2002 HERITAGE AWARD RECIPIENT
Redlands Area Historical Society
Frank and Anna Weber Home
121 Franklin Avenue
1911
Frank Weber, the first baker in Redlands, is listed in 1896 as the proprietor of the Redlands Bakery on State Street where he and his wife, Anna, lived upstairs. In 1908 they purchased an orange grove property on Franklin Avenue, which was outside of Redlands’ city limits at the time. Then in 1911, they are listed in the A.K. Smiley Public Library Archives, as residing on “Franklin Avenue one house east of Garden”. The house was passed on to the Weber’s daughter, Clara, in the 1930’s. This lovely example of English Arts and Crafts influenced Craftsman style still stands really atop a rise in Franklin Avenue.
Originally this home sat surrounded by only orange groves, but today it is enveloped my mature vegetation. From the beginning of the long drive, where the current owners, Joe and Candy Carl, sell their own fresh picked oranges, the house is not even visible. The original stone foundation, clearly visible in a historic photo, is completely enveloped by the surrounding gardens.
This house is a great example of all the finest Craftsman elements. The side-gabled roof has rexposed rafter tails with nice decorative braces. An interest in oriental wooden architecture during the early 1900’s is evident in the upturn of all the gable ends and the decorative cutouts on the exposed rafter tails giving it a pagod-like effect. This was borrowed from the Prairie School of architecture begun by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1893. Another Prairie influenced element is the diamond shaped lights in many of the windows including the top of the front casement windows. The front door style, with eight lights and added wood trim, are found in both Craftsman and Prairie residences.
The full width porch is contained under the main roof, which is supported by square columns. This tow-story home has a small upper porch adjoining the double gabled dormers which were added onto,m ehile the porch remained untouched, in 1945 when James Leonard, the husband of the Weber’s daughter, Clara, obtained a building permit for “repairs” in the amount of $3,000. Just over 2,000 square feet of living space makes up the living area of this home. The stone exterior chimney is typically Craftsman and the clapboard siding lends added authenticity to the style.
One of the most delightful features of this house is that it has remained in the hands of the original family. Owners, Joe and Candy Carl obtained the home in 1996. Mrs. Carl is the great-granddaughter of Frank and Anna Weber.
