Backs, Ferdinand, House
Why it's listed
Built between 1902 and 1904, this two-story Colonial Revival house at 225 North Claudina Street in Anaheim was the home of Ferdinand Backs, a cabinetmaker who founded the town's first undertaking and furniture business, and his wife Louisa Werder Backs, whose family were among Anaheim's founding settlers. Edward Neihaus, a Berkeley builder, constructed it, and the interior woodwork was milled in Berkeley. The exterior features intersecting gambrel roofs, clapboard siding, a curved porch with bowed columns, bay windows and diamond-paned sash. A matching carriage house stands at the rear, and the lot retains mature trees and gardens. The interior keeps its spindlework, birdseye maple fireplace, built-in buffet and original oak floors. The nomination describes it as the finest turn-of-the-century Colonial Revival house in Old Anaheim and notes visits by guests such as Madam Modjeska and Governor Hiram Johnson. Alterations were minor, and the house was being carefully restored.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the finest example of turn-of-the-century Colonial Revival architecture in Old Anaheim, notable for its craftsmanship, detailing and well-preserved grounds. It is also tied to the Backs and Werder families, among Anaheim's oldest and most prominent, and shows the lifestyle of the town's upper social class soon after 1900.
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 80000826, listed October 14, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 225 N. Claudina St., Anaheim |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| Listed | October 14, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80000826 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- (specific dates: begun 1902, finished 1904) |
| Architect / builder | Builder: Edward Neihaus |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied private residence in good condition, virtually unaltered; the owner was undertaking an authentic restoration at the time of the form. |
| Acreage | 0.4 |
| Coordinates | 33.83752, -117.91371 (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 80000826.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q126916033
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.