8:00am | Every time I visit a historic home in Long Beach I’m often impressed not only by the homebuilder’s craftsmanship, but by the how the current occupants have gone out of their way to maintain, and in many cases restore, the home to it’s glory.
On Sunday Long Beach Heritage conducted its annual “Great Homes of Long Beach tour,” in which people were welcomed inside seven architecturally distinguished homes in Belmont Heights, Bluff Park and the Cliff May Ranchos.
The homes on the tour were exceptionally restored, and they were great examples of early 1920s (and 1950s in two cases) craftsmanship:
Included on the tour were: A two-story, five-bedroom 1913 English-style craftsman home that was saved from the wrecking ball in 1990 when it was moved to its current location from Ocean Boulevard by its current owners.
– A Spanish Revival home built in 1923 with arched windows, twisted columns and a Baroque-style ornamented entry.
– A 1925 Spanish Colonial Revival featuring beautiful lighting fixtures, balconies and a remarkable staircase with a double landing crafted from wrought iron original to the house.
– A restored 1929 Mediterranean style home with twelve rooms and five bathrooms. The living room was often featured in the TV show “Beverly Hills 90210.”
– Two small homes in the Cliff May Ranchos, designed in 1953 by the pioneer of the California ranch house with open floor plans, clerestory windows, floor to ceiling glass, and unique indoor-outdoor relationships and gardens. Both are restored in the original style.
Appetizers and a view were served up in a condo in the historic Galaxy Towers.
For more information on Long Beach Heritage visit www.lbheritage.org.
