Adventure 051, Site 108 – Lais House

Capture California, the Game-2012

Adventure: 051, Site 108 – Lais House

National Registry ID: 1985000358

Team: Thing One, Thing Two

Date:  September 26, 2012

Location:

Latitude: N 38° 34.886

Longitude: W 121° 29.282

Address: 1301 H St, Sacramento, CA

Description:

Date Built: 1896

We found this house early on, but we could not find the plaque for it. It houses the California Society of Association Executives-that whole thing sort of sounds redundant. Its current use belies it former use. Charles Lais was a SP railroad worker, who rented out part of the house. After his death in 1930, the house deteriorated, along with the rest of the area. It became a boarding house, a flop house, and then finally a place for vagrants until a 1980 fire destroyed most of the building. It then was restored to its present condition.



From Sacramento Old City Association:
The Charles Lais house, built in 1896, is a one of the better examples of Queen Anne style architecture in Sacramento. Queen Anne elements of the building include slanted bays, gables with patterned shingles, sunbursts, scrollwork and several original leaded windows. One of the porches has a gable with a sunburst ornament and latticework, which is typical of the Oriental influence upon this style of architecture. The two and half story building was framed with redwood, covered with redwood “drop” siding. An elevated flood basement is typical of the Delta Style. Much of the building was damaged by a fire in 1980, but recovery efforts have restored the damage and returned the building to its original grandeur.

From NRHP:

Charles Lais commissioned the house to be built in 1896, while an employee of the Southern Pacific Railroad. His family occupied the main (second) floor, while the third floor was used as a rooming house. The use of the building as two flats (1301-1303 H Street) explains the twin porch staircases with separate entrances, which allows access to a stairway to the upper level without disturbing occupants on the main floor.



References:

• National Registry of Historical Places-Documents and Photos
  
• Noehill
  
• Waymarking
  
• Sacarmento Old City Association
  

Overall Landmark References:

• National Registry of Historical Places (NRHP)
  
• Noehill (NOE)