Hood, Mrs. J.H., House
Why it's listed
This two-and-one-half-story house at 494 Ellis Street in Pasadena was built in 1886 by the Swift Brothers on Colorado Court and moved to its current lot in 1901. It is a Folk Victorian dwelling with some Queen Anne features. The symmetrical front has a porch running its full length, with turned posts, balusters and lace-like spindlework brackets. Wooden drop siding covers the walls, and the gable ends have fish-scale shingles, sunburst cutouts or stickwork. Windows include bordered glass with colored lights and decorative sills. The roof combines hipped and gabled forms. Alterations are minor: a small polygonal bay added in 2009, a replaced front door and a rebuilt chimney. A 1977 detached garage on the lot does not contribute to its significance. The house was listed for its architecture, as a well-preserved local example of the Folk Victorian style. Its move early in the twentieth century reflects a common Pasadena pattern, and the move falls within the period of significance.
Significance in brief: The house is judged locally significant under Criterion C as a notable example of Folk Victorian architecture with Queen Anne influences. It keeps its original design, materials and workmanship, including a spindlework porch and fish-scale shingled gables. The 1901 move is treated as part of the period of significance and does not bar listing.
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 11000494, listed August 9, 2011. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 494 Ellis St., Pasadena |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | August 9, 2011 |
| Reference number | 11000494 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1886-1901 |
| Architect / builder | Swift Brothers (Builder) |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian/Stick/Eastlake; Other/Folk Victorian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single-family dwelling. Minor alterations include a 2009 polygonal bay on the east side, a replaced front door and a rebuilt chimney. A 1977 two-story garage is non-contributing. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 34.14089, -118.16067 (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 11000494.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q133289967
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.