Photo : Claudine Gossett
The Votaw House
By Larry J . Mickartz
Photo : Claudine Gossett
On the corner of Main and Peak sits a pristine old house , the Voltaw House . Not only is it beautiful inside and out , it also has an intriguing history that dates back to the 1900 ’ s . Over the years , the home has experienced a restoration as well as an expansion . The current occupant , Bill Tindall , a local community theater actor and owner of Brotin Designs , has given it a touch of Asian class and sophistication .
Starting with a little history , its beginnings are a bit mysterious . Some say it was built in 1900 ; others say 1906 , which seems to be the more accepted date . The first owner was Albert Shaw Votaw , first mayor of Morgan Hill , who , along with his brothers , founded the Bank of Morgan Hill . An early map indicates that E . J . Votaw proposed a subdivision on the acreage . The Votaw House has also been home to several families ; it has been a boarding house , and even hosted a “ gentleman ’ s club .”
It was in bad shape in 1979 when Marjorie and Vincent Fiorenza purchased it and initiated a long restoration and expansion project . The house , as it stands now , is 2,600 square feet . It has four bedrooms , two baths , a large family room addition , remodeled kitchen , expansive outside decks and a detached garage .
The restoration , as with most remodeling projects , took longer and cost more than anticipated . The end result is a restored and expanded grand lady of a house worthy of her history and suited to her present and future . The foundation was redone with cement block mimicking the original foundation structure . The wiring and plumbing was brought up to code but light switches use a modern version of the old push button switches . The back of the house was expanded with a large family room connected to the kitchen . Windows , trim and lighting were refurbished with authentic pieces from other Northern California Victorians . The window panes are authentic period glass from Germany . Many of the lights are refurbished gas light fixtures . 0 stained glass accompany period works . During the renovations , a Maine fireplace builder constructed the large fireplace at the back of the family room .
The bathrooms were redone in period decor . One of the old photos shows the plumbing for the upstairs bath ( circa 1940 ) on the exterior of the house . The remodel put the plumbing in the walls . As sort of a tribute to this 1940 ’ s bathroom remodel , the doorway from the hall to the bath still stands short of the standard seven feet opening .
Photo : Claudine Gossett
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