W.F. Markham's "Homeland" (Glendale, California)

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1405 East Mountain Street.

This mansion was built in 1926 by W.F. Markham, one of the most wealthy residents of Glendale in the 1920s. Markham made his fortune by inventing the Markham Air Rifle (the B-B guns, themselves, were marketed under various brand names, “King”, “Markham”, or “Plymouth”) in Plymouth, Michigan.

In 1922 Markham disposed of his financial holdings in Michigan and moved to California, settling in Hollywood. Purchasing property at the then vacant corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street, Markham witnessed the tremendous growth of the Hollywood community.

It was not until 1927 that Markham moved to Glendale, purchasing a 7-acre property at 1405 Mountain Street. After constructing a mansion that resembled a large Italian villa, Markham named his estate “Homeland”. Markham allowed his property to become a bird sanctuary where thousands of birds were to eventually find a refuge. Markham was to enjoy his new home for only three years, dying at the age of seventy-nine on April 30, 1930. Markham’s wife died in 1937 and since that time the property has changed hands numerous times including Playboy photographer Mario Casilli who lived and worked here in the 1970's.