Back to Sphinx Ranch Point of interest · Other
Crank Residence - original location of Fair Oaks home of the Johnstons
The first structure built in Altadena was located here.
Pasadena, CAWritten by historians, never AIResearched & written by Marc Striegel
In the app, you play this point of interest from the map whenever you like. This page is the preview.
See the full tourListen
Narration
In the app, you play the full narration from the map whenever you like.
The story
Crank Residence - original location of Fair Oaks home of the Johnstons
The first structure built in Altadena was located here. When J.F. Crank bought the property from Benjamin Eaton, he built this stately home in 1882 on the same location as the old Fair Oaks Ranch house sat which Eaton had built for the Johnstons. The original Johnston home was moved to Crary Street and reconstructed and still humbly stands today.
The Fair Oaks home was honored by Crank in doing so and clearly he thought the spot selected was ideal. Crank was a railroad man from New York and had been so impressed with the property he bought it planted citrus and wine grapes. He would invest in the San Gabriel and Los Angeles railroad and become the president of the line that had rails going downtown from Pasadena. His beautiful mansion , built in 1882, just a couple of years after the Allen home was constructed still sits pleasantly amongst the trees today.
Gallery
From this place
On the route
Where it sits
In the app, you open this point of interest from the map — it doesn't auto-play.
You are here
Stop 18 of 18
Out now
Hear it where it happened.
Get the free app, open the tour map, and play this story whenever you like.
