Woodbury-Story House
Also known as: Woodbury, Frederick J. House
Why it's listed
Built in 1882 at the end of a cul-de-sac in Altadena, this two-story Italianate house was the home of rancher Frederick J. Woodbury, who with his brother John helped found the community in 1887. Its low hip roof, paired carved brackets, tall crowned windows and columned front porch reflect the style. Hampton Story, a Chicago music businessman, bought it in 1895 and hired Pasadena architect Frederick Roehrig to add a Colonial Revival music room in 1898 to hold his pipe organ. Roehrig also redesigned the entry hall, which is filled with fine woodwork. Later additions came around 1910 and 1919. Over the years the house served as a community social center, a restaurant and tea room, and possibly a county sheriff's office. It is the oldest remaining residence in Altadena, one of few surviving grand estates from the 1880s boom, and the town's only remaining Italianate building. Original woodwork and seven varied fireplaces survive inside.
Significance in brief: It is significant under Criterion B for its association with Frederick J. Woodbury, who with his brother John founded Altadena in 1887, and under Criterion C as the only remaining Italianate building in Altadena. It is the oldest remaining residence in the community and one of the few surviving grand mansions of the 1880s boom. The 1898 music room addition was designed by Pasadena architect Frederick L. Roehrig for later owner Hampton Story.
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 93001463, listed December 30, 1993. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2606 N. Madison Ave., Altadena |
|---|---|
| County | Los Angeles County |
| Listed | December 30, 1993 |
| Reference number | 93001463 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1882-1891 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (poss. Ridgway & Ripley); Roehrig, Frederick L. (addition, 1898) |
| Architectural style | Italianate/Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently used as a single dwelling; the form also lists recreation/culture use. Historically it served as a restaurant and tea room, and possibly a sheriff's office and justice court. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 34.18966, -118.13399 (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 93001463.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8032462
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.