Alford-Nielson House

Alford-Nielson House
This historic home was thrown to the ground in the 1992 Cape Mendocino Earthquakes.
Location: 1299 Main Street, Ferndale, California
Built: 1875-1899
Architectural style: Second Empire French Style
Governing body: Private, listed on the National Register of Historic Places
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]

Frank Alford (1851-1921) a local doctor 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 drug store, with his brother William immediately adjoining the former location of this house in the Main Street district.[3]

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, 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. 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. ^ a b National Register Information System (2008-04-15). "National Register of Historic Places". National Park Service. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html. Retrieved 03 March 2011. 
  2. ^ a b Ferndale Museum; Bess Carol, Beryl Newman and Ann Roberts, editors (2004). Images of America: Ferndale. Charleston, South Caroline: Arcadia Publishing. pp. 67. 0-7385-2890-0. 
  3. ^ a b c d e Genzoli, Marilyn (1994). The Victorian Homes of Ferndale: A Pictorial Guide and History. Ferndale, CA: The Ferndale Museum. pp. 2. 
  4. ^ a b Edeline, Denis (May 31, 1996). "Ferndale Notes: August 1893-December 31, 1931". Transcriptions from the Ferndale Enterprise and the Book of Deeds at the Humboldt County Court House. http://www.cagenweb.com/humboldt/FerndaleFinalNotes.pdf. Retrieved 25 April 2011. 
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