Tucker House
Also known as: Franklin Glass Home; Martinez Historical Society Marker # 8
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Why it's listed
Built in 1877 for Nantucket sea captain John Tucker, this redwood house at 110 Escobar Street in downtown Martinez is a large Italianate home with some Italian Renaissance influence. Rider and Conner, a construction company that built many similar homes in Contra Costa County, constructed it using balloon framing. Its full-width front porch with finials and balustrade, center gable, bay window and hooded window crowns are typical of the style. In 1924, when the hillside was subdivided and Escobar Street laid out, the house was moved about 100 feet downhill and turned 90 degrees to face the new street. A foundation, garages, basement, kitchen and servants' quarters were added then. It later served as a boarding house for sailors and military men. The house is considered significant for its architecture, as one of very few surviving Victorian Italianate structures of its period in Martinez, and it remains a private residence in good condition.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues significance under Criterion C as an excellent example of High Victorian Italianate architecture with some Italian Renaissance influence. It is described as one of the very few surviving Victorian Italianate structures of its period in Martinez. It retains its design, materials and workmanship despite being moved about 100 feet in 1924.
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 99001563, listed December 17, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 110 Escobar St., Martinez |
|---|---|
| County | Contra Costa County |
| Listed | December 17, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99001563 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1875 |
| Architect / builder | Rider and Conner (construction company) |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian, Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single-family dwelling; described as in good, sound condition with alterations that have not affected its architectural integrity. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.01516, -122.14153 (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 99001563.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7851072
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.