Old Backs House
Why it's listed
Begun in 1873 as a two-room cottage behind a furniture and undertaking parlor, this house in Anaheim grew with the family that lived in it. Ferdinand Backs, a German immigrant cabinetmaker, added a second story after his 1875 marriage to Louisa Werder, whose family was among Anaheim's founders. In 1885 he moved the cottage two blocks to Claudina and Cypress Streets and added a larger one-story section and front porch. Around 1900 it was moved again to its present lot to make room for a new family home. The house keeps shiplap siding, double-hung windows, a bay window and an unusual hallway layout, and the low ceilings of the older south portion still show its cottage origins. It is considered locally significant for its architecture and for what it shows about Anaheim's growth into a commercial center, and it remains one of the town's oldest surviving homes.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant for its architecture and for its association with the early history of Anaheim. Its evolution from a small immigrant cottage to a substantial dwelling records the growing prosperity of the Backs family and of the town. It is one of the oldest surviving homes in Anaheim and is tied to two early Anaheim families.
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 80000827, listed October 14, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 215 N. Claudina St., Anaheim |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| Listed | October 14, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80000827 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Not Known |
| Architectural style | Frame vernacular residence |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Marked as occupied and in use as a private residence; described as virtually unaltered from its 1885 appearance apart from a small rear shed added in 1910. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Coordinates | 33.83905, -117.91459 (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 80000827.
- 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.