Historically speaking

There is perhaps no better transect of architectural history in California than that to be found when heading east along Main Street Ventura. From the elegant mission quietly sitting near Ventura Avenue, into the brick pioneer development that typifies the downtown commercial district, and through the post-war growth east through Seaward and the merging of Thompson to the corporate commercialism of Pacific View Mall, Ventura serves up the intricate beauty and harsh realities of California’s constructed evolution.

While these commercial districts might offer the discernable heart of Ventura, it is nestled amongst the thriving community that these commercial structures serve so diligently that the city’s architectural soul can be found. From Italianate to Victorian and Colonial Revival through to the treasured Craftsman, Ventura not only offers a collage of style and influence bristling with homes that span the architectural spectrum, it is a mosaic of associated histories. Walk down any street and you will soon encounter an array of homes whose past reflect the diversity that seeded the city.

While we traditionally tend to think of historic homes being elegant examples of distinctive architectural heritage, a lot of Downtown Ventura is actually deemed eligible for historic consideration by the State of California-Resources Agency, Department of Parks and Recreation. That being homes that were constructed over 50 years ago. But history is, of course, about much more than simply counting the years. It’s about a community and the livelihoods it hosted. It’s about generations and traditions. But most of all it’s about people, which is something that a lot of Venturan’s have discovered through their homes.

A driving force in the preservation of historic properties in Ventura is the San Buenaventura Conservancy. The conservancy is an advocate for the recognition, preservation and revitalization of historic architectural and cultural resources within the County. It is also a catalyst for increasing public awareness of such. Which, given the architectural bounty here in Ventura, is something for which Conservancy Secretary Jerry Breiner is only too keen to describe.

“There is so much here,” Briener said. “You’ve got Italianate, you’ve got Victorian, Colonial Revival, and of course you have Craftsman. Walk down any Downtown treet and you see all that. But some of the best examples of diamonds in the rough you can’t even see, as they’re hidden. The whole city has so much of this stuff and, while the neighbors know about them, the general public doesn’t.”

Wander down Ash Street, and opposite the new condominiums on the former site of the Mayfair Theater sits one of the city’s more obvious crowning Victorian jewels. Constructed in 1892 in the Queen Anne cottage style, like a number of its contemporaries here in town, the Jacques Roos House has undergone somewhat of an identity crisis over the years. So named in 1991 after the former President of the Great Eastern Company, who was responsible for the building’s construction, the home had previously assumed the title of the Wilson House.

A.E. Wilson was an employee of Great Eastern Department Store, which was situated in what is now Nicholby’s Antique Store between 1892 and 1910. Wilson was a tenant of the house during the later part of his tenure as a clerk at the Great Eastern store. But when more historical light was shed upon the abode identifying Roos as the instigator of the house’s commission, a nomenclature adjustment was made accordingly. Whilst the complete history of the house is still subject to some mystery, current owner Teri Moore wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I’m not entirely sure of who has been here before me, but I know what flooring they liked,” laughed Moore. “It was a little like the age rings of a tree, but in this case I could tell the history of my house was by the layers of linoleum on the floor. When we went to put the flooring in the bathroom back to its original state — which is wood — we had to take all that off. It felt like peeling back history. It looked like a new layer went down every 10 years. Doing that you really got a sense of how many people had been there and the changes they made.”

When Moore purchased the property in 1999, the building couldn’t have fallen into the care of a more sympathetic custodian. While she might not have been specifically looking for a Victorian house at the onset of her quest for a new abode — and especially one that needed a little tender loving care — Moore’s encounter with the Jacques Roos House soon persuaded her otherwise. It was a challenge she felt she was ready to embrace, despite the advice that seemingly flowed freely from all whom she enlightened.

“Was I specifically looking for a Victorian home? No. But when I saw this house and decided I had to buy it,” Moore said. “We went though quite a bit of craziness to buy it, including selling two smaller houses to get it. A house like this one doesn’t come on to the market very often and we found it and liked it and worked out a way to buy it. The postman even told me not to buy it because it definitely needed some love, but I didn’t listen and bought it anyway.”

Since the home has been in her care she has undertaken a series of extensive renovations to the property – all with the original design guiding the restoration – to return the building to its grandiose state. From the elaborate trim that decorates the home’s exterior through to returning the flooring to their former grandeur, the Jacques Roos House is now glistening as vibrantly as it did in its heyday.

“A lot of people have changed houses like this one a lot, and one of the things we have tried to do is keep it fairly original,” Moore said. “We felt strongly about keeping it as original as possible. We haven’t ripped out anything that’s original — although we have taken out a lot of cover up stuff. Things that people before us have done. We have put the bathroom back to its original format with the pulley toilet and chain and the claw foot tub. That had all been removed, and we put it all back.”

The Jacques Roos House isn’t the only elaborate example of Queen Anne architecture that solicits one’s attention Downtown. In the 600 block of East Thompson Boulevard magestically resides The Mary Mitchell House. The home is part of the Mitchell Block Historic District which was established in 1977 and encompasses several properties within the block opposite Plaza Park. The house was constructed by E.L. Mitchell, the proprietor of a brick business, in 1890 and subsequently given to his daughter after whom the building was later named.

Along with a neighboring property, the Mary Mitchell House is one of only two remaining homes boasting brick construction prior to the 20th century. An almost gothic take on Queen Anne Victorian, the house is characterized by a distinctive square tower rising above the front entrance with an associated parapet. Since passing from the hands of the Mitchells, the building has played host to both residential and commercial occupants with it currently housing an interesting offering of both.

“It’s been a few things from what I understand, both residential and commercial,” said one of the building’s current tenants, Si-Si McQuade, the proprietor of Nourishments. “It was a home for Shepherd of the Hills which was a home for young Christian Children, and it was a recovery home at one point as well. Now it’s residential on the bottom — there’s two apartments — and commercial on top. Along with my business there’s also a counseling center with lots of different therapists that’s been there for 15 years.”

While Nourishments — a personal care spa — has only occupied the building for a little over a year, McQuades’ connection with the Mary Mitchell House stretches back much further. A long time resident of Ventura, the Mitchell Block’s distinctive brickwork had always caught McQuade’s attention whenever navigating Thompson Boulevard. And in 2002, when she commenced her studies at the Kali Institute, the groundwork was soon laid for an enduring professional relationship with the house.

“I went to massage school there about six years ago,” explained McQuade. “One of the owners of Kali massage institute lived there, and that was her home, but she also held her anatomy class there on Wednesday evenings. So I went there once a week for four months for my anatomy class. Then you fast forward it five years and I was looking for a building to put my business in, and I was given that address and here I am!”

As the Mary Mitchell House so aptly highlights, with the expansion of Downtown Ventura’s commercial reach came the transformation of residential properties into commercial premises. There are countless examples of such ringing the city center. A Poli Street house built for Judge Felix Ewing in 1894 is now home to a law office, as is the city’s finest example of Italianate architecture, the Emanuel Franz House, which was built for the Austrian mercantile on North Oak Street in 1879.

Back on the south side of Main Street, at the corner of Santa Clara and Figueroa streets, the Peirano Residence displays its classicly restored Queen Anne style. Now hosting consultation rooms for various traditional and alternative therapists, amongst others, this house dates back to 1897 when Nicola Peirano built the home for his young bride, Clara Rafetto. Peirano also lends his name to Peirano’s Market on Main Street, one of the first brick commercial buildings to be built in Ventura.

Established in 1877 by Italian merchant Alex Gandolfo, the general store was taken over some 13 years later by his nephew, Nicola Peirano. The home that Peirano built at 107 Figueroa remained in constant use by the family until 1976, after which it eventually found its way into the restorative hands of Donald Parrish. The building then became the Parish Law Offices, before entertaining a more diverse array of occupants, one of which is currently Jenny Benjamin.

“I grew up in Ventura, and I wanted to start my business here,” Benjamin said. “So I drove around town and thought this is where I want to be, right here, this is it. It became available last January, and I felt so happy to get it. I just love this place.”

When Peirano first immigrated to California — at the instigation of his uncle — he lived a humble existence in the mezzanine of the Main Street market. After meeting Bakersfield-born Clara Rafetto and convincing her to wed, Peirano set about building a family home. The house was separated from the store by just one block, with China Alley running between the two. The preservation of both Peirano properties is something that clearly delights Benjamin.

“It gives us a sense of culture, place and time,” she said. “But, just as importantly, this old house also offers a little of the ambiance from a time when the pace of life was much slower.

I’m sure the Peiranos sat on the porch and look out at the ocean. They could see China Alley and see their neighbors across the street. The broad verandas were perfect for that. And I am sure the view back then was really something to see.”

As you venture east toward Midtown, the commercial grip of the historic houses lessens. While the homes you start to encounter might not be as grand in stature, they are just as enchanting in character. Sitting in the 900 block of East Santa Clara Street is the elegant J. Hoover Love House. The house has also been known locally as the “Dahlia House,” given the former owner’s fascination with growing prize-winning examples of the Mexican perennial.

Currently adorned with a swinging “For Sale” sign, the J. Hoover Love House was constructed in 1923 and is the handiwork of renowned local architect Louis Rudulph. Shortly after completion the home was sold to the county’s tax collector, J. Hoover Love. Nestled amongst an offering of finely presented Craftsman homes, the J. Hoover Love’s hybrid of Mediterranean meets American Arts and Crafts instantly sets it apart from its neighbors.

Another interesting crossbred quietly resides in the 1900 block of San Nicholas Street. Replete with a waterfall, a miniature meadow, a fish-filled lake, and even an offering of granite snowcapped Alps in front, the house itself resembles something poetically lifted from a Hansel and Gretel fairytale. For 20 years owner and tradesman Chris Wedemeyer has painstakingly crafted a whimsical salute to his Germanic roots.

“I wanted to create a theme that went with the house,” Wedemeyer said. “And I love it up in the Austrian Alps so I wanted to bring some of that back home with me. The landscaping offers a little slice of Austria while the scalloped fissure and the fish-scale shingles on the side all help create a kind of Alpine Bavarian feel. I am of German heritage and grew up with cuckoo clocks and Hansel and Gretel stories so I wanted the place to reflect that too.”

But The Wedemeyer Home embraces much more than that. Colored lead-lights bathe the interior in a subtle glow during the day while also offering a colorful mosaic in each window for passersby at night. The vaulted ceiling highlights exposed beams that offer the compact residence a unique sense of space. Various rooms are decorated to serve as evocative odes to the family’s travels through Africa and the Middle East.

The attention to detail is overwhelming, but the most impressive inclusions reside in the house’s extremes. Perched upon the roof and accessible through a discrete hatch in the spare bedroom is an ornate tower. A ladder in the room offers a point of entry to the steeply annexed space, which is filled with childhood mementos. Another hidden hatch — this time tucked under a rug in the kitchen — leads underground to an elaborately sculpted wine cellar.

“It’s great to do something creative for yourself,” Wedemeyer said. “But for other people to also enjoy the house so much is really something special. People are always stopping in and telling me how they to come by and chill and take in the vibe. Sometimes I invite people in to sit on the bench or bring their children in to feed the fish. For the people who live in the neighborhood and know the house it has become something they enjoy too, which is great.”

As The Wedemeyer House so aptly reflects, the beauty of these homes is that they can offer everybody something a little different. For some of us they are chariots for stories from the past or echoes of a less complicated time. For others they are a direct link to their ancestry or heritage while, for some, they are simply home. But, no matter who has occupied these homes, past or present, they belong to all of us.

As these graceful architectural offerings so ardently attest, the houses that adorn the streets of Ventura reflect myriad tastes and styles. But these are just a sampling of the countless properties that have defiantly stood against time to flavor our community with a taste of our rich past. With that in mind, it is up to the community to assist in their preservation, something of which the San Buenaventura Conservancy is only too aware.

“They will always play a role offering us an example of where we were,” the conservancy’s Breiner said. “People don’t last forever, but buildings are the part of our culture that best represent where we’ve been. You know, the Acropolis and the Arc de Triomphe, these buildings showcase where we were and how important they are to take care of because they are our link to the past. We are just passersby in this whole thing. The buildings stand and watch over us and we take care of them. And we can all assist in doing that.”   

The Reporter would like to tell the story of other historic homes and structures throughout the county. If you know of other buildings you think should be featured in future stories like this one please let us know by writing editor@vcreporter.com.