Pederson House and Water Tower

Pederson House and Water Tower is located at the campus of California Lutheran University (CLU) in Thousand Oaks, California, the former home of the Norwegian Colony. It was built by members of the Colony that settled here in 1890.[1] The structure is designated Ventura County Historic Landmark No. 45 and Thousand Oaks Historical Landmark No. 3.[2][3][4] It is a typical turn-of-the-century farmhouse constructed in 1913-14 for Lars and Karn Pederson, Norwegian immigrants and members of the Norwegian Colony, who had first settled in Conejo Valley in 1890.[5] The house was erected at the present location of Ahmanson Science Center, but was later relocated 500 feet (150 m) to its current location at the corner of Regent Avenue and Faculty Street.[6] When its original location was determined to become a science building, the university was quoted $125,000 in moving costs, and therefore planned to demolish the house. However, CLU alumni were able to raise the amount in one day and were successful in saving the house.[7]

Pederson House and Water Tower
General information
Architectural styleAmerican Craftsman
Location3201 Regent Avenue, Thousand Oaks, CA
Coordinates34°13′16″N 118°52′39″W
Completed1923
OwnerCalifornia Lutheran University
Design and construction
Architect(s)Norwegian Colony

One hundred and thirty acres (53 ha) of the Pedersons' land were donated by Lars Pederson’s son, Richard Pederson, in order to establish California Lutheran College in 1959.[8][9][10] Additional land including the buildings were given to the university in 1967, at which time the buildings were restored.

While currently housing the university’s music department,[11] the ranch house has also been utilized as the university president's home in 1961 and as the dean's office in 1962-63. It had been the private residence of the Pederson family from its 1913 construction until 1960. The water tower was operational until 1960, when plumbing was installed. It was relocated and renovated in 1986.[12]

A bronze statue of Lars Pederson was dedicated on April 18, 2015, next to the flagpoles near the university's Soiland Humanities Center.[13] Nearby Pederson Road is also named for the Pederson family.[14]

Historic designation

Pederson House and Water Tower was designated Ventura County Historic Landmark No. 45 in June 1978,[5] and was designated City of Thousand Oaks Historical Landmark No. 3 in November 1997.[15]

See also

Sources
  1. Bustillo, Miguel (October 20, 1997). "Council to Consider Naming Landmarks" – via LA Times.
  2. Begun, Miriam; Sprankling, Ruthanne (2009). Ladies of The Conejo. Newbury Park, CA: Conejo Valley Historical Society. p. 134. ISBN 9780972523356.
  3. .Sprankling, Miriam; Begun, Ruthanne (2006). Historical Tour of the Conejo Valley. Newbury Park, CA: Conejo Valley Historical Society. p. 16. ISBN 0-9725233-4-0.
  4. .Sprankling, Miriam (2002). Discovering the Story of the Conejo Valley. Newbury Park, CA: Conejo Valley Historical Society. p. 50. ISBN 0-9725233-0-8.
  5. "History - Thousand Oaks, CA". www.toaks.org.
  6. Sprankling, Miriam and Ruthanne Begun (2006). Historical Tour of the Conejo Valley. Newbury Park, CA: Conejo Valley Historical Society. Page 16. ISBN 0-9725233-4-0.
  7. Brant, Cherie (2006). Keys to the County: Touring Historic Ventura County. Ventura County Museum. Page 147. ISBN 978-0972936149.
  8. Begun, Miriam and Ruthanne Sprankling (2009). Ladies of The Conejo. Newbury Park, CA: Conejo Valley Historical Society. Page 57. ISBN 9780972523356.
  9. Schroeder, Anne (2000). Branches on the Conejo: Leaving the Soil After Five Generations. Russell Dean & Company. Page 131. ISBN 9781891954993.
  10. University, California Lutheran. "Quick Facts". Cal Lutheran.
  11. "Cal Lutheran Map". www.callutheran.edu.
  12. "Artstor".
  13. University, California Lutheran. "Cal Lutheran to dedicate Pederson statue".
  14. Begun, Miriam and Ruthanne Sprankling (2009). Ladies of The Conejo. Newbury Park, CA: Conejo Valley Historical Society. Page 134. ISBN 9780972523356.
  15. http://www.conejo-openspace.org/assets/cons-element-2013-final.pdf (Page 29)
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