallway nearly returned to original condition. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 34.18237, -118.12294 (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 78000678.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6398267
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.