George R. Kress House (Los Angeles, California)

 house, Tudor (architecture), NRHP - National Register of Historic Places, historic landmark, 1931_construction

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2337 Benedict Canyon Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210

The George R. Kress House is a Tudor Revival style home built in 1931 and designed by Harry Muck with technical input from Kress. The house has survived earthquakes due to its exacting construction, including 12 to 14 inch thick walls, wall plates bolted to the foundation, and window and door frames bolted to the framing.

George R. Kress built his name on performing difficult house moves through innovative techniques. After moving to Los Angeles in 1913, his house moving company moved hundreds of buildings over a period of 10 years. He made the papers in 1924 after moving the Alhambra Hotel 100 feet from its original position. His company also moved four sound stages, one with a 70-foot-long side of glass, over 12 miles away. Soon after that feat, his company cut the 10,000 square foot Howard Verbeck mansion in two sections and moved it -- while a party was going on inside. The '20s and '30s were the golden age of house moving because it was cheaper to move them than build a new house. There were also fewer overhead powerlines, other obstacles, and unions than in the '40s.

Whether it was due to the Depression or the rise in costs and difficulties to move buildings, Kress' fortunes changed and he lost his house to foreclosure in 1940.

www.zillow.com/homedetails/2337-Benedict-Canyon-Dr-Beve...
www.post-gazette.com/homes/20010818moved0818fnp3.asp