Alford-Nielson House
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Alford-Nielson House | |
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This historic home was thrown to the ground in the 1992 Cape Mendocino Earthquakes. | |
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| Location | 1299 Main Street, Ferndale, California |
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| Coordinates | 40°34′45″N 124°15′38″W / 40.57917°N 124.26056°WCoordinates: 40°34′45″N 124°15′38″W / 40.57917°N 124.26056°W |
| Built | 1875–1899 |
| Built by | James E. Brown |
| Architectural style | Second Empire French Style |
| NRHP Reference # | 86000100[1] |
| Added to NRHP | 23 January 1986 |
The Alford-Nielson Home, is the only example of Second Empire French Victorian Architecture in Ferndale, Humboldt County, California.[2]
History
In 1874, James E. Brown built what is now the back part of this house at a different location, 421 Main Street, in the current Main Street historical district.[3]
William B. Alford (1851-1921) a local pharmacist after whom the house is named, arrived in Humboldt County at age 21 in 1872 and moved to Ferndale in 1875 where he jointly owned a drugstore with his brother Frank A. Alford, M.D. immediately adjoining the former location of this house in the Main Street district.[3]
Dr. Alford married Mary Richmond in San Jose, California in 1877; the Second Empire French Style front building was added in the same year.[4]
In June 1893, the property was purchased by furniture dealer H.J. Mueller (1864-1900) who moved the house with the Alford family in residence to 1299 Main Street.[3] Six months later, the Alfords moved out and the Mueller family moved in.[3] The Muellers put an addition to the house in February 1896. The house and furnishings were purchased by Ed Mowry in August, 1903 and the Muellers moved to Livermore, California.[4]
The next owner, Maurice Nielson, lived there fifty-five years to 1977. He was one of the developers of modern creamery operations in Humboldt County.[5] Neilson was followed by a couple who started and finished a seven-year restoration then sold the house to Tom and Maura Eastman who filed for the home to be added to the National Register of Historic Places.[5] It was accepted at 112 years of age on 23 January 1986.[1]
The home sustained significant damage and fell off its footing in the 1992 Cape Mendocino earthquakes,[2] but was restored.[3]
References
- 1 2 National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
- 1 2 Ferndale Museum (2004). Bess Carol; Beryl Newman; Ann Roberts, eds. Images of America: Ferndale. Charleston, South Caroline: Arcadia Publishing. p. 67. 0-7385-2890-0.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Genzoli, Marilyn (1994). The Victorian Homes of Ferndale: A Pictorial Guide and History. Ferndale, CA: The Ferndale Museum. p. 2.
- 1 2 Edeline, Denis (May 31, 1996). "Ferndale Notes: August 1893-December 31, 1931" (PDF). Transcriptions from the Ferndale Enterprise and the Book of Deeds at the Humboldt County Court House. Retrieved April 25, 2011.
- 1 2 Van Kirk, Susie, Alford-Nielson Home, NRIS application, December 23, 1985
