Bembridge House
Encyclopedia
Bembridge House, also known as Green-Rankin-Bembridge House, is a registered historic building located across from Drake Park in Long Beach, California
, United States. The ornate and well-preserved Queen Anne
Victorian house
was built in 1906. Musician and school teacher Dorothy Bembridge lived in the house from 1918 until she was murdered there in 1999. The house was acquired by Long Beach Heritage in 2000.
Victorian house
that was built in 1906. It has 18 rooms, and has been preserved with its original high ceilings, woodwork, and many of the original furishings. It is considered the most ornate Victorian residence in Long Beach with hand-carved woodwork, stained and leaded glass, and a tiled fireplace. In 1981, the Los Angeles Times described the house as follows: "It is the city's only perfectly preserved Queen Anne mansion, an intricate arrangement of turrets, pillars, angles, beveled Tiffany glass
windows, and white-on-blue scrollwork reminiscent of Wedgwood
." Long Beach Heritage calls Bembridge House "the single most important example of this style of architecture remaining in the Long Beach today", and notes that it is considered by many to be "the most significant residential historic landmark structure" in Long Beach.
, a wealthy businessman who came to Long Beach from Seattle and Los Angeles. Green planted exotic shrubs and flowers around the house and also built an aviary
for his collection of foreign birds and a barn where he kept Shetland ponies
.
Green was reportedly an unpopular man who had legal disputes with his neighbors. He reportedly suffered "a stroke of apoplexy" and died at the house after an encounter with a neighbor. His funeral was held at the house.
Thomas Rankin purchased the house in 1918 following Green's death. The house remained in the Rankin family for more than 80 years. After the death of Thomas Rankin, the house was inherited by his children, Dorothy Bembridge and Neil Rankin.
Dorothy Bembridge was a musician and a Long Beach school teacher until her retirement in 1968. Bembridge lived in the house starting in 1918 and noted that the interior was never renovated. She believed the curtains and soft floors created "a perfect acoustical environment" for frequent piano concerts held at the home.
In 1969, the house was threatened with demolition when the City of Long Beach sought to expand the adjacent Drake Park. At the time, historical preservationists lobbied to save the structure. Bembridge sought to have it preserved as a music center. In comments to a local newspaper, she said:
In 1981, the Long Beach Cultural Heritage Committee designated Bembridge House as a Long Beach Historic Landmark. It was among the second group of structures to receive the designation. At the time of the designation, Bembridge told the Los Angeles Times that she was "content at last that the home she's lived in since 1918 will be preserved in all its magnificence."
In 1999, Bembridge was strangled at the house at age 89. Her body was discovered in the backyard. Daniel William Borunda, a 51-year-old man who had done odd jobs for Bembridge and had spent time in prison for burglarizing her home in 1990, was convicted of Bembridge's murder and sentenced to 60-years-to-life in prison. Borunda was released from prison in October 1999, a few weeks before the murder. Police asserted that the motive was burglary and revenge.
After Bembridge's death, Long Beach Heritage purchased the house in 2000 for $325,000. The group has restored the house to its original state and it is open for tours.
In 2002, Long Beach Heritage received a $72,000 grant from the J. Paul Getty Trust
to develop a master plan to preserve the main house, carriage house and aviary, and to restore landscaping and for seismic strengthening and improved access for the disabled.
Bembridge House was also listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in February 2005.
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
, United States. The ornate and well-preserved Queen Anne
Queen Anne Style architecture
The Queen Anne Style in Britain means either the English Baroque architectural style roughly of the reign of Queen Anne , or a revived form that was popular in the last quarter of the 19th century and the early decades of the 20th century...
Victorian house
Victorian house
In the United Kingdom, and former British colonies, a Victorian house generally means any house built during the reign of Queen Victoria...
was built in 1906. Musician and school teacher Dorothy Bembridge lived in the house from 1918 until she was murdered there in 1999. The house was acquired by Long Beach Heritage in 2000.
Description
Bembridge House is a Queen AnneQueen Anne Style architecture
The Queen Anne Style in Britain means either the English Baroque architectural style roughly of the reign of Queen Anne , or a revived form that was popular in the last quarter of the 19th century and the early decades of the 20th century...
Victorian house
Victorian house
In the United Kingdom, and former British colonies, a Victorian house generally means any house built during the reign of Queen Victoria...
that was built in 1906. It has 18 rooms, and has been preserved with its original high ceilings, woodwork, and many of the original furishings. It is considered the most ornate Victorian residence in Long Beach with hand-carved woodwork, stained and leaded glass, and a tiled fireplace. In 1981, the Los Angeles Times described the house as follows: "It is the city's only perfectly preserved Queen Anne mansion, an intricate arrangement of turrets, pillars, angles, beveled Tiffany glass
Tiffany glass
Tiffany glass refers to the many and varied types of glass developed and produced from 1878 to 1933 at the Tiffany Studios, by Louis Comfort Tiffany....
windows, and white-on-blue scrollwork reminiscent of Wedgwood
Wedgwood
Wedgwood, strictly speaking Josiah Wedgwood and Sons, is a pottery firm owned by KPS Capital Partners, a private equity company based in New York City, USA. Wedgwood was founded on May 1, 1759 by Josiah Wedgwood and in 1987 merged with Waterford Crystal to create Waterford Wedgwood, an...
." Long Beach Heritage calls Bembridge House "the single most important example of this style of architecture remaining in the Long Beach today", and notes that it is considered by many to be "the most significant residential historic landmark structure" in Long Beach.
History
The house was built in 1906 by Stephen and Josephine Green. He was one of the founders of City National BankCity National Bank
City National Bank is an American financial institution headquartered in Los Angeles, California, owned by City National Corporation , with total assets of $21.8 billion . As of 2011, it is the 25th largest bank in USA...
, a wealthy businessman who came to Long Beach from Seattle and Los Angeles. Green planted exotic shrubs and flowers around the house and also built an aviary
Aviary
An aviary is a large enclosure for confining birds. Unlike cages, aviaries allow birds a larger living space where they can fly; hence, aviaries are also sometimes known as flight cages...
for his collection of foreign birds and a barn where he kept Shetland ponies
Shetland pony
The Shetland pony is a breed of pony originating in the Shetland Isles. Shetlands range in size from a minimum height of approximately 28 inches to an official maximum height of 42 inches at the withers. Shetland ponies have heavy coats, short legs and are considered quite intelligent...
.
Green was reportedly an unpopular man who had legal disputes with his neighbors. He reportedly suffered "a stroke of apoplexy" and died at the house after an encounter with a neighbor. His funeral was held at the house.
Thomas Rankin purchased the house in 1918 following Green's death. The house remained in the Rankin family for more than 80 years. After the death of Thomas Rankin, the house was inherited by his children, Dorothy Bembridge and Neil Rankin.
Dorothy Bembridge was a musician and a Long Beach school teacher until her retirement in 1968. Bembridge lived in the house starting in 1918 and noted that the interior was never renovated. She believed the curtains and soft floors created "a perfect acoustical environment" for frequent piano concerts held at the home.
In 1969, the house was threatened with demolition when the City of Long Beach sought to expand the adjacent Drake Park. At the time, historical preservationists lobbied to save the structure. Bembridge sought to have it preserved as a music center. In comments to a local newspaper, she said:
"I pray it can be saved. It's a wonderful old house — as solid as the Rock of GibraltarRock of GibraltarThe Rock of Gibraltar is a monolithic limestone promontory located in Gibraltar, off the southwestern tip of Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. It is high...
. There's not a break in the foundation; not a crack in the walls. It's absolutely the only one of its kind in town that has not been altered. It would have special charm as a music center. The tower serves as a natural megaphone, making the acoustics remarkable. Many say they have never heard anything like the sounds that ring out from the SteinwaySteinway & SonsSteinway & Sons, also known as Steinway , is an American and German manufacturer of handmade pianos, founded 1853 in Manhattan in New York City by German immigrant Heinrich Engelhard Steinweg...
in this old house."
In 1981, the Long Beach Cultural Heritage Committee designated Bembridge House as a Long Beach Historic Landmark. It was among the second group of structures to receive the designation. At the time of the designation, Bembridge told the Los Angeles Times that she was "content at last that the home she's lived in since 1918 will be preserved in all its magnificence."
In 1999, Bembridge was strangled at the house at age 89. Her body was discovered in the backyard. Daniel William Borunda, a 51-year-old man who had done odd jobs for Bembridge and had spent time in prison for burglarizing her home in 1990, was convicted of Bembridge's murder and sentenced to 60-years-to-life in prison. Borunda was released from prison in October 1999, a few weeks before the murder. Police asserted that the motive was burglary and revenge.
After Bembridge's death, Long Beach Heritage purchased the house in 2000 for $325,000. The group has restored the house to its original state and it is open for tours.
In 2002, Long Beach Heritage received a $72,000 grant from the J. Paul Getty Trust
J. Paul Getty Trust
The J. Paul Getty Trust is the world's wealthiest art institution with an estimated endowment in April 2009 of $US 4.2 billion. Based in Los Angeles, California, it operates the J. Paul Getty Museum, which has two locations, the Getty Center in Los Angeles and the Getty Villa in Pacific...
to develop a master plan to preserve the main house, carriage house and aviary, and to restore landscaping and for seismic strengthening and improved access for the disabled.
Bembridge House was also listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in February 2005.
See also
- List of City of Long Beach Historic Landmarks
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Los Angeles County, California