Built for a Stanford classics scholar in 1904, this historic California mansion was once saved from demolition; now Palo Alto’s Squire House is listed for nearly $20 million

A century-old mansion in California, once threatened with demolition and later saved through a community-led preservation campaign, has returned to the property market with an asking price of nearly $20 million. The historic Squire House, a white-columned Neoclassical estate on Palo Alto’s University Avenue, is listed for $19.988 million.

It is the first time the property has been offered for sale since it last changed hands in 1999, according to a report by The Almanac.Built in 1904 for John Adams Squire and his wife, Georgiana, the mansion stands on a nearly one-acre property in the city’s Crescent Park neighbourhood. The main residence spans 7,794 square feet, while a separate 600-square-foot guest house brings the total built-up area to approximately 8,394 square feet.

The estate also includes landscaped gardens, a swimming pool and a terrace with a fireplace, according to the property's listing by DeLeon Realty.But the house's significance extends beyond its size and price.