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South Pasadena Home Built For President Garfield's Widow For Sale At $3M

SOUTH PASADENA (CBSLA.com) — A restored and modernized Craftsman home built in 1904 for the widow of a U.S. president is up for sale in South Pasadena.

The 1,526-square-foot Chalet Style Garfield House, listed at just under $3 million, was built by Greene & Greene for Lucretia Garfield, widow of assassinated President James A. Garfield.

The 5-bedroom, 5-bathroom home, a South Pasadena Cultural Heritage Landmark, was renovated and restored by its current owner, who added a basement recording studio and media center, according to the listing agent, Kevin Bourland of Aaroe Estates.

Lucretia Garfield was an avid fan of architecture. Letters between her and Charles Greene, preserved in the Greene & Greene archives, reveal that the former first lady was intimately involved in the design of the home.

In one exchange, she asked, "Couldn't the projection of the second story be continued just a little into a flat roof underneath the cornice?"

Greene tactfully replied: "The reason why the eaves project from the gables is because they cast such beautiful shadows in the bright atmosphere. Of course, if you particularly with to have them cut back, I will have them do."

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