Longley, Howard, House
Why it's listed
This two-story frame house at 1005 Buena Vista Street in South Pasadena was designed by the architects Greene and Greene and dated to 1897. It has shingle siding and roof, dormers, leaded glass windows, and a slightly curved roof with galvanized iron finials that gives an oriental feeling. Squat front columns carry capitals reminiscent of Etruscan design, and carved rosettes sit beneath the wide eaves. Inside, the front hall has elaborate wood paneling, while the living room, dining room and sun-room are plainer. The architects remodeled it in 1910, and a small west wing was added in 1928. It is considered the earliest surviving Greene and Greene work in California and an example of the eclectic approach of their early career. Next door stands the 1904 Garfield House, in the California Bungalow style, so the two homes show the firm's early and later periods side by side. It was listed in 1974.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is the earliest surviving example of Greene and Greene architecture in California. It shows their early eclectic, Eastern seaboard-influenced style and an early use of the oriental theme later developed in the Gamble House. It also sits next door to the 1904 Garfield House, allowing comparison of the architects' early and later work.
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 74000527, listed April 16, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1005 Buena Vista St., South Pasadena |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | April 16, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74000527 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date 1897) |
| Architect / builder | Greene and Greene |
| Architectural style | Eclectic (early Greene and Greene, before the California Bungalow) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Marked occupied and used as a private residence, in altered condition. The form notes a possible freeway extension, and the owner of record was the State Department of Transportation. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 34.12047, -118.15606 (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 74000527.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q38250944
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.