Clark, William S., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1888 at the corner of 14th and C Streets in Eureka, this redwood cottage is covered with Eastlake ornamentation. Fred B. Butterfield supervised the skilled craftsmen who built it for William S. Clark. The one-and-a-half-story house has a hipped roof, side and front gables with hanging stickwork grillwork, square and slanted bays, and an elaborate entrance porch with spools, sunbursts, scallops and pierced cylinders. Inside, the parlors and dining room keep their darkened natural woodwork, oak graining, plaster medallions and polished mantels. Clark was a banker, real estate developer, businessman and twice mayor of Eureka. He and his father subdivided and enlarged Clark's Addition, a large residential area of southwestern Eureka. The Clarks lived in the house until 1923, and it was later divided into apartments without major damage to its character. A 1906 remodeling and some later changes were modest, and the house keeps a high level of integrity.
Significance in brief: The house is presented as an outstanding example of Victorian design combining Eastlake ornamentation with bays and gables, with a high degree of architectural and historic integrity. It is also tied to William S. Clark, a banker, real estate developer, businessman and mayor who helped shape the growth of southwestern Eureka through Clark's Addition.
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 87002394, listed January 14, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1406 C St., Eureka |
|---|---|
| County | Humboldt County |
| Listed | January 14, 1988 |
| Reference number | 87002394 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1888 - 1923 |
| Architect / builder | Fred B. Butterfield, Builder |
| Architectural style | Eastlake |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied private residence in excellent condition, with minor alterations; the form describes it as beautifully maintained. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 40.79391, -124.16871 (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 87002394.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8017917
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.