856 W. HIGHLAND AVENUE

Yellow two-story gable house with a covered front porch, stone foundation, and leafless trees framing it against a clear blue sky.

Yellow Victorian-style house with a wraparound porch, leafless trees, and a row of small evergreens under a clear blue sky.

Yellow two-story Victorian-style house with brown roof, front porch, leafless trees, and clear blue sky.

HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE

The Baker House was purchased in 2022 by Marc Thayer and Moh Ghraiz and is an excellent example of a Queen Anne style Victorian home built in 1893. It is in excellent condition with priceless stained-glass windows and other ornate leaded glass windows, original unpainted wood work, built in cabinets, a large wrap around porch, a large carriage house behind it, and many other originals details.

ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE

This house is one of the incredible historic homes on West Highland Ave. halfway between the McClure Mansion and the Wing Mansion, first owned by foundry-owner Louis A. Baker and designed by W. W. Abell, built at a cost of $5,500. The interior has been immaculately preserved and only the kitchen has been modernized but not enlarged. The back porch was enclosed and some of the exterior has a modern siding on parts. The original siding, ceiling and trim of the porch have been well-preserved.

The leaded windows throughout the house, and the sainted-glass windows on the stairways, the master bedroom and bathroom have been preserved and encased to protect them from warping. The two interior fireplaces are very different in design, and one is surrounded by intricate hand-carving and original ornate tiles.

Sources: 2005 Landmark Application

856 W Highland Avenue

856 W. HIGHLAND AVENUE