3 minute read
There’s no place like home — Houghton House
Houghton House
Jeannine Mendoza, Ed.D
The array and style of homes here in Benicia is as varied as the coffee drinks at Starbucks. One especially noteworthy residence is Houghton House at 121 East J St.; built in the 1880s by CB Houghton, a paper mill owner and one of the fathers of Benicia. The home was originally built for his new wife and first baby, who arrived shortly after the home was completed. Since then, the Houghton house has always been a family home. The latest family to grace the dwelling is Paul Gigliotti and Aaron Foster and their children, the first of whom was adopted and brought home only five days after the couple moved in. Perhaps there is something auspicious about this home.
— English Proverb 1781
Despite being built 140 years ago, the house has been well maintained over the years. Still, an old home needs regular maintenance and the occasional facelift. The present owners started with some cosmetic improvements and then launched into restoring some original details, updated elderly appliances, and expanded the upstairs area. They were also able to restore the lounge to a proper passing room. All the while, Paul and Aaron tried to keep with the original style of the home. “We let the house tell us what it wanted us to do,” said Paul of their renovation inspiration. Through the process, some original siding and beadboard turned up and was put to good use. Much of the woodwork was done with repurposed original wood from the attic. Their aim was to improve what was inherent in the house, with painstaking attention to detail. The result is quite stunning.
Houghton House is transitional between the Queen Anne and the Four Square/Revival Style of the early 20th century. The porch and front bay are Victorian, but the proportion of the house reflects the more robust four square/revival style, while the roof pitch indicates a farmhouse style. The main house is 3400 sqft with 4
bedrooms, 2 full baths, plus 2 half baths. The rear cottage is 800 sqft with 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, plus an attached but separate 400 sqft office/studio with its own half bath.
But like all old houses, Houghton House is much more than its architectural footprint. Many stories of familial love fill the walls of this home; sometimes literally, as Paul and Aaron discovered a telegram from 1905 in the attic which communicated condolences for a lost loved one from a family friend. Paul and Aaron describe the feeling they get from the home as a warm embrace – something that drew them to the house in the first place.
However, the stewardship of Houghton House is coming to a close for the Gigliotti/Foster family. Soon, the Houghton House will once again be available, and a lucky new family will once again inhabit the charming Victorian that has been home to all who have lived there.
