Thomas House
Also known as: Turrentine House
Why it's listed
Built in 1886 at 208 East Fifth Avenue, this one-and-one-half story Queen Anne cottage is described as the oldest house in Escondido. George Valentine Thomas, one of five brothers who bought the land that became Escondido and set about subdividing and promoting it, had it built, and the ground floor first served as the office of the Escondido Land and Town Company. The house has an irregular cross plan, a multi-gable roof, shiplap siding and wood windows. Changes made between 1896 and 1907 added a three-sided bay window, an enlarged porch with classical columns, a bathroom, a dormer and an extended dining room. These alterations are considered compatible with the original cottage. The Thomas family later joined with the Turrentine family through marriage in 1906, and four generations have lived here. A low sandstone block wall, typical of Escondido, surrounds the yard. The property was listed for its association with Thomas and the town's early development.
Significance in brief: The house is described as the oldest house in Escondido. It is tied to George Valentine Thomas, one of five brothers who promoted and developed the town after buying the land in 1886. The reviewer accepted it under Criterion B for this association, with later additions seen as compatible with the original structure.
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 92001684, listed December 30, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 208 E. Fifth Ave., Escondido |
|---|---|
| County | San Diego County |
| Listed | December 30, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92001684 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1886-1907 |
| Architect / builder | Thomas, George V. (builder); architect unknown |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Queen Anne Cottage |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in very good condition and still used as a single-family dwelling; it has been lived in by four generations of the Turrentine family. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 33.11904, -117.07745 (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 92001684.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5754550
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.