Bontadelli, Peter J., House
Also known as: The Empire House(1979)
Why it's listed
Set in an older, increasingly commercial neighborhood of Salinas, this two-story frame house at 119 Cayuga Street is described as the finest and only classic example of French Second Empire architecture in Monterey County. Its mansard roof is covered in alternating rows of diamond and fishscale shingles above a scroll-sawn bracketed cornice, and the dormer windows carry classical pediments. The house was built by Peter J. Bontadelli, a Swiss-born painting contractor trained in Paris who moved to Salinas in 1875. He helped found the Swiss-American Rifle Club and was a leader in the area's Swiss-American community. The house was probably moved to this lot and enlarged around 1907, after the 1906 earthquake, and further additions were made in the late 1940s or early 1950s. Interior features include redwood trim, carved paneled doors, and a mahogany fireplace mantel. It was listed for its architectural quality and its link to local Swiss-American history.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the finest and only classic example of French Second Empire ("Parisian") architecture in Monterey County, with a boldly modeled mansard roof and classical detailing. It is also tied to Bontadelli, a Swiss-born craftsman trained in Paris who became a leader in Salinas's Swiss-American community. The nomination argues it may yield information on Salinas's architectural development and the evolution of that community.
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 80000823, listed July 15, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 119 Cayuga St., Salinas |
|---|---|
| County | Monterey County |
| Listed | July 15, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80000823 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | prior to 1907 |
| Architect / builder | Peter J. Bontadelli |
| Architectural style | French Second Empire ("Parisian") |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition, altered and moved, and occupied; used for commercial and private residence purposes. The Empire House name appears for 1979. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 36.67701, -121.77125 (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 80000823.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14683637
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.