Common name: Office building
Historic name: Adams House
General Location: Southwest corner of Minnesota and Sophia Streets, Carson City, Nevada
Address: 990 North Minnesota Street
Assessor's PN: 001-201-28
Current use: Office building
Original use: Residence
Year of construction: 1918
Architect: Unknown
This one-story, wood-framed and sided house has a rectangular floor plan with an eccentric, projecting front porch and and enclosed rear porch. The building sits on a sandstone foundation close to the ground. The walls are wide clapboards with corner boards and wooden shingles on the gable ends. The one-over-one light and two-over-two light, wooden framed, double-hung sash windows are set in single and double arrangements inside plain wood surrounds and projecting sills. A front facing gable, the roof is finished with exposed rafter ends at the eaves and brackets. The gable ends are decorated with wooded shingles and brackets. A central brick chimney protrudes through the roof at the ridge. The gable, eaves, and gable end of the projecting porch roof mimic the main roof. Three, front facing concrete steps lead up to the porch enclosed by wooden balustades and shingled piers whose short elephantine posts support the porch roof. In the rear of the house, is incorporated a small stone building.
The building is residential in scale, which is consistent with most properties to the east. The building is smaller in scale as compared to the buildings of hospital complex and apartments on the west side of Minnesota Street.
This house is significant as a good example of the Craftsman bungalow style of residential architecture in Carson City. It was built 1918 and was owned by the Adams family beginning in 1920. DeWitt W. Adams, the owner of record in 1920, was a clerk at A.G. Meyers grocery store. The structure was later sold to Carson-Tahoe hospital and used as office space.
This house is a unique property for several reasons. It was constructed in the Craftsman bungalow style. Very few homes were built in that architectural style in Carson City, although they are very common in Reno. Additionally, this home was occupied by members of one family from the time it was built until it was sold and converted to its current use as office space for Carson-Tahoe Hospital.
DeWitt Adams bought this land in 1920. At that time he listed his occupation as "driver." Three years previously he had been working as a clerk for A.G. Meyers. Adams began building the house in 1920, probably using plans he had purchased through a catalog. The house was almost finished when DeWitt, Meta, and five children, Robert, Walter, Jasper, Margaret and Maurice moved in. The Adams' turned their home into an urban farm where they raised chickens for eggs and meat, and they grew fruits and vegetables.
In 1923 DeWitt Adams was a clerk again with A.G. Meyers. By 1927 Ellen Adams, widow of Robert Adams, had moved into the family home. Meta Adams died in 1930 at the age of 38. DeWitt Adams was working as a janitor a the State Capitol building in 1937.
Adams was still working at the Capitol on 1948. Three of his children were living at home and pursuing a variety of occupations. Margaret Adams was a bookkeeper for A.G. Meyers Co. Maurice Adams was an electrician employed by G.A. Martin. Jasper was living at home, but listed no occupation.
Sources: Carson City Assessor records; Nevada Appeal; Ormsby County tax rolls; Polk City Directories: Carson City, Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County: 1917, 1921, 1925-26, 1930-31, 1932, 1941-42, and 1950; Sanborne Parris Fire Insurance Maps, 1941; Stewart Title Posting Books; United States Census.
Listed in the National Historic Register: 1999 June 10.
City Landmark: Kit Carson Trail, N.A.
Year of construction: 1918 (factual: Assessor), on the original site.
Subdivision: N.R.
Architect: Unknown; probably original owner.
Text: Carson City Historic Resources Inventory, 1988; Carson City Historical Survey, 2000.