Harvey and Ellen Knell in front of their home, the Blacker House
The entry hall of the Blacker House
The Blacker House was named after the lumber magnate, Robert Rue Blacker. It’s an original Greene & Greene house that dates to 1907. It was magnificently appointed with custom furniture, lighting, doors and windows, all in the finest Arts & Crafts manner. The Blackers lived there until 1944, when Robert Blacker’s widow Nellie, died. Subsequently, the house was owned by several people — one of whom sold all the furniture and the fireplace surrounds. Later in its history, the property was subdivided, but the main house remained intact with all of its light fixtures, windows and doors.
The next owner was Marjorie Hill and her husband, who lived there for about 35 years.
In 1985, a Texas collector, Barton English, purchased the home from Marjorie Hill for approximately $1,000,000. Without ever living in the house, he started stripping everything he could, including about 60 light fixtures, the magnificent stained glass entry doors and most of the stained glass windows. After selling just a few of the light fixtures, he recouped all of the money from his purchase of the house. The Pasadena locals became enraged and referred to this travesty as a “rape”. They forced the city to pass an emergency ordinance, which stopped English in his tracks. Had he been allowed to continue, the tile fireplaces would also have been removed, as well as the wood paneling, etc.
One more family owned it before Harvey and Ellen Knell bought it in 1994. Since then, the Knells have spent considerable time, effort and money in lovingly restoring it to its former glory, including faithfully reproducing the missing light fixtures and furniture.
The dining room of the Blacker House
The Knells were kind enough on this trip to Pasadena, to invite us to view their magnificent home. What a treat! They did extensive research to uncover the original details and hired today’s finest craftsmen to recreate them. Whatever had been ruined by neglect, earthquake or other disaster, both natural and man-made, was reversed. In some cases, the Knells were able to buy back the original furnishings or architectural elements and restore them to their original places in the house. Unfortunately for the Knells, some of the items, like the octagonal lighting fixtures in the living room, have become prohibitively expensive, making it nearly impossible to restore all of the items to their original locations.
The living room of the Blacker House
So a big thank you to the Knells for their gracious hospitality.
Please send me your suggestions or questions about art glass, lamps, Louis Icart, shows, auctions, etc. If it’s interesting, I’ll answer your question in a future blog entry.
Call or write and let me know what you would like to buy, sell, or trade. philchasen@gmail or 516-922-2090. And please visit my website. chasenantiques.com
My name is Alex Fuchs, I am 17, and I reside in Folsom CA. I would like to let you know that I envy your success as well as your beautiful home, Harvey and Ellen. This is a magnificent piece of art.
All the best wishes,
-Alex Fuchs
Thank you for your work on the Blacker house. I had the pleasure to know both Margery and Max Hill. And have been the home many time, it is a master piece. Thanks again to harvey and Ellen Knells for all the work they did. And enjoy the home as much as I have enjoyed being there.
Mike
As one of the Blacker’s my childhood memories were of the beautiful pond we played around. Of my Grandmother Rene Blacker letting 3 of us cousins run up and down the stairs. Since my cousin Don and I were so young I’m not sure if this is a memory or imagination. There was a fireplace that Aunt Nellie opened a secret area behind it and let us play in the room. Would love to know if it is there or it’s an imagination. Thanks to the Knells for restoring this Historic Home!
Virginia
Virginia, nice to hear from you. Must have been wonderful to run around in such a house as a child. The Knells are doing a great job restoring the home. Hope you get a chance to visit. I’m sure they’d he happy to show you around.
Marjorie (known to me as Margie) Hill was my cousin. My father, Ted Teel, was her uncle. He was her mother’s younger brother. We had 2 family vacations to Pasadena in the 1950’s when I was about 8 and again about 12. I clearly remember staying in Max and Margie’s beautiful house both times. It was the most beautiful house I had ever seen. The interior was beautiful solid wood and every nail head was hidden by a small wooden peg. There was a beautiful front door with stained glass windows that is now in the Dallas Museum of Art. There was a beautiful teak stairway that led up to a landing with a row of doors on one wall. Behind one of the doors was a private apartment belonging to the housekeeper. In the living room, Margie had a player piano. Among the upstairs rooms were 2 large rooms. One of these rooms was full of doll houses and the other was full of dolls. For a little girl this house was magic. My family kept in touch with Max and Margie for awhile after our 2 visits, but we eventually lost touch with them. I didn’t hear about them for many years. I lived in Dallas, Texas and years later was in the Dallas Museum of Art when I discovered the beautiful door that used to be the entrance into Max and Margie’s home.