Walking Tour: Wilson Avenue (Fresno, California)

This home was commissioned by Francis A. Guerard, a serious collector of antiques and collectible clothing. It is difficult to see from the street, but has modernist markings (tall, narrow window units) that distinguish the house.

John W. Guerard was for some time the Deputy District Attorney. The Guerard daughters were both extremely artistic. Susan today operates Bancroft-Smith Antiques in the Tower District. Her sister, Agnes, is a costume designer who was nominated for an Academy Award for her designs for Steven Speilberg's film The Color Purple. She was also costume designer for the hit film, The Fugitive.

Immediately north of the Guerard house is a handsome stucco and brick Early California-style house designed by John Fennacy in 1936 for Harry J. Finkenstein, a local banker with Bank of America. Fennacy is best known in Fresno for his design of Fig Garden Village Shopping Center.

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