Candlelight Tour Will Raise Money for Bradford House

For the past 20 years, the Placentia Founders Society has spent thousands of dollars to preserve the stately, two-story Bradford House built at the turn of the century.

“It’s part of history,” said Alice Husovsky, society president. “It’s a cultural center for the city. Placentia’s very fortunate to have this house.”

The 15-room historic home on Palm Circle was built in 1902 by A.S. Bradford, a prosperous orange grower, civic leader and Placentia founder. In 1973, the Bradford heirs gave the house to the city, prompting the creation of the Founders Society to restore and maintain the home.

“Trying to put it back to where it was in the 1900s to 1920s has been a challenge,” Husovsky said. “But now you’re looking at 20 years of restoration work.”

To raise money for ongoing restoration, repairs and educational programs, the society for the first time will hold a Holiday Candlelight House Tour for the public from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday. Visitors will experience Christmas as it was almost 100 years ago. Donations are $2 for adults and $1 for children ages 3 to 12.

Over the past five years, Husovsky said, about $40,000 has been spent on the grand home, which has a wraparound porch, a rose-colored glass window next to the staircase and hand-carved woodwork.

Last year, the interior of the house was painted and a section of porch damaged from termites was repaired. Next year, the exterior will need painting.

“There’s always something that the house needs,” Husovsky said. “We’re in a constant state of restoration.”

This year, the city paid $36,000 for a new wood-shingle roof, and the society spent $1,600 for new brocade and fringe draperies in the dining room.

Husovsky said other needs include new wallpaper and area rugs to preserve the original wooden floors. Because of the number of weddings and tours, the wooden staircase also is worn and needs carpeting.

Curator Virginia Bannister also has a wish list for the house, such as magazines from the early 1900s, a grandfather clock, lady’s fans and parasols.

Fund-raisers, membership dues, weddings and other community events help pay for the house’s upkeep. Husovsky said it’s important to continue to restore the house, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, for future generations.

“Children have little knowledge of the past,” she said. “But when they come here, it’s really amazing because they want to know what went on here, and it influences their lives.”

Information: (714) 993-2470.