The Manor's original place of residence was 1119 "S" Street in Fresno, Ca. It was built in 1912 by famed architect Charles K. Kirby Jr. for his mother Mrs. Josephine Kirby.  His work included  the O.J. Woodward and Jacob Vogel homes, the Einstein and Edgerly Blocks in San Francisco, the Fresno First National Bank Building (1888) and the Barton Opera House (1890), another opera house and the Carnegie Library in Selma in 1905. Together with Harry A. Thomas, they prepared plans for the contagious disease bungalows for the Fresno County Hospital. On his own again in 1910, he designed a fine craftsman style Unitarian Church, the old Fresno Auditorium, and the Iwata Theater.

During the years 1914-1931, the home was owned by Bernard T. & Frances Meehan. In 1931, The Meehans gave the home to their daughter Bernice(a music student) and her husband, Martin Lewis Cory. Martin was a graduate of Yale University, represented Sun Maid Raisins in Turlock, and later studied music in San Francisco. He was a concert baritone appearing in concerts and on the radio. In 1929 he made an appearance in the American premiere of "The Wishing Well" in San Francisco's Curran Theater. In 1941 he joined the office of the investment banking firm of H.R.Baker & Co. and was an associate with Alex Brown and W.H. Bryan Jr.

In the formal living room of The Manor, Martin would give private concerts to VIPS of the time. They resided in the home until 1945 when they moved to Hollywood. During which time they moved in her mother Mrs. Frances Meehan until 1952.