Upton Sinclair House
This neo-Mediterranean style house, designed by Los Angeles architect Frederick Wallis, was built in Monrovia in 1923. The 2,380-square-foot house was novelist Upton Sinclair’s home from 1942 to 1966. It was constructed with poured concrete and features “ball and ribbon” concrete moldings and Batchelder tile. The double garage which Sinclair converted into a study stands to the rear of the house, next to the shelf-lined concrete block vault that he built for his papers. The house sustained damage during the 1991 Sierra Madre earthquake (5.6M) and was nearly torn down by its owner; however, California’s state historic preservation office denied the demolition. It is a National Historic Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Monrovia, Los Angeles County
Photographer: Al Russell