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's designed in the beautiful Queen Anne style. This house is so important that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It's one of many historic spots in Orange County, California. The Newland House was even built on the site of an ancient Tongva village called Lupukngna.
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Explore the Newland House Museum
The Newland House Museum is located in Huntington Beach, California. The Huntington Beach Historical Society takes care of it. William Taylor Newland and Mary Juanita DeLapp Newland built this house in 1898. It became a museum and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.
The house was built by Dawes & Kuechel from Santa Ana. It was one of the first homes in the area. Lumber for the house came from McFadden's Wharf in Newport Beach. It was brought by horse-drawn wagons. Gravel for the foundation came from the beach nearby.
The Newland family ranch was huge, covering over 500 acres. They grew vegetables and fruits. They also had many farm animals and even pet peacocks. Celery and sugar beets were their main crops. The ranch had a large barn, stables, and bunkhouses for workers. Early on, 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.
The house was built on the site of an ancient Tongva village called Lupukngna. Old artifacts from the village have been found on the property.
Saving the Newland House
After Mary Juanita Newland passed away in 1952, the property went to Signal Oil & Gas. Signal Oil used the house for its workers for about 20 years. They first wanted to build an oil refinery there. But the community didn't like the idea, so Signal Oil changed its plans.
Signal Oil then created a company called Signal Landmark. They planned to build a shopping center on the old Newland ranch land. But people in the community wanted to save the Newland House. They started working to preserve it in 1964. In 1974, Signal Landmark Homes gave the Newland House and some land to the City of Huntington Beach. It was meant to be a historic park.
A group of people, led by the Huntington Beach Junior Women's Club, worked to save the house. The Newland House first opened for public tours in 1978. The City of Huntington Beach helped financially in 1983. They built the Newland Barn for events. The Huntington Beach Historical Society still works with the city. They help maintain the property and organize community events.
In 1998, the Newland House turned 100 years old. The Huntington Beach Historical Society tried to get back Mary Juanita Newland's collection of Native Californian baskets. She had lent them to the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana in 1935. Many old stone tools, like mortars and pestles, were found when the house was built in 1898. These were also from the Native American settlement. Most of these artifacts are also at the Bowers Museum. The items are still at the Bowers Museum today.
Meet the Newland Family
William Taylor Newland
William Taylor Newland was born in Illinois in 1850. He helped sell the first land lots in Huntington Beach. When William was 11, his father joined the Civil War in 1862. His father died in 1865. His mother died in 1869, leaving him an orphan at age 19. He then worked on John M. DeLapp's farm. Six years later, he married John's daughter, Mary Juanita DeLapp.
William Newland worked hard to develop his ranch. He drained swampy land and farmed it for almost 50 years. He helped promote the sugar beet plant in the city. He also supported building railroads. Later, he was a main supporter of a linoleum plant. William was active in public life until he passed away. People often asked for his advice on important projects. He was very involved in politics and community events. He was a popular man in the city.
Mary Juanita DeLapp Newland
Mary Juanita DeLapp was born in Illinois in 1859. She married William Taylor Newland in 1875. She served on the local school board for 16 years. In 1908, she started the first parent-teacher group 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 her community work.
The Newlands moved from Illinois to California in the 1880s. William bought 500 acres of land in 1897. This land was part of the old Rancho La Bolsa Chica. 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 from a heart attack on his ranch in 1933. He was 83 years old. Mary Juanita DeLapp Newland continued to live in the home until she died in 1952. She was 93 years old. The Newlands raised ten children in the house, and two of them were born there.
The Huntington Beach Historical Society
The Huntington Beach Historical Society takes care of the Newland House Museum. Their goal is to protect local history. They also want to teach people about history. 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 Historical Society holds several events each year:
- The Revolution: An American Revolution reenactment in Huntington Beach Central Park.
- Civil War Days: An American Civil War reenactment 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 100 years to see how holidays were celebrated.
