The Sacramento Bee from Sacramento, California • 41

Fair Oaks While the house is decorated with Slocum family photos none is labeled with names The couple at right are thought to be the family poti ioicn and matriarch Historic house stands as testament to entrepreneurial Slocum family BY DAHLYNN SHIFLFT does feel place is old fixing a KASSIS House oh freezes country's fruit Upon hearing of the availability of fertile land the Slocums came to Fair OAs from Iowa in 1896 just a year after the lirst settlers The town was thriving With a population of 300 more than 1000 acres had been cleared and 75 dwellings and other buildings constructed A businessman and visionary Charles Slocum took to his new home quickly becoming a community leader Slocum owned the first lumber yard located at Mam and California streets He and an associate also established the Slocum and Gore General Merchandising Store and Slocum was active with the Fair Oaks Fruit Co serving as director for many years He donated land for the first Fair Oaks Library helping establish a library association and serving as a board member for several years Family members were active in Fair first church the Methodist Church They also helped found the Federated Church and sang in its choir In 1912 Slocum was was responsible for establishing the Fair Oaks Bank Until then residents had to travel to Sacramento or Folsom to do their banking Slocum worked -at the bank as manager and 'asfiierilntn his 70 still striking and in a community marking its centennial the Slocum House reigns as Fair architectural grande dame Built in 1925 for Charles and Sara Slocum and their five children the house on California Street Fair Oaks Village was converted to an interior design studio in the 1960s then to its current use the Slocum House restaurant in 1976 Today patrons dme on California-French cuisine in the living room and sip refreshments on the patio under stately oA trees Fair OAs was founded in 1 895 and owes its existence to agricultural land promotion The com-m 1 1 was advertised the East as a retirement haven luring the curious west to buy land The pitch was to purchase property have an orchard planted hire the Fair Oaks Development Co to care for the acreage and trees then return at a later date usually upon retirement to property with full-bearing orchard At that time the lure of orchards was great In the nearby decade-older community of Oran-gevale orange growers were experiencing a boom due to recurring and -devastating freezes in Florida and Southern California sure like the 70 years I'm always things KERRY Slot urn Catherine Daley neighbors The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places The rear of the Slocum House property is used as patio seating for the restaurant death July 19 1925 Before his death Slocum and his friend Arthur Broadley selected the site for a new Slocum residence They chose a hilltop overlooking the village a location indicative of considerable social stature Broadley built the family home a house that so well reflected the early days of the community that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 The structure nestled among enduring oaks is best characterized as a California bungalow and it has retained many onginal features through- its evolution from home to restaurant The entry way a small portico supported by columns is reached via a flower-lined stairway Inside the floor plan still resembles that of the original home with the kitchen and 90-seat dining area to the right a small bar to the left and the patio which accommodates up to 85 people to the rear of the house Decorated with woods rich blues and mauves all set off with white-etched windows the restaurant has the air of a home decked out for a fancy dinner party The building underwent a six-month $1 4 million face lift in-1986 noted Slocum House owner Kerry Ka ssis wanted to renovate the home without any structural changes or anything that would mask its historical Kassis said The goal was accomplished so well that in 1988 the restaurant won the Exceptional Achievement Award for Historical Preservation and Landscaping from Sac-ramento Policy Planning Commission a restaurant out of a house is a acknowledged Kassis a Gold River resident and experienced restaurateur havp huge amount of See Slocum page 4a 1 NEIGHBORS NE EA THURSDAY Jtn 20 1995 PAGE 3A 1.