The Monroe House in Eureka: Local Craftsmen Help New Owner Reconstruct a Showplace from a Condemned Building

Before and after photos of one room in the Monroe House. [Photo provided by Jules Bell]

Before and after photos of one room in the Monroe House. [Photo provided by Jules Bell]

Jules Bell fell in love with Eureka–the city by the sea with its art, its people, and most of all its architecture. So, she relocated here and, with her brother, and many local workers, took a condemned crack house and rebuilt it into a showplace that will be featured next year on a new television show, The Craftsman.

“I’m not local,” she explained during an interview by phone yesterday. “But I knew I wanted to move out of the area where I was.”

She and her brother, Darin Bell, started looking at homes on the North Coast. “I took a trip up to Eureka and looked at some Victorians.” After that, she was sold. “I was on Google Earth all the time and pretty much stalking Eureka,” she told us. She and her brother, an architect, had restored a number of homes before so she was looking for the right place for their abilities. She went house by house down multiple streets.

She said she asked herself as she looked, “Is there any place that was ripe for restoration?” And, she said, “The answer, of course, was yes. There are tons.”

Monroe house restoration

Jules Bell took a selfie with the dangerous staircase missing its banister.

One of the places she fell in love with was the Monroe House on the corner of 17th and G Street. It had belonged to infamous slumlords, the Squires, before it was condemned and it was a mess. But, when she realized it could be purchased, she couldn’t give up on the dream of restoring it.

“I knew the location was good,” she explained. “My brother and I are complete fools for historic architecture…For us, it was easy to see how beautiful it was and it would be a sin to let it get destroyed.”

At the same time, they knew that doing a restoration would be expensive. “It would take more money to save it than the property is actually worth,” Jules told us. “But, that’s just what we live for….the satisfaction of bringing it back from the brink of death.”

Notice to vacate tacked to a wall of the Monroe House.

Notice to vacate tacked to a wall of the Monroe House. [Photo provided by Jules Bell]

They purchased the home on Valentine’s Day, 2019. “It was a nightmare,” Jules told us. “We bought the house about a year after it was condemned…It was very difficult to restore it. Most of the interior doors had been stolen. Half the banister was missing… It was a crack house. It was so degraded.”

But Jules and her brother hired some expert local craftsmen to help them bring the house back to life.

Jules said Eric Hollenbeck of Blue Ox Millworks, who replicated specialty pieces such as the banister, a number of doors, several corbels and more, as well as the crew from Compass Carpentry who stitched the whole place back together, were instrumental in the restoration.

“There was blood and sweat,” she said. “But, there was fun and excitement. Now this house is going to be on a show.”

At first though, there was no show. That didn’t come until after much of the restoration had been put in place and a lot of hard, dirty work was completed.

“You can’t get an occupancy permit until you’ve corrected everything that’s wrong,” Jules explained. So at first the house had to have basic repairs. “We had all new plumbing installed–including sewer and water mains. And, all new electrical…Luckily, the roof wasn’t leaking. But water was pouring in though from shingles missing [from the outside walls].”

She told us that the rules in the City of Eureka state, “you have to have one functioning bathroom, a kitchen with running water…I moved into [the Monroe House] when those were accomplished but there were no kitchen cabinets… There were only a few rooms I could even go into–one bathroom, one bedroom, the kitchen and part of the living room. I had a winter where there was no ceiling in the living room.” She said she was doing everything she could including pulling plywood across the upstairs floor to insulate the room.

Monroe house restoration

The restored staircase after Eric Hollenbeck of Blue Ox Millworks created an authentic replica and Compass Carpentry installed the newel post and banister components.

Meanwhile, Eric Hollenbeck of Blue Ox Millworks, created replicas of a number of important pieces that were missing from the home. “He helped us replicate some of the doors and some newel posts for the outside,” Jules said. “There was tons of things Eric was doing for us.”

Eventually, Hollenbeck told her that the Craftsman was filming him for a TV program and they might be interested in filming some scenes at the Monroe House.

“They wanted to show what Eric does and his passion for redoing these houses,” she explained. She said that she and her brother were glad to allow the filming because of the respect they had for Eric’s work. “If there wasn’t a good worker like him in Eureka, I don’t know how we would have gotten it done,” she enthused.

Corbel

Several of these ornate corbels, each decorated with a heron, were missing from the home.

“They asked if the showrunner could over and see what Eric had done, was doing,” Jules explained. “They wanted a lot of detailed information.” Eventually, the crew for the show chose several projects that Eric was working on that they felt would be most interesting on film.

One project they filmed was Eric creating exact replicas of some very ornate corbels (a decorative bracket that acts as a corner support) with a heron on them. Several were missing. “He removed one that was still there and made a cast of it and reproduced it,” Jules told us. In the process of doing that he learned that the original corbels had been painted intricately in multiple colors.

Monroe house restoration

Eric Hollenbeck and a crew member examining the work that needed to be done to replace the missing banister.

“Eric just does tons of stuff,” she said. “The banister he made for us–it is so precise. That was really amazing. The corbel–he discovered there was a little frog under the foot of the heron!”

When the Bells first started the renovations they didn’t have any photos of the original home, but a descendent of the Monroe family got in touch with the Eureka Planning Department after learning about the house possibly being marked for destruction and the Planning Department got in touch with the Bells. “She was trying to help keep it from being torn down,” Jules explained and the descendent had photos of the home in its heyday.

“There were these ornate ornamentations at the peaks of the roof,” Jules told us excitedly.

Monroe house restoration

Decorative pieces recreated by Eric Hollenbeck of Blue Ox Millworks being installed on the roof of the Monroe House by Ryan Barlow from Compass Carpentry.

Eric Hollenbeck had to figure out the scale of the items from the photos and then build them to match those depicted in the images. The Craftsman crew filmed Eric recreating the items and Compass Carpentry installing them forty plus feet above the ground.

After two and a half years, the restoration of the Monroe House isn’t quite complete. But so much has been accomplished with the dream of the Bell siblings and the work of local craftsmen. Now parts of its restoration will be captured along with work on the Carson Mansion and the Pink Lady by the television show which is planned to air in the spring of 2022.

Jules says she hopes people will see The Craftsman and “be enchanted and come save these places.”

“There needs to be more people who value this [restoration work],” Jules insisted. “And not consider ripping [the Victorian buildings] down…I really want to see a spotlight on Eureka…It is really a remarkable city for a lot reasons but my favorite is the architecture. Many original buildings are still standing.”

She added with a laugh, “We were so lucky to not have money here during the Fifties, Sixties, and Seventies to tear down historic buildings and put up crap.”

And the community is so lucky to have visionaries like the Bells and incredible craftsmen like Eric Hollenbeck and the crew at Compass Carpentry to restore these beautiful buildings. May there be many more beautiful restorations.

Follow the work on the Monroe House as it happens on Instagram @monroehouserestoration.

Before and in progress photos of the Monroe House.

Before and in progress photos of the Monroe House–the latter photo was taken just this month after the ornate decorative crowns were placed on top of the building.

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39 Comments
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Craig
Guest
Craig
2 years ago

Glad to see this house restored and saved, especially after all that work to move this house several blocks from it’s original location, then destined to be demolished if someone didn’t step in to save it.

Taco 36
Guest
Taco 36
2 years ago

I can’t wait to watch the full episode of the show. We just moved after 5 years of living in this wonderful little ocean town. Reading this story and watching that magnolia trailer made me feel happy that we have a piece of humboldt in our memory. I hope one day all of the Victorians are brought back to life. The town has been taken on by a lot of people from all different walks of life due to its green rush. I just hope more positive people see eureka for what it really is and can help improve it overall. The bones of that town are steady and there are alot of great generations of people there. We will miss the good.

Did you mean BrownRush?
Guest
Did you mean BrownRush?
2 years ago
Reply to  Taco 36

Green rush!? What’s that have to do with an old Eureka Victorian? You might have it confused with a Mckinleyville suburbox.
It is amazing what can be accomplished with a bank account and some craftsmen willing to be paid.

local observer
Guest
local observer
2 years ago

i have found that locals like to blame transplants for all of their problems that have been compounding over the decades. especially eureka.

Cleanse and salt
Guest
Cleanse and salt
2 years ago

Cleanse and salt all over and around the house. Ask for only prosperity, happiness, and the like to cross your boundaries as you reclaim the home as your own.
Thanks for improving the neighborhood!

Stoli
Guest
Stoli
2 years ago

What does “cleanse and salt” mean?

laura cooskey
Guest
laura cooskey
2 years ago

Congratulations! I’m so glad that people with vision, confidence, energy, and means got ahold of this place.
Personally, i would be so crushed and confused by the dark forces that caused the place to be trashed in the first place that i would be paralyzed for years.
So happy that the Bells took it on!

Steve Koch
Guest
Steve Koch
2 years ago
Reply to  laura cooskey

You wrote:
“Personally, I would be so crushed and confused by the dark forces that caused the place to be trashed in the first place that I would be paralyzed for years.”

What are the “dark forces” and how would they have the power to “crush”, “confuse” and “paralyze” you?

I do understand that doing a historical restoration of a big Victorian that has been condemned is a huge, intimidating, expensive job.

laura cooskey
Guest
laura cooskey
2 years ago
Reply to  Steve Koch

The trait in human nature that has some people shit in their own nests. The fact that people will destroy beauty and make their lives a big “F you” to the entire concept of goodness and beauty. The existence of slobs in general– i do not understand them, and when they’ve impacted places i worked hard to make good and beautiful, i revile them.
And of course the societal forces that create circumstances where these people increasingly occur.
You have never been baffled by the depths of depravity that lead people to live more filthily than any animal ever known?

Last edited 2 years ago
Eyeball Kid
Member
2 years ago

If I’m not mistaken, this house was moved from the southeast corner of E & Del Norte (now a parking lot). I think George Kurwitz moved the structure. This had to have been in the early Eighties. My wife and I were in the house in the early Seventies looking at German Shepherd puppies upstairs in a 3rd floor bedroom.

Eyeball Kid
Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Eyeball Kid

Found a picture…

Monroe House being moved.jpg
Guest
Guest
Guest
2 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Reminds me of that animation,

UP!

Nooo
Guest
Nooo
2 years ago
Reply to  Eyeball Kid

I remember being at the kitchen sink window doing dishes in non-thinking mode, ignoring what was going on in the street. Suddenly I looked up and the whole widow was filled with this house slowly rolling by. Surreal. It is really appreciated that there were so many people to save it more than once. Good luck to all such with vision!

Eyeball Kid
Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Nooo

You paint a vivid picture!

Bill
Guest
Bill
2 years ago
Reply to  Eyeball Kid

Just a guess, but Stott and Son’s move(d) houses with a yellow truck.

Eyeball Kid
Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Bill

Hmmm… Stotts & Sons. Could have been them. Maybe we’ll find out for sure.

Jules Bell
Guest
Jules Bell
2 years ago
Reply to  Eyeball Kid

It was on the corner of Humboldt and E. I called George and he was not the mover and did not remember who had done it. Thought it was an out of town company. Wish I would have seen it! I have a few photos of the move that I posted on the houses Instagram account. -monroehouserestoration If anyone has more photos of the move please let me know!

Eyeball Kid
Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Jules Bell

Yes, southeast corner of E & Humboldt. You are correct, Sir. Kurwitz was an educated guess on my part, knowing George to be the local go-to guy on moving houses. But if you spoke to him and he said it wasn’t him, that settles that. Thanks for the input.

Eyeball Kid
Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Eyeball Kid

Standing corrected on previous location… the house used to stand on the southeast corner of E & Humboldt (now a parking lot). And informed sources who have spoken to Mr. Kurwitz say George was not the house mover. But I asked my wife and I am correct about the German Shepherd puppies!

Jim’s Guest Is Someone Else’s Wife
Guest
Jim’s Guest Is Someone Else’s Wife
2 years ago

This is what I’ve been waiting for… good news!

Eric is an amazing person and a treasure to this community.

And it seems as though the Bells are a welcome addition too!

Kudos all around!

Jules Bell
Guest
Jules Bell
2 years ago

If anyone would like to see photos and read about the restoration of the Monroe House please follow monroehouserestoration on Instagram 🙂

Ice
Guest
Ice
2 years ago

Rich people doing rich people stuff.

Jim’s Guest Is Someone Else’s Wife
Guest
Jim’s Guest Is Someone Else’s Wife
2 years ago
Reply to  Ice

Be a victor, not a victim. You too can increase your wealth.

lol
Guest
lol
2 years ago

Have any ideas? Statically the most common ways of moving from the social class you are born in are;

Marrying someone from an upper class
Winning a prize
Having and extraordinary talent

Social mobility in the USA hardly exists.

lol
Guest
lol
2 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

I did as well, but only for the mega growers. It was they who actually profited enough to purchase land while land was still affordable in this area. Then it afforded them the opportunity to become legal.

Guest
Guest
Guest
2 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

Shouldn’t the kids be given some credit?
They must have been excellent students.

Guest
Guest
Guest
2 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

🤔🧐No one?

Not even to Wharton?😁

Hey, I was just trying to acknowledge the kids’ success.

The part that they did.

I meant no offense.

The part that I’m not sure everyone understands is the poor/landowner part.

Some poor people might have been able to finally afford land, but being also able to send ones children to college at all, much less a “prestigious college”, unless the earned a pretty full ride, is a totally unaffordable luxury for anyone that I would consider, poor, and what some might consider, excess.

Maybe I just don’t understand.

Frugality is one thing, poverty is quite another.

Sending ones children to a “prestigious college” is a lofty goal. Sort of like driving a Ferrari, for some.

It’s a status symbol.

Like having land.

For some, just putting a roof over their kids heads, food in their mouths, and clothes on their backs, and getting them back and forth to some janky K-12 is a struggle.

Poor is barely being able to do that. Without the land.

The other part that I’m not sure everyone understands, is that, sometimes, those kids from poor beginnings, do pretty well for themselves, without ever going to the “prestigious college”, or even much community college at all…

Without depending on growing.

Now that’s what I call hard work.

Jim’s Guest Is Someone Else’s Wife
Guest
Jim’s Guest Is Someone Else’s Wife
2 years ago
Reply to  lol

Absolutely! Work hard. Two jobs if you have to. Spend less than you make. Invest.

Increase your skill set so you can be compensated more for your time.

Connie DobbsD
Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Ice

Gentrification is just the worst.

Connie DobbsD
Member
2 years ago
Reply to  Ice

Fixing the poor people stuff the poor people did? Yes. Yes, they are.

Diamond
Guest
2 years ago

The previous owner (Floyd) did much of the damage to that place himself. I wouldn’t be surprised if he is the one who stole some of the ‘ornate’ items.

Dena Ashworth
Guest
Dena Ashworth
2 years ago

Wow that is so awesome! I live in Eureka, in old town, down by the Carter Mansion. I’m so grateful you see the beauty in our area and are improving on it!! Beautiful job ❤️

Shannon Morris
Guest
Shannon Morris
2 years ago

I used to live in that house almost 30 years ago. It was nice back then. It went to shit and now looks like its gonna be nice again.

lol
Guest
lol
2 years ago

If only local people could afford to own homes. Of course some local people do, I know someone who owns seven single family homes as rental properties. They were born with wealth of course.

lani
Guest
lani
1 year ago

Eric is indeed a local treasure.Our pre-school aged son’s grandpa took him to witness the house moving event. Living in Oregon now and loved seeing and hearing about the continuing restoration projects.