J. Mora Moss House

The J. Mora Moss House is a Carpenter Gothic residence in Oakland featuring pointed arch windows, ornamental wooden trim, and steeply pitched roofs. The structure uses wood throughout and displays vertical lines created by board-and-batten siding and grouped chimneys.

Built in 1865, the structure demonstrates the adaptation of traditional Gothic elements into wooden architecture during the post-Civil War period in California. This era saw the spread of the Carpenter Gothic style, which combined European aesthetics with more economical construction methods.

The house shows how American builders translated European Gothic design into local wooden structures using available craft techniques. Details like pointed arches and ornamental trim reflect a deliberate effort to recreate European architecture with practical materials.

Wood construction made this architectural style more affordable for 19th-century homeowners compared to traditional stone buildings. Visitors should pay attention to the pointed details and trim work that showcase the craftsmanship of the period.

The house features an unusual combination of grouped chimneys and leaded glass windows that together create a distinctive vertical pattern across the exterior. These elements are less noticed than the pointed arches but give the residence its subtle character.