About

Potential National Register of Historic Places Listing,

Potential City of Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument.

History:

“Briarcliff Manor”. “McCray / Thorkildsen house.”

Enlarged Japanese garden, built rustic lodge/ballroom or carriage house. Carriage house, lodge and swimming pool cabana are now a separate home, 5750 W. Valley Oak.(Source: Ruth Solner.)

Anne Kenmore articles, 06/15/78 & 06/08/78 Wilmore Press, 06/08/78, “McCray home story told”.

“A Hillside Home at Los Angeles” by Charles Alma Byers; Architectural Record, 1914.

“History of Briarcliff Manor” by Anne Kenmore. Louis Allan McCray (oil man) home, built 1911.

A. B. Rust, architect. Sold to Thos Thorkildsen (“Borax King”) 1916.

“Restoring an Historic Hollywood Estate”, by Mark Pierson, American Bungalow # 11, March 15, 1996, p. 11

1910 photo of garden & home. (Source: Real estate brochure)

Former home of Brad Pitt:  Brad Pitt Is Outta There, Sells L.A. Compound in $40 Million Off-Market Deal

1940 Census:
5769 Briarcliff Road (Value $25,000): 1) Clifford J. Gillespie, head of household; white married male 54 years of age; born in South Dakota; miner, mining company; earns $2,400. 2) Floyd E. Gillespie, wife; white married female 56 years of age; born in Iowa; lodging housekeeper. 3) Floyd L. Gillespie, mother; white widow 89 years of age; born in Kansas; not working. 4) Gay L. Bartholomew, brother-in-law; white married male 68 years of age; born in Minnesota; broker, real estate. 5) Beryl L. Bartholomew, sister-in-law; white married female 61 years of age; born in Iowa; not working. 6) Howard C. Wagar, lodger; white single male 33 years of age; born in Minnesota; radio operator, merchant shipping, earns $2,490. 7) Arthur J. O’Connell, lodger; white single male 32 years of age; born in New York; not working. 8) Frank B. Gerhard, lodger; white single male 23 years of age; born in Germany; salesman, food packing. 9) John A. Bristow, lodger; white single male 35 years of age; born in South Carolina; salesman fire prevention equipment; earns $200. 10) Robert C. Black, Jr, lodger; white single male 29 years of age; born in Florida; in school; clerk, H.O.L.C.