Prominent, rare 1880s Folsom home hits Sacramento market. See its beautiful renovation

Nearly 14 years ago, Mike and Shannon Brenkwitz wholeheartedly embraced the rich history of Folsom and invested in one of the most prominent historic homes in the city. 

They purchased the Hyman House — built in 1881 — and began a meticulous, years-long restoration of the stately Victorian residence at 603 Figueroa St. 

The five-bedroom, 4,789-square-foot, Italianate-style home sits on an unusually large corner parcel spanning three city lots, or nearly a half-acre. The estate is a short walk from the restaurants and shops along the town’s historic Sutter Street and to the American River.

“It is incredibly rare,” listing agent Kendra Bishop of the Bishop Real Estate Group RE/Max Gold said. “There is only one other property in this vicinity that is of similar size. So it’s a very rare jewel to have in the heart of Folsom.”

The Brenkwitzes’ home recently hit the market for nearly $2 million.

“We did a lot of renovation on this house,” Mike Brenkwitz said. “When we bought the house it had sat for a while, and it needed some work.”

He said the makeover was “fairly extensive” and costly, but the goal was to meticulously restore the home to its original character and period details. Brenkwitz declined to provide an exact price tag.

The rehabilitation of the Hyman House included replacing the wood flooring, installing a new electrical system and removing knob and tube wiring, replacing plumbing and putting in new copper lines, adding a segment of new roof, repairing drywall, repainting and re-graining doors to their original look, restoring original light fixtures, repairing transom windows and ceiling medallions and buying a new HVAC system.

The result is a tribute to 19th century architectural preservation. 

The Brenkwitzes preserved the original woodwork in the front connecting parlors and formal dining room. The house’s marble fireplaces, ceiling medallions, pocket doors, moldings, door handles and staircase are all original, as well as the two ornate chandeliers in the parlors which were designed to be operated first with kerosene, then gas and finally electricity. 

Renovations true to the period

The couple stayed true to the period when the genuine finishes needed replacing. For example, the dining room wallpaper came from Bradbury and Bradbury in a style popular through the 1880s, Brenkwitz said. Curtains, sourced from Scotland, and light fixtures are all appropriate to the era.

“They did an amazing job in restoring the period of the home,” Bishop said.

In 1984, the previous owners expanded the home, adding a large bar and entertainment space and an indoor hot tub. The Brenkwitzes upgraded much of that addition. About seven years ago, they built a stunning pool with a waterfall feature.

The kitchen was modernized, as well, and contains Wolf appliances and fine cabinetry.

“The kitchen was in bad shape and was dated from the ’70s,” Mike Brenkwitz said. “That was the first thing that needed to go. We took it right down to the studs. This gave us the ability to run new wire (and) plumbing in the attic, and re-wire and plumb the rest of the house so it was really convenient to do both.”

In addition to the connecting parlors and formal dining room with a butler’s pantry, the original rooms include a study and upstairs bedrooms. There are three full bathrooms. Ceilings throughout the house are 13 feet tall.

The grounds have a gazebo, two two-car garages and ample private parking spaces.

A stunning wrap-around porch provides a good spot to contemplate the history that surrounds the property. 

The old Figueroa Street might be called “Billionaire’s Row” today. In the late 1880s and early 1900s, many of the city’s wealthy figures owned opulent homes there. For example, the Burnham House stands next to the Hyman House. James H. Burnham was a Folsom druggist, banker and assay agent.

Jacob Hyman emigrated to the United States from Poland in 1850, and made his way to California around 1860. In Folsom, he established a dry goods store named J. Hyman & Company on Sutter Street. Family members lived in the Figueroa Street home and ran the grocery store until the 1940s.

Home full of possibilities

Bishop said the Brenkwitzes property is full of possibilities for the next buyer. It could continue to be used as a private residence with the potential to add an ADU or other rental units; be converted into a bed and breakfast inn; or become the face of another type of new business.

Bishop said a historic property like the Hyman House often attracts “a totally different buyer and consumer than a traditional house.”

“You got folks who come in who love the history, and I have had showings (for people) who have come from around the country, who have found and want historic homes,” she added. “I had one showing, in particular, that was fascinating because they had a historic guru on FaceTime from Ohio going through so many questions, just enchanted with the house.”

The listing has caught the eye of different types of house hunters.

“There’s been a lot of local interest because this is such an iconic home that people want to make sure that it stays this way and that the history is preserved,” Bishop said. “And then, of course, you’re going to get a call here or there from somebody who sees it as a profitable purchase having this much acreage in this part of town with three city lots. We’ve had folks who hope to maintain it as a private residence, people with lofty goals about what they could do with it from a venue perspective.”

Folsom is located about 23 miles northeast of Sacramento, California.

This story was originally published November 23, 2024 at 5:00 AM.

David Caraccio

The Sacramento Bee

916-321-1125

David Caraccio is a video producer for The Sacramento Bee who was born and raised in Sacramento. He is a graduate of San Diego State University and a longtime journalist who has worked for newspapers as a reporter, editor, page designer and digital content producer.