Glenna Pennewell House – 2025

This two-story home has some Mission Revival features. The roof is a low hip with red tile. The eaves project slightly, and the siding is stucco. A common window is double hung with small vertically rectangular glass panes at the top. On the first story the building projects out with a large, fixed window in the southeast corner. It has a rounded top with small vertically rectangular glass panes around the sides and top. Above this window is a round vent and a low gable roof of tile.

The building was constructed on three lots, 60 feet of lots 1 and 2 and 15 feet of lot 3. Frank H. and Sarah Benedict owned the property from 1928-1930. The Redlands city directories list him as a building contractor. I believe he was the one that built the home. In 1931 Glenna Pennewell, widow of Charles F. Pennewell, purchased the property and lived there with her daughter Martha. She was a bookkeeper for Crafton Mutual Orchards and in 1947 became office manager. Her daughter was a stenographer for Bank of America and lived there until her marriage in October of 1940 to Dr. Samual Burke, a lieutenant in the Army
Dental Corps. Glenna was born in Kansas in August of 1878. After marrying Charles, they moved to Oakland, California where he had a chemical business producing chemical compost used on the citrus trees. Charles passed away October 1928 after just 5 years in Redlands. They had twins Samual, who died at age 6 and Martha. Glenna moved in 1945 to Olive Avenue. She died November 7, 1961.

The home faces East and has a large balcony on the second story. It has a balustrade of wrought iron that runs across the east and north sides. In the southeast corner are a pair of windows, to the north an east facing door with glass panes is the front door. To the north there is another set of windows. The first story has an enclosed cement porch, with three cement steps leading to the front door. One wrought iron porch railing is to the left of the steps. The east facing door is composed of 12 glass panes. To the right of this door is a large, fixed window with 6 glass panes at the top and on either side smaller windows with two glass panes that open out. To the north of the porch is a porte-cochere.

In 1945, Russell and Frances Mort purchased the home. He was an insurance agent owning Mort Agency Auto compensation, fire, general casualty and surety Insurance at 107 East Citrus. They lived there until about 1954. The next owners lived in the home for the longest, about 42 years; Edward D. and Shirley Vieths Jr. Edward Dittmer Vieths, Jr. was born February 2, 1928, in Long Beach, California. He graduated from Stanford University, receiving a BA in Sociology and MA degree in Sociology. He later, at age 69, earned his master’s degree in social work from California State University in 1997. Edward was employed by San Bernardo and Riverside Counties as a social worker and case manager for over 40 years. The Vieths had three daughters, Stefanie, SueAnn and Christin and one son Edward, III. In 1965 the Vieths added a large addition to the back or west side. They had it recessed in, so it was not seen from the street. Mr. Vieths died at Loma Linda on July 19, 2014, and Shirley died on March 20, 2025, in Glendale Arizona.

On the north side, the second story has one window, like the front, a chimney and another window. The first story has a slender window with 3 panes, and on the west side a chimney and another similar window. The chimney is decorated with small red brick around the sides and curved at the top. A sun decoration adorns the top. To the west the building recesses in and contains a north facing stoop and door. Four cement steps, facing west, lead to the door which is like the front door. To the right of the door is a side-by-side window with 6 glass panes. The 1965 addition starts here. A detached two car garage faces east. The new door replaced a sliding set of doors. The back, or west side, is the new addition. There is a pool and spa in the backyard.

William and Wendy Brown-Jensen purchased the home in 2000 from the Vieths. They met at the University at Walla Walla, Washington. He was from Walla Walla and Wendy was from Sparta, Wisconsin. She wanted a more personable school and one that had a good music program. Wendy plays the piano. Both were hired by the San Bernardino school system. She as a teacher at Bonnie Oehl in Highland and William as a therapist in Marriage and Family counseling; mainly helping high school boys. They first lived in Beaumont then 10 years in Banning. They wanted to be closer to work and did not care for the wind and rapid growth of the area. Both wanted charm and culture, and this house fulfilled both plus it has the extra benefit of a park almost next door.

The house, from the beginning, needed a lot of work; a leaking roof, replacing lead pipes with copper, termites, earthquake retrofit, replaced damaged wooden floors with Italian tile, new gas furnace and added air conditioning, painted inside and out, and many other repairs were made by the current owners. The most current is removing the knob and tube in the original house, and next will come the remodeling of kitchen.

The Redlands Area Historical Society wishes to thank William and Wendy Brown-Jensen for their care and love of this beautiful home.

    Research by Karen Flippin presented on June 11, 2025.