The Nils Ahlstrom House as it stands today Photograph by Terry Skibby

Nils Ahlstrom was born in 1829 in Sweden, and came to Ashland to be a conductor with the Southern Pacific Railroad. The home he built in 1888 was one of the first to be constructed after the rail line between Portland, Oregon, and northern California was completed in December of 1887, connecting Ashland to both of these regions. Located near the Ashland Depot, it is an excellent example of a late 19th-century railroad worker's home. The Ahlstrom family lived in the house until about 1920 when they deeded the property to one of their children. Once a large family, Nils Ahlstom and his wife buried five of their small children in Ashland Cemetery after a diphtheria epidemic. The Ahlstroms were later buried near their children.

Historic photo of the Nils Ahlstrom House, date unknown Courtesy of The Terry Skibby Collection

The Ahlstrom House was constructed to house a large family. Although it is larger than many in the area, its simplicity of plan and decoration were typical of working class homes of this period. The two-story building is comprised of a large rectangular main block and short wing at the rear forming a T shape. The Ahlstrom House was built by John Fruhan, an Ashland workman of the period, and exhibits Classical Revival details, including decorative cornices above the windows and doorframes.

The Nils Ahlstrom House, located at 248 Fifth St., is a private residence and is not open to the public.