Crank House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Fair Oaks Ranch House
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 Location in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | 2186 Crary St. Altadena, California |
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| Built | 1882 |
| Architectural style | Victorian architecture |
| NRHP reference No. | 97000751 |
| Added to NRHP | July 23, 1997 |
The Crank House, also known as Fair Oaks Ranch, is a beautiful old house built in 1882. It's located in Altadena, California, and is a great example of Victorian architecture. This house is special because it's connected to the early days of Altadena. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. You might even recognize it from some famous movies! The Crank House has been seen in Hocus Pocus (as Allison's house inside), Matilda (as Trunchbull's house), Scream 2 (as a sorority house), and Catch Me If You Can (as Roger Strong's house).
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Discovering the Crank House History
The Crank House has a long and interesting past. It sits on land that was once part of a large ranch. Let's explore who lived here and what made this house so important.
Who Owned the Land First?
The land where the Crank House stands was once called Fair Oaks Ranch. It belonged to a woman named Eliza Griffin Johnston. Her husband, Albert Sidney Johnston, was a general who passed away in 1862. After his death, Eliza and her children moved to Southern California. Her brother, Dr. John S. Griffin, encouraged them to come. He owned a lot of land in the Los Angeles area.
Dr. Griffin sold the property to Eliza for $1,000. Eliza named her ranch "Fair Oaks." This name was a tribute to her hometown in Virginia. It also honored the many Coast live oak trees growing in the area. Sadly, Eliza's son passed away in 1864. After this, she left California and went back to Virginia.
The Ranch Changes Hands
After Eliza left, the ranch was taken over by Benjamin Eaton. He was the father of Frederick Eaton, who later became a mayor of Los Angeles. Benjamin Eaton divided the large ranch into smaller pieces. The southern part of the ranch was bought by the Ellis family.
James F. Crank Builds a New Home
In 1876, James F. Crank bought the northern part of the ranch. Mr. Crank came from New York. He was very impressed with the land. Soon, he started planting citrus orchards and vineyards.
The simple wooden house that Eliza Johnston had lived in was moved to another spot. It still stands today at 2072 Oakwood Street in Altadena. In 1882, Mr. Crank built a much bigger and grander home. This new house is the one we know today as the Crank House. It's a large, two-and-a-half-story wooden Victorian mansion.
Crank's Railroad Investments
In 1883, James Crank invested in a new project. He became the president of the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Valley Railroad. This train line connected Pasadena to downtown Los Angeles. Later, this railroad was sold and became part of bigger companies. Eventually, it became part of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway in 1906.
Even with his railroad success, Mr. Crank faced financial challenges. He eventually sold the ranch. The land was then divided into smaller plots in 1910. He also donated land for the Raymond Hotel in Pasadena, where his train station was located. When Mr. Crank and his family first arrived in California, they stayed at the Sierra Madre Villa Hotel.
