A Glendora estate built during the Prohibition era for Arthur K. Bourne, heir to the Singer sewing machine fortune, is on the market.
The asking price is $3.995 million.
Designed by lauded architect Wallace Neff, this walled and gated 1.6-acre compound spans 9,368 square feet. It features a main house and three accessory dwelling units (ADUs), totaling 13 bedrooms and 12 bathrooms. The ADUs include a two-bedroom apartment, a one-bedroom studio and a two-bedroom guest house.
Records show Kathryn Le Veque, a boutique publisher and USA Today bestselling author of historical romance fiction, and her husband, Robert Hogan, purchased the property for $3.6 million in December 2021.
They renovated the interior of the main house, incorporating period-appropriate colors and decor inspired by a 1937 spread in Architectural Digest, when the residence belonged to the Bourne family. The Bournes sold the property in the 1950s.
“I wanted the house to feel warm and lived-in, while still honoring its heritage,” Le Veque said in a statement.
Arthur K. Bourne was the second son of Frederick Bourne, who played a key role in making the Singer sewing machine company a success. In 1919, Frederick died, leaving behind a $42 million estate to divide among his survivors.
As one of the heirs to the Singer fortune, Arthur K. Bourne sat on the company’s board of directors and served as a treasurer. He used his wealth to commission homes from Neff in San Marino, Glendora and Palm Springs during the 1920s and 1930s.
The Glendora home was originally built on a sprawling citrus ranch. Construction began in 1932 and was completed in 1934, the year after the ratification of the 21st Amendment to the Constitution repealed the 18th Amendment, which had banned alcohol nationwide in 1919.
But by then, the mansion had already incorporated clever ways to circumvent the ban. A hidden door in the basement-level bar leads to a speakeasy. Inside that original steel-lined safe room is an iron wine rack and a drain designed for the swift disposal of alcohol, according to the listing.
The basement also includes rooms for billiards and movies.
In addition to its rich history, the Singer Mansion has been used as a location for weddings and other special events.
A motor court accommodates parking for up to 16 cars, while the grounds offer a picturesque backdrop with various themed gardens, including a large-scale rose garden, brick pathways, fountains and a koi pond with a bridge.
Inside the main house, the foyer boasts a Baccarat crystal chandelier, Carrara marble flooring and a staircase.
The living room and mahogany-paneled library feature Irish Connemara marble fireplaces, while the kitchen, renovated with contemporary materials and professional-grade appliances, retains its original layout. It has a butler’s pantry, window seat and an eat-in caterer’s kitchen.
Upstairs, the primary suite holds a sitting room, a dressing room, walk-in closets and a bathroom with a soaking tub alcove and a large shower. Two original fireplaces and access to north and south terraces add to the suite.
Other highlights include a built-in office and a large, locked room for storing china and fine glassware.
The grounds feature a pool, spa, and a converted schoolhouse from 1880 that now serves as a child’s playhouse. The property is a city landmark and eligible for the Mills Act, which offers annual property tax savings in exchange for the upkeep and maintenance of historical properties.
Sally Forster Jones of Compass and Tomer Fridman of Christie’s International Real Estate Southern California represent the listing.
The Bourne family sold the Singer Mansion in the 1950s and moved to Lake Tahoe.
Arthur K. Bourne died in 1967 at 89.
