See history shine in this elegant, restored 1910 home in Galt, listed at $799,000
A luxurious, historic home in the center of Galt, built in 1910 and exquisitely remodeled over the past year, recently hit the market for $799,000.
Over the past year, owner Betty Vallon restored the American Craftsman-style house by sparing no detail or expense, said listing agent Cyndy Silva of eXp Realty of California Inc.
The 3,000-square-foot home sits on a large, 0.35-acre lot between 6th and Church streets at the intersection of G Street.
“It was purchased 10 months ago by Betty Vallon, and she has a real passion for this era of homes,” Silva said. “It is something that her furniture and everything is always matching (the period), and she was looking for a house like this in a Craftsman style ... where she could walk to town. That’s what led her to Galt because this house was put in the center of town when it was originally built.”
Galt is 26 miles south of Sacramento.
An offer on the home that is above the asking price is pending, Silva said on Monday. The home was listed in April.
The six-bedroom, four-bath home emanates a rich, quality feel with its solid wood doors, leaded windows, ceiling beams, hardwood floors, raised-panel wainscoting, new chandeliers and period-correct custom lighting.
“This timeless beauty is in a peaceful neighborhood and yet still close to markets, restaurants, wine tasting rooms, school and an aquatic center,” according to the listing.
The interior features rich Bradbury & Bradbury wallpaper, a gorgeous fireplace and master suites on each floor. The chef’s kitchen has granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and lots of storage. A luxurious bathroom offers high-end finishes, Carrera marble and splendid light sconces.
“(Vallon) has spent the last 10 months redoing pretty much this entire house, but doing it in a correct way,” Silva said. “She was not modernizing it — she was restoring it back to her history.”
Raymond Cornell, a farmer and construction worker, and his wife Ida Cornell, one of the first female justices of the peace in California, were the first owners of the house. Later, the mayor of Galt lived there with a magistrate’s office downstairs.
There’s a guest house on the property, which was originally the pump house, with its own private entry, living room, kitchen and upstairs bedroom.
An oversized three-car garage used to be an old carriage house and still has original wood slat floors and old stamped bricks inside. That structure contains a workshop in the garage and pass-through doors on either side.
The home still displays much of the original quality artisan work, from the raised wainscoting to the plate rails, the open-beam ceiling to its redwood framing.
“You feel the luxury when you touch the products in this house,” Silva said.
Silva said the home would make a great bed and breakfast inn, if allowed by the city.
“ I think people would enjoy staying in it because it’s so close to the wine country and then they could walk downtown,” she added. “There’s three or four little tasting rooms they could walk to down there.”
Another buyer profile that fits the property is a family looking for a multi-generational home.
“You know, 50% of the U.S. right now is looking for multi-generational homes,” Silva said. “It’s a really big thing that’s happening. And this house gives the ability to maybe put grandma in the guest house, or maybe you put the teenagers in the guest house, and have the kind of family all in one compound.”
There are other possibilities. A buyer might be someone who appreciates the history and good craftmanship of the home, or someone who wants to run a business out of the residence.
From the outside, the home’s beautiful, large veranda stands out.
“I’m telling you, it is the most peaceful thing out there. You sit on that porch and I swear all you hear are the birds all around,” Silva said. “It is so peaceful in that part of town.”
The home is in the process of becoming a California historical landmark, Silva said.
This story was originally published May 3, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
