Story

Built in 1897 by the original owner George A. Lathrop, The Lassie House is an iconic historic landmark, and stands as one of the largest and most beautiful homes in Pomona, California – making it uniquely suitable for hosting unforgettable weddings, corporate events and family vacations. It was also the childhood home of Jon Provost, famously known for playing “Timmy” in the classic television series “Lassie”!

In 1927, using a team of mules, the house (see left side of photo) was moved on rollers and relocated from 210 W. Holt Avenue in Pomona to its present location on Washington Avenue. Jon Provost (aka “Timmy”) lived here from 1955 to 1960 together with his parents, brother and sister. It was during this time that he would commute to Hollywood, acting in his starring role in “Lassie”. While Jon lived here, he had horses, goats, chickens… and even the baby puppy of the original Lassie!

Timmy with Lassie

The house is over 7,000 square feet, and features eight bathrooms and eight bedrooms on half an acre. Ray and Michelle Adamyk, the current owners, purchased the home in 2017 and worked extensively to restore it to its original grandeur. The original horse carriage has been transformed into a bathhouse with two restrooms. Behind the bathhouse, you’ll find lockers and hot showers. In the back restroom of the bathhouse is a reminder of Jon’s collie dog chewing on the door frame.

Chewed up door frame

In the bathroom upstairs, next to Jon’s childhood bedroom, original wallpaper of children playing “Cowboys and Indians” was uncovered.

Cowboys and Indians Original Wallpaper

Extensive restoration includes The Lassie Library/Museum, with photos and information on Lassie & Timmy.

Wall with old phone and framed picturesWall with framed pictures and display cabinet

The famous Lassie Well can also be found in front of the house, built on the very spot where there was originally an existing well coming down from Mt. Baldy to water the orange groves.

Lassie WellWell with outside lights on at night

You will also see a bronze status of Lassie and a plaque commemorating the dedication of the home as a historic landmark.

Bronze statue of dogLassie House plaque

Additionally, remnants of the well have been preserved, located in the front of the house and used as planters.

Concrete planter with green succulents insideConcrete planter near wooden fence

In the Great Room is a hidden window that once looked outside, but now sits behind a kitchen wall. A mural depicting songbirds has been outfitted as Trompe-l’oeil behind the window.

Stain glass window

The farmhouse kitchen features a beautiful replica of a fourteen-seat farm table.

14-seat farmhouse kitchen table with pink chairs

The Great Room mural below was designed by Mr. Adamyk, President of Spectra Company, one of the largest preservation companies in the United States. Muralists from the United States, Canada and France were commissioned for the work “In the Pond” depicting the morning and evening of the first day.

Ceiling mural of pond in the morningCeiling mural of dusk sky

There are other murals and decorative paintings found throughout the house.

Shot of staircase with stained glass window of flowers on wallFlower vase in front of orchard mural in alcove

Many stained glass features were also added to complement the existing features of the house, including “The Lassie Well” and “The Tree of Life” by renowned stained glass artist Bera Stained Glass from San Diego.

Stained glass of Lassie and wellStained glass of tree with wings

The house has an original working fireplace. The photos below are from 1937 and 2021, respectively.

Original 1937 FireplaceBrick fireplace with arm chair and spindle in front of it

As you enter into the Knights of the Round Table Room you will notice a most elaborate ceiling mural depicting medieval knights, as well as crosses and a gothic light fixture. There are also crests from family origins on the ceiling beams, hailing from England and Scotland.

Long round wooden table with chandelierGothic chandelier with wall of crucifixes

4-colored crest with yellow lion to its left and white unicorn to its rightCrest of rest lion inside yellow shield

The exterior of the house hosts “The Pomona Beach”, complete with sand and a Huntington Beach look fire pit.

Colorful beach chairs around fire pit

The oversized spa and pool – better known as “The Lassie Pond” – feature tranquil waterfalls and evoke the feeling of being in the mountain canyons with a stream.

Pond with large smooth rocks in foreground and building in backgroundPond surrounded by decorative boulders

The back courtyard comes complete with double oversized BBQs & fridge. The theater and game room below the guest house are equipped with an 80-inch TV with surround sound throughout the courtyard area , along with a wet bar & fridge. There are seating and lounge areas located throughout. Courtyard A has the capacity for 125.

Courtyard A with geometric-patterned tiled table in foregroundCourtyard A day view with heating tower in middle

Courtyard A with bbq on left and round tables between 2 buildings

Courtyard B is also used as an additional area for parties and hosting. Seating capacity for 150.

Courtyard B with view of clouds over property wall on leftCourtyard B with many round tables and row of cyprus trees behind wall on right

Courtyard B with view of gate into Courtyard A on leftCourtyard B with ladder leaning into tree on right

We also have the farm; Nigerian Dwarf Goats, Chickens, Peacocks, Porky the Miniature Pig, Rabbits, Guinea Pigs and two Desert Tortoises make up the family.

brown-haired pig facing cameraGreen-roofed chicken coop with chicken at side

2 peacocks facing each othergoat standing on stump facing camera

The exterior landscape is beautiful, with an organic garden and orchard of fifteen gorgeous fruit trees. And of course, this would not be The Lassie House without Timmy, our rough collie, “The Lassie Dog”.  

White and brown collie facing cameraWhite and brown collie walking through snow

History

“Most people will probably recognize this home at 1195 N. Washington Ave. on the southwest corner of Washington and Lincoln Avenues as ‘The Lassie House’. From December 1954 to September 1959, it was home to the Bion A. Provost family, whose son Jon played the part of ‘Timmy’ in the hit TV series ‘Lassie’. But there is a story behind this house – and the property it now sits on – that spans the course of half a century.

In March 1905, William T. Abbott purchased the Haskin orange grove at this location, moving his wife Nettie and two daughters – Mary Beth and Moneta Ruth – from Nebraska to Pomona. From here, he started life as an orange rancher. The family lived together in a home that had the address of ‘Southwest corner of Washington and Olive’ (later on in 1924, Olive Avenue would become Lincoln Ave. Whether there was an existing home on this property in 1905 cannot be determined). The two daughters attended Pomona High School. Mary Beth, the oldest, became a local schoolteacher in Pomona, and then later in Glendale. Moneta Ruth met Harry B. Westgate, who had obtained his law degree from the University of Maine’s College of Law in 1913, and moved to California and settled in Pomona the following year, getting admitted to the California Bar in June. He and Moneta Ruth were married on October 3, 1914. William Abbott died in April 1911, with his wife Nettie following him four years later in February 1915. It appears that after their passing, the two daughters inherited the home and orange grove, and it then became the home of Beth, Ruth, and Harry. Beth herself never married, and eventually moved from the home to Glendale in the 1930s. The family continued to operate the orange grove after Mr. Abbott’s death.

Harry Westlake would go on to become a well-known attorney in Pomona. He also served as the Postmaster in Pomona from the years 1922 to 1935. And in 1938, he was elected Police Judge, a post he retained until 1952, when the court became Pomona Municipal Court. Afterwards, he returned to the law practice. Harry’s wife Moneta Ruth died in March 1949.

Prior to August 1927, the home which would later go on to become the famous ‘Lassie House’ was owned by George A. Lathrop (vice president at the National Bank of Pomona) and his wife Cora. The two-story house was built around 1902, and was located at 210 W. Holt on the southwest corner of Holt and Main. When George and Cora apparently left Pomona, the property was sold to Messrs. King, Booth, and Nesbit, who were issued a building permit to construct a store building at that location. And in fact, that building does indeed still exist! Some might remember the Booth Bros. real estate office on that corner. It appears that Harry Westlake saw the opportunity to purchase and have the house moved to his property. Mr. Westlake was issued a permit for $3,500 to remodel the house. Before it could be moved onto the property, however, it was first necessary to have their existing house moved to another location.

In order for it to be moved, the house was cut into two parts, with the smaller section being moved first along Holt Ave. to San Antonio Ave. Before it could continue north, though, many tree limbs had to be removed – and when the larger, second half of the house was moved, this resulted in even more trees being damaged along San Antonio. As it reached the middle of the block between Pasadena and San Francisco, it was stopped due to protests from the residents, who insisted that the porch attached to the house be removed in order to avoid damaging the trees any further. More trimming of the tree limbs took place, and the house continued on over the protests (Progress Bulletin – Sept. 3, 1927).

In 1954, Harry Westlake supposedly decided he no longer needed such a large home, selling it to the B.A. Provost family, who had moved there from Pasadena. Afterwards, Mr. Westlake moved to a duplex at 200 E. Columbia, where he lived until his passing on February 4, 1973 at the age of 84. The Provost family later sold their home in September 1959 and moved to Beverly Hills.”

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