Madison House
Also known as: Mitchell Resetar House
Why it's listed
Built in 1926 on a prominent corner northeast of downtown Watsonville, this one-story stucco house shows the Mediterranean imagery popular in the 1920s. It has a hipped red Spanish tile roof, recessed arched windows, twisted Solomonic columns, wooden rejas, and ornamental ironwork, with an entrance terrace reached by brick steps. Inside, the living room has a quatrefoil plaster-ribbed ceiling, and original wallpaper, rug, and cabinetry have been restored. William H. Weeks, a prolific California architect, designed it as his last residence in Watsonville. It was commissioned by Mitchell Resetar, one of three immigrant brothers from Dalmatia who became prominent in the Pajaro Valley's farming and commercial life. A 1976 survey of 4,671 local buildings identified only 12 in the Spanish/Mediterranean tradition, and this was judged Watsonville's most outstanding residential example. Now used as offices, it keeps nearly all its original design.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is the finest example of 1920s Spanish/Colonial Revival residential architecture in Watsonville and a representative later work of noted California architect William H. Weeks. It was also the home of a prominent immigrant Yugoslavian family important to the Pajaro Valley's agricultural and commercial development. A 1976 survey found only 12 Spanish/Mediterranean buildings among 4,671 surveyed.
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 84001195, listed February 2, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 335 East Lake, Watsonville |
|---|---|
| County | Santa Cruz County |
| Listed | February 2, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84001195 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- (specific date 1926) |
| Architect / builder | William H. Weeks |
| Architectural style | Spanish/Colonial Revival (Spanish Renaissance and Mediterranean details) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition and recently renovated for office use, with a handicap access ramp added on the southwest side; original design integrity largely retained. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 36.91587, -121.75261 (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 84001195.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q133539535
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.