Woelke-Stoffel House (1894) (Anaheim, California)

 museum, historic landmark

418 North West Street
Anaheim, CA 92801
(714) 778-4526

The Mother Colony House, the oldest remaining wood-framed building in Orange County, still stands as a symbol of Anaheim’s viticulture era. George Hansen, the superintendent of the Los Angeles Vineyard Society, who had the formidable task of creating a vineyard colony in a semi-arid region, built the house in 1857. Originally located at 235 N. Anaheim Blvd, the structure was saved from demolition by the Mother Colony Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and moved on October 10, 1928 from Anaheim Boulevard to its current location at 414 North West Street. The property was donated by the descendant of one of Anaheim’s pioneer families, Marie Horstmann Dwyer. On June 15, 1929 the Mother Colony House was officially dedicated as Orange County’s first historical museum and in 1935 the house was designated as California State Historical Landmark No. 201. In 1954 the City of Anaheim accepted the deed to the Mother Colony House from the DAR and the historic site has been administered under the Community Services Department. During the City’s centennial celebration in 1957, a time capsule was buried in the front yard of the Mother Colony House. On September 9, 2007 the centennial time capsule was opened by Mayor Pringle and the items revealed.

The Woelke-Stoffel House represents the citrus era in Anaheim. One of the last Queen Anne houses in the City of Anaheim, it was built in 1894 for John Woelke, a retired Chicago restaurateur. He lived with his family of eight in a barn while the house was being constructed at 520 West Center Street (now Lincoln Ave.), near the southwest corner of Harbor and Lincoln. From 1899 through 1906 the house was occupied by several families, including the Isaac Lyons family. In 1907 it was purchased by Peter Stoffel, Jr. Peter and his wife, Mary, came to Anaheim in 1906 and operated a grocery store on East Center Street. They later became successful citrus ranchers, and were the parents of 10 children. After Peter Stoffel’s death in 1948 the house was threatened with demolition. John and Lera Mae Dwyer purchased the home for $5,000 and had it moved to its current location, just north of the Mother Colony House, on June 21, 1949. It was dedicated as a historical site as part of the Marie Horstmann Dwyer Pioneer Memorial on July 16, 1950. From 1953 until its sale to the City of Anaheim in September 2006, the house belonged to the Anaheim Chapter of the American Red Cross. The historic Woelke-Stoffel House was rededicated on December 12, 2008 with a Victorian holiday theme.


On September 26, 2006 City Council approved the purchase of 412 N. West Street, just south of the Mother Colony House, with CDBG funds. On December 18, 2007 City Council approved the acquisition of the property at 400 N. West Street, on which the landmark Moreton Bay Fig tree stands, with park development funds.

On March 31, 2009 City Council designated the Moreton Bay Fig tree located at 400 N. West Street as the city’s first Landmark Tree. This historic tree was imported from Australia by Anaheim’s first nurseryman, Timothy Carroll, and planted by the Horstmann family prior to 1876. The tree was also the model for the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse (now the Tarzan Treehouse) at Disneyland.

The Founders’ Park plan was approved by the Parks and Recreation Commission on September 23, 2009, and approved by City Council on November 17, 2009. The name “Founders’ Park” was recommended by Anaheim residents involved in the community input process and approved by City Council on April 13, 2010. On August 31, 2010 the contract for the development of park improvements at Founders’ Park was awarded to Robert L. Reeves Construction of Paramount, California. Construction began in late September 2010.