Before the Eaton fire in January 2025, the Zane Gray estate was a beloved historical and cultural benchmark – the old house of the Western novelist Zane Gray.
Susan Pickering Photography / Teresa Fuller, Compass Real Estate
hide
tilting legend
Susan Pickering Photography / Teresa Fuller, Compass Real Estate
The old house of one of the most famous Western novelists in the world, Zane Graywas a Mediterranean Renaissance house designed with high wooden ceilings and airy balconies.
“There was almost a cathedral atmosphere when you entered,” said Nathaniel swarming during a recent visit to the site. He bought the property with his wife in 2020.
It has been almost two months since Eaton fire destroyed thousands of houses in Altadena, including several historical and cultural landmarks like this, which was listed on the National register of historic places in 2002.
During a visit in February, the broken glass of the windows of the domain was still under the foot, with blackened wood, twisted gutters and broken ceramic pieces. All that the left light stands is the robust concrete walls.
Gray was known in the 1920s and the 1930s for his adventure novels on the American border, as The Horsemakers of Sauge Violette And Lone Star Ranger. Inside, his house reflected his interest in the ancient West and the South West – and these charred concrete walls which still remain weak traces of his interests.
“You can see the white stencils crossed on the fire, even if the painting itself has disappeared,” said the grouped woman, Alice Carr, pointing a wall painted with spiritual figures of Hopi.
Zane Gray weighing options
The area of ​​Zane Gray in the Los Angeles Altadena district was almost completely destroyed in the Eaton fire in January 2025. But unlike other neighboring houses which were largely wooden, its walls were in concrete – they therefore remained intact.
Chloé Veltman / NPR
hide
tilting legend
Chloé Veltman / NPR
Groupe and Carr are now confronted with a big question: how to rebuild the site in a way that preserves Gray’s heritage while protecting it from the inevitable fires and other disasters resulting from the impacts of climate change caused by humans?
Returning the property to what was at Zane Gray day is not on the agenda.
“This structure was incredibly unique, using high -quality old -fashioned wood and old -fashioned products that simply do not exist today,” said Carr.
Groupe said that they had no interest in using modern materials to build a gray succession look at Zane – “a kind of version of Las Vegas of a historic house”.
Instead, they prefer to reframe the author’s heritage to have a meaning at a time when climate change caused by man creates growing threats – perhaps by building new resilient structures from lasting materials that nod with the personality and passion of Gray for the West.
“He mixed a kind of Teddy Roosevelt type pragmatism with great romance,” said Groupe. “This is the kind of thing you want to preserve.”
A familiar tension
Conservation experts know this tension.
“This can sometimes be a delicate balance,” said Seri Worden, principal director of preservation programs with the National Trust for Historical Preservation.
Worden said that adding a metal roof or elimination of flammable plantations may increase the chances of a historic landmark to survive a forest fire. But these interventions, if they are not carefully done, can ruin what makes these places special.
“How can we make sure that we can adapt historical materials without losing the power of these places?” Said Worden.
The Gamble House in Pasadena, a national historic monument, was in an area of ​​evacuation of fires in the fires of Los Angeles. His guards are now making complex decisions about how to protect his future against the impacts of climate change caused by man while maintaining the historical details and atmosphere for which he is admired.
Chloé Veltman / NPR
hide
tilting legend
Chloé Veltman / NPR
This is a question that historic sites that have escaped the flames of recent fires are also posed – as The game house. The property of 1908, belonging to the city of Pasadena and a National Historic Monument Since 1977, has been an example of the design of American arts and crafts – a spread of sequoia shingles and copper pipes.
It was under an evacuation warning during recent fires; The team has temporarily deleted some key artifacts as a precaution.
The Gamble House is recognized worldwide as a jewel of the design of American arts and crafts. His guards say that if he should burn, he would be irreplaceable.
Alexander Vertikoff / Vertikoff archives
hide
tilting legend
Alexander Vertikoff / Vertikoff archives
“We are a huge wooden structure. The fire makes us all very nervous,” said Sheryl Scott, Director of communications and site operations.
Make complex decisions
Scott said Gamble House staff had previously focused on the earthquake and the attenuation of floods. Now, with the possibility of more danger of fire in the future, his team has made complex decisions.
One was to remove beautiful but potentially dangerous creeping figures that cling to the facade. They decided no. Instead, the plan is to keep the shrubs and trees nearby.
Another understood how to best protect the historical but extremely flammable shingles of buildings, also known as Shakes. This is a current investigation subject.
“We cannot replace our Shakes with counterfeits,” said Scott. “The integrity of the structure, the historical content, is important for us.”
The game house in Pasadena
Alexander Verikoff / Vertikoff archives
hide
tilting legend
Alexander Verikoff / Vertikoff archives
All this work takes resources. There are foundation and money pockets for donors. Conservation groups such as the Historic Monuments of Los Angeles Conservancy connect experts such as architects and entrepreneurs arranged to provide assistance with pro bono or reduced rate.
But Scott said it was difficult for California’s monuments to get grants to protect or rehabilitate historic sites against disasters. The State Historical Preservation Office declared that it did not offer them. Federal funding sources such as the National Park Service are also faced with discounts under the Trump administration.
“Everyone is nervous about the amount of money available,” said Scott.
With limited resources, Scott said that his team determines what to prioritize in order to maintain the game house for future generations.
“Current care and long -term survival of the house are always our main priority,” said Scott. “Each decision we make is examined through the objective of the responsibility of the responsible commissioners.”
Audio and Digital Story published by Jennifer Vanasco. Audio mixed by Chloee Weiner.
Entertainment
