Where does our history begin? From our earliest memories? Or does it begin further back - from where we came from. In 1900, the population of Redlands was 4,797 which included one Harry Gregory who, the year before, had bought the First Congregational Church of Redlands - then a gothic revival structure originally built in 1882 - and tore most of it down leaving the foundation and exterior walls intact to convert into this remarkable two-story craftsman style home adorned with Greek revival elements such as the boxed cornices with frieze and dentils, turned pillars holding up the first floor roof, and the decorated pediment atop the main entrance. For a while, it was a citrus and watermelon farm - 15 acres stretching south to Central Avenue. The railroad ran through and the train would stop to load up fruit to take to LA. Throughout the years, several owners have continued to restore and transform the home - updating the kitchen here, enclosing an area of the wrap around porch there, sealing off the Church St. carriage driveway with a fish pond and such. The present owners are no exception: adding a 5th bedroom, 2 additional three quarter bathrooms, and a 9' deep saltwater pool - to name just a few of their many upgrades. The House sits on nearly one acre in the central Redlands, just a stone's throw away from the burgeoning and lively Historic Downtown and the Packinghouse District. It's also ideally situated to be equidistant from LA, Joshua Tree, Indio, and Newport Beach. It was the pioneers who headed west in search of opportunity in the 1880's. That spirit never dies. With dense city living becoming less and less desirable, the pioneers are now picking up again to head east this time - to more open land and freedom. Where does our history begin? Maybe not where we came from, but where we are going.
This property is off market, which means it's not currently listed for sale or rent on Zillow. This may be different from what's available on other websites or public sources.
