________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________
IDENTIFICATION
1. HISTORIC NAME OF PROPOSED RESOURCE (if any)_______________________________________________________
2. STREET ADDRESS (inclu de all addresses associated with the property) ________________________________________________________________________ZIP CODE______________________
3. ASSESSOR’S PARCEL NO(s)___________________________________________________________________________
4. COMPLETE LEGAL DESCRIPTION (attach legal description): TRACT___________________________ BLOCK______________________________LOT(s)____________________________________________
5. OWNER(s)____________________________________________________________________________________ ADDRESS (if different from above)__________________________CITY_______________STATE________ZIPCODE_____ PHONE_______________________________EMAIL_________________________________________________
6. PRESENT USE_____________________________________ORIGINAL USE_____________________________________
PROPERTY DESCRIPTION
Describe as much as possible about the history of the structure. It is required that copies of any articles, information, or other supplementary documentation to support this application be attached.
7. ARCHITECTURAL STYLE, INCUDING ARCHITECTURAL DETAILS AND CHARACTER DEFINING FEATURES.
Attach additional pages if necessary. (For residential use, please see the Glendale Design Guidelines for Adopted Historic Districts, “Sources of Information”)
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
8. YEAR BUILT: ____________ SOURCE OF INFORMATION:_________________________________________________
9. ORIGINAL ARCHITECT (if known)______________________________________________________________________
10. ORIGINAL BUILDER (if known)________________________________________________________________________
11. DATES OF ENCLOSED PHOTOGRAPHS (see attached instructions for submitting photographs)_____________________
12. SQUARE FOOTAGE (if known) ________________________________________________________________________ Revised 11/2012 7
________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________
13. ALTERATIONS AND DATES OF ALTERATIONS (based on building permits, physical analysis, oral information, see attached “Sources of Information” for obtaining City building permit records, attach additional pages in necessary):
14. IS THE STRUCTURE (check one): ______ ON ITS ORIGINAL SITE ________MOVED _________ UNKNOWN
15. LIST NAMES, OCCUPATIONS, AND TENURE OF ALL PREVIOUS OWNERS AND OCCUPANTS, IF KNOWN (see attached “Sources of Information” for obtaining prior ownership information):
Revised 11/2012 8
________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________
18. CRITERIA FOR INCLUSION IN THE GLENDALE REGISTER
In order to qualify for inclusion on the Glendale Register, the proposed resource must meet at least one of the following criteria.
Please explain how the proposed resource meets one or more of the following criteria. A proposed resource does not need to meet all criteria in order to qualify for the Glendale Register. However, if the proposed resource meets more than one criterion, please include all information in this application. If a criterion is inapplicable, indicate “Not Applicable”. Attach additional pa ges, if necessary. Identify the source from where the information was obtained and provide copies of any supporting information and documentation with this application.
CRITERION 1
IS THE PROPOSED HISTORIC RESOURCE IDENTIFIED WITH IMPORTANT EVENTS IN NATIONAL,
STATE, OR CITY HISTORY, OR DOES IT EXEMPLIFY SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE BROAD
CULTURAL, POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL, OR HISTORIC HERITAGE OF THE NATION, STATE, OR CITY? IF SO, PLEASE DESCRIBE:
CRITERION 2
IS THE PROPOSED HISTORIC RESOURCE ASSOCIATED WITH A PERSON, PERSONS, OR GROUPS WHO SIGNIFICANTLY CONTRIBUTED TO THE HISTORY OF THE NATION, STATE, REGION, OR CITY? IF SO, PLEASE DESCRIBE:
CRITERION 3
DOES THE PROPOSED HISTORIC RESOURCE EMBODY THE DISTINCTIVE AND EXEMPLARY
CHARACTERISTICS OF AN ARCHITECTURAL STYLE, ARCHITECTURAL TYPE, PERIOD, OR METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION; OR REPRESENT A NOTABLE WORK OF A MASTER DESIGNER, BUILDER OR ARCHITECT WHOSE GENIUS INFLUENCED HIS OR HER PROFESSION; OR POSSESS HIGH ARTISTIC VALUES? IF SO, PLEASE DESCRIBE:
Revised 11/2012 9
________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ CRITERION 4
HAS THE PROPOSED HISTORIC RESOURCE YIELDED, OR HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO YIELD,
INFORMATION IMPORTANT TO ARCHAEOLOGICAL PRE-HISTORY OR HISTORY OF THE NATION, STATE, REGION, OR CITY? IF SO, PLEASE DESCRIBE:
CRITERION 5
DOES THE PROPOSED HISTORIC RESOURCE EXEMPLIFY THE EARLY HERITAGE OF THE CITY? IF SO, PLEASE DESCRIBE:
19. PLEASE STATE ANY ADDITIONAL FACTS PERTAINING TO THE PROPERTY THAT WAS NOT ADDRESSED ABOVE.
Revised 11/2012 10
HOME BIOGRAPHY Address: 228 Spencer Street, Glendale CA 91202 Style: English Period Revival - Storybook Cottage Built in 1927, the home at 228 Spencer Street is a rare and architecturally significant example of the Storybook
substyle
of
the
English
Period
Revival
movement.
The
home
was
designed
by
Benjamin
L.
Sherwood,
one
of
Southern
California’s
most
celebrated
creators
of
Storybook
architecture,
known
for
his
whimsical,
handcrafted
homes
built
in
the
1920s
and
early
1930s.
The
home’s
design
draws
inspiration
from
medieval
English
cottages
and
European
folklore,
showcasing
a
romanticized
interpretation
of
rural
Old
World
architecture.
This home exhibits hallmark features of Sherwood’s Storybook style: ● A steeply pitched, swaybacked roof that sweeps dramatically downward on one side and swoops in
a
catslide
over
the
timber-framed
front
porch.
● An enclosed front courtyard anchored by two towers, rustic wooden gates, and flagstone paths, creating
a
sense
of
enchantment
and
seclusion.
● Arched entry door, constructed of heavy wood and ornamented with wrought iron strap hinges, contributing
to
the
home’s
handcrafted,
medieval
character.
● Plaster-finished exterior walls accented with half-timbering, dovecote vents, and irregular embedded
stonework
on
the
front
façade
-
all
classic
Storybook
detailing.
● A narrow, arched porte-cochère and intentionally non-linear massing, with asymmetries that evoke
a
handcrafted,
cobbled-together
feel.
● Multi-paned front window with leaded glass featuring a custom, original stained glass crest. ● Chimney massing as a dominant vertical element, tapered and slightly off-plumb, clad in brick and
stucco
and
capped
with
a
decorative
chimney
pot.
● Textured stucco exterior with subtle irregularities, consistent with hand-applied methods common to
the
style.
● Most notably, two Twisted Juniper trees - planted intentionally to grow into the home’s structure - complete
the
cottage’s
magical
appearance.
The home’s modest scale, organic materials, and handcrafted details are consistent with the philosophical tenets
of
the
Arts
and
Crafts
movement,
from
which
the
Storybook
style
draws
inspiration.
These
characteristics
-
combined
with
its
well-preserved
condition
and
faithful
adherence
to
early
20th-century
design
principles
-
make
this
residence
an
excellent
candidate
for
historic
designation
and
preservation
under
the
Mills
Act
program.
Year of Completion: 1927
Original Building Permit: The original permit number is #17860. The permit was issued by the City of Glendale on December 14th, 1926
for
a
one-story,
seven
room
dwelling
and
garage.
The
house,
to
measure
at
approximately
36 by
78.5 feet,
would
have
a
concrete
foundation,
stucco
walls,
a
shingled
and
composition
roof
and
a
fireplace.
A
copy
of
this
permit
is
attached
to
this
document.
Cost to Build: The original cost to build this house was $10,000 - a higher than average cost for a house of this size in 1927.
Architect: The home was designed by Benjamin Sherwood. A prominent figure in the development of Storybook architecture
in
Los
Angeles
during
the
1920s.
Sherwood
is
best
known
for
designing
a
series
of
whimsical
cottages
in
the
original
Hollywoodland
subdivision,
which
helped
define
the
Fairy
Tale
substyle
of
the
English
Period
Revival
movement.
Like
Sherwood’s
celebrated
homes
on
Woodshire
Drive
and
Durand
Drive,
this
cottage
exhibits
specific
characteristics
of
Sherwood’s
design
aesthetic
-
a
steeply
pitched
roofline,
asymmetrical
façade,
arched
entryway,
and
fanciful
chimney.
Most
importantly,
the
cottage
features
an
enclosed
front
courtyard.
A
hallmark
of
Benjamin
Sherwood’s
Storybook
designs
is
his
frequent
use
of
an
enclosed
front
courtyard,
which
serves
as
a
transitional
space
between
the
public
street
and
the
private
interior.
These
courtyards
-
framed
by
rustic
gates,
towers,
and
stone
paths
-
foster
a
sense
of
intimacy
and
enchantment,
inviting
visitors
into
a
narrative-rich
environment
that
feels
both
protected
and
whimsical.
These
elements
create
a
deliberately
romantic,
handcrafted
appearance
that
evokes
medieval
English
folklore
and
the
enchantment
of
early
Hollywood.
Of particular note is the fact that Sherwood designed this home at the same time that he designed a different
home
located
just
down
the
street
at
1411
North
Central
Avenue
(now
listed
on
the
Glendale
Register
No.
105).
The
owners
of
the
Central
Avenue
home
(Sarah
and
Eugene
Weaver)
were
the
parents
of
the
original
Spencer
Street
owners
(Nellie
and
Charles
Weaver).
Sherwood
designed
both
homes
-
one
for
the
parents
living
on
Central
and
the
other
for
their
son
and
daughter-in-law
on
Spencer.
First Owner & Contractor: Charles E. Weaver, a landscape architect, is the original owner of the home. A native Californian, Weaver was
a
well-known
landscape
contractor
in
the
Glendale
area,
starting
his
business
in
1923.
He
began
by
planting
lawns
and
flower
beds
and
eventually
expanded
into
full
landscape
design,
including
trees,
fences,
and
irrigation
systems.
Born
in
1903,
Weaver
graduated
from
Glendale
High
School
in
1920
and
later
attended
UCLA,
participating
in
drama
and
music.
He
married
Nellie
Rule
in
1927,
and
together
they
raised
two
sons,
both
of
whom
later
joined
the
family
business.
Weaver
passed
away
in
Glendale
at
the
age
of
77 on
October
16,
1982.
Mrs.
Weaver,
who
had
been
active
in
women’s
clubs,
passed
away
on
February
10,
1987,
at
age
82. One of the most extraordinary and enduring features of the property is the pair of Twisted Juniper trees flanking
the
entrance
to
the
enclosed
courtyard
-
intentionally
planted
by
original
owner
Charles
E.
Weaver,
a
noted
landscape
contractor.
In
a
whimsical
yet
deliberate
gesture,
Weaver
positioned
the
trees
so they would appear to grow directly into the structure itself, seamlessly blending architecture and landscape in true Storybook fashion. Now towering over 50 feet tall, these trees have far exceeded the typical height for their species and stand as living sculptures - an organic and irreplaceable part of the home’s historic identity.
Subsequent Building Permits:
1928 - Although the original permit called for a garage, a second permit issued in June of 1928 allowed the construction of a 19-by-20-foot garage, costing $250. It would have a cement floor, stucco walls, and a shingled roof. Mr. Weaver was the contractor.
1932 - Sewer work occurred in February of 1932.
1947 - A wall heater was installed in August of 1947.
1956 - A floor heater was installed.
1963 - A permit was issued to add a bathroom to the side of the house. It would contain three plumbing fixtures. G. O. Hupp was the contractor. The cost was estimated at $1,000. 1966 - A re-roofing job, costing $300, occurred in May of 1966. 1991 - A permit was issued to remodel the kitchen, including new cabinets, flooring, and lighting. The owner would serve as his own contractor for this project, valued at $8,000. 2007 - A 200-square-foot aluminum enclosed patio was permitted in February 2007. Qualitor of Canoga Park was the contractor. The cost was estimated at $8,000. 2023 - The basement was retrofitted through California’s Bolt & Brace program in 2023.
Copies of some of these permits are attached.
(Note: Permits for very minor alterations, such as water heater replacement, are not included.
Also not included are permits missing from the file or whose microfilmed or digital copies are indecipherable and not otherwise recorded or described in Assessor’s records.) Assessor’s Records:
The Los Angeles County Assessor currently estimates the square footage of the house at 2,155 with three bedrooms and two bathrooms.
Subsequent Owners and Residents:
In September 1933, the Weaver family sold their home to Dr. Albert J. Meyer. Sue F. Meyer took title in 1957. Dr. Meyer, a native of Iowa, was a physician and surgeon for 45 years, 20 of which were in Glendale, beginning in 1931. His obituary is attached.
In July 1963, Ronald H. and Sally S. Henry were recorded as the owners.
Warren A. Bowen took possession in March 1972. Sally S. Bowen joined her husband on title in June 1985.
In December 1988, Russell C. and Sharon W. Nields became the owners.
William S. and Frances E. Welker purchased the property in August 2006.
Notes: The property was advertised for sale in the February 6, 1963 issue of the Los Angeles Times. It was described as “French Norman, exquisitely beautiful and different; entrance and terrace artistically designed; Gothic living room ceiling, large dining room, three bedrooms and 8-by-14-foot lounge.” A copy of the ad is attached.
The courtyard of this home was featured on the 2012 Glendale Historical Society home tour which was called “Glendale’s Golden Ave.” A copy of the brochure is attached.
The entire home was then featured on the 2025 Glendale Historical Society home tour which was called “Treasured Tudors.” A copy of the brochure and docent notes are attached.
Significance:
This home is potentially eligible for listing on a local inventory of significant properties due to its unusual architecture, its good state of preservation, and its contribution to the Spencer Street neighborhood.
Sources:
City of Glendale, Building Department
Los Angeles County Assessor (Sylmar district office and Los Angeles archives) Los Angeles Public Library
University of Southern California, Architecture and Fine Arts Library Gebhard, David and Robert Winter. An Architectural Guidebook to Los Angeles.
Salt Lake City, Gibbs-Smith, 2003.
McAlester, Virginia Savage. A Field Guide to American Houses. 2nd ed.
New York, Knopf, 2013.
City Directories: 1927-
Los Angeles Times: November 18, 1956; February 9, 1963
Internet Resources, including California Index, California Death Index, Gale Biography Master Index, Ancestry.com, and Historic Los Angeles Times Database.
BENJAMIN W. SHERWOOD
Architect
Benjamin (Ben) W. Sherwood was a talented designer remembered for his rather whimsical and theatrical English and Spanish Colonial Revival residences created in the 1920s throughout the Los Angeles area. He was born in Indiana around 1901. By 1913, the family (he had six siblings) had moved to Glendale where Benjamin's father worked as a real estate agent. L ittle is known about Benjamin Sherwood's academic training. He married his Iowa-born wife Lois around 1923 and began advertising his services as both a designer and builder with an office at 313 South Brand Blvd. Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood also lived in Glendale at 423 Ross. By 1927, they were living at 734 Soi1th Spaulding A venue in Los Angeles with later addresses at 847 South Genesee Street and 2345 Talmadge Street.
Mr. Sherwood was probably a building designer and not a certified architect, although he did advertise himself as an "architect0 in the 1930 Los Angeles directory. That year's census, however, identified him as a "building contractor!' By 1940, he was living with his second wife on Division Street in Los Angeles.
Beginning in 1926, advertisements began to appear in the Los A11geles Times announcing houses for sale which Mr. Sherwood had designed and built on speculation. He was only in his mid-twenties at that point "Decorations, fixtures, hardware, everything has been carried out in perfect detair' enthused one ad for a house ai 756 South Ogden Drive which Mr. Sherwood called "the most original and individual Spanish type home in Los Angeles." The designer evidently strove for authenticity and the harmonious blend of elements in his period revival designs. To encourage an exclusive clientele, he favored the inclusion oflarge living rooms and master bedrooms and "unusual" enclosed courtyards. Another of his houses at 853 South Spaulding Avenue was advertised in late 1926 as "a real old English farm-house type,. to which no other Los Angeles home could be compared in its workmanship, "expert labor," and use of fine materials. Another Norman-style house at 930 South Ogden Drive was said in 1927 to have resulted from "an enormous amount oflabor and study on the part of the architect and builder/' One of his well-known apartment houses is the Sherwood Apartments at 3429 Rowena.
Other buildings attributed to Ben Sherwood's design and construction, but which he did not own, include: the John G. Mott residence at the now-vanished Crags Country Club near Calabasas-a 1930 Early California adobe featured in Architectural Digest magazine; Disney Court, a collection of "storybook-style" courtyard apartments built next to the Disney Studios at 2906 Griffith Park Blvd. in 1931, said to be the inspiration for the home of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in the cartoon of the same name; and two Spanish Colonial Revival residences in Glendale: a romantic house for Eugene L.
Weaver at 1411 North Central Avenue (1927) and the Fred W. Gray house at 1345 Cordova Street-a majestic and ornate hillside structure (1928).
Ben Sherwood's name does not appear in the California Death Index, indicating he died outside the state.
Tim Gregory
The Building Biographer
400 East California Blvd., #3
Pasadena, CA 91106•3763
Phone:626•792•7465;Fax:626•793-5219
[email protected]
www .buildingbiographer.com
Copyright April 2013
by Tim Gregory
c. E. \VEAVER
,'\ native son of California and a111ong the best kncnrn landscape tractors in this ,·icinity is t·. \\'ea\·er \Yho has been in the business since 1923. lVIr. \\Teaver began in a s111all \\·ay. those 111any years ago, by planting la\vns and flo\ver beds hut soon his ability and artislic touch in arranging plants began to attract attention and his \'enlnre rapidly expanded to include trees, shrubbery, sprinkling systen1s 1 fences and other such itcn1s. 'Today, as head of C. E. l.Vea\'er & Sons, he has to his credit the beautifully landscaped settings of n1any of lhe fine in this area. 1--[is o\\'ll residence place on Royal Boulevard \Vith its attraeti,·ely desig-ned grounds is an outstanding e:xa1nple of his \York. According- lo :\Ir. \ \F ea \·e1-'s O\\·n staten1cnt. he feels \'ery close to (;ofl in his acti\·ity \\·ith the soil and in rccog-nizing- the supren1acy of the Infinite. he ackno\vledges the '.'Ottrce of his ability and :::uccess. }.<fr. \\Teaver \Vas born 8. 1903, in Los i\ngeles. the son of Eugene l L. and Sarah C. ( l\
1 Iojonnier) \\,·earer. His fad1er, a 11ali\c uf
\\'tt;s a coffee in1portcr, executive general n1anager for the Ben I-Iur Coffee Co. for 111any years and originator of the drip coffee syste111. I-le is no\\' retired and a resident of Glendale. Mrs. \\'ea\·er \\'as the daughter of French parents.
I-Ier son, c·. \\T eaver at lendl'd the local schools, being· graduated \Vith honors from Glendale Hi:->;h Sclwol in 1920. He then entered l'.C.L.c\. \\'here he' \Yas acth'e in dra1natic arts and played :solo clarinet in the band, taking part in the festi\·ities at football gan1es. lle bccan1e a sergeant in the R.0.1'.C. and his fraternity \Vas [)clta I<.ho 01nega. Several years later, i\fr. \Veaver pla,·cd in the Glendale i\fonicipal Band.
On March 12. 1927, he \Yas married to :\Ii" Nellie\\'. Rule whose father \\as profe:;sor of operati\·e dentistry at the l'ni\·crsit.r of ('.alifornia in l1erkeley.
Prof. R. \\r. Rule \\·as the originator of the gold foil technique. I"Je is retired no\\' and living· in 0.frs. \rca\·cr's grandfather \ras a Presbyterian 111iniste1· and served as a n1iisionary to in 1872.
'l'hc \\1cavcrs lia\·e t\\·o sons, l\.ohert E. and \\rallacc I·:. \\.l'arer. [{obcrt is a licensed landscape architect, and lioth sons are associated \\·ith their father in httsiness .
. \fr. \\\:a\·cr's chiei huhl1y i:--. \\'urki11g- \Yilli llo\\cr-.. lint lie also enjoys tisliing. \\'l1t:ther it l1v ni the lake. :-.tn:a1n 11r i'cea11 \aril·ty; hl' t·stahli!'lied St1111e sort of a rccurd at c:atalina se\·t·fal yl'ar:-> ag·o hy catching a 35-pound \vhite hass_ i\{r:->. \\7ea\'<..T is also a ilshing l'.nllntsiasf although she prefers to try her luck in one of the lakes of Southern California. rrhc \\rea\'ers are \\'Orkcrs in the Plymouth Brethren Church of Burbank.
Glendale Community Book (1957)
p. 682
5 6
Los Angeles Times
February 9, 1963; p. C8
THE GLENDALE HISTORICAL SOCIETY 2025 HOME TOUR
“TREASURED TUDORS”
SUNDAY, MAY 4, 2025
TENTPOLE NOTES
(Boxed information is optional – only if needed!)
NELLIE AND CHARLES WEAVER HOUSE 228 SPENCER STREET
Year built: 1927 Builder: C.E. Weaver
Architectural Style: Storybook with
Tudor influences
Original Owners: Nellie and Charles
Weaver
Architect: Possibly Ben Sherwood Original Occupants: Nellie and Charles Weaver
BACKGROUND AND CHARACTER-DEFINING EXTERIOR FEATURES
FIRST TENTPOLE (in front of house):
HISTORY
• This Storybook cottage was built by the original owner, a 21-year-old landscape architect named Charles Weaver.
• He built it in 1927. At the same time, his parents were constructing their own home just three doors down at 1411 N. Central. It’s a magnificent Spanish Colonial Revival Residence, and it’s now on the Glendale Re gister of Historic Resources, #105.
• The architect for the elder Weaver couple, Sarah and Eugene, was a renowned architect named Ben Sherwood. Sherwood designed in all kinds of Revival styles, but he was most famous for his Storybook houses , like this one. And the most famous of these was the bungalow court he designed in 1931 next to the former Walt Disney Studios on Griffith Park Boulevard.
They became known as the Snow White cottages because they were said t o be the inspiration for Snow White’s cottage in the film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, made in 1937.
• We haven’t been able to find any documented proof that Ben Sherwood was the architect for this house, but we think it’s possible.
Weaver House, 228 Spencer Street
2 o First of all, he was building a house for Charles’s parents just down the street.
o Secondly, how in the world could Charles Weaver, a 21-year-old not known to have any architectural training, design such a complex house, with so much detailing?
o Most of all, this house is loaded with architectural features and details that were hallmarks of Ben Sherwood’s style.
ARCHITECTURE
[The person organizing the line on the street can point out the street number painted on the curb – with the crest insignia from the stained glass window on it.] • The current owner explained: A couple of years before the current owners arrived, one of those people that come around to paint your house number on the curb asked her if she’d like him to paint the insignia from the staine d
glass window next to the number. She said go for it! The current owners love it. A couple of months ago, another curb painter came by and said he’d repaint it. They said, “No thanks, we’ve got our crest!” Exterior Façade:
• We call this an example of Storybook style, with Tudor influences.
Storybook houses can also be referred to as Fairy Tale or English Period Revival, and they have many features in common with the Tudor Revival style.
• First of all, both Tudor and Storybook homes are asymmetrical with steepl y
pitched roofs. You will notice on this tour that all five homes share those characteristics.
• Have you seen any of the other homes on this tour yet? Or is this your first one? The houses on this tour that are strictly Tudor are linear, balanced, rather formal looking.
• But Storybook homes like this one are non-linear, irregular, with almost a hand-crafted appearance. The asymmetry is exaggerated.
• For example, the roof here is swaybacked instead of straight. Notice how on the right it slopes down almost to the ground and on the left, it swoops in what we call a catslide roof over the timber porch
.
Weaver House, 228 Spencer Street
3 • And these incredible juniper trees, almost 100 years old, are growing right into the house! Weaver was a landscape architect, and that was what he wanted.
• The plaster-finished walls and the half-timbering are Tudor features • But notice brick and stone details on the lower right corner of the façade, that make it look as if they’ve been left exposed? That makes the façade look more rustic, more Storybook.
• Look at the picture window under the central gable. The leaded glass is typical of both Tudor and Storybook. The window is set inside wooden panels, and notice the flared stucco hood and the decorative dovecote vents just under the peak of the gable – more fairy-tale style. • On the left side of the façade, you see the smaller gable forming the roof of the porte-cochère, and in front of that you can see a delightful faux bois table and bench made of cast concrete – original to the house. Again, very Storybook – they were made to look like tree stumps.
• The irregular flagstone path leads you under the timber-framed porch with a rustic wood plank gate with iron-strap hinges and into a most delightful courtyard. You can’t see it from the street because it’s hidden by th is
rough-hewn covered breezeway that connects the house and the po rte- cochère.
SECOND TENTPOLE (in courtyard):
Here we are in this magical courtyard, with the covered breezeway you saw from outside, two towers and many original features.
• The actual entrance to the house is in this crenellated round tower, with a paneled wood door set in a deep embrasure and flanked by small leaded - glass windows.
• The hanging lights and the one above the door are original. The sconces ar e vintage period-appropriate fixtures added by the current owners. • The door and the letter slot are original. Notice how low the letter slot is – as if the mail is delivered by elf!
• These two pieces of petrified wood were brought here from the house that Sherwood was building for Charles Weaver’s parents, and put on either side of the door, just to make it look more rustic.
• The gates and all their hardware are original.
• The tile and flagstone path are original.
Weaver House, 228 Spencer Street
4 Extra Information – only if needed
• This home cost $10,000 to build. That was higher than average for a house of this size in 1927.
• Charles E. Weaver was also known by his middle name, Erwin. He and his parents and siblings moved to Glendale from Los Angeles around 1921. Charles was a graduate of UCLA.
• Charles married the former Nellie Rule in Walnut Creek in 1927. A write-up of the wedding in the Contra Costa Times said that “a beautiful English home has been built for the bride.” So this was their honeymoon cottage!
• The area of Glendale where this home is located was known as “Casa Verdugo” when the house was built. Casa Verdugo was named after a noted restaurant that was established on the other side of Brand Boulevard in 1905. It was annexed to Glendale in 1926.
• The land on which this home is situated was part of Rancho San Rafael, granted to José María Verdugo in 1784. Following the Great Partition of 1871, the area was owned by Verdugo’s granddaughter Rafaela Verdugo de Sepulveda. In 1886, the Rafaela Verdugo de Sepulveda homestead was subdivided . • In 1926 the property was subdivided further. This subdivision created the lot for 228 Spencer, as well as the lot of 1411 North Central , where Charles’s parents built their home.
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Nellie and Charles Weaver House
228 Spencer Street
1927
Built in 1927, this Storybook cottage with Tudor Revival influences exudes rustic charm.
Both Tudor and Storybook styles feature an asymmetrical form with steeply pitched roofs, but while Tudor asymmetry is deliberate, balanced and linear, Storybook homes feature a non-linear, hand-crafted appearance, with irregular, cobbled-together elements, as in this house. The steeply pitched, swaybacked roof reaches nearly to the ground on one side and swoops in a catslide across the timber porch entry on the other; the enclosed courtyard with two towers, wooden gates and flagstone paths creates a playful, almost enchanted Storybook feeling. Among the Tudor features of the house are the plaster-finished exterior walls with half- timbering. Dovecote vents under the central gable, irregular stonework embedded into the plaster on the façade and a narrow, arched porte-cochère add to the fairytale ambiance. Perhaps most magical of all are the twisted juniper trees flanking the front of the house and growing directly into it – by design.
Landscape architect Charles Weaver (1905-1982) built this Storybook cottage for his bride, Nellie, at the same time his parents, Sarah and Eugene Weaver, were constructing their own home just three doors away at 1411 North Central Avenue, a magnificent Spanish Colonial Revival residence now listed on the Glendale Register (No. 105). Only 21 years old, Charles Weaver listed himself as the contractor on the original building permit for his home.
The elder Weavers’ home was designed by renowned architect Ben Sherwood, who was particularly known for his Storybook buildings, leading to speculation that he also designed the newlyweds’ cottage. Although we found no documentation of this, it seems highly plausible based on the family relationship, the proximity of the two homes, Charles Weaver’s youth and lack of any known architectural training and the plethora of whimsical elements that were hallmarks of Sherwood’s style.
His most famous known work is a fanciful Storybook bungalow court constructed in 1931, built adjacent to the former Walt Disney Studios at 2906-2912½ Griffith Park Boulevard. Constructed for Lois M. Sherwood, it is rumored to have been the inspiration for Snow White’s cottage in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937).
The wide view of the front façade showcases the
whimsical asymmetry and handcrafted charm
characteristic of the Storybook style, with a
steeply pitched roofline, half-timber accents,
and a lush garden path leading to the entry.
Towering twisted junipers, planted by original
owner Charles Weaver, grow directly into the
structure, creating an unforgettable and organic
fusion of architecture and landscape.
Viewed from the sidewalk, the home’s
expressive Storybook character is highlighted by
its swooping catslide roof, irregular timber
framing, and the whimsical dovecote vents near
the gable. The interplay of natural materials and
fantastical forms reflects Benjamin Sherwood’s
intent to evoke charm, mystery, and narrative in
residential design.
This closer angle reveals the enchanting stone
path curving through flowering beds toward the
arched entry porch, framed by heavy timber and
rustic plaster. The junipers, now over 50 feet
tall, drape protectively over the home,
enhancing the fairy-tale ambiance Sherwood is
known for and illustrating his signature use of
enclosed courtyards and natural integration.
Seen from the sidewalk, the home’s overall
composition displays Sherwood’s commitment
to visual storytelling - irregular lines, lush
gardens, and handcrafted textures. The two
monumental twisted junipers dominate the
scene, growing through the roofline and
reinforcing the cottage’s seamless integration
with nature.
Spencer Street Architectural Details
The view through the arched porte-cochère
emphasizes the enclosed, secret-garden quality
that defines so many of Sherwood’s Storybook
residences. The heavy tree limbs frame the
archway in a way that makes the home feel
cloistered, protected, and almost enchanted -
echoing European medieval village motifs.
The front entry to the courtyard is a classic
Storybook element: solid wood with iron
hardware and a small window, nestled beneath
a timber-framed porch. Marked with the original
address number, the doorway is flanked by
mature landscaping and the trunk of a juniper
that grows directly into the home’s façade - an
intentional design choice by Charles Weaver that
now defines the house’s living, organic
character.
This interior courtyard captures one of Benjamin
Sherwood’s signature design features: a round
turret with conical roof and arched gate entry,
evoking the look of a medieval cottage. The
space is enclosed yet open to light and air,
reinforcing the Storybook tradition of layered,
experiential architecture.
A view from beneath the covered breezeway
reveals rustic exposed rafters and hand-hewn
beams, hallmarks of the home’s handcrafted
character. The irregular plaster walls and
antique hardware contribute to the overall
impression that the home was grown more than
built.
The courtyard’s central door is framed by
irregular stonework and a cylindrical turret, both
softened by vines climbing the stucco façade.
The design evokes a romantic, old-world
sensibility that feels both cinematic and
intimate - an idealized cottage from another
time.
This wide view of the courtyard highlights the
interplay between rough-hewn wood, leaded-
glass windows, and carefully aged stucco,
demonstrating the harmony between structure
and setting that defines Sherwood’s work. The
courtyard functions as a hidden sanctuary,
offering a quiet retreat imbued with historical
texture and charm.
A close-up of the original weathered wooden
door handle to the courtyard open into
Sherwood’s trademark courtyard.
An original rustic lantern with glowing orange
glass adds storybook charm to the dark wooden
beams of the pitched roof.
A close-up of the original green wooden entry
door reveals an oxidized lion-head knocker,
richly patinated with age. This whimsical yet
noble detail reflects Benjamin Sherwood’s
affinity for narrative ornamentation and Old
World symbolism. The hand-wrought texture
and timeworn finish lend authenticity and
historical depth, reinforcing the home’s role as a
meticulously preserved example of 1920s
Storybook design
Framed by a dramatic stone archway, this image
draws the eye down a winding flagstone path
shaded by mature trees and flanked by
Sherwood’s textured stucco walls. The curved
arch and meandering walkway evoke the
immersive, storybook charm that defines
Benjamin Sherwood’s architectural vision. This
perspective highlights the interplay of structure
and nature - a hallmark of the Storybook style.
This image captures a defining architectural
hallmark of Benjamin Sherwood’s Storybook
designs: the rounded turret with hand-textured
plaster and deeply pitched roof, which juts
playfully from the front façade like a tower from
a medieval fable. Vines climb organically along
the stucco surface, softening the masonry and
blending built form with landscape - an
intentional element of Sherwood’s aesthetic that
reinforces the home's historical designation.
Looking down the shaded flagstone path beside
the home, this image highlights the layered,
experiential quality of Sherwood’s Storybook
approach. The varied rooflines, multi-paned
windows, and overhanging foliage invite a sense
of quiet discovery, while the irregular stucco and
timber details evoke the artisan craftsmanship
that distinguishes this 1927 cottage. These
characteristics reflect Sherwood’s enduring
architectural legacy.