California Nursery Co. Guest House
Also known as: Jose de Jesus Vallejo Guest House
Why it's listed
This small adobe house stands in the grounds of the former California Nursery Company in the Niles District of Fremont. Built around 1855 of sun-dried brick made from native soil, it has a single room, about 1100 square feet, and exterior walls 28 inches thick at the foundation. It is described as the first of several adobes built in the area by Jose de Jesus Vallejo, who received the 17,705-acre Rancho Arroyo de la Alameda in 1842 and was active in military and civil affairs, including service at Mission San Jose. The building was later restored for use as a guest house in the nursery gardens. The nursery, founded in 1865, helped shape the state's fruit industry and home landscaping. The tile roof, beams, floor and fireplace may not be original, though the building is thought to resemble its early appearance. The listing covers the adobe and about 0.35 acres, not the wider nursery grounds, which were threatened by subdivision.
Significance in brief: The adobe is described as the first of the Vallejo adobes built in the area, tied to Jose de Jesus Vallejo and his Rancho Arroyo de la Alameda. It is also called a picturesque reminder of the adobe era, set within the gardens of the California Nursery, founded in 1865. Areas of significance are checked as agriculture and architecture.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 71000130, listed May 6, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | California Nursery Co., Niles Blvd. at Nursery Ave., Fremont |
|---|---|
| County | Alameda County |
| Listed | May 6, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000130 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (est. 1855) |
| Architect / builder | Built by Jose de Jesus Vallejo (as one of the Vallejo adobes) |
| Architectural style | Adobe |
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in fair condition, restored and maintained over the years as a guest house, needing continued maintenance, with some spots beginning to deteriorate. The surrounding nursery property had been sold to a subdivider. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 37.57929, -121.99099 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 71000130.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q133252164
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.