McCallum, Roy D., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1936 at the corner of San Benito and Vine Streets in Hollister, this one-story stucco house combines Spanish Colonial Revival detail with early California Ranch House and modernist touches. Its red tile roof, round-arched entry porch, decorative vents, green shutters and corner window with pot shelf reflect the mid-1930s transition between styles. Inside are arched doorways and a living room fireplace with a plastered hood and timbered ceiling. A walled rear garden and original two-car garage complete the property. The San Jose firm Binder and Curtis designed the house, one of few architect-designed homes in Hollister. It was the home of Roy D. McCallum from 1936 until his death in 1982. As University of California agricultural extension representative for San Benito County for decades, he introduced new crops and farming methods, studied boron toxicity in fruit trees, developed the San Benito Pink bean, and later advised farmers in Chile. The house retains very high integrity.
Significance in brief: The house is locally significant for its association with Roy D. McCallum, a University of California agricultural extension representative whose work helped build San Benito County's farming economy. It is also significant as a sophisticated, architect-designed 1930s home that blends Spanish Colonial Revival and modernist influences. It retains a very high level of integrity.
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 97001445, listed November 24, 1997. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1401 San Benito St., Hollister |
|---|---|
| County | San Benito County |
| Listed | November 24, 1997 |
| Reference number | 97001445 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1936-1947 |
| Architect / builder | Curtis, Ernest N., AIA |
| Architectural style | Mission/Spanish Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Agriculture, Education |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Stated to be in excellent condition with only minor alterations since construction; still used as a single dwelling. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 36.84037, -121.40180 (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 97001445.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q133445228
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.