In an ongoing series featuring some the most historically significant homes in Hermosa Beach — many with roots dating back to the early 1900s — The Beach Reporter this week took a closer look at the life span of three houses located in three very different areas of town, 25th Street, Pacific Coast Highway and Hermosa Avenue.

Residents Carol and Steve Francis have lived at 238 25th St. for eight years. According to Steve, the house was built between 1895 and 1905 before the city issued building permits. The Francis family is said to be the fourth owner of the house considered to be one of the oldest in town.

“The design is consistent with the Board and Batten construction, which means the house is not framed. It was built with 1-by-12-foot boards that overlap each other,” said Francis. “The walls are 2 inches thick and the lot is the biggest on our block. We are able to provide off-street parking for six cars. We have three kids and the house held unique status among their friends because it provided free beach parking.”

According to the book “Castles on the Sand” authored by Patricia Gazin, Lucretia Del Valle, daughter of California state Sen. Reginaldo F. Del Valle, spent her summers there. Del Valle gained fame on her own accord playing the heroine in John McGroaty’s 1911 play about the San Gabriel Mission.

The plumbing lines run in between floors and are located on the exterior of the house, along with various electrical storage units. The second floor is occupied by one bedroom and a bathroom added to the house in the 1950s. Previous owners added a two-car garage and remodeled the kitchen in 1955.

“It’s what you would call the California beach bungalow,” added Francis. “The house’s exterior is still original in its appearance, and another nice feature is the patio and deck in the back yard. We love the house but there have been times when we haven’t loved it as much. The challenges related to plumbing and electrical upgrades have been a bit more significant than your typical house.”

Considered by many residents as one of the most distinct architectural structures in town, the Pueblo Apartments at 1912 Hermosa Ave. were first built in March of 1924 by Carl K. Broneer. Broneer, who was a well-known South Bay architect from 1921 to 1939, operated the Art Door Company in Hermosa Beach.

First owned by A.J. Hall, the apartments initially consisted of seven units and were later converted into nine. Burnet Bourgeois and Walter Neitz purchased the building in 1974 from C. Bergstrom who owned the apartments for more than 20 years.

With an estimated 60,000 commuters using Pacific Coast Highway each day, the single-family dwelling at 1906 PCH is still standing amidst the rise in traffic and development after more than 70 years. City records show the home was inhabited in 1924 or earlier. According to Gazin’s book, a section of the home may have been moved to create more space for another home or an existing structure may have been transported onto the property and connected to the home. The now-3,000-square-foot home comes with two additional units. In 1926, resident George Dixon owned the home valued at $2,600 and built by contractor J.W. Rapeir.

The current owner, a native of England who wishes to remain anonymous, bought the home about nine years ago. He said the add-ons, connected to the main house by an exterior wall facing a side street to the south, were most likely built in the 1950s. The house sits on a large corner lot with patios and open walkways in the backyard that create an atmosphere reminiscent of an open courtyard. The house in the shape of the letter “L” partly surrounds a colorful flower garden also located in the back yard.

“I ended up in Hermosa Beach by chance and I think this city, compared to the other cities in the area, has the most character,” he said. “I used to drive by this house and I could never figure it out from the street so it always intrigued me. I then saw a for sale sign, looked at it mainly for the sake of curiosity and fell in love with it. I wasn’t looking to buy a house, but I made an offer and that was it.”