PAST Logo Palo Alto Stanford Heritage

Home Architects & Builders  Holiday House Tour Newsletters Walking Tours
About PAST Centennial Houses INVENTORY Preservation Awards Contact PAST
Advocacy History and Architecture Articles   Master Index to Houses Resources Join / Donate

Palo Alto Historic Buildings Inventory

591 Stanford Avenue
College Terrace

inventory photo 591 Stanford
Inventory photo Photo taken April 10, 2014

The following is from the Historic Buildings Inventory as revised in 1985:

Physical appearance:   The decorative detailing of this one-story house, including brackets, porch columns and window patterns are purely Colonial Revival, but the cantilevered square-corner bay is a a common Mission Revival device.

A portion of the front porch is enclosed and the upstairs has been remodeled into one large bedroom from the original. The bath and kitchen have both been modernized.

The name "HOLSTON" is stamped into the concrete between curb and sidewalk on the Stanford Avenue side of the house.

Significance:  Bert R. Holston and his wife Gussie came to Mayfield in 1904 from Salinas, he to be the Southern Pacific RR agent at the Mayfield Station until his death in 1941. soon after arriving they contracted for a new house, where they lived until 1921 (then moving to 390 Leland Avenue). Mrs. Holston died at age 65 in 1937.

The Holstons were succeeded in the '20s and '30s by James Whitten (1869-1938), a retired rancher, and his wife Agnes.

Following the Whittens were Mrs. Leona P. Pearson (1947-1955) and Mai Simpson (1956-62).

Donati D' Espiso occupied it from 1963–1969, succeeded by a number of short-term occupants until the mid-70s. John F. Albrecht was the owner when the inventory sheet was prepared.

entry 591 Stanford
591 Stanford  
entry
map
Photos taken April 10, 2004 Location map

This house was built in 1904 and is a Category 4 on the Historic Buildings Inventory. The builder was Ole Olsen. The property measures 55 by 87 feet.

Sources: Personal knowledge of life-long resident Lillian L. Kirkbride; Palo Alto City directories; California Home, August 1904; Interview with John Albrecht, July 1981; Palo Alto Times 9/14/04. 4/25/33, 6/3/47.

Top


FaceBook f

E-mail us at either webmaster@pastheritage.org or president@pastheritage.org.

PAST Logo Palo Alto Stanford Heritage—Dedicated to the preservation of Palo Alto's historic buildings.