Congdon, Joel R., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1876, this two-story redwood farmhouse in San Juan Capistrano is the first wooden structure erected in the town. Joel R. Congdon, a Connecticut native who bought 160 acres in 1868, built it as ranch headquarters for his growing family, using sandstone rubble from the old mission church for its foundation. A water tower he built at the same time still stands beside it. Congdon planted about 35 acres of English walnuts while the house was going up, and the grove is believed to be the first commercial planting of its kind in Orange County. Families lived in the house until 1975, after which it sat empty for 25 years. The City of San Juan Capistrano then restored it, keeping more than 80 percent of the original fabric, including doors, cabinetry, oak floors and the free-standing fireplace. The remaining 28.8 acres are still farmed, giving a view of the valley's agricultural past.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the house as the first and oldest farmhouse in San Juan Capistrano and the first wooden structure built there. It is tied to Joel R. Congdon, the first American-born settler of the town, who is credited with planting what may be the first commercial English walnut grove in Orange County. The surrounding land remains a working farm, preserving the area's agricultural heritage.
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 02000801, listed July 22, 2002. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 32701 Alipaz St., San Juan Capistrano |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| Listed | July 22, 2002 |
| Reference number | 02000801 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Joel R. Congdon (builder) |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Unoccupied from 1975 to 2000, then restored by the City of San Juan Capistrano; the surrounding 28.8 acres remain an actively farmed agricultural preserve. The water tower still awaits restoration. |
| Acreage | 28.8 |
| Coordinates | 33.48876, -117.67392 (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 02000801.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.