Here we are again!

How many weeks has it been since I went to the tea at Heritage Square Park...3 maybe 4, but I said I'd be back to show you more, so here we are again.

This is the Ford House, built in 1887 as a simple tract home. The owner was an amazing wood carver who hand crafted all the beautiful detail work on the exterior as well as the interior. You should be able to click on the photos to enlarge them, but I've added other photos to include more detail.
I'll bet his wife thought she was the luckiest lady on the street to have a home with such detailed embellishments. The carving is just so intricate!

Mr. Ford's carvings include some of those on the California State Capitol as well as the Lolani Palace in Hawaii. He even did the carvings on Leland Stanford's private railroad car. That I would love to see. I have a passion for turn-of-the-century rail cars. Would't that be a fun way to travel across country? I think so too!

This garden is next to the Ford Dwelling and I could swear there used to be another house identical to the Ford house, but without the detailed wood work. Now there's a garden filled with beautiful roses. Maybe it was my imagination...

The house was designed as a Queen Anne with Italianate elements, but looks very much like any typical vernacular style home of the time...but then what do I know? I say that because most Queen Anne's have a wrap around porch with a conical shaped structure at the juncture of the wrap and fish scale siding on the upper portion of the facade. Amongst other lovely qualities.
Ah! Now I see it! If you look at the front porch right beneath the over hang is a series of brackets...very Italianate, plus the bay window was a typical element of the Italianate style.

I love the Lion's head with the ring in it's nose...or is it a griffin? I can't tell at this exact moment, but whatever it is it's amazing work and to think it's still intact after all these years.

Well, that's the end of the Ford House, but I still have to show you my favorite, and no this is not it. Mine's the large Italianate as you enter the park and if I were to ever own a Victorian I would want it to be an Italianate or a Carpenter Gothic.
So until next time....

Oh Ellen B., I know you said that you and your Dear were going to visit the park when you came back. I don't know if the two of you would be interested, but on June 6th from 12 to 4 they're holding a Vintage Automobile and Classic Car Show. It should be fun! And no, I can't make it :(.