A. Berding House

The A. Berding House is a white wooden single-family home in Ferndale with multiple gables and decorative trim in the Carpenter Gothic style. The structure sits on a high brick foundation and displays the detailed woodwork typical of this 19th-century building method.

German merchant Arnold Berding built this residence in 1875 after opening the first merchandise store in Ferndale during the California Gold Rush. The brick foundation was added later in 1888 to address moisture problems affecting the structure.

The home keeps original 19th-century furniture that Arnold and Mary Berding collected, showing how Victorian merchants lived in early California. Walking through the rooms, you see the belongings and choices that shaped daily life for this family.

The house sits on Ocean Avenue and is easy to spot from the street, with the distinctive row of cypress trees at the front serving as a clear landmark. Visiting during daylight hours lets you see the facade details and landscaping features more clearly.

The cypress trees lining the front are about 150 years old and were trimmed in a way that inspired locals to call the house the Gum Drop Tree House. Few visitors realize these distinctive trees are as old as the house itself.

Location: Ferndale

Inception: 1875

Architectural style: Carpenter Gothic

Address: 455 Ocean Avenue

GPS coordinates: 40.57583,-124.26278

Latest update: December 14, 2025 13:03