Sanford, George L., House
405 N. Roop St., Carson City, NVGeorge Leonard Sanford was one of three brothers who came to Nevada from Indiana shortly after the turn of the century. The brothers arrived in the midst of a mining boom that shaped Nevada politics for decades. These booms centered on the gold strikes in Tonopah and Goldfield in the central and southern part of the state and on a booming copper mine in Ely near the eastern border of Nevada. Nonetheless, the Reno-Carson City area near the California border benefited from the upswing in the economy, becoming the center of politics and mercantile activity fueled by the resurgence after twenty years of depression in the mining industry. The three Sanford brothers were Freemasons and Republicans, and easily found niches in the growing economy and society. Although they were never clearly associated with the machine of fellow-Republican George Wingfield who parlayed his successes in Goldfield into a statewide empire, the Sanfords nonetheless benefited from the power that the Republican party assumed in the early twentieth century.
George L. Sanford arrived about 1906, already a lawyer, but also with experience in the newspaper industry. Seeing Nevada as a place of growth and opportunity he encouraged his brothers Graham and Leigh to follow in his path. He quickly assumed control of the Carson City News, and in 1907 the State Senate elected him as the secretary of that body. In 1908 George Sanford retired from the newspaper business and became a full-time lawyer. In 1914 he joined Samuel Platt in a partnership and was elected as the Republican Chairman of the State Central Committee. In 1915 he and Graham purchased the Reno Evening Gazette, making it one of the most forceful voices for the Republican Party in the state. Graham became editor and Leigh, after purchasing the share of co-investor Samuel Platt, became general manager. Although George did not assume a direct role in the running of the newspaper, he was an important partner in the business. As Ormsby County District Attorney from 1914 to 1930 and because of his connections with the newspaper and the Freemasons, George assumed a prominent place in the political hierarchy of the state. A Nevada collection of biographies published in 1950 indicates that George Sanford continued to live in Carson City and practice law at that time.
The George L. Sanford residence in Carson City is the last surviving structure associated with the powerful Sanford family of the turn of the century: Graham Sanford's house on Ralston Street in Reno was demolished in the 1970s. No house is known to survive that was associated with Leigh Sanford. The Carson City house is consequently significant as a last vestige of an important period in the history of Nevada politics and newspapers.
The property is also significant for its architecture. Located on the east side of town, this building stood isolated for several years after its construction. In spite of its out-of-the-way location, the residence has a unique combination of architectural styles popular both before and after the turn of the century. The building is dominated by a steep, shingled gable roof pierced with dormers. The siding is also composed of shingles. The distinctive roofline, including its shallow eaves, the sheathing, and the asymmetrical appearance of the structure is characteristic of a style popular on the east coast from approximately 1880 to 1920, the Shingle Style. This example is a scaled-down version of the style, as it lacks the larger massing of east coast counterparts. Interior details, including the pocket doors between the living room and dining room, and window seating in the projecting bay, are typical of the Shingle Style.
The Stick Style (c. 1870 - 1900) also features a steep roofline; however, the dominant characteristic of this style is the expression of the building's framing in the exterior trim. Therefore, the decorative braces found in the gable's peak and at the eaves in the George L. Sanford Residence are a good example of the Stick Style. The presence of the decorative braces as well as the shingle roof and siding is a visual contradiction - an expression of the internal structure on one hand verses the uniform masking of framing by a single element, the shingle, on the other. This is not unusual in Carson City where elements from different styles are blended to form a vernacular hybrid.
The third style visible in this property is the Bungalow/Craftsman style, popular for about three decades after the turn of the century. The exposed rafter tails, recessed entry with sturdy support posts, and projecting bays are reminiscent of this style. Shingles were a popular siding for the Bungalow/Craftsman style.
The George L. Sanford Residence shares these architectural features and styles with only a handful of other residences, all located on the west side of town. Other properties with predominately Bungalow/Craftsman styling include the residences at 116 Rice Street, 1012 North Nevada, 216 North Mountain, and 412 North Division. All are located within the Carson City Historic District, which is considered eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. The George L. Sanford Residence survives as a reminder of the creativity with which western builders combined features of popular styles to create a unique appearance to be enjoyed for several more generations.
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1994.
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.