Sandstone a me Just ordinary sandstone—the most worthless member of the rock family. But these desert folks gathered a few truck loads from the nearby hills and built a comfortable and unique home. Here is their story. Sketch by TOMMY TOMSON
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ROWN desert sandstone, tons and tons of large flat slabs, were brought from the nearby ancient beachline of vanished Lake Cahuilla to build the unique desert home of Mr. and Mrs. T. M. Montgomery at Niland, California. Comfortable, spacious, and solid, the home demonstrates what can be done with native materials, plus much labor and planning. Set in a backdrop of desert vegetation, the rough exterior walls harmonize with the surroundings. The wide front porch identifies the house as early California style with modifications planned by the owners to make it an ideal desert home. Although the house is built to accommodate a small family, a separate guest house provides sufficient additional sleeping quarters and emphasizes the effect of spaciousness. Foundations of concrete are deep and huge reinforced blocks support it on bed clay. Walls are uniformly 18 inchef, thick. A huge eucalyptus log supports rustic rafters on the front porch. The same wood is used for the rustic pergola terrace at the rear. An outdoor fireplace adds charm to the terrace. The same sandstone which went into the walls is used on floors of terrace and porch. The roof is finished with hand-split cedar shakes. Heavy redwood railway ties were used for lintels, then antiqued. The beautiful interior fireplace is topped with a polished ironwood mantelpiece. Windows are large, providing complete air circulation.
Floors are of three-width pegged mahogany on a pine subfloor. The ten-foot ceiling is antiqued with heavy beams and ironwork. Walls are finished light and woodwork is stained dark. The early California motif is carried out in all interior finish. In addition to the principal building, Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery have a two car garage, tool house, three-room guest house, laundry house, and corrals on the large lot, the whole surrounded by a sandstone and redwood picket fence. Athol trees and oleander form a conspicuous part of the landscaping plan. Young citrus trees are set out. Rocks line the graveled driveways. Total floor space is approximately 1800 square feet in the main house. A carload of cement and 20 barrels of lime were used in the construction. Principal cost in this type of home is consumed in labor. Kenneth A. Gordon, Pasadena, was the architect. November,
1937
GUEST HOUSt
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