Heritage Square
The History.
Archie Petre (pronounced Peter) came to Oxnard sometime before 1910 as a younger member of an extended family that included his brother-in-law and sister, George and Mabel Austin. Coincidentally, in those early years, the Austin/Metre families were tenants in Fry/ Puntenney House (also in Heritage Square). In 1911 Archie married Anna Maulhardt, a daughter of early Oxnard pioneers Heinrich and Augusta Maulhardt. This house and one hundred acres was a wedding present from them — a present they duplicated for each of their children upon marriage. Archie appears to have been plagued by ill health and died at age 38 in 1925. Anna and her children moved into Oxnard and lived in a house on C Street, today part of the Henry T. Oxnard Historic District.
The Design.
This California Bungalow Style home was designed by a local architect named Hunt in 1911. Then at the peak of its popularity, the bungalow style was widely embraced by homeowners in Oxnard. The rustic simplicity of this style often masked the superior craftsmanship and inclusion of the most modern and innovative lifestyle comforts of the day. Characteristic exterior bungalow features on this house include the notched rafters and knee brackets. The roofline of this house is original, however the second, larger dormer in
the back was added when it was relocated; the front porch has been enclosed.
Original location: 3210 Rose Avenue, Oxnard. Built circa 1911. Architect: Hunt. Restored by Pat McCarthy.
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