Redman House
Why it's listed
Rising from about thirteen acres of strawberry fields beside Highway 1 in Watsonville, this two-story farmhouse was designed in 1896-97 by architect William H. Weeks for farmer James Redman. Its asymmetrical plan features a rounded corner tower, wrap-around porches with Corinthian and Ionic columns, geometric wall shingling, plaster friezes and windows set in the attic to suggest a third story. A formal front entrance contrasts with a plain rear entrance where farm hands took meals. The house has had almost no alterations since construction, though it has been vacant since the early 1990s and vandalism has damaged the interior. Four outbuildings, including a barn, a garage, a 1950s residence and a mobile home, are not counted as contributing. The property was listed for architecture because it is the only known rural house by Weeks, who designed many Watsonville buildings between 1894 and 1911, and because it reflects the town's agricultural past.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an excellent example of William H. Weeks's work and the only known rural farmhouse by him still standing in Watsonville or Santa Cruz County. It embodies Queen Anne detailing such as decorative plasterwork, fanciful shingling, a corner tower and false dormers. It also stands as a symbol of Watsonville's agricultural history.
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 04000734, listed July 28, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1635 W. Beach Dr., Watsonville |
|---|---|
| County | Santa Cruz County |
| Listed | July 28, 2004 |
| Reference number | 04000734 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1897 |
| Architect / builder | William H. Weeks |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Queen Anne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The house has stood vacant since the early 1990s, is in poor exterior condition but structurally sound, and has suffered interior vandalism. |
| Acreage | 13 |
| Coordinates | 36.89629, -121.77674 (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 04000734.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q29641544
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.