Arthur Heineman, Architect [1878-1974]
Arthur Heineman [†], like his brothers Alfred and Herbert, began his architectural career as a speculator interested in real estate and land development. They had come from Chicago to Pasadena with their parents, in 1894, just as a land boom that had collapsed in 1887 was about to spring to life again. Alfred and Arthur worked independently as designers, although neither had any architectural training. Arthur's first buildings date from 1905. His lack of business skills caused him to go into business with his brother Herbert, a successful building contractor, sometime around 1906. Calling their firm Heineman and Heineman, they produced a number of houses before Alfred went to work for Arthur. Arthur eventually became a registered architect, and the two agreed that the name of the firm would be Arthur S. Heineman, Architect and Alfred Heineman, Associates, although by all accounts Alfred was the chief designer. Their association would last until 1939. The firm was a major force in the Arts and Crafts Movement in California, and is ,best known for their Craftsman style bungalows in Pasadena including the Parson House on East California (1909-10) and the Bowen Court on Villa Street (1910). Not surprisingly, Heineman was responsible for one of the few Craftsman style buildings in the historic district at 1186 West 27th Street.
† Teresa Grimes and Jim Childs, ADHOC, North University Park Historic District, Los Angeles, CA, nomination document, 2003, National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places, Washington, D.C.