Keene House, 2019. Credit: Google Maps.
Ventura County Landmark No. 33: Keene House
Historical Background
The Keene house, built in 1872, may be the only remaining example of Second Empire/Victorian residential styles of architecture in Ventura. Second Empire, popular from 1864 to 1885, was a French way of enlarging living space without violating the height limitations of Paris, achieved by a steep mansard roof from which gabled dormer windows projected.
According to the Los Angeles Times, “the house was built about 1872 by Josiah Keene, a native of Maine who lost his left arm in the Civil War. He worked for the U.S. Treasury Department in Washington until he came to Ventura in 1871 for health reasons. After buying the Ventura Avenue property, he became a beekeeper. In 1874, Keene married Lucy Monroe, a native of Massachusetts. Four of their five children were born in the house. One son, Herman Keene, became a well-known trapper of mountain lions and homesteaded in the Santa Paula area.” (Los Angeles Times, 1990).
Architecture
The residence was described by the Los Angeles Times as follows: “Built about 1872 by Josiah Keene, this house was one of the first grand residences built in the city of San Buenaventura after its incorporation in 1866. Originally the house faced east on Ventura Avenue but was moved around the corner to its present location on Bell Way between Ventura Avenue and Olive Street in 1927. The Keene House is both a county and city landmark.” (Los Angeles Times, 1990).
“The mansard or hip roof of the Keene House has a variety of shingle patterns, originally in different colors, but now in a natural wood tone. Both the living and dining rooms have bay windows on the front and east side of the ground floor. Victorian elements are seen in the elaborate porch entrance supported by turned columns and balustrades with spindle and spool detail under the roof. The house originally had a widow’s walk on the third level, but that was damaged by fire and removed around 1880. Inside, a narrow, steep staircase, now boarded up, led from the second story to the widow’s walk, which had a view of the surrounding 18 acres of apricot trees.” (Los Angeles Times, 1990).
References
Los Angeles Times Archives (September 15, 1990). “Landmarks/County Historical Sites: Keene House Has Rare Architecture.” Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-09-15-me-109-story.html.
Image Copyright Notice
Side Photo (top) – CC BY-SA 4.0.
Date Designated: July 1977
Location: 41 Bell Way, Ventura
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