James Simpson built the house in 1892 and likely used a design he found in a book (being a skilled carpenter, he also modified it). He started working as a shipbuilder before becoming a homebuilding and remodeling contractor. He and his wife had 16 children, 12 of whom survived at the time the large house was built.John M. Vance bought the house in 1902. He acquired his wealth from his uncle who held interests in the lumber and timber industries. After his uncle died, John inherited these interests. John, who was one of the wealthiest Eureka residents, redecorated and furnished the home into a showpiece. For example, he gave the library a Turkish makeover, and converted two upstairs bedrooms into den for one of his sons. John died in 1907 and his wife in 1933. One of their daughters lived in the house until 1943. It then became a residence for older women.The Redwood Community Action Agency bought it in 1967 but had to sell it two years later. The home became a halfway house for a few years before the state bought it as part of a plan to built a right-of-way for a freeway. This project fell through and the house was saved from demolition. The Redwood Community Action Agency bought it once again in 1980 and has remained there ever since.

The Simpson-Vance House was built in 1892 and is a fine example of Queen Anne architecture.

Learn more about the Queen Anne architecture in Eureka

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History of the Redwood Community Action Agency

Situated prominently at the corner of 9th and G Streets, the Simpson-Vance house is one of the best examples of Queen Anne architecture in Eureka. It is also significant for its association with its first owner and builder, James Simpson, and its second owner, John M. Vance, who was a prominent local businessman. The house features many decorative elements including an octagonal tower on the northeast corner, ornate woodwork, and rounded windows. Since 1980, the house has been the headquarters of the Redwood Community Action Agency, a non-profit whose purpose is to provide assistance to low to moderate-income residents.

Simpson-Vance House

This walking tour of Eureka is a work in progress. begins at the Simpson-Vance House and Eureka Inn and makes its way to the downtown area with stops at the Arkley Center for Performing Arts, Eureka Theater, Clarke Museum, and other landmark buildings and historic homes. 

The Eureka Inn is a large historic hotel in Eureka, California built in 1922 and significantly expanded two years later. It was designed by Frederick Whitton in the Tudor Revival style. It was completed around the same time that the Redwood Highway—connecting Eureka with San Francisco—was finished. The city of Eureka anticipated the large numbers of travelers who would drive northwards to see the Redwood forests and therefore saw the hotel as a centerpiece in its plan to boost Eureka's economic development. 

Several famous guests have stayed at the hotel including Ronald Reagan, Bobby Kennedy, Steven Spielberg, Joe Montana, and Robert Plant. The hotel has been well maintained over the years and has undergone several renovations, the most recent of which completed in 2010.

Eureka Inn

The city established its first library, called the Eureka Free Library, in 1878. It was initially located in rented rooms. The idea to request funds to build the present building originated with a local pastor named Rev. J.H. Wythe, Jr., who suggested the idea to the Humboldt County Chamber of Commerce, which wrote a letter to Carnegie requesting funds. He agreed to donate $20,000 if the city promised to find a site and support the library (local residents donated money as well). The library operated until 1972, although it continued to house the library's administrative services for some time. By the mid-1990s, the library was under threat of demolition but the city and the Humboldt Arts Council worked together to save and restore it. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.

Located in the historic Carnegie Free Library building, the Morris Graves Museum of Art showcases art created locally, in the northwest, and from around the world. The museum features changing exhibitions and a permanent collection primarily comprised of works of art by the museum's namesake, Morris Graves (1910-2001). The Humboldt County Arts Council operates the museum, which opened in the old building on January 1, 2000. As for the building itself, it was built in 1904 and is a fine example of Classical Revival architecture. The exterior features a large portico with two-story tall Corinthian columns and a terra cotta Roman arch. Inside, the building features a mosaic floor and solid redwood Ionic columns. The building is also significant for its association with the man for whom it is named, Andrew Carnegie, one of the richest people in the world of the late 19th and early 20th centuries who donated money to help build libraries around the country. 

Morris Graves Museum of Art

The historic Eureka Theater—Humboldt County’s 1939 Streamline Modern movie palace, operated and maintained by the Eureka Concert and Film Center, a 501©3 non-profit organization.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Eureka Theater is host to numerous events throughout the year, and is in the ongoing process of restoration to its original glory. Located in downtown Eureka, California, the Eureka Theater is also available for event and performance rentals, tours, weddings, graduations, small parties and receptions.

Eureka Theater

Eureka's first theater, known as Ryan's Hall, was built in 1866 and others were built during the next few decades. The construction of Sweasey Theater (it became Loew's State Theater a year later), which was Eureka's first modern playhouse, marked the beginning of a new era in the city's entertainment history. It was larger and featured amenities the earlier theaters did not have including dressing rooms, property rooms, a stage, and retiring rooms. In addition to hosting traveling vaudeville acts, the theater also showed films. The theater was so impressive that newspapers compared favorably to theaters in Los Angeles and San Francisco (the Reid brothers were based in San Francisco and they designed several other theaters as well, so perhaps this is not surprising). The theater operated until 1973 and became a department store, which eventually closed in 1995. Local philanthropists Rob and Cherie Arkley bought the theater in 2003 and proceeded to renovate it. By that time, the theater apparently needed a lot of work. After four years of renovation, the theater opened under its current name.

Built in 1920, the Arkley Center for the Performing Arts—originally called Sweasey Theater—is a historic theater in downtown Eureka. The building is described as "eclectic," as architects James and Merrit Reid designed it combining the Beaux Arts, Sullivanesque, and Mission styles. The building's facade features ornate terra cotta decorations, twin towers, and the marquee. The theater was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. 

Arkley Center for the Performing Arts

Built in 1892 by the lumber magnate William Carson, the Carson Block Building was the first major commercial property in Eureka. As one of the first properties to provide professional office and retail space for rental to commercial tenants, the Carson Block Building greatly contributed to the economic vitality of Eureka's Old Town. In the 1920s a layer of white stucco was added to the exterior, obscuring the original appearance of the red brick facade. During the early twentieth century, the second and third floors of this unique property also contained the Ingomar Theater. This 837 seat theater was considered one of the most opulent theaters to be found anywhere on the West Coast. Later, the theater was removed and converted into storage space. In 1986, the property was purchased by the Northern Californian Indian Development Council (NCIDC), as part of its broad goal to assist in the preservation of historic and archaeological sites in Eureka. In 2016, the building underwent major upgrades and a restoration of its original appearance circa 1910. To achieve this, plaster stucco and glass block were removed so that the property's original historical appearance would again be revealed. The west turret was also restored after having been removed in the 1950s in an attempt to modernize the building. The terra cotta exterior and pebbling above the third floor windows were restored on the facade, along with period-appropriate replacement windows and a new roof that was in keeping with the original look of the building circa 1910. During this restoration, the property was also seismically upgraded with new steel framing throughout the building. A new mezzanine level was built to replace the old, while offices were renovated and the former theater area, which had previously been converted into storage rooms, was restored and newly converted into an event space once again. In addition, new heating and ventilation systems were installed, along with new electrical upgrades, new communications and data wiring systems, fire protection and sprinkler systems, as well as improvements for handicapped accessibility. The restoration also included a return to the building's original red brick exterior. A layer of white stucco that had been added in the 1920s was removed, revealing the original red brick as well as decorative terra cotta tiling. When the historic Carson Block building had its grand reopening in 2016 following this major restoration, the North Coast Journal newspaper dubbed it "the grand ruby in Eureka's Old Town crown."

The Carson Block Building was one of Eureka's first commercial properties. This 50,000 square foot property was constructed from redwood, brick, and cast iron, with terra cotta detailing. In 2016, a major restoration was completed, which further revitalized Eureka's Old Town Historic District. The Carson Block Building received a California Preservation Foundation Design award, as well as a Governor's Award.

Carson Block Building

The Ritz Building stands out among the other buildings in Eureka's Old Town Historic District for its Art Moderne or Streamline Moderne style. This style was similar to and contemporaneous with the Art Deco design style. These styles were popular especially from 1925 to 1940, although they were also still used over the decades that followed, as was the case with the Ritz Building's redesign in 1947. Unlike Art Deco, which often integrated stylized floral or fountain motifs on buildings that tended to be sharp, angular, and linear, the Art Moderne or Streamline Moderne style preferred a sleek look with curves and rounded edges. Both styles were derived from the International Exposition (Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes) hosted in Paris, France, in 1925. The goal of each style was to break free of past influences and to embrace the future, including the age of aerodynamics and speed. To achieve this effect, Streamline Moderne was known for its use of curved glass, rounded corners, ribbon or band windows, a flat roofline, a curved canopy, and smooth wall finishes. These elements can each be observed in the Ritz Building. In the case of the Ritz Building, this also meant moving on from the earlier era when Woolworth's first came to Eureka in 1913. Woolworth's was a popular American chain of variety stores, or general stores, which also included a soda counter and cafe. Originally founded in 1879 in the eastern U.S., the popular chain made its way to California, setting up storefronts in major American towns and cities along the way. Images of the grand opening of the Woolworth Store in Eureka in 1913 show a building with a canvas awning, an element that would have been greatly out of character with the later redesign of the property in 1946-7 in the Streamline Moderne style. However, as it turns out, Woolworth stores in California are frequently remembered in the popular imagination as being synonymous with Art Moderne and Art Deco style storefronts. Following the major redesign of the property in 1946-7 by the architect Franklin T. Georgeson, the Ritz Building borrows its name from the "Ritz and Star Cigar Shop" owned by A.J. Batini and Dolindo Massei, as well as the Ritz nightclub that once operated on this property. In 1978, a restoration of the building was undertaken by Daniel and Jayne Olliver, and in the years that followed, the Ritz Building was converted into an apartment complex called the Ritz Apartments. Currently, the street-level storefront houses a bar featuring Art Moderne interior decor and styling. The property is a Eureka Historic Landmark, and it is located within Eureka Old Town Historic District. In 2010, a historical plaque was placed at the site by the Eureka Heritage Society, in conjunction with Eureka Main Street.

The Ritz Building was built by James Simpson in 1885. It was modified in 1913 so that it could house a Woolworth store. In 1946-7, the building was fully redesigned in the Streamline Moderne style by the architect Franklin T. Georgeson. The Ritz Building was designated as a Eureka Historic Landmark in 2010. A historical plaque was placed on the side of the building by Eureka Main Street and the Eureka Heritage Society.

Ritz Building

Cecile Clark (1885-1979)&nbsp;was a history teacher for many years at Eureka High School. During that time, she collected Native American baskets and&nbsp;displayed them&nbsp;at the school. Eventually, the school ran out of space for her growing collection so Cecile decided to sell her family's sheep farm and used the money to buy the Bank of Eureka&nbsp;Building (the bank merged with another in 1957 and moved out). The original name for the museum was the Clark Memorial Museum but it changed to its current one in 2001.

Established in 1960 by high school teacher Cecile Clarke, the Clarke Historical Museum in Eureka, California explores the history of Humboldt County, featuring exhibits on the Native American tribes of the Northwest, the gold rush period, the lumber industry, and ranching. Its collections include numerous artifacts such as textiles, tools, various household items and weapons. Its photographs and documents illustrate the history of European settlement from the 1850s onward. The Native American collection is extensive, containing women's ceremonial caps, flour and gambling trays, baskets, flint and obsidians points, a Yoruk canoe, and fishing gear. The museum is housed in the former Bank of Eureka building that was built in 1911. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

Clarke Historical Museum

In 1886, the Finnish immigrants Henry and Elvira Tornroth built the Eagle House Hotel not far from the docks along Eureka's bustling waterfront area. At the time, Eureka was a hub for the lumber, mining, and shipping trades. The growing city's location near Humbolt Bay made it well situated for commerce. Given all of the industrial and commercial activity that took place in Eureka during the late nineteenth century, the waterfront area was able to support four large hotels, one of which was the Eagle House. The unique property features an elegant corner bay window on three stories. The bay windows contain curved glass, an unusual stylistic element. The curved bay windows are on part of the property that was added later. As such, they contrast with the relatively simple rectilineal bay windows that appear elsewhere on the building. The property also features extensive decorative molding on the exterior, including a whimsical row of "buttons" or medallions between the second and third stories. In the twentieth century, a fourth story was also added onto the roof which, although not in keeping with the original Victorian design, added another stylistic element. In 1907, the property was leased to Joseph Massei and Domenico Caturegli, who later became the owners of the hotel in 1921. Massei and Caturegli gave the Eagle House Hotel an Italian flair, renaming it the Buon Gusto Hotel and Restaurant. ("Buon Gusto" means "good food" in Italian). The Buon Gusto became a favorite gathering place and watering hole among the locals. The Massei family continued to own the property for the next fifty years. Thereafter, it sat vacant for a period of time, until a revitalization of Eureka's Old Town historic waterfront began during the 1980s. In 1984, the property's name was restored to the Eagle House Hotel, although the Buon Gusto remained the name of the street-level restaurant. The guest rooms were remodeled, and antiques were brought in to restore a Victorian style to the interior. During this era, the Buon Gusto restaurant became a nightclub, offering theater style entertainment. In 1989, the property was sold to the Cho family, originally from South Korea. They added some Asian details, such as a red bathtub with a bird faucet in one of the rooms, and they mainly sought to further restore to the hotel to its original look and feel. Under their ownership, the theater stage and ballroom floor were restored by Blue Ox Millworks, a local company. Meanwhile, a historic preservation specialist was commissioned to select specifically Victorian paint colors and wallpaper patterns. Since 2005, the restaurant has been occupied by Gallagher's Irish Pub &amp; Restaurant. In 2017, the entire property was purchased jointly by the Metz family and the Rex family. Together, they further updated the antique furnishings and the decor to enhance the Victorian ambience while modernizing some of the amenities. Currently, the historic Eagle House name refers to the theater and ballroom, while the hotel portion of the property has been renamed the "Inn at 2nd and C."

The Eagle House Hotel was built in 1886 by Finnish immigrants Henry and Elvira Tornroth. The historic Olympia home currently serves as an event venue and gathering space, as well as The Inn at 2nd & C. The exterior and interior of the home feature a variety of design elements from the Victorian Era and the building is part of Eureka's Old Town Historic District, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. 

Eagle House Hotel (The Inn at 2nd & C)

Constructed in 1879 for J. Lowenthal, this building was designed by C.J. Wall and built with local brick by Johnson &amp; Wilcos construction company. At the time that the property was built, it was described as both Corinthian and Elizabethan. Among the building's more fanciful elements, a false front parapet was used as a decorative element on the roofline to draw one's eye to the facade. A row of colorfully painted cast iron supporting columns create an open porch area, in front of the recessed shop entrance. The cast iron used in the columns was produced locally by the Eureka Foundry (owned and operated by T.J. Lannigan in the late nineteenth century). The building's columns represent one of the few remaining examples of locally cast iron that was used for architectural purposes in what is now considered Eureka's Old Town Historic District. The interior of the building features ornamental plaster that dates to the era when the property was built. Currently the home of Eureka Books, the interior now features thousands of new and used books for sale, in addition to rare finds. The historic bookstore, which moved into the J. Lowenthal building in 1987, is known as one of the few remaining professional antiquarian booksellers in the region. Along with books, the shop also sells prints and posters by local photographers and artists.

Constructed in 1879 by J. Lowenthal, this building previously served as a gallery space and has been home to Eureka Books since 1987. This local bookseller is one of the few remaining purveyors of rare and historic books in the region. In addition to the rare books, the store offers a wide range of new and used books and special events for book lovers. The facade offers one of the most unique architectural designs in Eureka's Old Town Historic District while the interior features ornamental plasterwork that is original to the building. 

J. Lowenthal Building (Eureka Books)

In 1904, D.C. McDonald built this two-story masonry structure to house his successful building supply company in Eureka. This company provided the tools and building materials for many other local and regional businesses in the early twentieth century. The property itself is considered an excellent example of Classical Revival architecture, which was popular during this era. The Classical Revival style is showcased in features such as the fluted pilasters, which support the arched entryway, as well as the decorative scrollwork on the second story molding. This building was constructed in brick and molded concrete, which was designed to imitate stone, particularly the "rusticated, rough-textured concrete blocks" that were molded into piers on the lower story. This was the first concrete building in Eureka. The second story features frosted arched transom windows, each showcasing a keystone above their respective arches. Between the first and second stories, a wide brick band prominently displays the name of the D.C. McDonald Company in gold lettering. The property was owned and occupied by the D.C. McDonald Company from 1904 until the 1960s, at which time a motorcycle dealership took over the building. Despite several other commercial uses over the years, the brick and concrete facade of this building remains unaltered. As such, it continues to reflect the appearance of the property at the time when the D.C. McDonald company served the community of Eureka by selling building supplies. Today, this property continues to evoke the period of industrial growth and commercial activity in early twentieth-century Eureka. The D.C. McDonald Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Since 1991, it has also contributed to the National Register of Historic Places as a part of the Eureka Old Town Historic District. In 1994, a historical plaque was placed at the site, at which time the current owner of property received a Preservation Award from the Eureka Heritage Society. The plaque also lists the property as a Eureka Historic Landmark. The historical plaque is mounted on the pilaster to the immediate left of the entryway.

The D.C. McDonald Building was built in 1904. It was owned and occupied by the McDonald Company until the 1960s, at which time a motorcycle dealership took over the property. Its Classical Revival style evokes the period of industrial growth and commercial activity in early twentieth-century Eureka. The property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. 

D.C. McDonald Building

In 1893, August Palmtag commissioned Knowles Evans to construct a two story Queen Anne style property for commercial use. To construct the property, an older building was torn down and another was relocated. These buildings, which housed Pratt's Furniture and Levi Clothing, were simple structures with little architectural detailing, built by the earliest settlers in Eureka. However, by the late nineteenth century, this booming commercial district had begun to reflect the changing tastes and acquired wealth of Eureka's business community. The August Palmtag building is a fine example of commercial architecture built in the Queen Anne style in Eureka's Old Town. The second story of the building features a large, flat-roofed, rounded and cantilevered bay window. Originally, it was capped with a copper roof, thus serving as the primary focal point when viewed by pedestrians from the street. From the interior, the gently bowed edges of this large bay offer an excellent two-way view of both F Street and 2nd Streets. The corner bay is complemented by additional bays with pedimented gables on each facade of the building. Although the ground floor of the property was remodeled in 1915 and 1922, the second floor remains as it appeared when it was originally built, with details such as patterned shingles in the Queen Anne style. The builder, Knowles Evans, had previously worked as a secretary for the Lincoln Mill Company before venturing out on his own. After completing the August Palmtag Building in 1893, Evans enjoyed a successful career in Eureka that also included building the city's Carnegie Library, as well as Eureka's Renaissance-style Georgeson Block building in 1903. The first business to occupy the primary storefront in the August Palmtag building was the Pacific Pharmacy, a mainstay in Eureka's Old Town during the late Victorian era. In addition, August Palmtag ran a wholesale liquor business from this property. In the rear of the building, a cigar &amp; confectionary shop, as well as a produce shop, sold goods to customers along Opera Alley. On the second floor, the office of Dr. Theodore Felt and his son, Dr. Rae Felt, occupied the space with the large cantilevered bay window. Dr. Theodore Felt, originally from Kentucky, was one of the first doctors to arrive in Eureka during its early gold mining days when medical care and supplies weren't readily available in remote locations. A generation later, his son, Dr. Rae Felt, graduated from the University of California Medical School and served as a primary physician for the U.S. Marine Hospital in San Francisco. The August Palmtag Building has housed many different businesses over the years and it continues to do so. A historical plaque placed at the site by the Eureka Heritage Society and Eureka Main Street lists several other important local businesses that have occupied the August Palmtag Building throughout the history of the property. These businesses have contributed to the vitality of Eureka's Old Town commercial area. The August Palmtag Building is currently a contributing property to Eureka's Old Town Historic District, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.

August Palmtag, a Eureka businessman, commissioned this property in 1893. During the late nineteenth century, the commercial area that now comprises Eureka's Old Town was experiencing considerable prosperity and a construction boom. Architecturally, this property is a good example of the Queen Anne style in a commercial building. It contributes to the Eureka Old Town Historic District, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. 

August Palmtag Building

In 1872, lumber pioneer John Vance commissioned to the architect B. Mackay to design a new hotel near the bustling Eureka waterfront. This area was filled with shops, warehouses, and saloons. Mackay's original design featured two stories, plus a sloping mansard roof with an "attic style" third floor. The roof was topped by a cupola, intended for viewing ships that were arriving or departing from the Humbolt Bay. The Vance Hotel as it was originally built featured over 65 guest rooms, plus a dining room that could serve up to 120 people. It was considered to be the grandest hotel in the region, "not excelled by any hotel outside San Francisco for beauty, size, cost and architecture." In 1885, the Vance Hotel became the first building in Eureka to have electricity and one of the first wood-frame commercial buildings in the county to offer electric light. Its electricity was powered by the generator at Vance's saw mill, then located on G street. The Vance Hotel also held the distinction of being the second-largest building in California to be constructed entirely of wood. This is perhaps fitting, given that the building's owner made his fortune in lumber. In 1902, the mansard roof was removed during a remodel of the property by a new owner, M. Delon. In its place, two additional full stories were added to create a twice as many hotel rooms. Thus, the upper two stories showcase a relatively more restrained Edwardian or Classical Revival style architecture, as opposed to the earlier and more ornate Victorian style that characterizes the two lower stories. The lower two stories still retain their original 1872 facade. In 1912, a moat bridge was added to connect the second story of the Vance Hotel with a neighboring warehouse on the opposite side of Snug Alley, the small delivery street that ran between the two buildings. This moat bridge enabled hotel guests to conveniently reach the warehouse, where they were able to view sample displays of products being offered for sale by traveling merchants. For many years, the hotel served as the commercial and social center of the town. During the 1950s, the hotel was purchased during a private auction by the family of the actor, Lloyd Bridges. It was one of several historic buildings in Eureka acquired by the Bridges family. In 1998, the Vance Hotel was again acquired by new owners, who restored the property as a Victorian retail and office space complex. Today, the Vance Hotel building houses various businesses, shops, and restaurants, such as the Vance Cafe in a street-level storefront. Tenants also include Eureka Main Street, a public-private partnership that represents the interests of the merchants, professionals, community organizations, and the City of Eureka. The Vance Hotel anchors Eureka's Old Town Historic District, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.

The Vance Hotel was built in 1872 in the Italianate style under the leadership of John Vance, a Eureka lumber magnate and entrepreneur. The Vance Hotel was the first hotel in the city to have electricity. It also advertised first class service and was regarded as the finest hotel in northern California outside San Francisco at the turn of the twentieth century. Today, the building is home to the organization "Eureka Main Street," as well as various retailers. The hotel is also part of the Eureka Old Town Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Vance Hotel Building

William and Sarah Carson built this Victorian Era property for their first-born son as a wedding gift. William Carson originally came to California to discover gold, but he instead ended up making his fortune in lumber. In 1854, he opened a lumber mill in Humbolt County and the following year he began shipping redwood lumber from Humbolt Bay to San Francisco. He made avname for himself as his mill was the first to ship redwood lumber (San Francisco had previously only received spruce and fir). After making his fortune, William Carson built an elegant mansion in Eureka for himself and his wife, Sarah. Then, they built a house across the street for their son, John Milton Carson. In addition to their refined architectural sensibilities, the Carsons were known for using their wealth to benefit the community as philanthropists. Constructed in 1889, the Pink Lady (as it was named) was designed by the Newsom brothers in the Queen Anne style. True to this late nineteenth-century architectural style, the Pink Lady features curved porches, single-panel double-hung windows, a gabled roof, and a large domed turret. From this property, the turret offers a clear view of Humbolt Bay. The salmon-colored exterior walls and white trim were a popular paint color combination during the period when the home was built. The interior of the home also features Queen Anne elements, including a large foyer or vestibule, a dramatic curved staircase, stained glass windows, and compartmentalized rooms, including small round sitting rooms below the turret. In addition, the interior of the home showcases ornate molding and woodwork, decorative fireplaces, sliding pocket doors, and a sun porch, as well as carefully framed, pristine views of the Humbolt Bay and the Carson Mansion located across the street. After John Milton Carson and his family sold this home in 1912, it changed hands a few times before it fell under the ownership of two German sisters, who operated a boarding house in the property. However, in 1942, the U.S. government seized the home as Nazi property during World War II. The house was then sold at a private auction in 1951, at which time it was purchased by the father of television actor, Lloyd Bridges, who significantly restored the house. Today, the Pink Lady contributes to the Old Town Eureka Historic District, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. Currently, the property offers rooms for vacation rental. Guests can experience the feel of a waterfront Victorian home replete with nineteenth-century details, from wrapped porches and polished banisters to crystal chandeliers and claw-footed bathtubs.

The Pink Lady is a Queen Anne style home that was built in 1889 for the family of John Milton Carson. Carson was the son of William and Sarah Carson, whose mansion is located just across the street. The Queen Anne design aesthetic that is showcased in the Pink Lady also includes highly ornamental exterior wall surfaces, including scalloped shingles. The Pink Lady is located on the eastern edge of Eureka's Old Town historic district and serves as a vacation rental home. 

The Pink Lady

William Carson was born in 1825 in New Brunswick, Canada and eventually made his way to California during the Gold Rush. He worked in the lumber industry for many years before starting his own company with John Dolbeer in 1863. In 1881, Carson invented the first steam powered saw which revolutionized the industry and helped make him very wealthy. The Pacific Lumber Company bought the company in 1950 and the Carson family sold the house to businessman who then founded the Ingomar Club.

The Carson Mansion is a historic home located in Eureka, California. It was built by lumber baron William Carson in 1886 after two years of construction. The mansion was designed by architect Samuel Newsom and Joseph Cather in the American Queen Anne style. It is considered one of the finest examples of this stye in the country. Since 1950 it has been home to a private organization called the Ingomar Club and is not open for tours. However, those interested can view pictures of the mansion and learn about the background of its builder on the club's website (please see the link below).

Carson Mansion

This firehouse was built for the "Columbia Hose Company Number 4," which was established on April 2, 1894. At the time, there were a total of seven volunteer fire companies that were organized in Eureka between the years 1873 and 1908. The Columbia Hose Company Number 4 was among these early companies and its firehouse is the only surviving firehouse in Eureka from this early period. None of the other seven firehouses remain standing today. The Columbia Hose Company Number 4 had 25 active members at the time of its original charter. The firehouse is a modest wooden structure that was built with only two rooms. One room contained combined sleeping and office quarters. The other room contained space for the fire hose cart, which included a leather fire hose wrapped around a cylindrical reel suspended between a pair of wheels. This bulky, heavy fire hose cart device was initially pulled by hand by a team of men. A few years later, it was replaced by a fire wagon, which was pulled by horse power. In the early days of the firehouse, fire wagons required one or more horses harnessed to the wagon to pull the fire hose along with a steam engine to pump the water. A large and colorful mural, which was painted on an exterior side wall of the Number 4 firehouse, depicts the era of the horse-drawn fire wagon. The mural was painted on the wood siding by C.R. Spicer in 1995. It is titled, "Fire House Alarm, Horse Drawn Fire Wagon." A historical plaque was also added to the building by the Native Sons of the Golden West on June 29, 1997. It appears just to the left of the front entryway.

The Hose Company No. 4 Firehouse was built in 1894. At the time that it was constructed, over two dozen men were active volunteer members of the firehouse. The Hose Company No. 4 Firehouse was one of seven such firehouses in Eureka. This building is the only remaining firehouse from Eureka's early era of fire protection.  

Eureka California Walking Tour

Simpson-Vance House

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources

Additional Information