Whitley Heights 101

6655 Emmet Terrace

For Sale Alert: 6655 Emmet Terrace is on the market for just under 2 million; the house last sold in 1977 for $95,000 and when sold, this would be the third owner. In January 1920, a permit was issued for owner Joseph Argyle Taylor to build a two-story, five room residence by architects Montgomery and Nibecker. In March 1920, they pulled another permit to erect a detached 1-car garage below the house. The permits were issued with the original address of 6633 Emmet Terrace which was corrected as two other permits were issued for a residence two doors down a few months later.

On December 28, 1919, this architectural drawing appeared in the Los Angeles Times as a Spanish style home being built for J.A. Taylor in Whitley Heights by Montgomery and Nibecker, architects and engineers. Below, the residence also appeared in the Los Angeles Times shortly after it was built and is one of the only structures having a “castle-like” entrance tower.

According to the Los Angeles Assessor’s Office, this residence sits on the upslope of a 4,060 square foot lot and consists of 1,830 square feet inside. The main floor consists of a living room, family room, kitchen, breakfest nook and a half bathroom in the back near the washer and dryer. However, the floor plan lists the family room as a bedroom and breakfast nook as a family room. You decide.

Interior stairs lead to the second floor, consisting of two bedrooms and one full bathroom.

There is also a guest bedroom and a separate bathroom that has a separate entrance from the outside.

The rear of the property has a brick patio with a fireplace. There is a patio in the front of the property and a balcony on the second floor.

Joseph Argyle Taylor was born to a farmer in Bourbon, Missouri in 1876 and was the youngest of five children. On December 27, 1905, he married Estella (Stella) May Preston in Kansas City and they then resided in St. Louis; Joseph was four years older than the 25 year old Kansas City native. The Taylors moved to Los Angeles by 1918 where Joseph became secretary of the Brick Manufacturers Association where he worked for almost 30 years, promoting use of bricks for single family homes and testing the material to make sure it would be earthquake proof. The two never had children and Stella became a Christian Science Practitioner which she practiced until her death in 1958.

Stella was one of five daughters born to Lester and Ellen Preston. Stella was the eldest and her sister, Irene, a school teacher, married H.J. Whitley’s son, Ross, in April of 1923 in Hollywood. Irene and Ross had a son, Johnstone Whitley who was born in 1924. This was Ross Whitley’s second marriage as he was previously married to Mary Joyner, whom he accused of cheating on him when they divorced in 1921. They remained married until Ross’ death in 1947. It appears that three of Stella’s sisters eventually moved to Los Angeles.

Joseph and Stella resided at 6655 Emmet Terrace from the time it was built until circa 1942, often renting out the guest room. One notable renter was Scottish Baritone, Glen Ellison. Born in Scotland in 1896, he moved to New York with his wife, Magdelina by 1915 and had son, Bruce in 1916. They moved to Hollywood in 1918 and briefly got entangled with the religious cult, Krotona, even playing at one of their benefits, “The Light of Asia”, living in an apartment on Vista Del Mar Avenue.

Ellison’s singing, however, was growing in popularity as he flew frequently to New York to record for Edison Records and sang in operas through the US. The Ellisons were fond of living on Beachwood Drive, renting out several apartments and homes. By 1930, their marriage was over and Madge took custody of their two sons. Ellison briefly rented the guest house at 6655 Emmet Terrace in 1931 before he moved back to Beachwood Drive with his new wife, Ruth. By this time, he was appearing on radio and sang throughout his life until his death in 1947.

Meanwhile, sometime after 1942, the Taylor decided to downsize in Beverly Hills and continued to rent out 6655 Emmet Terrace. They tried selling the house in 1951 for $26,500 with no avail. Stella died in 1958 at the age of 77 while they were living in Beverly Hills. Joseph died in 1962 and 6655 Emmet Terrace sat vacant for over 16 years.

Above, the sign on the garage, Casa Loma, meaning “house on the hill”. In 1976, the executor of the will settled Taylor’s estate and the house sold in 1977 for $90,000. Almost 50 years later, 6655 Emmet Terrace is for sale again. Below, the top of Casa Loma can be seen with a spectacular view of Los Angeles in 1928.