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.