A few months ago I sold an historic Vitorian farmhouse in Orangevale built in the late 1880s. Not 19... 18. In California, that is OLD! I know you Easterners scoff at our idea of old, but this was built as one of the first homes of the orchards of Orangevale, since it was split into manageable 10 acres parcels in the 1880s.
To prepare for the sale, I did a ton of research, as the current owners knew very little about it. I really hoped to find out who built it, but that's tough to do with old homes. The records are a bit sketchy. In the process, I found a lot of Orangevale history, however. Here's a broad sweep of what I found.
* The Mexican Governor, Micheltorena granted 19,900 acres of Orangevale land to Joel Dedmond in 1844 - Rancho de San Juan.
* While land changed hands among various parties from the Mexican land grant of 1844 until the 1880's, a group of 5 businessmen from Sacramento formed the Orange Vale Colonization Company in 1887, envisioning a center for not ony orange production, but almonds, apricots, berries, figs, grapes, lemons, melons, peaches, pears, pecans, plums, prunes, and walnuts. Everything under the sun, would grow in Orange Vale. They sold off 10 acres parcels in tracts and homes began to be built.
* The home I am selling was built around 1886 - one of the very first homes to be built in Orangevale Colony. My unconfirmed guess is it was built by the Colonization Company to show off their new development to visiting purchasers. I know that it was sold to the Perry and Etta Greenhalgh family in 1912, who continued to live in the home for the next 65 years. Perry had moved to Orangevale as young boy with his parents and 8 siblings in 1903, from Minnesota. I miraculously found his grandaughter, who was still living in the area (thank you FaceBook). Charlene had grown up in the house in the 1930's and 40's. She sent me an old photo of the home, and even came for a visit. It was quite emotional for her.
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After the Greenhalgh's, a number of other families owned the house. The 10 acres was eventually carved up into smaller parcels until the home's current setting on 1/2 acre. It is still beautiful and stately - now painted it a beautiful shade of pashmina grey with black trim and punchy pistachio detailing.
The current new owners are a perfect fit. I was holding it open when they first came by. It was love at first sight. As they wandered through the house, you could feel the pull of 100 years of history entwining their hearts. As their daughter climbed the 100 year old staircase, you could just see the young Greenhalgh's peeking through the same stair rails watching the family life from their secretive perch above.
While I never found conclusively who built the farmhouse, I know for a fact it will be around for a long time, loved by the new owners, as the history of Orangevale continues to unfold.
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