Friday, April 17, 2009

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 :(.

10 comments:

Allidink said...

Oh how cool! I've driven past that place on the freeway a million times when I'm going to my uncles in Pasadena but never actually been down the street! Someday I will. I love those old Victorian houses.

All the best,
Allison

Deborah said...

I could live in a little cottage like that...I told hubby I wanted that lion/bear/animal on the front of my house and he looked at me very oddly...must be too wild for him. Wishing you a lovely weekend.
**blows kisses** Deborah

pam said...

For a simple tract home that has an AMAZING amount of carvings....WOW. I think we're loosing out on "details" in life anymore. I wonder how long it took him to do all of that.
Thanks for sharing...hope you have a grand weekend!

Robin said...

Beautiful home. The recession has hit Old Town Yuma. We now have too many Victorians for sale and just sitting. I'm trying not to listen, but my savings account keeps calling...

Just A Girl said...

Yep! I know how that goes! Hey, is Judge Keddy's house up for sale? I always loved that one!

Anonymous said...

How wonderful... Like a step back in time...

Thanks for sharing and I love your roses too!!!

Hugs
Natalie

ellen b. said...

Hi Cori G! That would be right up Dear's alley! I'll let him know. Thanks for the heads up! Do you have to get tickets in advance?
Flying home tomorrow at noon boo hoo!
All your photos from Heritage are fabulous!!

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Beautiful Cori! I love old homes such as these that have such character and history. That rose garden is incredible! Hugs, Pat

Sara at Come Away With Me said...

Beautiful photos, Cori.

By the way, I meant to answer your question ages ago and forgot....yes, those were the stained glass windows in the little wooden chapel at Chapman! It happened to be open the day I walked by so I went inside.

Beverly said...

Ah, Cori. This is such an exquisite place. Thank you for taking me along.

I've so missed being able to visit, but my mother is getting a little better all along.