
The Eureka Heritage Society
home tour on Sunday was surprisingly fun for me — I'm only sorry that this is the first time I've participated. Regulars on the tour assured me that this year's offerings were no more excellent than those of years past. Here are my condensed notes:
1. "Norman Period Revival." This 1934 medieval recreation is a polygamy of inspiration, color, location, historical imagination, and craftsmanship. I was cheerfully muttering "bring out your dead."
2. O Street modern: Jetsons in the Redwoods. This super-cool, atomic-style 1959 house is the one that James Bond should have lived in.
3. This sprawling Buhne Street mansion contained at least half an acre of carpet. The verdant redwood surroundings were visible from every room. Too bad the bar wasn't open.
4. 14th Street Victorian. A bustling combination of Victoriana and fanciful wallpapers.
5. Eureka Theater: 1939 Streamlined Bitchin' style. Worth saving.
6. 804 3rd Street. A 1907 house converted into offices. Beautifully done.
7. M Street Italianate. This tiny one-bedroom has been crammed with modern amenities and vivid, modern colors. One person in our party remarked, "it looks like a kitchen and bath catalog regurgitated in here," but it looked absolutely brilliant to me.