A. Berding House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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A. Berding House
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The A. Berding House is also called "The Gum Drop Tree House" for the carefully trimmed row of cypresses in front.
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 Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | 455 Ocean Avenue, Ferndale, California |
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| Area | 0.4 acres (0.16 ha) |
| Built | 1875 |
| Architectural style | Carpenter Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 83001180 |
| Added to NRHP | January 4, 1983 |
The A. Berding House is a historic home in Ferndale, California. It was built in 1875 by a pioneer merchant named Arnold Berding. This house is famous for its unique style, called Carpenter Gothic Victorian. People also call it "The Gum Drop Tree House." This is because of the neat row of cypress trees in front that look like giant gumdrops!
Contents
History of the Berding House
Arnold Berding's Journey to Ferndale
Arnold Berding was born in Germany in 1826. He traveled a long way before settling in California. His journey included stops in Rio de Janeiro and San Francisco. He even spent time in the California Gold Rush mining camps.
In 1857, Berding arrived in Humboldt County. He started several businesses in a village called Centerville. He owned a store, a hotel, and a place for horses (a livery). He also ran the post office there. Abraham Lincoln himself appointed Berding as Centerville's first postmaster!
A big event happened at Berding's store in 1860. Items from a shipwreck, the Northerner, were sold there. Later, Berding sold his Centerville businesses. He moved to Oregon for a short time. In 1866, he returned to Ferndale. There, he opened the very first merchandise store in town.
Building the Family Home
Arnold Berding married Mary Blum in 1867. Mary was a widow with three young children. They first built a small house in 1868. This house was later moved to make room for the current, larger home. Arnold and Mary had four more children in their new house.
In 1888, the Berdings made a big change to their home. They added a tall brick foundation. This raised the house higher off the ground. The family traveled often. Newspaper reports show they made regular trips to San Francisco. In 1904, Mary and her daughter Christina traveled across the United States. They visited the St. Louis Exposition and saw relatives in other states.
In 1909, the local newspaper, the Ferndale Enterprise, wrote about the house. It said that "Pioneer Berding's" home had recently been improved. This means it was updated and looked even better.
A Historic Landmark
The A. Berding House is very special. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 4, 1983. This means it is an important historical building. Many of the furniture pieces inside the house were bought by Arnold and Mary Berding themselves. The parlor, which is a formal living room, was last decorated in 1889 for a wedding.
See also
In Spanish: Casa A. Berding para niños
