Posted: March 27, 2005 -

Family Heritage



(Click on Photo's and underlined text for Additonal Links....)

The Seaburst

The Seaburst House 26198 Scenic Road/or Ocean View Avenue Carmel, California (1970) Carmel-by-the-Sea Carmel Point 26198 Scenic Rd, Carmel, CA 93923
The Seaburst House was heated from below the wood flooring with heated water pipes. There is a bird's eye view from the cat walk, but if you were afraid of heights you certainly didn't want to be up there. The Ocean was always breaking on the rocks below, and it was quite a site. On early mornings you could pick up sea shells while the tide was away. The Dogs really loved it there, and there were always a lot of fun things to do. The Seaburst house is just one of five truly oceanfront properties in Carmel, California of which the salt water from the sea sprays onto the windows in rough surf conditions. Seaburst Map Scenic Road runs parallel to the shore along Carmel Beach then, at the south end of Carmel Beach, turns westward and goes around Carmel Point to Carmel River Beach State Park. The rocky outcrop and boulders at the Carmel Point site are very uneven and difficult to traverse. It is easy to fall and slip into a tidepool. Be sure to wear suitable shoes or waterproof boots. Species and organisms to be found and counted are the orange brown and purple ochre sea stars, black abalones and giant green and sunburst sea anemones. There is a granite outcrop in which one must climb over the rocks and around pools. The rocks and alga-covered boulders are difficult to traverse with Bull kelp and giant kelp floating in the tide pools with Hermit crabs scurrying about. Carmel Point (Carmel, CA.) (Click Photo to Zoom in) The large white house on the seaward side of the road called the Seaburst House. Park on Scenic Road or Ocean View Avenue, across from the Seaburst House. This area has many fine homes and people often walk or jog along the road. The mouth of the Carmel River can be reached by driving further south, then east, on Scenic Road around Carmel Point to the Carmel River Beach State Beach. (Galleries Link) Carmel began forming in the late 1800’s on ground previously occupied by the Ohlone Indians and the Spanish who built the still-existing Carmel Mission. After the San Francisco earthquake of 1906, Carmel became a haven for artists and bohemians escaping the big city. The history of the city was formed by such artists as Jack London, Robinson Jeffers, Mary Austin, Upton Sinclair, Henry Miller and Ansel Adams. It is still a city of artists and writers and many of them show their work in the over 90 art galleries. It is still home to famous people like Doris Day, whose pet friendly hotel is one the town’s classic inns. As mayor from 1986-88, Clint Eastwood brought even more reknown to the town that is a vacation favorite for thousands of visitors every year. 26200 Scenic Rd is the new Zillow address for the Seaburst House. 50 feet from the coastal bluff. 26200 Scenic Rd, Carmel, CA 93923 4 beds 3 baths 2,694 sqft Built in 1947 Last sold: Mar 1981 for $750,000 Owners March 20, 1981 Bought for $750,000 Assessor's Parcel Number 009-433-001-000) Jean B Buttner Harvey E. West Senior was a family friend. Harvey West was a Placerville Lumberman and Philanthropist He presented to the City of Santa Cruz the Harvey West Park in 1955 at the location 326 Evergreen Street CA 95060 Santa Cruz, CA DEDICATION OF HARVEY WEST PARK on May 30, 1959. Harvey West Park History: link Harvey West Park was presented to the City of Santa Cruz by philanthropist Harvey West in 1955. Harvey West Park is a 50-acre municipal park. Located just off the intersection of Highways 1, 9, and 17 and is truly Santa Cruz' most complete central park complex. The park includes hiking trails, swimming pools, ball fields, play equipment, clubhouses, barbecue pits, picnic areas and more. It's the perfect place for team sports, a Sunday picnic, an evening swim or just a walk on the trails. Other Amenities: Harvey West Pool link Harvey West Pool Picnic Areas Harvey West Clubhouse/Scouthouse Harvey West Park offers many features and services to the public. With six ball fields. PARKING/ENTRANCES: Parking available onsite at terminus of Evergreen Street. On-street parking available on Harvey West Blvd. Harvey West Biography: Harvey West was born in Soquel, CA in 1894 and passed away in 1979. His Father, Ed West, was once a County supervisor, better known as the "Bull of the Woods" for his ownership of the Loma Prieta Lumber Company. Harvey worked for a time at F.A. Hihn's sawmill on Laurel Street, then in 1913 he went to work for Capitola Garage. He purchased the business in just four short years. On his return from World War I, Harvey transformed the garage business into one for hauling lumber. His success in the lumber business moved him to Calaveras County, then to El Dorado County where he started the Placerville Lumber Company in 1936. The lumber mills were at the following locations: Smith Flat, Fresh Pond, Sly Park and Tahoe Valley. Over the years, Harvey West made many contributions, both public and private, throughout the State of California. In 1955 he presented the City of Santa Cruz with the parcel of land we know as Harvey West Park and in 1958 he purchased Wagner Grove from Fred Wagner as an addition to the park. Founder: Camp Harvey West El Dorado locale 385042N 1200448W - Echo Lake 3.5 miles northwest of Echo Summit at the west end of Upper Echo Lake Boy Scouts of America The former Boy Scout Camp Harvey West is part of Upper Echo Lake. Harvey West Patches were earned by the Scouts from 1950-1956 Golden Empire BSA Other Harvey West Philanthropist Activities: link The Harvey West Cabin was constructed in the early 1930's by the Sacramento Box and Lumber Company as an office and recreational facility. It was later purchased by Harvey West, a prominent local businessman and philanthropist, and used as a summer retreat by his family from 1936 to the early 1970's. Harvey West Cabin Harvey West Patch (1956) The Harvey West Cabin has propane lights and appliances, and a wood-burning stone fireplace. The facility has two levels with a large open great room, dining room, kitchen, two downstairs bedrooms, 1 1/2 bathrooms, and two large lofts overlooking the great room. Sleeping accommodations include 2 full size sofa sleepers, 1 full size futon, 2 double beds, and 4 single beds. There are ample sleeping accommodations for at least 14 people. The cabin itself can accommodate up to 20 people comfortably. The great room has a propane heater and a large stone fire place (Firewood is supplied). Both bathrooms have sinks and flush toilets. One bathroom has a shower. The cabin is located on the west bank of the Silver Fork of the South Fork of the American River in the Eldorado National Forest. In addition to the 2,000 plus square feet cabin, a large deck overlooks the Silver Fork River and is an excellent place for an additional sleeping area. link The Graeagle Lumber Mill and Harvey West Senior link Named after Gray Eagle Creek, Graeagle Lumber Mill began as a mill town, being part of a 13,000 acre timber tract acquisition by Arthur Davies from the Sierra Iron Company back in 1916. The business was built up and then sold to The California Fruit Exchange then utilizing the lumber facilities to make a multitude of fruit boxes. The Graeagle Lumber Mill shut down on the last Saturday in October of 1956. To commemorat this event, the mill whistle blew for five solid minutes signifying that the last log had gone through the band mill. With huge stacks of cut lumber remaining, the planing mill continued until May of 1957 when lumber activity in the Mohawk Valley shut down. The mills equipment was auctioned off as two hundred buyers from all over the western states came in late May of 1957 to buy the sawmill, box factory and planing mill equipment. It only took one day for it to be sold. Amazingly, within two weeks of the auction only two or three families remained in town. In essence, the town was deserted, all the other houses became vacant and abandoned. In February 1958, Harvey West Sr., offered California Fruit Exchange $450,000 for the remaining property, which was 13,482 acres of timberland, town, farm and meadowland. West, a large timber operator based in Placerville, CA, now owned a town comprising 42 houses, a clubhouse, store, butcher shop, dairy, warehouse and school for about $43/acre. Included in the semi-ghost town were the water and hydro power plant rights. This once bustling community now was desolate of people. But, the West’s had plans for the area and a Master Plan was developed. With paved highways spreading throughout the west, the accessibility factor once a hindrance was fast becoming an asset. The early 1960’s saw great advancement in highways, freeways and ownership by average people of automobiles. So, it was determined that Harvey West, Jr. along with his wife Shirley "Devine" West and their (then) two children moved to Graeagle permanently. Graeagle Land and Water Company was established, and the master plan and dream began from there. Today the privately held GLW Company is managed and maintained by Harvey West, Jr.’s son, Dan West. Dan’s wife, Leah West is an active Realtor in the original real estate office since 1990. Today, the West family maintain the beautiful town of Graeagle in much the same manner of yesteryear, providing services for the community and continuing to develop, cultivate and support the local businesses and townspeople. The downtown commercial core of Graeagle has been preserved with its historic charm of an earlier period of Plumas County history. GL&W is the company name of this family business. Harvey West Junior: Grand Marshall West named parade grand marshal of Mohawk Valley Independence Day Parade Feather Publishing 6/30/2010 After years of asking, Don Clark of the Mohawk Valley Independence Day committee was very pleased to announce that Harvey West, Graeagle founder, will be this year’s parade grand marshal. West will lead the parade with his grandson, Trey West, on Sunday, July 4, at 1 p.m. Following is a biographical sketch of West by Leah West. Harvey West was born Oct. 18, 1922, in Soquel, Calif. He was the oldest of three boys (David and Robert, brothers) born to Harvey West, Sr. and Leila. Harvey had a typical boyhood life growing up on the Santa Cruz coast, fishing, playing baseball and enjoying some fun at the boardwalk and “Plunge” whenever possible. The family later moved to Placerville, where they operated several lumber mills: Smith Flat, Fresh Pond, Sly Park and Tahoe Valley. At this time, Harvey attended El Dorado High School in Placerville and graduated in 1940. World War II was in full swing and Harvey joined the Navy V-12 program. He enrolled in Sacramento Junior College and then attended COP (Stockton). Harvey was one of four to be sent to the Naval Supply Corp school program at Harvard in Boston. In February 1945 he was assigned his first ship, the Auriga. He remained in the Navy for several years. After the war it was a busy life of a timber man, working for the family business, Placerville Lumber Company, with his father, Harvey West, Sr., and brother Bob. Cruising timber, driving logging trucks, managing the mills and negotiating timber/lumber sales made for long days. Harvey married his sweetheart, Shirley Devine, in August 1950. In 1957, Harvey, along with his brother Bob, came to Graeagle to investigate the holdings and timber of the California Fruit Exchange. He recalls having dinner at the Log Cabin in Portola on a cool fall evening and feeling fairly impressed with the little town. The West family purchased Graeagle from the California Fruit Exchange — and the real work began. He moved his family to Graeagle and along with his wife, Shirley, and their (then) two children, Deborah and Dan, settled into the large red house on the hill. It was 1958 and Graeagle was a virtual ghost town at the time, only a handful of people remained as residents. Fifty years later, the community of Graeagle is the result of their vision, their commitment and much hard work. Harvey always enjoyed the game of golf, so out of his love for the game, he made the perfect location. Construction of Graeagle Meadows began in 1968 (nine holes), and the 18-hole championship course was finished in 1970. It was the first 18-hole course in the entire area. Today, it is still one of the most player-friendly and scenic courses anywhere. Harvey has always been a civic-minded man. In his younger days he played first base for the Bartletts and the Outlaws; was a deputy with the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Posse. After he moved to Plumas County, he enjoyed serving on the Plumas County Planning Commission for 19 years; coached Little League baseball; was a member of the Rotary Club; supported and donated to the Johnsville Ski Hill; was the founding member and first fire chief of the Graeagle Volunteer Fire Department; is a Mason and still attends Lodge in Beckwourth occasionally; is a World War II veteran; a father of four children, eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Today, the privately owned family company, Graeagle Land and Water, is much the same, his watchful guidance — with the vision and day-to-day operations turned over to his son Dan (and his grandson Harvey West III, as well!). Harvey West is the true pioneer of the community of Graeagle, and says none of this would have been possible without the love and support of his wife, Shirley, and their children. Harvey West Cabin In Deep Redwoods Kitchen: The kitchen area has a double sink, hot and cold water, a propane stove and oven, a propane refrigerator, and a basic assortment of pots, pans, and utensils (if you are not sure bring your own). Water: The water comes from a new well and is tested regularly for contamination. Exterior: In addition to the 2,000 plus square feet cabin, a large deck overlooks the Silver Fork River and is an excellent place for an additional sleeping area. A cabin, donated by El Dorado County philanthropist and Placerville Lumber Company owner, Harvey West, was moved by the Kyburz community to the site where the new school now sits. The new Silver Fork School was built during the mid-'50s. The Pollock Pines Community Church and the El Dorado County Library in Pollock Pines were built through the philanthropy of Harvey West. Harvey West was the owner of Placerville Lumber Company and had these buildings built as a memorial to his son David West. Harvey West Donates Building to become the Pollock Pines Library: Link Doris Cloherty started the first Pollock Pines Library in 1952, using a couple of shelves in her coffee shop. When Mrs. Cloherty closed her coffee shop, she and the county librarian approached Mr. Harvey West about the possibility of constructing a real library building. Mr. West built a small building on donated land in 1958. When this became too small after a couple of years, the building was moved to Shingle Springs and used as its branch library. Mr. West then built the present ski-chalet like structure on the same site which serves as the branch today. Pollock Pines County Library Donated by Harvey West (Philanthropist) Pollock Pines Library 6210 Pony Express Trail Pollock Pines, California 95726 (530) 644-2498 Harvey West, Philanthropist Gives away Emerald Bay to the Emerald Bay State Park: Link One of the most photographed spots in America, this secluded bay on Lake Tahoe, CA. has its share of sight-seeing delights. Designated a National Natural Landmark in 1969, Emerald Bay boasts clear blue waters rimmed with evergreens and granite cliffs. Lake Tahoe, CA. Scenic Drive Map Emerald Bay State Park Majestic Emerald Bay is just a small part of this beautiful and pristine State Park covering 1,830 acres of the Sierra Nevada mountains. You will find six miles This 593-acre within the state park on the southwest shore of Lake Tahoe, CA. contains three major attractions: Emerald Bay, Eagle Falls and Vikingsholm Castle. This 38-room mansion is a replica of an 800 A.D. Scandinavian castle. Emerald Bay: Tahoe's most photographed natural wonder, a glacier-carved blue and turquoise bay surrounded by granite peaks, is spectacular any time of the day or year. The blue-green bay is three miles long by one mile wide, with a narrow entrance from the east. Motorists can find several excellent high vantage points along Highway 89, or take one of a half-dozen tour boat excursions that circumnavigate the bay. Emerald Bay, Fannette Island at Sunset Emerald Bay, Fannette Island, Lake Arrowhead, CA. At the very top of Fannetee Island is the Tea Room, designed in 1928-1929 for Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight by Swedish architect Lennart Palme The Tea House, Emerald Bay Fannette Island, Lake Arrowhead, CA. Fannette Island Donated to California State Parks by Harvey West, (philanthropist) Tea House on Fannette Islandis is only accessible by Boat, as it is on the only Island on Lake Arrowhead. Within the bay is Fannette Island, the only island in the lake. Rising 150 feet above the water, this rocky island, believed to be a remnant of the glacial action that created the bay, is crowned by a crumbling stone structure called the "Tea House." This structure on top of Fannette Island is not a castle, it is just a 16 foot square open roofed room. It is called the "Tea Room" because it was originally built for sitting in and having tea. Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight had this room built in 1929 so she could enjoy the island views with her friends for an afternoon tea. Fannette Island was not always known by that name. During the past 100 years it has been known as Coquette, Fannette, Baranoff, Dead Man's, Hermit's, and Emerald Isle. Fannette was the name that finally stuck. Donated by: Harvey West California State Parks (Vikingsholm) Harvey West Vikingsholm and Emerald Bay Island Story: The nucleus of Emerald Bay State Park, including Vikingsholm, was given to the State by Placerville lumberman Harvey West in 1953. The Save the Redwoods League was instrumental in the excision. From the crest of Eagle Falls, you can see a panorama of Emerald Bay, Fannette Island, Lake Tahoe, CA., and the distant Nevada shore. Read more or call 530-541-3030. The completed Vikingsholm with the Scandinavian architecture influence located at the head of Emerald Bay in Lake Tahoe, California was occupied by Mrs. Knight and her staff of 15 in June of 1930. Mrs. Knight enjoyed 15 summers at Vikingsholm. She always had a house full of guests to share this magnificent summer home. Mrs. Knight passed away at the age of 82 in 1945. After her death, the home was sold several times to private owners. In the early 1950s, Mr. Harvey West, a noted philanthropist, negotiated with the State of California and said he would donate one-half of the appraised value of the land, as well as the Vikingsholm itself outright, if the State would pay him the other half. This arrangement was agreed upon, and in 1953 the house and property were acquired by the State. Vikingsholm is now a part of the Harvey West Unit of the Emerald Bay State Park. The house is open for tours in the summer months and the grounds and magnificent scenery may be enjoyed all year-round by those wishing to visit this beautiful setting. Vikingsholm can be reached by parking in the Harvey West parking lot by Highway 89 at Emerald Bay. Take the trail, which is one mile in length and drops 500 feet in elevation to the house. Harvey West Owns Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe, CA., California: Link In the early 1900s, Tahoe was a summer haven for the families of San Francisco tycoons. Guests stayed in private log cottages or in the main houses, whose exteriors ranged from Sierra rustic to Scandinavian romantic, with comfortable, even elaborate interiors. Emerald Bay provided the setting for one of the first summer homes at Lake Tahoe, CA.. In 1863 Ben Holladay, stagecoach magnet and early day transportation king pre-empted land in Emerald Bay and built a summer home. In 1884 a Dr. Kirby bought 500 acres in the Bay and built a resort. A portion of the Kirby land was sold to the William Henry Armstrong family in 1895. Vikingsholm, Scandinavian Design Vikingsholm Vintage Postcard - Emarld State Park In 1928 Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight, purchased about two hundred acres of land at Emerald Bay in the Lake Tahoe region of California. The property encompassing the head of Emerald Bay and Fannette Island in 1928 for $250,000. Mrs. Knight was not a newcomer to the Tahoe Area. For 16 years, Mrs. Knight had enjoyed her summer home, Wynchwood, at Observatory Point on the North Shore. This property was later sold to Robert Stanley Dollar, Sr., and is now known as Dollar Point. It was there she decided to build a structure that would incorporate the atmosphere and design of an old Viking castle of stone construction. The castle was built in the shape of a horseshoe with two wings enclosing a courtyard. The main portion of the castle was designed on two stories with a square, three-story tower having a pyramidal roof. A circular tower, two-stories high with a conical roof, is located opposite the square tower at the other end of the castle. Excavation and foundations were begun in late August of 1928. Vikingsholm Castle Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight spent many happy years at Vikingsholm Castle, but she died in 1945, leaving her magnificent Vikingsholm Castle as a true monument of ancient Scandinavian architecture. Vikingsholm is now preserved in Emerald Bay. Vikingsholm Castle (Main Entrance) vikingsholm Castle (front door way) vikingsholm Castle (Dining Room) Vikingsholm, With Excellent Scandinavian Design: The former summer home of millionaire heiress Lora Knight, Vikingsholm was built in 1929. Vikingsholm is located at the head of Emerald Bay in Lake Tahoe, California. This magnificent "castle" is a unique blend of Nature's spectacular beauty and man's architectural ingenuity. Vikingsholm, situated majestically among towering pines and cedars, was built as a summer home for Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight in 1929 by architect Lennart Palme who drew inspiration from Norse castles and dwellings. Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight Vikingsholm Estate, Emarld Bay, Lake Tahoe, CA. Because the rugged mountain scenery and sheer granite cliffs surrounding Emerald Bay reminded her of the fjords in Norway, Knight chose a Scandinavian design. It's a house with many unusual features, from a sod roof seeded with wildflowers to dragon-heads at the peak of the roof which covers both the north and south wings of the complex. Inside the front door guests meet Selma, a folk art clock. Upstairs, the delicate colors of the stained paneling are unchanged, and Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight's collection of Scandinavian antiques and museum reproductions are as interesting as the architecture itself. Vikingsholm Emerald Bay - Early Days Helen Smith spent the first fourteen summers of her life, with her parents, as Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight purchased the land from the Armstrongs in 1928. Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight's land included the only island (Fanette Island) in Lake Tahoe and the only water fall (Eagle Falls) flowing directly into the Lake. Magnificent cedars and pines set off by shear granite cliffs make this one of the most scenic areas in the entire United States. Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight wanted to build a summer home that would compliment the magnificent natural surroundings. Emerald Bay reminded her of many of the fjords she had seen on numerous travels to Scandinavia. She commissioned her nephew by marriage, Lennart Palme, a Swedish architect, to design the plans. In 1928 Mrs. Lora J. Knight of Santa Barbara purchased this isolated site at the head of Emerald Bay. She instructed Lennart Palme, a Swedish-born architect and nephew by marriage, to design a home without disturbing a single one of the site's magnificent trees. After a trip to Scandinavia, they decided to reproduce Norwegian farmsteads, wooden stave churches and a castle. Vikingsholm was completed in September 1929. Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight also had guest houses and the tea house on Fannette Island built. Only a motorboat could reach the island tea house where residents and guests once enjoyed afternoon refreshments at a large oak table in the center of a room 16 feet square. Vikingsholm Architecture Mrs. Lora J. Knight spent her summers at the Vikingsholm home until her death in 1945. Vikingsholm Castle: Getting to this unique mansion requires a hike down a steep, one-mile paved trail that drops 500 feet in elevation. But it's worth the effort, because visitors will see one of the finest examples of Scandinavian architecture in the Western Hemisphere. Vikingsholm was built in 1928-29 by Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight, who spared no expense to create a replica of an 11th-century Viking castle. The granite foundation and stonework, turrets and high-pitched roofs-some of them covered by sod-were constructed out of materials found at the lake. An army of 200 workers completed the 38-room mansion in just one summer, using old-fashioned techniques of hand-hewing huge timbers and forging hinges and latches. Some sections of the home contain no nails, pegs or spikes. Most of the material to construct the home came from the Tahoe Basin. The ideas for the construction came from buildings dating as far back as the 11th century. During the construction, Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight prowled the cities of Norway, Finland, Sweden and Denmark for 18th- and 19th-century antique furniture, and what she couldn't buy she had duplicated, as precisely as possible, from drawings of museum pieces. Tours, offered every half hour in summer, allow visitors to see two ornately carved dragon beams, paintings on ceilings and walls, and six fireplaces of Scandinavian design. Vikingsholm has a nominal admission fee. Open daily 10 AM through 4 PM, mid-June through Labor Day. Parking in the lot on Highway 89 is free. Information: Eagle Point Campground, (916) 541-3030 (summer only); D.L. Bliss State Park, (916) 525-9529. D.L. Bliss State Park: North of and adjacent to Emerald Bay State Park (they are administered jointly, and basically considered to be D.L.Bliss/Emerald Bay State Park), shoreline of D.L. Bliss stretches from slightly north of Rubicon Point to slightly north of Emerald Point. Hwy 89 Emerald Bay, CA (530) 525-7277 or (530) 525-7232 Emerald Bay State Park: Primitive boat camp with moorings, piers, and beaches; Vikingsholm Mansion, hiking (beautiful waterfalls), Fanette Island with the famous tea house, strenuous climb to the parking lot. Hwy 89 Emerald Bay, CA (530) 525-7277 (530) 525-7232 Vikingsholm Castle The methods and materials used in the construction of Vikingsholm, including the granite boulders of the foundations and walls, are those used in ancient Scandinavia. Towers, intricate carvings and hand-hewn timbers were used to create the home. The sod roofs with their living grass and flowers are reproduced from actual sites in Norway. A step into Vikingsholm is like a step back into medieval times and a chance to gain an appreciation of a unique style of architecture No expense was spared in building and furnishing this castle. Many of the furnishings that Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight wanted for Vikingsholm were so historically significant that their export was forbidden by the Norwegian and Swedish governments. Therefore, she had the furnishings copied in detail, down to the measurements, colorations and aging of the wood. In the summer of 1928 Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight and the Palmes traveled to Scandinavia to gather the ideas they wanted to incorporate in Vikingsholm. Vikingsholm was completed in the fall of 1929 and occupied by Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight, her staff of 15 and many guests in June of 1930. Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight enjoyed 15 summers at Vikingsholm. She always had a home full of guests to share this magnificent summer home with her. Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight passed away at the age of 82 in 1945. After her death, the home was sold to Lawrence Holland, a rancher from Nevada. He subsequently sold it to Harvey West, a lumberman from Placerville, California. In the early 1950s, Mr. West, a noted philanthropist, negotiated with the State of California and said he would donate one-half of the appraised value of the land, as well as the Vikingsholm itself outright, if the State would pay him the other half. This arrangement was agreed upon, and in 1953 the house and property were acquired by the State. Vikingsholm is considered to be one of the finest examples of Scandinavian architecture existing in the United States. It is now a part of the Harvey West Unit of the Emerald Bay State Park. The house is open for tours in the summer months and the grounds and magnificent scenery may be enjoyed all year around by those wishing to visit this beautiful setting. Emerald Bay, Fannette Island, Lake Tahoe, CA. - Tea House (Visited by Harvey West's Friends & Family) Donated By: Harvey West, Placerville Lumberman (Philanthropist) Emerald Bay, Fannette Island - The only island on Lake Tahoe, CA., this is the site of Mrs. Lora Josephine Knight's Tea House, a rustic structure that resembled a mini-castle with a large oak table and a small fireplace. Only the shell remains today. The island is inhabited by Canada geese in springtime, and families of geese can often be seen swimming along the shoreline of Emerald Bay. Vikingsholm Project officially started in January 1999. The purpose of the project is to supplement available state funds to preserve the structure," explains Helen. To date, $1.6 million in funding has been raised and will hopefully exceed $2 million. Read more or call 530-541-3030. Another interesting site in the area is the Ehrman Mansion, Sugar Pine Point State Park on Lake Tahoe, CA.'s West Shore at Tahoma: Link or the Tahoe Tavern: Link Ehrman Mansion. Built for Isaias W. Hellman, a Bavarian immigrant who became a San Francisco bank mogul, the imposing main house dates from 1902. In 1965, the state acquired the property, including nine outbuildings and nearly 2,000 acres that now form Sugar Pine Point State Park. Sugar Pine Point is a forested promontory on the western side of Lake Tahoe. The park includes a mile and three quarters of lake frontage with a number of sandy beaches and a unique natural area where the untouched, primeval forest of the Tahoe Basin marches right down to the water's edge. Ehrman Mansion: Refurnished last year, the 11,703-square-foot Queen Anne has 16 rooms open to view. Tours begin Memorial Day weekend, then run daily starting June 16; they're given every hour between 11 and 4. From State Highway 89, turn toward the lake at Sugar Pine Point Picnic Area. Ehrman Mansion, Lake Tahoe, CA. The Ehrman Mansion grounds, at Sugar Pine Point State Park, provide a pleasant environment for cross-country skiing. The Tahoe Tavern 1901 - 1964 "Opulence and Isolation" Tahoe City's history


The Seaburst House Ocean View/Scenic Drive Carmel, CA Built by Architect Frank Lloyd Write and Associates By Frank Loyd Write, Architect
Carmel By The Sea Carmel-by-the-Sea (one of the triad which includes Carmel Valley and Carmel Highlands). History of Carmel-by-the-Sea Carmel The earliest Native American settlers of the Carmel area were the Esselen, followed by the Ohlone. Europeans first settled in Carmel-by-the-Sea in 1771, when Father Junipero Serra established the Carmel Mission. Developers such as Honore Escolle and S.J. Duckworth worked to subdivide the area in the late 1800s, but it was the Carmel Development Company in 1902 that had the most success in drawing new residents to the area. Many of these new settlers were the bohemian artistic elites of San Francisco, especially visual artists who were inspired by Carmel-by-the-Sea's stunning coastline. By 1906, the artistic community in Carmel-by-the-Sea began to attract media attention, which encouraged even more artists to migrate to the town. Carmel-by-the-Sea has been known for its incredible buildings. Many walkers stroll along the streets and admire the many fantasy cottages in Carmel built by the legendary Hugh Comstock, as well as those designed by architects Julia Morgan, Charles S. Greene and Bernard Maybeck. Drive along Carmel-by-the-Sea's Scenic Road to catch a view of the 1948 Clinton Walker Residence with its green copper roof, designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright link or see the Tor House at 26304 Ocean View Avenue, Carmel, CA., the stone home and tower that poet Robinson Jeffers built for his bride Una with his own two hands. link The Passion of Frank Lloyd Write: Link The Seaburst House is next to the three-level Butterfly House Photo Butterfly House Carmel's legendary Butterfly House is one of only 5 true ocean front properties. Known for its winged architecture. Near the Copper Roof on Scenic Drive. Neighbor, Kim Novak, Actress The other neighbor, The Van Loubensell Octogon House, all along the Carmel Beach, CA. Bad Winters would bring the Ocean right into the living room! June 7, 2013 - Update Frank Wynkoop Architect, "Carmel's iconic Butterfly House sold" By ANDY STINY , Herald Correspondent The famous Butterfly House, built by an architect on Scenic Road, has been sold for $16.5 million to a London-based technology venture capitalist. The home was built in 1950 by Frank Wynkoop but his father's illness forced the home's sale in 1956 to Stephen Kahn. Records show the house cost $135,000 to build, though Kahn bought it for $15,000. The house sits at Carmel Point, its unique roof design opening to the sky - like a butterfly's wings. Thor Wynkoop, one of Frank Wynkoop's three sons, was about 4 when the house was sold. After the house was sold again in 2008 by Carmel Realty Company, Thor and his brother Jay did a two-year renovation of the home for the new owner, Joe Walter. Walter sold the home through Carmel Realty Co. to Kevin Comolli of Accel Partners, which has offices in Palo Alto, London, India and China. The asking price was $19.2 million. Thor Wynkoop has fond memories of the home and of the remodeling work the brothers did. "Its transparency" is the home's most spectacular aspect, said Wynkoop. "From within the house you feel like the ocean is an enormous gallery you can enjoy from anywhere in the house." The brothers did a redesign of the plan their pioneering father created "contemporizing to make larger bedrooms with en suite bathrooms," said Wynkoop. He couldn't put a price tag on the work. They also replaced the swimming pool, put in new floor radiant heating, enclosed an outdoor hallway - adding sliding glass windows and replaced the other windows in the three-bedroom, 4.5-bathroom, 3,041-square-foot home. "It's so sheltered from the cool air but you can look out through all the windows," he said. His father was a technical and innovative genius, said Wynkoop. "His technical knowledge allowed him to re-create more flexible and dynamic designs," he said. "It allowed him to be much more creative." Because of Korean War material shortages, his father had to get a letter from President Eisenhower to obtain steel used in the home's construction, according to Wynkoop. His mother and father loved to entertain and the home reflected that, said Wynkoop. "He was a real romantic about the environment ... they liked to think of it as a house they wrapped around their lifestyles." A sunken, sofa seating area that runs the length of ocean-front windows was covered up by a previous owner and Walter had the sofa area rebuilt during the renovation. After Wynkoop's sister, who lives in Salinas, read a 2008 Herald article about the sale of the home to Walter, Wynkoop told the realtors of his interest in working in his father's architectural footsteps and Walter got in touch with him. "We got caught up in the romance of our dad's profession," Wynkoop said of the brothers going into the business. "He loved it so much," he said. Wynkoop has offices in Phoenix and Las Vegas. Waves crash on rocks mere feet from the home, which has been hit by rogue breakers in the past. "People thought he (his father) was absolutely crazy for wanting to build on that site," Wynkoop told the Arizona Republic in a 2012 article. "They thought it would wash away in a year." The Midcentury Modern Carmel home Butterfly House west side of Scenic Road (Historic Site) 26320 Scenic Rd, Carmel, CA 93923 3 beds 5 baths 3,041 sqft SOLD: $16,500,000 Sold on May 30, 2013 Anchored directly into the rocky shoreline with panoramic views from Pt. Lobos to Pebble Beach, the Butterfly House has emerged from a stunning renovation and restoration using the finest materials. The 3+ bed, 4.5 bath home features a swimming pool, open floor plan and sliding lanai doors that provide seamless indoor/outdoor entertaining space. FACTS Lot: 10,454 sqft Single Family Built in 1952 All time views: 26,938 Last sold: May 2013 for $16,500,000 Last sale price/sqft: $5,426 FEATURES Fireplace Parking: 391 sqft Ownership May 30, 2013 Kevin Comolli of Accel Partners - $16.5 million Previous Ownership 1952 Frank Wynkoop $135,000 1950-1952 two years to build 1956 Steven Kahn and his family (50 years) $15,000 April 22, 2008 Joe Walter - $9,118,182 9.1 million Butterfly House Zillow
"'Think simple'" as my old master used to say - meaning reduce the whole of its parts into the simplest terms, getting back to first principles." Link City of Carmel-by-the-Sea: Carmel City in 1888; about 1904 became an artist and writers center and retains much of its Bohemian village flavor. In Carmel and nearby are a Frank Lloyd Wright house, the "Butterfly House" and Robinson Jeffers' Tor House. Overview: Carmel Surrounding Area Link The exclusive enclave of Carmel-by-the-Sea (to give its complete name) began life in the early years of the 20th century as a small but lively bohemian colony inhabited by the literary likes of Sinclair Lewis, Mary Austin, and Upton Sinclair. However, with a few arts-and-crafts exceptions, by the 1950s Carmel had turned into the archly conservative and contrived quaint community it is today - a place where Marie Antoinette would no doubt feel at home, dressing down as a peasant, albeit in Chaps by Ralph Lauren. Preserving its rural feel by banning street addresses (and skateboards, and home mail delivery), Carmel simultaneously loves and abhors the many thousands of tourists who descend on it every weekend to window-shop its many designer boutiques and galleries that fill the few blocks off Ocean Avenue, the main drag through town. Though it's easy to be put off by the surface glitz, Carmel does have a lot going for it. The water is too cold and treacherous for swimming, but broad City Beach at the foot of Ocean Avenue gleams white against a truly azure cove. To the south, aptly named Scenic Drive winds along the rocky coast, past Robinson Jeffers's dramatic Tor House and a seafront Frank Lloyd Wright house (the latter now owned by rock star Sammy Hagar) to another broad beach at the usually unpopulated Carmel River State Park, a favorite spot for scuba divers exploring the deep undersea canyon. Above the beach, just west of Hwy-1 a mile south of central Carmel, Carmel Mission (daily 9:30 am-4:30 pm; donations) was the most important of all the California missions, serving as home, headquarters, and final resting place of Father Junipero Serra, the Franciscan priest who established Carmel and many of the 20 other California missions, and who is entombed under the chapel floor. The gardens - where on weekends wedding parties alight from limos to take family photos - are beautiful, as is the facade with its photogenic bell tower; this is the mission to visit if you visit only one. Tuck Box Tea Room Thomas Kinkade Rendition Dozens of good and usually expensive restaurants thrive in Carmel, but one place to see, even if you don't eat there, is the tiny, mock-Tudoresque Tuck Box Tea Room on Dolores Street near 7th Avenue. Rebuilt after a fire but still doll's-house cute, it serves up bacon-and-eggs breakfasts and dainty plates of shepherd's pie and Welsh rabbit for lunch; closed Monday and Tuesday. At the other end of the aesthetic spectrum is The Hog's Breath Inn, on San Carlos between 5th and 6th Avenues, owned by Clint Eastwood and specializing in "Dirty Harry" burgers and "Sudden Impact" sausages served to patrons seated on an outdoor patio. If you'd rather join locals than mingle with your fellow tourists, head to Katy's Place, on Mission Street between 5th and 6th, serving some of the world's best eggs Benedict. Carmel has only one place approximating a budget option, the very pleasant Carmel River Inn (831/624-1575 or 800/882-8142) just west of Hwy-1 near the Carmel Mission, but even here rates average $100 a night. However, if you want to splurge on a bit of luxury, Carmel is a good place to do it. Besides the golf course resorts of nearby Pebble Beach, Carmel also has the commodious, 1920s-era, mission-style Cypress Inn at Lincoln and 7th (831/624-3871 or 800/443-7443), partly owned by dog-loving Doris Day (and featuring posters of her movies in the small bar off the lobby), with rooms from under $150. A relaxing spot away from downtown is the Carmel Mission Ranch, 26270 Dolores Street (831/624-6436 or 800/538-8221), within walking distance of the beach and mission and offering resort-level facilities at room rates that run close to $250 a night. At all of these places these are peak-season rates; off-season rates will be much lower, so be sure to ask about any special deals that might be on offer. It always feels like Spring in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Perennially flowering gardens, charming cottages and endless white sand beaches entice visitors to return year after year. Tucked away in a quiet corner of this haven is the English-country Cobblestone Inn. Cobblestone Inn, Carmel, CA. The Inn is a charming addition to the natural beauty of Carmel. Stone from the Carmel River completely covers the lower level of the Inn and surrounds the fireplace in each guest room. Breakfast is savored each morning on the flowering patio and afternoon wine and hors d'oeuvres are enjoyed in front of the crackling fire in our comfortable dining room. Helpful to Know o Though most of Carmel's many art galleries seem directed at interior decorators, a few are worth searching out, including the Photography West Gallery on the southeast corner of Dolores and Ocean Streets, and the Weston Gallery on Sixth Avenue near Dolores Street, featuring the works of Edward Weston, Ansel Adams, and other Carmel-based photographers. o Carmel's leading light, Clint Eastwood, seems ever-present: besides serving as mayor for many years, he owns the Hog's Breath Inn restaurant and the Mission Ranch resort. As a filmmaker, he used Carmel as the location for one of his most disturbing movies, the psychopathic 1970's film "Play Misty for Me." Mission Orchard House - California's oldest dwelling, dating from 1774. A property incorporating many lovingly preserved layers of history and a magnificent garden. Crow's Nest - A traditional Cotswold cottage and guest house set in a glorious English garden. Modern living and old world ambiance are artfully combined in this exceptional property. Frank Lloyd Write Architecture: Carmel : Mrs. Clinton Walker House Link In Harmony With Nature:
Mrs. Clinton Walker House
Architect: Frank Lloyd Write, Carmel, CA. Built (1948) The Walker, Buehler, Bazett/Frank, Hanna and Fawcett Usonian Houses are noticed around the Carmel and San Francisco areas, the houses features are similar in some and contrasting features in others to the Kraus House. For example, the dramatic thrusting triangle like our terrace was seen in the Walker House sitting exquisitely on the Carmel beach. Others had rooms at the end of the carport like our tool house, but they were heated and comfortable bedrooms or offices. The most common feature in the houses was the Cherokee red floors, in different configurations from the parallelogram. Mr. Frank Lloyd Write employed his principles of "organic" Architecture to create this structure. The Martin House - 1930's early California style architecture compliments the owners' collection of early California art. Frank Lloyd Wright's five-structure Darwin D. Martin House Complex is one of his most notable Prairie House designs and is now under restoration. Frank Lloyd Wright's greatest "Prairie House," the five-structure Darwin Martin House Complex, designed and built 1903-1905 in the great city of Buffalo, New York. The Della Walker residence, Carmel, California: Scenic Road at Martin Street Carmel, California 93921 Architect Frank Lloyd Wright Subscribers - login to skip ads Location Carmel, California Date 1948 Building Type house Construction System bearing masonry, stone Climate mild Context beach side Notes S.306. on beach The little "cabin on the rocks" - the Della Walker residence, 1951. If you haven't seen it as you've driven down the coast, you may have seen it in the 1959 movie, "A Summer Place". Built for $125,000, with an addition designed by Wright after the Walkers moved in in 1956, the house was one of Wright's favorites. Distinguished by its stone terrace that juts out into Monterey Bay, the large stone chimney/ fireplace and the blue metal cantilevered roof, and the bank of windows. Two materials have graced the living room roof, porcelain enamel, and copper. It is necessarily cantilevered from the masonry core so that no weight rests on the corbelling bands of glass. These windows block a direct breeze, but admit a gentle current of air. The master bedroom has been enlarged." Bixby Estate Bixby Ocean House Located 12 miles south of Carmel, California Frank Lloyd Wright "Every great architect is-necessarily-a great poet. He must be a great original interpreter of his time, his day, his age." Frank Lloyd Write. Cottage in the Woods - The 1920's home of Carmel artist Evelyn Calder cleverly remodeled to provide maximum light, space, and privacy among the trees. The Spare House - Built in 1925 and remodeled to remind its owners of their New England roots and the Cape Cod houses of the 18th century. The Carl Cherry Center for the Arts - A home created for the arts in the '30's, now a gallery and theater reflecting the Bohemian spirit of past and present Carmel painters and writer. Scenic Masterpiece - Frank Lloyd Wright's perfect blending of structure and environment, a home that becomes one with rock and water. Frank Lloyd Wright was one of the most original American architects of the 20th century. His buildings and ideas have affected the way offices and homes are designed and organized today. Wright's willingness to look to various cultures for inspiration allowed him to develop a unique style. Wright believed in the power that good design has to make people more aware and respectful of their surroundings and of nature. Wright designed office buildings, houses, neighborhoods, public buildings, churches, and museums. He designed about 800 buildings. Of the 380 that were built, about 280 are still standing. The influence of his 1901 Coined "Prairie style" of architecture (emphasizing the use of interior light and open spaces in low, earth-hugging buildings) and "Usonian" home design to American residential architecture in homes across the country. Prairie style houses usually have these features: Low-pitched roof, Overhanging eaves, Horizontal lines, Central chimney, Open floor plan, Rows of small windows, One-story projections "A Usonian house is always hungry for the ground, lives by it, becoming an integral feature of it." Frank Lloyd Wright. The Usonian designs is that the houses should "spring from the ground and into the light." Each Usonian was different, fine-tuned to the site. Wright hated basements and they certainly weren't part of the Usonian plan, which used a concrete floor mat laid over gravel and hot-water pipes as a source of radiant heating. Frank Lloyd Wright gave us much in his life: June 8, 1867 - April 9, 1959 The road that runs north along the coast is Scenic Drive. It is a lovely way to see the Carmel Coastline and views of Pebble Beach. One of Frank Lloyd Wright's houses is on the cliff on the right. Robinson Jeffer's Tor House can be seen on the left side. It is a stone house with a stone tower. Tours are available on Friday and Saturday by reservation only. (12 rooms are open to view). Houses Along World Famous Seventeen Mile Drive Map of Seventeen Mile Drive - Near to Carmel, CA. Pebble Beach Golf Course and Country Club on 17 Mile Drive Famous Gold Course along Seventeen Mile Drive WORLD FAMOUS 17 MILE DRIVE 17-Mile Drive: Began in 1881 as Pacific Improvement Company route for horse-drawn excursions for tourists from Del Monte Lodge along the coast to Carmel Mission; in 1919 Samuel FB Morse, grandnephew of the inventor of the Morse Code, developed Pebble Beach from the Del Monte Forest part of the route and now 17-mile drive name is used for scenic toll road through the area. SFB Morse Botanical Preserve honors Morse's preservation of the forest. World famous 17 mile drive is a private toll road and is located throughout the Pebble Beach and Del Monte Forest area of Carmel. It is one of the most beautiful sights to visit, with the landscapes of land and sea meeting each other in rocky magnificence. Within this area are world class golf courses, such as the Pebble Beach Golf Links, The Links at Spanish Bay,and Spyglass Hill Golf Course. Also to be seen is one of California's most photographed trees, the Lone Cypress. Many vantage stops are on the 17 mile drive with vistas that make you just gasp in awe. Lone Cypress Point Along 17 Mile Drive Address: Pebble Beach, California Phone: 1 831 647-7500 Directions: Located in-between Carmel-by-the-Sea and Pacific Grove, with entrances in both towns. This drive, is one of the highlights of the Monterey Peninsula. From promontories such as Rubicon Point in D.L. Bliss State Park you can see over one hundred feet into the depths of Lake Tahoe, CA.. From the crest of Eagle Falls in Emerald Bay State Park, you can see a brilliant panorama of Emerald Bay, Fannette Island, Lake Tahoe, CA., and the distant Nevada shore. The Carson and Tahoe Lumber and Fluming Company (1873-1947) Duane Leroy Bliss: The Carson and Tahoe Lumber and Fluming Company was organized in 1873 with Duane L. Bliss as president and general manger and H.M. Yerington, D.O. Mills and J.A. Rigby as stockholders. It was probably the largest and most extensive lumber operation serving the mines of the Comstock. At its peak of operation, holdings included 50,000 acres of timber at Lake Tahoe and Lake Valley, three mills at Glenbrook, two steamers two logging railroads, logging camps, and a narrow gauge railroad. It operated several flumes to transport lumber down the mountain to the railroad depots and also maintained a box factory in Carson City. D.L. Bliss State Park is named for a pioneering lumber man, railroad owner, and banker of the region. His family donated 744 acres to the State Park system in 1929. The nucleus of Emerald Bay State Park, including Vikingsholm, was given to the State by Placerville lumber man Harvey West in 1953. May 30, 1959 Harvey West Senior Created and donated Harvey West Park 326 Evergreen Street Santa Cruz, CA. Harvey West Stanta Cruz Park D.L. Bliss died in 1906 and H.M. Yerington died in 1910. They were succeeded by their sons, W.S. Bliss and E.B. Yerington, who remained with the company until the late 1920s. The Carson and Tahoe Lumber and Fluming Company was dissolved in 1947. Thank you! Special thanks to Gladys M Hosking, Placerville, CA. (January 19, 1907 - June 1989) and Lumberman, Philamperist Harvey E. West Senior (1894 Soquel, California, - 1979) Founded: Placerville Lumber Company 1936. Harvey West Park, 326 Evergreen St, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 PMD
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