Gable Mansion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gable Mansion |
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The face of the house as seen from the street
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| Location | 659 First Street, Woodland, California |
| Built | 1885 |
| Architectural style(s) | Victorian Italianate |
| Governing body | private |
| Designated | 1973 |
| Reference no. | 864 |
The Gable Mansion is a beautiful old house in Woodland, California. It was built way back in 1885. This amazing home is a great example of Victorian architecture, which was popular a long time ago. It's so special that it's listed as a California Historical Landmark! Two brothers, Amos and Harvey Gable, who were important ranchers in Yolo County, California, had this mansion built for them.
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History of the Gable Mansion
Building a Grand Home
The Gable brothers, Amos W. and Harvey C. Gable, wanted a special house. They hired Edward Carlton "Carl" Gilbert to design and build it. Gilbert owned a company called Gilbert & Sons in Woodland. The house was built at 659 First Street and cost $16,000. That was a lot of money back in 1885!
A professor named Joseph Baird, who taught art history, described the house. He said it was a unique example of the "Stick style." This was a type of Victorian architecture that was very popular in the 1880s.
Inside the Mansion
The Gable Mansion has a cool design inside. On the first floor, there's a main "stair hall." This area has a curved staircase that you can see right from the front door.
The second floor has several bedrooms. People used to say the third floor was a ballroom, but it was actually an attic. Later, it was changed into a living space.
In 1887, a magazine called California Architect and Building News showed pictures of the mansion. It included a drawing of the outside and a plan of the first floor. This magazine was for architects.
Saving a Historic Treasure
In the 1970s and 1980s, many people in Woodland started to fix up old houses. These homes were mostly south of Main Street. In 1972, Robert McWhirk bought the Gable Mansion. He bought it from the family who owned it after the Gables.
Robert McWhirk spent 20 years working to restore the mansion. He brought it back to its original beauty. The house has special paintings on the walls called murals, which have been repainted.
Because of its unique style and size, the Gable Mansion became a California State Landmark. This happened on September 13, 1973. It's a great example of 19th-century Italianate architecture. It's also one of the last houses of its kind in California.
