Playwright, Lillian Hellman, owned this house in 1967. Her skill and work concerning controversial subject matter made her one of the world's great dramatists. In 1930, she was considering quitting writing until writer, Dashiell Hammett, talked her out of it. Hammett would become Hellman's mentor and romantic interest for over 30 years. Hellman received the National Book Award in 1969 for "An Unfinished Woman" and was nominated in 1974 for "Pentimento: A Book of Portraits." She passed away in 1984.