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July 13, 1988
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13777 FRUITVALE AVENUE. • SARATOGA. CALIFORNIA 95070
(408) 867 -3438
Mr. and Mrs. Cross Missakian
20150 Bonnie Brae Lane
Saratoga, CA 95070
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Missakian:
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
Karen Anderson
Martha Clevenger
Joyce Hlava
David Moyles
Donald Peterson
The Saratoga Heritage Preservation Commission has recently
completed a comprehensive Inventory of historic resources in our
community. We are pleased to notify you that your residence at
20150 Bonnie Brae Lane meets the criteria for being included on
this list.
The purpose of the Heritage Resource Inventory is to establish a
list of documented historic properties in Saratoga. The Heritage
Preservation Commission was assigned the responsibility for
preparing the Inventory by the City Council in 1982. Each
property on the list has been identified as reflecting and being a
part of the unique history of Saratoga. The Inventory has been
prepared in accordance with guidelines established by the State
Office of Historic Preservation, with data gathered from a
variety of sources, including historic documents and books,
interviews with local citizens, and existing county and state
inventories that contain information on Saratoga properties.
Being listed on the Inventory does not carry any form of special
requirements 'or restrictions affecting the use, improvement,
alteration or even the demolition of your property. As an
Inventory property, however, you will be able to make use of the
State Historic Building Code, an alternative set of building
regulations that are intended to facilitate the rehabilitation and
preservation of historic buildings. In addition, your property
may qualify for designation as a Saratoga Heritage Landmark, a
special category of outstanding and exemplary historic properties
that are identified in the community by a handsome bronze plaque.
We have enclosed the entire Inventory list and the individual
Inventory form for your property, which gives information about
the building, the property and its history. We would appreciate
your review of this form to let us know if there are any changes
or additions to the form you wish to include. We also anticipate
that there are additional historic resources in the community that
we may have overlooked or have not fully documented yet; if you
know of any that are not on the list, please let us know.
If you have any questions, please direct them to the Commission
through Valerie Young, our staff person at City Hall (867- 3438).
One of the Commissioners will be happy to meet with you to discuss
the Inventory and answer any questions you may have.
Sincerely,
Members of the Heritage Preservation Commission
Elizabeth Ansnes
Roy Cameron
Norm Koepernik
Shar Vandsness
Bar a oester,
Warren Heid, Chai)tman
HISTORIC RESOURCES INVENTORY ( #16)
IDENTIFICATION
1. Common name: James Richards House
2. Historic name: None
3. Street or rural address: 20150 Bonnie Brae Lane
City: Saratoga Zip: 95070 County: Santa Clara
4. Parcel number: 517 -22 -048
5. Present Owner: C. & M. Missakian Address: 20150 Bonnie Brae Lane
City: Saratoga
Ownership is: Public:
6. Present Use: Residence
Zip: 95070
Private: X
Original Use: Residence
DESCRIPTION
7a. Architectural style: Craftsman Bungalow
7b. Briefly describe the present physical appearance of the site or
structure and describe any major alterations from its original
condition:
This is a one -story Craftsman bungalow with a wood - pillared front
porch across about 1/3 of the front and wrapping around the left
side of the house. This porch leads to a small wing containing the
entrance. The house features a clipped gable roof of composition
shingles and a small gable over the entry. The house is clad in
horizontal lap siding and appears to have original wood sash
windows. It also features a creek stone chimney. The house sits
well back from a private road in undeveloped grounds.
(photograph here)
8. Construction date:
Estimated: 1910
Factual:
9. Architect: Unknown
10. Builder: Unknown
11. Approx. prop. size
Frontage:
Depth:
approx. acreage: 1.615
12. Date(s) of enclosed
photograph(s): 1988
13. Condition: Excellent: Good: X Fair: Deteriorated:
No longer in existence:
14. Alterations:
15. Surroundings: (Check more than one if necessary)
Open land: X Scattered buildings: X Densely built -up:
Residential: X Industrial: Commercial: Other:
16. Threats to site: None known: X Private development:
Vandalism: Public Works project: Other:
17. Is the structure: On its original site? X Moved?
18. Related features:
Zoning:
Unknown?
SIGNIFICANCE
19. Briefly state historical and /or architectural importance (include dates,
events, and persons associated with the site).
This house was built for James T. Richards, a charter member of the
Saratoga Mens Club, a founder of the Madronia Cemetery District and
chairman of the Saratoga Federated Church building committee. His
original house was located on a part of his land that he sold to
Senator Phelan for Villa Montalvo; hence the need to construct this
house. Mr. Richards' first wife was chairman of the committee which
raised funds to build the Village Library. His second wife was a
friend of the architect, Julia Morgan; Morgan, however, did not play a
part in the design of the house.
20. Main theme of the historic resource:
(If more than one is checked, number
in order of importance.)
Architecture: X Arts /Leisure:
Economic /Industrial:
Exploration /Settlement:
Government: Military:
Religion: Social /Ed.:
21. Sources (List books, documents,
surveys, personal interviews and
their dates).
Interview with Melita Oden, 5/19/81.
22. Date form prepared: 4/88
By (name): SHPC
Organization: City of Saratoga
Address: 13777 Fruitvale Avenue
City: Saratoga Zip: 95070
Phone: 867 -3438
Locational sketch map (draw and label site and
surrounding streets, roads, and prominent landmarks):
NORTH
408- 867 -4311
The Saratoga Historical Foundation
Saratoga Historical Museum
Post Office Box 172, Saratoga, califomia 95071
November NEWSLETTER 1988
Next meeting:
Monday, November 21, 1988
Time and place: 8 p.m., Community Room, Saratoga Library
Saratoga Avenue at Fruitvale Avenue
Speaker: Sara Holmes Boutelle
Topic: "Julia Morgan, Architect"
The Saratoga Historical Foundation is privileged to have as
a speaker, Sara Holmes Boutelle, author of the recently published
book, "Julia Morgan, Architect ".
Boutelle was a teacher of art and architecture at Brearly School
in New York when she visited Hearst's San Simeon Castle while on a
trip to California in 1972, and discovered it had been designed by
an architect she had never heard of. Impressed by what she saw,
Boutelle set out to learn more about this extraordinary San Francisco
woman and found that no books had been written on Morgan and there
was little source material on her life and works.
She became obsessed with the project of accumulating information,
and ultimately left New York and her job there and moved to
California to carry on research for a book. Now, 16 years later,
while also serving as an instructor at U.C. Santa Cruz, Boutelle
has produced the first full- length biography of America's foremost
woman architect.
Saratoga takes pride in having several buildings designed by
Julia Morgan, namely, the Saratoga Foothill Club, built in 1915,
and the original church (now the chapel) of the Saratoga Federated
Church, built in 1923, as well as a number of private residences.
Morgan probably received the commissions here as a result of her
friendship with the late Grace Fisher Richards, of Saratoga, who
was a sorority sister of hers at U.C. Berkeley in the 1890's. and
was active of the boards of the Foothill Club and Federated Church
as well as on the state YWCA Board. The latter fact probably
accounts for the Morgan designs of the Oakland YWCA, and other
YWCA buildings throughout the state and in Honolulu, as well as the
"Y" Conference grounds in Pacific Grove now known as Asilomar.
Boutelle's book will be available for sale at the meeting,
for $55.00 plus tax.
Dues for the 1988 -89 season became due in September.
If you have not already paid, you may do so at the November meetiing.
We hope current members will renew their memberships and invite
their friends to join. Membership in the SHF helps to support
the Saratoga Historical Museum, and the collection, preservation
and documentation of historical material.
MEETINGS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC, FREE OF CHARGE
Please invite your friends