Simmons, William Adam, House
Also known as: Simmons House
Why it's listed
Built in 1865 at 751 Kelly Avenue, this one-and-a-half story wood house is among only three surviving residences from the 1860s in Half Moon Bay. Its original section uses slab wall construction, in which vertical and horizontal boards are nailed together without mortise-and-tenon or stud framing; only one other house in town, the Vasquez House, still shows this method. William Adam Simmons, a New York-born carpenter, built the home himself. He later became the coastside's first undertaker and held offices in local clubs and associations. His son Fred Allen Simmons, born in the house in 1877, served as constable and then deputy sheriff for more than forty years. Members of the family occupied the house continuously from 1865 to 1990, and later changes, including a wing added between 1905 and 1911 and a rear porch added after World War II, were made by the family. Fishscale shingle trim decorates the eaveline. The house is currently vacant.
Significance in brief: It is one of only three remaining 1860s residences in Half Moon Bay and one of two that use wooden slab wall construction. It is also tied to William Adam Simmons, the town's first undertaker, and his son Fred Allen Simmons, who served as constable and deputy sheriff for over forty years. The same family occupied it continuously for 125 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 92000995, listed August 18, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 751 Kelly Ave., Half Moon Bay |
|---|---|
| County | San Mateo County |
| Listed | August 18, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92000995 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1865-1942 |
| Architect / builder | Simmons, William |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Law, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant since the Simmons family left in 1990; landscaping has not been tended since. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 37.46352, -122.42835 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 92000995.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q133522030
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.