Pixley Residence

In 1881, DeWitt Clinton “D.C.” Pixley moved from Illinois to the California town that would be incorporated as Orange 7 years later. Pixley became a prominent figure in the early development of Orange, one source going so far as to say he “was Orange’s most successful 19th century businessman.” Pixley was also associated with many of Orange’s early financial institutions including the Orange Building and Loan Association and The Bank of Orange. He and his wife, Florence, were the parents of 2 sons and 3 daughters; in 1895, a large 2-1/2 story, 3,954 sq. ft. house was built for the Pixley family at the corner of Olive and Palm. The house had been used as a dormitory by Chapman College for 15 years before it was bought in 1976 by Mike and Anke Vogelvang. Anke’s annual charitable Spring Boutique was a popular city event. The house remains in the Vogelvang family today.

Orange, Orange County
Photographer: Andrew Schmidt