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NORTH STAR HOUSE
H I S T O R Y
A Rising stAR
PHOTOS BY ANDREW WRIGHT / LIGHTHAWKPHOTO
D
OWN A WINDING COUNTRY
ROAD, not far from Grass Valley,
stands a monument of sorts to
an innovative mining engineer, a famous
architect and an author of note.
The North Star House was constructed
for the family of Arthur D. Foote, chief mining engineer of the North Star Mine, one of
the largest gold producing mines in the
world. Not only a residence, the house was
a showplace, a place where investors,
important mining men and visitors could be
entertained in grand style.
Completed in 1905, the 11,000 square
foot home is a fine example of the
California craftsman style of the arts and
crafts movement. It was designed by Julia
Morgan, the first female in California to be
licensed to practice architecture, and was
one of her first significant large-scale residential projects.
During her illustrious career, Morgan was
responsible for more than 700 buildings
throughout California and the west including the famous Hearst Castle in San Simeon
and the post-quake reconstruction of San
Francisco’s Fairmont Hotel.
In addition to its role in Grass Valley’s
mining history, the North Star House holds
a significant place in the life and work of
author and illustrator Mary Hallock Foote,
wife of A. D. Foote.
She was the author and illustrator of 16
novels and numerous short stories. Also an
accomplished artist, Mary Foote produced
illustrations for works by other authors,
such as Rudyard Kipling and Nathaniel
Hawthorne.
Long neglected and in disrepair, the
North Star House is undergoing a renaissance under the guidance of the North Star
Historic Conservancy, a non-profit formed
to manage the rehabilitation and ongoing
operations of the house. It has been placed
on the National Register of Historic Places,
and as a result is also listed in the California
Register of Historical Resources.
Concert at North Star House
Thanks to thousands of volunteer hours,
the vision of opening the North Star House
and historic grounds to the public as a cultural event center is a reality. Available for
weddings, concerts and shows, retreats,
meetings, classes, art shows and fund-raisers, it is becoming a popular venue as evidenced by its community calendar.
CONSERVANCY EVENTS
HOUSE TOURS: Saturdays, 8:00 am–12:30
pm. During the Nevada County Growers
Market through November.
ROSE LANDSCAPE TOUR: June 13, 11:00 am.
One hour walking tour starts on the terrace.
HOUSE PARTY: August 29, 7:30. Dance
concert featuring Lorraine Gervais and her
Love Bombs.
A CONVERSATION WITH JULIA MORGAN:
September 20, 2:00–5:00 pm.Celebrate
110 years at the North Star House.
Presentation by Julia Morgan (Betty
Marvin, architectural historian). Tours,
refreshments.
GETTING THERE: Turn off McCourtney Road left onto Auburn Road & go ½ mile.
Entrance is on the left. Follow signs. Information: Peggy Levine, Executive Director,
(530) 272-1873; [email protected]. northstarconservancy.org
WWW.NEVADACOUNTYGOLD.COM
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