Sproul House

Gilbert Sproul House
Gilbert Sproul House
	Sproul House / Gilbert Sproul Museum
Location	12237 Sproul St Norwalk, California
Coordinates	33°55′34.8636″N 118°4′18.2028″W
Built	1870
Architect	Ashley Bliss
Architectural style(s)	Stick Style, Tudor Revival
Owner	City of Norwalk, California
	Location of Gilbert Sproul House in the Los Angeles metropolitan area Sproul House (California) Sproul House (the United States)

Sproul House a Stick Style, Victorian farm house built in 1870 in the present-day City of Norwalk in Los Angeles County, California by the founder of the city for himself and his family. It houses the Gilbert Sproul Museum containing the family's original furniture, much of which dates back to 1870, along with one-of-a-kind materials relating to the history of Norwalk, such as maps, early school pictures, and other city photographs. In addition, there are displays of historical dolls, guns, and a rare collection of First Nations artefacts.[1][2]

Early years

Sproul House at original site c. 1900

Gilbert Sproul's attempted settlement in Humboldt, California coincided with the Bald Hills War. After a deadly attack on his settlement[3] by Eel River Athapaskan peoples, Sproul bought 457 acres south of Los Angeles in 1868, built a house and sent for his family. He then set about founding the city of Norwalk. Siting the house in a sycamore grove [4] near the planned path of the Southern Pacific Rail Road(SPRR) along present day Front Street, Sproul sunk several wells which supplied the early township, attracting more residents to whom he would sell portions of the land. In 1875 Sproul deeded 20 acres to SPRR but, crucially, he included a clause compelling SPRR to maintain train service to Sproul's Station where they had previously refused to stop.[5] The grove and house became the site of civic cultural events[6] as well as official city business[1][7][2] The town's commercial and civic center grew between the Sproul house and station, and the area remains a main civic and commercial center of the city to this day.

The Sproul Museum

Sproul House
View of bedroom and parlor
Kitchen with view of bedroom through door

In 1962, descendant Vida Sproul donated the house to the City of Norwalk and it became the centerpiece of a large historical park and museum showcasing the city's history.[1] The house was moved within its historic lot to approximately 100 yards from its previous location,[2] a historic reproduction barn was built next to it, and corrals populated with farm animals were added. The farm actually raised and produced beef to help fund itself.[8] The whole complex was opened to the public as a museum in 1964. In 1973 the barn exhibit and grounds were improved to look more like a western style rancho barn, and another exhibit was added inside the barn illustrating the agricultural period of Norwalk through equipment, implements and tools arranged in various interpretive displays. The Sproul Historic Park now boasted the Gilbert Sproul House Museum, the Norwalk Animal Farm and the Interpretive Barn exhibit.[9][10][11][2]

References

Reece, Daphne (1983). Historic Houses of California. San Francisco, CA : Chronicle Books. p. 114. ISBN 0877012725. Archived from the original on 2012-01-23. Retrieved 3 May 2023. Gilbert Sproul House 1970 Norwalk's founder, Gilbert Sproul, built this simple redwood home with few pretensions to architectural style. An adventurous Yankee from Maine, Sproul had traveled widely in the West Indies and the Orient before settling down as a lumber baron in Oregon; he also was quick to sense the opportunities when Southern California's great ranchos were subdivided and settlers poured into the state. His house became the scene of many of Norwalk's early town meetings. Donated with all its original furnishings to the city by Sproul's granddaughter in 1964, it is now a museum furnished with contemporary antiques.
A Guide to historic places in Los Angeles County : prepared under the auspices of the History Team of the City of Los Angeles American Revolution Bicentennial Committee. Dubuque, Iowa : Kendall/Hunt Pub. Co. 1978. pp. 232–233. Retrieved 3 May 2023. Gilbert Sproul, founder of Norwalk, built this redwood home for himself and his family in 1870. Many town meetings were held in this house, which was one of the first homes in the Norwalk area. Sproul's granddaughter, Vida Sproul Hunter, donated the home to the City, which moved the building about 100 yards to its present location, where since 1964 it has been open to the public as the Sproul Museum. Inside is now a city museum in Norwalk Park. Original furniture, much of which dates back to 1870, along with materials relating to the history of Norwalk, such as maps, early school pictures, and other city photographs. In addition there are displays of dolls, guns, and Indian artifacts.
Bledsoe, Anthony Jennings (1885). "xx". Indian wars of the Northwest. A California sketch (1 ed.). San Francisco: San Francisco, Bacon & Co. p. 337. Archived from the original on 2011-06-09. Retrieved 3 May 2023. ...on the South Fork of Eel River. Two brothers lived there, Atwood and Gilbert Sproul...A band of mountain Indians attacked the ranch, unexpectedly and suddenly. The brothers defended their home bravely and drove the Indians off, but not before they had both been seriously wounded.
Wheeler, Phillip Hugh (1 Jun 1964). "University of Southern California - A history of the Norwalk-La Mirada School District". University of Southern California. p. 8. doi:10.25549/usctheses-c29-270035. Retrieved 30 April 2023. On the early home site of the Sproul's was a sycamore tree that had a trunk diameter of twelve feet A well was sunk and a cabin was built in preparation for the first permanent settlement in the area Their home was rather small and primitively made, as were many home of the pioneer settlers
McGroarty, J. S. (1923). History of Los Angeles County. United States: American Historical Society, Incorporated. p.544 “ in the winter of 1868 he and his brother Gilbert H. bought 457 acres of unimproved land at what is now Norwalk, the original portion of the Sproul ranch costing only eleven dollars an acre. The village of Norwalk stands on this ranch. Immediately after locating on the property, Atwood Sproul built a livery barn and began buying, selling and training horses. A number of splendid horses were kept there. One of them was Conveth, a chestnut horse that sold for $ 10,000 as a yearling . The Sproul Brothers gave the right of way and depot grounds, altogether twenty-three acres, to the railroad . In the deed conveying this property was a clause compelling maintenance of daily train service for the station at Norwalk. This clause proved very valuable to the citizens of the community. At one time the railroad declined to stop for passengers. "
"At Norwalk a grand barbecue and a successful celebration". Library of congress. 6 July 1889. p. 3. Retrieved 8 May 2023. The people of Norwalk held a special celebration in honor of the Fourth at Sproul's Grove...The parade started at 10 o'clock from the depot and went out to the grove.
Press-Telegram |Long Beach, California |Dec 23, 1923 |Page 44
Lowe, Hal (3 July 1973). "Norwalk Small Animal Farm Closed". Long Beach Press-Telegram. p. 12. The population of the two-acre farm has grown through donations and birth. In fact, the raising of beef cattle at the farm helps in meeting expenses of the operation, he said.
Jelf, Mike (14 Apr 1973). "'Farm' explains where that costly steak comes from". Long Beach Independent. p. 13. If a modern suburban kid had to rely on personal experience, he'd probably conclude that beef, eggs and milk originate in supermarket stockrooms. Unless, that is, hes toured a place like the Norwalk Park Animal Farm. This unusual project of the Southeast Parks and Recreation District is devoted to exposing young children to mysteries which were commonplace to their forbears...Monday at 1 p.m. the farm will reopen, officially the second time it has opened since it was built in 1963. The farm was changed from a New England-style homestead to a Western ranch, Gieger says...The farm, at 12159 E. Sproul St., will be open daily during Easter Week.
Epley, Malcom (7 Sep 1973). "Farm Museum Opening". Long Beach Press Telegram. p. 29. City kids who can't tell a cultivator from a cream separator will be able to learn the difference Sunday at 2 pm when the city of Norwalk dedicates its new barn The barn is located next to the historic Sproul Residence Museum in Norwalk Park 12159 E Sproul St City fathers built the barn to showcase farming equipment from the late 19th and early 20th centuries Included in the display are a blacksmith mannequin working at a forge vintage cultivators harnesses antique milk cans all the tools that were familiar sights when Norwalk was a farming and dairying community Sproul Museum curator Billie Robinson says the idea for the barn "has been in the back of my head" ever since she became curator nine years ago Many of the items in the barn were secured by members of the city's Historical Heritage Committee "They've been a big help" she says Most items in the museum "are hard to find now because we aren't an agricultural area anymore" Mrs Robinson says Though the museum's barn will open to the public Sunday the collection of farm equipment isn't closed She'll gladly accept donations of more farm equipment Mrs Robinson says
Burt, Tim (3 July, 1977) "Early Norwalk Lives at Sproul Museum" Long Beach Press-Telegram, Page 31 "Not many families open up their houses to thousands of visitors a year But that's what Vida Sproul Hunter did in 1962 when she donated the home of her grandfather Gilbert H Sproul to the city of Norwalk Since then schoolchildren and history buffs have visited the museum taking particular interest in such items as Civil War guns an old-fashioned disc-record set and farming equipment of the pre-1900s There is also an 1877 piano which according to museum curator Billie Robinson still sounds good A 1910 Edison phonograph is also on display 'They didn't have television back then...Anna Sproul was in charge of the post office for nine years. Sproul purchased the property in 1868 and built the house in 1870. The house was moved in 1962 to its current location on Sproul Street and was opened to tourists in 1964. 'Most of the items we collected from residents when we opened in 1962' Mrs Robinson said 'All of the guns are from the Sproul family '. Vida Sproul Hunter was the last Sproul to live in the house '"

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[:0-1] Reece, Daphne (1983). Historic Houses of California. San Francisco, CA : Chronicle Books. p. 114. ISBN 0877012725. Archived from the original on 2012-01-23. Retrieved 3 May 2023. Gilbert Sproul House 1970 Norwalk's founder, Gilbert Sproul, built this simple redwood home with few pretensions to architectural style. An adventurous Yankee from Maine, Sproul had traveled widely in the West Indies and the Orient before settling down as a lumber baron in Oregon; he also was quick to sense the opportunities when Southern California's great ranchos were subdivided and settlers poured into the state. His house became the scene of many of Norwalk's early town meetings. Donated with all its original furnishings to the city by Sproul's granddaughter in 1964, it is now a museum furnished with contemporary antiques.

[:1-2] A Guide to historic places in Los Angeles County : prepared under the auspices of the History Team of the City of Los Angeles American Revolution Bicentennial Committee. Dubuque, Iowa : Kendall/Hunt Pub. Co. 1978. pp. 232–233. Retrieved 3 May 2023. Gilbert Sproul, founder of Norwalk, built this redwood home for himself and his family in 1870. Many town meetings were held in this house, which was one of the first homes in the Norwalk area. Sproul's granddaughter, Vida Sproul Hunter, donated the home to the City, which moved the building about 100 yards to its present location, where since 1964 it has been open to the public as the Sproul Museum. Inside is now a city museum in Norwalk Park. Original furniture, much of which dates back to 1870, along with materials relating to the history of Norwalk, such as maps, early school pictures, and other city photographs. In addition there are displays of dolls, guns, and Indian artifacts.

[3] Bledsoe, Anthony Jennings (1885). "xx". Indian wars of the Northwest. A California sketch (1 ed.). San Francisco: San Francisco, Bacon & Co. p. 337. Archived from the original on 2011-06-09. Retrieved 3 May 2023. ...on the South Fork of Eel River. Two brothers lived there, Atwood and Gilbert Sproul...A band of mountain Indians attacked the ranch, unexpectedly and suddenly. The brothers defended their home bravely and drove the Indians off, but not before they had both been seriously wounded.

[4] Wheeler, Phillip Hugh (1 Jun 1964). "University of Southern California - A history of the Norwalk-La Mirada School District". University of Southern California. p. 8. doi:10.25549/usctheses-c29-270035. Retrieved 30 April 2023. On the early home site of the Sproul's was a sycamore tree that had a trunk diameter of twelve feet A well was sunk and a cabin was built in preparation for the first permanent settlement in the area Their home was rather small and primitively made, as were many home of the pioneer settlers

[5] McGroarty, J. S. (1923). History of Los Angeles County. United States: American Historical Society, Incorporated. p.544 “ in the winter of 1868 he and his brother Gilbert H. bought 457 acres of unimproved land at what is now Norwalk, the original portion of the Sproul ranch costing only eleven dollars an acre. The village of Norwalk stands on this ranch. Immediately after locating on the property, Atwood Sproul built a livery barn and began buying, selling and training horses. A number of splendid horses were kept there. One of them was Conveth, a chestnut horse that sold for $ 10,000 as a yearling . The Sproul Brothers gave the right of way and depot grounds, altogether twenty-three acres, to the railroad . In the deed conveying this property was a clause compelling maintenance of daily train service for the station at Norwalk. This clause proved very valuable to the citizens of the community. At one time the railroad declined to stop for passengers. "

[6] "At Norwalk a grand barbecue and a successful celebration". Library of congress. 6 July 1889. p. 3. Retrieved 8 May 2023. The people of Norwalk held a special celebration in honor of the Fourth at Sproul's Grove...The parade started at 10 o'clock from the depot and went out to the grove.

[7] Press-Telegram |Long Beach, California |Dec 23, 1923 |Page 44

[8] Lowe, Hal (3 July 1973). "Norwalk Small Animal Farm Closed". Long Beach Press-Telegram. p. 12. The population of the two-acre farm has grown through donations and birth. In fact, the raising of beef cattle at the farm helps in meeting expenses of the operation, he said.

[9] Jelf, Mike (14 Apr 1973). "'Farm' explains where that costly steak comes from". Long Beach Independent. p. 13. If a modern suburban kid had to rely on personal experience, he'd probably conclude that beef, eggs and milk originate in supermarket stockrooms. Unless, that is, hes toured a place like the Norwalk Park Animal Farm. This unusual project of the Southeast Parks and Recreation District is devoted to exposing young children to mysteries which were commonplace to their forbears...Monday at 1 p.m. the farm will reopen, officially the second time it has opened since it was built in 1963. The farm was changed from a New England-style homestead to a Western ranch, Gieger says...The farm, at 12159 E. Sproul St., will be open daily during Easter Week.

[10] Epley, Malcom (7 Sep 1973). "Farm Museum Opening". Long Beach Press Telegram. p. 29. City kids who can't tell a cultivator from a cream separator will be able to learn the difference Sunday at 2 pm when the city of Norwalk dedicates its new barn The barn is located next to the historic Sproul Residence Museum in Norwalk Park 12159 E Sproul St City fathers built the barn to showcase farming equipment from the late 19th and early 20th centuries Included in the display are a blacksmith mannequin working at a forge vintage cultivators harnesses antique milk cans all the tools that were familiar sights when Norwalk was a farming and dairying community Sproul Museum curator Billie Robinson says the idea for the barn "has been in the back of my head" ever since she became curator nine years ago Many of the items in the barn were secured by members of the city's Historical Heritage Committee "They've been a big help" she says Most items in the museum "are hard to find now because we aren't an agricultural area anymore" Mrs Robinson says Though the museum's barn will open to the public Sunday the collection of farm equipment isn't closed She'll gladly accept donations of more farm equipment Mrs Robinson says

[11] Burt, Tim (3 July, 1977) "Early Norwalk Lives at Sproul Museum" Long Beach Press-Telegram, Page 31 "Not many families open up their houses to thousands of visitors a year But that's what Vida Sproul Hunter did in 1962 when she donated the home of her grandfather Gilbert H Sproul to the city of Norwalk Since then schoolchildren and history buffs have visited the museum taking particular interest in such items as Civil War guns an old-fashioned disc-record set and farming equipment of the pre-1900s There is also an 1877 piano which according to museum curator Billie Robinson still sounds good A 1910 Edison phonograph is also on display 'They didn't have television back then...Anna Sproul was in charge of the post office for nine years. Sproul purchased the property in 1868 and built the house in 1870. The house was moved in 1962 to its current location on Sproul Street and was opened to tourists in 1964. 'Most of the items we collected from residents when we opened in 1962' Mrs Robinson said 'All of the guns are from the Sproul family '. Vida Sproul Hunter was the last Sproul to live in the house '"