Hinds House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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A. J. Hinds House
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 Location in California
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| Location | Santa Cruz, California |
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| Built | 1888 |
| Architect | John H. Williams |
| Architectural style | Stick-Eastlake—Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 83001241 |
| Added to NRHP | August 25, 1983 |
The Hinds House is a special old building in Santa Cruz, California. It was built a long time ago, in 1888 and 1889, by Alfred J. Hinds and his wife Sarah. This house is a great example of a style called Victorian, especially the Stick-Eastlake design. It's the biggest house of its kind still standing in Santa Cruz County. Today, the Hinds House is a historic inn where people can stay when they visit Santa Cruz.
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Meet Colonel Alfred J. Hinds
Alfred Joseph Hinds was born in 1845 in Chester, England. When he was young, his family moved from England to France and then to the United States. They eventually settled in Iowa. In 1850, during the California Gold Rush, his family moved to San Francisco. Sadly, his mother passed away during this trip.
In 1852, Alfred and his family moved to Santa Cruz, where he went to school. When he grew up, in 1866, he opened a shop downtown that sold books and stationery. On June 8, 1869, he married Sarah Lee Howe from San Mateo, California. Alfred's sister, Amelia Hinds, married Duncan McPherson, who ran the local newspaper, Santa Cruz Sentinel.
Alfred Hinds also became a real estate developer in Santa Cruz starting in 1875. This means he would buy large pieces of land on the edge of town, divide them into smaller lots, and then sell them. He was also involved in his community. He was a leader at the First Congregational Church and one of the first people to help manage the Santa Cruz Public Library.
He was active in the Republican Party in California. He also helped start a local group called Avalon Lodge number 89 for the Knights of Pythias. In 1888, he was given the title "Colonel" in the Knights, and people called him that ever since. Alfred Hinds and his wife Sarah had four children who sadly passed away during a sickness called diphtheria in 1876. They later had more children, and at least three of them grew up. His sons included Leland Foye Hind, Wendell McPherson Hind, and Theron Winfred Hind. Alfred Hinds passed away in 1921 when he was 76 years old.
Building the Hinds House
Alfred Hinds hired a local architect named John H. Williams to design his new house. The house was built in 1888 and 1889. John H. Williams was a busy architect who designed over sixty buildings in the Santa Cruz area between 1876 and 1892. He was famous for his Stick-Eastlake style, which was a very popular type of Victorian architecture at the time.
In the 1890s, the Hinds House was one of the first homes in Santa Cruz to get electric lights. The electricity came from a new power plant built by Fred Swanton, about fifteen miles up the coast in Davenport, California. One of these first electric lights was placed at the bottom of the grand staircase, and it's still there today!
What Happened to the House After the Hinds Family?
After Alfred Hinds passed away, his children and grandchildren eventually moved out of the house. In 1930, two school teachers bought the house. They ran it as an inn, renting rooms to guests until 1960. From 1960 to 1980, the house continued to be an inn under two different owners. During this time, parts of the house were updated. For example, the sitting room and parlor on the first floor were changed into apartments.
In 1981, Sandra and Stan Mock bought the house. They worked hard to bring it back to its original Stick-Eastlake style. They also restored the common rooms, making the house a beautiful example of Victorian design in Santa Cruz. In 2004, Brion Sprinsock and Kristine Albrecht bought the property. They now run the Hinds Victorian Guest House, offering weekly stays in downtown Santa Cruz.
Why the Hinds House is Special
In 1982, the Santa Cruz Historical Society officially named the Hinds House a historic landmark. This means it's a very important building because of its history and design. Then, on August 25, 1983, the United States Department of the Interior added the house to the National Register of Historic Places listings in Santa Cruz County, California. This is a list of places across the country that are important to American history.
The Hinds House Today
The Hinds House has been a historic bed and breakfast inn since 1982. It is considered the best example of architect John H. Williams's Stick-Eastlake style buildings in Santa Cruz County. The current owner and manager of the Hinds House is Brion Sprinsock. The house has ten rooms for guests, including rooms in the attic.
On the ground floor, there are common rooms where guests can relax. These include the dining room, the sitting room, and the parlor. The original wooden details throughout the house are still there and are kept shiny and clean. Outside, on either side of the house, you can see a large Norfolk pine tree and a 125-foot-tall Coastal Redwood tree. Rooms are rented by the week. Many guests (about 33%) are visiting the University of California, Santa Cruz. The Hinds House is located very close to downtown Santa Cruz, at 529 Chestnut Street.
See also
In Spanish: Casa Hinds para niños
