Elias Jackson "Lucky" Baldwin (right) stands near the shore of the lake, which surrounds the cottage (background) at his Santa Anita Ranch in Arcadia.; Built between the years 1885-86 by Baldwin, it is believed that the cottage was a honeymoon gift for Lucky's fourth wife, sixteen year-old Lillie Bennett. After the May-December marriage ended in 1885, Baldwin converted the home into a memorial to the third wife, Jennie Dexter, who had died in 1881. Baldwin resided in the neighboring 8-room adobe house, originally owned by Hugo Reid, leaving the cottage to serve as the ranch guest house. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the cottage has appeared in numerous films and television programs. After Baldwin's death in 1909, the ranch land fell into the hands of Baldwin's daughter Anita, who in 1936, sold some acres to Harry Chandler of the Los Angeles Times. Chandler owned a real estate company, Rancho Santa Anita, Inc., which oversaw the former Baldwin land and developed subdivisions in the area. In 1947, 111 acres of the former Santa Anita Ranch were purchased from Rancho Santa Anita, Inc. by the State of California and County of Los Angeles to develop the arboretum.
Baldwin, Elias Jackson,--1828-1909 Santa Anita Ranch (Calif.) Dwellings--California--Arcadia Queen Anne revival (Architecture)--California--Arcadia Lakes--California--Arcadia Arcadia (Calif.)
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