The Alford–Nielson Home, is the only example of Second Empire French Victorian Architecture in Ferndale , Humboldt County , California .
7-522: 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 . 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
14-559: 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. The home sustained significant damage and fell off its footing in the 1992 Cape Mendocino earthquakes , but was restored. Ferndale Main Street Historic District A portion of
21-779: The Berding House , the Catholic Church of the Assumption Rectory , Ferndale Public Library and the Alford-Nielson House are within the city limits. The Fern Cottage Historic District and F. W. Andreasen–John Rossen House are slightly out of town. Many of Ferndale's buildings have been recreated at the Legoland California theme park – the only American small town represented alongside New York, San Francisco, Las Vegas and other nationally known locations. Ferndale
28-663: The Alfords moved out and the Mueller family moved in. The Muellers built 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 . 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. Neilson was followed by
35-597: The City of Ferndale was designated a State Historic Landmark (No. 883) in 1975 by the California State Parks Office of Historic Preservation . Ferndale's Main Street Historic District was established in 1994 by the National Park Service and placed on the National Register of Historic Places . Two distinct architectural phases are represented: late 19th century Victorian architecture , 1880 to 1890 and
42-521: The early Modern period of the 20th century, 1920 to 1936. Eastlake-Stick style buildings by Architect T.J. Frost are particularly well represented as are Italianate , Queen Anne , Neo-Classic , Bungalow , and Mission styles. The Ferndale Main Street Historic District covers 46 acres, includes 39 contributing buildings and one object, the Town Clock. Six other Historic Landmarks, the Shaw House ,
49-623: The former location of this house in the Main Street commercial district. Dr. Alford married Mary Richmond in San Jose, California in 1877; the Second Empire French Style front building was added in the same year. 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. Six months later,
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