[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4432]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    A TRIBUTE TO THE GAMBLE HOUSE UPON ITS ONE-HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 14, 2008

  Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the Gamble House 
upon the occasion of its one-hundredth anniversary.
  The Gamble House was designed by American Arts and Crafts architects 
Charles and Henry Greene. The Greene brothers have left an indelible 
impression on the design heritage of California houses, and their 
influence is most evident in their best-preserved work, the Gamble 
House in Pasadena, California.
  The Greene brothers' distinctive style was deeply influenced by 
Japanese architecture and the English Arts and Crafts Movement, and is 
visible in the distinguished treatment of wood, stone, shingle, and 
brick. They designed all aspects of the house with assistance from 
notable European-trained craftsmen, John and Peter Hall, who elevated 
their exquisite designs to high levels of artistic excellence both 
throughout the house and in all the joinery, furniture, and decorative 
arts.
  Construction on the Gamble House began in 1908. In January of 1909, 
the owners, David and Mary Gamble, moved in. The house was inhabited by 
the Gamble family for over fifty years, and remained their property 
until 1966, when the Gamble heirs, led by James N. Gamble, deeded the 
house to the City of Pasadena in a joint agreement with the University 
of Southern California's School of Architecture.
  Boasting nearly 30,000 visitors annually, the Gamble House continues 
to play a leading role in educating the public about a unique part of 
Pasadena's heritage, as well as the history of the Arts and Crafts 
Movement. The Docent Council of the Gamble House, formed in 1967, 
encompasses a group of volunteers who aid with the cultural and 
educational components of the Gamble House. The Friends of the Gamble 
House, founded in 1972, is composed of individuals and organizations 
whose purpose is to financially support the house and its programs. 
Some of the programs include the Scholars in Residence Fellowships, the 
Junior Docent Program, and participation in the Museums of the Arroyo 
Day celebration.
  In 1974 the Gamble House was named a California State Historic 
Landmark, and four years later the United States Department of the 
Interior designated the Gamble House a National Historic Landmark. The 
house has been preserved with the help of the James N. Gamble 
Preservation Fund.
  I ask all members to join me in recognizing the Gamble House upon its 
one-hundredth anniversary, and to congratulate the staff and volunteers 
who keep the facility open for the public's education and enjoyment.

                          ____________________