How Volunteers Created Eureka’s Green Book to Save Victorian Homes

This article explores the remarkable story behind “The Green Book,” a landmark preservation survey that documented Eureka, California’s historic architecture in unprecedented detail.

More than a catalog of old buildings, it is a case study in how communities can mobilize, measure, and defend their built heritage.

The Origins of Eureka’s Architectural Awakening

By the 1960s, Eureka’s ornate Victorian-era buildings—once symbols of prosperity—were increasingly viewed as burdens.

In the post-World War II push toward suburban living, downtown structures were dismissed as outdated and high-maintenance.

Several landmark mansions, including the Buhne Mansion and the Sumner Charles and Amelia Carson home, were lost to demolition despite vocal community resistance.

These losses led to a realization: without intentional preservation, Eureka’s architectural identity could disappear within a generation.

From Opposition to Organization

A more organized, proactive response began to take shape.

Local preservation advocates—including Ray and Dolores Vellutini—channeled public concern into constructive action.

They aimed to build a framework for long-term protection of the city’s architectural fabric.

This effort led to the formation of the Eureka Heritage Society in 1973.

The Society became a formal body to champion historic preservation, influence policy, and document the city’s built environment.

Launching One of California’s Most Comprehensive Historic Surveys

The Eureka Heritage Society recognized that effective preservation begins with knowledge.

Before design guidelines or historic districts could be developed, the city needed an accurate, comprehensive baseline of its buildings.

To answer those questions, the Society initiated an ambitious survey of the city’s building stock.

This would become one of the most extensive historic inventories in California at the time.

Documenting Over 10,000 Structures

Volunteers set out to survey more than 10,000 structures, including:

Under the leadership of preservation advocates like Dolores Vellutini and Milton Phegley, the project unfolded over more than a decade.

Volunteers walked streets, photographed facades, recorded construction dates, and researched ownership and architectural details.

The Making of “The Green Book”

The raw data collected in the field needed expert organization to be usable.

A San Francisco architecture firm was brought in to help synthesize the findings, standardize descriptions, and shape the material into a reference work.

The result, after 12 years of effort, was “The Green Book”, published by the Eureka Heritage Society in 1987.

A Snapshot of Eureka’s Architectural Landscape

“The Green Book” provides an inventory of about 1,600 architecturally significant structures in Eureka.

It includes roughly 1,200 black-and-white photographs of historic buildings, some dating back to the 1860s.

The book captures a time-specific architectural cross-section of the city as it appeared in the mid-1970s.

For design and preservation professionals, this documentation is invaluable.

Impact, Legacy, and the Need for Updates

Since its publication, “The Green Book” has served as both a preservation tool and a cultural touchstone.

It has guided advocacy efforts, informed planning decisions, and helped citizens recognize the architectural richness that defines Eureka’s identity.

Over the decades, the Eureka Heritage Society has considered updating the survey or creating a new edition.

However, funding constraints have repeatedly delayed those plans.

A Model for Preservation-Driven Planning

Today, “The Green Book” stands as a testament to what a community can accomplish with vision and persistence.

It shows that data-driven preservation is essential for sustainable and thoughtful development.

As cities face growth, climate resilience, and housing challenges, Eureka’s experience offers a useful model.

Start by understanding what you have, and then plan for what you want to become.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Celebrating ‘The Green Book’: How a Group of Volunteers Cataloged Rich Eureka’s Architectural History and Saved Its Historic Victorians