Monday, March 24, 2008

The "Skinny House" - Long Beach, CA


In an inconspicuous neighborhood in Long Beach, CA is one of the weirdest looking things - 708 Gladys Avenue doesn't pop out right away, but the double-take is astounding... It's the skinniest house in North America!

According to the city, this Three-Story house is "eight hundred sixty square feet, half-timber expression of Old English Tudor architecture exterior ... compressed onto a ten foot by fifty foot residential lot." Apparently, this 10x50 lot was created by accident when it was left out of a previous land sale. In 1931, some unlucky man had the misfortune to owe $100 to a Mr. Newton Rummond (in the height of the depression, no less!) - but luckily for them, Mr Rummond accepted the property in lieu of monies. To get back at all of his friends who scoffed at the little property, and on a dare, Newton built the "Skinny house" with out-of-work contractors who did so simply for the notoriety, on the chance it would lead to some real work.

The house was featured in the Guiness book of World Records, Ripley's Believe-it-or-not, and many other magazines, TV shows, etc. Walt Disney even visited the property at one of the many open houses the various owners have held. in 1959 it was discovered the house was leaning to one side, so it was straightened again, with no problems since! A search for the later whereabouts or last resting place of Mr. Rummond yielded no results for us, but we all know wherever he lies, he's resting comfortably.. with the last laugh!