Benicia Historical Society

Page 6 COELHO HOUSE ~ c.1870 141 West F Street History: This classical Italianate residence was at one time the residence of L. Hastings, noted Benicia and California pioneer who gained fame as the builder of what became known as “Hastings Folly”, a multi-story mansion on Military West which he later abandoned. Although historic surveys list the construction date in the 1870s, it is most likely earlier than that. The Italianate style did become popular in the 1870s and greatly influenced what was built in Benicia. Architecture: Italianate features include wood framing, rectangu- lar massing and an emphasis on vertical proportions. A large, two- story canted bay occupies the east side of the narrow front eleva- tion. This style was quite popular in the Victorian era, lasting from about the 1830s through the 1870s.