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Rice House, a light blue Victorian home with white trim, wraparound porch, and white picket fence, circa 1980s. Address number 928 visible on the sidewalk.
Rice House, circa 1980s.

Ventura County Landmark No. 80: Rice House

Historical Background

This elaborate Queen Anne–style cottage with Eastlake detailing was built in the mid 1880s for James C. Rice, owner of Rice & Peck Men’s Furnishings on Main Street. The house was originally located at Main and 7th Streets, where it served as the parsonage for St. Paul’s Episcopal Church before being moved to its present location (Santa Paula Conservancy, 2018). It is considered one of the more elaborate homes of its period, displaying the ornate woodwork and decorative flourishes typical of late 19th century Queen Anne architecture (Santa Paula Conservancy, 2018).

Architectural Details

A slanted bay window is topped with a mansard roof, dentils, and cut out corner brackets with pendants, all characteristic of the detailed craftsmanship seen in Queen Anne cottages. Classical columns on the front porch support an elaborate pedimented entrance featuring a sunburst design. Additional porch details include carved brackets, spindle and spool ornamentation, dentils, and fluted columns, contributing to the home’s richly textured and visually striking façade (Ventura County Resource Management Agency, Planning Division, 2016).

Property Today

Today, the Rice House remains a recognized Ventura County landmark and continues to contribute to the historic character of Santa Paula. Although privately owned, the house retains much of its ornate exterior detailing, preserving its status as one of the city’s more distinctive Queen Anne residences. Its craftsmanship offers a visual connection to Santa Paula’s early residential history and to the elaborate Victorian era architecture once common in the area (Ventura County Resource Management Agency, Planning Division, 2016).

References

Santa Paula Conservancy. (2018). Santa Paula Landmarks. https://santapaulaconservancy.org/spl.

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.

Date Designated: September 1982

Location: 928-930 Yale Street, Santa Paula

Photos:

A blue and white Victorian house with a white picket fence, mature trees, and utility poles, identified as the Rice House from the 1980s.
Rice House, circa 1980s.

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