Cohen, Alfred H., House
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Why it's listed
Built in 1884 at 1440 29th Avenue in Oakland's Fruitvale district, this two-story wood-frame house was a wedding gift from Watson A. Bray to his daughter Emma and her husband Alfred H. Cohen. It sits on about an acre, the remnant of the more than 200-acre Oak Tree Farm. The house is a Stick or Bracketed Victorian, with an irregular plan, octagonal and square wings, a wraparound porch with Moorish-influenced columns, and a corner tower with a pyramidal roof. Inside, redwood and mahogany woodwork, carved sliding doors and original furnishings survive. A rear room was rebuilt in redwood after the 1906 earthquake. The nomination stresses that one family occupied the house for more than 87 years, keeping it largely unaltered. It describes the house as one of the last original homes from Fruitvale's rural and early suburban era and a fine example of its style and period.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a fine, largely unaltered example of Stick or Bracketed Victorian architecture with superb craftsmanship. It has been lived in continuously by one family, with most finishes and furnishings original. It is also described as one of the last original homes from Fruitvale's rural and suburban period.
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 73000394, listed June 19, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1440 29th Ave., Oakland |
|---|---|
| County | Alameda County |
| Listed | June 19, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73000394 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date 1884) |
| Architectural style | Stick or Bracketed style (Victorian) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition, unaltered, on its original site, and occupied as a private residence; the rear porch was restored after the 1906 earthquake. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 37.77964, -122.22788 (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 73000394.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q124831190
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.