113 Fremont Place
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One of the many large area houses produced by the team of builder Sanson N. Cooper and his frequent collaborator, architect Robert D. Jones, 113 Fremont Place was commissioned as a winter home by Chicago sausage mogul Charles Hollenbach in early 1925. Hollenbach and his wife Agatha had been spending the winter in a house at 343 South Irving Boulevard in Windsor Square designed in 1922 by the Cooper-Jones team; after having purchased his Fremont Place lot for $30,000, the originator of the American production of Thuringer bratwurst was issued a permit to begin construction of 113 on April 18, 1925. A classic example of the Mediterranean style that would become a hallmark of the decade, the very attractive red-tile-roofed house appears from the street much as it did nearly a century ago. Charles Hollenbach was unable to enjoy his California retreat for long; he died at his Chicago residence on October 4, 1930. Agatha Hollenbach remained at 113 Fremont Place until returning to live in Chicago in 1937, selling the property to Antoinette Larronde Watson.
Native Californian Antoinette Watson was the widow since 1928 of James Johnston Watson, a descendant of Juan José Dominguez, recipient of one of California's first and largest land grants, the Rancho San Pedro, the first grant given a patent by the United States. The Watsons had bought 414 South Rossmore Avenue in Hancock Park soon after its commissioning in 1923. It may be that Mrs. Watson grew tired of ever-increasing traffic along busy Rossmore Avenue, and, finding quiet, gated Fremont Place more appealing, decided to move to 113 with her daughter Anita. Antoinette Watson died at the age of 79 on November 21, 1955, still living at 113. Her daughter remained in possession of 113 until her death at 90 on July 9, 2001. Her estate undertook a major remodeling of the house the next year, by the end of which it was purchased by its current owner as of 2020; he added a swimming pool in 2002.
Illustration: Private Collection
