Search
Close this search box.
Search

The Birthday House

In the late-1800s a carpenter named Micajah Thomas built his home in Redondo Beach: a two-story Queen Anne Victorian with three bedrooms, a parlor, and all the latest trimmings—from a decorative ceiling in the foyer to a second-floor cooling porch flush with lace-web porch supports. This home became known as The Birthday House of Redondo Beach.

By

Share

Redondo Beach’s oldest The Birthday House enters the market

More than a century later, the oldest-standing home in town rests upon a sedate block of S. Francisca Avenue in Redondo Beach, preserved in an impeccable state, all the way down to its original details, including gleaming wood floors and brick parlor fireplace to panes in the windows and crystal cut knobs on raised paneled doors. (Not to miss is the original claw-foot bathtub and hand-painted tiles in the bathroom.)

And with the rush of modernism surrounding us, the striking blue house stands out at the curb for its striking Victorian. Gables. Bay windows. A steeply pitched roof of uncommon shape. Contrasting, textured shingles along the exterior.

The home’s “Queen Anne” label refers to its adherence to a Victorian-style popular in the U.S. during the 1880s. Houses of this style are notable for their shape (usually distinguished by a hipped roof with one or more gables) and ample use of decorative spindlework, sometimes referred to as gingerbread detailing.

Despite its early vintage, however, the home has a feature that’s perpetually sought-after in the South Bay: an abundance of natural sunlight. “The builder really had to think about when the light would be shining into the home,” remarks realtor Jessica Horrell.

Since Micajah Thomas’ construction, the home has had a few owners, all of whom have been careful to maintain the original beauty and details of the place. And it’s presently set to have another.

Horrell Realtors—which has represented the home all four times that it has changed hands since the late-1970s, and fittingly, is the town’s longest-standing brokerage—has listed the painted lady, along with a 1960 triplex that’s tucked into the rear of the lot.

“There’s a theory that it might have been built in 1888,” says Horrell, granddaughter of the firm’s founder Kay Horrell.

“But there were no city records prior to 1892, so they officially dubbed it, ‘The Birthday House.’” One that is well worth celebrating.

Horrell Realtors
1860 S. Elena Avenue, Suite B, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
310.373.7777 | HorrellRealtors.com

Photos Courtesy of Grounded Visual Co.

RELATED TAGS

Modern Marvel: Explore the Exquisite Design of 1156 Sixth Street

1156 Sixth Street in East Manhattan Beach boasts 8 bedrooms and 8.5 bathrooms across 8,100 square feet of meticulously crafted space. This residence offers unparalleled spaciousness and elegance designed by award-winning architect Anthony Laney, and seamlessly blends indoor and outdoor living, creating an expansive entertaining space perfect for gatherings.
  • March 20, 2024
  • Constance Dunn

Discover the Legacy of 2700 Highland Ave in Manhattan Beach

2700 Highland Avevenue, a heritage Manhattan Beach property owned by an icon of California's Golden Age, offers an impressive multi-resident compound in the Sand Section—along with uplifting ocean views, a pool and plenty of fresh-air spaces.
  • February 21, 2024
  • Constance Dunn

The Witkoff Group Unveils The Park Santa Monica: A Seven-Story Oasis of Luxury

Beyond a mere residence, The Park Santa Monica is a dynamic seven-story building, designed by Koning Eizenberg Architecture for The Witkoff Group, redefines luxury living by seamlessly blending beauty, wellness, and community. With 249 thoughtfully crafted apartments featuring top-tier amenities, from white oak flooring to solar panels, The Park Santa Monica sets itself apart.
  • January 10, 2024
  • Abigail Stone

Timeless Fusion: The Cotswolds Home by Architect Richard Found

Architect Richard Found's contextual country home in the Cotswolds encapsulates the essence of minimalist design within an 18th-century edifice. Located in the picturesque Cotswolds, this project by Found Associates breathes new life into a derelict gamekeeper's cottage, blending modernist architecture with the vernacular stone construction of the region.
  • January 10, 2024
  • Jenn Thornton

Weave House by The BAD Studio: An Ode to Indian Ikat Patterns

Weave House by The BAD Studio seamlessly blends contemporary design with traditional Indian craftsmanship, creating a harmonious living space inspired by the region's rich textile heritage, the house features an embossed brick and diamond façade reminiscent of Indian ikat patterns. The architecture coexists with the surrounding landscape, offering an organic lifestyle and smooth transitions between indoor and outdoor spaces.
  • November 1, 2023
  • Jenn Thornton
Sign Up for DIGS Newsletters