6222 Painter Avenue was built in 1910. This residence was constructed for John B. and Olive Chaffey. John was the son of George E. Chaffey, a Canadian immigrant and Whittier resident who brought water irrigation to the Imperial Valley and founded the California colonies of Ontario, Etiwanda, and Cucamonga (later incorporated as cities of Ontario and Rancho Cucamonga). George also purchased the East Whittier Land and Water Company, which was responsible for constructing the flume that carried water from the San Gabriel River to Whittier. John managed the Whittier Water Company from 1909 to 1917 and also worked in the oil industry.
This residence is significant for its distinctive design in the Craftsman architectural style by Los Angeles based firm Eisen and Sons. The Craftsman style evolved out of the Arts and Crafts Movement that began in England in the 1850s as a reaction to the industrial revolution and ornate styles of the time. It espoused a return to the simplicity of handicrafts and the Craftsman architectural style stressed the natural beauty of wood, the relationship of a building to its surroundings, and the use of secondary materials such as brick and stone. In California the style was popularized by the Greene brothers who incorporated an Asian influence. The style was included in pattern books and, in addition to residences, there are also examples of Craftsman style bungalow courts, institutional buildings, and commercial buildings. Whittier boasts both modest, one-story Craftsman bungalows as well as larger two-story homes that feature more architectural detail.
Local designation date is July 7, 2015. Identification #88. There was no Mills Act Agreement in force at the time of local designation.
SOURCES: The information on this page is correct to the best of our knowledge. It has been obtained from the original local designation documents and edits from the Whittier Historic Neighborhood Association. It may also include ongoing current ownership input.