The Horrell House

Features

EXTERIOR 

• Style of the house is Carpenter Gothic - steep gabled front, decorative bargeboard, shiplap siding, pedimented double hung windows, symmetrical design and a decorative triangular pediment containing a carved trefoil element above the front facing French doors that lead to a small balcony.

• The failing long front porch added in early 1900s was replaced by a smaller portico of a design typical of Carpenter Gothic homes. A smaller portico foundation was found under the long porch (part of the brick foundation is still visible) and early maps indicate a similar size portico.

• The decorative bargeboard had been cut off in the early 1900’s. The decorative bargeboard was recreated, in kind, from an old photo from about 1905. Evidence of the cut off bargeboard could be seen by its uneven cut surface on the boards as a clue to its earlier existence. 

• A roof spire can be seen in the old found photo and are typical Gothic ornaments, 3 were added.

• Originally shutters adorned the house on all windows as evidence from the hinge pockets on the casings. Some even have parts of the old hinge. Similar hardware was used on the appropriate new shutters. The shutters are operable. 

• The brick walkway is mostly composed of bricks from the old house fireplace foundation found under the house and bricks used in the spaces between the foundation sill and floor framing. Also, portions of two very old firebricks, Bonnybridge from Scotland and Ramsey from England which were found buried outside at the back corner of the barn, are included. Firebricks were used as ballast on sailing ships. 

• The rear portion of the home had multiple additions added over time that were poorly built. These were removed and a similar footprint was reconstructed except for the rear angled room which had been created so a car could pass by between the main house and cottage.

• The shiplap siding is original except where it was repaired. The rear addition has board and batten siding (a Gothic common element) to distinguish it from the old.

• Some of the old original windows were stripped of the many layers of paint, glass was removed, cleaned and reglazed. Newer glass was replaced with old “wavy” glass. Windows on the south side had failed so were replaced with similar custom double hung windows using the original pulleys, original old glass panes and weights from the old windows.

• A survey of the property was completed in 2015. The house was moved over about 4’ to provide a 5’ side setback before replacing the foundation.

FIRST FLOOR

ENTRY

• The fir front door is believed to be original to the house. The door was stripped of the many layers of paint and stained. The door hardware is not original, but has been there for many decades.

• The staircase is original. Layers of paint covering the entire staircase including the mahogany newel post and balusters was stripped and refinished. The well-worn and traveled steps were left as is. Carpet step pads have created shadows of their earlier existence. In 1867 there was stair carpeting.

• All light fixtures are antique, but not original to the house as there were no utilities available at the time the house was built. Oil lighting and candles would have been used. 

• The original fir floors had always been covered with another type of flooring material such oil cloths (as the entry had been originally), mats or “linoleum” type material as the floors were never finished. They had been patched numerous times with fireplace removals, plumbing and heating additions and room size modifications.

• The floors are repurposed fir from the planks found under the lathe and plaster, some as wide as 19”. These planks were planed, edged and used as flooring. The inset floors in the living and dining rooms are from the floors upstairs (upstairs flooring for the same reason was replaced) using only the best boards as they were filled with tacks from securing the overlaid flooring.

LIVING ROOM 

• This room was originally known as the Piano Room. It contained the most valuable possession of the Horrell’s, a piano and stool. From the 1867 inventory list it also contained a carpet, 5 chairs, a table, small sofa and four pictures.

• The room was always this size. The electric fireplace is not original yet uses antique elements. There was always some kind of heating element in this location. Most likely it was originally a small coal heater.

• This room has a display in the cabinet of a Limoges pattern of dishes owned by Lulu Hayman, most likely from when she was married in the early 1900s. (She was only married for a short time and never had any children). This set was given to the present owner by a friend of Lulu Hayman.

• Also, in the cabinet are other items that belonged to Lulu, including an 1895 graduation program, books and photos.

• Another shelf has items found under the house and in the yard. These would be from a later period after the house was moved to this location in 1890.

• The magnificent light fixture is from 1890 and made by Mitchell, Vance & Co. It was originally gas and has been converted to electricity. 

DINING ROOM

• This room was originally the dining room. From the 1867 inventory it contained a lounge, sewing machine, 6 chairs, bookcase and clock. No table is listed but may have been overlooked.

• This room contained a large more traditional fireplace at one time located on the wall opposite the front window. It was removed decades ago and only the patch in the floor and the brick foundation below are the clue to its previous existence.

• The room today is slightly larger than it was originally.

BUTLER’S PANTRY

• Originally it is believed there was a room about this size and in 1867 was called the kitchen although the term isn’t what we think of as a kitchen. It had a stove, pipe, utensils and a table.

• It had a redwood tongue and groove ceiling later covered with layers of wallpaper, including a wonderful golden dew drop spider web paper (perhaps 1890), then it covered with drywall. The ceiling was salvaged and installed in the office on the opposite side of the house.

• Countertops are Basaltina honed and filled.

• The pattern of the leaded windows in the cabinets reflect that of the design of the window in the kitchen.

GUEST BATH

• This room under the staircase was a bathroom for one of the apartments but originally may have been a passage way from one side of the house to the other.

KITCHEN

• Once stepping into the kitchen you are now in the replacement addition. However, there has always been a kitchen addition to the main house in this location.

• In the 1867 inventory list it is believed this was called the Stove Room even though there was no stove listed in the room. It contained two cupboards, a table with extensions and washstands. 

• The simple 1889 amber and amethyst leaded glass window is from the house the Haymans built, now known as the Ackerman House. It was in the stairwell. Its installation in this house is appropriate as the Haymans lived out their lives here for over 50 years (1895 to 1947) and it is as if they brought with them something special from their previous home. It has been restored.

• Countertops are Bianco Carrera Honed Marble.

• There are two Bosch dishwashers, a Thermador microwave drawer, Thermador 48” gas range, a Thermador refrigerator column, a Thermador freezer column and a 92 bottle Thermador wine cooler contained in custom built cabinets.

• The pulls and knobs are handcrafted by Water Street Brass.

FAMILY ROOM

• This area was a later addition for one of the apartment’s bedroom, side entry, and shower. The corner wall, in the previous addition, had been constructed at an angle so cars could turn the tight corner between the main house and cottage to reach the garage.

• The fireplace is gas with antique elements used in the surround.

REDWOOD OFFICE

• The paneling is from the planks found behind the lathe and plaster which have been planed on one side. The redwood ceiling is restored from the opposite of the house. The casings are all original. The crown and picture rail are the only items not original to the house. This room is its original size and may have been an office or perhaps a small sleeping room. It is not listed on the 1867 inventory list.

SECOND FLOOR

FRENCH DOORS

• Original French doors lead to a small balcony. Note the wide hallway. The white porcelain doorknob is original. White porcelain knobs were originally used throughout the house.

FLOORING

• The original flooring was very badly damaged and was replaced with repurposed one inch thick fir floors from a 1905 cannery in Santa Rosa.

LINEN CABINET

• Made from fir and redwood antique cabinet doors from the Ackerman House, most of the hardware is antique.

THIRD FLOOR

STAIRCASE

• The staircase is new. When the house was cut up into apartments the staircase was placed in the 2nd floor hallway in front of the French doors. The glass doors were either painted white or covered with white shelf paper for privacy. Originally there was no staircase as the third floor was only used as attic space.

BEDROOM AND BATH

• This attic had been converted to an apartment. On the before photos the wooden fire escape on the side of the house led to this apartment. The fir floors and bead board siding were most likely added when it was converted into an apartment.

• The claw foot tub was originally in the cottage. The date on the bottom is 1907. It has been refinished.

BACKYARD

• All the stones used in the landscaping are from the original stone foundation.

• When the house was purchased it was void of any landscaping.

• There are many places in the yard that “garbage” is buried as bottles and metal objects are constantly found when digging in the yard. These items date from 1890 to the 1960s or 1970s.

CARRIAGE HOUSE

• It is believed ¾ of the rear portion of the two story carriage house is original to the house. It is constructed with cut nails. The location is still in the same place as shown on historical maps. 

• A couple of horseshoes have been found in the original dirt floor. One is above the side double doors.

• The one story portion was added later. 

• The front “barn door” and hardware on the one story portion is from the Ackerman garage.

• The interior siding is made from the various pieces of wood from the main house as a reminder of what was once there.

• The photo gallery shows historical and before images of the property. The frames are made from redwood beaded siding from the original kitchen walls.

• Many artifacts including wallpaper, mats, newspapers and found objects are on display.

GENERAL

• Main house has a new forced air heating and air conditioning system. 

• Hot water is provided by a tankless water heater.

• The house is earthquake retrofitted. All exterior walls as well as the walls down the center of the house are sheared with 1/2” plywood.

• There is a hardwired monitored alarm system.

• There are separate gas and electric meters for the main house and cottage. Only one meter for water. 

• Garden watering is provided with an irrigation system and smart timer. 

• The fir and redwood doors on the first and second floors are antique doors but not original to the house. Only the three doors on the third floor are original to the house. Many of the doors were mismatched and not usable.

• All decorative lighting is vintage or antique.

• Cable and Ethernet to all living spaces.

• A structural engineer designed the foundation, earthquake retrofitting and rear addition.

• Construction final was received in 2019.

• The property is under the Mills Act, a state law is allowing cities to enter into contracts with the owners of historic structures. Such contracts require a reduction of property taxes in exchange for the continued preservation of the property.

• The Horrell House and Hayman Cottage were included in the Napa County Landmarks Annual fundraiser Candlelight Tour in 2019.

• The California Preservation Foundation awarded The Horrell House and Hayman Cottage their prestigious award for the category of Restoration in 2019.

LUTHER AND EVA HAYMAN COTTAGE

EXTERIOR and INTERIOR 

• The cottage is of a craftsman style with a sweeping hipped roof, wide overhanging eaves, corbels, double-hung and casement windows.

• The cottage was moved to the back corner of the parcel where it received its new foundation after being damaged in the 2014 Napa Earthquake. It was originally located not far from the rear of the main house.

• The original red stained redwood shingles were replaced on three sides with new cedar shingles.

• The dry stacked stone wall is made from the stones from the main house foundation.

• All the windows were stripped of layers of paint. On the inside the windows were stained and sealed.

• The poorly built side bedroom later addition was removed along with composition roofing shingles covering the failed wood shingles. It was revealed this was the location of a side porch.

• Besides the windows, most of the inside woodwork was stripped, stained and sealed including the coffered ceiling.

• The current kitchen was a sleeping alcove. It has a small gas range and under counter refrigerator and frost free freezer contained in the custom cabinetry.

• Countertops are Absolute Black Antique Granite.

• The current bedroom was a large kitchen. A door was added for egress, the closet was the bathroom and the bathroom was the original side porch.

• The fir floors are original. They had been covered in the kitchen with five layers of vinyl and underlayment. In the other rooms the floors were painted and covered with carpet and more vinyl. There are three patched bullet holes in the floor near the front door. The bullets were recovered from the framing below.

• All the light fixtures, inside and out are antique. The one in the current bedroom is the only original light fixture on the entire property. 

• The unique custom new bathroom window has a silver 1863 Mexican coin found under the cottage along with colored shards of glass found in the yard.

• The front door is a replacement of a 1950’s flat panel door. It is from a house in Berkeley of the same era. The new custom leaded glass window has an “H” for the Haymans who built the cottage in 1907.

• Construction final permit in 2018.

• There is a new forced air heating and air conditioning system. Hot water is from a tankless water heater.