Albert E. Carlton Home

2010 HERITAGE AWARD RECIPIENT

The Redlands Area Historical Society, Inc.

Albert E. Carlton Home

817 E. High Street

1901

This home occupied by the Sauvage family for over 60 years is a classic style cottage, with turn-of-the-century influence and a Craftsman balcony addition in 1911, which confuses the interpretation of the design.  The builder is unknown.

One of the earliest families that occupied this home was the Carlton family. The record shows Carlton’s at 817 High Avenue, next door by 1907 and this property as early as 1901.  The likely first member, A.E. Carlton moved from Pittsburg and according to the Citrograph, was at work on his property and “getting ready to put up a handsome residence for the sum of $3000 to $4,000.”  Albert Carlton, who may have been the same A.E., was a pressman and his wife worked at the Harris Company by 1909. Carl Carlton who lived at 819 High, was a bicycle repairman in 1907 with a shop at 336 Orange street.

The cottage design was launched in 1850 by Andrew Jackson Downing in The Architecture of Country Houses. Steep slope roofs, balconies, porches, window gables, and deep shadows made projecting roofs distinguish the style. Early designs were borrowed from Gothic styles, but other styles were included.  Here we see turn of the century adornment influenced by Victorian and Craftsman styles.

The Sauvage home has a cross gabled roof with shed roof attachments and a covered entry and porch, first popularized by the cottage style. Notice the cross influence of both Georgian pillars with plain support members. A modified shed dormer with walkout balcony was added in 1911, and perhaps influenced by the simple craftsman type shed roof.

The wall surfaces are tongue and groove horizontal siding on the first level reminiscent of gothic and second empire styles as well as early Victorian homes. Round cut singles adorn the second story gables common in high Victorian homes. Gable diagonal louvers are functional and decorative.  The windows are classic double hung sashes with horns. River rock foundation and rock features utilizing local materials reflect the Craftsman influence and was also used in the very early cottage style.

Of particular interest is the bay window type front room, that is covered with a squared off hip-roof with box cornice instead of one following the standard 60 degree roof configuration common for bay windows.  The interior provides clues for this unusual feature, for the angle of the windows is forty-five degrees, to facilitate the interior vaulted ceiling, requiring a forty-five degree angle to look symmetrical. The ceiling extends into the attack space, under the roof by at least two more feet. Interior molding is of classic turn of the century Redlands Victorian style, and small rooms with several doors, separate this style from classic bungalow and craftsman styles.

Recent projects include new paint and replacement of the wooden screens. This cottage style home has interesting details borrowed from several other styles that make it a charming addition to the RAHS Heritage Homes.

The Redlands Historical Society is pleased to recognize the Sauvage family for their long-time attention and stewardship of this Redlands historic property.

Researched by – Ron Burgess