Strout, George A., House
Also known as: Strout House; Kimball House
Why it's listed
Built in 1903 on a hilltop lot in Sebastopol, this 2½-storey redwood house is a Queen Anne residence with a corner square tower under a tent roof. George Strout, owner of the town's first planing mill and later an early mayor, built it with local builder Mr. Ames, using lumber and millwork from his own mill. Exterior details include a slanted bay with sunburst brackets, decorative bargeboards, and a front porch with heavy turned columns. Inside are redwood moldings, wainscoting, and early Craftsman-influenced cabinets. The house had a planned indoor bathroom and a dumb-waiter, both unusual in Sebastopol at the time. It is one of only three tower-style Queen Anne houses remaining in the town, and it reflects a period of growth tied to the arrival of the railroad and the apple-growing economy. The house stayed in the Strout family until 1978, and it is also called the Kimball House.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house shows the formal Queen Anne style with a corner tower, which reached Sebastopol after 1900 and survives in only three residences there. It also reflects the craftsmanship of local carpenter/builders and the versatility of Strout's planing mill, which supplied all materials and millwork. It further reflects the prominence of George Strout, an early mayor of Sebastopol.
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 80000870, listed June 17, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 253 Florence Ave., Sebastopol |
|---|---|
| County | Sonoma County |
| Listed | June 17, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80000870 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | Builder: George Strout, Mr. Ames |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied private residence in excellent condition; the foundation was replaced and the house shifted 11 feet south on its original lot in 1979. The owner intends to keep it residential. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 38.40293, -122.82886 (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 80000870.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14682008
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.