Thank you to so many wonderful people who have opened their homes for the Stroll Through History event each year. Below are photos of the 2024 Open Homes.
Home tours are a ticketed event. Homes are open from 11am to 4pm and can be visited in any order during this time. Home tours are not guided, but rather will have docents in each home to provide information. Please be sure to pick up your ticket booklet at Heritage Plaza (2nd and Main). You must have this ticket to enter the homes.
458 1st St.
Built in 1890 by Daniel McPhee for Mr. & Mrs. Edmund and Lucy Lowe and their family, this magnificent Victorian has commanded the corner of First St. and Lincoln Ave. as a single-family dwelling for its entire existence. With over 8,000 square feet of finished living space, it is the product of architect Elmer Fisher of Seattle.
There are around 30 rooms, not counting halls, closets, or landings. Throughout the house, there are 58 multiple-raised panel doors, the most outstanding of which are 8-foot high pocket doors that divide the dining room from the adjoining living and music rooms. These doors feature a “suspended rectangle” motif on the front elevation between two stained glass windows. Of the 75-plus windows in the home, 16 are stained glass, featuring an array of blues and purples with accents of peach and gold. Beveled crystal parallelograms and circles offer an exquisite “light show” in the early morning hours. Two windows were restored in June and July 1999: one had become worn out due to the sun and weather, and the other had been missing for over 45 years and needed to be matched using antique-colored glass. The crystals had to be custom-ground to duplicate the bevels. It should last another 110 years! As the sashes (the moving wooden frames) were being restored, the original window maker’s blue crayon mark “Lowe” (the owners in 1890) and some pencil notes indicating the sash sizes were discovered.
The property also boasts a very fine carriage house built to match the main structure. During recent repairs to the cornice, a Ball Mason jar was discovered between the ceiling joists. It still had the food and spoon inside it! The carpenter must have forgotten to put it back in his dinner kettle before it got boxed in. Take a guess as to what was for lunch! A bit of landscape trenching to improve drainage away from the structure yielded some interesting bottles (intact) and a beautiful ceramic tile, perhaps from one of the 6 fireplaces, 5 of which are still mostly usable.
The current owners, Jere and Kay Hohenwarter purchased the home in 1998. They have been dedicated to preserving the mansion’s original design and layout as much as possible. However, for the sake of their marriage, they decided to renovate the kitchen. In the late 1890s, wealthy families did not prepare their food; they had domestic staff for that, so the original kitchen was small and less than ideal for a home of this size. A unique feature in the dining room is a foot-activated call button on the floor that notifies the butler when guests are ready for the next course. The dining room floors also feature a beautiful parquet design, which is seen in the music room and the lower landing of the grand staircase as well. The dining room is filled with beautiful oak raised panel wainscoting and a massive paneled oak door and window casings that remain in their original wood condition.
Music performed by: “West Valley Chorus” Barbershop Quartet
401 Bartlett St.
Exterior
This handsome home is a fine example of the Tudor Revival style. The sloping gable sweeps down and over the modest front porch, while the flush-face dormer windows sit under the steeply pitched roof, perfectly showcasing many prominent Tudor elements. The small porch window has diamond-shaped panes, and the home’s exterior features a rustic, swirling plaster finish. The beautiful front yard was recently renovated and landscaped, featuring a new wood pergola over the front door, an expanded brick front landing, and an iron gate surrounding the yard. The large rear yard includes a garden area, tranquil sitting areas, and attractive landscaping.
Interior
The light and bright interior of this Tudor home underwent major renovations starting in 1998 with the current owners. While the home’s footprint remains the same, a downstairs bathroom was added in what used to be the kitchen eating area, and an upstairs bathroom was created from a former walk-in closet. The kitchen was opened up and modernized as well. The previous owners also enclosed the back porch to create what is now the den off of the kitchen. Blending seamlessly with the newer updates are beautiful original features, including hardwood floors, a wood-burning fireplace surrounded by original built-ins, unique vintage lighting, and even a phone niche in the hallway. The home has three bedrooms and three bathrooms in 2560 square feet of living space.
Ownership
The home was built by the prominent Woodland contracting firm, Brown & Woodhouse for the W.D. Norton family in 1931. Other owners include George and Carol Willis along with Tom and Beth Jackson. The current owners, Alan and Jennifer Godfrey, have owned the home since 1988.
Music performed by: “West Valley Chorus” Barbershop Quartet
920 1st St.
Exterior
This two-story home, built in 1910, originally showcased a blend of Arts and Crafts styles. However, a fire on the second floor in 1919 significantly altered its appearance. The cobblestone that now only decorates the fence and wide front porch once adorned the chimney. The roofline was transformed from a central dormer to the gabled roof seen today, with additional posts added to support the expanded second story. The original wooden shingles covering much of the exterior were replaced with stucco. The home sits on a double lot, with a stately back porch in the spacious backyard providing ample room for entertaining. A unique feature is the in-ground pool, believed to be around eighty years old.
Interior
The interior of this Craftsman home boasts a distinctive, extra-wide wooden front door that opens into spacious rooms filled with original details, such as oak hardwood floors, single-pane windows, wainscoting, and a decorative fireplace complete with its own servant’s button. Special antique family heirlooms fill the rooms, adding warmth and character. In recent years, the home has been updated with a newer kitchen and bathrooms. It is believed that the fifth bedroom upstairs was converted to a laundry room. The home has four bedrooms and three bathrooms within 2863 square feet of living space.
Ownership
The home was originally built for Henry and Zora Bush. Mr. Bush opened the Vogue department store in downtown Woodland in 1903. The Vogue, which later became Breits, was one of the largest department stores in the Sacramento Valley for many years. Mr. Bush came from a prominent line of California pioneers; his father, E.R. Bush, was Yolo County’s first superior court judge. In 1941, the home was sold to Thornton Cranston, the proprietor of Cranston’s Hardware store in Woodland. The current owners, Tom and Tamara Unger, are the fifth owners and recently purchased the home in 2023.
Music performed by: “A Little R&R” guitar/vocalist duet
901 1st St.
Exterior
This Tudor Revival-style home exudes old-fashioned charm with its multi-gabled roofline, flattened “jerkinhead” ends, and tight eaves. The front-sitting porch features an arched entry, and the chimney rises prominently from the tallest front gable. The windows are grouped in twos and threes, and the exterior is finished in stucco. Before the current owners, the home was largely hidden by dense landscaping. Upon purchasing the property, the current owners cleared the landscaping and repainted the house, giving it new life and restoring its beautiful facade. In the center of the rear yard stands a distinguished old oak tree, adding to the peaceful tranquility of the outdoor space.
Interior
From top to bottom, the home underwent significant renovations when the current owners purchased it in 2018, with Jeff Goeman Construction leading the project. New hardwood floors were installed, featuring an oakleaf-themed inlay in the entrance hall. Corinthian columns were added at the back of the hall, a personal touch from the homeowners despite being of a different style than the rest of the home. The prominent stairwell was completely opened up, and the smaller downstairs bedroom was transformed into a library, with new built-in bookcases added throughout the space. The kitchen and laundry rooms were entirely renovated, with additional space and an elevated dishwasher for the homeowner’s ease of use. All of the bathrooms were updated as well. Throughout the home, the personal touches of the current homeowners can be seen in their vast collection of original art, antique family heirlooms, and even a special “Admiral’s Room” dedicated to the homeowner’s time in the Navy. The home has four bedrooms and two bathrooms within 2,651 square feet of living space.
Ownership
This year marks the 100th anniversary of this wonderful home! Built in 1924 for William and Alameda Hopper, William served on the Board of Trade for Yolo County and was a cashier at the First National Bank of Knights Landing. In 1927, Mae C. Worley purchased the home from the Hoppers and resided here until 1940. On September 18, 1940, Mae sold the house to Leonora C. Daussat, who, in turn, sold it three months later, on December 9, to J.D. and Hazel Musgrove. The Musgroves lived in the home for 18 years before selling it to Allen Dale and Mary Lacky in 1958. After 60 years of ownership, the Lackys sold the home in 2018 to the current owners, Henry and Mary Rodegerdts.
Music performed by: Allie “Cat” Marcel – guitar/vocal soloist
607 Hollister Rd.
Exterior
This charming cottage, built in 1936 by renowned Woodland builder Joseph Motroni, embodies a minimalist, traditional architectural style. The home features redwood siding, recreated wood screen doors and cedar wood shutters, and an original masonry fireplace and front porch. The brick walkways have been rebuilt using the home’s original bricks. The expansive backyard includes a large workshop, a pool, and updated landscaping. The current owners added the front and back patio pergolas.
Interior
The interior of the home has undergone numerous changes over the years. In the 1960s, a primary bathroom was added, and in 1998, the laundry room, kitchen, and hall bathroom were remodeled, along with the addition of a large exterior shop. The current owners have dedicated themselves to restoring the home to its original charm, paying special attention to highlighting and returning many features to their 1930s roots. Throughout the interior, you can find many touches from the era, such as antique lighting, period-appropriate paint colors, hardwood floors, and even vintage outlet and switch plate covers. In 2018, with the help of Redhouse Architecture & Design, the homeowners updated the kitchen and main bathroom to be more period-appropriate. The kitchen layout was modified, existing cabinets were painted, and a period-correct tile backsplash, knobs, and pulls were added. The old floor tile was replaced with new Marmoleum flooring in a vintage style, and a banquette was installed. The home is filled with special heirloom antiques, enhancing its vintage ambiance. The home has three bedrooms and two bathrooms within 1717 square feet of living space.
Ownership
The original owners, Clarence and Leona Bouton, purchased the home for $5,000 in 1937 from Joseph Motroni. Clarence was an accountant, and after Leona passed away in 1949, he remarried. Clarence lived in the home until his death in 1977, after which his second wife, Isabella, continued to reside there until the mid-1980s. The current owners, Paul and Janet Shaner, became the third owners of the property when they bought the home in 2016.
Music performed by: Ray Cadena – saxophone soloist