Spoiled by a special house

RE “The Once and Future Ranch” [Oct. 20]: My brother sent me a copy of the article. I live in the Chicago area, my brother in Redondo Beach. As kids, we lived in a Cliff May ranch house, which our parents commissioned in 1948 (it sits on two lots, at the corner of Via La Selva and Via Las Vegas in Palos Verdes Estates, and was featured in “Western Ranch Houses” by Cliff May). It combined both an L and U shape. All living space was directed to the back, as you point out was typical. The house did indeed turn its back on the street, which gave us perfect privacy.

Unfortunately, the house spoiled us. When we moved out in 1958, our subsequent home and all homes since then have never quite lived up to our Cliff May ranch house. Whenever I’m in L.A., I drive to Palos Verdes just to see it.

RICHARD NISLEY

University Park, Ill.