About

“Rossetti Residence”

Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument HCM #915 (4/8/2008)

Paul Revere Williams, architect.

Click here for Los Angeles Department of City Planning Recommendation Report, which has additional details on the property’s architectural and historic significance.

Statement of Significance for HCM:

This residence was designed in 1928 by the renowned architect Paul Revere Williams for Victor H. Rossetti and his wife, Irene A. Rossetti, in the Spanish Colonial Revival style.

Victor Rossetti was Vice President of Farmers and Merchants Bank at the time of the building of the house.  In 1931, he became the bank’s president and held that position until 1956, when his bank merged with Security First National Bank when he retired.  Rossetti was an important force in financial circles for many years, frequently authoring columns in which he predicted the financial direction of the Nation and counseled a course of conservative spending on the part of the governments at all levels.

Rossetti lived in the house from 1928 until 1950, after which he moved to San Marino. Paul R. Williams designed the house and garage and was retained a second time in 1937 to design a porch addition. The site is important as the home of an influential banker in Southern California, as well as the work of the master designer, Paul R. Williams. It is also an excellent example of a large Spanish Colonial Revival House from the 1920s. (Source: Los Angeles Department of City Planning Recommendation Report)

History:

1930 census:
2188 Ponet Drive (Value: $125,000): 1) Victor H. Rossetti, owner and head of household; 53 year old white married male; married at age 29; born in Nevada; parents born in Switzerland; Vice-President of a bank. 2) Irene A. Rosetti, wife; 53 year old white married female; married at age 29; born in California; father born in Italy, mother in Switzerland; not working. 3) Eleanore M. Rossetti, daughter; 11 year old white female; in school; born in California. 4) Victor H. Rosetti, Jr., son; 7 year old white male; in school; born in California. 5) Emmy Ziegauer, servant; 26 year old white married female; married at age 25; born in Germany; parents born in Germany; speaks German; to US in 1923, a resident alien; a maid in a private home. 6) Marie Engel, servant; 49 year old white married female; married at age 47; born in Germany; parents born in Germany; speaks German; to US in 1923, citizenship pending; a cook in a private family. 7) Julian Ana, servant; 30 year old married Filipino male; married at age 30; born in Philippine Islands; parents born in the Philippine Islands; to US in 1910, a naturalized citizen; a chauffeur in a private family.

1940 Census:
2188 Ponet Drive (Value $100,000): 1) Victor H. Rossetti, head of household; white married male 63 years of age; born in Nevada; bank manager, banking; earns more than $5,000. 2) Irene A. Rossetti, wife; white married female 63 years of age; born in California; not working. 3) Eleanor M. Rossetti, daughter; white single female 21 years of age; born in California; not working. 4) Victor H. Rossetti, Jr., son; white single male 17 years of age; born in California; in school. 5) Richard E. Zeller, servant; white divorced male 32 y3ars of age; born in Pennsylvania; chauffer, private home; earns $700. 6) Erwin Messmer, servant; white single male 28 years of age; born in Germany; valet, private family; earns $1,100. 7) Dagmar Johnson, servant; white married female 36 years of age; born in Sweden; maid, private house; earns $720. 8) Mary McSwigger, servant; white single female 60 years of age; born in North Ireland; cook, private home; earns $960.