Nestled between office buildings on Fourteenth Street across from Graceada Park is a quaint yet stately bungalow, the last on a block which originally was lined with homes from the early 20th century. The Kerr-Maddux House at 1126 14th Street was built in 1908, part of a building boom in Modesto at the time as post-Victorian downtown development continued. Many know the bungalow, Queen Bean Coffee House, as a downtown staple for coffee and community space, but the bungalow’s time as a residence spanned 95 years across three owners and families, which helped contribute to the home’s lastability in an area of downtown which transitioned from primarily residential to commercial. Though changes were made to convert the home into a business, remaining original features and connections to early prominent Modesto citizens highlight the significance of the Kerr-Maddux House.
The original owner of 1126 14th Street was Mrs. Priscilla E. Kerr (1845-1913), an immigrant from England and pioneer Central Valley educator. She moved to Modesto in 1903 from Salida following the death of her husband. In March 1908, she sold her large home located at 1120 13th Street, and then purchased a lot on 14th Street to build a new residence for herself. By April 1908, construction on 1126 14th Street was underway, overseen by contractor F. M. Brown. Kerr requested the new home to be built in the style of a bungalow that Brown had built in Pacific Grove, which Kerr had seen while vacationing there. On December 17, 1908, the contractor was in the final stages of completing the interior finishings of the cottage, bringing the cost of the home to $2,500. Five years later on June 1, 1913, Mrs. Kerr passed away at her home.
While it is not clear exactly when the home was sold by the Kerr estate, the bungalow was identified as the Maddux family residence by 1916. The second owners, Mr. Lafayette Jackson Maddux (1854-1941) and his wife Mrs. Mary Blythe Maddux (1856-1936), came to Modesto circa 1880 and were both incredibly involved in civic affairs. L.J Maddux established a law practice in the fast growing city, which led to a lengthy legal career and decades of public service in both elected and appointed positions: Stanislaus County District Attorney (1904-1915), California State Senator (1915-1919), and Stanislaus County Superior Court Judge (1934-1946) upon appointment by Governor Frank Merriam following the death of L.W. Fulkerth. Maddux also had served on the Stanislaus Board of Education, Board of Directors of the Preston School of Industry, and the California Industrial Accident Commission…