PLEASE SEE OUR COMPANION HISTORIES
AN INTRODUCTION TO HANCOCK PARK IS HERE
630 South Rossmore Avenue
- Built in 1923 on a parcel comprised of the northerly 90 feet of Lot 19 and the southerly 10 feet of Lot 18 of Tract 3446
- Architect: John L. De Lario
- Permits for a 12-room house and a garage incorporating servants' quarters at 630 South Rossmore were issued by the Department of Buildings on August 3, 1923; indicated as owner of property on the document is the architect, who in fact appears to have been commissioned by Sidney Hawks Woodruff to build 630 for his widowed mother, Clara Hawks Woodruff, and sister, Mildred Layton Woodruff. Sidney Woodruff was at the time beginning to develop Hollywoodland, marking it that fall with its famous lighted HOLLYWOODLAND sign. Woodruff's Western Construction Company is noted on the building permits as the contractor for the buildings at 630 South Rossmore
- By the summer of 1924, Sidney Woodruff had commissioned the team of John L. De Lario and Harbin F. Hunter to design 636 South Rossmore Avenue next door—soon renumbered 638—for himself and his wife Olive on a parcel comprised of the southerly 10 feet of Lot 19 and the northerly 60 feet of Lot 20 of Tract 3446. The Western Construction Company was the contractor. Woodruff's name again did not appear on building permits for this house; Elmer Clark, bookkeeper for the Hollywoodland development, is instead noted as its nominal owner. De Lario also designed 620 South Rossmore in 1923
- Clara Hawks Woodruff died at 630 South Rossmore on June 27, 1927
- Mildred Woodruff remained at 630 South Rossmore—and Sidney Woodruff at 638—until moving to the Park La Brea apartments by mid 1958. Mildred Woodruff died in December 1960 at the age of 82; Sidney Woodruff died three months later at 85. Olive Woodruff died in 1964
Illustrations: LAPL