The 1922 Craftsman-style home of Sean and Jessica McReynolds is located in the historic Nutwood Place tract, one of the oldest tracts in Old Towne.
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Located at the entrance of Old Towne’s historic Nutwood Place tract, the vintage home of Sean and Jessica McReynolds pays tribute to the iconic river-rock obelisk that stands sentry outside their property—one of six monument signs erected in 1906 that mark the various entrances to the turn-of-the-century tract.
The stone walls surrounding the property were built by Sean’s father, who purchased the home in 1987 when Sean was just six months old. Fast forward to 2021, when Sean and Jessica bought the home from his dad just after their own firstborn was only a few months old.
“My dad built these stone walls specifically to complement the pillar, which is located just a few feet away from the property line,” he says.
Sean and Jessica enjoy their morning coffee while watching their two sons ages 4 and 2 (with another one on the way in October!).
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“The stone wall was the footing for the entire picket fence and is one of my earliest memories from childhood.
“Since taking over the family home, we replaced the fence and redesigned it to complement some of the features of the house, with the alternating thick and thin pickets. We also re-landscaped, replaced the roof and deck and repainted,” says Sean.
Although the couple had previously rented homes in the Old Towne Orange Historic District, Sean says he never anticipated he’d end up owning the family home one day. His father, who had moved to South Orange County in 2014, had been renting out their home, including most recently to Sean’s sister and her friends.
In the living room, the McReynolds family often read books together on the couch, play music, or enjoy movie nights in front of the fireplace.
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“When our dad decided to sell the house, my sisters already had plans to move out of state, so the timing worked out great,” says Sean. “We weren’t really looking to buy at the time, but Dad was ready to sell, and interest rates were low. Now that we’re here, it feels like the home I grew up in but also feels like our own.”
The property occupies the oldest tract neighborhood in Orange. Built in 1922, the house is not designated as an official national historic site because of additions made through the years, such as the master suite that was built in the 1960s. The house directly across the street from them was built in 1901.
The wood flooring is original to the home, as are the double-hung windows, the glass-paneled built-in hutch, and the distinctive, diamond-paned window in the front. In the kitchen, original glass-paneled cabinets are still perched above what was once a place for a cooler box.
Jessica helps the kids get their favorite afternoon snack in the kitchen.
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The original fireplace was never actually a fireplace, but was designed to hold a stove oven.
“Right now, we have an electric log in the fireplace that gives off some ambiance,” says Jessica. “There is no chimney here.”
With two boys ages four and two and a baby on the way in October, the McReynolds relish raising their family in the close-knit, family-oriented neighborhood. Sean holds many fond memories of growing up in Old Towne, such as getting his hair cut at the barber shop in the Circle, getting dog tags made at the Army-Navy store, attending free swims at Hart Park and watching “Concerts in the Park” at Hart Park, located just a couple blocks from their home.
The dining room doubles as a playroom for the boys and features a gas fireplace with river rock similar to the exterior rock walls that complement the historic Nutwood Place stone obelisk at the entry of the neighborhood.
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He still patronizes some of the family’s favorite restaurants from his youth.
“My sister used to work at the Filling Station restaurant in high school, and we went there as kids and still go there now,” says Sean, who attended Covenant Christian School in Orange. “Dad had a cherry-red 1955 Chevy Bel Air, and he would take all of us down to Watson’s for ice cream. My mom always shopped at the antique stores downtown and filled the house with some of what she found.”
A career professional in public policy for more than 15 years, Sean currently works for the Transportation Corridor Agencies (The Toll Roads) as Director of Government Affairs. Sean got his start in public policy interning for then-Congressman Ed Royce in his Orange office off Chapman Avenue. After Sean graduated from California State University, Fullerton as a political science major, he moved to Washington DC to work for Congressman Royce.
The McReynolds like to take evening walks around the neighborhood or to the Plaza. Pictured in the background is one of six historic stone markers erected in the Nutwood Place neighborhood in 1906.
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Jessica, who grew up in Fullerton, moved to DC at the same time to work for a human rights nonprofit. The two were introduced in DC by a mutual friend and were married two years later. They eventually moved back to Orange to be closer to their families. For the last six years, Jessica has worked at CHOC Children’s Hospital in Orange, currently serving as Manager of Human Resource Systems.
Inside the three-bedroom, two- bath Craftsman home, the couple’s personal style is represented by several midcentury furnishings they obtained in Old Towne through the years. On the wall in the dining room hangs a framed print from 1988 commemorating the 100-year anniversary of Old Towne Orange. The dining table came from Woody’s Antiques in Old Towne.
“We bought the table from Woody right before he passed away,” says Sean. “I used to go in there when I was a kid. I’ve also collected vinyl records from Mr. C’s and other items from the antique stores downtown.”
Surrounded by greenery, the family gathers around the firepit for marshmallows after dinner.
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With summer in full swing, the McReynolds enjoy spending time on their front porch, or on the refurbished deck in the backyard. Built by his dad 25 years ago, the stone firepit features the same river-rock components as the stone walls.
A nod to living in Orange, they painted the front door orange to contrast with the pearl-white paint and taupe trim.
“We love living here and appreciate the walkability and the small-town feel of Old Towne,” says Jessica. “We sit on our front porch every day while our kids play—our front yard is a true extension of our house. We are so fortunate to have great neighbors and friends in the neighborhood who we see every day. We say it all the time—things are just about as perfect as can be here in Old Towne Orange.”
