Lacey, Friend, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1893 on the north side of East Villa Street in Pasadena, this one-story, 1,600 square-foot house combines a vernacular hipped cottage form with Queen Anne decoration. Robert Lacey built it, along with a nearly mirror-image house next door at 669 E. Villa Street; his son Friend Lacey gives the house its name. The land came from Alexander Grogan, who owned 5,000 acres of farmland in eastern Pasadena. The boxy plan, hipped roof with a central dormer, partial-width porch and double-hung windows reflect the cottage type. Turned posts, spindlework, cutout vent ornament, diamond and fish-scale shingles, tongue-and-groove skirting and a leaded glass transom with a stylized rose supply the Queen Anne character. The house remains in its original location and keeps most of its original materials and proportions. It was recognized as a locally significant example of late nineteenth-century residential architecture in Pasadena. It remains a single-family home with a non-contributing rear carport.
Significance in brief: The house is locally significant under Criterion C as a notable example of the Vernacular Hipped Cottage and Queen Anne subtypes of single-family residence in Pasadena's late 19th-century development. It retains a high level of architectural integrity, including much of its decorative millwork and original materials. It was built alongside a nearly identical house next door.
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 11000497, listed August 9, 2011. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 679 E. Villa St.,, Pasadena |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | August 9, 2011 |
| Reference number | 11000497 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1893 |
| Architect / builder | Robert Lacey (builder) |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Hipped Cottage, Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling; some elements such as the chimney, balustrade, retaining wall and fence are newer but compatible, and a rear carport is non-contributing. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 34.15456, -118.13623 (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 11000497.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q133290065
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.