About

Potential City of Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument.

J. W. Serape Construction Co., architect/ contractor, 2186 Live Oak Dr.

History:

Original Ponet Terrace development house. (Source: “Ponet Brochure”. p. 8.)

Original owner H. G. Watkins.

Residence of William James Durant, Ph.D., b. Nov. 5, 1885, North Adams, Mass.; son of Joseph and Marie (Allors) Durant; educated, BA, St Peters College, Jersey City 1907, MA 1908, Ph.D., Columbia University 1917, LLD 1927. Married Ida Kaufman, New York City, NY October 31, 1913; children: Ethyl Benvenuta. Career: Reporter, New York Evening Journal, 1907; Professor of Latin, Greek, and French, Seton Hall College 1907-11; Director Labor, Temple School, NY, 1914-1927. Author: “Philosophy and the Social Problem” 1917; The Story of Philosophy”, 1926; “Transition” 1927; “The Mansions of Philosophy”, 1929; 7 volume “Story of Civilization” published by Simon and Schuster; “Our Oriental Heritage”, 1935; “The Life of Greece”, 1939; “Caesar and Christ” 1944; “The Age of Faith” 1950; “The Renaissance” 1953; “The Reformation” 1958; “The Age of Reason Begins” 1960; “The Age of Louis XIV” 1963; “The Age of Voltaire” (in preparation). (Source: Who’s Who in California, 1965, p. 388). “Durant house.” Will & Ariel Durant home. “Durants Made History in Hollywood Hills Home” (Source: Los Angeles Times article by Diane Kanner 05/24/87.)

“Excellent example of Spanish Colonial Revival & noted 2nd owners”.
Hoover Realtors illustrated brochure. “Casa Della Vista” Jack Smith column in Los Angeles Times 11/11/81.
Michael Korda article; Book of the Month Club news 967
“Ariel Durant, collaborator on history series, dies”. (Source: Los Angeles Times; 0/27/81.)
Los Angeles Times; 01/17/87, “Book dealer opens cover on Durant collection”.
Los Angeles Times; 11/09/75, “The colorful history of a pair of historians”.
Los Angeles Times, 11/09/81, “Will Durant, Author of Civilization series dies.
Los Angeles Times, 11/11/81, “Durants leave almost identical bequest”
Home used in Sally Fields movie, “Surrender”( Source: Ruth Solner, First Hollywood Hills neighborhood walk, 01/31/87)
Listed at $4,995,000 in September, 1999. Photo. Listed at $4,495,000 in 1999. (Source: Real estate brochure)
Listed at $4,500,000. Sold close to asking. Photo. (Source: Los Angeles Times, 8/8/99, K6.)

1940 Census:
5608 Briarcliff Road (Value $75,000): 1) Mitchell M. Klemme, head of household; white married male 42 years of age; born in Iowa; property manager, estate; earns more than $5,000. 2) Eva W. Klemme, wife; white married female 41 years of age; born in Illinois; not working.