Jordan, Orin, House
Also known as: Old Jordan House; Whitaker Home
Why it's listed
Built in 1890 on a Whittier citrus and walnut farm, this nine-room, two-story wood frame house is an ell-shaped dwelling with modest Victorian touches: alternating round and pointed shingles in the gables, scrollwork beneath the roof peaks, and evenly spaced brackets under boxed eaves. Orin Jordan, a Kansas wheat farmer who arrived in Whittier in 1888, built it with one hired carpenter. Jordan planted oranges and walnuts and partnered with Ed Bacon to plant many of the area's first citrus groves, and he was also connected with the packing house industry. A sunroom and bathrooms were added in 1918, and in 1926 the house was moved about 300 feet southwest on the farm as the original site was developed for businesses. Porches were later restored. It is described as the only house of its age in the immediate vicinity and remains a rare example of a late-1880s farm house in a commercial area.
Significance in brief: The house is tied to the early development of Whittier and its citrus growing and packing industry. It is a representative late-1880s farm and small-town house and the only one of its age in the immediate area. It retains its original materials and character apart from a few removable porch additions.
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 80000815, listed July 28, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 8310 S. Comstock Ave., Whittier |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | July 28, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80000815 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1888-1890 |
| Architect / builder | Orin Jordan and hired carpenter |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Agriculture, Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as unoccupied with work in progress; restoration of porches and French doors was done, and the house was to be occupied by a group serving the developmentally disabled under a lease beginning June 1, 1980. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 33.96103, -118.03387 (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 80000815.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7102688
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.