6315 Painter Avenue was built in 1913. Neither the architect nor the contractor is officially known at this time. This residence was constructed for George B. Hunnicutt. Son of influential Iowa Quakers William Penn and Rachel Ressup Hunnicutt, George moved to Whittier from Iowa in 1891 and worked on construction of the East Whittier Land and Water Company flume that carried water from the San Gabriel River to Whittier. He later worked as a builder and painting contractor and also ventured into agriculture, planting three citrus groves in North Whittier Heights. George lived with his wife Iva, who was from Ohio, and three children.
This residence is significant as an excellent example of Craftsman architectural style. 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 #90. 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.