Melrose-Backs Neighborhood Houses
Why it's listed
Six houses on East Adele and North Philadelphia Streets in Anaheim form an ell-shaped family neighborhood. The two oldest, at 226 and 228 E. Adele, are simplified Greek Revival cottages from the early 1860s that were split in 1912. The others were built between 1903 and 1914, mostly in the Craftsman style, with Oriental or Tudor touches. They include a honeymoon cottage with 42 diamond-paned windows, a shingled house with wide gables, and a two-story house with a port cochere. Judge Homer Ames built the sixth house in 1911. The land belonged to Conrad Kuechel, an Anaheim founder, and later to his son-in-law Richard Melrose, a state assemblyman and civic leader, and the Backs family. The neighborhood is described as the best surviving example of the German-rooted family neighborhood in Anaheim, with all houses still standing and few visible alterations. It also housed a city attorney, a councilman, an assemblyman and the city's first city manager.
Significance in brief: The group is argued to be significant for its turn-of-the-century architecture, including several distinguished Craftsman houses. It is also significant as the best surviving example of an Anaheim 'family neighborhood', a German tradition that grew from the break-up of the original settlement colony. The houses were homes to prominent local figures, and the Ames House is noted as individually eligible under Criterion B.
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 86000783, listed April 3, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 226 and 228 E. Adele and 303, 307, 317, 321 N. Philadelphia, Anaheim |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| Listed | April 3, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86000783 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1903-1914 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown (form lists builder/architect as unknown; it names Edward F. Niehaus as builder of 321 N. Philadelphia and A. E. Straehle as builder of the Melrose House) |
| Architectural style | Craftsman, with simplified Greek Revival (226 and 228 E. Adele) and Oriental and Tudor influences |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Houses are occupied private residences in fair to good condition; 226 E. Adele is a rental in the poorest condition of the group. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 33.83871, -117.91210 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 86000783.
- 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.