Oakland Tribune from Oakland, California • 76

1 I i 1 1 73 i DakUnb2S(Tribunc March 24, 1963 FL-15 HE EYES of the nation will center on Oakland this week as top scientists and United States Government experts gather here at Dunsmuir House for hiked all the way down to Sah Leandro Bay to swim. Mother wasn't happy with the water there and that's how the big swimming pool happenedlo be Installed. LaterT a golf course was laid out, and there were tennis courts west of the house. Where the pond Is now was once but a plowed field. My brother and sister and I were confirmed horseback riders and we had great adventures on the place astride Queenie, 'Chubby, and a third horse that I can't name just now.

My memory fails me." Such was Dunsmuir House, and people who lived there, Let science do what it will. There is no erasing of-memories surrounding that magnificent bit of yesterday that now nudges the edge of tomorrow. 1 I In i fL7 1 i -i tig Mil mini Sal I -ti I if" Built in 1 899, Dunsmuir House in Oakland takes on historic importance this week a conference to determine how they can best put our nation's space technology to work for the betterment of all mankind. Details on the hoped-for results must be left to the recorders of modern history, but the promise, of putting Dunsmuir House to work as a civic center sent us scurrying through musty public records to find something about the past of this fascinating residence. Very few Oakland-ers have known of its existence, hidden away as it is in a broad-sweeping canyon shielded on both sides by hills that border Oakland and San Leandro.

The property was purchased only last year by the City of Oakland from the Hellman family. One proviso of the deed, city authorities "tell us, is that it henceforth be known as Hellman Park. It has had numerous names in the past, the most prominent being Souther Farm, a name that still clings in county records followed by the assessor, tax collector, and recorder's office. Peralta Park is another apt name that might eventually be attached to at least a portion of the property. The place is still "out of bounds" as far as visitors are concerned.

But we venture to guess that Hellman Park and Dunsmuir House will be a great attraction once the roadways-are unchained and gates only for its plantation-like setting that hints of old the sound tof Negro spirituals and perhaps the pageantry of a fancy dress balL Such a public debut is still in the distant future. Our intention here is to tell the story of Dunsmuir House and the people who lived there. LIKE most of Oakland and its neighboring communities, Souther Farm was carved from the Don Luis Maria -Peralta land grant later divided among his four sons and called RanchoSan Antonio. The 312 acres that became Souther Farm was Included in YgnacioJ'eralta'i portion of the sprawling rancho. It was Ygnado and his wife who deeded this seemingly small parcel to William Souther and his partner; Ellis A.

Haines In July of "1858. The land where Dunsmuir House now stands was turned over to Haines by Souther in October 1856, and Haines named Souther Farm in honor of his old partner Title remained uncertain until 1858 when President Buchanan, through his Land Commission, confirmed Ygnacio Peralta's rightful ownership. Sometime prior to 1872 Souther Farm was sold to Edward Tompkins, although the University of California regent and benefactor of the Louis Agassiz professorship on the Berkeley campus never lived there. This is the same Edward Tompkins "whose early day Oakland home stood ffjiere Snow Museum now stands at 19th and Harrison Streets. Tompkins School was named for Edward Tompkins.

When he died hvl872 the title to Souther Farm passed through the family and eventually landed in the "hands of Gilbert Tompkins, a son of Ed- ward. Gilbert had been educated at Harvard University. After returning home he bought' and yedited the San Leandro Reporter for about two years before selling the newspaper to Dr. B. F.

Mason in 1889. With theaper disposed of, Gilbert concentrated his attention on the 312-acre Souther Farm which he devoted to fruit culture and horse breeding. Horses were his chief love.1 By 1892 he had four stal- i lions of the best American trotting blood on the place. One was the bay stallion Figaro which he obtained in 1887 from Palo Alto. Jester was also an 1887 acquisition.

In December 1889 he added the finely bred sons of the great Electioneer to his stock. These were named Glen Fortune and El Benton. His brood mares were of equal merit. Meanwhile he was fitting Souther Farm for almost every variety of care and education of horses, even to the addition of a huge pond In which he swam the horses for exercise. SUMMER was approaching in 1894 when Gilbert Tompkins finally disposed of his horse farm to S.

M. Babbitt, John Hackett and George -II. Payne. Title to the big farm hands' several-times during the next five years, and then in March of 1899 the deed to Josephine Wallace was recorded. From here on the story of Dunsmuir House takes shape more rapidly.

It was Josephine Wallace who became the bride of Alexander Dunsmuir, playboy son of Robert Dunsmuir, the 1851 emigrant from Scotland and the man who developed -the great Vancouver Island coal mines. Alexander Dunsmuir came to San Francisco Tn 1878 to manage the Dunsmuir business in these parts. His brother, James Dunsmuir, who was to become the premier of British Columbia, remained in Canada and directed the work at the mines. It was on his 1878 arrival in San Francisco that Alexander Dunsmuir met Waller and Josephine Wallace, husband and wife, and made his residence at their home. When Waller and Josephine separated a year later Alexander' and the charming Josephine became paramours.

Waller, who Mud Springs THE KNAVE: The original name of El Dorado, on Highway 50 to Placer-, ville and on over Echo Summit, was. Mud Springs. The name came from springs that horses, mules and numerous other animals kept muddy by their frequent visits to quench their thirst. Lik? Shingle Springs, it was on the early road to Placerville that eventually connected with the highway over Echo Summit to Carson City and Virginia City.HIch neighr-boring gold mines at Missouri Flat, Dry Creek, Slate Creek, Empire Ravine, Dead--man's Hollow, and Loafer's Hollow, mader El Dorado a prosperous center of trade. North and south of El Dorado were many gold quartz mines, especially up the creek to Log Town some lxh miles on the ridge; and south into the Cosumnes River Valley.

In the gold days there was. a continuous line of quartz milles reaching to Quartz-burg on the river (later known as Nash: ville). Here it was said that the first stamp mill brought around The Horn from Cincinnati was set up at Tennessee Mine. Oil El Dorado's main street, a part of Highway 49, stood many large stone or brick buildingss during the prosperous, years But with the passing of the rich gold mining the town became decadent, and the buildings became ruins. Nearly 50 years ago 1 was pastor of the Methodist-Church in Placerville and was asked tb; hold services in the little frame church on the hill to the south side of the town.

It happened that a railroad train left Placerville in the early afternoon, which made it possible for me to reach the El Dorado church for service; and another train from Sacramento to Placerville enabled me to return home about 5 p.m.-Thus I had time to wander about the old town, spying on its ruined buildings, or waiting at the old Hill Hotel. A 1923 firei destroyed the little church, but a very similar building was erected later. Th old hotel has also disappeared, leaving lonely spot by the street side. It is recorded in history that Edwin Booth, the' great actor, was once traveling with a troop of entertainers here in the gold days. They appeared in Placerville and then started for a swing down the Mother Lode by horseback.

Between El Dorado and Log Town they were overtaken by a heavy storm and thoroughly soaked. When the storm cleared they stopped In an opening In the forest and hung their wet clothing on brush to. dry in the waiTA sunshine. Indians appeared In the clearing and looked with horror on what they thought was the scene of a murder. Howling with fright they took off in all directions.

Their wailing and thrashing in the underbrush could be heard for some time. -John W. Winkley. Down Memory Lane WITH the approach of April and another anniversary of the unforgettable 1908 earthquake nd fire the memory of A. R.

McPhall again meanders back to those hectic days. "I tried to get over to see what was transpiring while San Francisco burned," he recalls. "I got up early one morning and walked down to First St. and Broadway: ip Oakland where the ferryboat was docked," awaiting a run to San Francisco's Ferry Building. The Oakland Pier was guarded by a policeman, but when his back wfcs turned I made a dash through a window and landed inside -the- Once aboard- had been head usher at the old California Theater in San Francisco in addition to being a law clerk, baseball player and sports writer, died a few years after his separation from Josephine.

In addition to his widow he was survived by a daughter, Edna Wallace. During the 18 years that Alexander was to court Josephine he also -assisted with the schooling of Edna who was to move on to New York City and a stage career, eventually becoming the bride of DeWolf Hopper, the famed comedian. After Josephine Wallace had ac- quired Souther Farm in the early spring days of 1899 the next thing was a home. It was Alexander who had the magnificent Dunsmuir House built for Josephine as a wedding present. They were married house on December 21, 1899.

Edna Wallace Hopper was present at the wedding, as was Alexander's brother, James find his wife. ALEXANDER Dunsmuir and his bride, honeymooning in New York City when death struck. He died there on January 31, 1900. It was Josephine who returned his body to Oakland for entombment at Mountain View Cemetery. A little more than a year later Josephine died.

Death came for her at Dunsmuir House on June 23; 1901. Again there were changes in title at Souther Farm and Dunsmuir House. The title now rested with Edna Wallace. Hopper. Edna had meanwhile married a defunct New York stock broker named A.

0. Brown, but the marriage was of short duration. Her greatest success came in years as a'health faddist and then as a Wall Street broker. A biographer is said to be preparing a book that is to be called "Floradora on Wall Street" Miss Wallace rSd bs iiSg I iit ijiii CTWTOWWfc. was the star of Floradora, but not a member qf the famed Floradora sextette.

She was in her early 80s when she died on Dec. 14, 1-959. "Those Whom the Gods Love Never Grow Old," is the epitaph on her headstone in Mountain View Cemetery. The headstone is ornamented by a statue from her garden a Grecian girl in. flowing robes.

But long before her death famed Dunsmuir House had been sold. In January 1906 it became the property of W. Hellman San Francisco banker and financier, who was to find it a real haven three months later when earthquake and fire raked San Francisco in April of 1906. What happened then we learn from I. W.

Hellman III, now president of the Wells Fargo Bank. rr HE HELLMANS had rented Duns-I muir House for several seasons before they purchased the property In 1906, it is recalled. "I believe it had also been rented one year to the Clarence Walters of San Francisco," Hellman adds. "My first recollection of the place was after the earthquake in April 1906. Our.

family was hurriedly packed in our Columbia automobile by father and we drove all the way to San Leandro via Milpitas. The trip was begun well before dawn on April 19, and it was nearly noon when we arrived at Dunsmuir House. Incidentally, that Is the only name I ever heard applied to the big residence. Even the natives and neighbors called it Dunsmuir House. Many members of our family gathered there that April 19 and remained for days.

There must have been 20 or 30 in the house in addition to the servants. During Dunsmuir's time the property consisted of quite a large parcel, extending not quite to E. 14th St. But the property purchased by our family was. only that por- Lafayette Death 4p VALLEY 1 i A Pttcr ttjckpolt fMi as a meeting place for space scientists tion north of Foothill which had recently been cut through by the new boulevard.

Our parents used the place as a country home. The gardens had only been partially developed, chiefly that portion east of the house. The portion to the west was. put in later under the supervision and design of John McLaren, noted as the father of San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. The water system on the place was planned and designed by Herman Schussler, chief engineer for Spring Valley Water Company.

We also Installed an electric plant and generated electricity for the house. When father died in May of 1920 the property was left in trust to be occupied by Mrs. Hellman at her pleasure the upkeep to be maintained by the Hellman estate. There could be no sale of the property prior to mother's death, and all efforts of would-be buyers were effectively resisted. The electric power plant burned down about 1913 or 1914, but the water system has been maintained and an ample supply of water pumped from nearby wells to a reservoir on the top of the hill in front of Dunsmuir" House." THERE are other recollections by I.

W. Hellman regarding Dunsmuir House. He recalls the nine fireplaces in the big dwelling. "There was no central heating and we kept those nine fireplaces pretty busy," he remembers. "On the Fourth of July we always had a fireworks display, and the San Leandro natives would come to enjoy the display with us.

After the fireworks father always" permitted the servants to have a dance in the carriage house. There, may be some San Leandro people who remember those affairs. My brother, Fred, and I often B.y,MiKejarKs DEAHopDEATH valley prospectors was "Shorty Harris who searched that deadly wasteland for nearly half a century amd whose "TALL TALES OFr 'STRIKES STARTED SEVERAL MINOR GOLD RUSHES TO THE AREA. mi 17, ,7, III CALIFORNIA CAVALCADE REMEMBERED BECToweownercf VrlET FrRST STEAMBOAT ON FRANCISCO BAY. William A.

lodesdorff was also a lead ing MERCHANT AND FAR-REACHING LAND owner whose holdings included the Whole op what is now the town of LArAY 1 1 1 b.nt. WAt I Ht 6n ur a wan isn oAlLAJrf ANiJ A t-ULL" DLUUtltW Jmlvr NEGRESS AND WAS RAISED BVABRITISH PLANTER WHO BEQUEATHED HlMTHE FORTUNE HE LATER 1NVE5TED IK THE "BAV AREA it if: GAMBLING QUEEN HaryLsuise'Raintbee, WHO PARLAYED HER MINING TOWN winnings into millions in mining STOCKS EARLY IN HER CAREER PLAYED WITH ATRAINED PET MONKEY ON UER 1 SHOULDER TO KEEP AWAY KIBITZERS. I hid until the boat left the dock and I felt I was safe. The next day I went to the foot of Franklin St where a river steamer wis docked. It was taking on water for delivery In San Francisco.

As the boat pulled cut I made a rush and leaped on deck. This time! "hid in the engine room until. I was safely under way. The third morning, a bakery wagon was taking a load of newly baked bread to San Francisco and I waited until the driver went aboard the ferryboat. I hid inside the, wagpniand once.nipre I made my way 'across Looking back alter these many 'years afmy epi-I sodes during those hectic, days I guesi I 1 can only agree that "Where there's a wfIL, there's a THE KNAV7.