Comstock House
Also known as: The Oates--Comstock House
.jpg){kind=link}
Why it's listed
Built in 1905 at 767 Mendocino Avenue in Santa Rosa, this two and one-half story shingled house was designed by Petaluma architect Brainerd Jones in the First Bay Region Tradition. It has a cross-gabled gambrel roof, a deep front porch with squat Doric columns and heavy timber balustrades, bow windows, and a brick chimney. Inside, a central hall and ceremonial stair organize the plan, and redwood trim, built-in cabinetry and classical fireplaces show the quality of the carpentry. The lot holds mature trees, a low basalt wall and a ca. 1911 garage. The property is listed for architecture and for community development. It is described as the only substantially original example of its style remaining in Santa Rosa and as an outstanding work of Jones, who designed more than a hundred buildings. The Comstock family, including a longtime school board president and judge, occupied the house until 1991. The period of significance runs from 1905 to 1936.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house embodies the First Bay Region Tradition of architecture and represents the work of master architect Brainerd Jones. It is also significant under Criterion A for community development, tied to the Comstock family, including Hilliard Comstock, who served as president of the Santa Rosa Board of Education and as a long-serving Superior Court judge. The form calls it the only substantially original remaining example of the First Bay Region Tradition in Santa Rosa.
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 11001053, listed January 27, 2012. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 767 Mendocino Ave., Santa Rosa |
|---|---|
| County | Sonoma County |
| Listed | January 27, 2012 |
| Reference number | 11001053 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1905-1936 |
| Architect / builder | Brainerd Jones; Williamson & McKenzie |
| Architectural style | First Bay Region Tradition |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition with few alterations since construction; historically and currently a single-family dwelling. |
| Acreage | 0.6 |
| Coordinates | 38.44751, -122.71793 (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 11001053.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q133551653
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.