Copyright Santa Rosa Press Democrat
A century-old cottage located in Howarth Park that was on the verge of being demolished six years ago will soon find new life as the home of the Sonoma County Historical Society which recently entered into a lease agreement with the city of Santa Rosa for the historic house. The one-bedroom Craftsman-style building, located near the northeast Santa Rosa park’s entrance off Summerfield Road, used to house a city employee who oversaw the park, but has sat empty for more than a decade, according to Sonoma County Historical Society Vice President Raymond Johnson. Built around 1915, the house was originally located on Ripley Street near Ridgway Avenue, Johnson said. “When the city extended Armory Drive, they needed to take out a couple of houses that were there and this was one of them,” he said. “The city decided to put it in Howarth Park as the caretaker’s house sometime in the 1980s.” In 2019, Santa Rosa officials temporarily put the house on a list of city-owned properties to be demolished, saying it could not salvage the cottage because of lead and asbestos contamination, insufficient access for people with disabilities and a dilapidated roof, among other maintenance needs. Within weeks, city leaders paused demolition plans after community outcry. Soon after, the historical society began negotiating with the city to lease the house, Johnson said. “It’s a nice a little house and it’s pretty much all original, so [the historical society] thought it would be good to save it, and use it as a home,” he said. Formed in 1962 with the mission to promote the county’s diverse heritage through preservation efforts and community engagement, the group — comprised of around 150 members — has up until now hosted events at the Santa Rosa Veterans Hall and local museums, libraries or other nonprofits, and held its monthly board meetings at the homes of its 10 board members. On Oct. 22, the society signed a five-year lease for the house at $1 a year, with an option to renew the lease every five years. The organization will also be responsible for utilities. Johnson said the group plans to fix up the house, including adding water and electric meters, and install fixtures compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act. Johnson did not have a timeline available for when these updates will happen or when the society will be able to move into the house. He also did not have a figure for how much the upgrades will cost, but said that the group is exploring fundraising options to help pay for the work. The organization is funded in part through annual and lifetime memberships that range from $30 to $750. The nonprofit also raises money at events like its annual member luncheon and annual picnic. “I know better than to estimate that,” Johnson said. Still, the group is looking forward to having a home base after more than 60 years where it will hold board and committee meetings, public history lectures and other gatherings. It will also make the house available for use by other nonprofits, Johnson said. In a Oct. 29 news release, Santa Rosa confirmed that once restored, the caretaker’s house may also be available to community groups “for activities that complement park operations and preserve the building’s historic character.” “This collaboration supports the City’s commitment to connecting residents with Santa Rosa’s history through education and engagement,” the city said in the news release.
