By hannover-web.com The Abner Phelp House, recognized as the oldest house in San Francisco, has recently been acquired by veteran musician Jordan Kurland for $2 million. According to SFGATE, this historic home has a somewhat controversial backstory. The most popular tale suggests that a love-struck lawyer transported the entire house from New Orleans, making a treacherous journey around Cape Horn. However, other historical records assert that the house was built right in California using coastal redwoods.
Despite the uncertainties surrounding its exact history, the future of the Abner Phelp House looks bright. After sitting vacant for many years, Kurland confirmed his purchase to SFGATE.
“I love that no one really knows its history, but I prefer the Cape Horn story,” Kurland shared, adding, “It’s more romantic.”
Kurland is a partner at Noise Pop Industries and co-founder of the artist management company Brilliant Corners, which represents well-known artists like Death Cab for Cutie and Soccer Mommy. The renovation of office space within the 3,500-square-foot building began last week, and Kurland hinted that Noise Pop may relocate to the new site as soon as November.
A report from the San Francisco Call in 1907 described the colonial-style home, noting its bright white balcony and porch overlooking a carefully maintained lawn and garden. The house was originally inhabited around 1850 by Abner Phelps, a colonel from the Mexican-American War. According to the popular origin story, Phelps, a lawyer in San Francisco after the war, brought the house from Louisiana to convince his young bride to join him in the West.
However, a 1934 report challenges that Louisiana origin, stating that a builder in San Francisco actually constructed the house using lumber from Maine. In the 1970s, UC Berkeley scientists determined that the house was built from California redwoods. Another report from the San Francisco Examiner even claimed the house dates back to as early as 1846.
Regardless of the conflicting narratives, its construction date—whether it was 1850 or earlier—solidly establishes it as San Francisco’s oldest house. The Phelps residence has been moved several times within the city, only enhancing its legendary reputation.
In 1969, real estate agent David Finn purchased the house and rotated it 180 degrees to its current location. Records show that the property last changed hands in 1997 for $525,000 and had been available for commercial office space rental prior to its return to the market.
“This is an incredible building,” Kurland commented. “I feel like we are the guardians of San Francisco’s history.”
