La Casa Nueva
The history of the Temple residence, La Casa Nueva, at the Homestead Museum in the City of Industry carries the story of the Workman family forward through their grandson, Walter P. Temple, and his wife, Laura. Discovery of oil on land they owned in the Montebello hills allowed them to purchase a portion of the Homestead in 1917. Beside renovating the ranch and Workman House, Walter and Laura were inspired by a trip to Mexico to build a new house, La Casa Nueva, on the property. The Los Angeles architectural firm of Walker and Eisen was hired to draw up plans based on their designs. Construction began in 1922, but stopped following Laura’s death just months into the project. Once it was decided to complete the house, Beverly Hills architect Roy Seldon Price was hired to reconfigure the design into the structure as it stands today.
Homestead Museum, City of Industry, Los Angeles County
Photographer: John Bare