Robert R. Blacker House

The Robert R. Blacker House is a historic mansion in Pasadena, California, built in 1907 for Michigan-born lumber magnate Robert Roe Blacker and his wife, Nellie Canfield Blacker. It was designed by the celebrated brothers Henry and Charles Greene, who are known for their elaborate designs. The estate was a lavish project in which every detail was individually crafted, from the teak panels on the mahogany doors to the ebony-trimmed keys of the linen closets. After the couple died in the 1930s and 1940s, the estate went into probate. Because the heirs sold the property without its furnishings and subdivided the grounds, the original character of the seven-hectare (17-acre) property was lost. The high-quality furniture was sold off in a notorious flea-market sale, and many of the pieces are now in museums or in the hands of wealthy collectors.

In the 1980s, a controversial incident occurred when the then owner removed numerous original light fixtures and leaded-glass windows and sold them on the art market in order to recoup his investment quickly. The act, which the local press called the "rape of the Blacker House," drew intense public attention and led the city of Pasadena to pass an emergency ordinance making it harder to demolish or destroy historic artifacts in Greene & Greene houses. Citizens even guarded the house around the clock to prevent further removals.

In 1994, Harvey and Ellen Knell bought the property and began a comprehensive restoration. Working with specialized architects and craftspeople, they renovated the building inside and out. The electrical system and plumbing were replaced, the structure was made earthquake-resistant, and every single roof shingle was inspected or replaced. After four years the work was complete, an occasion celebrated with a benefit dinner attended by, among others, actor Brad Pitt. Today the house is a protected historic landmark and has also been used as a set for interior shots in films such as "Back to the Future."