|
|
         |
 |
|
 |
Long Beach, California
1903-04
In 1903-04 the Greenes designed a four-bedroom, two-story house
for Mrs. Jennie A. Reeve, an important civic leader in Long
Beach and an activist for progressive women's issues. The commission
would encompass not only the architecture of the dwelling itself
but also furniture (freestanding and built-in), lighting fixtures,
leaded-glass designs, wood carving and landscape features. The
Reeve house was distinguished by a multi-gable design with deep,
overhanging eaves that threw strong shadows across the planes
of the house. The modest landscape plan included a simple post-and-rail
fence along the property line and a low gate at the path from
the sidewalk. Inside, a square entry hall gave access to the
living room on the right, and to a short passage at the foot
of the stairway, which led to the dining room on the left. At
the foot of the stairs a tall, leaded-art-glass panel stood,
showing a landscape scene that indicates the Greenes’
design evolution from the 1902 James Culbertson entry door art-glass.
The heart of the Reeve house interior plan circulates around
the massive chimney that services three fireplaces on the first
level.
|
 |
|
|
