Bill and his late wife, Lois, moved into the 2,548-square-foot house on the nearly half-acre lot in 1970, almost 100 years after it was built. The Joestens were vaguely aware of the home's historic value when they bought it, which was why Lois referred to it as "The Century House."

Bill recalls the house being in "reasonably good condition" when it was purchased. It has four bedrooms and one bathroom—all upstairs—and four fireplaces. When organizers for tours of historic homes first approached Joesten to ask if it could be included on tour routes, Bill decided to look into the house's origins.

The former English professor's research revealed that a carpenter and farmer named George Blaine, originally from Seneca, N.Y., came to the West via the Oregon Trail in 1860. Blaine worked in San Francisco as a ship joiner until 1869, when he came to San Jose to farm. He eventually became superintendent of the Santa Clara County Valley Mill and Lumber Company, and he built his home in 1871 for his wife, Alazan, and their 6-year-old daughter, Cora.

The Blaines lived in their Nevada Avenue home until the 1920s. The home originally sat on five acres of land and faced Lincoln Avenue. When visitors came up the driveway a grove of plum trees and rows of flowerbeds greeted them.

The home's second owner was George Washington Brown, who purchased the home in the 1920s. He subdivided the property and sold off the lots, creating Nevada Avenue, which the house then fronted. The home was subsequently bought by two other owners, making the Joestens the fifth family to move in and call the place home.

"We're really going to miss the character of this house," said 38-year-old Kelley.

She will miss the high ceilings and the gingerbread molding woodwork that George Blaine handcrafted using skills he learned as a ship joiner.

"She's a very classy lady," she said of the home she grew up in.

But the house was in disrepair when her family moved in and fixing it up has been a series of challenges.

"Because it's such an old house, it always seemed that once we completed one project"—like replacing a wall or installing another bathroom—"it would create 10 more construction projects," Kelley said.

One major project to save the house came after the Loma Prieta earthquake in October 1989, when the family needed to fix the roof and one of the chimneys and replace the foundation. The original brick foundation was recycled as a new driveway.

The house was also known as a favorite place for social events. The Joestens frequently held parties and fundraisers for friends, neighbors and socialites.

"We even had Norm Mineta come to one of our parties," Bill said.

The Joestens hosted their final party in the latter part of April, when friends and neighbors came by to wish Bill and Kelley their best as the two prepared to move into a smaller home in Santa Clara.

"We believed it was time to move into a house that would be easier to take care of," Bill said. "We've had several wonderful years in this home, but I'm afraid it's just too much for me and Kelley to take care of on our own."

While living there, Bill and Lois complemented their Victorian house with antiques, though he says they didn't feel obligated just because the house is historic.

"We've always loved antiques," Bill said. "And Lois really liked the Gone With the Wind­era lamps" that lit the house's living and dining rooms.

Packing the lamps and everything else was a bittersweet occasion for Bill and Kelley.

"We've collected so many things over the years, I've uncovered some things I completely forget I ever had," such as books and photo albums. "It's a real adventure to move and yet find all kinds of things."

There is one antique that Kelley wishes she could take to their new home but can't: the hallmark of the living room is a grand mantel over the fireplace made of handcrafted redwood and green tiles.

"I'm sure the new owners will love it just as much as I did," she said.