Frank P. & Ellen Cady Home – 2026

Frank P. Cady was born and raised in Northern California. He became active in Rotary and visited and spoke at clubs across the state, including in Redlands. He soon fell in love with the town and its people and chose to make it his permanent home. In 1933, along with his second wife Ellen, he built his final home on Sunset Drive.

Per the Redlands Daily Facts, “the house will be of colonial type, partly two story, frame construction, and one of the sightly residences of the heights above Redlands”. The contract price was $9,500.

The Colonial Revival is a prominent American architectural style that emerged in the late 19^th century, drawing inspiration from the Georgian and Federal architecture of the colonial era.  It is characterized by symmetrical facades, prominent central entrances, and classical details, blending historical elements with modern building techniques. Windows are large, double-hung, multi-paned, and often decorated with shutters. The entrances are adorned with pediments and have small porticos and columns.  The most common materials were clapboard and brick.

Cady chose local architect/builder Garrett Huizing for his house.  Most of the houses Huizing built at the time were in revival styles such as Spanish Colonial and Mission, or in Mediterranean, Craftsman, or Bungalow styles. One can’t help but think that Huizing was glad to have the challenge of building a Colonial Revival in his new development that overlooked the Redlands Country Club and was across the street from his own house on Sunset Drive. 

Over the years, the house has been enlarged.  A two-story guest house was added, as well as a pool and spa, a carport, decks and landscaping.  The prior owners worked with a Fen Shui master and constructed a tea house and water feature in a quiet corner of the yard.

When the house was built, Sunset Drive was a windy, dirt road.  Sunset Drive was originally conceived by the Smiley brothers. In those days, people travelled by horse and buggy and sharp turns were not bothersome.  When the automobile was introduced, the drive was narrow, turns rather dangerous, and grades steep.

In 1928, plans for the improvement of Sunset Drive began, and in 1930 a contour map was prepared, but then progress seems to have stalled.  In 1933, Garrett Huizing circulated a petition to have the drive improved.  Per the petition – “Sunset Drive is known through the United States.  To it each year come thousands of visitors, who from its heights are able to see the beauties of San Bernardino Valley and the majesty of the mountains which protect our valley.” It wasn’t until 1935 that grading and paving of Sunset Drive was completed. The road was widened, and the dangerous turns eliminated.  The road was kept as close as possible to the north rim to provide the best view for those on a scenic drive.

The original owner of the house, Frank Cady, owned Susanville Water Company in Lassen County, California.  In 1888, he was elected Sheriff of Lassen County, where he served two terms.  Subsequently, he was county assessor, a county fire warden, and a state game warden.  He was a candidate for the state senate in 1932, and president of the Susanville Rotary Club.  Frank remained involved in the Rotary organization after he moved to Redlands. In 1913, when Frank was a game warden, he and another warden were involved in an altercation with Native Americans who were reportedly fishing illegally.  One native American was killed, and Frank Cady and the other warden were shot.  The governor awarded them $1,000 each as they were injured in performance of their duties.

Frank had one son, Leon, with his first wife, Orilla.  Leon was an attorney and an owner of the Susanville Water Company.  Leon’s wife Clara Pardee was a niece to California governor George Pardee.  Leon and Clara had three children.  One of the children, also named Frank Cady, became a movie and TV actor well known for his character Sam Drucker on Green Acres and Petticoat Junction.

Vinton Lynwood Gregory and his wife Edythe purchased the home from the Cady estate in 1944.  Prior to living in this house on Sunset Drive, the Gregory’s were the first owners of two other 2016 Heritage Award homes – on South Buena Vista and on Grandview.   Vinton Gregory was a Redlands citrus pioneer and manager of the Redlands Orangedale Association.  In the 1943-44 season, the association shipped over 300,000 boxes of oranges.  In his free time, Vinton Gregory was an avid horseman.  He had a horse barn and corral on the adjoining lot.   The street behind his house on Sunset Drive is named Vinton Way, in his honor.

In 1950, George and Elizabeth Cady took possession of the home.  No relationship to the original owners has been found.  George was a professor of economics at the University of Redlands, who wrote two books on economics and was elected president of the Western Economic Association.  A Northwestern graduate, during World War II he served as chief economics analyst for the Bureau of the Budget in Washington DC.  Elizabeth Cady volunteered with several organizations and was employed at the Harris Company bookstore downtown.  The George Cady’s were frequent hosts.  Two of their long-term guests were Brigadier Generals stationed at nearby Norton Air Force Base. 

William and Charline Hubbs purchased the house in 1967.  He was an avid golfer and owner of Hubbs Equipment company.  After the Hubbs, were Lindsy (Skip) and Karin Hubby. They purchased the home in 1977. Skip and Karin, along with their three children, spent two years in Libera as missionaries.  While in Africa, the Hubby’s taught 100 Liberians to read.  Skip was a football star in San Bernardino who went on to play for USC.  After college, he became a general contractor.  Karin operated a business in Redlands called “Karin’s Interiors”. The following owners, in 1980, were Drs. Anh T. Nong and Nhon Nguyen.  They raised their children in the house and provided many enhancements, including the two-story guest house, the pool, and the tea house.

In 2014, Dr. Allan Wolpe and Dr. Ashley Tang purchased the home. They have made several improvements and lovingly maintain the home’s historical character and charm.

The Redlands Area Historical Society would like to thank them for their stewardship of this Redlands Treasure.

Research by Lori Bloom

Presented on June 9, 2026.