Modjeska House
{{short description|Historic house in California, United States}}
{{distinguish|Modjeska Monteith Simkins House}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NRHP
| name = Modjeska House
| nrhp_type = nhl
| designated_other1 = California
| designated_other1_number = 205
| designated_other1_date = 1935{{cite ohp|205|Modjeska House|2012-10-11}}
| designated_other1_num_position = both
| image = MadamModeska.JPG
| image_size = 270px
| caption = Madame Helena Modjeska
in the garden at "Arden"
| location = 29042 Modjeska Canyon Road
Modjeska, California
| coordinates = {{coord|33|42|32.4|N|117|37|30|W|display=title}}
| locmapin = California#USA
| area = {{convert|14|acre|m2}}
| built = 1888
| architect = Stanford White
| architecture = Queen Anne
| added = December 11, 1972{{NRISref|2007a}}
| refnum = 72000244
}}
Modjeska House, also known as Arden, is a house designed by Stanford White in Modjeska Canyon, California. It is significant for being the only surviving home of Helena Modjeska, a Shakespearean actress and Polish patriot. The property is located in a live oak grove on the banks of Santiago Creek in Modjeska Canyon, California.
History
Modjeska came to America with her husband {{Ill|Karol Chłapowski|lt=Karol Bozenta Chłapowski|pl}} in 1876 from Poland, and created a retreat for when she was not performing on stage. To design a large Victorian country house, she hired one of America's leading architects, Stanford White. They named it "Arden" after the forest setting of Shakespeare's play As You Like It and planted gardens with olive trees, palms, English yews, white lilac, and crown of thorns. It was their home from 1888 until 1906.
=Post-Modjeska years=
After the property was sold, the romance associated with Modjeska's life attracted developers who marketed parcels of the property for vacation homes. In 1908, Gustave A. Schweiger bought the home and operated it as a bed and breakfast. In 1922, local Rotary groups discussed buying the property to use as a country club.{{cite news |title=Rotarians Want Modjeska Home |url=https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=LHS19220908.2.31&srpos=3&e=-------en--20-LHS-1--txt-txIN-modjeska-------1 |access-date=February 11, 2021 |agency=La Habra Star |issue=VII |date=September 8, 1922}} In 1923, the Walker family of Long Beach purchased parcels of land in the canyon that included the Modjeska house and its surrounding wooded area.[http://www.ocparks.com/modjeskahouse/default.asp?Show=History Modjeska House & Gardens OCParks Commission] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071026113402/http://www.ocparks.com/modjeskahouse/default.asp?Show=History |date=2007-10-26 }}, retrieved on November 18, 2007.
=Historic site=
Modjeska House was declared a California Historical Landmark in 1935.
In 1986, the Orange County Harbors, Beaches and Parks Authority purchased the 14.4-acre property for $1 million{{cite journal|last=Logan|first=Dan|title=Once in Arden|journal=Orange Coast Magazine|date=April 1990|pages=106, 107, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113}} and established it as a historical site. A major restoration occurred before the site could be opened to the public. The original house had no indoor plumbing or utilities. A limited number of visitors are allowed on tours. Directions to the park are given after making reservations.[http://ocparks.com/historic/modjeska "Arden" - Helena Modjeska Historic House and Gardens], Orange County Parks, retrieved on June 26, 2016.
It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1990.{{Cite journal|title=National Register of Historic Places Registration: Forest of Arden / Arden / Modjeska House / Modjeska County Park|url={{NHLS url|id=72000244}} |format=pdf|date=June 16, 1990 |author=James H. Charleton |publisher=National Park Service}} and {{NHLS url|id=72000244|title=Accompanying photos, exterior and of Helen Modjeska and others, from 1988, c.1893 and undated|photos=y}} {{small|(1.00 MB)}}
The house was featured in Visiting... with Huell Howser Episode 920.{{cite web |title=Modjeska House – Visiting (920) – Huell Howser Archives at Chapman University |url=https://blogs.chapman.edu/huell-howser-archives/2017/03/03/modjeska-house-visiting-920/}}
Marker
Marker at the site reads:
- Famous as the home of Madame Modjeska, one of the world's great actresses, it was designed by Stanford White in 1888 on property called the Forest of Arden. Sold soon after her retirement, it remains a monument to the woman who contributed immeasurably to the cultural life of Orange County. Erected by California State Park Commission. (Marker Number 205.)[https://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=50303&Result=1 Marker Database Home of Madame Modjeska, 205]
Gallery
Image:California - Modjeska House - 20180915141104.jpg|Modjeska House marker
File:California - Modjeska House - 20180915141520.jpg|Modjeska House
File:California - Modjeska House - 20180915142351.jpg|Modjeska House
File:The Arden Helena Modjeska House.jpg|Modjeska House
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|Modjeska House}}
- {{Official website|https://www.ocparks.com/historic-sites/arden-helena-modjeska-historic-house-and-gardens}}
- [http://ochistorical.blogspot.com/2012/03/modjeskas-home-in-forest-of-arden.html O.C. History Roundup: Modjeska's home, in the Forest of Arden]
- [http://api.ning.com/files/yBLZWTL4ONJ2-V6pDCr99V11CDtCdtUe*9Beec-bjVpzUJCcHIK3tXdmEKePrgXl/Modjeskasample.jpg Infographic: Map of the Modjeska estate 'Arden']
{{Registered Historic Places |state=collapsed}}
Category:Houses in Orange County, California
Category:Historic house museums in California
Category:Museums in Orange County, California
Category:Houses completed in 1888
Category:California Historical Landmarks
Category:National Historic Landmarks in California
Category:Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in California
Category:National Register of Historic Places in Orange County, California
Category:Stanford White buildings