HomeMy WebLinkAboutITEM 2A - 1850 Smoke Tree Lane_HSPB 159
HISTORIC SITE PRESERVATION BOARD
STAFF REPORT
DATE: September 3, 2024 PUBLIC HEARING
SUBJECT: APPLICATION BY CHARLES E. BENTALL AND JULIE BENTALL
REPRESENTED BY THE PALM SPRINGS PRESERVATION
FOUNDATION FOR HISTORIC SITE DESIGNATION OF “THE
BURNHAM-WELLS RESIDENCE” LOCATED AT 1850 SMOKE TREE
LANE, CASE HSPB #159 (APN 510-172-001) (SY).
FROM: Department of Planning Services
SUMMARY
An application for historic site designation of the “Burnham-Wells Residence” was
submitted by the current owners: Charles E. Bentall and Julie Bentall. This home is
located within the Smoke Tree Ranch development and the period of significance is when
the home was completed in 1936 by architect John Porter Clark. While changes to the
home were made by subsequent owners by significant architects like Albert Frey, those
alterations do not meet the criteria for historic significance.
If designated as a historic resource, the property would be subject to the regulations
outlined in Section 8.05 of the Palm Springs Municipal Code.
RECOMMENDATION:
1. Open the public hearing and receive public testimony.
2. Close the public hearing and adopt Resolution HSPB #159, “A RESOLUTION OF
THE HISTORIC SITE PRESERVATION BOARD OF THE CITY OF PALM
SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA, RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL
DESIGNATE “THE BURNHAM-WELLS RESIDENCE” LOCATED AT 1850
SMOKE TREE LANE, AS A CLASS 1 (LANDMARK) HISTORIC RESOURCE
HSPB #159, SUBJECT TO CONDITIONS (APN #510-172-001).”
BACKGROUND AND SETTING:
The single-family residence is located inside Smoke Tree Ranch addressed Rock 6, 4L.
The home is on a single parcel with an adjacent “view lot” to the south that cannot contain
a structure. Smoke Tree Ranch was first developed as a “dude ranch” presenting the
rustic ranch-style of architecture in a natural desert setting with hotel-like amenities. The
Burnham-Wells Residence is considered one of those early examples of residential
development dating to 1936.
Historic Site Preservation Board Staff Report September 3, 2024
HSPB-159 – The Burnham-Wells Residence
Page 2 of 9
AERIAL VIEW OF THE SUBJECT PARCEL.
SOUTH (REAR) ELEVATION, 2024.
Related Relevant City Actions by HSPB, Planning, Fire, Building, etc.
August, 2024 Site inspection by members of the HSPB and City Staff.
Ownership Status
April, 2013 Purchased by the current owner.
Historic Site Preservation Board Staff Report September 3, 2024
HSPB-159 – The Burnham-Wells Residence
Page 3 of 9
Historic Context Statement “Between the Wars (1919-1941)”
The transformation of Palm Springs into a tourist/resort town was evident during this time
with the presence of celebrities and the wealthy elite during the winter months. The
architectural identity was mainly Spanish and Mediterranean Revival with renewed
interest in the rustic ranches. Developers like Mac Blankenhorn recognized this unique
opportunity and developed Smoke Tree Ranch as a “dude ranch” that appealed to those
seeking a working ranch experience with hotel-like amenities1.
Context: Palm Springs Between the Wars (1919-1941)
Theme: Single-Family Residential Development (1919-1941)
Registration Requirements: To be eligible under this theme, a property must:
Date from the period of significance; and
Represent important patterns and trends in residential development from
this period, including representing 1920s and 1930s development and
settlement patterns; an association with an important developer; an
association with Palm Springs as an artists’ enclave; an association with
tourism in Palm Springs; or
Represent an excellent, rare, or influential example of an architectural
style, property type, or method of construction; or be associated with a
significant architect or designer; and
Display most of the character-defining features of the property type or
style; and
Retain the essential aspects of historic integrity.
Context: Architectural Styles & Local Practitioners
Theme: Modern Styles of the Post-World War II Era
Sub-theme: Rustic Style Ranch 2
Registration Requirements: To be eligible under this theme as an excellent
example of its architectural style, a property must:
Retain most – though not necessarily all – of the character-defining
features of the style, and continue to exhibit its historic appearance
If important for illustrating a particular architectural style or construction
technique, must retain most of the physical features that constitute that
style or technique.
ANALYSIS:
A historic resources report (“the report”), site visit, and city documents and forms are the
basis of this staff report. The rustic style ranch home is a one-story structure designed by
architect John Porter Clark. The home has a low-pitched roof with an L-shaped building
footprint that was integrated into the natural desert setting at Smoke Tree Ranch. The
home was completed in 1936 but alterations to exterior elements occurred between 1991-
1995 and between 2013-2016. These changes include the addition of porches, additions
1 City of Palm Springs Citywide Historic Context Statement and Survey Findings: Context: Palm Springs between
the Wars (1919-1941).
Historic Site Preservation Board Staff Report September 3, 2024
HSPB-159 – The Burnham-Wells Residence
Page 4 of 9
and new openings. While the changes do not significantly alter the character of the
original design, they have no historic merit.
Historic Preservation activities in Palm Springs are regulated under Municipal Code
Section 8.05 (“Historic Preservation”). The purpose of the Historic Preservation
Ordinance is:
“…to stabilize and improve buildings, structures or areas which are
considered to be of historical, architectural, archaeological or ecological
value, to foster civic beauty, to strengthen the local economy and to promote
the use of historic resources for the education and welfare of the citizens.”
Conditions that apply to Class 1 historic sites or resources:
1. It shall meet the definition of a historic site as outlined in Municipal Code Section
8.05.020.
2. An archival file shall be maintained on the property by the City.
3. It may be qualified as ‘historic’ at the federal, state, and/or county level.
4. A marker explaining the historic nature of the site may be installed in a location
viewable from the public way.
5. Compliance with all rules and regulations for Historic Resources and Historic
Districts under Chapter 8.05 of the Municipal Code.
6. If designated, the findings in support of designation shall be stated in a resolution
of the City Council that shall be recorded with the County Recorders’ office within
90 days of the effective date of the Council’s resolution.
Evaluation of the Application. Pursuant to Municipal Code Section 8.05.070 (C,1,a), the
HSPB shall evaluate the application and make findings in conformance with the following
criteria:
Criteria for the Designation of Class 1 Historic Resources. A site, structure, building or
object may be designated as a Class 1 historic resource, provided both of the following
findings (“a” and “b”) are met:
a. The site, structure, building or object exhibits exceptional historic
significance and meets one or more of the criteria listed below:
The Burnham-Wells Residence is an example of a rustic ranch home in a development
that started out as a “dude ranch” resort. This style of architecture and living started to
gain popularity in the 1930s based on a renewed interest of the old west and outdoor
living. The home retains a low-pitched roof, wood shake shingles, board-and-batten siding
and L-shaped plan. The following is a detailed analysis of the criterion and integrity
findings.
(Criterion i) The resource is associated with events that have made a
meaningful contribution to the nation, state or community;
Historic Site Preservation Board Staff Report September 3, 2024
HSPB-159 – The Burnham-Wells Residence
Page 5 of 9
Based on the historic resources report, there are no events of significance associated
with this site. The site does not qualify under Criterion i.
(Criterion ii) The resource is associated with the lives of persons who
made a meaningful contribution to national, state or local history;
The first owner, Ralph French Burnham, owned the property from 1936 to 1944 and
Gertrude Alice Wells was the second and fifth owner of the home. According to the
research provided in the report, none of the people associated with the home are
individuals whose activities/achievements rise to the level of significance within the local,
state of national context, therefore, Criterion ii is not met.
(Criterion iii) The resource reflects or exemplifies a particular period of
national, state or local history;
A home on a working ranch would typically be a one-story structure constructed with cost
efficient materials using simple methods of construction. In Southern California, ranch
style homes are closely related to the southwestern adobe, hacienda, or wood vernacular
styles 3. The “rustic style” ranch home is one that harkens back to simplicity and harmony
with the natural outdoor setting. Smoke Tree Ranch was a “dude ranch” that catered to
this trend and the residential design standards were based on this rustic aesthetic. The
Burnham-Wells residence embodies many of these characteristics. It is a one-story home
with a L-shaped plan that has a low-pitched roof that is a combination of gable and lean-
to roofs forms. The exterior materials consist of wood shake shingles and board-and-
batten siding. Covered porches are found on the front and rear elevations of the home.
This home not only exemplifies the renewed interest in the rustic ranch-style, but it also
reflects the tourism trends of that period and the development of “dude ranches”. The
Burnham-Wells home qualifies under Criterion iii.
(Criterion iv) The resource embodies the distinctive characteristics of a
type, period or method of construction;
Unlike the National Register criterion concerning construction, the Palm Springs
evaluation of construction addresses the type (of construction), the period (of
construction) and the method (of construction). It appears that the building was
constructed using standard construction methods and materials. While the applicant
develops finds that Criterion 4 is met through the use of board-and-batten construction,
this was not considered a technique, method, or material that was unique or distinctive to
that period, thus does not qualify for this criterion.
(Criterion v) The resource presents the work of a master builder, designer,
artist, or architect whose individual genius influenced his age, or that
possesses high artistic value;
3 City of Palm Springs Citywide Historic Context Statement and Survey Findings: Architectural Styles: Ranch.
Historic Site Preservation Board Staff Report September 3, 2024
HSPB-159 – The Burnham-Wells Residence
Page 6 of 9
According to the research presented in this application, the Burnham-Wells Residence
was designed by master architect John Porter Clark. Considered one of the founders of
“Desert Modern” architecture, Clark is recognized locally and internationally for his
projects and contributions to the field. In Palm Springs some of his most celebrated
projects include the Palm Springs Woman’s Club and the Welwood Murray Library.
During his successful career as an architect, he also collaborated with other significant
practitioners like Albert Frey and Robson Chambers on a variety of projects. The design
of the Burnham-Wells residence adheres to the aesthetic requirements of Smoke Tree
Ranch that includes attention to scale, materials, and site planning. The architectural
detailing is consistent throughout the home and the home that is sited harmoniously in
the natural desert landscape.
Research shows that Albert Frey also worked on changes to the home dating to the early
1990s; however, unlike the Blankenhorn/Gilmore Residence where he was in charge of
a consistent evolution of the home over a prolonged period of time, Frey was hired to add
a small porch along the north side of the home and propose maintenance related
upgrades. The alterations were done in character with the existing home and does not
impair the integrity of the original design, but the alterations are not recognized as historic.
The Burnham-Wells Residence is an intact example of a rustic style ranch home
thoughtfully executed by John Porter Clark, an architect of significance, early in his prolific
career. Criterion v is met.
(Criterion vi) The resource represents a significant and distinguishable
entity whose components may lack individual distinction, as used in
evaluating applications for designation of historic districts, for parcels on
which more than one entity exists; or
The resource is not within a historic district and does not qualify under Criterion vi.
(Criterion vii) The resource has yielded or may be likely to yield information
important to national, state or local history or prehistory.
No information is available on any pre-historic significance of the site.
Analysis of Integrity. (PSMC 8.05.070 (C,1,b). The site, structure, building
or object retains one or more of the following aspects of integrity, as
established in the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards: integrity of design,
materials, workmanship, location, setting, feeling, or association.
The Burnham-Wells Residence is evaluated based on the following topics of integrity
based on the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards:
Historic Site Preservation Board Staff Report September 3, 2024
HSPB-159 – The Burnham-Wells Residence
Page 7 of 9
Location.
The location of the residence remains in its original location; therefore, the integrity of
location is met.
Design.
The home has an L-shaped floor plan that is asymmetrical but the forms and overall
features of the home like the roofline and the locations of the entry and the porches
appear consistent with the original design. The rustic simplicity and harmony with the
surroundings were key design features, as well as the indoor-outdoor living which remain
intact. The bedroom addition from 2016 is consistent with the architectural language of
the existing home but the massing of the addition extends vertically behind the shed-roof
massing of the original home. The exterior materials and the fenestration patterns match
the original design but during one of the remodels, the direction of the siding panels was
altered, and the louver style shutters were replaced with board-style shutter design. The
addition of a swimming pool and hardscape around the pool is towards the rear of the
home. The changes made to the home do not compromise or overshadow the design
elements by Clark; therefore, the overall integrity of the design remains intact.
Setting.
The setting within the Smoke Tree Ranch development maintains the natural desert
setting and development density. The home remains harmoniously placed on the site and
the indoor-outdoor relationship remains a prominent feature, thus integrity remains intact.
Materials.
The home has wooden shake shingles and board-and-batten siding. Windows and doors
appear to match the original appearance but have been replaced with modern materials
that match in kind. The exterior materials are in conformance with the rustic
characteristics of the home. The integrity of materials remains intact.
Workmanship.
Conventional construction methods were used to build this home, and it appears that the
board-and-batten siding was replaced along with the fenestration. Due to recent
alterations, the integrity of the original workmanship may be limited.
Feeling.
The existing home is preserved in the rural desert setting and reflects the original design
intent of the ranch home. While hardscaping around the new swimming pool was added,
it is restricted to an area with little visibility. The integrity of feeling is met.
Association.
The rustic, ranch-style home captures the image of the original dude ranch established in
the 1930s. The rustic atmosphere and the original design concepts for the home by John
Porter Clark are clearly maintained and recognizable. The integrity of association is met.
Historic Site Preservation Board Staff Report September 3, 2024
HSPB-159 – The Burnham-Wells Residence
Page 8 of 9
DEFINING HISTORIC CHARACTERISTICS:
In considering a recommendation for historic resource designation it is important to
distinguish those physical elements that are original or from the period of significance that
contribute to the resource’s historic significance from alterations, additions or features
that were added at a later time that may be sympathetic to the original character, but
which may create a false sense of historicity. Distinguishing original character-defining
features from non-original elements aids the HSPB when it is tasked with evaluating
future alterations to the historic resource.
On page 32, the report identifies the physical character-defining historic features of this
site as follows:
• Site placement in the desert landscape.
• One-story rustic, ranch-style home.
• Simple low pitched hipped, gable and shed roof with open overhanging eaves and
wood shake shingles.
• Sprawling L-shaped plan.
• Covered and open rear porch on the south elevation with three prong wooden
posts.
• Board-and-batten siding and louver-style wooden shutters.
• Divided sash windows.
• Original hitching post.
• Original light post.
Non-contributing elements:
• Bedroom addition on the west elevation (2016).
• Porch extension on the north (front) elevation (1993).
• Wide sliding door and fixed picture window on the south elevation.
• Main entrance door with side lites.
• Modern exterior light fixtures.
• Perimeter wall and equipment enclosure wall.
• Swimming pool and spa.
• Hardscaped walkways, patios and driveway.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
The proposed historic resource designation is not subject to the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct
or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3)
(the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines,
California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for
resulting in physical changes to the environment, directly or indirectly.
Historic Site Preservation Board Staff Report September 3, 2024
HSPB-159 – The Burnham-Wells Residence
Page 9 of 9
NOTIFICATION:
Pursuant to section 8.05.140 of the Municipal Code of Palm Springs, all residents within
five hundred (500) feet of the subject property have been notified and notice was
published in a newspaper of general circulation.
CONCLUSION:
The Burnham-Wells Residence meets the definition of a historic resource based on
Criterion 3 and 5 of the Palm Springs Historic Preservation Ordinance and meets the
necessary integrity findings; therefore, staff recommends Class 1 Designation as a
historic landmark property.
PREPARED BY: Sarah Yoon, Associate Planner/Historic Preservation Officer
REVIEWED BY: David Newell, AICP, Assistant Director of Planning
Attachments:
A. Vicinity Map
B. Draft Resolution
C. Application, related background materials, photos.
ATTACHMENT A
Department of Planning Services
Vicinity Map
CITY OF PALM SPRINGS
HSPB #159 – The Burnham-Wells Residence
1850 Smoke Tree Lane
ATTACHMENT B
RESOLUTION NO. HSPB #159
A RESOLUTION OF THE HISTORIC SITE PRESERVATION
BOARD OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA,
RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL DESIGNATE
THE BURNHAM-WELLS RESIDENCE LOCATED AT 1850
SMOKE TREE LANE, A CLASS 1 HISTORIC SITE, (HSPB
#159), APN #510-172-001.
THE HISTORIC SITE PRESERVATION BOARD (“HSPB”) FINDS AND DETERMINES
AS FOLLOWS:
A. WHEREAS, Chapter 8.05 of the Palm Springs Municipal Code allows for the
designation of historic sites and districts; and
B. WHEREAS, The City of Palm Springs filed an application pursuant to Article III,
Section 8.05.070 (Procedure and Criteria for Designation of Historic Resources) of the
Palm Springs Municipal Code requesting historic resources designation for “The
Burnham-Wells Residence” located at 1850 Smoke Tree Lane. The application included
a historic resources report (“the report”).
C. WHEREAS, on August 22 and August 29, 2024, members of the Historic Site
Preservation Board (HSPB) conducted site inspections of the proposed historic resource,
accompanied by City staff; and
D. WHEREAS, on September 3, 2024, a noticed public hearing of the Palm Springs
Historic Site Preservation Board (“HSPB”) to consider Case HSPB #159 was held in
accordance with applicable law; and
E. WHEREAS, The HSPB carefully reviewed and considered all of the evidence
presented in connection with the hearing on the project, including, but not limited to, the
staff report and all written and oral testimony presented.
THE HISTORIC SITE PRESERVATION BOARD OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS
RESOLVES:
SECTION 1: FINDINGS – PART “1”, CRITERIA FOR HISTORIC RESOURCES.
Evaluation of the Application. Pursuant to Municipal Code Section 8.05.070 (C,1,a), the
HSPB shall evaluate the application and make findings in conformance with the following
criteria:
1. Criteria for the Designation of Class 1 Historic Resources. A site, structure,
building or object may be designated as a Class 1 historic resource,
provided both of the following findings (“a” and “b”) are met:
Resolution No. HSPB #159 – The Burnham-Wells Residence
Page 2 of 6
September 3, 2024
a. The site, structure, building, or object exhibits exceptional historic
significance and meets one or more of the criteria listed below:
The Burnham-Wells Residence is an example of a rustic ranch home in a development
that started out as a “dude ranch” resort. This style of architecture and living started to
gain popularity in the 1930s based on a renewed interest of the old west and outdoor
living. The home retains a low-pitched roof, wood shake shingles, board-and-batten siding
and L-shaped plan. The following is a detailed analysis of the criterion and integrity
findings.
(Criterion i) The resource is associated with events that have made a
meaningful contribution to the nation, state or community;
Based on the historic resources report, there are no events of significance associated
with this site. The site does not qualify under Criterion i.
(Criterion ii) The resource is associated with the lives of persons who
made a meaningful contribution to national, state or local history;
The first owner, Ralph French Burnham, owned the property from 1936 to 1944 and
Gertrude Alice Wells was the second and fifth owner of the home. According to the
research provided in the report, none of the people associated with the home are
individuals whose activities/achievements rise to the level of significance within the local,
state of national context, therefore, Criterion ii is not met.
(Criterion iii) The resource reflects or exemplifies a particular period of
national, state or local history;
A home on a working ranch would typically be a one-story structure constructed
with cost efficient materials using simple methods of construction. In Southern
California, ranch style homes are closely related to the southwestern adobe,
hacienda, or wood vernacular styles. The “rustic style” ranch home is one that
harkens back to simplicity and harmony with the natural outdoor setting. Smoke
Tree Ranch was a “dude ranch” that catered to this trend and the residential design
standards were based on this rustic aesthetic. The Burnham-Wells residence
embodies many of these characteristics. It is a one-story home with a L-shaped
plan that has a low-pitched roof that is a combination of gable and lean-to roofs
forms. The exterior materials consist of wood shake shingles and board-and-batten
siding. Covered porches are found on the front and rear elevations of the home.
This home not only exemplifies the renewed interest in the rustic ranch-style, but
it also reflects the tourism trends of that period and the development of “dude
ranches”. The Burnham-Wells home qualifies under Criterion iii.
(Criterion iv) The resource embodies the distinctive characteristics of a
type, period or method of construction;
Resolution No. HSPB #159 – The Burnham-Wells Residence
Page 3 of 6
September 3, 2024
Unlike the National Register criterion concerning construction, the Palm Springs
evaluation of construction addresses the type (of construction), the period (of
construction) and the method (of construction). It appears that the building was
constructed using standard construction methods and materials. While the applicant
develops finds that Criterion 4 is met through the use of board-and-batten construction,
this was not considered a technique, method, or material that was unique or distinctive to
that period, thus does not qualify for this criterion.
(Criterion v) The resource presents the work of a master builder, designer,
artist, or architect whose individual genius influenced his age, or that
possesses high artistic value;
According to the research presented in this application, the Burnham-Wells Residence
was designed by master architect John Porter Clark. Considered one of the founders of
“Desert Modern” architecture, Clark is recognized locally and internationally for his
projects and contributions to the field. In Palm Springs some of his most celebrated
projects include the Palm Springs Woman’s Club and the Welwood Murray Library.
During his successful career as an architect, he also collaborated with other significant
practitioners like Albert Frey and Robson Chambers on a variety of projects. The design
of the Burnham-Wells residence adheres to the aesthetic requirements of Smoke Tree
Ranch that includes attention to scale, materials, and site planning. The architectural
detailing is consistent throughout the home and the home that is sited harmoniously in
the natural desert landscape.
Research shows that Albert Frey also worked on changes to the home dating to the early
1990s; however, unlike the Blankenhorn/Gilmore Residence where he was in charge of
a consistent evolution of the home over a prolonged period of time, Frey was hired to add
a small porch along the north side of the home and propose maintenance related
upgrades. The alterations were done in character with the existing home and does not
impair the integrity of the original design, but the alterations are not recognized as historic.
The Burnham-Wells Residence is an intact example of a rustic style ranch home
thoughtfully executed by John Porter Clark, an architect of significance, early in his prolific
career. Criterion v is met.
(Criterion vi) The resource represents a significant and distinguishable
entity whose components may lack individual distinction, as used in
evaluating applications for designation of historic districts, for parcels on
which more than one entity exists; or
The resource is not within a historic district and does not qualify under Criterion vi.
(Criterion vii) The resource has yielded or may be likely to yield information
important to national, state or local history or prehistory.
No information is available on any pre-historic significance of the site.
Resolution No. HSPB #159 – The Burnham-Wells Residence
Page 4 of 6
September 3, 2024
SECTION 2: PART “B” ANALYSIS OF HISTORIC INTEGRITY.
Analysis of Integrity. (PSMC 8.05.070 (C,1,b). The site, structure, building or
object retains one or more of the following aspects of integrity, as established in
the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards: integrity of design, materials,
workmanship, location, setting, feeling, or association.
The Burnham-Wells Residence is evaluated based on the following topics of integrity
based on the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards:
Location.
The location of the structure is in its original place of construction; therefore, the integrity
of location is met.
Design.
The home has an L-shaped floor plan that is asymmetrical but the forms and overall
features of the home like the roofline and the locations of the entry and the porches
appear consistent with the original design. The rustic simplicity and harmony with the
surroundings were key design features, as well as the indoor-outdoor living which remain
intact. The bedroom addition from 2016 is consistent with the architectural language of
the existing home but the massing of the addition extends vertically behind the shed-roof
massing of the original home. The exterior materials and the fenestration patterns match
the original design but during one of the remodels, the direction of the siding panels was
altered, and the louver style shutters were replaced with board-style shutter design. The
addition of a swimming pool and hardscape around the pool is towards the rear of the
home. The changes made to the home do not compromise or overshadow the design
elements by Clark; therefore, the overall integrity of the design remains intact.
Setting.
The setting within the Smoke Tree Ranch development maintains the natural desert
setting and development density. The home remains harmoniously placed on the site and
the indoor-outdoor relationship remains a prominent feature, thus integrity remains intact.
Materials.
The home has wooden shake shingles and board-and-batten siding. Windows and doors
appear to match the original appearance but have been replaced with modern materials
that match in kind. The exterior materials are in conformance with the rustic
characteristics of the home. The integrity of materials remains intact.
Workmanship.
Conventional construction methods were used to build this home, and it appears that the
board-and-batten siding was replaced along with the fenestration. Due to recent
alterations, the integrity of the original workmanship may be limited.
Feeling.
The existing home is preserved in the rural desert setting and reflects the original design
intent of the ranch home. While hardscaping around the new swimming pool was added,
Resolution No. HSPB #159 – The Burnham-Wells Residence
Page 5 of 6
September 3, 2024
it is restricted to an area with little visibility. The integrity of feeling is met.
Association.
The rustic, ranch-style home captures the image of the original dude ranch established in
the 1930s. The rustic atmosphere and the original design concepts for the home by John
Porter Clark are clearly maintained and recognizable. The integrity of association is met.
SECTION 3: DEFINING HISTORIC CHARACTERISTICS
In considering a recommendation for historic resource designation it is important to
distinguish those physical elements that are original or from the period of significance that
contribute to the resource’s historic significance from alterations, additions or features
that were added at a later time that may be sympathetic to the original character, but
which may create a false sense of historicity. Distinguishing original character-defining
features from non-original elements aids the HSPB when it is tasked with evaluating
future alterations to the historic resource.
Character-defining features of the resource are as follows:
• Site placement in the desert landscape.
• One-story rustic, ranch-style home.
• Simple low pitched hipped, gable and shed roof with open overhanging eaves and
wood shake shingles.
• Sprawling L-shaped plan.
• Covered and open rear porch on the south elevation with three prong wooden
posts.
• Board-and-batten siding and louver-style wooden shutters.
• Divided sash windows.
• Original hitching post.
• Original light post.
Non-contributing elements:
• Bedroom addition on the west elevation (2016).
• Porch extension on the north (front) elevation (1993).
• Wide sliding door and fixed picture window on the south elevation.
• Main entrance door with side lites.
• Modern exterior light fixtures.
• Perimeter wall and equipment enclosure wall.
• Swimming pool and spa.
• Hardscaped walkways, patios and driveway.
SECTION 4: ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
The proposed historic resource designation is not subject to the California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct
or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3)
Resolution No. HSPB #159 – The Burnham-Wells Residence
Page 6 of 6
September 3, 2024
(the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines,
California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it has no potential for
resulting in physical changes to the environment, directly or indirectly.
SECTION 5: CONDITIONS THAT APPLY TO CLASS 1 HISTORIC SITES.
According to Section 8.05 of the Municipal Code, the following shall apply to a Class 1
Historic Resource:
1. It shall meet the definition of a Class 1 historic site as outlined in Municipal Code
Section 8.05.020.
2. An archival file on the property shall be maintained by the City.
3. It may be qualified as ‘historic’ at the federal, state, and/or county level.
4. The structure/site may not be modified nor objects removed without following the
procedures outlined in Municipal Code Section 8.05.110 “Demolition or Alteration
of Class 1 and Class 2 Historic Resources – Certificate of Appropriateness”.
5. A marker explaining the historic nature of the site may be installed at the site in a
location viewable from the public way.
6. Compliance with all rules and regulations for Historic Sites and Historic Districts
under Chapter 8.05 of the Municipal Code shall be required.
7. The site shall not be further subdivided.
8. The City Clerk shall submit the Council Resolution to the County recorder for
recordation within 90 days of the effective date of the Council’s resolution.
Based upon the foregoing, the Historic Site Preservation Board recommends that the City
Council designate The Burnham-Wells Residence located at 1850 Smoke Tree Lane, a
Class 1 Historic Resource (HSPB #159).
ADOPTED THIS THIRD DAY OF SEPTEMBER 2024.
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
ATTEST: CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA
Christopher Hadwin
Director of Planning Services
ATTACHMENT C
The Burnham-Wells
Residence
Smoke Tree Ranch
John Porter Clark
1936
Nomination Application for City of Palm Springs
Class 1 Historic Resource
Prepared by Steve Vaught
for the
Palm Springs Preservation Foundation
June 2023. Revised August 14, 2024
2
Acknowledgements
The author gratefully wishes to thank
the following individuals/organizations for
their professional expertise and/or editing assistance:
Charles S. “Chuck” and Julie Bentall; Barbara Marshall; Tracy Conrad; Ron Duby; Brad Dunning; Luke
Leuschner; Frank Lopez of the Architecture and Design Collection, Palm Springs Art Museum; Nancy
Hadley of the American Institute of Architects; Orange Coast Title Co.; Renee Brown of the Palm Springs
Historical Society.
Front cover: 6-year-old Peter Sears poses at the front of the 4-year-old
Burnham-Wells Residence in 1941. Note hitching post, still in situ in 2023.
(Courtesy Chuck and Julie Bentall)
Above: Vintage lamp post at the Burnham-Wells Residence.
(Author photo. February 2023)
3
THE
BURNHAM-WELLS
RESIDENCE
Class 1 Historic Resource Nomination
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION: PAGE 4
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: PAGE 5
CLASS 1 HISTORIC RESOURCE DESIGNATION APPLICATION FORM: PAGE 9
STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: PAGE 13
BACKGROUND/HISTORIC CONTEXT: PAGE 32
EVALUATION FOR CLASS 1 RESOURCE DESIGNATION: PAGE 34
INTEGRITY ANALYSIS: PAGE 35
APPENDICES
I Owner’s Notarized Letter of Support: Page 41
II Grant Deed: Page 45
III Assessor Map: Page 48
IV Google Earth Image: Page 49
V Chain of Title: Page 50
VI Building Permit Summary: Page 51
VII Owner Biographies: Page 52
VIII John Porter Clark, AIA Biography: Page 57
IX Historical and Modern Photo Comparisons: Page 67
X Current Imagery: Page 71
4
Introduction
The Palm Springs Preservation Foundation (PSPF) is a non-profit organization whose mission is
“to educate and promote public awareness of the importance of preserving the historical
resources and architecture of the city of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley area.”
In July 2022, the PSPF board of directors engaged Steve Vaught to prepare the Burnham-Wells
Residence’s Class 1 Historic Resource nomination.
The Owner’s Letter of Support is at Appendix I.
View looking east towards rear façade.
Note the shed roof, deep porch. Pool is of recent (2016) vintage.
(Author photo. February 2023)
Prepared by Steve Vaught on behalf of:
The Palm Springs Preservation Foundation
1775 East Palm Canyon Drive, Suite 110-195
Palm Springs, CA 92264
760-837-7117
info@pspreservationfoundation.org
5
Executive Summary
SIGNIFICANCE:
The property that is the subject of this historic resources report, the Ralph French Burnham-
Gertrude Wells Overly Brennan Residence (hereinafter referred to as the “Burnham-Wells
Residence”) is a single-family residence on Smoke Tree Ranch, a private gated community
located south of East Palm Canyon Drive and east of South La Verne Way. One of the oldest
homes to be built within the colony, its rustic, Ranch-style design exemplifies the intentions of
Smoke Tree Ranch’s original developers who mandated that all homes be of “Early California
ranch” architecture.
As a first-tier Smoke Tree Ranch residence, the Burnham-Wells Residence is significant as a
rare, largely-intact representative of 1930s Palm Springs Ranch-style residential architecture.
However, its primary significance comes from the home’s architect.
John Porter Clark, AIA (1905-1991), is considered one of the iconic masters of Palm Springs
architecture and hailed as a co-founder (along with Albert Frey) of Desert Modernism. Yet, his
current legacy rests almost exclusively on partnership associations. Clark’s individual
contributions to Palm Springs architecture have been almost completely subsumed by his
longtime collaborations with Albert Frey, Robson Chambers, and later, E. Stewart Williams. As
such, documenting Clark’s individual work has proven difficult, a situation greatly exacerbated by
the destruction of his papers, reportedly burned at the architect’s own direction sometime before
his death in 1991.
Therefore, finding a structure that can be definitively traced to Clark and Clark alone is an extreme
rarity, particularly one that has not been altered beyond the architect’s original intentions or lost
altogether. While there have been some alterations to the home over its 86-year history, it still
retains Clark’s vision.
The home’s period of significance of the mid to late 1930s, places it solidly in “Palm Springs
between the Wars (1919-1941),” as defined in the Citywide Historic Context Statement & Survey
Findings created by Historic Resources Group. This is a period when wealthy and influential
people were building second homes in the growing and increasingly well-known resort Village.
DESIGNATION CRITERIA:
The Burnham-Wells Residence has not been previously evaluated for Class 1 historic resource
eligibility.
Criteria for the Designation of a Class 1 Historic Resource: Pursuant to the Palm Springs
Municipal Code (PSMC) Section 8.05.070(C.1): A site, structure, building or object may be
designated as a Class 1 historic resource, provided one or more of the criteria in subsections “a”
and “b” are met:
FINDING 1: The site, structure, building or object exhibits exceptional historic significance
and meets one or more of the criteria listed below:
6
8.05.070 (C.1.a.) paragraph (ii) - The resource is associated with the lives of persons who
made a meaningful contribution to national, state, or local history: In this nomination, the
Burnham -Wells Residence is associated with several notable figures, principally Ralph
French Burnham and later Gertrude Wells Overly Brennan, the latter twice -owner of the
home. While these individuals were both prominent figures within their community and
professional associations, they do not ris e to a level that meets the criteria of persons who
had influence in local and national history. Therefore, the Burnham-Wells Residence does
not qualif y for listing as a Clas s 1 Historic Resource under Criterion 2.
8.05.070 (C.1.a.) paragraph (iii) - The resource reflects or exemplifies a particular period of
national, state, or local history: The Burnham-Wells Residence exhibits a number of stylistic
markers which identify it as being of Ranch architecture. This style, which was popular both in the
Pre-War and Post War periods, was first introduced in Smoke Tree Ranch at the end of the 1920s
by Pasadena architect Garrett Van Pelt. John Porter Clark worked for Van Pelt during this period
(1928-1932) and may have assisted in Smoke Tree Ranch’s original designs. These are among
the earliest, if not the earliest Palm Springs examples of the Ranch-style, putting them at the
vanguard of what would become one of the village’s most popular traditional building types of the
1930s through the 1950s. The home’s style and original build date places it solidly in the context
of “Palm Springs between the Wars (1919-1941)” as defined in the Citywide Historic Context
Statement & Survey Findings created by Historic Resources Group. The Burnham-Wells
Residence may be viewed as an important component of the historical trends that have come to
define Palm Springs’ image as a center of notable architecture, i.e., a historical trend that
exemplifies a particular period of the national, state, or local history. The Burnham-Wells
Residence qualifies for listing as a Class 1 Historic Resource under Criterion 3.
8.05.070 (C.1.a.) paragraph (iv) - The resource embodies the distinctive characteristics of a
type, period or method of construction: The Burnham-Wells Residence embodies the
distinctive characteristics of a type of construction reflective of the period in which it was built.
Although board-and-batten construction had been used in earlier decades including on some of
Palm Springs’ pioneer buildings, it had largely been superseded by other methods. The use of
board-and-batten construction on the Burnham-Wells Residence represented a renewed interest
in this form, which was to become commonplace on homes of similar style over the ensuing years.
The board-and-batten construction used on the Burnham-Wells Residence exhibits the distinctive
characteristics of a type of construction popularly employed during the time of the home’s period
of significance. As such, the Burnham-Wells Residence qualifies as a Class 1 Historic Resource
under Criterion 4.
8.05.070 (C.1.a.) paragraph (v) - High Artistic Value - The resource presents the work of a
master builder, designer, artist, or architect whose individual genius influenced his or her
age, or that possesses high artistic value: The Burnham-Wells Residence has the unique
distinction of being a verifiably solo work of master architect John Porter Clark. Regarded as a
co-founder, along with long-time collaborator Albert Frey, of Desert Modernism, Clark nonetheless
proved with the Burnham-Wells Residence his skill in interpreting traditional styles.
Executed in the Ranch-style, the Burnham-Wells Residence was intended to evoke the pioneer
western ranch houses of the previous century. These structures were born of pure necessity, not
artistry, and were constructed out of the simplest materials available in the simplest forms
practicable. Aside from modern interior features such as plumbing and lighting, Clark stayed true
7
to concept for the Burnham-Wells Residence, using the same type of materials and basic
architectural styling as its pioneer inspirations. The result showed how even something ostensibly
as utilitarian as a pioneer ranch house could be made beautiful in the hands of as talented a
practitioner as Clark. Therefore, for the well-proportioned simplicity of its design as created by
master architect John Porter Clark, the Burnham-Wells Residence qualifies as a Class 1 Historic
Resource under Criterion 5.
FINDING 2: The site, structure, building or object retains most if not all of the following
aspects of Integrity, as established in the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards: Design,
Materials, Workmanship, Location, Setting, Feeling, Association:
8.06.070 (C,1, b) – Integrity: The site, structure, building or object shall be evaluated for integrity
of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association according to the
United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service’s National Register Bulletin titled:
“How to apply the National Register Criteria for Evaluation” as revised from time to time.
SUMMARY:
This evaluation finds the Burnham-Wells Residence eligible for listing as a Palm Springs Historic
Resource under 8.05.070 (C,1,a) paragraphs iii, iv, and v of the local ordinance’s seven criteria.
Additionally, the Residence retains a “high degree” of integrity (see page 35, “Integrity Analysis”).
8
John Porter Clark, A.I.A. (1905-1991)
(Via Wikipedia)
9
10
11
12
13
Statement of Significance
Summary
Completed in 1936, the Burnham-Wells Residence is located within the historic Smoke Tree
Ranch development. As is the case with all Smoke Tree Ranch homes, it bears the official
addresses of 1850 Smoke Tree Lane and, alternately, 1800 South Sunrise Way, although
internally it is located at Rock 6 4L, Algodones Road.
The property consists of 2 separate parcels. Parcel 1 consists of Lot 12, where the residence is
located. Parcel 2 consists of Lot 14 and is known as the “view lot.” Construction of any structure
on this lot is explicitly forbidden by Smoke Tree Ranch covenants. The legal description per the
Riverside County Assessor is LOT 12 MB 018/097 SMOKE TREE RANCH 2. The “2” is in
reference to the different sections of the ranch, which was laid out and developed in four distinct
parcels. The Burnham-Wells Residence was built in Smoke Tree Ranch No. 2., which had been
officially opened for subdivision in June 1936.
A portion of the tract map for Smoke Tree Ranch No. 2, June 1936.
The Burnham-Wells property is shown in yellow.
14
Smoke Tree Ranch
A western “sing along” at Smoke Tree Ranch, 1930s. From the beginning,
Smoke Tree Ranch carefully cultivated its rustic, informal “old west” image.
(Courtesy smoketreeranch.com)
The location of the Burnham-Wells Residence provides a setting that is both picturesque and
historic. Smoke Tree Ranch is considered not only one of the finest and most exclusive enclaves
in Palm Springs, its reputation extends nationally and even internationally as well. For decades,
this private gated community has been home to some of the most recognized names in business,
finance, society, and motion pictures, each of whom have been drawn to the rustic, low key
atmosphere of this desert hideaway. Names like Disney, Weyerhaeuser, Upjohn, Helms,
Trousdale, Janss, Hoover, Haldeman, among many others, have all found Smoke Tree Ranch to
be a place of peace and relaxation. Even President Dwight D. Eisenhower enjoyed the ranch’s
hospitality during his 1954 trip to the desert.
Although its official opening took place on January 2, 1931, the development of Smoke Tree
Ranch had actually begun several years earlier when a consortium of investors led by Pasadena
businessman and real estate developer L. Mac Blankenhorn, purchased the approximately 450-
acre parcel about 2 miles from Palm Springs.
The property had been known locally as the Smoke Tree Forest owing to the profusion of the
eponymous trees dotting the landscape. There was also an old ruin on the grounds, a sole
surviving relic of “Palmdale,” a failed attempt to develop the property from the 1880s. Blankenhorn
and his fellow investors envisioned a beautiful and private residential development where the
15
natural feeling was retained, a place where a select group of residents and guests could relax
and get a true sense of rustic, Old West-style living.
Prior to the ranch’s opening, wealthy winter visitors had only two options: They could stay at a
hotel during the season or could build a home for themselves. While the latter may have offered
privacy and freedom, it also came with expenses, maintenance, staff and caretaking issues.
Smoke Tree Ranch offered both options, providing guest accommodations as well as the ability
to build private homes. But here, home owners would have the unique advantage of hotel
amenities as well as full community features such as a restaurant/club house, tennis, swimming,
horse stables, riding trails, even a private school.
Blankenhorn and his fellow investors were adamant in their intentions that the development
maintain a strict rustic atmosphere with all structures being designed in “Early California” style.
Fortunately, one of the investors was master Pasadena architect Garrett Van Pelt, Jr. At Smoke
Tree Ranch, the talented Van Pelt was able to put into physical form, the rustic, Old West feeling
envisioned by the developers in a way that has proven timeless rather than dated.
An original Garrett Van Pelt Smoke Tree Ranch Ranch-style design.
Note stylistic similarities to the Burnham-Wells Residence.
(Courtesy smoketreeranch.com)
Van Pelt was responsible for all of the original Smoke Tree Ranch structures, most notably the
tract office/community building, which would ultimately include a dining room and kitchen. He also
planned the stables, a set of small guest cottages, and even the one-room school. Throughout
this period, 1929-1931, Van Pelt had in his employ a young draftsman, John Porter Clark, and he
may have actively assisted in the original design work.
As noted by the Citywide Historic Context Statement & Survey Findings, historian Lawrence
Culver in his book, The Frontier of Leisure, identifies the early architecture of Smoke Tree Ranch
as looking unlike much of Palm Springs architecture of the time and instead reflecting the Ranch-
16
style architecture in California and across America. “They were clear early examples of the ranch
house—the domestic architectural style that would carpet the floor of the San Fernando Valley
after World War II,” writes Culver, “and appear in every community in the United States in the
1950s and 1960s.”
While Smoke Tree Ranch had a unique, and what would ultimately be, a successful formula, it
struggled to remain solvent during its early years, having opened during the Great Depression.
However, in 1936, the development was taken over by the Mardo Corporation, an entity controlled
by the husband-and-wife team of Fred and Maziebelle Markham of Pasadena. The popular and
dynamic couple brought a new energy to the venture, making it profitable for the first time while
building upon the rustic ambiance originally envisioned by Mac Blankenhorn.
One of their biggest moves was to expand the development, beginning with Smoke Tree Ranch
No. 2 in 1936, which provided an additional 52 parcels. The following year, 2 more sections
(Smoke Tree Ranch No. 3 and No. 4) would be added to the development.
One of the first buyers in the newly-opened Smoke Tree Ranch No. 2 tract, would be Ralph French
Burnham and Ruth Wilson Burnham, friends and fellow Pasadena neighbors of the Markhams. In
June of 1936, the couple purchased Lot 12 of Smoke Tree Ranch No. 2. It was a choice spot at
the corner of Algodones and San Felipe Roads right near the intersection with Saturmino Road
(today known as Ranch House Road), within walking distance of Smoke Tree Ranch’s community
amenities yet far enough away to ensure privacy. Upon acquiring the lot, the Burnhams set about
engaging an architect and contractor to build their desert retreat.
The Architect – John Porter Clark
This sketch of the Burnham-Wells Residence by John Porter Clark appeared in the 12-5-1936
edition of the Palm Springs Limelight News.
17
When the Burnhams made the decision to become Smoke Tree “colonists,” they agreed to a
series of covenants intended to maintain the look and atmosphere of the development. One of
the most important terms was regarding the architecture of any proposed structure, which must
be of “Early California ranch architecture.” However, Smoke Tree Ranch went a step further in
not only mandating the style, they also had final approval of any architectural plans submitted by
the home builder. These plans would be reviewed by either an architect or architectural committee
chosen by Smoke Tree Ranch. Written approval of the plans was required before any home could
be built at the ranch.
Between 1934-1936, there were a dozen houses built at Smoke Tree Ranch. With the exception
of the home prominent Los Angeles architect Harold G. Spielman designed for himself in 1935, it
is likely most, if not all of the others, were the work of the Palm Springs office of Van Pelt & Lind,
which consisted of Albert Frey, John Porter Clark and Richard A. Hansen.
While there is no documentation at present to completely verify, it is likely that the services of Van
Pelt & Lind were recommended to the Burnhams. And on this project, the lead designer was
Clark. With Clark’s records lost/destroyed, researchers have had to rely on other sources, most
notably the records and recollections of Albert Frey in seeking out Clark designs. The Burnham-
Wells Residence does not appear on any Frey inventory other than in regards to his 1990s
alterations. Further, Clark was specifically named as the designer in The Palm Springs Limelight-
News in 1936.
At the time of the Burnham-Wells commission, Clark was still not yet licensed as an architect, but
had been working in the profession since graduation from Pasadena High School in 1923. Clark
had managed to gain a position as a junior draftsman at the top firm in Pasadena – Marston &
Van Pelt. In 1926, he left the firm to enroll at the Cornell University School of Architecture in
Ithaca, New York, one of the country’s most prestigious architecture schools. At the time, Cornell’s
curriculum focused on classic Beaux Arts design.
In 1928, after 2 years of study, he returned to Pasadena from Cornell and to the firm, now known
as Marston, Van Pelt & Maybury, this time as senior draftsman. The young Clark appears to have
particularly impressed Garrett Van Pelt and in 1930, when he left to go into independent practice,
he took Clark with him. It was during this time that Van Pelt was involved in the Smoke Tree
Ranch development and, while it presently cannot be verified owing to a dearth of documentation,
it is possible, even likely that Clark worked with Van Pelt on the original Smoke Tree Ranch
designs.
Clark saw great opportunities in the desert and, by 1934, he decided to relocate full time to Palm
Springs, opening a branch office of the firm of Van Pelt & Lind with another ambitious young
architectural designer Albert Frey. During their time under the Van Pelt & Lind banner, the pair
would design a number of desert structures together and separately. And both would have long
associations with Smoke Tree Ranch over the following years after they established their own
firm of Clark & Frey. (Please see John Porter Clark Biography in Appendix VII.)
18
The Contractor – William Lee Marte and associate, H.L. Hansen – Marte-Hansen
Another young architect associated with the Palm Springs office of Van Pelt & Lind was Richard
Alexander Hansen (1910-2006). Hansen was the son of Hans Lauritz (H.L.) Hansen (1883-1969),
a pioneering Palm Springs carpenter who would have a long association with William Lee Marte,
the contractor who built the Burnham-Wells Residence.
William Lee Marte (1887-1978) was one of the area’s busiest and best-known builders throughout
the period. The Ohio-born Marte was a pioneer Palm Springs resident, having been in the desert
with his wife Henrietta and their children since the 1920s. Marte established a general contracting
business in the original Palm Springs Theatre building, working with his longtime associate H.L.
Hansen. He would later handle the rebuild of the theater as well as at least two others for Earl
Strebe in Lake Arrowhead and Newport Beach.
Over the course of his long career, which spanned more than 60 years, Marte built dozens of
structures throughout Palm Springs and beyond from residences to apartments, hotels, theaters,
stores, governmental, and offices. His clients included such important local figures as Carl
Lykken, Harold Hicks, H.J. Carpenter, and Rufus J. Chapman, as well as nationally known
personages as actor William Powell, and Ambassador Charles Crane. In 1917, Marte built the
summer cottage at Moss Point in Laguna Beach for presidential confidante Colonel Henry House,
an area landmark gaining fame as a “Western White House,” during the time it was occupied by
President Woodrow Wilson in 1919. The house still stands at 139 Moss Street.
Marte worked with a number of the major Palm Springs architects including Charles O. Matcham,
Brewster & Benedict, and Albert Frey. And he worked frequently with John Porter Clark. In
addition to the Burnham-Wells Residence, he built the Welwood Murray Library, the Little Tuscany
Model Home, the first City Hall, the Roland Walton Residence, among others.
19
During his time in Palm Springs, Marte lived with his family at the Spanish-styled home at 814
North Indian Canyon Drive, a home later occupied by architect Charles O. Matcham. In 1941, he
sold the house and relocated to Bloomington where he would remain until his death at 91 on May
29, 1978.
Smoke Tree Ranch’s Mandate on Ranch-style Architecture
The Louis Mac Blankenhorn Residence (1930), prototype of the Smoke Tree Ranch ranch houses,
typifies the classic Early California Ranch-style architecture mandated at the ranch.
(Courtesy Albert Frey Collection. Palm Springs Art Museum)
As noted earlier, Smoke Tree Ranch required (and continues to require in 2023) that all structures
built within the colony conform to their strict architectural guidelines which mandated Ranch-style
architecture. Specifically, Article 3(c) of the Grant Deed executed between the Mardo Corporation
(Smoke Tree Ranch) and the Burnhams in June of 1936 states:
Said building or structure must be of the Type (sic) of architecture and design commonly
known as Early California ranch house design, and designed and finished to harmonize
with desert surroundings and colors and with other buildings in the tract. The exterior walls
shall be adequately covered and painted with white paint, excepting the trim, which may
be in other appropriate colors. Roofs must not be red, either in tile, composition, shingles,
or paint, or stain. The exterior design and finish must correspond with the general plan
herein mentioned…
This mandate was what John Porter Clark would need to deal with in his design of the Burnham-
Wells Residence. It is likely that Clark’s design would come under additional scrutiny by Smoke
Tree Ranch owing to the planned location of the home. It was to be sited at the head of a T-
intersection and one of the first and most visible homes in the newly-opened Smoke Tree Ranch
No. 2. Fortunately, Clark was well versed in the Early California Ranch-style and may have
already designed similar homes within the colony under the aegis of Van Pelt & Lind.
“American” Early California Ranch Architecture
In Smoke Tree Ranch’s directive regarding the home’s architectural style, it was clear that a
distinction was being made between the Early California architecture of the Spanish/Mexican
pioneers and those of the later Americans. While these two types were almost identical in form
and layout, they differed significantly in terms of materials. Spanish/Mexican ranch houses were
almost exclusively of adobe/stucco, with American versions being of wood, generally board-and-
batten construction. When it came to the roofs, it was tile most generally associated with
Spanish/Mexican ranch houses. Tile was not specifically prohibited at Smoke Tree Ranch but the
20
color red was, which led to most all roof sheathing at Smoke Tree Ranch to be of wooden shakes
stained a dark brown.
On the surface, these restrictions may have seemed short-sighted, dooming the colony to acres
of monotonous repetition, but in the hands of talented architects such as Garrett Van Pelt, Albert
Frey, John Porter Clark and others to follow, limitations were seen not as drawbacks, but rather
as exciting challenges to find ways to produce something wholly unique while remaining in
harmony with the others. As Cliff May, the undisputed master of the California Ranch-style was
later to write, “[The ranch house] has never known a set style. It was shaped by needs for a
special way of living – informal, yet gracious…It was kept simple by scarcity, both of materials
and mechanical aids. It remained flexible under the stress of meeting infinite variety in terrain and
climate.”
While the original ranch houses of the 1800s were born of necessity and scarcity of materials, the
1930s versions at Smoke Tree Ranch were anything of the sort. The builders of these houses
were wealthy, some in the extreme, with substantial residences elsewhere. At Smoke Tree
Ranch, they were looking to play out a fantasy of what life was like in the simpler days of the “Old
West,” which had long since taken on a patina of romance the actual pioneers would not have
experienced or recognized. The Burnhams were no exception, having a grand estate overlooking
the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. At Smoke Tree Ranch, they wanted to “rough it,” to leave grandeur
and big city amenities/problems behind and reconnect with nature. It was this desire that guided,
and continues to guide the success of Smoke Tree Ranch today.
Construction and Design of the Burnham-Wells Residence
Albert Frey’s 1991 rendering of the home’s north and south elevations. Note how closely the
Burnham-Wells Residence adheres to the same feeling of the 1930 Blankenhorn residence.
(Courtesy Albert Frey Collection. Palm Springs Art Museum)
In designing the Burnham-Wells Residence, Clark first had to address the site. Smoke Tree
Ranch covenants required that all structures be set back away from the road, allowing generous
space between house and streetside. Clark sited the structure almost squarely in the center of
Lot 12, with the adjoining lot, Lot 14, kept (as required) vacant to serve as a permanent “view” lot.
The house was set on an east-west axis with the north elevation serving as the front façade and
the south making up the rear, patio and garden area. The main goal of the design, as with other
21
Early California Ranch houses, was to emphasize rustic simplicity, complete harmony with its
surroundings, indoor-outdoor living, and access to natural vistas.
Clark’s design began with a basically rectangular massing. However, he worked variety into the
design by bringing certain portions forward while setting others back.
Built over a slab foundation, with standard wood-framed walls sheathed in board-and-batten and
surmounted by a low-pitched roof, the home faithfully followed the tenets of Early California Ranch
with a design that would have found favor in the Southern California of the 1860s. While it
appeared on the surface as a vision from days of old, the house was thoroughly 1930s modern
on the inside with electricity and indoor plumbing.
This floorplan, adapted from an Albert Frey plan of 1995 shows
the original 1936 footprint of the house and division of spaces.
(Courtesy Albert Frey Collection. Palm Springs Art Museum)
22
The house was to contain 2 principal bedrooms and 2 guest rooms. Clark carefully divided these
spaces in a way that provided privacy yet convenience, as well as accessibility to the outdoors.
Clark used the living room at the center of the plan to serve as a means of separation with the
principal family bedrooms opening off the west, and the kitchen accessed on the east. Windows
were standard steel casement types of varying sizes, with some bracketed by wooden shutters.
In the kitchen, Clark employed a window configuration that was a favorite for both himself and
Albert Frey, a corner intersecting casement window.
In 1941, the Bissell family (of vacuum cleaner fame) leased the home. During their stay, they took
a series of images, which have proven to be a valuable resource in documenting the home’s early
appearance. This photo shows the home’s north façade. The shed-roofed section was a bedroom.
(Courtesy Chuck Bentall)
The guest bedrooms and garage were separated from the main house by the rear porch, which
ran the length of the southern façade from the master bedroom to the driveway. However, Clark
unified it with the main massing beneath a common roof. The organization of the rooms allowed
the owners and their guests to be close but still affording privacy for all.
23
Bissell photo of the south façade, 1941. Note, the interesting 3-prong post brackets and
how Clark used variegated roof styles/heights to visually define each room.
(Courtesy Chuck Bentall)
The covered rear porch or verandah was intended to be the main focus for living, serving as an
additional “room” in temperate weather. The living room, master bedroom and main guest room
all opened up to this porch, providing a communal space for the occupants. In providing access
to/from the living room, Clark created a unique and unusually wide set of French doors, which
were so large they acted not only as doors but picture windows as well, bringing light into the
house. When fully opened, these doors retracted into the walls to further expand the space.
Originally, the simple wooden posts of the rear porch had unusual brackets that gave the
appearance of a fork or, as some have described, chicken feet. This interesting feature was also
employed at the small front entry on the north side. Photographic evidence shows the same style
posts on the Van Pelt & Lind (Clark) design for one of the Rancho Mirage model homes built at
roughly the same time. The brackets were removed at an unknown date, possibly by Albert Frey
during his 1991-1994 work on the house.
The most striking feature of Clark’s design was how he addressed the home’s roof, creating
multiple rooflines through a mix of hipped, gable and shed roofs, the latter a Clark favorite. These
were visually unified by their sheathing, which was composed of wooden shakes stained a dark
brown.
24
At the time of its completion at the end of 1936, the new Burnham home exhibited virtually all of
the features associated with Ranch-style architecture as defined in the Historic Resources Group
City of Palm Springs Citywide Historic Context Statement including:
• One-story
• Sprawling L-shaped plan
• Low, horizontal massing with wide street façade
• Low-pitched hipped, gable and shed roof with open overhanging eaves and wood shakes
• Board-and-batten siding
• Divided metal sash windows
• Wide, covered porch with wood posts
• Attached garage linked with open-sided breezeway
Changes and Additions to the Burnham-Wells Residence
Over the course of its nearly 90-year existence, the Burnham-Wells Residence has undergone
certain inevitable changes. However, these do not appear to have altered the look or intention of
John Porter Clark’s original design.
As the home was built prior to incorporation of the city, it was not possible to find any official
building data. However, the relevant information on the home’s original construction was put
together through various references in the local newspapers.
Additionally, a search was made with the city of Palm Springs for post-1938 permits. In spite of
using different search criteria including parcel, lot number, APN, etc., the city was unable to locate
any permits earlier than 2013. It is clear there must have been permits, at least related to Albert
Frey’s 1991-1995 work.
While most permit work was unavailable, it is still possible to make a reasonable assessment
based on other sources, primarily the Bissell photographs (1941) and the Albert Frey Archives.
Front Porch Addition Date Unknown Between 1941-1991
Both the 1937 sketch of the house by John Porter Clark as well as the series of Bissell
photographs of 1941 fail to show a front porch. However, by 1991, there was (and remains) a
front porch structure. The Albert Frey archives do not show any work on the house prior to 1991
and, as there are no John Porter Clark archives, no verifiable evidence it was done as part of any
later work. However, the porch is designed in the same manner as the rear porch, with matching
posts, and the roofline integrated into the original main roofline.
25
Albert Frey Additions/Alterations 1991-1995
A section of blueprints from 1993 showing Albert Frey’s plans for a
side porch to harmonize with the existing front porch.
(Courtesy Albert Frey Collection. Palm Springs Art Museum)
Gertrude Wells who owned the home twice, had a long and close relationship with Albert Frey as
both a client and a friend beginning with his design of her first Smoke Tree Ranch home in 1941
as well as additions to her second home in 1966. When she repurchased her former home in
1991, Frey was the obvious choice to update the house. Further, Clark, who had long since retired
from active practice, had died that same year. Frey, naturally, had a better understanding of
Clark’s work than anyone else, having partnered with him since the mid-1930s.
The work Albert Frey did for Gertrude Wells Brennan was minimal, mostly a kitchen remodel as
well as other structural updates such as a new roof and repairing/replacing certain sections of the
board-and-batten siding. Removal of the exterior window air conditioners, repainting, electrical
upgrades, etc. Frey also planned a new driveway, perimeter wall, and revised landscaping. The
biggest change Frey made was the addition of a small porch along the north side of the house,
adjacent to the kitchen. Stylistically, he tied this addition to the other porches as well as matching
its roofline to blend with the existing slant.
26
Frey had proposed other work on the house, which included the replacement of the original 1936
steel-casement windows, which no longer opened, with matching style aluminum-frame versions.
He also planned an 18’x36’ swimming pool for the rear, oval in style, and set asymmetrically from
the house massing to be built by Anson Constructors for $17,500. However, this addition, along
with a new perimeter wall, new “Kooldeck” patio, and other smaller details, were not completed.
In the end, it appears the only notable exterior change made by Frey was the new kitchen porch.
Bentall Alterations/Additions 2013-2016
A portion of the north elevation of the Burnham-Wells Residence in 2023. Windows are recent
replacements set within original openings.
(Author photo. February 2023)
Upon purchasing the Burnham-Wells Residence in 2013, Chuck and Julie Bentall embarked upon
certain alterations and additions to the house. While they wanted to adapt the house to their own
needs they were keenly aware of the home’s historic architecture and associations and sought to
work as closely as possible to match both John Porter Clark and Albert Frey’s intentions. Bentall,
himself an architect, referenced blueprints Frey had prepared during his 1991-1995
alterations/additions.
27
Master Bedroom Addition
The future site of the 2016 master bedroom addition.
(Courtesy Chuck Bentall)
The most notable addition was a new 531 square-foot master bedroom added in 2016 at the end
of the west elevation of the home. The west end was the location of the home’s bedroom wing,
which consisted of 2 bedrooms, a dressing room and shared bath. The new bedroom addition did
not require any significant demolition of the existing house, which validated one of Cliff May’s
most important tenets of Ranch architecture – the ranch home is designed to easily accommodate
future expansion.
The addition was planned to match the home’s existing style. The sloping shed roof was a callback
to the other shed roofs found on the house. Built with the same methods as the original house –
frame construction over concrete slab – the addition was sheathed in identical board-and-batten
siding with identical windows and doors found elsewhere. The oversized doors opening off the
southern elevation were a match of those found on the rear patio.
A porch was added to the south elevation, but a trellis design was used for the roof to retain an
open feeling. Internally, the former bedroom adjacent to the north was converted into a new
master bath. This did not involve any exterior alterations.
It should be noted that the permit application lists Jorge Garcia of J. Garcia Design Associates of
Palm Desert as the addition’s designer. However, the homeowner, Chuck Bentall, a prominent
architect in his native Canada, states that he designed the addition using a local practitioner with
a California license to carry out the work.
28
The completed master bedroom addition. Compare with photo on previous page.
(Author photo. February 2023)
Front Entry
The Bentalls made an alteration to the front entrance of the home, which was pushed out slightly
from the original façade to create, according to Bentall, “a more inviting entry with wood detailing
to match the other entrance doors.”
Windows and Doors
In his plans in the early 1990s, Albert Frey had made plans to replace all of the home’s original
steel casement windows, which had largely become inoperable owing to overpainting. As
Gertrude wrote to Frey in January 1991, “I still find it hard to believe that anyone would live in a
house where many of the windows can’t be opened. Especially in the desert.” Yet, while Frey
specified new windows, aluminum-framed, designed to match existing openings, it is unclear how
many, if any, were actually replaced.
Upon taking over the house, the Bentalls completed Frey’s plans with new aluminum-framed
windows of the same type originally specified by Frey. The Bentalls also replaced the doors with
matched-style replacements.
29
Rear porch showing oversized sliding door on left with new twin on right.
Picture window in center is also a recent addition.
(Author photo. February 2023)
While the Bentalls adhered largely to the Frey plans, one area where openings were reconfigured
was on the south façade living room wall. Originally, this wall had three openings – an oversized
sliding door, a set of French doors and a standard door. The Bentalls began by replacing the
original oversized slider, which had become worn, with a matching duplicate. They then had a
second duplicate slider made to create a pair. In between the sliders, they added a large picture
window. (Compare with 1941 image on page 52.)
Window shutters were changed from the original louver-style to board-style to match the type
specified by Albert Frey in his 1990s alterations.
Additionally, the Bentalls replaced the existing plain metal sliding garage door with a sawn
wooden version.
30
Swimming Pool, Spa and Perimeter Walls
In his alteration plans for Gertrude Wells Brennan, Albert Frey included plans for a swimming pool
and perimeter wall addition to the rear of the property. However, these plans were not carried out
during Gertrude’s remaining time at the house.
In 2016, the Bentalls did add a private swimming pool and spa. While Frey had planned for an
oval-shape, the Bentall’s pool was rectangular. Built by Alternative Energy Concepts of Palm
Springs, the pool was completed at a cost of $48,000.
The Bentalls also built 6’ perimeter walls designed to enclose the rear of the property while
remaining low enough to prevent interruption of the spectacular mountain and desert vistas
beyond. D.W. Johnston, who had also been the contractor for the master bedroom addition, was
the builder of the walls.
Pool and perimeter wall additions. Guest wing is center left.
(Author photo. February 2023)
31
Landscaping and Hardscaping
The Bentalls added new hardscaping to the rear of the home as part of the pool and spa addition.
There had been a brick patio that was removed for the new work. The same was done on the
north and east porches with slightly wider and more rustic brown/grey pavers.
To update and enhance the home’s landscaping, the Bentalls engaged Wayne Carlton Connor of
Wayne Carlton Connor & Associates, who serves on the advisory board of the Living Desert in
Palm Desert.
(Author photo. February 2023)
32
Character Defining Features of the Burnham-Wells Residence
The Burnham-Wells Residence is an exceptional example of Ranch-style architecture, a style
which began to appear in Palm Springs during the 1930s and which would reach its peak of
popularity in the 1950s-1960s. The Burnham-Wells Residence exhibits classic Ranch-style
elements including:
• An emphasis on horizontality including low pitched roof
• Multiple roof lines including shed, flat and hipped
• Blending of indoor and outdoor spaces
• Informal, asymmetrical layout
• Board-and-batten exterior wall treatments
• Overhanging eaves
• Covered patios and arcades
• Oversized sliding glass door off living room
Contributing Elements
• Main 1936 residence and attached garage
• Original hitching post
• Original light post
Non-Contributing Elements
• 2016 Swimming pool and spa
• Hardscape
• Perimeter wall and equipment enclosure wall
• Replacement windows and doors
• 2016 Bedroom addition
• Modern exterior lighting fixtures
BACKGROUND / HISTORIC CONTEXT
The relatively short history of Palm Springs can be organized into several distinct periods, as
defined by the Historic Resources Group’s Citywide Historic Context Statement & Survey
Findings. It is within the context of the period “Palm Springs between the Wars” that the Burnham-
Wells Residence will be evaluated. The following context statement is edited from Historic
Resource Group’s Citywide Historic Context Statement & Survey Findings: Palm Springs
Between the Wars (1919-1941): This context explores the transformation of Palm Springs from a
modest spa town into a luxury winter resort in the years between the First and Second World
Wars. By 1918 Nellie Coffman and her sons (George Roberson and Earl Coffman) understood
the town’s potential as an exclusive winter resort for the well-to-do. They set about transforming
their sanatorium into the luxurious Desert Inn, one of the most renowned hostelries in the country.
33
In the 1920s, business tycoons, industrialists, and other wealthy businessmen, along with the
Hollywood elite discovered the desert and began to transform Palm Springs into an international
resort. While the movie stars primarily stayed at the resort hotels when visiting Palm Springs,
other wealthy residents and seasonal visitors started building architect-designed estates and
drawing increased attention to the growing resort town. The 1930s saw Palm Springs blossom,
as more and more celebrities made it their winter weekend getaway, and more development
sprang up to house and entertain them. By the start of World War II, Palm Springs had so long
been thought of as a movie star's playground that some of the neighborhoods were described as
"Beverly Hills in the desert."
In the 1930s important figures in finance and business continued to flock to the desert in the
winter, helping to cement the village's reputation as one of the nation's top winter resort
destinations.
One of their favorite neighborhoods was the Smoke Tree Ranch. Smoke Tree Ranch is a 375-
acre resort and housing development that was one of the few subdivisions developed in Palm
Springs during the Great Depression. Originally developed as a dude ranch resort, Smoke Tree
Ranch was started in 1930 by L. Mac Blankenhorn and named after the characteristic trees that
dot the landscape. Early advertisements for the guest ranch emphasized an exclusivity that
continues to this day. “Designed for those wishing to escape from the turmoil of weekend
resorts…introductions or satisfactory references are required.” In 1936, Fred and Maziebelle
Markham (operating as the Mardo Corporation) bought Smoke Tree Ranch. With the help of local
educator and real estate investor Raymond Cree, Markham subdivided the ranch into parcels for
single-family residences.
Under the Markhams, the guest ranch did not advertise or seek publicity. The Smoke Tree way
of life (for guest ranch patrons as well as homeowners who are historically known as “Colonists”)
was simple without the need to impress, as “most who have come here have been every place,
seen everything and done most things.” Smoke Tree Ranch purposefully maintained a rustic
atmosphere. Homes were required to be one story and sit apart on large lots with no large lawns
or non-native shade trees. They were to be built in traditional Ranch-style with a pitched shingle
roof. Streets were intentionally left as dirt roads groomed by a sprinkler wagon and scraper. There
were no street signs, and instead roads were indicated with rock markers.
In his book The Frontier of Leisure, historian Lawrence Culver identifies Smoke Tree Ranch as
looking unlike much of Palm Springs architecture of the time and instead reflecting the Ranch-
style architecture in California and across America. “They were clear early examples of the ranch
house—the domestic architectural style that would carpet the floor of the San Fernando Valley
after World War II, writes Culver, “and appear in every community in the United States in the
1950s and 1960s.”
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EVALUATION:
Criterion 1: Significant Events. The resource is associated with events that have made a
meaningful contribution to the nation, state or community: The Burnham-Wells Residence
is not affiliated with significant events and does not qualify under Criterion 1.
Criterion 2: Significant Persons. Criterion 2 recognizes properties associated with the
lives of persons who made meaningful contributions to the national, state or local history:
The Burnham-Wells Residence was built by Ralph French Burnham (1884-1943), a prominent
Pasadena businessman who was heavily involved in the citrus industry in both Orange and
Riverside counties. The home was later owned on two separate occasions by Gertrude Wells
(1919-2011), first from 1944-1952 with husband Homer Overly, Jr., and the second time, 1991-
2011 (as Gertrude Wells Brennan). While these individuals were both prominent figures within
their community and professional associations, they do not rise to a level that meets the
criteria of persons who had influence in local and national history. Therefore, the Burnham -
Wells Residence does not qualify for listing as a Class 1 Historic Resource under Criterion
2.
ARCHITECTURE (Criteria 3 – 6)
Criterion 3: The resource reflects or exemplifies a particular period of national, state or
local history: Completed in 1936, the Burnham-Wells Residence exhibits many stylistic markers
which identify it as being of the Ranch-style. This style was to gain popularity throughout the
1930s before becoming even more popular in the Post War building boom, not just in Palm
Springs, but elsewhere in California and nationwide as well. The Burnham-Wells Residence and
the other structures built at Smoke Tree Ranch during this period may have been the very first,
or at least among the earliest, examples of the Ranch-style to be produced in Palm Springs. As
such, the residence and the associated Smoke Tree Ranch structures served as the vanguard of
the future popularity of Ranch-style architecture that was to follow soon after. As such, the
Burnham-Wells Residence may be viewed as an important component of the historic trends that
have come to define Palm Springs’ image as a center of important Ranch-style architecture, i.e.,
an historic trend that exemplifies a particular period of the national, state or local history. The
Burnham-Wells Residence qualifies for listing as a Class 1 Historic Resource on the local registry
under Criterion 3.
Criterion 4: The resource embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period or
method of construction: The Burnham-Wells Residence embodies the distinctive
characteristics of a type of construction reflective of the period in which it was built. Although
board-and-batten construction had been used in earlier decades including on some of Palm
Springs’ pioneer buildings, it had largely been superseded by other methods. The use of board-
and-batten construction on the Burnham-Wells Residence represented a renewed interest in this
form, which was to become commonplace on homes of similar style over the ensuing years. The
board-and-batten construction used on the Burnham-Wells Residence exhibits the distinctive
characteristics of a type of construction popularly employed during the time of the home’s period
of significance. The Burnham-Wells Residence qualifies for listing as a Class 1 Historic Resource
on the local registry under Criterion 4.
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Criterion 5: (That (a): represents the work of a master builder, designer, artist, or architect
whose individual genius influenced his age; or (b): that possesses high artistic value):
5a: Work of a Master: The Burnham-Wells Residence was the work of John Porter Clark, AIA
(1905-1991). It was an early design by Clark under the aegis of the Palm Springs branch of the
noted Pasadena firm of Van Pelt & Lind. Regarded as a co-founder, along with long-time
collaborator Albert Frey, of Desert Modernism, Clark is considered one of Southern California’s
most important and influential architects. Therefore, the Burnham-Wells Residence can certainly
be described as the work of a master in view of Clark’s history of architectural excellence.
5b: Properties possessing high artistic values: High artistic values may be expressed in many
ways, including areas as diverse as community design or planning, engineering, and sculpture.
The Burnham-Wells Residence showcased the type of Early California Ranch-style architecture
that was mandated for all construction within Smoke Tree Ranch. The desire was to create a
feeling of relaxed informality through simple, rustic design, and providing a sense of “roughing it,”
in the “Wild West” to those accustomed to far grander residences.
In his design of the Burnham-Wells Residence, Clark demonstrated ways such simple styling
could also be aesthetically pleasing. The home’s artistry derives from how he was able to produce
a design that was both authentic to its pioneer roots and yet subtly elegant.
The Burnham-Wells Residence was intended not only as a comfortable and attractive home for
its occupants, it was intended to act as an informal prototype for what an ideal Ranch-style home
could and should look like to those prospective home builders in the newly-opened Smoke Tree
Ranch No. 2. The home certainly articulates the best of what made Ranch-style architecture so
popular to a level of excellence that, in total, could easily be considered an aesthetic ideal.
Therefore, for its distinctive characteristics representing the Ranch-style, as the work of two
master architects and its high artistic values, the Burnham-Wells Residence qualifies as a Class
1 Historic Resource under Criterion 5.
Criterion 6: (That represents a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack
individual distinction). This Criterion was created to address the resources contained within a
potential historic district and as such it does not apply to this nomination. Hence, the Burnham-
Wells Residence does not qualify under Criterion 6.
Criterion 7: (That has yielded or may be likely to yield information important to the national, state
or local history or prehistory.) The Burnham-Wells Residence is not likely to yield information
important to the national, state or local history or prehistory. Hence, the Burnham-Wells
Residence does not qualify under Criterion 7.
SUMMARY: This evaluation finds The Burnham-Wells Residence eligible for listing as a Palm
Springs Historic Resource under 8.05.070 C.1. a., paragraphs iii, iv, and v of the local ordinance’s
seven criteria.
INTEGRITY ANALYSIS
Integrity is the ability of a property to convey its significance. To be listed in the local registry, a
property must not only be shown to be significant under the criteria, but it also must have integrity.
The evaluation of integrity is sometimes a subjective judgment, but it must always be grounded
36
in an understanding of a property's physical features and how they relate to its significance.
Historic properties either retain integrity (that is, convey their significance) or they do not. The
definition of integrity includes seven aspects or qualities. To retain historic integrity a property will
always possess several, and usually most, of the aspects. The retention of specific aspects of
integrity is paramount for a property to convey its significance. Determining which of these
aspects are most important to a particular property requires knowing why, where, and when the
property is significant. The following sections define the seven aspects and explain how they
combine to produce integrity.
LOCATION
Location is the place where an historic property was constructed or the place where an historic
event occurred. The relationship between the property and its location is often important to
understanding why the property was created or why something happened. The actual location of
a historic property, complemented by its setting, is particularly important in recapturing the sense
of historic events and persons. Except in rare cases, the relationship between a property and its
historic associations is destroyed if the property is moved. The Burnham-Wells Residence
remains in its original location and therefore qualifies under this aspect.
DESIGN
Design is the combination of elements that create the form, plan, space, structure, and style of a
property. It results from conscious decisions made during the original conception and planning of
a property and applies to activities as diverse as community planning, engineering, architecture,
and landscape architecture. Design includes such elements as organization of space, proportion,
scale, technology, ornamentation, and materials. A property’s design reflects historic functions
and technologies as well as aesthetics. It includes such considerations as the structural system;
massing; arrangement of spaces; pattern of fenestration; textures and colors of surface materials;
type, amount, and style of ornamental detailing. The Burnham-Wells Residence’s essential
characteristics of form, plan, space, structure, and style have survived largely intact.
Similarly, the structural system; massing; arrangement of spaces; pattern of fenestration;
and the type, amount, and style of detailing have survived largely intact. A 2016 master
bedroom addition is the only notable change to the home’s original footprint and this was
done using the same architectural style, window/door types, roof and board-and-batten
sheathing as the existing home. As such, the home reflects the same rustic Ranch-style
architecture, design elements such as board-and-batten sheathing, shake-type roofing,
etc., first introduced by master architect John Porter Clark in 1936.
SETTING
Setting is the physical environment of a historic property. Whereas location refers to the specific
place where a property was built or an event occurred, setting refers to the character of the place
in which the property played its historical role. It involves how, not just where, the property is
situated and its relationship to surrounding features and open space. Setting often reflects the
basic physical conditions under which a property was built and the functions it was intended to
serve. In addition, the way in which a property is positioned in its environment can reflect the
designer’s concept of nature and aesthetic preferences. The Burnham-Wells Residence was
built at a prominent spot in the newly-developing Smoke Tree Ranch No. 2 tract. Like all
Smoke Tree Ranch homes, it was set back away from the road to foster a more rural rather
37
than suburban atmosphere and to bring it more in harmony with its natural surroundings
and expansive vistas. The surrounding landscape and hardscape features were mandated
to be minimal and of native plantings only, an edict that remains the same today (Grass is
allowed in the rear only). The setting of the Burnham-Wells Residence continues to reflect
the architects’ original design relationship of site and structure.
MATERIALS
Materials are the physical elements that were combined or deposited during a particular period of
time and in a particular pattern or configuration to form a historic property. The choice and
combination of materials reveals the preferences of those who created the property and indicate
the availability of particular types of materials and technologies. The Burnham-Wells
Residence’s exterior surface materials, which consist primarily of redwood clapboard
board-and-batten sheathing, shake roof, wooden shutters, brick fireplace chimney, have
remained essentially intact and continue to express the physical elements as designed
during the building’s period of significance; the pattern and configuration that today forms
the residence survives intact. It should be noted that, while the doors and windows have
been replaced in recent years, they are largely duplicate types that fit into the same
openings as the original. Windows are now aluminum versions as opposed to the original
steel casements. With the exception of the front door, which is now glass, other doors (i.e.
French and sliding varieties) are approximations of the originals.
WORKMANSHIP
Workmanship is the physical evidence of the crafts of a particular culture or people during any
given period in history or prehistory. It is the evidence of artisans’ labor and skill in constructing
or altering a building, structure, object, or site. Workmanship can apply to the property as a whole
or to its individual components. It can be expressed in vernacular methods of construction and
plain finishes or in highly sophisticated configurations and ornamental detailing. It can be based
on common traditions or innovative period techniques. Workmanship is important because it can
furnish evidence of the technology of a craft, illustrate the aesthetic principles of a historic or
prehistoric period, and reveal individual, local, regional, or national applications of both
technological practices and aesthetic principles. Examples of workmanship in historic buildings
include tooling, carving, painting, graining, turning, and joinery. The fine workmanship of the
Burnham-Wells Residence is evidenced by how well various materials have been
integrated into the whole structure. This is most notable in how skillfully the wooden
sheathing has been applied across the multiple facades in both horizontal and vertical
manners. The same may be said of the rooflines, eaves and shakes, all presenting a unified
whole rather than a patchwork of placement and quality. The Burnham-Wells Residence
continues to express a high degree of contemporary period workmanship.
FEELING
Feeling is a property’s expression of the aesthetic or historic sense of a particular period of time.
It results from the presence of physical features that, taken together, convey the property’s historic
character. For example, a rural historic district retaining original design, materials, workmanship,
and setting will relate the feeling of agricultural life in the 19th century. When it was completed,
circa 1936, the Burnham-Wells Residence was intended to provide a rustically casual
lifestyle allowing its occupants to have a sense of life in the pioneering western days and
38
connect meaningfully with the natural environment which surrounded it. Nearly 90 years
later, the Burnham-Wells Residence continues to reflect that exact same aesthetic, with
the later addition following the same style and philosophy of the original. Accordingly, the
residence retains its original integrity of feeling.
ASSOCIATION
Association is the direct link between an important historic event or person and a historic property.
A property retains association if it is the place where the event or activity occurred and is
sufficiently intact to convey that relationship to an observer. Like feeling, association requires the
presence of physical features that convey a property’s historic character. For example, a
Revolutionary War battlefield whose natural and man-made elements have remained intact since
the 18th century will retain its quality of association with the battle. Because feeling and
association depend on individual perceptions, their retention alone is never sufficient to support
eligibility of a property for the National Register. The Burnham-Wells Residence is an
important example of a custom-designed 1930s traditional Ranch-style private residence
in the Smoke Tree Ranch development of Palm Springs, a unique enclave of approximately
100 homes all designed within the parameters of the Ranch-style. The home was one of
the earliest built within the colony and its skillful design could characterize it as a
quintessential Smoke Tree Ranch residence. Accordingly, it continues its association with
a pattern of events that have made a meaningful contribution to the community.
INTEGRITY SUMMARY: The Burnham-Wells Residence appears to be in excellent condition
partially due to the use of construction materials suitable for the harsh desert environment. This
integrity analysis confirms that the building and site of the Burnham-Wells Residence still
possesses all seven aspects of integrity. As noted, the Burnham-Wells Residence retains a
remarkable amount of original detail. In summary, the Burnham-Wells Residence still
possesses a high degree of integrity sufficient to qualify for designation as a Class 1
Historic Resource.
Bibliography
Attached is a list of books, articles, and other sources cited or used in preparing this
application and other documentation that may be relevant.
Books
Culver, Lawrence. The Frontier of Leisure. New York, NY; Oxford University Press,
2010.
Hess, Alan. Ranch House. New York, NY; Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 2004.
Koenig, Gloria. Albert Frey 1903-1998: A Living Architecture of the Desert. Köln,
Germany; Taschen GmbH. 2008.
39
McAlester, Virginia & Lee. A Field Guide to American Houses. New York, NY; Alfred
A. Knopf. 1998.
Palm Springs City Directory. Long Beach, CA; Western Directory Co., Various dates.
Rosa, Joseph. Albert Frey, Architect. New York, NY; Rizzoli Publishing Co., 1990.
Sunset Magazine Editorial Staff in collaboration with Cliff May. Sunset Western Ranch Houses.
San Francisco, CA; Lane Publishing Co., 1946.
Tuttle, Kathleen. Sylvanus Marston: Pasadena’s Quintessential Architect.
Santa Monica, CA; Hennessey + Ingalls, 2001.
Collections
Albert Frey Archives, Architecture and Design Collection, University of California, Santa
Barbara
Albert Frey Archives, Architecture and Design Collection, Palm Springs Art Museum
American Institute of Architects (AIA), Washington D.C.
John Porter Clark. membership files and related documents
Newspapers
Various issues of:
Desert Sun
Detroit Free Press
Hollywood Daily Citizen
Jackson Hole (WY) News
Los Angeles Evening Express
Los Angeles Herald-Examiner
Los Angeles Times
New York Times
Palm Springs Limelight News
Pasadena Evening Post
San Bernardino County Sun
Santa Ana Register
Internet Resources
Accessingthepast.org
Ancestry.com
Californiarevealed.com
Findagrave.com
Newspapers.com
Pspreservationfoundation.org
Smoketreeranch.com
40
Realtor.com
Calisphere
Orange Public Library and History Center
Interviews
Tracy Conrad
Charles S. Bentall
Videos
Smoke Tree Ranch: A Way of Life. Directed by Tracy Conrad. Produced by Bill Bailey.
Digital Rain Films
Other Sources Consulted
Palm Springs Historical Society
City of Palm Springs (Planning and Building Departments)
Historic Resources Group. City of Palm Springs Citywide Historic Context Statement;
Survey Findings. Pasadena, 2015 (Final Draft, December 2018).
Riverside County Assessor’s Office
41
Appendix I
Owner’s Notarized Letter of Support
42
43
44
45
Appendix II
Grant Deed
46
47
48
Appendix III
Assessor Map
49
Appendix IV
Google Earth Image
50
Appendix V
Chain of Title
7-16-1936 MARDO Corporation to Ruth W. Burnham (Lot 12)
4-19-1944 Ruth W. Burnham to Homer R. Overly, Jr. and Gertrude Wells Overly
(Lot 12)
CHAIN OF TITLE GAP – No documentation was found showing transfer of the adjacent Lot
14.
4-9-1952 Homer R. Overly, Jr. to Gertrude Wells Overly (Lots 12 and 14)
6-27-1952 Gertrude Wells Overly to Walter H. Butler and Gladys R. Butler (Lots
12 and 14)
10-6-1964 Walter H. Butler (deceased) to Gladys R. Butler (Lots 12 and 14)
5-3-1977 Estate of Gladys R. Butler (deceased) to Stanley C. Lagerlof, Mary
Louise Comly, et al* (lots 12 and 14)
*58.85% undivided interest to Stanley C. Lagerlof, Executor of the Will of
Gladys Reynolds Butler. 1/3 each of 41.15% undivided interest to Mary
Louise Comly, decedent’s daughter, Elbert Reynolds Butler, decedent’s
son & Walter Hughes Butler, Jr., decedent’s son.
3-23-1978 Stanley C. Lagerlof to Mary Louise Comly, Elbert Reynolds Butler &
Walter H. Butler, Jr. 1/3 each of his 58.85% undivided interest in Lots
12 and 14.*
4-18-1978 Walter Hughes Butler, Jr. to Mary Louise Comly (his undivided 1/3 of
Lots 12 and 14.)
4-25-1978 Elbert Reynolds Butler to Mary Louise Comly (his undivided 1/3 of
Lots 12 and 14.)
3-12-1984 Mary Louise Comly to Frances Elaine Wright Trust (1/2 interest in Lot
12 and Lot 14)
7-2- 1991 Mary Louise Comly Trust and Frances Elaine Wright Trust to the J.
Cheney Wells Trust (Gertrude Wells Brennan) (Lot 12 and Lot 14)
4-26-2013 Cheney Wells Trust to Smoke Tree Ranch Trust (2013) (Charles
Bentall and Linda Douglas)
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Appendix VI
Building Permit Summary
As the home was built prior to incorporation of the city, it was not possible to find any official
building data. Additionally, a search was made with the city of Palm Springs for post-1938 permits.
In spite of using different search criteria including parcel, lot number, APN, etc., the city was
unable to locate any permits earlier than 2012. NOTE: The 2012 permit was taken out by former
owner Gertrude Brennan. The remainder were taken out by current homeowner Charles Bentall.
Date Permit No. Work Architect Contractor
03/14/2012 2012-674*** Re-roofing N/A Dew Roofing
07/16/2015 2015-2462 Master bedroom
addition (314 sq.
ft.), unspecified
remodel, 2 patio
trellises
Charles Bentall
(However permit
application notes
Jose Garcia as
designer.
D.W. Johnson
05/31/2016 2016-1985 Gunite
swimming pool
and spa
N/A Alternative
Energy
Concepts
6/22/2016 2016-2296*** 200 LF of 6’ high
block wall
N/A D.W. Johnson
***These permits are marked with the notation as having expired. “No inspection called. Permit
expired. File closed.” However, the work does appear to have been completed.
52
Appendix VII
Owner Biographies
1936-1944 – First Owners - Ralph French Burnham and Ruth Wilson Burnham
Ralph Burnham’s lifetime association with the California citrus industry
began in his youth at his father’s extensive ranch in Orange County.
(Courtesy Orange County Public Library and History Center)
Ralph French Burnham (1883-1952), was born in Batavia, Illinois, but was to spend most of his
life in Southern California. His father, William H. Burnham, Sr. (1851-1934), who had made a
fortune in banking in Illinois, was a pioneer winter resident of Orange County where he became
heavily involved in the region’s burgeoning citrus industry. In 1891, he built “Su Casa,” one of
Orange’s early showplace residences, which would serve as the headquarters for his growing
citrus operation.
Burnham graduated from Throop College (later California Institute of Technology) and in 1905,
he married Ruth Louise Wilson (1881-1969), a member of a prominent Chicago family. The
marriage would be an enduring match and they would ultimately have four children together.
In 1911, Burnham took over the operations of his father’s extensive citrus holdings in Riverside,
the La Colina Ranch. Throughout the remainder of the decade and into the 1920s, both Burnham
and his wife would become notable figures in Riverside society, active in civic and social affairs.
Burnham would be one of the city’s leading polo enthusiasts at a time when the sport was very
popular with Riverside’s elite.
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When not at the Riverside ranch, the Burnhams stayed at their estate overlooking the Rose Bowl
in Pasadena. During this time, Burnham shifted his activities from orchardist into stocks, bonds
and oil. After his father’s death in 1934, Burnham’s wealth increased even further and he largely
retired from active business. It was during this time, Burnham discovered the pleasures of Palm
Springs and in 1936, he and Ruth decided to build a permanent winter home there.
Little Peter Sears poses out on the rear patio of the Burnham-Wells Residence in 1941. The
woman behind is likely his mother, Eleanor Bissell Sears. Note, the custom -designed sliding
doors John Porter Clark added to bring light and air into the house.
(Courtesy Chuck Bentall)
The Burnham family would enjoy their desert retreat for nearly a decade-and-a-half with the
couple’s names associated with various Smoke Tree Ranch and Palm Springs social events
during the late 1930s-early 1940s. However, during World War II, they appear to have leased the
home to others, at least for a part of the time. Recently, photographic documentation has surfaced
showing that in 1941 the home was leased by Melville R. Bissell II (1882-1972) and Olive E.
Bissell (1884-1964) of Grand Rapids, Michigan. At the time, Bissell was president of the Bissell
Carpet Sweeping Co.
It was Bissell’s father, Melville Bissell, Sr., who patented the Bissell Carpet Sweeper in 1876. It
was an enormous success and by 1890, the company was producing 1000 carpet sweepers per
day. The company later expanded into vacuums and carpet steaming. Today, the company now
known as Bissell, Inc. is considered the leading floor care company in North America. The 1941
stay by the Bissells brought the families of the country’s two leading floor cleaning families
together at Smoke Tree Ranch with Earl and Dorothy Hoover of Hoover Vacuum Cleaner fame,
residing at Rock 7.
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The Bissells were joined at Smoke Tree Ranch by their daughter Eleanor Bissell Sears (1915-
2007) and her son Peter Macgregor Sears (1935-2021). It was Peter who appeared in the series
of photos reproduced in part in this nomination which show various scenes of the house in 1941.
1944-1952 – Second Owners – Homer Overly, Jr. and Gertrude Overly
In 1944, the Burnhams sold their home to Homer Overly, Jr. and his wife, Gertrude Wells Overly.
A family relative of the Burnhams, Gertrude had been living a short distance away with her father
J. Cheney Wells in the Albert Frey-designed home they constructed in 1942. While it is unknown
for certain why Gertrude moved from her newly-built home on Rock 12, she may have desired a
home of her own and her growing family under their own roof rather than sharing the home with
her indomitable father, one of the heads of the American Optical Co.
Gertrude Alice Wells (1919-2011) was the youngest of three children born to J. Cheney and
Florence Wells. She grew up in Boston and in Southbridge, Massachusetts attending private
schools or privately tutored in the Wells home. Later she attended the Bancr oft School and
Westover, from which she graduated in 1936. Gertrude made her debut during the 1937-1938
social season and was a member of the Worcester Junior League. In 1939, she married Homer
Roy Overly Jr. (1916-1998), a recent graduate of the Harvard Business School and the Wharton
School of Finance. Together, the couple would ultimately have three children, Lisa, Peter and
Christopher.
At the time of her purchase, both she and Homer had been deeply involved in the war effort with
Homer joining the U.S. Navy in 1942. Around the same time, Gertrude became involved in an
exciting new program known as the Women’s Aviation Service Pilots (WASP). This was a civil
aviation program that was attached to the U.S. Army Air Corps. The purpose was to free male
pilots and crew for more critical combat missions by having women take on the tasks of testing,
ferrying and towing aircraft to their needed locations around the U.S. and to combat zones. They
also were used as instructors to train other pilots. More than 1,000 women were involved in the
program, 38 of whom lost their lives including one who went missing while en route to the base
at Palm Springs.
The WASP program was of critical value during the war, but it faced opposition from male civilian
pilots who feared post-war competition. Gertrude and the other WASPs were denied veteran
status and the program was ended in December 1944. Decades later, the WASPs were finally
given their due with veteran status and in 2009, President Barack Obama signed a law honoring
the WASPs with a special Congressional gold medal. The 90-year-old Gertrude was among those
in attendance.
With the end of the WASP program, Gertrude looked for other ways to help in the war effort and
in December 1944 she completed her training as a Red Cross nurse at Torney General Hospital,
where she worked for the duration of the conflict.
The Overlys would remain at the Burnham-Wells Residence until the couple’s divorce in 1952,
but it would ultimately not be the end of Gertrude’s association with the home.
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1952-1978 – Third Owners – Walter H. Butler and Gladys Reynolds Butler
Upon the departure of Homer Overly and Gertrude Wells Overly, the Burnham-Wells Residence
was purchased by the Butlers, who would make it their desert retreat for nearly a generation.
Walter H. Butler (1885-1962) was a prominent figure in business, serving as the president of E.W.
Reynolds Co., a wholesale jewelry distributor founded in San Francisco in 1888 with the slogan
“Everything You Need.” Butler’s association with the company began with his marriage to Gladys
Florence Reynolds (1886-1976), daughter of the company’s founder, Elbert W. Reynolds (1853-
1934). During this period, the company continued to grow until it became “the largest of its kind
west of the Mississippi.”
The Butlers had three children – Mary Louise Butler (1916-1990); Elbert Reynolds Butler (1918-
1995); and Walter Hughes Butler, Jr. (1925-2001). Butler retired from leadership of the company
in the 1950s, but remained a director of the Citizens National Bank in Beverly Hills. When not in
Palm Springs, the Butlers resided at 709 North Linden Drive in Beverly Hills.
After Butler’s death in 1962, Gladys continued coming to Smoke Tree Ranch along with her now-
married children, their spouses and children.
1978-1991 – Fourth Owners – Jack and Mary Louise Comly
Gladys Reynolds Butler died in 1976 and the Burnham-Wells Residence was inherited by her
daughter Mary Louise and her husband, Jack Clifton Comly, Sr. (1915-1980) of Beverly Hills and
Hermosa Beach. The Comly’s were active throughout their lives in the region’s civic and society
circles. Mary Louise was particularly involved with the annual Las Floristas Children’s Christmas
Party. The couple had three children, Jack Clifton, Jr. “Jay,” Christy & Caren.
1991-2013 – Fifth Owner – Gertrude Wells Brennan
A snapshot taken at the end of Gertrude Wells Brennan’s ownership shows
how little the house had changed over the years.
(Courtesy Chuck Bentall)
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In 1991, the Burnham-Wells Residence changed owners, but the purchaser was unusual in that
it was the home’s second owner, Gertrude Wells, who had sold the house to the Butlers nearly
40 years earlier.
After selling the house in 1952, Gertrude had left Smoke Tree Ranch and Palm Springs and
relocated to Brentwood, Los Angeles, with her new husband, music executive Frank Michael
(Mike) Brennan (1913-1982). The couple had met at Smoke Tree Ranch when they were living
across the street from each other. Mike lived with his mother and step-father in the Albert Frey-
design Fred D. Johnson house and Gertrude at the Frey designed J. Cheney Wells house with
her father. After her divorce from Homer Overly, Mike and Gertrude’s friendship grew into
romance, with the couple marrying in 1952. The pair had two children, Michael Joseph and Mary
Elizabeth “Molly” Brennan.
Interestingly, Mike and Gertrude’s marriage would not be the only Smoke Tree Ranch romance
in the family. In 1971, Gertrude’s daughter Lisa (with Homer Overly) married Dr. Charles
Markham, son of Smoke Tree Ranch owners Fred and Maziebelle Markham. Although she lived
in Los Angeles and later, San Diego, Gertrude never lost her love of Palm Springs and Smoke
Tree Ranch. In 1966, she and her husband purchased another house on the ranch, the 1941
Knight Residence at Rock 15. Upon moving in, she engaged Albert Frey to do an addition. At the
same time, the couple engaged Frey to do an addition at their retreat in Jackson Hole, Wyoming.
In 1970, they sold their Smoke Tree Ranch house and moved full time to Jackson Hole. Gertrude
remained in Wyoming after her husband’s death in 1982, but over time, she again longed for Palm
Springs and Smoke Tree Ranch.
In the late 1980s she began to keep an eye out for potential openings at the ranch. After exploring
but rejecting several possible candidates, Gertrude was given a unique opportunity to repurchase
her former home of 40 years earlier. She was delighted as the home had many pleasant
associations. Even before completing the purchase, she brought in Albert Frey to update the
house by doing minor alterations/additions. The Albert Frey files at the Palm Springs Architecture
& Design Museum contain a number of letters between Gertrude and Frey that indicate he was
not only her architect; he was a warm and trusted friend. Frey would do work on the house from
1991 until 1995.
The home was to remain Gertrude Wells Brennan’s principal residence until her death at 92 in
2011.
2013-Present – Sixth Owners – Charles S. “Chuck” Bentall and Julie Bentall
In 2013, the home was sold to Charles S. and Julie Bentall who are today’s current residents.
Chuck Bentall was well familiar with Smoke Tree Ranch before purchasing the home. His parents,
Clark and Phyllis Bentall, were the former owners of the Ed and Virginia Janss Residence on
Rock 10 between 1991-2000.
Bentall is a noted Canadian architect and both he and his wife are deeply interested in preserving
the home’s historic integrity and the additions/alterations they have made since moving in have
been done with an eye on maintaining the look and spirit of Clark’s original design.
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Appendix VIII
John Porter Clark, AIA
John Porter Clark, AIA (1905-1991)
(Via Clark Family Ancestry.com)
The Perfect Partner
By Steve Vaught
John Porter Clark is considered an iconic master of Palm Springs architecture and hailed as one
of the progenitors of “Desert Modern,” a unique hybrid of Midcentury Modern tailored to meet the
climactic and geographic conditions of the Coachella Valley. The aesthetic and practical success
of this style has helped draw international attention to Palm Springs as a hub of excellent
Midcentury architecture much in the same way Art Deco has done for Miami Beach.
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Yet, as important a figure as Clark is considered to be, his current legacy is defined not by his
own individual vision but rather as a component of the joint efforts between himself and longtime
partner Albert Frey. Together (as well as with a third partner, Robson Chambers), they produced
some of Palm Springs’ most well-known and well-regarded structures. As the Historic Resources
Group Survey has noted, their 20-year partnership “would permanently alter the course of
architecture in the Coachella Valley” with an oeuvre that ranged from houses, schools, a fire
station, churches, shopping centers, hospitals, restaurants, hotels, and apartments.
While the partnership has been celebrated as one of the most influential in the history of Palm
Springs, critical analysis has been focused almost exclusively on only one of the partners – Albert
Frey. And while this appears wholly justified as the talented and dynamic Frey was the driving
force of the collaboration, it has unintentionally minimized the contributions of both John Porter
Clark and Robson Chambers. Clark is generally dismissed as being the one who handled the
traditional designs for the firm while Frey boldly worked in modern. While Frey was clearly the
more visionary modernist of the pair, Clark proved himself more than capable as evidenced by
several noteworthy modern designs including that of his own home at 1200 Paseo El Mirador
(1939/1946). Further, much of Clark’s ostensibly traditional work shows a modern flair with strong
clean lines and minimal ornamentation.
Attempts to separate Clark from Frey in order to assess his individual vision have been stymied
by Clark himself, who appears to have had his papers intentionally destroyed prior to his death in
1991. As such, a full determination of Clark’s contributions to the partnership cannot presently be
made. However, there is still enough available to give clear evidence of Clark’s own talent and
vision that elevates him well beyond that of the “junior” partner.
Early Years
Clark was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa on August 14, 1905 to John and Mary Clark, both of whom
hailed from Vermont. Their reasons for being in Iowa are not entirely clear, but it appears the elder
Clark was involved in several local building enterprises. By 1909, however, the family made a
major shift, relocating to the west and settling in Pasadena, California. Clark enrolled in local
schools, graduating from Pasadena High School in 1923.
By the time of his graduation, Clark had already embarked upon his lifelong profession, gaining
an entrée into the world of architecture as a junior draftsman at Marston & Van Pelt, one of the
most, if not the most prestigious firms in the city. In 1926, he left the firm to enroll at the Cornell
University School of Architecture in Ithaca, New York, considered among the finest architectural
schools in the country. At the time, Cornell’s curriculum focused on classic Beaux Arts design.
Clark studied at Cornell for 2 years, but in 1928 he returned to Pasadena without completing his
degree. He was nonetheless welcomed back to Marston, now known as Marston, Van Pelt &
Maybury, this time as senior draftsman. The young Clark appears to have particularly impressed
Garrett Van Pelt and in 1930, when he left to go into independent practice, he took Clark with him.
It was during this time that Van Pelt was involved in the Smoke Tree Ranch development and
while it presently cannot be verified owing to a dearth of documentation, it is likely that Clark
worked with Van Pelt on the original Smoke Tree Ranch designs.
Van Pelt had such faith in his young protegee that he entrusted him with some of the firm’s
important commissions. One of Clark’s fellow draftsmen at Van Pelt was Robert E. Alexander,
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FAIA, (1907-1992), who would later go on to an impressive career as an architect and city planner.
According to Alexander, Clark was entirely responsible for the design of the imposing Bel-Air
mansion of film star Loretta Young and her family on Sunset Boulevard although officially it was
credited to Van Pelt.
Van Pelt & Lind
By 1934, Clark had served as a senior draftsman at what was now known as Van Pelt & Lind for
four years. In assessing the future, Clark could have possibly risen to partner at the firm or struck
out on his own. But another opportunity would present itself that would alter not only the course
of Clark’s own life but that of the development of Palm Springs architecture as well.
Clark’s employer, Garrett Van Pelt already had a well-established Palm Springs connection with
Smoke Tree Ranch. He was not only one of the venture’s original partners, he became its de
facto in-house architect, responsible for either designing or approving plans for new homes in the
enclave in the years following its initial opening in 1931. Further, L. Mac Blankenhorn, Smoke
Tree Ranch’s founder, had shifted his interests to developing a new community, Rancho Mirage.
Today, it remains unclear whether it was Van Pelt who sent Clark to Palm Springs or if it was
Clark who proposed the plan. In either case, the idea made sense, if only for having a local
representative of the firm overseeing work at Smoke Tree Ranch and Rancho Mirage. But the
potential was far greater. Palm Springs was continuing to gain momentum as a winter resort.
Opportunity was there, but local architects were not. This changed with the opening of the Palm
Springs branch of Van Pelt & Lind in 1934, the very first full-time architectural firm in the village.
The theory that Clark was the driving force behind the venture rather than Van Pelt, is bolstered
by just how much independence he had including his choice of a partner – Albert Frey. It appears
that Clark first met Frey while he was in Palm Springs supervising construction of the Kocher-
Samson Building. They quickly became friends with a mutual respect for the other’s talent and a
shared love of the desert. Clark proposed Frey to Van Pelt who approved the arrangement.
The Palm Springs branch of Van Pelt & Lind did not operate as one might normally expect of a
satellite office. Rather, it appeared to run as an almost completely autonomous entity, with both
Clark & Frey allowed to design whatever commissions they could gain in whatever style the client
approved. As neither were formally licensed to practice architecture yet, this allowed them to work
under the imprimatur of an established firm. While Garrett Van Pelt is a name virtually unknown
in Palm Springs architecture today, he is greatly deserving of honor for being the one to launch
the brilliant careers of two of Palm Springs’ most talented and influential architects.
In the beginning, Clark was the public face of the firm. It was his name which appeared in the
papers whenever new projects were announced. In fact, Frey’s name does not even appear in
the Desert Sun until 1936. Ultimately, their public roles would reverse over time, a situation that
appeared satisfactory to both. By all accounts, Clark and Frey were personable and well-liked
figures in the village and soon the young designers began securing commissions from a growing
number of clients while building a shared reputation for excellence.
Although the Van Pelt & Lind collaboration lasted only two years, it proved to be an extremely
fruitful time for Clark and Frey, giving them a chance to freely experiment and gain real-time
experience in facing the unique challenges surrounding building in the desert. Frey was able to
60
bring 8 projects to completion during this time with Clark producing a similar amount. It is likely
that even though one was a lead on a project, the other would help with designing details,
checking plans, etc., a happy collaboration that would serve as a successful formula over the next
decades.
Clark appears to have been the lead or even sole architect for the Van Pelt commissions involving
Smoke Tree Ranch and Rancho Mirage during this period. The desert homes were designed in
traditional styles using elements from Ranch and/or Spanish and generally featured shed roofs
as part of their design, an element so common it became a hallmark of Clark’s 1930s work.
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Almost from the start, the talented young designers caught the attention of architectural critics
and their work began appearing in both regional and national publications including California Arts
& Architecture, The Architectural Record and The Architectural Digest. Sometimes the work was
credited as Van Pelt & Lind, but other times it was credited directly to Clark. Several Clark designs
were singled out during the Van Pelt & Lind period that showed the range of his talent. While the
Rufus Chapman House (1934) was a typical Spanish design with signature Clark shed roof, the
H.U. Brandenstein House, completed the same year was thoroughly modern, with sleek, cubic
massing stretching out across its expansive lot in a diagonal pattern, “like a flower to the s un” in
the words of California Arts & Architecture.
John Porter Clark showed his ability at modern desert design with the home of Mr. & Mrs. H.U.
Brandenstein in 1935. Clark designed the main house, while Frey did a separate study.
(California Arts & Architecture. 1937)
Although both partners were busy, their clients were mostly interested in traditional designs,
something that frustrated Frey. So, when an opportunity arose for Frey to work on a project for
the Museum of Modern Art in New York with Phillip L. Goodwin and Edward Durrell Stone, he
readily accepted, returning to New York in the spring of 1937. While Clark was sorry to see Frey
go, he understood his friend’s reasons and wished him the best on his new venture.
Independent Practice
With Frey gone, Clark continued operating under the Van Pelt & Lind banner, although he was
becoming such a fixture in the village, his work was more and more identified directly as his own.
In January of 1938, after having received his California architect’s license, Clark left Van Pelt &
Lind to go into practice on his own.
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During his brief period of independence, Clark worked steadily, becoming, in the words of the
Desert Sun, “Palm Springs’ busiest and best-known architect.” Some of his commissions included
homes for prominent villagers such as J.J. Kocher, Wright Ludington, John and Fannie Hamrick,
future Palm Springs mayor Florian Boyd, a guest house for James E. “Dad” French, a home and
dental office for Bacon Cliffton (attributed), the El Rincon Apartments (now part of Casa Cody) for
Francis Crocker, the La Paz Guest Ranch, and some of the first designs for the proposed Palm
Springs Aerial Tramway.
In 1938, Clark designed an unusual desert compound of Mr. & Mrs. Wright Ludington in the Mesa,
that was a modern take on classic Monterey situated in such a way to maximize views, privacy
and a minimal disturbance of the natural topography.
(California Arts & Architecture. February 1939)
Interestingly, when it came time to design his own home, he went modern with an innovative
design that anticipated future expansion to be almost seamless. The original (1939) portion of the
house was comprised of the same type of low-cost industrial materials Frey would use in his own
home such as corrugated aluminum, plywood, steel casement windows and concrete. The original
home was basically a cube, but Clark took it to a new level literally by elevating it above the desert
on steel poles and across projecting wing walls. The space on ground level served as a semi-
enclosed patio for outdoor living. In 1946, with a growing family, he would expand the house as
63
originally planned, with minimal expense and alteration to the original structure. The design was
well-received and published in several major publications including House & Garden.
The first section of Clark’s own home (1939) used the same materials and design philosophy
Albert Frey applied to his own house, Frey House I, the following year.
(If You Want to Build a House by Elizabeth Mock. 1946)
The late 1930s and beginning of the 1940s proved to be a very busy time for Clark on a personal
and professional level. He had been active in civic affairs since his arrival in the desert and in
1938, when Palm Springs achieved cityhood, Clark was appointed the first chairman of the
Planning Commission. Soon, however, he switched to vice chair, but his involvement with the
commission would continue at various times for nearly 20 years with his last term in 1959.
In 1940, he married Louisa Margaret Lentz (1916-1980) and together they would have a son, Alan
Porter Clark, (1946-2018). It was Alan’s birth that would trigger the already-planned expansion of
the Clark family home at 1200 Paseo El Mirador.
It was also during this creative period that Clark completed two of what would become his best -
known designs – the Palm Springs Woman’s Club and the Welwood Murray Library, both 1940,
and today, treasured Palm Springs landmarks. The Welwood Murray is particularly striking,
dominating but not overwhelming its prominent corner location. Ostensibly Spanish in style, the
structure nonetheless bears an unmistakable modern feel that bridges the gulf between Palm
Springs’ historic Spanish past and anticipating its modernist future.
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(Courtesy of Barbara Marshall, Palm Springs Preservation Foundation)
The Return of Albert Frey
By the time these projects were completed or nearing completion, Albert Frey had returned to
Palm Springs. He had come at the behest of Clark who broached the idea of a partnership now
that he was fully-accredited as a California architect. Frey happily returned and began the nearly
20-year association that would prove to be one of the most influential architectural teams ever to
practice in the desert.
At first, as it had been during the Van Pelt & Lind period, Clark was the leading public face of the
team, largely owing to the fact Frey was not yet licensed. The firm still operated under Clark’s
name alone and would continue to do so until Frey obtained his license in 1944. Prior to the war,
as would be the case throughout their partnership, they took on a diverse range of projects that
ran the gamut from residential to civic, even producing a skating rink. The Cathedral City
Elementary School in 1940 marked the beginning of a long association with school designs that
would cover the length of their careers both together and individually.
The coming of war changed the trajectory of their professional and personal lives, but Clark was
better prepared than most. He had long been involved in the military starting with the R.O.T.C.
65
during his Pasadena school days and, from 1928-1933, serving as a 1st Lt. in the Army Reserve.
When war did break out in December 1941, Clark was anxious to do his part. Initially, he assisted
with the wartime conversion of the El Mirador Hotel into the Torney General Hospital. Frey also
worked on this project and continued after Clark formally joined the U.S. Army in September 1942.
Clark began his service at the rank of 1st Lt. in the Army Corps. of Engineers stationed at Minter
Field near Bakersfield. By the time he was mustered out at war’s end, he had risen to the rank of
captain.
Returning to civilian life at the end of 1945, Clark entered what was to become the heyday of both
his own professional career and the modernist movement in Palm Springs of which he and Frey
were to play starring roles.
Clark & Frey and Clark, Frey & Chambers
Post-war Palm Springs saw a population boom and a change in attitudes towards modern
architecture. More and more clients were interested in going modern and Clark & Frey, with years
of desert designing experience, were in a prime position to deliver. Over the next decade, the
firm, which, after 1948 included Robson Chambers (who became a full partner in 1953), produced
a series of designs for a wide range of structures, many of them in Modern style, which placed
them in the vanguard of the Desert Modern movement. As Joseph Rosa wrote in his book, Albert
Frey, Architect (Rizzoli.1990), “Clark and Frey’s buildings, both before and after World War II,
were important contributions towards placing Palm Springs architecture on the map as a new
frontier for the modern spirit.”
While they continued to produce numerous residences, including such masterworks as the
Raymond Loewy Residence, their range was extensive including schools, hospitals, museums,
restaurants, office buildings, churches, hotels, apartments, fire stations, and government
buildings. A small sampling of their post-war work includes bungalows for the Racquet Club; Villa
Hermosa apartments; Dollard Office Building; San Gorgonio Pass Memorial Hospital; Katherine
Finchy School; Desert Bank; Lyons House at Smoke Tree Ranch; Banning Public Library; Valley
Station of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway; Palm Springs Fire Station; Cree Houses I & II;
Cahuilla Elementary School; Social Sciences and Humanities Building, University of California,
Riverside, and the Doll House restaurant; among many others.
Frey is credited as the lead architect behind all of these projects, and it is presently unknown to
any degree of certainty the extent of Clark’s (and Chambers) contributions to any particular
design. However, perhaps the very fact that it can be so hard t o separate the individual
contributions of the partners is proof of how well they worked together.
Independence and a New Partnership
At the end of 1956, Clark, who had become a member of the AIA in 1953, left the partnership
amicably in order to devote his energies in the pursuit of larger commercial and institutional
projects. He built an office for himself at 169 Luring Drive and went into independent practice.
One of his biggest commissions was the Palm Springs Police Department headquarters on
Tahquitz Way in 1959. But Clark was not destined to remain solo for long. In 1963, he began a
long and successful collaboration with E. Stewart Williams and Roger Williams of Williams and
Williams. Another of Palm Springs’ most iconic architectural firms, Williams and Williams had
numerous commissions from the County of Riverside, City of Palm Springs, Desert Hospital
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District, Coachella Valley Savings & Loan, and others, just the type of bigger projects Clark was
looking for. In 1971, Clark was elevated to full partner in the firm of Williams, Clark & Williams. He
continued working on major projects including the College of the Desert, city and county offices,
banks and offices until his retirement in 1990 at the age of 85. It marked the end of an impressive
and influential career, which began as a junior draftsman at Marston & Van Pelt 67 years earlier.
He passed away the following year.
67
Appendix IX
Historical and Modern Photo Comparisons
1941 and 2023
68
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Appendix X
Current Imagery
General view as seen from street looking south showing garage and kitchen porch.
(Author Photo. February 2023)
View of Albert Frey’s kitchen porch addition
(Author Photo. February 2023)
72
View looking westward across front porch.
(Author Photo. February 2023)
Across north facade.
(Author Photo. February 2023)
73
North façade showing porch and shed roof.
(Author Photo. February 2023)
Looking eastwards towards front entrance.
(Author Photo. February 2023)
74
View through breezeway into rear porch.
(Author Photo. February 2023)
View from porch across towards pool.
(Author Photo. February 2023)
75
Pool from guest wing.
(Author Photo. February 2023)
Reversed view looking back at guest wing.
(Author Photo. February 2023)
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Porch at rear of guest wing.
(Author Photo. February 2023)
View of south façade with new master bedroom on left.