The 3rd Street Language Houses were Built between c.1869 and 1914 by local merchants, farmers, and others as single family homes. All were eventually used either partially or wholly as rental properties, lived in by students, artisans and other workers. Chico State College bought the six homes over several years around 1960, for expansion. For some years each of the structures was used as a ”Language House”, where college foreign language majors could live and immerse themselves in the use of and cultural aspects of their chosen language of study. There was a German House, Spanish House, French House, Italian House, and an International House. Later some of them were used as office space and storage.
Eventually the structures were no longer in use and boarded up. They were not maintained, and deteriorated, and the University decided to remove them for more parking space. The preservation of these structures became one of the main reasons for the establishment of the Chico Heritage Association in 1981. The loss of these historic structures was prevented by vigorous action of the association for fifteen years, working closely with the State Office of Historic Preservation. A bill was carried by local Assemblyman Bernie Richter, which became law in 1996, causing the University to sell the six buildings, and for them to be renovated in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior Standards for Restoration. Wayne Cook acquired the property, fascilitated by Howard Slater, and in the next several years completed the project to the fine condition you see today. They are still owned by the Cook family business, AAA Properties, and offer a very fine example of historic preservation for Chico.
