Your Moment In History
The Parsonage 1865, a gleaming vision of insta-worthy white on this 159-year-old Victorian, stands proudly “at the top of downtown” overlooking Nevada City’s historic Broad St. Bri Ingram, designer and one of the home’s three owners (a family business) toggles weekly, at times daily, between a pair of hard-working overalls and a gorgeously flowing ankle-length dress––ready to remove flooring, replace drywall, and paint walls, all before hosting dinner parties, cocktail parties, and private events in this modern Victorian Inn.
The Parsonage 1865, which can sleep up to 17 among its 6 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, and detached cottage, is the perfect backdrop for a bridal party, family reunion, holiday celebration, or special event, including fabulous private dinners curated by Bri and her rotation of local chefs. “I feel like for all generations, this house is an incredible space to create memories, hence our tagline, ‘Your Moment in History.’ Whether it’s Victorian Christmas, Mardi Gras, The Fourth of July, weekend trips from Truckee, Reno, the Bay, or LA––it’s a celebratory place, and I think now, more than ever, people are spending their money on experiences, and this house is a wonderful experience, for you and your family, to house the moments that bring you close.” Add to this list live music, micro weddings, photoshoots, wine tastings, the occasional street fair, and The Parsonage 1865 is more than accommodations; it’s an offering––to both the town and the community it serves.
A parsonage was historically the home that housed the Minister’s family, as The Parsonage 1865 once housed the family of the serving minister for the Methodist Church (just two doors up) in the late 1800’s. It’s a home we can imagine holding the heartbeat of a congregation––a meeting place, an event center, a dining hall, a worship center, a space for outreach, gatherings, youth events, and seasonal celebrations. It was this original intent which has served as the inspiration for long-table formal dinners, porch sessions for touring musicians, and an unending number of formal photoshoots.“This is where the Minster would have lived, but to me, this house almost feels more like the minister’s wife, who plays piano, paints in the beautiful natural light, and hosts many of the town’s events. The history of the home was always a piece of its past I could relate to. It was important to me that we not only restore the building, but also restore its purpose in our town.”
Looking over the gorgeously curated holiday photos of Bri and her family, including the matching plaid dresses worn by she and her daughter, Beverly, alongside a holiday table set and styled to the same standards she employs to the entirety of her guest experience––from check-in, to organic linens, to privacy and cleanliness––I’m still struggling to imagine the two of them refinishing the homes’ concrete wall that lines their Broad St. frontage. “Since I was a child, I’ve felt more comfortable in my work boots and paint clothes than in a fancy dress,” shares Bri, who learned early in life, thanks to her father Randy Hodges’ local restaurant, Humpty Dumpty Kitchen, that owning a business is more than just cracking eggs and stacking cheese. She spent hours as a kid helping her father fix broken floor tiles, repair plumbing and light fixtures, and painting diner booths. “I learned many aspects of construction from being hands-on, and really doing it myself. I’ve been on construction sites and new-builds with architects and general contractors since I was 10 years old and I was always fascinated by it all. If there’s a project that involves concrete, I want to learn about concrete, and I want to teach Beverly how to mix and apply concrete.”
Over an 11 month period of construction on The Parsonage, Bri and Randy oversaw numerous local contractors, subcontractors, and artisans as they restored and repaired the Victorian building. Bri reenvisioned and redesigned the home with new carrara marble countertops, traditional hex and dot tile, gold vintage fixtures, floral wallpaper, a salvaged wood fireplace mantle, and exposed and refinished the 150 year old honey Douglas fir subfloors and wood beams. The father-daughter duo also repainted every wall with warm whites, railings in soothing linen tones, and refinished 37 doors. “Once we began the renovation process, it was clear we needed to make full repairs, so we ended up restoring 150 year old weighted windows, rebuilding early American style kitchen cabinetry, and adding a lasting foundation to the front deck.”
A fifth-generation Nevada City-an, it was Bri, her father, and her husband, Huck Ingram–partner at Ingram Brady LLP–who took on the renovations and daily operations of the modern B&B. “Bri’s a purist,” says Huck, “She highlights and embellishes the era, purpose, and flow of a space with her incredible designs, but it was the experience of working with our daughter, Beverly, that brought the project full circle for her.”
“It took a long time, but it was wonderful working side by side with my daughter and granddaughter everyday for almost a year,” adds Randy. “It’s a home we’re very proud of, and a space we hope to continue to welcome guests and community members for years to come.”
The Parsonage, just four doors up from the legendary Nevada Theater where Mark Twain performed, is conveniently located in the heart of Nevada city, walking distance to coffee shops, restaurants, and nightlife. A small walk down the street may also find you admiring more of Bri’s local influence. “I spent three years designing both The National Exchange and The Holbrooke Hotels,” says Bri. “For both of those historic renovations I was grateful to be a local designer on the design team and I was really honored to bring my home-grown knowledge and history, with both of the buildings, to restore and redesign those spaces in a way that could allow the community to fall in love with them again.”
Creating nostalgia, familiarity, and comfort, in a home or business, is an important piece of the approach Bri takes to designing a space. As you turn the ornate antique handle and walk through the oversized black entry door to The Parsonage 1865––the school-house lighting glowing, the vintage bentwood chairs lining the table, candles lit, a table adorned with local flowers, the smell of fresh-baked pastries––this home is truly a moment in history, for both host and guest, for both past and present. “I grew up on North Pine St.,” says Bri, “just around the corner. So as a kid, downtown Nevada City was my playground. I used to ooh and awe at the Victorians, thinking, ‘Maybe one day, I’ll own one.’”
427 Broad St, Nevada City, 95959
(530) 798-6061 | theparsonage1865@gmail.com
