Historic Preservation Society of Santa Clara

Harris - Lass House Museum

History

The Harris Lass House Museum is named for the two families that lived here for over 125 years.

 

Henry Harris purchased the property in 1864 and had the Italianate style house built a year later in 1865.  He lived here with his wife, Mary, their son Albert and daughter Miriam.  Albert inherited the house in 1886 and was responsible for the extensive additions and remodeling during the 1890s. 

 

In 1906 the property was bought by Captain Christian Lass and nine family members, comprising of three generations, moved in.  They were the Captain and his wife (Julia) along with one of their sons (Frederick), his wife (Julia) and their three daughters (Carolina, Julia and Johanna).  An unmarried sister (Bertha) and brother (Adolph, known as Orie) of Fredericks wife also took up residence. 

 

Frederick inherited the property after the Captain died in 1920.  Upon her mother’s death, the youngest daughter Johanna inherited the estate.  She lived here until 1985 when she moved into a retirement home in Santa Cruz, California. 

 

Extensive and ongoing research has been done on members of the two families by Mary Hanel, Local History Librarian at the Santa Clara Central Park Library.  Some of her findings are included on subsequent pages.  For more information about the history of the Harris - Lass House or the resources cited in these articles, contact Mary Hanel by email: mhanel@santaclaraca.gov  or phone (408) 615-2909.