2003 HERITAGE AWARD RECIPIENT
Redlands Area Historical Society
R.F. & Lula E. Hosking Home
226 Nordina Street
1898
Revived from ashes like the Phoenix is the Hosking Home. The Victorian Cottage suffered a major fire in 2001 due to a faulty appliance and was slated for demolition until a group of historical aficionados stopped it from the wrecking ball. That is when Mr. James Ballard stepped up to the challenge and saved it. He purchased the home February 25, 2002.
The Hosking home was built for Mrs. R. F. Hosking, an orange grower, and shows Lula E. Hosking as the resident in 1898. In addition to the Hosking family there was the Norris family who lived in the home from 1905 to 1941. Henry Norris was also listed as an orange grower. This one story Victorian Cottage with a steep bellcast-hipped roof is covered with composition shingles. Beveled clapboard wood siding can be found throughout the exterior of the house. It is flared at the bottom section over the foundation. The plain frieze is very wide beneath boxed cornices. There are decorative corbels accenting as support under the wide overhang eaves.
Six wooden steps with slanted piers lead to a front covered porch that expands the width of the house. Four boxed columns support the porch. Above the porch a gabled pediment caps the entrance. Two additional boxed columns support it. The detail on the porch gable is set with a large crest, garland and floral ornamentation. Dentil molding can be seen in the boxed cornice. A centered front paneled door is flanked by two glass sidelights. The door has a rectangular glass pane with three small rectangular wooden panels below. There are two equal sized bays on either side of the front door. The bays include a central double hung window and a smaller double hung window on each side. Another bay is located on the north side of the house. There is one casement window with diamond shape divided light on the northern side of the house.
Mr. Ballard has been renovating houses for the past fifteen years. This has been the most challenging as the rear section of the house was burned and the remainder had smoke and water damage. When he purchased the home several architectural items had been removed for salvage. The exterior wood siding had to be re-milled. He stripped the interior down to the studs and covered the walls with drywall. New plumbing, electrical, heating and air conditioning have been installed. The claw foot tub and vintage fixtures were restored. Mr. Ballard’s greatest challenge was replacing the steep pitched hipped roof. This home has been restored from foundation to roof. Mr. Ballard credits the efforts of Bettina McCloud for gathering a group to save this wonderful Victorian Cottage. Not only has this home been saved, it has saved a deteriorating neighborhood.
It is with pride and appreciation that the Redlands Area Historical Society, Inc. presents this Heritage Award to James and Natasha Ballard.
Researched and written by Rosa E. Gomez
