![]() ![]() About a decade later, Roland “Joe” Giroux, who owned the complex, decided to sell off the individual units, which were relocated to other neighborhoods in the city. Virginia St., to serve as short-term housing for those coming to Nevada to obtain a six-week divorce. The cluster was originally located at 1307 S. A year later, Williams was hired to design 15 prefabricated steel housing units, known as the El Reno Apartments. ![]() Today, it services as meeting rooms for the park. The house boasts 18 rooms to accommodate the Hermans and their full staff when visiting, although it doesn’t look that large from the outside. The wealthy Herman family had acquired the 300-acre cattle ranch in early 1936 in order to establish Nevada residency and take advantage of the state’s favorable tax laws. Constructed in 1936, the structure was commissioned by Raphael Herman, his brother Norman Herman, and Norman’s wife, Mariana. In addition to the Garvey House, Williams was called upon to design the Rafael Herman home, a Classical Revival-style house that is now part of Rancho San Rafael Regional Park. The Abelmans owned the home until 1978 (Nick died in 1951 and his widow, June, continued to live in it until her death in 1978), when it was sold and converted into a single home. Abelman had gotten his start running casinos in Goldfield and Tonopah in the early 20th century, before relocating to Reno to operate several gambling establishments. Following her death in 1942, the home was purchased by Reno gaming boss Nathan “Nick” Abelman and his wife. Built at a cost of more than $40,000, the house was the most expensive home ever built in Reno up to that time. Apparently familiar with Williams’ work, she hired the architect to design a two-story, white Classical Revival-style duplex with French Regency and landscaping. She liked the community and decided to build a home there while continuing to live part of the year in Southern California. Steel), had come to Reno in 1927 to obtain a divorce from her second husband (Garvey, her first, had died in 1925). Garvey, the widow of manufacturing magnate Clayton H. His first job in the Biggest Little City was in 1934, when he designed a duplex at 599 California Avenue, known as the Luella Garvey House, after its original owner. But Williams, who was the first African American member of the prestigious American Institute of Architects, also designed a handful of buildings in the Reno area (as well as several in Las Vegas). Additionally, Williams was in high demand among the Hollywood crowd, designing homes for Frank Sinatra, Bill “Bojangles” Robinson, Lucille Ball, Barbara Stanwyck, and many others. It’s not surprising since Williams, who lived most of his life there, designed such iconic properties as the Los Angeles County Courthouse and the spider-like, futuristic Theme Building at the Los Angeles International Airport. Most histories of trailblazing architect Paul Revere Williams focus on the many buildings and homes he designed in the Los Angeles area. ![]()
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