Gushaw-Mudgett House - Fortuna, California
Posted by: 
Volcanoguy
N 40° 35.948 W 124° 09.455
10T E 402057 N 4494902
A history sign at the Gushaw-Mudgett House in Fortuna, California.
Waymark Code: WMJX8B
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 01/10/2014
Views: 3
Gushaw-Mudgett House
circa 1884
commonly known as the Mudgett House
It was built in the mid 1880’s, when Italianate architecture was popular in Humboldt County. Eastlake detail is also evident. The main portion of the house was originally painted a light pink. The windows were outlined in black paint. The porch posts, brackets and balustrades were shellacked. The house was later painted white with green window trim.
The land on which the house stands was part of a large holding purchased by George Francis
Gushaw from John Skinner in 1870. Gushaw, a native of Pennsylvania, was among the early wave of Argonauts who crossed the plains from the mid-west to California in 1849. Returning to Ohio in 1853, he married Rachel T. Watkins who then accompanied him back to California; eventually they settled along the Eel River at what was known as Slide, later to become Springville and in 1889 Fortuna. The Gushaws had two sons and five daughters, one of whom Eda, married Decatur Mudgett a native of Maine who arrived in Humboldt County in 1875.
Following Gushaw’s death in 1894, his widow sold the house to her daughter Eda Mudgett. Decatur and Eda raised eight children in the old home which remained in family ownership until 1973 when it was sold to the present owner following the death of the last Mudgett daughter, Jessie M. Mudgett.
Group that erected the marker: Property owner
Address of where the marker is located. Approximate if necessary:
820 9th St.
Fortuna, California USA
95540
URL of a web site with more information about the history mentioned on the sign: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
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