Rare tour of six Greene & Greene homes this weekend

For the first time in two decades, the Gamble House in Pasadena is organizing a tour of several nearby Greene & Greene homes — five houses and one garden, each reflecting the evolution of Charles and Henry Greene’s iconic Craftsman designs.

PHOTO GALLERY: Two houses on the Arroyo's Edge tour

Gamble House director Edward Bosley led a sneak peek earlier this week inside a couple of the stops on the Arroyo's Edge tour, including the Duncan-Irwin House (1906-08), pictured here. Among the surprises inside: a fully enclosed central courtyard that delivers abundant light to the rambling interiors, and the house’s original “annunciator,” essentially a call box with dials to indicate which of four house doors a visitor might be ringing.

Some homes on the tour are examples of historic preservation; others are case studies in amending ill-thought additions or updating interiors for modern life while trying to honor the home’s history.

The Van Rossem-Neil House (1903-06), which still has its quirky, variable-width ceiling beams and glazed green Chinese ceramic blocks inset in the dining room wall, right, hasn’t opened for a tour in more than 15 years, owner Gwen Whitson said.

Homes on the Arroyo’s Edge tour will be open noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, with last entry at 4 p.m. The event is self-guided, so participants can visit the houses in any order. All stops are in the Park Place neighborhood, within walking distance of the Gamble House.

General admission is $85; children younger than 12 are $50. Proceeds benefit the Gamble House. Tickets can be purchased online until 9 a.m. Sunday; they also can be purchased at will call, the Avery Dennison parking lot on West Walnut Street, east of Orange Grove Boulevard. (626) 793-3334, Ext. 52

-- Craig Nakano

Photos: Katie Falkenberg / For The Times

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