The Quaresma House

The Quaresma House was originally built in the 1920s for G.O. Darrow, who owned and operated several local businesses in Fremont. It was later the home of the area’s first municipal court judge, Edward A. Quaresma, and his wife Emma. Robson Homes purchased the home and surrounding property from Lila Jean Bringhurst, a Fremont advocate and civic leader who helped raise public awareness of Fremont’s history and architecture, for its Darrow Farm development. The stucco-clad home is a classic example of a craftsman-style bungalow. Its fenestration design, tapered porch columns, and shallow pitched roof with wide eave overhangs are typical of this beloved style.  

The home was lifted from its original location and moved 200 feet to a new foundation near the front of the property. All exterior details and finishes were preserved or restored to match the historic original, including the original wood windows and front door. Additions that were built through the years were removed and a new addition was added to the back of the home. During the restoration, a living room fireplace was discovered behind a faux wall. It was in turn disassembled and then fully rebuilt using both new masonry and original materials. The kitchen was modernized, and a master suite, bedroom, laundry room, and mud room were added. The walls were stripped of all plaster and the house was completely rewired and re-plumbed. New interior casework and trim was designed and crafted to maintain the original character. The home now sits prominently in the neighborhood, toward Mission Blvd and Emory Common, with its original front façade intact and a completely modern interior.