This home on historic Warm Springs Avenue was built by the Skillern family in 1909. It has three stories: a main floor, an upper floor and a basement. The Skillerns occupied the house until it was purchased by Hugh Angleton, who owned a store downtown, in 1965. The house was in disrepair when Angleton bought it, unfortunately, but the house was extensively remodeled by him. Hugh Angleton passed away in 1995, but his family still owns and lives in the house today. 915 Warms Springs Avenue has been placed on the National Register of Historical Places.
The house was converted to have a two-bath two-bedroom apartment upstairs that Hugh Angleton had rented out during his stay. This apartment was separated from the rest of the house in the foyer, and also featured a kitchen. This was because Hugh Angleton only lived there with his son Paul. The house was reunified in a 2000 remodel.
Originally built in the Craftsman style, the house’s many remodels have altered the style of the architecture slightly. Characteristics of the Craftsman style are still apparent, such as the overhanging rafters under the eaves and low roof lines; however, the house now features a front porch with many ionic columns, which are atypical of the Craftsman style. The entry room of the house was also altered from what would be typical in a historic Craftsman style home. This room has a water feature that harkens to a Mediterranean style as well as an assortment of large pots, jars and urns, many of which came from the store that Hugh Angleton owned. Although many owners of homes on Warm Springs Avenue strive to preserve much of the historic qualities of their houses through period furniture and trying to stay as close to the original plan of the house as possible, the current owners have added some uniqueness as a result of the many remodels on the house.
915 Warm Springs Avenue is also decorated in a vast array of furnishings, many of which also originated from the owners’ family. Examples of furniture in the house date back to as early as the 18th century, whereas much of it is also clearly contemporary. The kitchen, for example is clearly recent, containing distinctive glass light fixtures, stone counter tops, intricate tile work behind the stove top as well as a pot rack that almost seems like a sculpture in and of itself. The dining room adjacent to the kitchen contrasts greatly, featuring an antique table and chairs, chandelier and wall hangings. Many of the paintings hanging around the house were painted by a member of the family.
The house has a detached garage in the back yard which has a car port as well as a tree house. The backyard also has features such as a fountain, many statues of Roman soldiers and topiaries. These give the back yard a feeling of being in a museum, rather than being behind a house.
In many respects 915 Warm Springs Avenue is more like a museum than a traditional home. Although its historical integrity has more or less not been preserved as much as other houses in the neighborhood, the families that have occupied it have given the house many personal modifications and touches. It’s not a typical East Boise home, but its charms make it one of East Boise’s finest.