on the same day that i visited the hobbit house in culver city, i went by the witch’s house in beverly hills. it was a mild summer day which meant i could toodle around town with the windows down.
the witch’s house was built in 1921 by harry oliver an art & technical director for a movie studio. in 1924 it was moved to beverly hills. specifically to the corner of walden/carmelita.
it is a perfect example of storybook style. any self-respecting witch would be proud to call it home. i am crazy about the steep curving gables, wooden shingles and the cartoony stucco chimney with embedded stones.
the tiny casement windows and rustic wood shutters delight me.
just look at those diamond paned windows!
a dark crooked fence surrounds the entire corner lot where the witch’s house lives.
there’s even a moat with lily pads and a quirky cool bridge.
black dahlias open wide in the garden, growing alongside stands of black, orange, and yellow sunflowers. on the median outside the fence there are corn stalks, wildflowers, ornamental grasses, and more sunflowers. raspberry vines ramble along the fence.
i want to come back at night sometime when the moon is full. a breeze ruffling through the giant sycamore leaves. an owl hooting from a treetop. there might be a few dusky clouds in the sky for the moon to slip behind. wispy tendrils of fog will be making their way into the garden. i’ll probably close my eyes for a minute to breathe it all in, and when i open them the street will have 1940’s cars parked along the curbs. gas streetlamps glowing dimly at the corners. from far down the street… the sound of a violin. there will be a chill in the air and i’ll have to zip my 21st century windbreaker all the way up to my chinny chin chin.
it’s possible that i will be in the exact right place at the exact right time to uncover a long ignored clue in an unsolved crime.
and i will solve it!
sigh.
i stood alone for a long time on the quiet street staring at the garden, taking pictures, studying all of the details.
gathering evidence i may need later.
wanna see a quick video about the current owner and go for a tour inside this historic beverly hills landmark? Check it out HERE!
oh how fun!!! Now that would be the perfect place to go sketch! Unfortunately I’m in Philly! So you’ll have to go do it. 😀
Looks just like something out of my childhood storybooks. Love it. After seeing the tour of the interior, I have to say that I like the exterior and grounds best. The mailbox is too precious and that little footbridge! OH MY!
I’m so glad this man saved this unique property and that he lives there! What a treasure tucked away in the Hill of Beverly.
Joan
Thanks so much for sharing your images and the video! What fun!
Love your blog, word, pictures and the video. Thanks Mary Ann for making my day.
l-o-v-e the daffodils on the mailbox.
Loved the video! I want to help solve the mystery too. I am a v.v.v.v.v.v good detective and have superior powers of observation. Besides you know it’s way more fun to scare yourself silly with a partner.
I love this post! When my brother was barely a teenager and we lived in WLA and his best friend in Coldwater Canyon, they would meet up at The Witch’s House, as a place inbetween. Adore the Hobbit House too! (I wanted to rent an apartment in CC that looked like Hobbit houses, so darling.).
Isn’t there either a Hobbit-y apartment complex or house in Silverlake too??? Like maybe on Silverlake Blvd or Hyperion maybe? It’s been too many years for my middle aged brain …
Happy weekend!
Thanks so much Mary Ann, what a treat! Love your words and pictures!
The bridge! And the mailbox! Oh my!
I.Love.This! 😀
Oh no–the link doesn’t work–it doesn’t go anywhere!! Can you post the link again????
Oh cool-going to check out the video right now
very cool, love that bridge…i can picture my sometimes-witchy-self crossing it…
love catching up over here and seeing all this paper play too.
happy summertime, xo
Sigh. Don’t know which I loved better, your words or your pics.
Great video; I’ve got to go see that house!