Through Doug’s Lens: Look Around North Star House June 2026

Long-time North Star House supporter and volunteer, Doug Young recently stopped by the House for a walk around the house and sent over a full collection of photos from his visit.

Doug is one of those people who notices the details. He has an eye for progress photos, small changes, volunteer work, historic features, and the pieces of the House that are easy to walk past when you see them every week. That makes his visits especially fun for us.

North Star House is always changing. Some projects are big and obvious. Others happen slowly, one volunteer shift or one repair at a time. Doug’s photos captured a little bit of both.

We’re grateful every time he comes around.

Walk Around the House

The new path around the house is one of the latest visible improvements on the property. It is the kind of project that will make a real difference for visitors, tours, events, and day-to-day access around the House.

Doug also captured a progress shot of the work being done in the library, another project being crafted by Board President Ken Underwood.

And, of course, Doug made sure to include himself this time. Since he is always behind the camera, he opted for a mirror selfie in the Julia Morgan room featuring the coo-coo clock!

Upstairs Progress

Doug also took photos of the upstairs work, including the room near the top of the second staircase.

The second floor continues to be one of the major areas of restoration at North Star House. Each stage of progress matters, especially in a house where every improvement has depended on years of planning, fundraising, skilled work, and volunteer commitment.

Doug photographed the space that has been known by more than one name over the years. He Captioned: At the foot of the “Second Stairway” was, the laundry. Recently it has been called the “Ladder Room”.

Pieces of North Star Mine History

North Star House is closely tied to the North Star Mine, and some of the objects inside the House carry that connection forward. Doug photographed a sideboard with a particularly meaningful history.

Doug Captioned: This “Side Board” was fabricated in the “North Star Mine” carpenter shop at the direction of Mary Hallock Foote.

Details like this are part of what makes the House so important. The story here is not only about architecture. It is also about mining history, craftsmanship, family life, and the people who shaped Grass Valley’s past.

Volunteer Work Across the Grounds

Doug’s tour also included a look at improvements to the front lawn.

So much of what happens at North Star House is made possible by people who give their time, tools, skill, and attention to the property. Some projects are highly visible. Others simply make the House and grounds work better for everyone who visits.

Buy a Brick

Doug also photographed the ongoing Brick by Brick program, which gives supporters a way to become part of the next chapter of North Star House.

Doug’s grandson, Aria, surprised him with a brick in honor of Doug and his late wife, Maureen, making this part of the property especially meaningful.

Each brick at North Star House carries its own story. Some honor loved ones, some mark family connections, and others simply show support for the future of the House.

Remembering the Foote Family

Before North Star House was built, the Foote family lived in an earlier home on the property. Doug photographed a model of that extinct home, created by volunteer Mark Hermes.

The Foote family remains central to the story of North Star House. Arthur De Wint Foote served as superintendent of the North Star Mine, and Mary Hallock Foote was a writer and illustrator whose life and work are deeply connected to the property.

Construction Details

Not every photo is about a finished room or polished display. Some of the most interesting images show how the House was built.

These details are part of what makes restoration work both challenging and rewarding. Behind every finished surface is a deeper understanding of the materials, craftsmanship, and decisions that shaped the original house.

A Little Humor, Too

He also included a nod to his own past volunteer work in the dining room. Doug's Caption: Doug’s wiring for the Dining Room lighting pales compared to Miss Wright.

We always appreciate Doug’s humor, his history with the House, and the way he continues to stay connected to the work happening here.

And he ended his photo collection with a proud family moment.

Doug's Caption: Proud Grampa moment. My Grandson is a Charter pilot passing KGOO, (Grass Valley Airport), on his way Northwest At 45.000 feet.

Thank You, Doug

Thank you, Doug, for visiting North Star House, taking the time to photograph the property, and sharing your view of the progress happening here.

We love when long-time volunteers come back through the doors. They see the House differently. They remember what came before, notice what has changed, and help us tell the story of restoration as it continues.

Stay tuned for more "Through Doug’s Lens" features.