Residence Building for Mr. & Mrs. Clark Hartwell

2014.1.1934.1-101

5/31/1984

Clark Hartwell

Hugh Taylor redesigned this one story Hollywood Regency style home in May of 1984 for Mr. and Mrs. Clark Hartwell located at 1003 Eastridge Way. The octagon floor plan was originally designed by Bradt Ackerman & Associates, an architectural firm from San Diego, California in October of 1982. Given the Hartwell's residence at the historic Seashore mansion in Coronado, CA, it's no surprise that Hartwell hired Brandt Ackerman & Associates to design this house, given the firms involvement in the 1979 renovation of the historic Hotel del Coronado as well as the 1984 master plan for the hotel's site.

Though it is unknown why Hartwell decided to hire Taylor to finalize the home, Taylor provided the couple with several variations of the plan and elevations prior to deciding on the design shown here. The original octagon floorplan was dissected, removing three of the eight walls along the east elevation and converting the plan into a U-shaped design.

The front elevation consists of a central octagon courtyard with a double door entryway topped with a framed balcony leading from the mezzanine level. The exterior octagonal walls surround the courtyard and are finished with stucco and slump stone veneer, while the mansard roof is finished with monray tiles.
Taylor incorporated luxurious amenities into the 6,000+ square foot home, including a pool, a pool house, and a caretaker's quarters. The original octagon plan dominates the circulation of the home, creating angular spaces and irregular transitions. The subterranean bomb shelter consists of 690 square feet designed as two separate rooms in the basement level of the garage. In contrast to the fallout shelters of the 1960's, the plan does not detail any built-in amenities.

The home was recently sold in November of 2019 and judging from the real estate images, the home appears to retain its original massing, exterior cladding materials, pool house, and 1980's interior aesthetics.

Clark Hartwell was a prominent businessman in the aviation and fastener industry during the mid to late 20th century. He was born in March of 1904 in Los Angeles, California and married his first wife Sarah Winifred Funk in June of 1924 with whom he had one son, Robert Hartwell. He founded the Hartwell Aviation Supply company in the 1940's, which became a major developer of quick access latches, hinges, and fasteners for the aviation industry. Sadly, Sarah Winifred died in December of 1946 and Mr. Hartwell remarried Elanor Mary Nestor in October of 1947. Aside from manufacturing aviation latching systems, Clark owned the Hartwell Gallery located at 303 S. La Cienega Blvd for a short period of time between 1947 and 1949, showcasing and selling Old Master paintings.

According to the United States Tax Court case, Clark Hartwell, et all v. Commissioner, Clark and Elanor's marriage ended in divorce in August of 1960 due to financial and irreconcilable differences. Clark then remarried Nina Pavloff Hartwell shortly thereafter.

In addition to the aviation business, Clark was a part of the Velcro Corporation, another major fastener manufacturer. Prior to his divorce, Clark was elected president of the Velcro corporation and vice-president of Velok Ltd. Montreal in July of 1960. In July of 1963, he was elected president and chief executive officer of Velok Ltd. Montreal. In 1972, he purchased the historic Seashore Mansion in Coronado, CA, a local landmark designed by William S. Hebbard in 1917, unofficially known as the Velcro Mansion after Hartwell's presidential position.

Throughout the 1960's and 70's, the Hartwell's maintained a residence in Bermuda, New York, Los Angeles, and Coronado, though Las Vegas became their permanent home. Clark Hartwell died on July 31, 1986 in Las Vegas, NV. After his death, Nina took an active role in the Hartwell Aviation Corporation, which changed its name in 1975. In 1999, she donated land to the St. Rose de Lima hospital which established the Hartwell Medical Center at Shadow Crest Drive and Warm Springs Road. Nina died on February 2, 2017 in Las Vegas, NV.

Sheet 1: Overall Floor Plan by Brandt Ackerman & Associates

Sheet 9 (A1): Plot & Roof Plan, General Notes

Sheet 12 (A2): Partial Floor Plan

Sheet 16 (A3): Partial Floor Plan, Window Schedule, Door Schedule, Mezzanine Plan, Basement Plan

Sheet 20 (A4): Rear Elevation, Front Elevation

Sheet 24 (A5): Entrance Court Left, Entrance Court Right, North Elevation, South Elevation

Sheet 48 (A16): Pool House (Floor Plan, Cabinet Elevations, Sauna Details)

Sheet 50 (A17): Pool House (East Elevation, West Elevation, South Elevation, North/Front Elevation, Miscellaneous Details)

Sheet 65 (S3): Sections A, B, & C

Sheet 69 (S4): Sections D & E, Roof Details

105. Current Google Eart street view

106. NY Times July 13, 1960: Clark Hartwell is elected president of Velcro Corporation and vice-president of Velok, Ltd. Montreal.

Any use, reproduction or publication of this item requires written permission from the Nevada Preservation Foundation.

All information regarding Hugh Taylor's clients has been obtained from publicly available sources such as newspaper archives, census records, marriage records, obituaries, public libraries, and local assessors records.