Ohlandt Newlyweds House
Also known as: Lydon,John and Bessie,House
Why it's listed
Built about 1888 at 1260 Potrero Avenue, this one-story wood-frame house with a high basement sits on the west side of the street in San Francisco's Mission District. At construction it was the southeasternmost dwelling in the district, close to a former salt marsh. Its symmetrical facade has a hooded entrance between two squared bay windows, a false mansard roof and a deep bracketed cornice, with weatherboard siding known locally as channel rustic. The interior keeps its original plan, faux burled walnut paneling, three different marble mantelpieces and softwood floors. Early residents included the Ohlandt family's newlywed children, and later John and Bessie Lydon, who lived there for nearly 40 years from 1916. The house was recognized for its architecture as a modest San Francisco Stick/Eastlake cottage. Comparison with 172 similar cottages showed it to have very good integrity, and its surviving interior finishes are described as rare. It is the only 19th-century structure left on its block.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a very good, typically modest example of a San Francisco Stick/Eastlake cottage, with squared bay windows, vertical strips, brackets and a false mansard. It is especially notable for its unusually intact interior, including faux burled walnut graining and three original marble mantelpieces. It also retains good integrity of location, design, materials and workmanship.
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 94000995, listed August 19, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1260 Potrero Ave., San Francisco |
|---|---|
| County | San Francisco |
| Listed | August 19, 1994 |
| Reference number | 94000995 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1888 |
| Architectural style | Stick/Eastlake |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling; restored by its owner since 1979, with the exterior receiving only maintenance except at the entry. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.75228, -122.40626 (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 94000995.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q133504699
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.