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Home My WebLink AboutMONTALVO ROAD 15400HISTORIC RESOURCES INVENTORY ( #36) IDENTIFICATION 1. Common name: Villa Montalvo 2. Historic name: Villa Montalvo 3. Street or rural address: 15400 Montalvo Road City: Saratoga Zip: 95070 County: Santa Clara 4. Parcel number: 517 -15 -012, 013 5. Present Owner: Montalvo Association Address: P.O. Box 158 City: Saratoga Zip: 95070 Ownership is: Public: Private: X 6. Present Use: Art gallery /cultural center Original Use: Residence DESCRIPTION 7a. Architectural style: Italian villa 7b. Briefly describe the present physical appearance of the site or structure and describe any major alterations from its original condition: This house is a large two -story mansion in the Italianate style, constructed of stucco with a red tile roof. The central wing is marked by three large windows on the ground floor, set behind stucco arches, above which open smaller windows onto a loggia with a masonry balustrade. Two flanking wings have porticoes supported by Ionic columns. The right portico is the main entrance to the house; it features a massive oak door, said to come from a palace in Grenada, Spain. The house sits in extensive grounds, and is sited to enjoy views of the grounds falling away to the east. There is a broad terrace across the front of the house, at the bottom of which is the main drive, then a double flight of broad stairs leading to a sloping lawn. There are additional structures on the grounds, including a carriage house now used as a theater, and garages and workshops 8. Construction date: Estimated: Factual: 1912 9. Architect: Curlett & Son, John McLaren- landscape 10. Builder: Unknown 11. Approx. prop. size Frontage: Depth: approx. acreage: 177.64 12. Date(s) of enclosed photograph(s): 1988 13. Condition: Excellent: X 14. Alterations: Good: Fair: Deteriorated: No longer in existence: 15. Surroundings: (Check more than one if necessary) Open land: X Scattered buildings: Densely built -up: Residential: X Industrial: Commercial: Other: Arboretum 16. Threats to site: None known: X Private development: Zoning: Vandalism: Public Works project: Other: 17. Is the structure: On its original site? X Moved? Unknown? 18. Related features: Carriage house, arboretum, decorative garden structures SIGNIFICANCE 19. Briefly state historical and /or architectural importance (include dates, events, and persons associated with the site). This house was built in 1912 by James Duval Phelan, a San Francisco banker, three -term progressive mayor of San Francisco and later California's first popularly elected Senator. The house is named for the Spanish fabulist who invented the name 'California'. Phelan used Montalvo as a country home to which he invited political and business associates and especially artists. Among those whose names appear in his guest book, now in the Bancroft Library in Berkeley, are Jack London, Gertrude Atherton, Joaquin Miller and Franklin D. Roosevelt. After Phelan's death, the house became a center for the arts, as Phelan requested. The center maintains a residential artist's retreat program, as well as a gallery and indoor and outdoor theaters which are used for plays, concerts and poetry readings. Santa Clara County maintains the extensive grounds as an arboretum and park. 20. Main theme of the historic resource: (If more than one is checked, number in order of importance.) Architecture: 2 Arts /Leisure: 1 Economic /Industrial: 3 Exploration /Settlement: Government: Military: Religion: Social /Ed.: 21. Sources (List books, documents, surveys, personal interviews and their dates). Santa Clara County Heritage Resource Inventory, 1979. Villa Montalvo Assn. publications. San Jose Mercury News, 2/3/88. 22. Date form prepared: 4/88 By (name): SHPC Organization: City of Saratoga Address: 13777 Fruitvale Ave. City: Saratoga Zip: 95070 Phone: 867 -3438 Locational sketch map (draw and label site and surrounding streets, roads, and prominent landmarks): NORTH 1 ` ORDINANCE NO. HP -2 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SARATOGA DESIGNATING THE PROPERTY KNOWN AS THE VILLA MONTALVO (APN 517 -15- 12,13) AS A HERITAGE RESOURCE The City Council of the City of Saratoga hereby ordains as follows: SECTION 1: After careful review and consideration of the report of the Heritage Preservation Commission, the application and supporting materials the City Council has determined that the findings per Exhibit "B" can be made and hereby designates the property known as the Villa Montalvo as a Heritage.Resource of the City of Saratoga. SECTION 2: This designation shall become operative and take effect thirty (30) days from its date of passage. This ordinance was regularly introduced and after the waiting time requir��l by law was tlereafter passed and adopted this 18th day of April 19 8 by the following vote: AYES: Councilmembers Clevenger and Mallory and Mayor Moyles NOES: None ` . ABSENT: Councilmanbers Callon and Fanelli ABSTAIN: None ATTEST: i CITY CLER 04 0&TaZ19Q)0& 13777 FRUITVALE AVENUE • SARATOGA, CALIFORNIA 95070 (408) 867 -3438 April 16, 1984 Board of Trustees, Montalvo Association c/o Villa Montalvo Montalvo Road Saratoga, CA. 95070 Dear Association Members, On behalf of the Saratoga Heritage Preservation Commission I'd like to take this opportunity to express our very great pleasure in the receipt of your completed Application for Historic Resource Desig nation. We have been able to send on the Application form, with our appropriate findings, to the City Council for their decision. In the case of such a much celebrated historic place like Villa Montalvo, their decision to designate it,.as an Historic Resource is pretty much taken for granted. However, this will present the Commission with another opportunity to show that there are definitely historic structures in the City of Saratoga that are worth the time and effort involved in saving them. Again we'd like to thank you for your co- operation, through our shared associate Warren Heid, who processed your Application. Hopefully, the next few years will bring the designation of other historic structures in Saratoga through places such as Villa Montalvo are rare and we count ourselves very fortunate that Senator Phelan took such a fancy to our lovely area. Sincerely, Sharon D. Landsness Chair - Saratoga Heritage Preservation Commission cc: Commissioners, Mc Arthur, Heid, Cameron -, Henderson, Kvamme, Voester MINUTES SARATOGA CITY COUNCIL TIME: Wednesday, April 4, 1984 - 7:00 p.m. PLACE: Civic Theater, 13777 Fruitvale Avenue TYPE: Regular Meeting I. ORGANIZATION A. ROLL CALL - Councilmembers Clevenger, Fanelli, and Mallory present at 7:02 p.m. Council.member Callon present at 7:03 p.m. Mayor Moyles absent. Councilmember Fanelli presided at the meeting as Mayor Pro Tem. B. MINUTES - 3/21 MALLORY /CLEVENGER MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS SUBMITTED. Passed 3 -0 (Callon, Moyles absent). II. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS Don Salera, 18971 Greenbrook Ct., stated that he was satisfied with the service provided by Green Valley Disposal Co. He favored the proposed rate increase. Frank Bruno also stated that he was satisfied with the disposal service. He believed the City could not obtain comparable service elsewhere for less. Mayor Pro Tem Fanelli read into the record comments which had been telephoned in by those who were unable to attend the meeting. Allan Mills, Mrs. Andre Jaunrubenis, and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Mason opposed the rate increase and Mrs. Sickle supported the increase. Mayor Fanelli noted that the City would keep citizens informed so that garbage service would not be terminated unexpectedly. III. CONSENT CALENDAR A. Denial of Claim - St. John (by Smith) B. Denial of Claim - Engel (by Williams) C. Approval of Memorial Day Parade, 5/28/84 D. Acceptance and Acknowledgment of Donation at Saratoga Ccmnunity Center (Morely) E. Acceptance and Acknowledgment of -Donation at Hakone Garden (Creager, Clark) F. Final Building Site Approval, R. Merwin, 14466 Sobey Road (SDR 1558) G. Treasurer's Report - February H. Approval of Warrant List MALLORY /CLEVENGER MOVED APPROVAL OF ENTIRE CONSENT CALENDAR. Passed 4 -0. IV. SCHEDULED MATTERS A. ADMINISTRATIVE REPORTS - None. B. REPORTS FROM COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES - None. C. JINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS rdinance Designating Villa Montalvo as Heritage Resource CLEV RY 14OVED TO READ 711E ORDINANCE, INCLUDING THE FINDINGS SHOWN IN EXHIBIT B, BY TITLE ONLY, WAIVING FURTHER READING. Passed 4 -0. • CLEVENGER/MALLORY MOVED TO INTRODUCE ORDINANCE AS READ. Passed 4 -0. �� 2. Resolution concerning Girl Scout Leader's Day sponsored by Mayor Moyles Received Z lz-q �g Designation No._ -q Meeting Date Fee (No fee for designation only) CITY OF SARATOGA HERITAGE RESOURCE DESIGNATION /PERMIT APPLICARION FORM I. Identification of Heritage Resource 1 A. Name i 1) Common Name Villa Montalvo 2) Historic Name Villa Montalvo B. Location /Address Montalvo Road, Saratoga, Ca. C. Assessor's Parcel Number D. Use of Site Center for the Arts 1) Original Residence for Senator James D. Phelan E. Present Owner Board of Trustees, Montalvo Association (.Please a ttach..documentation of ownership) 1) Address P -O. Box 158, Saratoga, Ca. 95070 2) Phone Number 867 -3421 3) Public or Private Ownership Private 4) Has Owner been Notified of Application? Yes II. Purpose of Application A. Application for Designation .or Permit? -Designation 1.. If application for permit briefly describe proposal and alterations required. B. Application for Heritage Landmark, Lane or District? Landmark w 1. If application for heritage lane or district please _attach required petitions (Section 6(a) Ord. No. 66). 1 III. Description A. Briefly describe the present physical appearance of the site (including major vegetation features) or structure and describe any existing major alterations from its original condition: Situated on 175 wooded acres the Villa was built by the late Senator James D. Phelan in 1912 as his Auntry home, designed after an.— Italian style villa. The main tiled roof building is "U" shaped, two story in height with .covered porches.and loggias. The Guest Cottage now ouses artists -in- residence and the Carriage House is a theatre and exhibit hall. Recently a pavillon was constructed between the villa and carriage house. B. Architectural Style Italian villa or mediterranean C. Year of Construction 1912 D. Name of Architect or Builder Wm.. ,Curlett' &' Chas. Gottschalk E. Approximate property size in feet (please attach legal description if available) 1) Frontage See attached map 2 ) Depth 3) Approximate Acreage 175 acres F. Condition of Structure and /or Site (circle one): 1) Excellent 2) Fair .3) Deteriorated G. Is structure altered or unaltered? Minor alterations at interior. H. Secondary structures on site. Describe. Carriage House - wood frame and siding, octagonal in shape Guest Cottage - Italian vil.la style built with villa for appearance Pavillon - built in 1979 as meeting hall with style.to complement villa I. Is this the original site or has the structure been moved> Original site 2 J. Photo (Date Taken: ur�munuur- - -- IV. Significance 1'l 9:i. ) Location Ma V V' Los 1r? " !4or N T W z, (Label site and surrounding streets roads and prominent landmarks) A. Briefly describe historical and /or architectural importance of the resource (include dates, events and persons associated with the site): Fine example of Italian villa style and maintained by Phelan Trust by Board of Trustees of Montalvo Assoc. Many historic figures including Jack London, Gertrud Atherton, Edwin Markham, George Sterling, Ruth Comfort Mitchel, and Kathleen Norris were friends of the senator. (See National Reg. (Attach sheet if more space required) appi ica ion) B. List sources used to determine historical value (i.e. books, documents, surveys, personal interviews and their dates): Saratoga's First 100 years, Florence Cunningham (Harlan -Young Press) 1967 James Duval Phelan, A Portrait, Dorothy Kaucher, (Skyline Pub.) 1965 Adventures of a Novelist, Gertrude Atherton C. Does this site/structure have a county, state or federal historical landmark designation? National Re i stry of Historic Places 0 I�av 1 , 1978 V. Form submitted by: 1) Name Warren B. Heid; Member, Board of Trustees and Chairman, Bldg, and Grd. Co; 2) Address 14630 Big Basin Way, Saratoga Ca 95070 3) Phone Number 867 -9365 4) or Saratora Heritage Preservation Commission I M P O R T A N T Prior to submitting an application for heritage resource designation or permit application to alter such a resource, the following should be read carefully. h I, the applicant, understand that by applying for a permit to alter such a resource that the site of this resource will be subject to the limitations and provisions of Ordinance No. 66. I also agree that these limitations and provisions will be complied with as well as any conditions upon which the application is anted. In witness whereof, I here unto set my hand this 9 h d y f February 19 84'. Signature Print Name Warren B. Heid Address 14630 Big Basin Way, Saratoga, Ca. 95070 Phone: Residence 867 -4.667 Business 867 -9365 . VI. Recommendation of Commission to (circle one): City Council Planning Com.^iission /Community Development Department A. The Heritage Preservation Commission is for against the proposed designation permit application. B. Comments: "The Commission is delighted to have the Villa Montaivo as the second application for a Heritage Resource Designation. We feel fortunate to have this structure in our community ". 4 C. Findings: "This fine example of Italian Villa style architecture has .been preserved intact as constructed in 1912 by Senator Phelan and is now enjoyed as a cultural.center of the arts. It is a stately structure worthy of this designation ". 5 Si n Chairman. of Heritage Preservation Commission '8 SOUTH- RANGE 2 WEST 67 US 300 294 Pm . 2976 z PC 34 317-M -54 r. 3 5 RD.- --- odes o", . Esl4 'a C4 c. SERENDI -' "y LANE 551SY5 274319 7067 177 14 13 rl 1 172 -) .41-29AC 57.06 AT 26 f 163.6E # 11')0.64 (IL-CA) :d Is ?C /,c. , ti %4 �l 6.39Ac i"! 42.05 AC.t tit- In -4': i1 7 L-1 5 yz HILL VILA. MONTALVO 12 1368 10 25 20 6.5-1 A, 04 2 7" 7.zaAc, uio!i CT, I I 0 J J. - - - - — - - - -- - - MONTALVO ZAN F@4NLI;Q Al2- -A-550CIAnoN -mal=-, t�E" 1F7 7xiL. 9 —JR A ..... . . . . . .; J .-ff,L A.. Z-AY .; J i 'DLO LOOM —' - � ,,; - ,'p /Fr>rL I j F —w•J/ -O 7 u D/ a Ll i as Y 3� � ^i f �.• �eo QGOrr 1 � � � � �ci•r � Cc0 .0 .ate �/_ � , �I 09y � j r n. h Dwcrre i }- I Gvc 57 yo C — _:-/N.!/A �.BC THREE 5.T.U:OI- 05_=:i'r it ,f FOUR 5TUOI05 F[ o o e A L s u s- .�- -�' �. � .i l,' ..L ...i .V - r �. �..� .•.Ser .� �y�s � S �a:.l+.r,{ t� � - LT:'4EC!a�e � ,Y: +. rA1 Y_.+Z �� '� - N•- -- -- -- � �, ,. r` .-- �,'R�F,� � smcn.nncuususci� Form No 10 -3DO 10-741 lRe� UNITED STATES DLI'ARI _ :NT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE FOR ei USE ONLY NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES RECEIVED INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM DATE ENTERED SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- COMPLETE APPLICABLE SECTIONS OEM Rj NAME _ HISTORIC villa I•iontGlvo AND /OR COMMON i�, ont "lvo Center For The Arts ff"LOCATION = STREET& NUMBER 14800 1` +O_lt-L _l o Road _NOT FOR PUBLICATION CITY. TOWN S„r utC` �.•� G CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT _ VICINITY OF STATE n CODE Q5070 C-,1 _i= cr__ia COUNTY -a_t,� Clar`CODE CLASSIFICATION CATEGORY OWNERSHIP STATUS PRESENT USE =:—DISTRICT X PUBLIC ._OCCUPIED _AGRICULTURE _MUSEUM — BUILDINGIS) _PRIVATE _UNOCCUPIED _COMMERCIAL, X -PARK — STRUCTURE _BOTH _WORK IN PROGRESS ?._EDUCATIONAL :PRIVATE RESIDENCE —SITE PUBLIC ACQUISITION ACCESSIBLE ENTERTAINMENT _RELIGIOUS _OBJECT _IN PROCESS X —YES: RESTRICTED _GOVERNMENT _SCIENTIFIC _BEING CONSIDERED _YES: UNRESTRICTED _INDUSTRIAL _TRANSPORTATION _NO _MILITARY _OTHER r`r u OWNER OF PROPERTY NAME ne l,fcntalvo Association STREET& NUMBER P.O. Box 158, CITY. TOWN STATE Ser. ` _ ^ 95370 _ c:, l.0 ;G VICINITY OF �'� -liI C'_'n1a. , LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION COURTHOUSE. REGISTRY OF DEEDS,ETC. S--'! nta Clara County Reco -rd Er 1 £ 0i i Ce STREET& NUMBER 70 ,Yes t Hedairr; _Street CITY. TOWN STATE San REPRESENTATION IN EXISTING SURVEYS TITLE Santa Clara Count;- Hcrita.;e Co- _iss_cn survey 1973 DEPOSITORY FOR ✓ SURVEYRECORDS _.FEDERAL _STATE COUNTY LOCAL CITY. TOWN STATE DESCRIPTION CONDITION CHECK O(E CHECK ONE `_EXCELLENT _DETERIORATED _UNALTERED 7.ORIGINAL SITE _GOOD _RUINS X-ALTERED _MOVED DATE _FAIR _UNEXPOSED DESCRIBE THE PRESENT AND ORIGINAL (IF KNOWN) PHYSICAL APPEARANCE Villa liontalvo was carefully sited between t1:o- creeks on a slo -pin- ride that allot. :ed a 2000 ft. North -South al.is of - ;arder_s ter :inn in Carden structures of architectural ir:portance, frith ovc„,i errs of the Santa Clara Valle- at one end and the steep wooded hillsides at the other. The 177 acre setting in the foothills of the Coast =Lange gives co-plete Dr_ivacy for the Villa wnc. hardens. The i-_Iediate surroundin7s are residential estates alon the one -half : ile entrance roads. ay frog: the Los Gatos-. c road. Three oriUinal entrance Cates lead to an Italian style Villa, of the t% e J, outside rajor Itali =n cities. Both the house and the r-arde,s are fcr':al in Chi :.cter an , dc'si`ned for entertainin -. The relati onCni n bets -:een the house and zardens is very close. The scale of the bur lci n ic lar„e 1,,ith a s :r--netrical plan. The _.,, jor rco::s of the house opcn onto spacious terraces and courtyards. An outdoor -'ar6en theatre is an tant f e ..'Lure of the architectural co.:_plex. Villa i•iOntalvo can be re.-ardea� as a tj'piCal country 120Use of the 2011-h Centur':' - -cif oversize- version of t ie JGCG Lion ho_i-e we .o.: toda,:r. Y The house is L- shaped with a L01.:1011-' cents 1 with n-s of 1LL1. L al bloc-!,:, 1 :i � 1:i__ , ?L' L8' . A_ extenFed Servin- Win, is 3':':60' . Area of 'he� first floor is 71820 sc. ft. Covered parches a_no. Loz7ias have an area of 273r-o Sc. ft. The foundations are rein_orced concrete; base:_ent are concrete bri c_. veneer. ine ul .-,rjer ;;ails are 2 111:0" :rood std 1,,i tl. el:tericr shecl___n� and Stucco. The interior finish is r_ypsu_m plaster. The r_'^ :1n,, is ccncrCte on the first floor with 1•rcod frc_.e above. The central roof is hi" �?e ' . the with a tile gable roof over the Servicc 1'11 in.. CovcreG porches have le:'el, built up rCCfin".. Cv•crhan:;in` eaves Cf tile roofs are Open, �,,ith e.-posed rafters a:ul Cutters. T SIGNIFICANCE C, PERIOD AREAS OF SIGNIFICANCE -- CHECK AND JUSTIFY BELOW _PREHISTORIC --ARCHEU LUG Y- PREHISTORIC _COMMUNITY PLANNING _LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE _1400.1499 —ARCHEOLOGY-HISTORIC — CONSERVATION _LAW X_ —1500-1599 ___AGRICULTURE _ECONOMICS LITERATURE _1600 -1699 JLARCHITECTURE — EDUCATION _MILITARY _1700.1799 X—ART _ENGINEERING `_MUSIC _RELIGION — SCIENCE _SCULPTURE v SOCIAL/HUMANITARIt THEATER Y 1B00.1 V9,911+ _COMMERCE — EXPLORATION /SETTLEMENT _PHILOSOPHY _TRANSPORTATION _1900- _COMMUNICATIONS _INDUSTRY X_POLITICS /GOVERNMENT _OTHER (SPECIFY) _INVENTION SPECIFIC DATES 1912- 10/14 BUILDER /ARRHITECTWII. Corlett; ..Charles G6tts STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE Viila i•Iontalvo, conceived by the late Scn4LOr Jades D. Phelan frith b; t.iiliC� Corlett a':C Cpl rleS E. Gott °CI7al': Of San "raiCiSCO. It desir-7^ed for the lar,;e scale entertaining- o.- his friends visitors. _�e vas I-layor of San Francisco .'r'1en it vas built, and by e'_ler�Ell:eC "iCi_'� nternGt! oral Il"ures, p-rticularly these i.'I:C CG_ SE� F_ w ncisco iii 1915 for the Pa:a•_a- Pacific E: -jositien. ex: ZMAJOR EIBLIO RAPHICAL REFERENCES C ll_�v• 2-!tures of a i:o;rclist� Gertrude Atherton; Ja. -'es Duval PhelL2,, A Portrait, Dorothy Kaucheri Skyline Publication: S4rato?a'c First 100 Years, Florence CunninChaj Harlan-YounC Press. 1' MIGEOGRAPHICAL DATA ACREAGE OF NOMINATED PROPERTY 177 UTM REFERENCES Al , I "_ I I I I I I I I . I I I 1 B1, 1 r 1 1 1 1 1 ZONE EASTING NORTHING DONE EASTING NORTHING CL._LJIItIItIIIIIIIII DtLjII �jit1IIII1 VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION All that certain property situated at 1 -800 1 ontalvo S� :rato -a Cr'liforr_ia knoim as I'Vi 71a. Ho _ntalvor', consistin;- of 177 ares ::ore o: less, at the eff of Iiontslvo Roa %� ApTrcxi .ately on?-half mile southerly fro_- its intersecticn with Los vatos- Saratoga Road. LIST ALL STATES AND COUNTIES FOR PROPERTIES OVERLAPPING STATE OR COUNTY BOUNDARIES STATE CODE COUNTY CODE STATE CODE COUNTY CODE FORM PREPARED BY Chester A. Root, FAIA; Pest President, Sant. NAME /TITLE Clara Vallee C?; 1Jter A-.:erican Institute of Architects Re c,un b-,r the late Ch_suer root- co_=leted b-r Jcle Crall ?e�. D'- ;er•s' ORGANIZATION o;_'_1 tee1I for the .,ontalvo Association DATE 14 ';ovP --her 1027 STREET &NUMBER TELEPHONE 21 i;'orth Seta Cruz Avenue 351 -1212 35"L -3161 CITY OR TOWN STATE Los Gatos C_l_fornia 95030 ®STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER CERTIFICATION THE EVALUATED SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS PROPERTY WITHIN THE STATE IS: NATIONAL _ STATE LOCAL As the designated State Historic Preservation Officer for the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89 -665). 1 hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Register and certify that it has been evaluated according to the criteria and procedures set forth by the National Park Service, STATE HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICER SIGNATURE TITLE DATE H rvrJ U5t UNLT I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS PROPERTY IS INCLUDED IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER DATE �..,vn, Urrsv,t Ur-,KNt_ /tULUL3T ANU "IJIUHIL rtitStHVATIDN ATTEST: DATE nttrtH Ur I HE NATIONAL REGISTER GPO 892.45 I Form No 10.300a ` (Nev 10.74) \ \ \\ UNITED STATES DI-PART MEN-7 UE THE INTERIOR FOR NPS USE ONLY NATIONAL PARK SERVICE RECEIVED NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES INVEN'TORY -- NOMINATION FORM IDATE ENTERED CONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER 7 PAGE 2 The lc-.?er court is enclosed by vin;-s of the house. It has center ...arb: fountain anc: a lar;,e bronze ?all fountain with its historical plaque relatin- the origin c' ": ontalvo i1 as a name. This fountain_ is flar'x:ed byr a pair of ntal stairs leadin7 to a Garden Court. Thi s upper court i s.•e.ncicscd by trellis-,d colonnades and a pavilion. Bac':in-- up to the Garden Court is an a-.- mhithectre acco_�-:oca.tin- 500 people; the seatin 'ol-lows up the hillside an-r, is surrounded by- a circle of liffen trees that borCer the natural wooded elopes above. The Bain House is the central ele tent of an overall desir gn of builei n- s Inc grounds. AcceLsory- structures include: Carriar -e :Ouse tx 641 OCta Orval ;apace 1 ?ith Center turntable, r_0�7 a 2�- -e--- t the�trt Guest T ouse A ..ulti -level bui lain- with guest apart:-:e�ts t:•hi ch open to a ;;e_ erously prono- ^ticncd StUC.;i o c0'.''_tainin` a s 11 Cta—e. cui -oture Studio A picturesoue thatched roof s. --all building-. Ter_rle one r ectw2" -ula,- E-,nd one circular, are focal points of r- ar0- -n a::is. Both are classic in style. Buil('Iin-s ar:_) C"ounds re::'ai n substantially in their orizinal conc;i .L. -- as d.esiCned. The si:ay ;.rear period since it ?as co:- r_lete6 h:=.s allo—' d. for the -ro+ ?th of - ny tree° e -nd.. speci- -.ine shrubs, So that the ba.rre_n hillsca'oe -is Greatly c1_an;,ed. It is : =in a ned as an A�„boretu:: b the Par': and ReCrea.ti Cn L'epa.r c::ent C?' Sant:_ Clara; County'. C,n11;r e; h`-,,e been ::i-:6c in the buil(in -s a:-1C. - a:rc,e E to acco::-o0atc t eir use as a cultural center Cpe1 to the public. Alterations and additions ' ude: pool - fillcc. in becLuce of t1_C i:mcsSibillt;' 0= G't,--er� _ ;i s_on has C1 rsated a rC c:_ court o_ consl. e-- Jle bc�..Uty. L Li br.r;;' - CO�tVGr- ^:� �C art 7a:ller;�. vCreened pOrC1:, �— ' Side - replaced 1' `, Mass; no arch= tectu"ol c::;e, Scco_.d floor =6 Guest .'_Ouse - converter. to an_ a_- t::ents for resi cents. r_o t terrace anO.. base:::ent - ne;? - !ate.-proofed concrete an,:, . brie'_: p"v_-::en c-nc:. r pa_i r of s t r u c ire bclo;,: . i;c,.. Stec _ on :; -st e-_ , o- te_ ra:ce - co.-Zor:_i n` to arch_tectura_1 detc_1 Foim No 10.300a tHev 10.741 c. UNIi ED Si RTES DEPARTMENT O1= THE INTERIOR FOR NIPS USE ONLY NATIONAL PARK SERVICE RECEIVED NATIONAL REGISTER OF I3ISTORIC PLACES INVENTORY -- NOMINATION FORM IDATE ENTERED CONTI NUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER H PAGE 1 liontalvo was th,: country residence of ha for_:er na;yor of San Francisco Due to its 60 rule distance fro-: San F ancisco it beca -e the place of Covern:ient for consi de�•able periods ofrti: e. ForeiCn dirle- ats came duri nC the Panama Pacific Lnternati oval EXpositicr_; Franlrlin D. Rcose• velt spoke at the 1 "il1a; Willia,.: Jennings Bryar_ -and Ethel rarr5 ^::are were aa. :onC scores of guests lavishly entertained by Phelan. The Zuestbook, now in the Bancroft Library at the University of Califernir contains cartoons, poetry and drm-in -s by celebrities aria friends. The = :usical develor: ent at lonta.lvo continues unc'er the direction of M uric Festival Co__r:ittee. Yehuc;i 1`er_uhin and Adolph Baller have perfcr.:ed at l or_talve a,~:('. the present Director is the intern: ticnally l zo; _n co: pc�:er- conductor Geor��e 3ara.ti. Ilusi c education in special wor _shops is offered. Co-:-;osers are encouraged to annly for the Artist -in- Residence facilities aria. are Given the opr.ortuanit;r to perfor:: for the public. Free proCrwis inclue e recitals and outdoor concerts by tl -.e United S.:a.tes Ar,_y Band. Debuts of orir-inal chw:ber orchestral �:orl.s, li nt opera perfor :antes in the =phithea-_tre and ballet in the C4rriare' House - these are only a sanpling of the vari ec :'_uEical offeri_1 of lt0_7� 1 tal`v'o• Jar:es Du „7al Phelan's contributions as a hu:::anitarian include this bequest frc:. his :;ill: "I would li"Ic the property at SaratoCa, C lifornia known as Villa 11ontalvo, to be -- aintained as,a public park open to the public under re sorable restrictions, the buildinZs and - rounds i-:�.�ediately surroundinL the sa:.:e to be used ac far as possible for the 6evelon�:er_t Of art, literature, nusic an6 architecture by prc- .i__-inC Stu6entc.1t his philar:throph�r included University of Californiaschol`rships ;;enerous gilts to San Francisco Art Associa.ti en, Protestant Catholic and Je %aish orphanag e�, the purchase or a Stn ra:cisco� play,rroun6, r1o��u:ents in Golden Gate Parr;, - 1edi.caly research Grants anc the establis_ =_ent of the James D. Phelan F oundat i on for "charitabl purposes”. Prc'-re =ac at ::oritalvo toc'ay include Classes in the Tts a resident theatrical c=-oanv, three art galleries anC. fund-raisin- acti vi ties by :-ore than 250 volunteers who ;:Tor', to carry out the previsions of Senator Phelan'-- till. STATE OF CALIFORNIA —THE RESOURCES AGENCY EDMUND G. BROWN JR.. Governor DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION P.O. BOX 2790 e SACRAMENTO 95811 u May 16, 1978 (916) 4454006 Jole Crall 21 N. Santa Cruz Ave: 6 Los Gatos, CA 95030 Villa Montalvo 14800 Montalvo Rd. Saratoga, CA The National Register of Historic Places Program is administered in California by the State Office of Historic Preservation. The property indicated above has been submitted for the Register. The State Historical Resources Commission will consider this property and make a judgment as to whether or not it meets the criteria on r at in ❑As the unit of local government containing the property, your comments on the significance of this property would be appreciated no later than one week prior to the next meeting of the State Historical Resources Commission. ❑As your organization has been identified as having an interest in historic preservation in this area, we would appreciate your comments on the significance of the property no later than one week prior to the next meeting of the State Historical Resources Commission. ElThe State Historical Resources Commission recommended the nomination of the property to the National Register. It will be presented to the State Historic Preservation Officer for formal nomination. The final decision will be made by the Keeper of the National Register, U. S. National Park Service, Washington, D.C. 20240. X The property was placed on the National Register May 1, 1978 Placement on the National Register affords a property the honor of inclusion in the nation's official list of cultural resources worthy of preservation and provides a degree of protection from adverse effects resulting from federally funded or licensed projects. Registration provides a number of incentives for preservation of historic properties, including special building codes to facilitate the restoration of historic structures, federally guaranteed loans for the rehabilitating of residential properties, grants for restoration, and certain tax advantages. There are no restrictions placed upon a private property owner with regard to normal use, maintenance, or sale of a property listed in the National Register; however, proposals to demolish registered properties may require a standard review in compliance with local ordinances or the California Environmental Quality Act. In addition, certain provisions of the Tax Reform Act of 1976 relate directly to the demolition and replacement of structures listed in the National Register. Sincerely yours, Dr. Knox Mellon State Historic Preservation Officer DPR 548 (2/78) CITY OF.SARATOGA PLANNING DEPARTMENT IDENTIFICATION CULTURAL RESOURCES INVENTORY INVENTORY # "104 PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN 3 18I (date) Street Address Mho,} \ie) RA ( 9n*a1Ce,�ji <1rC.�'t)O�C�,�.�(�� APN 51`7- 15- U1,.J 1 b1 Historic Name vi 11n mnr4 o�vn Present Owner Moy)4a, y ® A�`50C�OAOY-1 Address �60 X 5,9 v Present Use Ar� CQj�er� I Ca uY'cA �°,in�� Original , Use Pie5� 6enc e, � r �oret�a�• Other Past Uses nPq RTPTTnNi Briefly describe the present physical appearance of the site or structure and describe any major alterations from its original condition: -Ty- 2e fnCt�1c r - - aA, Con yC,;�s ay-)6 beau uL lcanc\scnp \ s a Ury c�(ns 0.Weu cv! J V back. Approximate property size: Lot size (in feet) Frontage Depth or approximate acreage 1 6 Condition (check one): Excellent 1\\,-41 Good ( ) Fair ( ) 2riorated ( ) No longer in existence ( ) Is the feature: Altered?,(') Unaltered? ( ) Location sketch map (draw and label site and surrounding streets, roads, and pro- minent landmarks) Z 1MONTANO Threats to site: None known ( Private Development ( ) Vandalism ( ) Other ( ) Primary exterior building material: Zoning ( ) Public Works Project ( ) Stone ( Brick ( ) Stucco Adobe ( ) Wood ( ) Other ( ) Is the structure: On its original site? ( Moved? ( ) Unknown ( ) Year of initial construction J7— This date is: Factual V) Estimated ( ) Architect (if known ) e--1d , Son Builder ( if known) Related features: Barn ( ) Carriage House ( ) Outhouse ( ) Shed(s) ( ) Formal gardens)) Windmill Watertower /Tankhouse ( ) Other 01,45,cle 4hPc�br, �f-Aa�U",!As None SIGNIFICANCE a Briefly state historical and /or architectural importance (include dates, events, and persons associated with the site when known): -This 1�e�,i ��rre�r,ec�� -, sk�l2 rrianslbr, 0)e -Furmer home oJ' US. Sena -+oy- SameS D� pinelay�, who nGmecl tr,is ez,�a�P o C- 1e r•G. 1(0 t Ce4un� Sl�ani lr, +novel�'��, The. ry-)ni � door o� the You -e, Cc�,N1-e -erorn Gl pxt1AC ea iii C- IM -nCcC L) 5pc& Y-* n vi d oJei� 1 d` ca (�er2. 625�C\ned �y Sbhr� MCLQren, Ttie I�jt��lClincJ is rv,c\iv1> dine c1 05 c`h �� OJ�112vy �nCi aL, jrc-1 Cen�e.r 1D� }he mon� oyn Ctvnel the r0 0yy'1alvo SerV�'Ce C-I -eoup. °ih-e �rt,-Lndt> C"re mc\�Y)�crined a.n CVu�1 -u`S PQr4�5 �� G`c�``�or� wept. Source (books, documents, surveys, p'el�sonal interviews, and their dates): M 979 Scan 5 Form prepared by: �C�nGLA 'ILA Date: 431)?1 O �0 4T Il ®�3B 13777 FRUITVALE AVENUE SARATOGA, CALIFORNIA 95070 0 0� (408) 867 -3438 COUNCIL MEMBERS: Karen Anderson Martha Clevenger July 13, 1988 Joyce Hlava David Moyles Donald Peterson Mr. Gardner McCauley Executive Director Villa Montalvo P. O. Box 158 Saratoga, CA 95070 Dear Mr. McCauley: The Saratoga Heritage Preservation Commission is pleased to inform you that we have recently completed the Heritage Resource Inventory of important historic buildings in Saratoga. As one of Saratoga's Designated Heritage Resources ( #HP -2), Villa Montalvo is automatically included in the Inventory. Enclosed is a list of the entire Inventory 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 your wish to include. If you have any questions, please direct them to the Commission through Valerie Young, our staff person at City Hall (867- 3438). Sincerely, Members of the Heritage Preservation Commission Elizabeth Ansnes Roy Cameron Norm Koepernik SharJ�n Landsness Bar�daA Voester arren Heid, Chairman HISTORIC RESOURCES INVENTORY ( #36) IDENTIFICATION 1. Common name: Villa Montalvo 2. Historic name: Villa Montalvo 3. Street or rural address: 15400 Montalvo Road City: Saratoga Zip: 95070 County: Santa Clara 4. Parcel number: 517 -15 -012, 013 5. Present Owner: Montalvo Association Address: P.O. Box 158 City: Saratoga Zip: 95070 Ownership is: Public: Private: X 6. Present Use: Art gallery /cultural center Original Use: Residence DESCRIPTION 7a. Architectural style: Italian villa 7b. Briefly describe the present physical appearance of the site or structure and describe any major alterations from its original condition: This house is a large two -story mansion in the Italianate style, constructed of stucco with a red tile roof. The central wing is marked by three large windows on the ground floor, set behind stucco arches, above which open smaller windows onto a loggia with a masonry balustrade. Two flanking wings have porticoes supported by Ionic columns. The right portico is the main entrance to the house; it features a massive oak door, said to come from a palace in Grenada, Spain. The house sits in extensive grounds, and is sited to enjoy views of the grounds falling away to the east. There is a broad terrace across the front of the house, at the bottom of which is the main drive, then a double flight of broad stairs leading to a sloping lawn. There are additional structures on the grounds, including a carriage house now used as a theater, and garages and workshops behind the house. (photograph here) 8. Construction date: Estimated: Factual: 1912 9. Architect: Curlett & Son, John McLaren- landscape 10. Builder: Unknown 11. Approx. prop. size Frontage: Depth: approx. acreage: 177.64 12. Date(s) of enclosed photograph(s): 1988 13. Condition: Excellent: X 14. Alterations: Good: Fair: Deteriorated: No longer in existence: 15. Surroundings: (Check more than one if necessary) Open land: X Scattered buildings: Densely built -up: Residential: X Industrial: Commercial: Other: Arboretum 16. Threats to site: None known: X Private development: Zoning: Vandalism: Public Works project: Other: 17. Is the structure: On its original site? X Moved? Unknown? 18. Related features: Carriage house, arboretum, decorative garden structures SIGNIFICANCE 19. Briefly state historical and /or architectural importance (include dates, events, and persons associated with the site).. This house was built in 1912 by James Duval Phelan, a San Francisco banker, three -term progressive mayor of San Francisco and later California's first popularly elected Senator. The house is named for the Spanish fabulist who invented the name 'California'. Phelan used Montalvo as a country home to which he invited political and business associates and especially artists. Among those whose names appear in his guest book, now in the Bancroft Library in Berkeley, are Jack London, Gertrude Atherton, Joaquin Miller and Franklin D. Roosevelt. After Phelan's death, the house became a center for the arts, as Phelan requested. The center maintains a residential artist's retreat program, as well as a gallery and indoor and outdoor theaters which are used for plays, concerts and poetry readings. Santa Clara County maintains the extensive grounds as an arboretum and park. 20. Main theme of the historic resource: (If more than one is checked, number in order of importance.) Architecture: 2 Arts /Leisure: 1 Economic /Industrial: 3 Exploration /Settlement: Government: Military: Religion: Social /Ed.: 21. Sources (List books, documents, surveys, personal interviews and their dates). Santa Clara County Heritage Resource Inventory, 1979. Villa Montalvo Assn. publications. San Jose Mercury News, 2/3/88. 22. Date form prepared: 4/88 By (name): SHPC Organization: City of Saratoga Address: 13777 Fruitvale Ave. .City: Saratoga Zip: 95070 Phone: 867 -3438 Locational sketch map (draw and label site and surrounding streets, roads, and prominent landmarks): NORTH wsr�ot�.•. —. . _1. ik7lWAi 40 1 WeI � � IM. . I z /, -96"4u�a. (408) 741 -3421 F 31'31.,51 Mr. & Mrs Kurt L l D , CALIF. No. 14 rganization , V ester 14251 Sums ?,JaX Saratoga CA 5070 San Jose Mercury News ■ Wednesday, February 3, 1988 • Extra 3 5 History Father and son left rich legacy for Bay Area, state By Mardi Bennett Special to the Mercury News The story of James Phelan Sr. and son proves that "one man can make a difference," especially if he is bright and energetic and has a son molded in his image. The difference they made left a legacy of incalculable value to genera- tions of Northern Californians. The story begins in the 1820s when Irish -born James Phelan ar- rived in the United States at age 6. Later, as a young businessman liv- ing in Cincinnati, he heard of the discovery of gold in California and shipped three cargoes of merchan- dise to San Francisco. He made it to the city in 1849, but only two of the ships bearing his cargo did. Even so, he managed to start a thriving trade in Gold Rush coun- try. James Phelan put much of his profit into San Francisco real es- tate. By 1859, he felt in "sufficient- ly comfortable circumstances" to marry another first - generation Ir- ish woman, Alice Kelly. Their son, James Duval Phelan, was born in 1861. Gaining recognition as an enter- prising merchant of San Francisco, he had built the multi -story Phelan Building in 1860 on land now known as 760 Market St. The land, in 1854, had cost him $6,125. By 1869 he was worth $2 million. When James Phelan Sr. died in 1892, young James took over the family business, the banking firm of Phelan and Son. It included the First National Bank of San Fran- cisco, the First National Bank of San Jose, Mutual Savings in San Francisco, and the Bank of Santa Cruz County, all founded by his father. During the next few years, the man often referred to as "James Phelan's son" established a solid reputation as an able financier. He also became known as an advocate for the arts and as a crusader for the improvement of San Francisco and the reform of its political sys- tem. In 1896 he was elected mayor and remained in office until 1902. During his term he began plans for the Hetch Hetchy water system to provide the city with a dependable supply of water. Immediately after the 1906 earthquake the former mayor was conscripted as the president of the Relief and Red Cross Funds. He added $1 million of his own funds, which was a godsend when it was discovered that the underground vaults of the San Francisco banks were still too hot to handle. Soon after the quake, the Phelan Building was one of the first to be rebuilt. Phelan wanted to prove that what had been destroyed was only the city's shell, that the spirit was still there. Later, he helped initiate the building of the city's impressive City Hall and Civic Center. In 1911 Phelan bought land 50 miles south of San Francisco and began plans to build his dream house: an Italian villa near the foothills between Los Gatos and Saratoga. Its expansive gardens, planned by John McLaren, long- time supervisor of Golden Gate Park, were enhanced by an oval swimming pool, terraces, patios, statues and fountains. After his estate, Villa Montalvo, was completed, Phelan became restless. Believing what he often said — "A statesman is a politician who has been dead for six years" — in 1915 he became the first U.S. senator from California ever elect- ed by popular vote. During the turbulent Washington years before and after World War I, Sen. Phelan honed his skills as an orator and influenced many pieces Mercury News Library The estate of Villa Montalvo in Saratoga, the dream home of Sen. James D. Phelan of legislation. Among others who appreciated this talent was Susan B. Anthony, and her followers in the Women's Suffrage Movement, who were grateful to him for deliv- ering a crucial speech on the con- stitutional amendment allowing women to vote. An insight into the social side of those Washington years was pro- vided by his longtime friend Ger- trude Atherton, who wrote in the autobiographical "Adventures of a Novelist ": "Mr. Phelan's dinners were the most remarkable in Washington. He never invited anyone until the day before, and nothing could in- duce him to change his habit .. . Mr. Phelan occasionally found those he wanted, disengaged, but more often he did not. Then he called up at haphazard, and the consequence was that deadly ene- mies often sat at the same tables — divorcees, political rivals, pro- Allies-pro-Germans. Not that this ever disturbed him!" In 1922, after his senatorial term, Phelan toured China, the Middle East and Eu- rope. He selected many art trea- sures along the way with which to furnish Villa Montalvo, but at the same time he acquired knowledge of the way Europeans and others fostered the arts. For the next few years, numer- ous celebrities were invited to the 200 -acre Villa Montalvo estate, and Bancroft Library at the Uni- versity of California, Berkeley is the repository of the immense Montalvo guest book. Recorded in it are the signatures of Cornelius Vanderbilt, the Duke and Duchess of Alba, William Jennings Bryan, Ethel Barrymore, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He was especially fond of the celebrities who brought honor to their home state of California. He squired tennis champion Helen Wills to the Saratoga Blossom Fes- tival celebration and assigned one room at the villa for the exclusive use of Atherton, by then an inter- nationally famous author. During his 18 -year part -time residency at Villa Montalvo, Phelan the philan- 'thropist contributed generously to the Blossom Festival, the new H- brary and the public tennis courts of nearby Saratoga. Atherton wrote: "James D. Phe- lan was the wealthiest man in San Francisco and its leading citizen. He had doubled the fortunes left him by his pioneer father, but al- though no one enjoyed life more than he, nor got more out of it, he took an active interest in civic af- fairs ... He was a man of strong character, high ideals tempered with worldly cynicism, a broad and charitable outlook, and while one side of his mind was intellectual, with a great love of literature, par- ticularly poetry, the other was shrewd, far - seeing, financial." This comprehensive summation was borne out upon his death in 1930 at age 69 by his meticulously written will. Since he left no direct heirs, much of his fortune was willed to close relatives, friends and loyal retainers. Large sums were left to churches, charities and scholarships. Near the end of the document he specified that the property known as Villa Montalvo be maintained' as a public park and that the build- ings and grounds be used for the development of art, literature, mu- sic and architecture by promising students. He bequeathed the prop- erty to the San Francisco Art Asso- ciation, together with $250,000, the income of which was used for its maintenance. One facet of Phelan's character that Atherton didn't include in her first impressions was his wry sense of humor. The last paragraph of his will stated: "I declare on my honor that I have never been mar- Tied and never have been a parent of a child in or out of matrimony and that no claim to the contrary has ever been made by any one during my life, but in case any one claiming or pretending to be my wife or child or grandchild should establish such claim in any court of competent jurisdiction to each such person I give and bequeath the sum of $50." The death of the energetic and genial James D. Phelan left Villa L Mr. Phelan's dinners were the most remarkable in Washington. He never invited anyone until the day before, and nothing could induce him to change his habit. 9 — Gertrude Atherton transferred to the local Montalvo Association, a charitable trust. Through the efforts of volunteers Villa Montalvo continues to offer scholarships, artist -in- residence programs, exhibits, lectures, con- certs, plays and many other cultur- al opportunities for artists and their audiences. The villa's 75th anniversary was celebrated in 1987. Santa Clara County has taken over the maintenance of the grounds as a public park. The legacy left by the enterpris- ing Phelan & Son continues to ben- efit successive generations of Cali- fo Montalvo empty for several years. rnians. In 1939, the dormant villa came Villa Montalvo arboretum is open alive again when the Montalvo to the public daily from 9 a.m. to 5 Foundation was launched under p.m.. The gallery hours are 1 to 4 the auspices of the San Francisco p.m. Thursdays and Fridays and 11 Art Association. a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sun - In 1953 the trusteeship was days. C 0 Ia' rrical background of our calendar homes can be found obp wre inside back cover. OCTOBER 1988 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 31 Halloween 30 00 1040'// i V-1 �`v /' 1 � /-- --� � % -'� it �=� �; ,•�; � ,' �� ;,/ l / / ' 'tea+ -;�• � � '� 1• i �f i I 1 .enter II o exit. NOTES EXISTING POLE BARRIERS OUT OF SCALE. REPLACE AS REOUIRED APPROPRIATE SCALE j� UNSAFE STAIRWAY + \ / ,•= TRAIL DANGEROUSLY NARROW, WIDLN TO x' CORDUROY TRAIL SEGMENT RECENT BLOINOYN(S); CRITICAL CREEK EROSION PROBLEM 1� 1 EIISTING FENCING (WOOD AND MESH) TOO CONSPICUOUS I ' ® LIGHT COLOR OF CARRIAGE HOUSE ROOF IS UYERPOYERIXG LIGHT IN THE F CARRIAGE + I ' EXISTING ORCHARD IS 75% DEAD, INVADING SHRUBS AND TREES OVERTAKING HILLSIDE �` • �' N\ 100 200 000 r., RO. SCALE. 1 100'.4 NL BAY" I / ' • BAY' '3 OAK. :X 2 '� v, f RDwD • e Iii.' - RDwD:, RD WD 0 � J\T�� ®i;�ID,. - • JAN ❑ �_ P" ORCHARD +,\ 4��✓ (yLj L, 4 OAK BATREET D Er10 ,•'�\ 11 i -1 \P� •• - -_' \ / LEGEND \/ +\ PA EXISTING TRAILS ACM 0 ® (M EXISTING TRAILS WITH GREATEST POTENTIAL FOR EN FOR ENHANCED USE 1�OO POTENTIAL TRAIL LINK PERIPHERAL TRAIL LINKAGE OR PATHWAY � "ENTRY ` \ \e WILDCAT CREEK ) t. ! I/ INTERN [TENT DRAINAGE PA77 ERN EXISTING FENCE EROSION PROBLEMS EVIDENT _ EXISTING VISTA POINT jo IIPOTENTIAL 1I11A POINT TO BE ENIOOICED EXIT \ POTENTIAL WOODLA.YO PLANi1XG (RIIODODEXORON DELL?) Ex1T \ \` S\ EXISTING BRIDGE TO Pr: 1:YROY01 POTENTIAL SLATING AREA \\ \. TRAIL HCl,O, IMi'R01'EO SIGNAGE OCSIRED POTENTIAL SIGHAGE, INTERPRETIVE INFORKATION AI „he l..nlu.^r l IHr.l..,n.0 , erne,, .. ,C,r mi p 'VILLA MONTALWO—Y Center for the Arts =�-) IlRrner \ Y..no,r, "I .e,.. t- MOO lmn � � ��ents lur dlr \lonlahn :A..neiation anA sdnla l'la ra (loner) I':Irk� anJ Kee m0liun Ileparlun'nt I I sheet of Ihnc t I N PARKING AREAS H. 11.1 I'll a IM. I.. I... nUILD INGS AND GARDEN STRUCTURES :1. 7 �11 I - l*., . - I I nI; EI IN, S Is P5 IV Y Ag till. —M. uwrr 1.0111, G IV 19 Iv.u11P 411 1415111..0. 1-4 IAI`i,,11 Y, iAl r. X N), MUM 'J rz 'Alt- p'e "I f !QvS, V: P4 XV A'. -v I' I. 1 z jO f."j xk iv 12 ... t" w wA. 0r-CkA(ID If. _IV vi_1`4M,,,; i., t /iks !) a 1 .(! 'T . : � �tP •;w ;v �, i1,.6� .iy� .4 Ilk "I % 4 0 X", . IZ AC LEGEND 74, % MAJOR CIRCULATION OR ORIENTATION 10111L.11 A. NARROW DANGEROUS ROAD C=3 WA WOOD RETAINING LL DR LOOS A POOR VIEW V, 4; �l % MAJOR NOISE PROBLEM FOR RESIDENTS [it STEEP SLOPE, EROSION PROBLEM t f WJOR VIEW WITH FOCAL POINT It, IMPORTANT VIEW (OR FORMER VIEW) 11 't F OISIURBED AXIAL RIIATIMSHIP VIEW CRITCAL SIGNAGE POINT J 0 Ft STREAK ENVIROXMIA1 AREA t, APPDXIMAIE LOCATION OF EASEMENT(S) EXIRFKE 11[AT PROBLEM BUFFER AREA FOR ADJACENT PROPERTY r. �/ ,' '•'(.1 t SOUND i VISUAL BARRIER. PHYSICAL ENCLOSURE lo 1Y. C, '0 SrALF-,: 116`0' U tj V MON r-11 A L`" L A O Center for the Arts Me a4ini m S I I' Itl,;. ( i "'.1 "r 1);;w AO,i! A. 1984 :111. ho'k, and I)ql:Wml,I,I I Y ,. — \ _ / Iii, •v��N, , ,� , •% , if IVY stir Ni AW AP -AW NIP- } 1►'1" h1 ��. 7 / �O� ��, �• �'• fir', ' �� •�•� V r � �� + �' „i � �• ti i• 11 ,�`� cif/ i' �� , fti / A► � iii i�r�� t�j,� ►n� '. � ` �]f�;s� �i►��; p � - ,fib • !� •� ;r �; � � _� . '�i � i�� rt � �� `-�"I \ _ � fps- r.:4 " � , r.1�'�1' `�i:y� Iyi C',� �rl,`�♦ � ✓ '' ►.� �'� R f '' � I' ��iat•= r� ' I�ln ri�lcr f nr I��c' art h ogu'ff Qq O&ME1900Z 13777 FRUITVALE AVENUE • SARATOGA, CALIFORNIA 95070 (408) 867 -3438 MEMORANDUM TO: Distribution DATE: 9 -18 -85 FROM: Director of Community Development SUBJECT: VILLA MONTALVO MASTER PLAN /INFOP14AL CITY REVIEW Because of the interest expressed.by the City,.Montal,vo.and their consul- tants will be available for.an on -site meeting on.Tuesday,.October 1, 1985, at 6:00 p.m. for approximately one hour. The purpose of the meet- ing is to brief the Planning Commission, Heritage Preservation.Commis- sion and the City Council on proposed changes to the Mon.talvo grounds. Enclosed is some backup materials for.your review prior to that meeting. Robert S. Shook Director of Community Development RSS:cd Enclosures Distribution: City Council Planning Commission Heritage Preservation Commission City Manager - F Callander Associates 31 1 Seventh Avenue San Mateo, CA 94401 415 375 -1313 Mr. Robert Shook Director of Community Development City of Saratoga 13777 Fruitvale Avenue Saratoga, CA 95070 RE: Villa Montalvo Master Plan /Informal City Review Dear Bob: September 16, 1985 We sincerely appreciated the opportunity to provide you and Ms. Curtis with a verbal progress report on the status of master planning efforts at Villa Montalvo over the last several months. During that time we have conducted two public workshops in- volving the neighborhood of the Villa as well as two meetings with the County Parks and Recreation Commission. At this time, before we proceed with completion of the master plan, we would like to present our findings and have your staff, other City departments, various commis- sions, as well as the Council review the study. You suggested possibly an informal review of interested Commissioners and Council members. The Montalvo Association would like to invite this group to a one -hour pre - meeting review at the Pavillion Building of the Villa on October 1st at 6:00 PM. This is a unique and complex project that has taken approximately 8 months of work to develop a working draft for the report, to prepare several exhibits and, to present findings at numerous meetings in our effort to develop this plan for maintenance, rehabilitation and preservation of this valuable open space. The purpose of this meeting would be to orient the Planning Commission, City Council and Heritage Commission to the history of Montalvo and the activities that take place there, along with a brief overview of the master plan. The agenda would be as follows: 6:00 - Introduction and background 6:15 Slide show of Montalvo (w /audio) 6:25 Orientation to master plan 6:40 Questions and discussion We have attached a brief overview explaining current uses at Montalvo along with several exhibits for distribution and review prior to the meeting. We hope with your aide to define the future process for City review before finalization of the master plan. Landscape Architecture Land Planning Peter Callander, ASLA, Principal Environmental Design Margaret B. Fahringer, Associate y ,J Mr. Robert Shook RE: Villa Montalvo Master Plan September 16, 1985 Page 2 Please call if you have any questions or desire further background information at this time. cc: Gardiner McCauley, Montalvo Association Phillip R. Boyce, Montalvo Association Larry Norris, Director Santa Clara County Parks & Recreation Charles Rockwell, Senior Engineer Santa Clara County Enclosures: 1974 Traffic Study w/2 attached letters Full Size Prints: existing conditions aerial, preliminary plan dated 6- 13 -85, circulation scheme C List of addresses to copy people with agendas concerning this project 20 copies of exhibits for 10 -1 agenda mailing; 175 acre area map, site analysis, trail inventory, Preliminary Plan, proposed circulation diagram J Callander Associates Landscape Architecture This unique 175 acre Register of Historic artist in residence Page 1 of 2 9 -'6 -85 MONTALVO MASTER PLAN - USE OVERVIEW open space, along with the Villa which is on the National Places, has been used and preserved as a cultural center, �etreat, arboretum and public park for over 23 years. It is estimated that 100,000+ cars circulate through the property each year. This number is based on daily guestimates made by Santa Clara County park staff, backed by a 1974 CalTrans traffic study. An updated car count is currently being conducted by the County to further verify these numbers. Additionally, the County estimates 2 to 3.5 persons per car for an estimate of at least 200,000+ visitors per year. Of these 200,000+ visitors, approximately 12,300 attend the performing arts and special events at Montalvo and 7,500 visit the Villa art gallery, with a substantial number visiting the park for passive recreation such as hiking, jogging, biking, and sun- bathing on the lawn, etc. Due to the physical constraints of the site and transition from private estate to public park, there has always been a critical shortage of parking which is one aspect this master plan addresses. There are only 157 parking spaces available to the public (and up to 194 spaces when the park is closed). On a typical summer weekend, over 1,000 cars enter the park a day. in addition to those out for..a Sunday drive with no intention of stopping, many cir- culate thru the meandering one way road system only to find no parking, forcing them to exit and circle back around to Highway 9 to repeat the process. There are approximately 40 cultural or fund raising events a year held with average attendance from 80 to 250. Parking for these can be accommodated in the existing spaces only if the facility is closed to other users. Another 12 events a year range in size from 600 to 1,000 and an elaborate and costly logistics system, including shuttle buses is required. It is suggested that an inordinate amount of both Montalvo Association staff and volunteer time and County time is spent dealing with traffic and parking that could better be put to the maintenance of the grounds and buildings, which is greatly needed for preservation of this historical site. The master plan recommends three basic elements in improving this situation: 1) Establish an entry gate and charge a fee. This would generate monies towards maintenance, and help reduce the number of cars aL Montalvo to those who have come to use the grounds. 2) Provide more parking stalls. This would better accommodate those attending small events and other users-without closing park or turning people away. About 400 spaces would fully accommodate most larger events without use cost of shuttle buses. 3) Provide additional exit road and parking at lower portion of site. This would help preserve historic character of Villa by reducing number of cars impacting the site, physically and visually, and allow more flexibility in providing 2 exits from the property (both for users and fire exit, etc.) 6 9 1 Page 2 of 2 9 -16 -85 Montalvo Master Plan - Use Overview The current uses of Montalvo are considered to be at capacity and there is no intention of increasing numbers or sizes of events. The recently adopted ten year goals of the Montalvo Association are decidedly aimed at financial stability and improving the quality of both programs and grounds at Montalvo. A wealth of information regarding uses and needs at Montalvo is more fully outlined in the wcrking draft of the master plan report and the Montalvo Association's ten year plan that can be made available at a later date. r . 1�a�„ Cf�e_pa�,�lc (dr� aw�s� , J �'�'I �cMri� &'FaPAsiwiJ. ��"'�'' Who will pay to save Montalvo and how much? By Mari earners How best to preserve Sara - toga's outstanding scenic and historic treasure, Montalvo, is the issue in a current planning process. A closely related issue is who is going to pick up the tab for rehabilitation and maintenance of the unique 175 -acre property, which has been used as a cul- tural center, artists' retreat, arboretum and public park for more than 23 years. Tentative cost of the pro- posed capital improvement pro- gram for Montalvo is $3.8 mil- _ lion. But who will pay, and how much, remains to be settled. Callandar Associates, which is preparing the 10 -year- master plan under contract with Santa Clara County, passed out a draft improvement plan at a meeting at Montalvo last week atended by members of the Saratoga Planning Commission, Santa Clara County Park and Recrea- tion Commission, and Montalvo Association executive commit- tee. It showed the costs split up as follows: County, $2,614,000; Montalvo Association, $280,300; private donations and grants, $965,800; total, $3,860,100. However, the issue is far from settled, Margaret Fahring- er, associate planner with Callandar, said. The meeting last week was just a study session. It remains for Callandar to present the plan formally before the County Parks and Recreation Commis- sion. "Our job is to convince them it merits county funding to pre- serve the property," Fahringer said. "The county does intend to provide some funding. But there is going to be a lot more discus- sion." A complication is that, although the county hired the planners, some aspects of the plan must be approved by the Saratoga Planning Commission because the property is in Sara - toga's city limits. The improvements, particu- larly the traffic improvements, will have to go through the city's use permit process, Fahringer said. On behalf of the county and Montalvo, Callandar has sub- mitted a use permit application to the city, which faces Planning Commission review. The city's main concern is an additional 107 proposed parking spaces, and circulation changes that could affect the surrounding neighborhood. Planning Director Yuchuek Hsia said last week that it will be eight weeks before the Planning Commission will be able to take up the use permit. Gardner MacCauley, direc- tor of Montalvo, was surprised by this information. "A month ago they said it should be done by now," he said. �W The city will have to approve the use permit before the master plan — and the all- important funding issue — can go before the County Parks and Recrea- tion Commission, and, simul- taneously, the County Historical Commission. "The county has made some commitmemt," MacCauley said. "The issue is how much." The recommendations of the County Parks and Recreation Commission and the County His- torical Commission will go to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors, who will make the final decisions. MacCauley explained that for more than 25 years, the county has maintained the Mon- talvo grounds in return for use of the property as a county park. The Montalvo Association has maintained the buildings and the arts program. Last week's meeting concen- trated on parking and traffic circulation. The master plan calls for providing an additional 107 parking spaces at Montalvo, to bring the total to 300. The Planners recommend establish- ing an entry gate and charging a fee to generate funds for mainte- nance and help reduce the num- ber of cars. Parking would be provided at the lower portion of the site to help preserve the historic char- acter of the Villa by reducing the number of cars around it. Current uses of Montalvo are considered to be at capacity, and there are no plans to in- crease numbers or sizes of events. The purpose of the master plan is to preserve the historic character of the Montalvo prop- erty and its buildings, Fahringer said. The Villa Montalvo was built by Senator James Duval Phelan in 1912 in what is usually known as the California Mission style, with a strong Italian renais- sance influence. Known for his love of the arts, Senator Phelan died in 1930. His will said the estate was to be maintained as a public park, and the buildings and grounds immediately sur- rounding them were to be used as far as possible "for the devel- opment of art, literature, music and architecture by promising students." Since 1953, the estate has been held as a charitable trust for the benefit of the public by the Montalvo Association. The Montalvo Center for the Arts has been dedicated to carrying out the wishes of the Senator and the Montalvo Association has de- veloped an arts program. It includes an artist in residence program for five students, sum- mer concert and opera pro- grams, indoor and outdoor thea- ter productions, and art ex- hibits. More than 200,000 people visit Montalvo each year. A PALACE'S HEYDAY Former guest returns for some reminiscing By Millie Bobroff 1?0wena Myers of Rye, New York, returned to Montalvo last week, a weekend home to her and her family during the days that Senator James Duval Phe- lan entertained guests at his palatial estate. Sitting in the main gallery of the 19 -room Mediterranean - style villa overlooking the grassy slope leading to the Temple of Love, the elegant, 83- year -old woman said wistfully, "Peacocks used to strut on the lawn and the Temple of Love was much more exposed. Why did the swimming pool have to be filled ?" Myers (who later became a drama critic for the San Fran - CbW Chronicle) met Phelan when her family was traveling by train to Washington D.C. First the mayor of San Fran- cisco, then a United States Sena- tor from 1915 to 1921, Phelan ap- proached the restless little girl in the parlor car and offered her a silver dollar. She refused. "For years, he teased me that I was the only woman he ever met who had a disdain for the mighty dollar," smiled Myers. The Mason family became part of a small group of Phelan's friends who spent every week- end in Saratoga, permanently leaving their bathing suits and robes in the house. Rowena Myers would drive up with the Senator from San Francisco, each one reciting poems to one another. A topic would be chosen and the Senator and the young girl would try to find a poem that the other was not familiar with. "He had a child -like side to him," Myers recalled. "Every - morning, the bell in my room would ring and he would say, 'Child, are you awake ?' 'Now I am,' I would answer. Then we would hike up the hill behind the house, first walking, then racing one another from one spot to another. On top of the hill, we would try to point out something in the valley that the other had not spotted before. "One time, the Senator or- dered strawberries for lunch but when they were brought to the table, the chef had drowned them in liquor," she continued. "He left his guests, so did I, and we went back to the kitchen garden, squatted down on the floor and ate fresh straw- berries." During the years that Rowena Myers was a university student at Stanford, she at- tended many gala parties at Montalvo. The top musicians, writers, and artists were invited for weekends. Plays were pre- sented in the outdoor amphi- theater. There were poetry readings and concerts. The Senator did not tolerate dull people, those whose minds weren't nimble," she said. "Also, he would be offended if guests would leave his house and visit other Saratogans such as (author) Kathleen Norris and her husband Charles. Those guests would never be invited back." Myers hinted that she often heard racy conversation during the weekends but refused to go into detail. She did not speculate on the relationship between Phelan and author Gertrude Atherton who was another one of the permanent weekend house - guests. Myers did say that Atherton, a striking redhead, recommended that Myers keep her blond haircolor by washing her hair with eggs and rinsing A gathering place for society: a poetry award ceremony on Villa Montalvo's east terrace in 1926. with Irish whiskey. "The Senator was a moral man, however," she continued. "One time, a guest put his hand on my knee while we were watching a movie upstairs. I complained to the Senator and the next day, the guest was gone. Also, the Senator refused to have a certain play presented at his house because of the reputation of the leading lady." The last time Myers saw Phe- lan was when she and her hus- band, an attorney, were living in New York and Phelan was pass- ing through the city. Gertrude Atherton broke the news to her of his death in 1930, coming to their Fifth Avenue apartment to tell her personally. They both sobbed in each other's arms. Please turn to page 21 Novelist Gertfude Atherton reads while California Poet Ian listen in Phelan's Garden Theatre at Villa Montalvo. The Laureate Henry Meade Bland (center) and James Duval Phe- date was 1926. t a rn 2 0 L a m V m Z Crime report A burglar or burglars en- tered Saratoga High School the night of April 24 and damaged the school's alarm system. However, a report from the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department said nothing ap- peared to have been taken. A school employee reported April 25 that someone had ap- parently used a screwdriver to remove a window pane. After entering the school, the burglar(s) cut off the alarm system, according to the Sheriff's report. Officials speculated that computers may have been the target of the burglary, but the report said none were missing. The sheriff's office had no suspects. The incident was being investigated. A 63- year -old Carmel Avenue resident placed a .25- year -old neighbor he said assaulted him under citizen's arrest, the Sheriff's Department reported. The victim said he saw the suspect get out of his car with two dogs at about 6 p.m. April 25 and asked the suspect if he "had a new dog." He said the suspect then pushed him down into the gravel driveway, causing cuts and bruises. According to a sheriff's report, the deputy who re- sponded to the scene informed the victim that the officer could not arrest the suspect - because he had not seen it occur. The victim went to the sus- pect's house and placed him under citizen's arrest, the report said. The officer then issued a citation to the suspect for assault and battery, requiring him to appear in court to answer the complaint. —Rob Vardon Harley won't campaign Saratoga City Council candi- date Richard Harley, whose absence has been noted at func- tions where the -other seven active candidates have been present, announced last week that he would not be cam- paigning for one of three seats to be filled at the June 3 election. "I would like to stay in the race and be an inactive candi- date," Harley said. A proponent of Route 85, Harley explained that he de- cided to run for office to make sure a candidate that backed the proposed freeway be available to Saratoga's 19,961 registered voters. "I just wanted Saratoga resi- dents to have a choice in the matter," he said, adding that he has learned that several candi- dates who are "very capable" back the freeway. Harley said he would con- sider himself a single -issue candidate because "I think it's a single -issue race." The 33- year -old director of planning and budgets for ARGOSystems, Inc. who has never held a public office said he thought about running for city council several years ago. Harley said he attended city council meetings and became interested in the "process of how it all happened." At two forums sponsored by local groups, Harley was a no- show, thus triggering rumors that like Saratoga City Council candidate William Ivancovich, he would not be campaigning for election. The terms of David P. Moyles, Virginia Laden Fanelli and Linda A. Callon will expire in June. Moyles is the only in- cumbent seeking re- election. With Harley and Ivancovich withdrawing from active par- ticipation in the council race, local residents have a choice of seven active candidates to elect to the council.. Candidate researches Continued from page 4 tra traffic," she said. Anderson is leery of regional control of Saratoga and vows, if elected, to discourage outside in- terests from dictating policy and land use in Saratoga. She would like to see Sara- toga retain its school sites in preparation for a baby boom she said her research reveals is on the way. Anderson, who considers her- self an environmentalist, is backed by Protect Our Environ- ment, the group responsible for getting Measure B on the ballot. The measure is non - binding advisory vote to block the con- struction of the proposed Route 85 freeway on its 2.5 -mile trek through Saratoga. Anderson advocates the inclusion of a light -rail transit path on Route 85 or The An- derson Alternative. "Everybody wants us to cave in on that one," she said. Anderson is also a supporter of supplemental police protec- tion from the Santa Clara Coun- ty sheriff's Department, which would include having a resource officer assigned to the schools to work on preventing juvenile crime. Her affiliations include being on the board of Little League and an officer of her home- owners association. She has received an honorary award from the PTA and has been active in voter registration drives. She has never held public of- fice. "I'm an active person, I just haven't been that active in politics." `Man in the middle' Continued from page 4 A manager and consultant in the semiconductor -and elec- tronics industry, Christian said fiscal responsibility is another of his primary concerns. Currently president of MCF; Inc., Christian helps start-up companies experiencing prob- lems. If elected to the council, which would represent the first time he has held public office, Christian said he would look for- ward to working with Saratoga City Manager Harry R. Pea- cock. Christian, who worked on the city's general plan review com- mittee in 1978, said the city has a poor design review policy. That observation is shared by other city officials who have be- gun to address the design review issue at public meetings. Christian said he finds it inevitable that Route 85 will be built therefore its construction "needs to be managed" by competent individuals. A Saratoga resident since 1970, Christian is president of the Montalvo-Mendelson home- owners group and is active in boy scout troop No. 549. CITY ELECTIONS SUBSTANCE or "FLUFF "? Think about it. Saratoga is like a large corporation. We have about 30,000 employees or shareholders and a budget of $ millions. The City Council is our Board of Directors. They make decisions that affect our daily lives... probably to a much greater degree than any other government entity. The City Council is responsible for our General Plan, selecting and administering our services and protection. They de- termine who, how, where, why and how much we build... even determining the esthetics such as personal taste issues such as neighborhood congruity. They hire, fire and are responsible for the City Manager, the City Attorney, and the entire City staff. They even interpret issues and determine if it is really an issue - much to the delight of some and dis- may of others - such as the non - building initiative in the upcoming election. Truly, the City Council is a big part of the daily lives of the people of Saratoga... and this Council is made up of people - people that you and I elect. Our City elections warrant more public scrutiny of the candidates than any other level of our political process. Why? -Lack of record._ Our candidates are near the political entry level and often have little, if any, past public records upon which we can base our decisions. Yet, the time to determine how one reacts "under fire" is best done "before the siege ". Therefore, we all have the responsibility to learn everything we can about our candidates. Look at the records, platforms and abilities of our candidates. Put them "under the magnifying glass ". Ask yourself - "do I want this candidate to run my company? To make decisions that I pay for and must follow? Do they have the busi- ness skills to run a large corporation, yet the humanity to understand that their decisions affect people - you and me ?" Due to policy enacted by our current City Council, during their four -year City, Council term, each person elected on June 3, will also serve as the Mayor of Saratoga for one year. Ask yourself - does your candidate have the requisite skills to run a major corporation, as the Chairman of the Board? Finally, make your decision - and VOTEI Regardless of your political affiliations, your stances for and against, from the "good old boy system" politics down to the "real" issues - all are for naught if you do not vote. So Come on Saratoga - who will be your next Chairpersons, of the Board ? ??... the quality of the decision is solely determined by you and me... are we up to the task? GREG Lt BETTY ANN GRODHAUS A grand old house's heyday Continued from page 5 "Gertrude Atherton never set foot in Montalvo again and neigher did I for many, many years," Myers sgid. "I was shocked that the Phelan family tried to turn Montalvo into a con- vent when they knew the Sena- tor had expressed a desire that it be a place for writers and ar- tists. He always said the gar- dens were too `voluptuous'. "It is still painful for me to return even now, but I'm happy that artists and writers are liv- ing here and fullfilling his wish." One of Senator Phelan "s huge parties breaks up and the crowd fans out across the lawn at Villa Montalvo. At Villa Montaloo —The hills go down to the east and the hills go up to the west, and here between bay and ocean is a place where man can rest. George Sterling Villa Montalvo End of Montaloo Road, Saratoga One of the last of the great estates that once dotted the Santa Clara country- side, Villa Montalvo, a magnificent Mediterranean mansion with sur- rounding estate, stands as an appro- priate memorial to James Duval Phelan for many years considered "the fore- most citizen of California." Son of an ambitious Irish immigrant who came to San Francisco during the gold rush and made a fortune as a trader, merchant, and banker, Phelan was the epitome of a somewhat unusual American phenomenon, the California Irish gentry. Young James, born to the privileged world of great wealth, was to become mayor of San Francisco and a United States Senator. A "man of taste and learning" who would have pre- ferred to be a poet, Phelan deferred to the wishes of his father and gave up his literary aspirations to become a partner in the family real estate and banking business, in time more than doubling its assests. Cora (Mrs. Fremont) Older, wife of the crusading San Francisco newpaper editor and herself a noted writer, re- membered James Phelan as San Fran- cisco's greatest host after the death of i banker William Ralston. According to her, Phelan was "the city s most eligible bachelor," who financed talented Cali - forma playwrights, artists, and sculptors, filling Montalvo with their creations. "There never was anyone like him," she claimed. During his three terms as mayor of San Francisco, Phelan created a new city charter, instituted public ownership of utilities and many other farsighted re- forms. He has been pictured as a Ren- aissance prince of the Victorian age who used his fortune to lead California to greatness. But two years of labor troub- les plagued Mayor Phelan's third term and he did not run again. The Olders and Phelan decided to buy some property in the sun - splashed Santa Clara Valley. Their plans were for something rustic —much like the ranch Cora and Fremont Older were to build a few miles from Montalvo. Phelan at first envisioned "a little box in the country," which would eventually prove to be majestic Villa Montalvo, named for the sixteenth century Span- ish writer who first coined the name "California." In 1911, having abandoned plans to join forces with the Olders, James Phel- an purchased 160 acres in the Saratoga foothills and embarked upon his Villa Montalvo project, which was remark - bly elaborate even for those preten- tious times. Like other wealthy Califor- nians he was probably looking forward to entertaining European guests during the upcoming Panama - Pacific Interna- tional Exposition of 1915. Construction was begun on the 19- room mansion in 1912. As supervising architect, Phelan had chosen William Curlett a designer of one early ver- sion of San Francisco's pre -quake City Hall as well as, appropriately the Phel- an Building in that city. Upon Curlett's death in January 1914 his son Alex Curlett and their partner Charles E. Gottschalk took over the completion of the sandstone Villa Montalvo. John McLaren, Golden Gate Park's great landscape designer, laid out the grounds replete with hidden nooks and wis- teria- covered pergolas. Phelan was off in Europe promoting international participation in the 1915 Fair and selecting from Europe's finest art treasures for his mansion and gar- dens. In Granada he purchased the splendid antique carved wooden doors that stand at the entry. He even ar- ranged for a fine Italian craftsman to come to Montalvo to carve a variety of honey -toned woods— Georgian euca- lyptus in the lofty arched hallway, Cir- cassian walnut for the adjoining library walls. Here paintings by California's most noted artists were to be hung along with those of Peel and Domergue. Late in 1914 the doors to Villa Mon - talvo opened to the first of many cele- brated guests. That same year James Duval Phelan became the first United States Senator from California to be elected by popular vote. He took office . in March of 1915 and served with ap- parent distinction in Washington, D. C., until 1921 when he, a Democrat, was defeated amid the Republican landslide that put Warren Harding in office. After nearly two years traveling around the world Senator Phelan re- turned to Montalvo where he indulged �U� tau (fah, 1 t 7E In March 1915 Vice President Thomas W. Marshall (in the wicker chair) was entertained at Villa Montalvo by Senator James D. Phelan (to Marshall's right). The party, which included Secretary of the Navy Franklin D. Roosevelt ( front row, 6th from right), were at Montalvo during a weekend break from the Exposition in San Francisco. his party- loving penchant to the fullest. He seemed to crave the company of the artistically accomplished, especially those who had brought fame to his na- tive state, much as in his earlier San Francisco years he had enjoyed the styl- ish Telegraph Hill salons frequented by the city's bohemians. Novelist Gertrude Atherton, Phelan's constant companion of later years, had her own room in the Villa at the top of the stairs. For 15 years she was the honored guest at many of Phelan's lavish house parties. In his last years James Phelan's favorite guest was the beautiful young tennis star Helen Wills, according to Mrs. Atherton; she said he showered attention on the statuesque six -time Wimbledon champion who had brought worldwide notice to Cali- fornia. Still, Gertrude Atherton main- tained she was sure that Phelan loved California more than any human being. Phelan's death at Villa Montalvo on August 7,1930 was followed by the "largest and most imposing funeral ever seen in San Francisco," according to newspaper accounts. His multimillion dollar estate was generously appor- tioned among all those he loved. The two largest bequests were a million dollars to establish the James D. Phelan Foundation, the income to be expended solely for charitable purposes to the poor. The other was the gift of Villa Montalvo to the San Francisco Art Association along with $250,000, the in- come of which was to be used to main- tain the property as a public park. The buildings and grounds were to be used as far as possible for the development of art, literature, music, and architecture by promising students. After standing dark for many years after Phelan's death, Villa Montalvo at last does serve as a center for the arts under the sponsorship of the Montalvo Association. Today, resident artists live and work on the magnificent estate as envisioned years ago by the imagina- tive, generous James Duval Phelan. XI t,yt`. MONTALVO HISTORY rwn. d11011tatvo Villa Montalvo, summer home of the late U.S. Senator and San Francisco Mayor, James D. Phelan, is located in the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains above Saratoga, at an elevation of 800 feet. The entrance gates are about one -half mile from the center of Saratoga on the Los Gatos Road. Built in 1912, the Villa is a nineteen room Medlterranean -type structure set in the midst of an estate of 175 acres, a large pars of the grounds Is beautifully landscaped with formal gardens and dramatic trails to lookout points on the hillside. The Villa Is open daily from 1 to 4 PM, except Monday, with a small admission charge on Saturday and Sunday. The grounds are open to the public without charge seven days a week from 8 AM to 5 PM. In accordance with Senator Phelan's wishes as expressed in his will, Montalvo has been converted into a center for creative activities in the arts, conducted on a non - profit basis under the trusteeship of the Montalvo Association. Monthly exhibitions by artists are shown in the three galleries on the main floor of the Villa. Concerts, plays, and lectures are given In the Carriage House Theatre and the outdoor amphitheatre. Classes are conducted throughout the year in painting, sketching, sculpture, ceramics, and crafts. Completely furnished apartments are ayailable for writers, artists, musicians, and others with approved creative projects. Applicants fdr residence should write to the Montalvo Association, P.O. Box 158, Saratoga, California 95070, far further information. The Villa takes its name from a novel written in the early sixteenth century by the Spanish author, Garcia Ordonez de Montalvo. His book, "Las Sergas de Luy Eslorzado Caballero Esplandian," describes a tribe of Amazons living on 19n Island fabulously rich with gold and jewels. It was called California and was "at the right hand of the Indies ... very close to that part of the Terrestrial Paradise." The State of California is named for Montalvo's Imaginary island. His Amazon queen was described as riding on a gryphon (also +spelled griffin or griffon), a mythological creature with the beak and wings of an eagle, and the body, four legs, and tail of a lion. Senator Phelan put carved gryphons on top of several entrance gates and used them eleswhere in the Viila's decor. Their use Is doubly appropriate because, in mythology, gryphons are guardians of all types of treasure and Senator Phelan considered Montalvo his favorite possession. The grounds of Montalvo are maintained as an arboretum by the Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department and have been planted with many rare trees and shrubs. Montalvo is also an official bird sanctuary; as many as 41 species have been observed in a single day, and probably 65 or 70 species can .be seen during a year. Montalvo's varied program is made possible by the dedicated work of many volunteers. Montalvo's continuing ability to serve the community depends to a large extent on the support of interested persons who are Invited to become members of the Montalvo Association.' Montalvo Center for the Arta P.O. Box 158, Montalvo Road Saratoga, California 95070 �< (408) 867 -3421 D -I yr o � � � 10 C 4,1� , - , ti0 'Po ® VI LLA E<,0"5 V y MONTALVO �J San Jose Mercury News ■ Wednesday, February 3, 1988 • Extra 3 5 History Father and son left rich legacy for Bay Area, state By Mardi Bennett Special to the Mercury News The story of James Phelan Sr. and son proves that "one man can make a difference," especially if he is bright and energetic and has a son molded in his image. The difference they made left a legacy of incalculable value to genera- tions of Northern Californians. The story begins in the 1820s when Irish -born James Phelan ar- rived in the United States at age 6. Later, as a young businessman liv- ing in Cincinnati, he heard of the discovery of gold in California and shipped three cargoes of merchan- dise to San Francisco. He made it to the city in 1849, but only two of the ships bearing his cargo did. Even so, he managed to start a thriving trade in Gold Rush coun- try. James Phelan put much of his profit into San Francisco real es- tate. By 1859, he felt in "sufficient- ly comfortable circumstances" to marry another first - generation Ir- ish woman, Alice Kelly. Their son, James Duval Phelan, was born in 1861. Gaining recognition as an enter- prising merchant of San Francisco, he had built the multi-story Phelan Building in 1860 on land now known as 760 Market St. The land, in 1854, had cost him $6,125. By 1869 he was worth $2 million. When James Phelan Sr. died in 1892, young James took over the family business, the banking firm of Phelan and Son. It included the First National Bank of San Fran- cisco, the First National Bank of San Jose, Mutual Savings in San Francisco, and the Bank of Santa Cruz County, all founded by his father. During the next few years, the man often referred to as "James Phelan's son" established a solid reputation as an able financier. He also became known as an advocate for the arts and as a crusader for the improvement of San Francisco and the reform of its political sys- tem. In 1896 he was elected mayor and remained in office until 1902. During his term he began plans for the Hetch Hetchy water system to provide the city with a dependable supply of water. Immediately after the 1906 earthquake the former mayor was conscripted as the president of the Relief and Red Cross Funds. He added $1 million of his own funds, which was a godsend when it was discovered that the underground vaults of the San Francisco banks were still too hot to handle. Soon after the quake, the Phelan Building was one of the first to be rebuilt. Phelan wanted to prove that what had been destroyed was only the city's shell, that the spirit was still there. Later, he helped initiate the building of the city's impressive City Hall and Civic Center. In 1911 Phelan bought land 50 miles south of San Francisco and began plans to build his dream house: an Italian villa near the foothills between Los Gatos and Saratoga. Its expansive gardens, planned by John McLaren, long- time supervisor of Golden Gate Park, were enhanced by an oval swimming pool, terraces, patios, statues and fountains. After his estate, Villa Montalvo, was completed, Phelan became restless. Believing what he often said — "A statesman is a politician who has been dead for six years" — in 1915 he became the first U.S. senator from California ever elect- ed by popular vote. During the turbulent Washington years before and after World War I, Sen. Phelan honed his skills as an orator and influenced many pieces Mercury News Library The estate of Villa Montalvo in Saratoga, the dream home of Sen. James D. Phelan of legislation. Among others who appreciated this talent was Susan B. Anthony, and her followers in the Women's Suffrage Movement, who were grateful to him for deliv- ering a crucial speech on the con- stitutional amendment allowing women to vote. An insight into the social side of those Washington years was pro- vided by his longtime friend Ger- trude Atherton, who wrote in the autobiographical "Adventures of a Novelist ": "Mr. Phelan's dinners were the most remarkable in Washington. He never invited anyone until the day before, and nothing could in- duce him to change his habit ... Mr. Phelan occasionally found those he wanted, disengaged, but more often he did not. Then he called up at haphazard, and the consequence was that deadly ene- mies often sat at the same tables — divorcees, political rivals, pro- Allies-pro-Germans. Not that this ever disturbed him!" In 1922, after his senatorial -term, Phelan toured China, the Middle East and Eu- rope. He selected many art trea- sures along the way with which to furnish Villa Montalvo, but at the same time he acquired knowledge of the way Europeans and others fostered the arts. For the next few years, numer- ous celebrities were invited to the 200 -acre Villa Montalvo estate, and Bancroft Library at the Uni- versity of California, Berkeley is the repository of the immense Montalvo guest book. Recorded in it are the signatures of Cornelius Vanderbilt, the Duke and Duchess of Alba, William Jennings Bryan, Ethel Barrymore, and Franklin Delano Roosevelt. He was especially fond of the celebrities who brought honor to their home state of California. He squired tennis champion Helen Wills to the Saratoga Blossom Fes- tival celebration and assigned one room at the villa for the exclusive use of Atherton, by then an inter- nationally famous author. During his 18 -year part -time residency at Villa Montalvo, Phelan the philan- 'thropist contributed generously to the Blossom Festival, the new li- brary and the public tennis courts of nearby Saratoga. Atherton wrote: "James D. Phe- lan was the wealthiest man in San Francisco and its leading citizen. He had doubled the fortunes left him by his pioneer father, but al- though no one enjoyed life more than he, nor got more out of it, he took an active interest in civic af- fairs ... He was a man of strong character, high ideals tempered with worldly cynicism, a broad and charitable outlook, and while one side of his mind was intellectual, with a great love of literature, par- ticularly poetry, the other was shrewd, far - seeing, financial." This comprehensive summation was borne out upon his death in 1930 at age 69 by his meticulously written will. Since he left no direct heirs, much of his fortune was willed to close relatives, friends and loyal retainers. Large sums were left to churches, charities and scholarships. Near the end of the document he specified that the property known as Villa Montalvo be maintained as a public park and that the build- ings and grounds be used for the development of art, literature, mu- sic and architecture by promising students. He bequeathed the prop- erty to the San Francisco Art Asso- ciation, together with $250,000, the income of which was used for its Montalvo empty for several years. maintenance. In 1939, the dormant villa came One facet of Phelan's character alive again when the Montalvo that Atherton didn't include in her Foundation was launched under first impressions was his wry sense the auspices of the San Francisco► of humor. The last paragraph of Art Association. his will stated: "I declare on my In 1953 the trusteeship was honor that I have never been mar- ried and never have been a parent of a child in or out of matrimony and that no claim to the contrary has ever been made by any one during my life, but in case any one claiming or pretending to be my wife or child or grandchild should establish such claim in any court of competent jurisdiction to each such person I give and bequeath the sum of $50." The death of the energetic and genial James D. Phelan left Villa i Mr. Phelan's dinners were the most remarkable in Washington. He never invited anyone until the day before, and nothing could induce him to change his habit. 9 — Gertrude Atherton transferred to the local Montalvo Association, a charitable trust. Through the efforts of volunteers Villa Montalvo continues to offer scholarships, artist -in- residence programs, exhibits, lectures, con- certs, plays and many other cultur- al opportunities for artists and their audiences. The villa's 75th anniversary was celebrated in 1987. Santa Clara County has taken over the maintenance of the grounds as a public park. The legacy left by the enterpris- ing Phelan & Son continues to ben- efit successive generations of Cali- fornians. Villa Montalvo arboretum is open to the public daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.. The gallery hours are I to 4 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sun- days. LegaFon of a tiv e lush and lovely 175 -acre estate combining the vitality of the arts and the peaceful am- bience of a park, Villa Montalvo is an historical landmark built in 1912 by James Duval Phelan (1861- 1930), a passionate Californian who had been a three -term progressive mayor of San Francisco and would shortly become the first popularly, elected U S. senator from California. NestlpJd against the foot of the z Santa Cruz ar Mountains near San Jose and set 800 feet up %+ ! amid the �►^ splendor t of some of the - Bay Area's most beautiful country, the Mediterranean -style villa, with its attendant guest cottage and octagonal carriage lhouse, overlooked Northern California's richest fruit orchards and the southern tip of San Francisco Bay. Villa Montalvo was Phelan's favor- ite home. a center of artistic. political and social life in Northern California. But his favorite guests were not the political and business leaders who were his peers and colleagues: they were the artists, for whom he had a particular fondness, and whose progress .he delighted in encouraging. Many had names w* readily recognize: Edwin Markham, Jack London, Gertrude Atherton. Douglas Fairbanks, Joaquin Miller and George Stirling were a few. When he died in 1930. James Phelan left Villa Montalvo to be used as "a public park open under reasonable restrictions" and "as far as possible for the development of art, literature. music and architecture So today, while bountiful orchards have been replaced by a booming metropolis known around the world as Silicon Valley. nerve center of today's and tomorrow's technologies, visitors to Villa Mon- talvo will still find a thriving refuge for the arts. the special legacy of a native son. MONTALVO ilia Montalvo is named for a popular sixteenth - century Spanish writer, Garcia Ordonez de Montalvo, who is responsible for coining the name, California. In one of his fables, he described an island rich with gold and jewels, peopled by Amazons whose queen he called Califia. He named their fabulous island California, thus providing the inspiration for Spanish explorers to so dub this magnificent land. Montalvo 's Amazons rode griffins, mythical winged guardians of great treasures. So griffins can be found throughout Villa Mon- talvo. standing guard over James Phelan's treasure to this day. CENTER FOR THE ARTS The Villa. the Carriage House Theatre and the Guest Cottage provide a working retreat and residences for artists, musicians and writers. An art gallery and gift shop occupy the main rooms of the villa. Classical and jazz concerts. theater, dance, and storytelling are presented in the Car- riage House Theatre and outdoors in the Lilian Fon- taine Garden Theatre and on the Front Lawn Poetry readings take place regularly in the Pi I-, a recent ad- dition. A variety of workshops, lectures and competitio are held from time to time. ARBORETUM Most of the Villa Montalvo estate has been made into an arboretum and Audobon Society bird sanctuary. Several miles of nature trails, offering spectacular views of the Santa Clara Valley, trace hill- sides forested with great oaks, redwoods, firs and other trees. There are several small creeks, and formal gardens con- tain many rare plants. On a good day the sharp - eyed visitor will see varieties of lizards, squirrels and other small wildlife, deer, and more than 60 species of birds The arboretum is maintained by the Santa Clara County Parks and Recreation Department through a special arrangement with the Montalvo Association. ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE villa Montalvo s Artists -m- Residence Pro- gram. established in 1942. is one of the oldest in the United States. Its unique char - acter—a peaceful woods - and - gardens setting n a metropolitan center, within reach of major educa- tional and cultural institutions —makes Villa Mon- talvo particularly appropriate for this kind of pro- gram. The Center maintains five studio apartments and two painting studios for the use of visual artists. musicians and writers, pro- viding an invaluable working retreat for the development of specific creative projects. LIVELY ARTS early the full range of the performing arts is explored at Villa Montalvo. Chamber music, other small ensemble, and solo concerts are presented in the winter and spring Grand opera and classical symphonies accent the summer outdoor season, with traditional and modern jazz for counterpoint. Master storytellers. modern Merlins in a new -old art rapidly gaining in popularity and critical acclaim. hold audiences spellbound. There are legitimate stage produc- tions. And dance has recently joined the Montalvo repertoire. ART EXHIBITIONS he main rooms of the Villa are devoted to ex- hibltfons of new talent. assts In residence and special themes. From time to time. Mon- talvo also hosts small touring exhibitions of major artists. LITERARY ARTS Montalvo maintains a modest, bu! active, literary arts program Open poetry read- ings are held regularly_ The Montalvo Poetry CompeP- tion, extendi g the West Co sl states and Nevada, is c n ducted biennial Writers' work- shops and classes led 'Ify professional 9 a offered at lust once a year. SUPPORT The Montalvo Association, trustee of the Villa Montalvo estate, is supported by the dues of about 1 ,000 members: individual, foundation and corporate gifts, a modest endowment: special programs of the Montaivo Service Group, a volunteer auxiliary. other fund- raising events: and the income from arts programs. We invite you to join the Montalvo Association and support this Bay Area treasure. BOOK AND GIFT SHOP The Griffin Shop offers art, ga•der and children s books, handmade articles from the Service Group crafts wo-ksnops, and a selection of gift cards and other gift items. The shop, on the main floor of the Vil +a. Is open during gallery hours. TOUPS Guided tours of the Villa. Carnage House and upper gardens Including an audio- visual Introduct,on to Villa Montalvo, are available for groups by arrangement Please call or write the business office for details. PARKING There are four small barking tots distributed about the at. boretum. Because of the limned parking avai:ab!e, we invite you to carpoo� to events at Montalvo. Off -site parking with free shut- tle bus service is provided for events involving more than 400 people HANDICAPPED ACCESS Parkmg for disabled v,snors is available just off the main en- trance to the Villa . on the right side of the budding . and in front of the Pavilion, just to the left of the office. Most areas are acces- sible to wheelona-s Please note that muc'r of Ire grounds is sicced PHOTOGRAPHY Visitors may !ake ohotooraphs in the buildings and outdoor performance spaces, except during performances. Tripods and flashbulbs are not allowed indoors but flashcubes and elec- tronic units are acceptable There is a fee !or commercial photography in the buildings or on the grounds. RENTALS The V Ila, Carrlace House Theatre and Pavilion are available for business meets -as, seminars, etc for wedding ceremonies, acd'or arts programs by mdebendent organizations. For infor. mation, Conraot the business office �� a�