La Casa Alvarado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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La Casa Alvarado
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La Casa Alvarado, August 2008
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 Location in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1459 Old Settlers Lane, Pomona, California |
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| Area | 0.8 acres (0.32 ha) |
| Built | 1840 |
| Architectural style | Mexican adobe |
| NRHP reference No. | 78000698 |
| Added to NRHP | April 4, 1978 |
La Casa Alvarado, also known as the Alvarado Adobe, is a very old house built in 1840. It is located on Old Settlers Lane in Pomona, California. This special house is made of adobe, which is a type of brick made from earth and straw.
In 1954, it was named a historic landmark. Later, in 1978, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important building in American history.
Contents
History of La Casa Alvarado
The Casa Alvarado is built on a piece of land that was once part of a huge ranch. This ranch, called Rancho San Jose, was about 22,000 acres big. It was given to two people, Ygnacio Palomares and Ricardo Vejas, in 1837.
Building the Adobe Home
In 1840, Ygnacio Palomares invited his good friend, Ygnacio Alvarado, to live on the ranch. He gave Alvarado a plot of land close to his own home. This home was called La Casa Primera de Rancho San Jose.
Alvarado agreed to build a chapel inside his new home. This chapel would be used for church services. Priests from the Mission San Gabriel Arcángel would visit and hold services there.
A Home with Many Uses
The main living room of the Casa Alvarado was very large. It was 18 feet wide and 42 feet long. This big room was used for church services for 45 years.
This adobe living room also became a classroom. Starting in 1870 or 1871, it hosted the first public school classes in the Pomona Valley. It was a place for both faith and learning.
Changing Owners
For over 120 years, the Casa Alvarado had only three owners. It stayed in the Alvarado family from 1840 until 1886.
In 1886, Dr. Benjamin S. Nichols and his family bought the house. Before 1900, Dr. Nichols added new parts to the house using redwood. The house now has 14 rooms, but only five of them are part of the original adobe structure. The Nichols family owned the house for 65 years.
In 1951, Alphonse and Isabel Fages bought the home. Alphonse was born in Pomona. He was a descendant of Ricardo Vejar, one of the original owners of Rancho San Jose. Isabel also came from Spanish settlers. She was very involved in history groups. The Fages family bought the house because they wanted to fix it up and keep it safe. The house originally came with two and a half acres of land. However, the Fages family sold some parts, making the property about one acre.
Becoming a Historic Landmark
In 1954, a group called the Native Daughters of the Golden West declared the Casa Alvarado a historic landmark. They placed a special marker at the site.
In 1978, the house was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Even though it is a historic site, the Casa Alvarado is still a private home. This means it is not open to the public for visits.
See also
In Spanish: La Casa Alvarado para niños
