Howe-Waffle House and Carriage House, Victorian medical residence in Santa Ana, United States.
The Howe-Waffle House is a Victorian residence in Queen Anne style with ornamental exterior details, high-pitched roofs, and a separate carriage house on the property. The building complex displays the typical architecture of affluent homes from the late 1800s.
Built in 1889, the house served as a residence and medical practice for Dr. Willella Howe-Waffle, the first female physician in the county. Her work and this home represented shifts in local society during the late 1800s.
The home reflects how Victorian families organized daily life, with distinct spaces for entertaining guests and private family moments that visitors can still observe today. The interior arrangement shows the social customs and domestic patterns of the era.
Visits happen only during scheduled group tours offered several times yearly by the local preservation organization. Visitors should check ahead to find out when tours are available since access is limited to these specific dates.
Inside the house is an original speaker tube system connecting different floors that served as an early form of household communication. This practical device allowed residents to talk between rooms without using the stairs.
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