This will be a two parter, first some history and the exterior. I keep telling y’all to go and explore where you live. Where ever that is, you will find interesting things. Sure, you say, I live in Los Angeles, so it’s easy for me. And yet, I also happen to live in the San Fernando Valley which unfortunately gets a very bad rap for being a suburban wasteland. It isn’t.
On Sunday I went to visit Oakridge Estate in Northridge, or maybe it’s Chatsworth. I must have learned about this from one of the blogs or instagram accounts I follow that celebrate the valley. I’ve been meaning to go for a while, but procrastinated.
Lovely large home, beautiful stonework, and I must say, kudos to the Friends of Oakridge, they put on a brand new roof! A very expensive endeavor, it is composite, but looks like wood shingles, authentic to the look of the house.
What finally got me here was a lecture and short documentary about the famous Los Angeles architect Paul Revere Williams. I wrote about him years ago, please, finish reading my post, then go down the rabbit hole of information about this amazing man. He was involved in designing this home, since his name isn’t on the plans, they have to be careful what they say, but he had a hand in this.
Now, for a little history. In 1936 Zeppo Marx (the youngest of the Marx brothers) and Barbara Stynwick bought 130 acre ranch in what would later become known as Northridge. Their plan was to breed Thoroughbred racing horses. Which they did. There even was a training track for the horses. Marx and his wife built a house, and this is the house that Barbara Stynwick built for herself. The Ranch was named Marwyck, a combination of both names.
I guess the style is called Tudor Revival, those elements are better seen from the back. Barbara remarried and moved back to the city. By 1941 Jack Oakie buys the house. I am not an old Hollywood buff, so all I know is that he was an actor, a famous one. What impresses me is that Adrian Gaynor lived in the Marx house for a while. Most people are familiar with his wife Gloria Gaynor, the actress. Me I know Adrian and what an incredible costume and fashion designer he was. Let me just say, during WWII when there wasn’t a lot of fabric to be used – he became so creative with creating interest in a garment by cutting, pleating or simply manipulating the fabric for design affects.
Kudos to the friends of Oakwood, not only have they replaced the roof, they have planted landscape material around the house.
Most of the ranch along with the Marx home were sold in 1978 and quickly were zoned for both residential and commercial. Today there is a Chevrolet dealer where the Marx house stood. Me and my arrested decay. The dealership built this new wall, and yet the old one is slowly rotting away and yet is still here.
There is a huge swimming pool out back. It looks to me like it might be 8′ deep, it is that big. Now the house and about 1.5 acres are fenced off, the other 8 acres are a newly opened public park and playground.
The pool with the Santa Susana mountains in the background.
How beautiful is this? The plan is to renovate the house enough that it can be used for events. Right now the Friends make money by giving tours and special events like the one I went to. Next post I’ll share some interior shots, it has a long way to go before they can rent it out. Btw, former councilmember Greig Smith is the one who found the funds to buy the 9.5 acres. I love that the house will be preserved and there is now a lovely park for general use. My husband often rides his bike here and often wondered what is that house behind that wall? Well now he knows.
Looking down towards the homes that were built in the 1980s. It is such a pleasure to see this kind of open space in the valley. In the 1930s this was very far from the city and was all ranch land, either agriculture or horses. How quickly things change.
Looking north across Devonshire Blvd.
And next, I’ll share the interior.
Leah