Newland House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Newland House
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 Location in California
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| Location | 19820 Beach Boulevard, Huntington Beach, California |
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| Built | 1898 |
| Architect | Dawes & Kuechel |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne style |
| NRHP reference No. | 85003374 |
| Added to NRHP | 24 October 1985 |
The Newland House is a historic farmhouse built in 1898 in Huntington Beach, California. It was designed in the Queen Anne architectural style, which was popular back then. This house is very important because it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as a special historical site in the United States. It was also the ninth place in Orange County, California, to get a historical plaque. The land where the house stands was once home to the Tongva village of Lupukngna.
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Newland House Museum
The Newland House is now a museum located at 19820 Beach Boulevard in Huntington Beach, California. The Huntington Beach Historical Society takes care of it. William Taylor Newland and Mary Juanita DeLapp Newland had the house built in 1898. It became a historical pioneer museum and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
Building the House
The builders, Dawes & Kuechel from Santa Ana, constructed the house. It was one of the first homes in the area. The wood for building came from McFadden's Wharf in Newport Beach. It was brought to the site by wagons pulled by horses. Even the gravel for the foundation came from the nearby beach.
Life on the Newland Ranch
The Newland family's ranch was huge, covering over 500 acres. They grew vegetables and fruits and had many farm animals. They even had pet peacocks! Celery and sugar beets were their main crops, but they grew other things too. The ranch also had a large barn, stables, and bunkhouses for the workers.
At first, they got water from a natural spring. Later, William Newland dug a well closer to the house. He also built a water tower. The Huntington Beach Historical Society rebuilt this water tower in the 21st century.
Native American History
The Newland House was built on the site of an ancient Tongva village called Lupukngna. When the house was being built in 1898, old stone tools like mortars and pestles were found. These artifacts show that Native Americans lived there a long time ago. Many of these items are now kept at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, California.
Saving the Newland House
After Mary Juanita Newland passed away in 1952, the property went to Signal Oil & Gas. The company used the house for its workers for about 20 years. Signal Oil first wanted to build an oil refinery there. But the community didn't want that, so the plans were changed.
Signal Oil then formed a company called Signal Landmark. They planned to build a shopping center on the old ranch land. But in 1964, people in the community started working to save the Newland House. They wanted it to be a local landmark and museum. In 1974, Signal Landmark Homes gave the house and some land to the City of Huntington Beach. This created a historic park.
A group of people, led by the Huntington Beach Junior Women's Club, worked to preserve the house in 1976. The Newland House first opened for public tours in 1978. The City of Huntington Beach helped financially in 1983. They invested in building the Newland Barn for events. The Huntington Beach Historical Society still works with the city to care for the property and hold community events. In 1998, the Newland House celebrated its 100th birthday.
William and Mary Newland
William Taylor Newland was born in Illinois in 1850. He was one of the people who helped sell the first land lots in Huntington Beach. William's father died in the Civil War when William was young. His mother also passed away, leaving him an orphan at 19. He then worked on a farm where he met Mary Juanita DeLapp. They married six years later.
William Newland was known for turning swampy land into the rich Newland Ranch. He worked on the land for almost 50 years. He helped start the beet sugar plant and the railroads in the area. He was also involved in many public projects and was well-liked in the city. He was active in politics and cared about community improvements.
Mary Juanita DeLapp was born in Illinois in 1859. She married William Taylor Newland in 1875. Mary was very active in the community. She served on the local school board for 16 years. In 1908, she started the first parent-teacher organization in Huntington Beach. She was also a founding member of the Huntington Beach Woman's Club. In 1939, she was named "Woman of the Year" for all her community work.
The Newlands moved from Illinois to California in the 1880s. In 1897, William bought 500 acres of land. He paid carpenters to clear the land and start building their home. The Newlands moved into their new house in the summer of 1898.
William Newland passed away in 1933 at age 83. Mary Juanita DeLapp Newland continued to live in the house until she died in 1952 at 93. Ten Newland children grew up in the house, and two were born there.
Huntington Beach Historical Society
The Huntington Beach Historical Society is a group dedicated to protecting local history. They also work to teach people about the past. They are in charge of keeping the Newland House Museum in good condition. Each year, they give an award called the Order of the Newland Rose. This award honors someone who has helped preserve Huntington Beach's heritage.
The Society also organizes several fun annual events. These include:
- The Revolution: A reenactment of the American Revolution in Huntington Beach Central Park.
- Civil War Days: A reenactment of the American Civil War, also in Huntington Beach Central Park. This is a joint event with the Historic Wintersburg Preservation Task Force.
- Holidays in Huntington Beach: An event that takes visitors back in time to celebrate holidays as they were 100 years ago.
