Alford-Nielson House
Why it's listed
This small wood-frame cottage at 1299 Main Street in Ferndale combines a one-story settlement-era house, built about 1874, with a Mansard-roofed front section added about 1877. Paired four-pane dormers, molded cornices with dentils, hooded windows, open-work corner boards and a bracketed entrance stoop give it a stylish look. The house first stood next to the Alford Brothers' drug store downtown, where it appears partly visible in an 1882 lithograph. It was moved down Main Street in 1893, with the Alford family still inside. It is named for the Alford families, who owned it from 1877 to 1893, and for the Nielson family, owners from 1912 to 1977; Maurice Nielson helped develop modern creamery operations in Humboldt County. The house is notable because Mansard design was popular in the East and Midwest but rare on the West Coast. It is the only Mansard in Ferndale and one of just two known in the county. An interior restoration in the late 1970s followed years of neglect as a rental.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant for its Mansard architecture, which was popular in the northeastern and midwestern states but uncommon on the West Coast. It is the only Mansard in Ferndale and, as far as can be determined, one of only two in Humboldt County. It retains a high degree of architectural and historic integrity and is significant to the community and the county.
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 86000100, listed January 23, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1299 Main St., Ferndale |
|---|---|
| County | Humboldt County |
| Listed | January 23, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86000100 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Mansard |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition, altered and moved; the interior was restored in the late 1970s and the house is occupied as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 40.58567, -124.25924 (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 86000100.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4722143
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.