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A light blue and white Victorian house with a porch, blue steps, and surrounding garden, photographed in 2021 by Craig Baker.
Underwood House, 2021 photo. Credit: Craig Baker.

Ventura County Landmark No. 78: Underwood House

Historical Background

The Underwood House, built in the mid 1890s, is an elaborate Queen Anne–style residence known for its highly decorative architecture. It features an irregular roofline with gabled dormers, slanted bay windows, and distinctive fish scale and shield shingles beneath its rounded front gable and curved front porch. Additional ornamental details include a sunburst motif in the porch gable, two leaded glass front windows, and a stained glass window in the kitchen (Ventura County Resource Management Agency, Planning Division, 2016). The home was converted into a rooming house during the early 20th century but has since been restored to reflect its original Victorian era appearance (Ventura County Resource Management Agency, Planning Division, 2016).

Architectural Details

The Underwood House is a strong example of how Queen Anne builders showcased skilled craftsmanship. Its rounded front gable, curved porch, and varied shingle patterns were expensive flourishes at the time, signaling an owner who wanted a visually striking residence (Ventura County Resource Management Agency, Planning Division, 2016). The house also contains many unusual touches for the period such as the slanted bay windows that were designed to pull more natural light into the interior, and the stained glass kitchen window which was usually placed in parlors or entry halls (Ventura County Resource Management Agency, Planning Division, 2016). The array of textures and decorative details gives the home a “storybook Victorian” appearance that sets it apart from other historic residences in Santa Paula.

The Property Today

The Underwood House remains a privately owned residence and is officially recognized as Ventura County Landmark No. 78 (Ventura County Resource Management Agency, Planning Division, 2016). Its restored exterior continues to showcase its distinctive Queen Anne features, including the curved porch, decorative shingles, and prominent rounded gable. Although not open to the public, the home contributes significantly to the historic character of Santa Paula’s older neighborhoods, serving as a visually rich reminder of the city’s late 19th century architectural development (Ventura County Resource Management Agency, Planning Division, 2016).

Reference

Ventura County Resource Management Agency, Planning Division. (2016, May).  Ventura County Historical Landmarks and Points of Interest (3rd ed.). https://rmadocs.venturacounty.gov/planning/programs/cultural-heritage-board/publications/ventura-county-historical-landmarks-and-points-of-interest.pdf.

Image Credit

Cover Photo: Craig Baker

Date Designated: September 1982

Location: 715 Santa Paula Street, Santa Paula

Photos:

1982 photo of a white Victorian house with a red brick chimney, white porch columns, and green trees surrounding the property.
1982 photo.
1982 photograph of a white two-story house with a covered porch and brown shingled roof, surrounded by trees and garden. Visible text includes "LARRINGER" on a sign near the left tree.
1982 photo.
Four stained glass window panes in a kitchen, each with a floral design featuring green leaves, purple centers, and yellow accents, dated 1982.
Stained glass detail, 1982.
White Victorian house with dark shingled roof, wraparound porch, and surrounding trees on a sunny day. Captioned Underwood House, 1985.
Underwood House, circa 1985.

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