6727 Painter Avenue was built in 1903. This house served as the parsonage for the Friends Church into the 1930s. The current owner (as of October, 2016) purchased the home in the 1980s after his previous house was destroyed in the great Turnbull Canyon fire that destroyed 14 homes in the hills between Hacienda Heights and Whittier. The home's previous owner was a doctor who had his office right next door at 6721 Painter.
The credentials of this house as a Queen Anne Victorian are established by its varied surface textures (clapboard siding with decorative shingles on the gable ends), its asymmetrical facade, large bays, corner boards and verticality. Corbels and black dentils beneath the boxed eaves and other applied ornament add to the variety typical of Victorian style. Note the two lovely original entry doors that open to the wrap-around front porch.
Both the interior and the gardens of this house are filled with many wonders. The front yard is landscaped as a Moonlight Garden, which was very popular in Victorian times. Moonlight gardens are created with moonlit strolls in mind. They are designed to be just as lovely to enjoy at night as they are during the day, featuring plants that become more fragrant in the evening, along with white flowers and silver-leafed foliage that reflect well making them visible in dim light. Sometimes water-features are included for the soothing sounds they contribute both day and night. Like many buildings throughout Whittier, this home required extensive repairs after the 1987 Earthquake. The brick chimney was lost and the foundation was damaged, but the owner lovingly brought this grand old lady back to life, keeping the historic feeling while adding surprising modern conveniences (including a hidden elevator).