Synder, John J., House
Also known as: Snyder House
Why it's listed
Built in 1895 at 247 W. St. Charles Street in San Andreas, this 1-1/2 story Queen Anne house sits on a large sloping lot among fruit, nut, locust and oak trees. Its exterior combines gables, gablets, porches, polygonal windows, turned posts, brackets, spindles, channeled siding with patterned shingle courses, and a front gable filled with cement, colored stones and glass. The house was built for John J. Snyder, who served as District Attorney of Calaveras County from 1893 until his death in 1899, and for his wife Elizabeth. A local newspaper called it a mansion and one of the finest residences in the mountains. The architect is unknown, and a local builder may have used a pattern book. The property stayed in the Snyder family until 1975 and kept its original appearance, apart from a remodeled kitchen and new interior wall surfaces. It is considered one of the largest and finest Queen Anne houses in the county, and its renovation follows rehabilitation standards.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is one of the largest and finest Queen Anne houses in Calaveras County, with architectural details unusual to the area such as patterned shingle courses, carved panels and a pebble-dash gable. It was also built for John Snyder, District Attorney of Calaveras County from 1893 to 1899 and a member of two pioneer families of Murphys.
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 84000760, listed August 2, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 247 W. St. Charles St., San Andreas |
|---|---|
| County | Calaveras County |
| Listed | August 2, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84000760 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 (specific date 1895) |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, in excellent condition and altered, with minor alterations. The current owner is adding rooms to the basement and attic while keeping the original exterior. The house was empty in recent years before renovation. |
| Acreage | 1.2 |
| Coordinates | 38.19732, -120.68608 (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 84000760.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14682523
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.