Kaehler-Rector House
Also known as: Judge Rector Home
Why it's listed
Built between 1891 and 1894 at 408 West 25th Street in Merced, this two-story redwood house is a large Queen Anne residence of about 5,000 square feet. Its asymmetrical form includes a corner turret with a cone-shaped roof, a complex roofline of hips and gables, and a long veranda with turned columns that wraps around the east side. Inside are a mahogany staircase, ceiling medallions, ornate mantels with ceramic tiles, and imported engraved brass hardware. Louis Wegner, a German-trained architect and builder who twice served as Merced's mayor, designed it, and it is the grandest of his surviving local works. George Kaehler, a liquor wholesaler, was the original owner. Judge E. N. Rector, who served on the county Superior Court for 38 years, lived there from 1903 until 1941. Locals count it among Merced's "old castles." Changes are limited to enclosed rear porches, added bathrooms, and rear apartments.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it one of the finest remaining examples of Victorian Queen Anne architecture in Merced County and one of the city's "old castles." It was designed by the locally known architect and builder Louis Wegner, and its integrity remains high. Original owner George Kaehler and second owner Judge E. N. Rector were both prominent in Merced history.
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 82002206, listed January 4, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 408 W. 25th St., Merced |
|---|---|
| County | Merced County |
| Listed | January 4, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82002206 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1891-1894 |
| Architect / builder | Louis Wegner |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne (Victorian) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Excellent condition and occupied as a private residence; alterations are confined to the rear, where apartments were created. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 37.30868, -120.47758 (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 82002206.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14682895
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.