A piece of Sacramento's architectural and political heritage has just been ceremoniously stamped with the historic landmark designation, a move aimed to preserve the legacy of the dwellers who've shaped some corners of local and national history. The Sacramento City Council gave the nod to the Tudor Revival-style home at 1341 45th Street, a grand structure with not just six bedrooms and four baths, but tales seeped in its very walls. The charming abode, with its painted brick exterior and terra cotta roofing, sprawls across a generous 8,000 square feet, and now, it's rightfully recognized for the monumental slice of history it embodies, according to the Sacramento City Express.
Built in 1925 by George and Irma Pollock, the house stands testament to not only craftsmanship but to an era where building was as much an art as it was a science. George, who at 34 decided to ambitiously found his own company, has his fingerprints on key projects like the Sacramento Tower Bridge and Shasta Dam. But the home didn't just house those with a penchant to literally build—no, it also was the residence of Ronald and Nancy Reagan in 1967, during Reagan's terms as Governor and before he went on to become the 40th U.S. President, according to a statement obtained by the Sacramento City Express.
Changing hands after Pollock's demise, the house came under the ownership of local realtor Dain Domich, a name synonymous with the Town & Country Village Shopping Center and later, as a city councilman who served an eight-year term starting from 1960. The home's significance only grew as it later went on to be acquired by Art and Susan Savage, who inked their own mark on the city by playing pivotal roles in developing Sutter Health Park and launching the River Cats, as per the Sacramento City Express.
Associate Planner Henry Feuss wasn't shy to express the cultural weight of the designation. "Listing this property as a landmark ensures this distinctive house will be preserved," he told the Sacramento City Express. "This is a notable addition to the register due to the notorious individuals that lived here; it's not often we have a nationally recognized former owner." The landmark listing dually serves to help preserve a part of Sacramento that has remained largely unaltered since its days of significance, with all distinguishing characteristics meticulously maintained.
The push to enshrine the Pollock home aligns with the wider goals of the Sacramento 2040 General Plan, which underscores the city's commitment to its historical and cultural resources. This act of preservation is a clear nod to the past, and a firm step towards keeping the history of Sacramento tangible and accessible. For those curious about this landmark or Sacramento's preservation efforts more broadly, more information is available on the Historic Preservation’s web page.
