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

505 Homer Avenue

inventory photo 505
Inventory photo Photo taken May 5, 2012

 

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

Physical appearance:   This small one-and-one-half story house has playful and elaborate classical detailing and-emphatically articulated windows. the ornamentation is particularly fine. Originally, it was planned as a family residence on the ground floor and two rental apartments above. It was described in 1905 as a "handsome" building in the Colonial style.

Significance:  The house is beautifully and profusely detailed with Classical motifs. It is a superb example of the casual adaptation of a formal style. Harvey W. Fowler purchased the lot from Elbert E. Peck (see article on 860 University Avenue) and lived in the house briefly after it was completed.

From 1914 to 1930, it was occupied by George V. and Harriet E. Hayes, and from 1930 to 1941 by Miss Alice M. Brown.

During the 1950s and early 1960s, David and Elsie Jamieson were the occupants. Jamieson was an accountant for American Factors Ltd. of Honolulu who retired to Palo Alto after nearly fifty years with the firm.

In 1983, Morris and Alan Kalin were the owners of this home that functioned as a duplex.

 

plaque
Photo shows plaque that is not present in the photos taken in 2005.
porch
505 side
lawn map
Location map

This house was built in 1906 and is a Category 3 on the Historic Buildings Inventory. The architect was C. E. Branson and the builder was L. S. Bean. The property measures 50 by 100 feet.

Sources: Palo Alto City Directories; Palo Alto Times 2/17/06, 3/7/06, 4/17/06, 8/25/06, 9/17/06, 7/13/42, 12/10/56; Book 306 (Deeds), p. 8, 3/7/06 (Santa Clara Co. Recorder)

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.