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| Photo taken in 1978. | Photo taken in 2014. |
The following is from the Historic Buildings Inventory as revised in 1985:
This is a simple one–story cottage with elaborate bargeboard decoration.
A modest building enriched by vernacular ornamentation. The site passed through several hands from 1894, when it was purchased by Harlan C. smith, of Portland, from the College Terrace developer, Alexander Gordon, to 1901 (Lulu McGray), to 1903 Homer and Lulu McCray Martin), to Frank A. and Mary C. Cunning in 1903. They deeded it next year to A. M. and Ruby R. Cunning. It is uncertain whether the Cunnings occupied the house briefly, or merely rented. (Mayfield directories for 1905–1909 are unavailable).
In 1910, if not before, and until 1911, it was occupied by early Japanese residents of Mayfield, the Hironaka family. Then followed from 1913–1922, Emma J. Hutchinson, a retired teacher and librarian.
Again it was shuffled among various owners in the mid–twenties, including F. M. Freed, Wilfred A. and Lillian V. Edlin, Richard and Marie Coombs, and Clarence W. and Ida B. Manning. Manning was a lather and contractor. The Mannings occupied the house in the early 1930s, then rented it. Ludwig Huebner, occupant form 1936–1943, was a city employee for 30 years; superintendent of the sewage treatment plant.
From 1944–1963, the owner was William H. Reincke. The present owners, William J. and Lucille Mellish, acquired the property in 1968.
October 21, 2015 Palo Alto Weekly photo.
The houses were demolished after being deconstructed. They each had considerable amounts of solid, heart redwood and other elements that were purchased for use in restoring other period structures.
This house was built in 1906 and is a Category 3 on the Historic Buildings Inventory. The builder may have been Frank A. Cunning. The property measures 37.5 by 115 feet.
Sources: Palo Alto City Directories; Palo Alto Times 6/16/1906, 8/2/1971; Santa Clara County Assessor's Book 184 (Deeds), p. 404, 3/11/1903; Book 283 (Deeds), p. 298–9, 10/19–20/1904; Book 427 (Deeds), p. 48, 4/16/1913; Book 550 (Deeds), p. 429–430, 4/11/22; Book 21 (Off. Rec.), p. 505, 7/5/23; Book 237 (Off. Rec., p. 542, 5/12/26; Book 239 (Off. Rec.), p. 506–7, 5/10.26; Book 567 (Off. Rec. ), p. 167, 4/3/31 (Santa Clara Co. Recorder); W.S. Census 1910, ED 75; interview 1978, Lucille Mellish
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