The Haman House
By Christina Richter
January 2021
There’s an old Victorian home that proudly sits above intersecting streets in downtown Roseville. If it could talk you would hear history of this city from its beginning in 1909 and the tales would likely be none that have ever been recorded. That’s the wonderful thing about walking into a historic place, you know there’s more in the room than what you see.
The Haman House is one of those places.
William Haman built this house in 1909 as a home for his wife Susie, and together they raised their two children here. Just steps away from his residence was the thriving Placer County Winery, which Haman became superintendent of in 1906. Three blocks in the opposite direction was the other thriving business in town, the Railroad.
Because the railroad switching yards had moved from Rocklin to Roseville in 1906, the little village began to grow into a town. It was in 1909 that Roseville officially incorporated as a city. Haman, being a proven business leader, was appointed to serve on Roseville’s original Board of Trustees. In 1918 he went on to larger pursuits and won a seat on the Board of County Supervisors. He remained in this position until 1931.
In the early days of our city the Haman house served as a beautiful family home, a festive gathering place for friends and a proud beacon for those traveling near the heart of the small town. The home remained in the family until 1968, at which point it was converted to public use.
Roseville Community Projects leased the Haman House in 1969 for use as the Roseville Arts and Historical Center. The group bought the property in 1976 and proceeded to renovate it with much needed repairs. It was this same year that the property was nominated, and won, a coveted listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
Once again, the beautiful home served as a beacon for the citizens of Roseville. For decades the Roseville Arts Center ran a restaurant on the first floor, with an arts center office and exhibit area residing upstairs. Through the years the site was also used as a wedding venue and events center.
Today the property is in the hands of private ownership and sits vacant. The grounds are somewhat maintained but sadly, the historical structure falls into disrepair with each passing month. A part of our community’s history is deteriorating before our eyes.
If you have the inclination, take a drive by this home at the corner of Oak and Taylor Streets. When you see it, imagine if you will, Roseville in its dawning days. The sound of locomotives and rail cars moving through the railyards, and a once thriving winery, a short distance away. Imagine the fields of wildflowers and old, expansive oak trees aside nearby Dry Creek, plentiful with fish and small wildlife.
If we can save history, we should. This writer’s favorite quote is “history makes the difference between a community we just live in, and a community we love.” Roseville’s history came about in a time and place like no other and it is a history that we can be proud of. If there is a chance to save this beautiful building and site, we should take it. This beautiful historic home and site represent the very bones of our community.
When our history is gone we’re left with the ghostly remains of our past represented only in photos, text and the occasional plaque or monument. In this case especially, we deserve better.
Haman House painting by artist William Lum.