Harmon-McNeil House
Also known as: Warren,Cecil,Restoration
Why it's listed
Built in 1888 at 322 E. Chestnut Street in Santa Ana, this two-story, ten-room house reflects late Victorian Eastlake design. J. W. Blee, a Petaluma transplant who became a prominent real estate developer, designed and built it to recall his family home in England. Two gabled bays, one angled at 45 degrees, carry dentils and scalloped shingles, while a wraparound veranda features turned columns and a sawn balustrade. Inside, pocket doors of burled redwood, redwood millwork, pine floors and a rosewood staircase survive. Blee sold the house to his brother-in-law Jonathan Harmon, who ran the Jersey Dairy. John Wilson McNeil bought it in 1905, and his family lived there until 1967. After code closure in 1976, it was restored. It is valued as one of only two remaining Eastlake houses in Santa Ana and as an example of pioneer family history.
Significance in brief: The house is one of just two remaining examples of Eastlake Victorian architecture in Santa Ana and one of a handful that predate 1890. It is also tied to early Santa Ana pioneers, including builder and developer J. W. Blee and the Harmon and McNeil families, whose histories typify the city's prosperous settlers.
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 85002764, listed November 7, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 322 E. Chestnut St., Santa Ana |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| Listed | November 7, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85002764 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1888 |
| Architect / builder | J. W. Blee |
| Architectural style | Eastlake Victorian (late Victorian) |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good, altered condition on its original site, occupied as a private residence and presently being restored; the interior was restored by the current owner. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 33.74228, -117.86412 (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 85002764.
- 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.