About

Withey & Davis Architects Inc., architect.
Ecometcalf, architect & contractor.
Walker & Eisen, architect.

Potential City of Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument.

History:

“Letts, Janss, McNaughten Estate.”

Also listed as 4840 W. Los Feliz Boulevard.

Original owner, Malcolm McNaughton, was the husband of Florence Edna Letts, daughter of Arthur Letts. (Source: LADS, 10/15/12.(LA’s legal newspaper) See David Cameron’s research notes.)

Los Angeles Times, 01/11/20, Sale by Harold Janss, husband of Gladys Letts, daughter of Arthur, to James Hoatson. Bio Arthur Letts, McGroarty, VII, 1921.Mother Mrs. Arthur Letts of 4931 W. Franklin Ave. was a member of women’s organizations in 1922. (Source: Who’s Who among the Women of California, Security Publishing Company, Los Angeles, 1922)  Bullocks Archives.

L.A. Saturday Night, 06/24/22.

See oral interview of John Shield, son of estate’s caretaker, who lived on estate from 1927 to 1936. (01/21/97, by Joanna Erdos)

See “Historic Mansion Exudes in Life,” by Charlotte de Armond, in Los Feliz Observer, Fall, 1997, p. 7-10. A 1905 photo of Holmby House, Arthur Letts estate on Franklin Avenue, which was razed and subdivided in the 20s. (Source: Real estate brochure)

Plans by architects Withy & Davis for a brick residence on Los Feliz Road (Source: SWB&C, 12/05/12, p. 10, c.1)

Arthur Letts Family mausoleum at Hollywood Forever

1920 Census:
(Info about Arthur Letts who purchased home for his daughter and he lived at as 4931 W. Los Feliz Boulevard): 1) Arthur Letts, owner and head of household; 57 year old white married male; born in England; parents born in England; a merchant. 2) Florence Letts, wife; 51 year old white married female; born in Canada; parents born in Canada; not working. 3) William E. Reynolds, servant; 23 year old white single male; born in Massachusetts; parents born in Massachusetts; a porter. 4) Edna-Laurence Henry, servant; 42 year old white single female; born in Illinois; parents born in France; a maid. 5) Augusta Crickson, servant; 41 year old white single female; born in Sweden; parents born in Sweden; a cook.

1930 census:
4900 Los Feliz Blvd. (Value: $500,000): 1) Eliza Hootson, owner and head of household; 75 year old white female widow; married at age 28; born in English Canada; parents born in Scotland; to US in 1875, a naturalized citizen; not working. 2) Gertrude Klein, servant; 50 year old single white female; born in Germany; parents born in Germany; speaks German; to US in 1892, a naturalized citizen; a servant in a private family. 3) Charlotte Sundbert, companion; 36 year old single white female; born in Finland; father born in Sweden, mother in Switzerland; speaks Finnish; to US in 1909, a naturalized citizen; a companion in a private family. 4) Sebe E. Shield, servant; 34 year old married white female; married at age 21; born in Minnesota; parents born in Sweden; a servant in a private family. 5) Mary E. H. Shield, roomer; 29 year old married white female; married at age 17; born in California; father born in Iowa; mother in US; not working. 6) John F. Shield, roomer; 2 year 11 month old male; born in California.