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11. Second Roy Jones house, 1911 11. Second Roy Jones house, 1911
130 Adelaide Dr.
Architect: Attributed to Robert Farquhar

Second Roy Jones House, 1911
photo by Michael Grandcolas


Dining area


Interior room


Santa Monica Canyon looking up at Adelaide Drive, before 1920 -
Elizabeth R. Sedat

This large home is the second of two houses built by Roy Jones, founder and officer of the Bank of Santa Monica. Jones worked on the City Charter and was influential in the early economic and political development of the City. Jones helped organize the Ramina Corporation, one of the most extensive developers of northern and southern California.

His father, John Percival Jones was the founder of Santa Monica. For the record, the Jones, as well as the Conger families were among the pioneers of California and Nevada. Thomas Conger became state senator in California. Conger's son-in-law, John P. Jones, became senator in Nevada before founding the City of Santa Monica.

Built in 1907, the 6,189-square-foot clapboard house was designed by noted architect Robert Farquhar. Its 20 rooms include a sunroom and billiards parlor plus six bedrooms and six baths. One of the big bonuses to this property are the majestic canyon and ocean views.

The Second Roy Jones House, which is now in the shade of two high rises, was the first property on Adelaide Drive. Observe that the side gable roof boasts triple roof dormers. Strips of weatherboard siding and linear bracketed eave overhang accentuate the rectangular structure.

The house is listed in Los Angeles: An Architectural Guide, with the description, “A big, wholesome example of the turn-of-the-century Colonial Revival.”

Subsequent owners have loved and maintained 130 Adelaide. Many of the owners have been celebrities in their own right, such as silent-screen heartthrob Ramon Novarro. Another resident was writer Marion Hargrove, whose chronicle of his World War II service as an Army recruit, was made into the movie “Private Hargrove.” He went on to become a busy and prolific screenwriter. His credits range from movies such as “The Music Man” and “Cash McCall” to a number of television series, including “I Spy” and “Eight Is Enough.”

Former Pan Am president Najeeb Halaby and his daughter, Lisa, now Queen Noor of Jordan, have also called this property home.

Members of the Jones family owned several subsequent residences on Adelaide Drive.