Emory G. Johnson Home

1988 HERITAGE AWARD RECIPIENT

The Redlands Area Historical Society, Inc.
Heritage Award 1988

Emory G. Johnson Home
920 Cajon Street
1903

On March 11, 1903, Davis Donald for a cost of $2,000, completed this Victorian-style shingle cottage, using siding and wood shingles to make it unique. The roofline is a medium hip with cross gables. Each has a different pattern of shingles: the North gable diamond and plain shingles while the East is more elaborate, combining sawtooth, diamond, and plain shingles. Decorative millwork is used in the comers of the gables. Clapboard siding is used with a continuous sill below the windows. A pattern of sawtooth shingles is layered with alternating narrow/wide-plain shingles. This same pattern is used on the enclosed balustrade of the front porch. The use of these different shingle shapes provides an interesting visual appearance to the home.

Mr. Emory Johnson was a “budder,” pruner, and carpenter. A budder grew seedlings from sour orange trees then grafted on them a Valencia or Navel orange. Following his wife, Sarah Jane’s death in 1933, he remarried, continuing to live in this house and work until his retirement in 1941. In the early 1950’s he moved from Redlands, having lived here almost fifty-one years.

Following the Johnsons, five families lived in this home until the present owner. Thomas and Jayne Miller, purchased it in 1987. Originally from the Bay area, Mr. Miller is an editor with Jet Propulsion laboratories in Pasadena. Mrs. Miller is a Respiratory Therapist with Redlands Community Hospital and has been a Donor Awareness Educator for Loma Linda Hospital. Authors themselves, they have their own publishing company, “Rosemill House.” Their newest book, published by Harper and Row, and the reason for them making their home here, te1ls the story of their son “Baby James.” This was the press name of Nicholas Mil1er, whose life was extended a few brief months with a heart transplant. The Millers moved to Redlands because of the love and support they felt during their ordeal. Mr. Mil1er said: “just write us in for the next fifty years like Emory Johnson.”