Merwin House
Why it's listed
Built in 1904-1905 at 267 West State Street in Pasadena, this two-story Craftsman house was designed for Reverend Alexander M. Merwin by the architectural firm of brothers Charles and Henry Greene, with Peter Hall as contractor. Its wood-frame structure is clad in wood shingles over a raised brick foundation, and a classically inspired portico with Doric columns reflects the client's New England roots. Inside, quarter-sawn oak floors, Port Orford cedar woodwork, a central stair hall, built-in features and Tiffany art glass at the front door remain. The house was listed for its architecture. It is regarded as a rare, early work by the Greenes, built during the transition toward their mature style, and as an excellent local example of Arts and Crafts residential design. It was the second collaboration between the Greenes and the Hall brothers. Recent rehabilitation replaced some roof and shingle materials in compatible form, and the property retains its historic integrity.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant under Criterion C at the local level as the work of master architects Charles and Henry Greene. It is also an excellent example of Arts and Crafts Craftsman residential architecture in Pasadena. It is described as a rare, early example of their work from the transitional period before their mature style, and it retains substantial original exterior and interior features.
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 12001164, listed January 14, 2013. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 267 W. State St., Pasadena |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | January 14, 2013 |
| Reference number | 12001164 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1905 |
| Architect / builder | Greene, Charles Sumner and Henry Mather (architects); Hall, Peter (builder) |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century American Movements: Craftsman |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used as a single dwelling; described as carefully rehabilitated, with in-kind replacement of some materials and little alteration since 1948. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Within district | South Pasadena Historic District |
| Coordinates | 34.11777, -118.15592 (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 12001164.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q133294653
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.