Nixon Cousin's House in Danger
The home of Nixon's second cousin in
Yorba Linda, Calif.
Credit: Yorba Linda Historical Conservancy
Apr. 9, 2002
Dear Preservation 911,
The City of Yorba Linda, located in Orange County, Calif., is famous as the birthplace of former president Richard Nixon. But it also had another famous resident: Nixon's second cousin, novelist Jessamyn West. One of West's 23 books, The Friendly Persuasion, was made into a 1956 movie starring Gary Cooper.
Now West's childhood home, a bungalow built in 1911, is threatened with demolition and neglect.
Several years ago, the owner, Kent Brush, wanted to build a 2,200-square-foot addition to the one-and-a-half-story house, which the Yorba Linda planning commission and city council approved in 1994. However, due to lack of funding, the project never got off the ground. The house has been neglected ever since.
The house has foundation problems, which Brush was notified of when he purchased the house in 1993. After consulting with a structural engineer, Brush and his architect, Paul Ramsey of Los Angeles, say it would be more cost-effective and safer to completely demolish the old house and build a new home three times as large in its place.
The Yorba Linda Historical Conservancy feels that the home's foundation could be repaired. However, it seems that Brush's quest for square footage far outweighs his desire to preserve the home and the integrity of the historic neighborhood.
We would like to either find another buyer for the house or find grant money or a loan for the owner to build an addition. We'd rather save the house than see it demolished.
Sincerely,
Ed Rakochy
President
Yorba Linda Historical Conservancy
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