Crank House
Encyclopedia
Crank House, also known as Fair Oaks Ranch, is an 1882 Victorian style
residence in Altadena
, Los Angeles County, California
. The house was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1997 for its association with the early settlement of Altadena. (site #97000751). The house has notably featured in films such as Matilda (film) (Trunchbull's House), Scream 2
(Omega Beta Zeta Sorority House) and Catch Me If You Can
(Roger Strong's House).
. Following the death of her husband at the Battle of Shiloh
in April 1862, Eliza and her children came to Southern California
at the urging of her brother, Dr. John S. Griffin. Griffin had large land holdings in the Los Angeles area and was a business partner of Benjamin D. Wilson in Rancho San Pascual
. Wilson was a local land speculator, politician, and also the maternal grandfather of General George S. Patton
. Dr. Griffin sold Eliza Griffin Johnston the property for $1,000.
Eliza Griffin Johnston named her ranch "Fair Oaks", after her native city in Virginia and also for the stands of Coast live oaks—Quercus agrifloia in the area. When Eliza's son, Albert II, was killed in a steamship boiler explosion at Wilmington, California in 1864, she left California and returned to Virginia.
The ranch was taken over by Benjamin Eaton, father of Frederick Eaton. Benjamin Eaton subdivided the ranch. The southern portion was bought by the Ellises.
orchard
s and vineyard
s. Eliza Johnston's simple wood-frame house was moved to another location on the property, and still stands at 2072 Oakwood Street, Altadena. Crank built a much larger, more palatial home in 1882. The house is a -story wood-frame Victorian
mansion
.
In 1883, Crank invested in the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Valley Railroad, becoming its president. The railroad was subsequently bought by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad. Even so, Crank suffered financially, and sold the ranch. It was subdivided in 1910.
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
residence in Altadena
Altadena, California
Altadena is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Los Angeles County, California, United States, approximately from the downtown Los Angeles Civic Center, and directly north of the city of Pasadena, California...
, Los Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 9,818,605, making it the most populous county in the United States. Los Angeles County alone is more populous than 42 individual U.S. states...
. The house was placed 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 1997 for its association with the early settlement of Altadena. (site #97000751). The house has notably featured in films such as Matilda (film) (Trunchbull's House), Scream 2
Scream 2
Scream 2 is a 1997 American slasher film created and written by Kevin Williamson and directed by Wes Craven, starring Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, Jamie Kennedy and Liev Schreiber, released on December 12, 1997 as the second installment in the Scream film series...
(Omega Beta Zeta Sorority House) and Catch Me If You Can
Catch Me If You Can
Catch Me If You Can is a 2002 American biographical comedy-drama film based on the life of Frank Abagnale Jr., who, before his 19th birthday, successfully performed cons worth millions of dollars by posing as a Pan American World Airways pilot, a Georgia doctor, and a Louisiana parish prosecutor...
(Roger Strong's House).
Eliza Griffin Johnston
The Crank House sits on land, the Fair Oaks Ranch, once owned by Eliza Griffin Johnston, the widow of Confederate General Albert Sidney JohnstonAlbert Sidney Johnston
Albert Sidney Johnston served as a general in three different armies: the Texas Army, the United States Army, and the Confederate States Army...
. Following the death of her husband at the Battle of Shiloh
Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was a major battle in the Western Theater of the American Civil War, fought April 6–7, 1862, in southwestern Tennessee. A Union army under Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant had moved via the Tennessee River deep into Tennessee and...
in April 1862, Eliza and her children came to Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
at the urging of her brother, Dr. John S. Griffin. Griffin had large land holdings in the Los Angeles area and was a business partner of Benjamin D. Wilson in Rancho San Pascual
Rancho San Pascual
Rancho San Pascual also known as Rancho el Rincon de San Pascual was a Mexican land grant in present day Los Angeles County, California given to Juan Marine in 1834 by José Figueroa...
. Wilson was a local land speculator, politician, and also the maternal grandfather of General George S. Patton
George S. Patton
George Smith Patton, Jr. was a United States Army officer best known for his leadership while commanding corps and armies as a general during World War II. He was also well known for his eccentricity and controversial outspokenness.Patton was commissioned in the U.S. Army after his graduation from...
. Dr. Griffin sold Eliza Griffin Johnston the property for $1,000.
Eliza Griffin Johnston named her ranch "Fair Oaks", after her native city in Virginia and also for the stands of Coast live oaks—Quercus agrifloia in the area. When Eliza's son, Albert II, was killed in a steamship boiler explosion at Wilmington, California in 1864, she left California and returned to Virginia.
The ranch was taken over by Benjamin Eaton, father of Frederick Eaton. Benjamin Eaton subdivided the ranch. The southern portion was bought by the Ellises.
James F. Crank
The northern portion was bought by James F. Crank in 1876. Crank came from New York and was impressed with the land, and soon planted citrusCitrus
Citrus is a common term and genus of flowering plants in the rue family, Rutaceae. Citrus is believed to have originated in the part of Southeast Asia bordered by Northeastern India, Myanmar and the Yunnan province of China...
orchard
Orchard
An orchard is an intentional planting of trees or shrubs that is maintained for food production. Orchards comprise fruit or nut-producing trees which are grown for commercial production. Orchards are also sometimes a feature of large gardens, where they serve an aesthetic as well as a productive...
s and vineyard
Vineyard
A vineyard is a plantation of grape-bearing vines, grown mainly for winemaking, but also raisins, table grapes and non-alcoholic grape juice...
s. Eliza Johnston's simple wood-frame house was moved to another location on the property, and still stands at 2072 Oakwood Street, Altadena. Crank built a much larger, more palatial home in 1882. The house is a -story wood-frame Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
mansion
Mansion
A mansion is a very large dwelling house. U.S. real estate brokers define a mansion as a dwelling of over . A traditional European mansion was defined as a house which contained a ballroom and tens of bedrooms...
.
In 1883, Crank invested in the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Valley Railroad, becoming its president. The railroad was subsequently bought by the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad. Even so, Crank suffered financially, and sold the ranch. It was subdivided in 1910.