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When a historic Altadena mansion built in the last decade of the 19th century for cartographic tycoon Andrew McNally was sold for the first time in 66 years, it called for celebration.
Frank Mayor and his wife, Huan Gu, collected the keys to their $ 3 million house over a cocktail party with vendor Pierre Dupuy in the estate’s Turkish room. With its tapered ceiling, this room was part of what attracted honeymooners to this 7,437 square foot late Victorian-era Queen Anne style.
“We weren’t really thinking about moving to Altadena, but then I came over and looked at the house, and I was like, ‘Wow! It is truly a unique place of its kind, ”said the mayor by telephone the day after the cocktail party. “We are planning on doing some renovations and landscaping the yard to bring back some of that character. It will be an ongoing project, but it is in remarkably good condition.
There are nine bedrooms, six bathrooms, and character galore behind the spacious porch and tower topped by a circular bell-shaped roof. Much of the home’s original features remain intact, including the hand-carved woodwork, Douglas fir paneling, and stained glass windows.
The 24 gas lamps and ornate bronze steam radiators are still working.
Dupuy made updates to the kitchen and bathrooms. Her family had taken care of the house since 1955, when her parents Frank and Johanna first took possession of it.
The previous owners let the place collapse. Although structurally sound, she was doomed for demolition. But Dupuy’s parents saved him.
“The house was a labor of love,” the couple’s eldest son said over the phone. “Dad was very methodical so things went slowly. It was still a work in progress.
They later got the house listed on the National Register of Historic Places because of his connection to McNally.
The Andrew McNally House originally served as an escape from the harsh Chicago winters. McNally commissioned famous Castle Green architect Frederick Roehrig to design the house on 15 acres of citrus groves and manicured gardens. Construction began in 1887. Later, he installed an aviary full of exotic birds and a two-story servant quarters in addition to the main house.
Dupuy ran his video production company out of the maids quarter until last week.
“It took us almost four years to find the right buyer,” he said. “Just when I thought it would never happen, Frank Mayor arrives. He’s a really nice guy who understands what house is. I couldn’t be happier. I feel like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders.
The sale price was almost 21% lower than the $ 3.79 million sought in March 2018 during the first hit the market. After updates in 2020, Dupuy relisted the property for $ 3.495 million.
It was sold on August 27.
The new owners – he’s president and CEO of Cinevision Global Inc., she’s the agent for Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties who represented their end of the sale – plan to host film, music and art events in their new home.
And yes, they “have every intention of living here,” the mayor said. “I want to make sure the house is well preserved. And then at some point we might turn it into some kind of museum or non-profit organization. “
Teresa Fuller of Compass had the list.
McNally was half of Rand McNally and Co. Born in Northern Ireland, he immigrated to the United States in the mid-1850s and worked in Chicago with printmaker William Rand. They formed their business a decade later.
He arrived in California in the 1880s.
In addition to the Altadena estate, McNally owned 2,300 acres at La Mirada. There he built Windemere Ranch and later turned it over to his daughter and son-in-law, the parents of famous 20th century architect Wallace Neff.
McNally died of pneumonia in 1904 at age 66.
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