Truxaw-Gervais House
Also known as: The White House Restaurant
Why it's listed
Built in 1909 on 2.5 acres at 887 South Anaheim Boulevard, this large Colonial Revival house was one of the finest homes in Anaheim. Dosithe Gervais, a former railroad telegraph operator who became a citrus nurseryman, built it with his wife. At one time he grew about 50,000 trees across his nurseries. The house has clapboard siding, a stucco wainscot, a wide front porch with square pillars and Ionic columns, twin dormers and bracketed eaves. Dr. John Truxaw bought it in 1919. He practiced in Anaheim from 1912 until his death in 1952, served as City Health Officer and delivered about 3,500 babies. After his family's long residence, the house was rented, fell into severe disrepair and was nearly demolished. It was instead restored and converted into a restaurant in 1982, with a rear kitchen addition and parking on part of the grounds. The nominated parcel keeps the deep setback and lawn that are part of its setting.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is the largest and finest Colonial Revival house in Anaheim and represents a time in the city's history tied to the early citrus industry. Its first owner, Dosithe Gervais, was a pioneer citrus nurseryman. It is also known for Dr. John Truxaw, who served as a physician and City Health Officer for about forty years.
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 82000977, listed October 29, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 887 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| Listed | October 29, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82000977 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored after a period of severe neglect and reopened as the White House Restaurant on January 15, 1982; the form lists the condition as excellent and the property as occupied. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 33.82357, -117.91032 (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 82000977.
- 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.