Gross, Courtlandt, House
Also known as: Old Stone House
Why it's listed
Near Tehachapi in Kern County stands a 1-1/2 story farmhouse of rough-faced native stone, completed in 1942 and known locally as Stone House. Los Angeles architect Donald B. Parkinson designed it for Courtlandt Gross, then president of the Vega Airplane Company and later president and chairman of Lockheed. The steep gable roof and end chimney recall Dutch Colonial stone houses of New York and New Jersey, and the design also resembles early Cape Cod houses. The stone came from a local abandoned lime kiln. Stone building is rare in California because of earthquakes, but Parkinson's engineering background and work on Los Angeles earthquake codes shaped the design. The house survived the 1952 earthquake that nearly leveled Tehachapi, suffering cracks and settlement in the west wall and fireplace. It was then abandoned and vandalized until restoration after a 1977 purchase. It is also one of very few residences by Parkinson's firm and the last he designed.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is exceptional despite being under 50 years old. It is one of the few residences by the Los Angeles firm of Parkinson and Parkinson, and the last residential design by Donald Parkinson. It was built for Courtlandt Gross, later president and board chairman of Lockheed. Its stone construction, a modern take on Dutch Colonial and Cape Cod precedents, is unusual in a seismic state, and it survived the 1952 earthquake.
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 87000669, listed March 22, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 18600 Courtlandt Ct., Tehachapi |
|---|---|
| County | Kern County |
| Listed | March 22, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87000669 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1942 |
| Architect / builder | Earle Huguens/Donald B. Parkinson |
| Architectural style | Modern interpretation of Colonial design (Dutch Colonial / Cape Cod influences) |
| Areas of significance | Transportation, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence. Damaged by the 1952 earthquake, then abandoned and vandalized. The current owners bought it in 1977 and restored it to its original appearance; condition listed as excellent. |
| Acreage | 20 |
| Coordinates | 35.09014, -118.52602 (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 87000669.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14681788
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.