Dr. Lawrence Emerson Nelson House – 2025

University Tract #1, in 1910, was carved out of the original land of the University of Redlands which was part of the JDB Stillman Ranch and vineyard later owned by Stanford University prior to being obtained by the University of Redlands. While lots sold in stages over the years post-1910, eventually in 1924 a major push to sell lots and build homes took place under the successful financial guidance of George P. Cortner. Purchased by U. of R. English Professor Dr. Lawrence and Rosalie Nelson for $10 in 1928 from the University of Redlands but with a 1924 water connection, 811 N. University Street served as the Nelson family home until 1980, with only a brief change of ownership in 1934. Following the Nelson family ownership, the home was purchased by Irwin and Lyllus Spitzer for a decade, followed by Dave and Kimberly Tilton until 2008 when purchased by the current homeowner, Redlands Property Management, Inc., on behalf of the University of Redlands.

Approached by a scored concrete walkway and front steps flanked by low concrete and stucco porch piers, this single-story California Bungalow is comprised of 1761 sq. feet, 4 bedrooms, 1 bathroom with a single fireplace with asymmetrical shaped exterior brick chimney. A hipped gable portico with two Tuscan columns on either side of the steps, vertical stick ventilation, exposed rafters, dominant fascia board, large eaves and tongue and groove curved ceiling covers the porch and leads to the glass and wood single front door. Vertical stick ventilation appears at other locations of the structure including the hipped gable roof dormer and at the gable ends of the sides and rear of the house. Siding on the home is shiplap, and the home is built on a raised concrete foundation with a concrete front porch.

Projecting from the left side of the structure is a small gable and room approached by concrete steps. While a non-original sliding glass door is now in place at one side of this room, this would have been an office with door where a college professor would have met students and conducted office hours. A side door and office is not an unusual feature within homes surrounding the university. Windows of the home consist of double hung sash windows, large picture windows with double hung sash windows on either side and double hung sash ribbon windows. The sashes have angular details. Exterior lighting of the front porch is a singular hanging black metal and glass lantern. A garage is detached from the main structure of the house.

Lawrence Emerson Nelson, Ph.D. English from Stanford University and a native of Missouri, taught for 36 years at the University of Redlands where he also served as Dean of Graduate Studies and went on to Cal Baptist College as Chair of Humanities where he completed his career.  As illustrious as his academic career was, as respected as a phenomenal historian, and admired as a prolific writer, and as involved in local, state, national and international organizations, many of which he served as leadership, including as International President of the Knights of the Round Table in 1966-1967, he will be most remembered locally for writing two major histories: Redlands: Biography of a College, the first fifty years of the University of Redlands 1958 and Only One Redlands, published in 1963 in honor of  the 75^th anniversary of the founding of Redlands. Dr. Nelson’s title for the last book is attributed to his observation, “The postal directory finds fourteen Edens in the United States, but only one Redlands.”

The Redlands Area Historical Society congratulates the University of Redlands for its care of both 811 N. University Street and for the legacy of Dr. Lawrence E. Nelson.

Researched and written by Kathleen Beall, presented on June 11, 2025.