William Shipsey House, San Luis Obispo
historic place
The William Shipsey House, located at 1266 Mill Street in San Luis Obispo, California, is a historic place. It was built in 1894 for William Shipsey. Architect Hilamon Spencer Laird designed the house, and Joseph Maino, a local master craftsman, constructed it. The architecture combines Queen Anne and Stick/Eastlake elements. William Shipsey, born in Ireland in 1851, was an attorney and notary. He served as Mayor of San Luis Obispo from 1898 to 1902. Shipsey also held positions as an assistant District Attorney and city attorney. The house is historically significant for its association with Shipsey and as an example of local design and craftsmanship. It represents a rare surviving example of the vernacularized Eastern Stick style in the area. The Shipsey family owned the home for 128 years. This residence offers insight into the architectural styles and prominent citizens of San Luis Obispo at the turn of the 20th century.