Oliver Perry Dennis Explained

Oliver Perry Dennis (August 25, 1858 – July 14, 1927) was an American architect. As co-founder of the architectural firm Dennis and Farwell, he designed many buildings in Los Angeles County, California, including the Hollywood Hotel, Janes House, and the Magic Castle. He also designed or co-designed several buildings in Tacoma, Washington.

Early life

Oliver Perry Dennis was born on August 25, 1858, in Delaware County, New York, to Oliver H. Dennis, a farmer, and Julia Ann Brumley. Julia died of paralysis sometime between 1880 and 1892, after which Oliver H. remarried and lived until at least 1899. Oliver P. had four brothers, two sisters, and at least two step-brothers.^[1]

From 1858 to at least 1865, Oliver P. lived with his family including his maternal grandmother. The family moved to Sanilac County in northeastern Michigan sometime between 1865 and 1870, and by 1875 moved again, this time to a Chautauqua, New York farm valued at $400 .^[1]

Career

By 1880, Oliver P. was working as a carpenter.^[1] He worked as an architect in Tacoma, Washington from 1888 to 1901, with the majority of his work done in partnership with John G. Proctor.^[2] In 1896, he partnered with Lyman Farwell to create Dennis and Farwell in Los Angeles, California. In 1914, he once again worked on his own, and the following year he became partner at Dennis and Rasche. He went solo again in 1919.^[1]

Oliver P.'s most notable works were done during his time at Dennis and Farwell. These projects include:

• Kimberly Crest, Redlands, 1897, National Register of Historic Places #96000328,^[3] California Historical Landmark #1019^[4]

• Hollywood Hotel, Los Angeles, 1902
• Janes House, Los Angeles, 1903, Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument #227,^[5] contributing property in the Hollywood Boulevard Commercial and Entertainment District^[6]
• Santa Ana Public Library #1, Santa Ana, 1903^[1]
• Hollywood Art Center School, Los Angeles, 1904,^[7] Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument #1202^[5]
• Cline Residence, Los Angeles, 1906, Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument #854^[7]
• Rollin B. Lane House, Los Angeles, 1909, a near mirror duplicate of Kimberly Crest that later became the Magic Castle, Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument #406^{[5] [8]}

• James R. Toberman House, Los Angeles, 1909, Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument #769^[7]
• Iowa Building, Los Angeles, 1910^[1]
• Los Angeles Police Department Boyle Heights Station, Los Angeles, 1911-1912^[1]
• Occidental College Hall of Letters, Los Angeles^[9]

Select Oliver Perry Dennis works in Washington include:^[1]

• Hotel Bostwick, Tacoma, 1888–1889
• Barlow-Catlin Building, Tacoma, 1889–1890
• Western Washington Industrial Exposition Building, Tacoma, 1889–1891

• Pierce County Courthouse, Tacoma, 1890–1893
• Charles Marble House, Tacoma, 1892
• Nelson Bennett House, Tacoma
• Massasoit Hotel, Tacoma
• Western Washington Hospital for the Insane

Additional select Oliver Perry Dennis works in California include:^[1]

• Westlake Masonic Temple, Los Angeles, 1914
• Ralph Huntsberger House, Los Angeles, 1914–1915
• Vendome Street Apartment Building, Los Angeles, 1916
• Rialto Theater, Los Angeles, 1916–1917
• Florence Theater, Pasadena, 1917^[10]
• Columbia Trust Building, Los Angeles
• Archie Freeman House, Los Angeles
• Loveland House, Los Angeles
• Young Men's Christian Association South Broadway Building, Los Angeles
• William T. Gould House, Beverly Hills
• Naples Hotel, Long Beach

Personal life and death

Oliver P. married Rosella Miller on December 22, 1887, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They had two children together and divorced some time before 1910. Both children lived with their mother after the divorce.^[1]

Oliver P. died on July 14, 1927, and was buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.^[1]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Oliver Perry Dennis (Architect) . . October 14, 2024 . Alan Michelson . en-US.
2. Web site: A Walking Tour of the North Slope Historic District. Historic Tacoma, the North End Neighborhood Council, and the North Slope Historic District. 2008.
3. Web site: California SP Kimberly Crest. United States Department of the Interior - National Park Service. February 26, 1996.
4. Web site: California Historical Landmark: San Bernardino County . California State Parks . Office of Historic Preservation . October 12, 2012.
5. Web site: Historical Cultural Monuments List . . October 14, 2024 . en-US.
6. Web site: National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Form - Hollywood Boulevard Commercial and Entertainment District . . April 4, 1985 . en-US.
7. Web site: Historic-Cultural Monument Application for the Hollywood Art Center School. . April 18, 2019 . en-US.
8. News: Vincent . Roger . L.A.'s Magic Castle is getting a new, preservation-minded owner . Los Angeles Times. 1 January 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231108151115/https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2022-04-11/magic-castle-sold-to-video-game-mogul-randy-pitchford . November 8, 2023 . April 11, 2022.
9. Web site: Committee Report . . February 14, 2006 . en-US.
10. Web site: Staff Report . City of Pasadena . December 8, 2020 . en-US.