Folk Victorian—now and then

This house in downtown Downey was built in 1881. Its style falls into the category of "folk Victorian."

Unlike the fancier Victorian and Queen Anne styles, this was a home that the ordinary family could afford. Mass production made decorative architectural trim more affordable, and the expansion of the railroads made it possible to get factory-made parts nearly anywhere.

The undated picture below (courtesy of the Downey Historical Society Archives) shows the house before it became surrounded by commercial buildings.