Orange Lawn

About this property

The Orange Lawn, also known as the Young Mansion, is a historic residence located in the Sonoma, California. Built in 1870 by Daniel and Maria Young, it is known for its 19th-century Italianate architecture. The mansion was restored in 1996 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 9, 2008. The Orange Lawn, Young Mansion is situated on land surveyed in 1850 by Jasper O'Farrell, who worked with the Mexican government to map Marin and Sonoma counties. This land was designated as “Outlot 516” by O'Farrell. Mayor William M. Fuller of Sonoma sold the property to Solomon H. Carriger, a pioneer known for acquiring large tracts of land. The original 31.5 acres (12.7 ha) parcel is located four blocks east of Sonoma Plaza, in the city's historic district. The Armstrong Estates and Armstrong Park border the property. Donna Maria Carrilo purchased the land in 1853. By 1856, Coleman B. Smith acquired the property, where he cultivated fruit, raised pigs, and grew hay. In March 1870, Smith transferred ownership of the property to Daniel Clark Young and his wife, Maria, for $2,500 (equivalent to $63,651 in 2025). Young developed the land further, constructing the Orange Lawn residence and dwelling and auxiliary structures for animals and agricultural machinery. The land included 3.5 acres (1.4 ha) for a total of 35 acres (14 ha). In 1874, Young exhibited his fruit and nuts at the Mechanics' Institute Fair. After twenty-two years, Young sold the home and property in 1892 to W. S. Miller of San Francisco for $4,756 (equivalent to $170,423 in 2025). After Miller, there were several other owners. Steven Noble Ledson acquired the property in 1987, restored it in 1996, and applied for landmark status with the National Park Service in 2008. The name "Orange Lawn" likely describes the appearance of summer lawns that encircle the Young mansion and the cultivation of orange and lemon trees on the property. The Orange Lawn, Young Mansion is a Victorian architecture residence in a Italianate-style located at 645 Charles Van Damme Way in Sonoma, California. It sits on a lot measuring 60 ft (18 m) by 127 ft (39 m), located four blocks east of the Sonoma Plaza. The two-story house spans 4,689 square feet (435.6 m2) and contains thirteen rooms. The downstairs area, covering 2,558 square feet (237.6 m2), includes an entryway with a spiral staircase, three sitting rooms, a dining room, a kitchen, a sunroom, a basement, two bathrooms, and a laundry room. The upstairs is 2,132 square feet (198.1 m2) and has four bedrooms, three bathrooms, an office, and staircases at both the front and rear. The house has a concrete foundation and basement. The basement, rebuilt in 1996, includes a bathroom, a pantry, a gym, and a wine cellar.

Location

Categories

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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