"The House on the Hill"

A French American sheepherder wanted a chateau-like home for all his relatives. The mansion, with more than 30 rooms, was completed in 1927 by a French American sheepherder named Sylvester Dupuy. Locals called it "the castle." But the Dupuy family thought that "sounded too pretentious," like a feudal lord to the serfs. "So we called it 'The House on the Hill' or just 'The Hill,' " said Dupuy's grandson, Frank Dupuy, 83, of Altadena.

"My grandfather envisioned us all living together like the 1980s TV program 'Dallas,' " Dupuy said in an interview. And that's just what they did for nearly two decades. "My father helped build it. The women of the family prepared French meals, and everyone pitched in to make wine," the grandson said.

A photo composite depicts an image of Sylvester Dupuy, far left, and his family in 1915 superimposed on a 1927 photo of the estate. Alhambra's storybook fortress on a hill evokes a Pyrenees chateau — which was, in fact, the builder's inspiration. For nearly 80 years, this reinforced concrete castle near Fremont Avenue and Valley Boulevard remained relatively unknown — even after it was purchased by rock 'n' roll producer Phil Spector in 1998. But when actress Lana Clarkson was shot to death in the foyer in February 2003, notoriety replaced anonymity.

(Photo from the Jacques Dupuy family archives)