The fence is necessary. The house is too famous to let people approach just any old time and, say, leave a flyer on the porch. It's where singer-songwriter Jackson Browne and his singer-songwriter brother, Severin Browne, grew up. Their grandfather, Clyde Browne, built the house. He, too, was well-known in his day as a printer and typographer. Floyd Bariscale wrote the definitive article over at Big Orange Landmarks.
The house is available for photo and film shoots. Jackson Browne even posed in the courtyard for the cover of his album For Everyman (ironic, as this is not an Everyman sort of house).
My favorite thing about this house that I found online: looky.
Update, 1pm: This house is not usually open to the public, but it so happens that there's a tour THIS Sunday, 4/21/13. Thanks to Pasadena Adjacent for the link.
P.S. If you want to win a free copy of Camelot & Vine, Margaret is playing Pass the Book.
I love the story of how he built the house.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to live in this house.
love the architecture! reminds me a lot of some of the older buildings where I live... I can imagine an old western to a music video being shot there...there's a lot of great historic places here.
ReplyDeleteGlad you got there. Your links are fascinating, especially the video at the end (looky). I'll sign up to any fundraiser that gets me inside - I've simply got to explore those dungeons. Perhaps PA of Garvanza will hear if there's an open day?
ReplyDeleteOne of the comments in Floyd's blog mentions the wooden pagoda next door. It was bought to stop someone tearing it down to build too close to the Abbey.
By the way, did you know the Craig adobe is for sale?
Me too, Dina. It looks peaceful. It's not surrounded by peaceful, but what you do is use your millions to buy up nearby properties and grow trees on them.
ReplyDeleteIt would be a great place for a film shoot, KBF.
I knew about the Craig Adobe, Bellis. A couple of people thought I should buy it. Speaking of my millions!
It's having a fund raising tour this Sunday through HPHT. 40 bucks non members and 30 bucks for members
ReplyDeletehttp://www.theeastsiderla.com/2013/04/save-the-date-highland-park-medieval-style-landmark-open-for-tours/
Wow, that video isn't even done playing and I'm completely entranced! (I love the incredible spaghetti western score) Gorgeous capture and love the history.
ReplyDeleteNot an abbey, but it does have a chapel and organ. This would be the perfect location for the Moreno ranch if another "Ramona" movie is made.
ReplyDeleteWhat a pad. Wish it were mine. I'll check out the link now.
ReplyDeletePA, you came through with the info and I'm heading there on Sunday. Many thanks!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link, PA. Did you notice someone linked to a post of yours in the comments?
ReplyDeleteI hope those tours fill up.
Super neat photo, Petrea, and interesting background info too!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous place! Love the stained glass and all the brick and stone work. I'd love to live in this house too, especially for the interior courtyard where you can easily find sun or shade. Very cool video tour - thanks for including that link for those of us who can't make the real tour!
ReplyDeleteGrand image, great bits of texture.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea for the spare millions. If I had them and were able to buy the house I'd follow your ideas. Lots of trees, stones, and succulents.
By the way, there is an Oral History of Severin Browne at Pasadena Heritage and Pasadena Museum of History. It is one of the most elaborate volumes in the series. I was working at PH when it was completed.
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ReplyDeleteFancy building a railway line to help with his construction! Sounds like a determined and resourceful man who wove a lovely rich life for himself. Thanks, Petrea.
ReplyDeleteVery cool, Roberta. Did Browne record it himself? Maybe with some music?
ReplyDeleteShell, the early settlers here (out your way too, I'll bet) were very resourceful.
Oh, wow! I grew up with Jackson Browne's music. My two older sisters are his biggest fans. I knew he was from this area but had no idea the house was in Highland Park. It has such an interesting history; I'm so glad it still exists, but am I the only one who finds the video a bit spooky? I think I'd be afraid to live there.
ReplyDeleteFun learning where the For Everyman cover came from (I used to have the album).
I had a couple of his albums ("the Very Best Of," for one). He was a huge star when I was in college, and he's still at it.
ReplyDeleteOh! Plus "Running on Empty."
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WYq2iXXxOKY
love love love love love
That's the whole album. It's got "Stay" on it. Yessss.
ReplyDeleteFascinating, beautiful home! Love the courtyards. I didn't know Jackson Browne grew up there. Thanks for posting the video -- it was a great tour. I'm trying to imagine what it would be like to live in this house....
ReplyDeleteIt's a fantastic house and the cactus adds so much to the photo. Great shot, Petrea!
ReplyDelete"Running on Empty" is a good one, Petrea. His first album, "Saturate Before Using," from 1972,could be my favorite:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vUmcknBeWWE
I wonder if he wrote these songs while living in Abbey San Encino.
I think we all liked this one. It's a special spot to find in the middle of L.A.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous house and how many story...
ReplyDeleteLove the video and its impactante music. The stained glass window in the house is gorgeous. Love the patio too. As always, love seeing a dog resting in the house.
The Severin Browne Oral History is part of the series that has been recorded over a couple of decades, the bulk being housed at Pasadena Heritage. A copy of Browne' OH is in Centennial Room, Pasadena Central. Perhaps I'll write about the OH next week.
ReplyDeleteQuick aside - Around 1971 my friends and I went to hear Laura Nyro at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. The young man who opened for her had to deal with hecklers in the crowd. They told him to get off stage, so Laura could begin her performance. Yes, that was Jackson Browne, who they were trying to get off the stage. Laura was accompanied by her friends - Labelle.
Hmmmm...Jackson Browne was in my first husband's high school English class in Fullerton...I think I would have rather stayed here in this charming home rather than move to Fullerton!!!
ReplyDeleteFrom Story of a Holdout, his parents moved to Fullerton from Highland Park when young teen Jackson started carrying a switchblade. Gangs are pretty strong there in "The Avenues," and they didn't want him surrounded with that kind of atmosphere.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a possibility (though the neighborhood is up and coming these days). But I wonder, if that's so, why they didn't sell the house? Maybe because it's a special place.
ReplyDeletePlease pardon the urban legend but it's been told by some that Jackson lost this property in the settlement with some famous actress that really couldn't act. Does anyone know what the real facts are...or perhaps they are sealed.
ReplyDeleteHi Mike,
ReplyDeleteAccording to this post and its comments, the house was in the Browne family as late as 2011. I hope it still is.
http://bigorangelandmarks.blogspot.com/2008/01/no-106-abbey-san-encino.html
I used to babysit for Jackson’s son in that house. It was kind of spooky and in the kitchen there was a door which led down to the cells which still had shackles on the walls. I even saw a ghost in the courtyard. I have a pic of his baby grand piano in the room with the huge round stained glass window. I will never forget that place. The bricks in the courtyard has names of the men that helped build it.
ReplyDeleteOne of a kind.
Hi Linda,
ReplyDeleteWow, a great story, great information. There was an article about the Abbey recently (wish I could remember where) that mentioned the dungeon in the basement. No one knew why it was there because apparently it hadn't been used that way, but some movies used it for location shots. It is definitely one of a kind.