HomeMy WebLinkAboutSaratoga Avenue 14280HISTORIC RESOURCES INVENTORY ( #61)
IDENTIFICATION
1. Common name: The Stone House
2. Historic name: Luther Cunningham Stone House
3. Street or rural address: 14280 Saratoga Avenue
City: Saratoga Zip: 95070 County: Santa Clara
4. Parcel number: 397 -23 -027
5. Present Owner: G. E. & J. Harvey Address: 14280 Saratoga Avenue
City: Saratoga Zip: 95070
Ownership is: Public: Private: X
6. Present Use: Residence Original Use: Residence
DESCRIPTION
7a. Architectural style: Period Revival, Tudor /Stone
7b. Briefly describe the present physical appearance of the site or
structure and describe any major alterations from its original
condition:
The facade of this two -story house is comprised of a variety of
different stones collected by the original owner from around
California, the United States and the world. The stones combined with
the half- timbered Tudor style give a fairy tale, Hansel- and - Gretel look
to the house. The wood shingle roof has a thatched appearance and the
edges of the roof are rolled, depicting the facia. Large, small -paned
casement windows and french doors highlight the front elevation.
Careful additions have been made to the house over the years, including
a second story. To the rear is the original garage. The sandstone
terraces in the yard surrounding the house are well maintained.
8. Construction date:
Estimated: 1924 -26
Factual:
9. Architect: Unknown
10. Builder: Unknown
11. Approx. prop. size
Frontage: 92'
Depth: 150'
approx. acreage: .21
12. Date(s) of enclosed
photograph(s): 1988
13. Condition: Excellent: X Good: Fair: Deteriorated:
No longer in existence:
14. Alterations: Original garage converted into living space, second
story added.
15. Surroundings: (Check more than one if necessary)
Open land: Scattered buildings: Densely built -up: X
Residential: X Industrial: Commercial: Other:
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:
SIGNIFICANCE
19. Briefly state historical and /or architectural importance (include
dates, events, and persons associated with the site).
This unique stone house was built in 1924 -26 by Luther Cunningham, a
rancher and inventor of farm machinery. He invented the Cunningham Prune
Dipper in 1889 which was a forerunner invention of the Food Machinery
Corporation. His other inventions include a grinder /processor, pulverizer
and land roller. He developed his father's farm acreage into a subdivision
called "Cunningham Acres "; Lutheria Street is named for his daughter.
Luther and his family lived in the home next door; he built this house as a
toolshed. It consists of stones from 15 countries, every county in
California, and 43 of the United States. There are cobblestones from San
Francisco streets and fragments from the ruins of Stanford University after
the 1906 earthquake. Luther eventually rented this "tool shed" out because
it was costing him so much to build. An interior door made of solid black
walnut was originally in the Arguello family home. The Arguellos were
early Santa Clara County pioneers and included a Governor of California.
20. Main theme of the historic resource:
(If more than one is checked, number
in order of importance.)
Architecture: X Arts /Leisure:
Economic /Industrial:
Exploration /Settlement:
Government: Military:
Religion: Social /Ed.:
21. Sources (List books, documents,
surveys, personal interviews and
their dates).
Melita Oden, 5/81; Patricia Tappan,
1981 & 1985;California Today, May 1971.
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
to
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CITY OF SARATOGA
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
IDENTIFICATION
CULTURAL RESOURCES INVENTORY
INVENTORY # 41
PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN (date)
Street Address I y280 .66r6_�vga rq,�e')Ue, APN <39 1- 03 °0a, 1
Historic Name U� )Par Lnnh nabdm HUV S'e.
J
Present Owner Tom R. , ?4_+n'da L Toomn
Address 14 cSorozbo.. me-no-e.
Y^a, of . Chi -D°70
Present Use F "s Y)cQ Original.Use
Other Past Uses
DESCRIPTION
Briefly describe the present physical appearance of the site or structure and describe any major
alterations from its original condition:
-1h�- �ir� �� e�c , v i e IS 'tn �cea� c_gAA MN\
' 1�� �-1� h,prn� (�ods�►� j(�C b � and io r 'c
�S reti'�1NIY�4�l � � J
Approximate property size:
Lot size (in feet) Frontage q Z
Depth I 5
or approximate acreage
Condition (check one):
Excellent (A Good ( ) Fair C)
:riorated ( ) No longer in existence ( )
Is the feature:
Altered? X Unaltered? (*)
Location sketch map (draw and label site
and surrounding streets, roads, and pro- 1
minent landmarks) r
N
Threats to site:
None known ( ) Private Development ( )
Vandalism ( } Other ( )
Primary exterior building material:
Zoning ( ) Public.Works Project ( )
Stone (>(1 Brick ( ) Stucco ( ) Adobe ( ) Wood ( ) Other ( )
Is the structure:
On its original site? A Moved? ( ) Unknown ( )
Year of initial construction 1g dg -11,26 This date is: Factual ( )
Architect (if known)
Builder ( if known)
Related features:
Barn ( ) Carriage House ( ) Outhouse ( )
Watertower /Tankhouse ( ) Other ( )
SIGNIFICANCE
Estimated X
Shed(s) ( ) Formal garden(s) ( )
Windmill ( )
None
Briefly state historical and /or architectural importance (include dates, events, and persons
associated with the site when known): t IIh.'Via 6, C(L, �r�i0- Kandner
lac o. ko &bne�OU.`Icl. >cU' & C oils. C'k d �� w, a -1 cNev- +hc v4or-1L A'o , J
��n►5110 e - 1n�@r46 i� toe ci oolcSha.� .L� C n.� uC iOn CoS r 'r�1 c
the Rocks were cL. -heye �rorm 0 e-o�'rne�
z \1�. v?1Ci�le 1�- \h� C� e�nn� �h�ch h� r�h�d p��,
CV2 Coop+ %\r\
Cc�1�r,Q� end 9� ��`R i� �h� U S, arr,e -ro►Y, e�,.r
C� iSCU wee +J �merO -S {Pro► -, old 5�4r c1 U�lv2�s� �,ilcli ard - �h��ee also e.�,
�j��Ctuh�C S'ce`ne " MTjppn uo ln4+ etoorz Losi6e. "em -%r� he Horne. of
Source (books, documents, surveys, personal interviews, and their dates): pr u�N05� o1C�e 4 -saner
ih S�rkc�. O.r& X^M• ,.o 1C\CJQde8
�C�{�Ir1 ��IqI $6 a
Mrs, }� t+r a Cl`
Giori2- erne oNeroW-
Form prepared by:— SCM&A' �1-A Dater r'0gf
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July 13, 1988
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13777 FRUITVALE AVENUE • SARATOGA. CALIFORNIA 95070
(408) 867 -3438
Mr. and Mrs. George Harvey
14280 Saratoga Avenue
Saratoga, CA 95070
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Harvey:
COUNCIL MEMBERS:
Karen Anderson
Martha Clevenger
Joyce Hlava
David Moyles
Donald Peterson
The Saratoga Heritage Preservation Commission has recently
completed a comprehensive Inventory of historic resources in our
community. We are pleased to notify you that your residence at
14280 Saratoga Avenue meets the criteria for being included on
this list.
The purpose of the Heritage Resource Inventory is to establish a
list of documented historic properties in Saratoga. The Heritage
Preservation Commission was assigned the responsibility for
preparing the Inventory by the City Council in 1982. Each
property on the list has been identified as reflecting and being a
part of the unique history of Saratoga. The Inventory has been
prepared in accordance with guidelines established by the State
Office of Historic Preservation, with data gathered from a
variety of sources, including historic documents and books,
interviews with local citizens, and existing county and state
inventories that contain information on Saratoga properties.
Being listed on the Inventory does not carry any form of special
requirements or restrictions affecting the use, improvement,
alteration or even the demolition of your property. As an
Inventory property, however, you will be able to make use of the
State Historic Building Code, an alternative set of building
regulations that are intended to facilitate the rehabilitation and
preservation of historic buildings. In addition, your property
may qualify for designation as a Saratoga Heritage Landmark, a
special category of outstanding and exemplary historic properties
that are identified in the community by a handsome bronze plaque.
We have encicsed the entire Inventory list and the individual
Inventory form for your property, which gives information about
the building, the property and its history. We would appreciate
your review of this form to let us know if there are any changes
or additions to the form you wish to include. We also anticipate
that there are additional historic resources in the community that
we may have overlooked or have not fully documented yet; if you
know of any that are not on the list, please let us know.
If you have any questions, please direct them to the Commission
through Valerie Young, our staff person at City Hall (867- 3438).
One of the Commissioners will be happy to meet with you to discuss
the Inventory and answer any questions you may have.
Sincerely,
Members of the Heritage Preservation Commission
Elizabeth Ansnes
Roy Cameron
Norm Koepernik
Sharo Landsness
Barb r Voeste r
Warren Heid, Chairman
HISTORIC RESOURCES INVENTORY ( #61)
IDENTIFICATION
1. Common name: The Stone House
2. Historic name: Luther Cunningham Stone House
3. Street or rural address: 14280 Saratoga Avenue
City: Saratoga Zip: 95070 County: Santa Clara
4. Parcel number: 397 -23 -027
5. Present Owner: G. E. & J. Harvey Address: 14280 Saratoga Avenue
City: Saratoga Zip: 95070
Ownership is: Public: Private: X
6. Present Use: Residence Original Use: Residence
DESCRIPTION
7a. Architectural style: Period Revival, Tudor /Stone
7b. Briefly describe the present physical appearance of the site or
structure and describe any major alterations from its original
condition:
The facade of this two -story house is comprised of a variety of
different stones collected by the original owner from around
California, the United States and the world. The stones combined with
the half - timbered Tudor style give a fairy tale, Hansel- and - Gretel look
to the house. The wood shingle roof has a thatched appearance and the
edges of the roof are rolled, depicting the facia. Large, small -paned
casement windows and french doors highlight the front elevation.
Careful additions have been made to the house over the years, including
a second story. To the rear is the original garage. The sandstone
terraces in the yard surrounding the house are well maintained.
(photograph here)
8. Construction date:
Estimated: 1924 -26
Factual:
9. Architect: Unknown
10. Builder: Unknown
11. Approx. prop. size
Frontage: 92'
Depth: 150'
approx. acreage: .21
12. Date(s) of enclosed
photograph(s): 1988
f
13. Condition: Excellent: X Good: Fair: Deteriorated:
No longer in existence:
14. Alterations: Original garage converted into living space, second
story added.
15. Surroundings: (Check more than one if necessary)
Open land: Scattered buildings: Densely built -up: X
Residential: X Industrial: Commercial: Other:
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:
SIGNIFICANCE
19. Briefly state historical and /or architectural importance (include
dates, events, and persons associated with.,the site).
This unique stone house was built in 1924 -26- by Luther Cunningham, a
rancher and inventor of farm machinery. He invented the Cunningham Prune
Dipper in 1889 which was a forerunner invention of the Food Machinery
Corporation. His other inventions include a grinder /processor, pulverizer
and land roller. He developed his father's farm acreage into a subdivision
called "Cunningham Acres "; Lutheria Street is named for his daughter.
Luther and his family lived in the home next door; he built this house as a
toolshed. It consists of stones from 15 countries, every county in
California, and 43 of the United States. There are cobblestones from San
Francisco streets and fragments from the ruins of Stanford University after
the 1906 earthquake. Luther eventually rented this "tool shed" out because
it was costing him so much to build. An interior door made of solid black
walnut was originally in the Arguello family home. The Arguellos were
early Santa Clara County pioneers and included a Governor of California.
20. Main theme of the historic resource:
(If more than one is checked, number
in order of importance.)
Architecture: X Arts /Leisure:
Economic /Industrial:
Exploration /Settlement:
Government: Military:
Religion: Social /Ed.:
21. Sources (List books, documents,
surveys, personal interviews and
their dates) .
Melita Oden, 5/81; Patricia Tappan,
1981 & 1985;California Today, May 197.1.
22. Date form prepared: 4/88
By (name): SHPC
Organization: City of Saratoga
Address: 13777 Fruitvale Ave.
City: Saratoga Zip: 95070
Phone: 867 -3438
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•-�+' HARRINGTON
16615 LARK AVE. PROPERTIES, INC. Q"" °Q
SUITE 100
LOS GATOS, CA 95030 P "SENTS
THE STORYBOOK HOUSE
14280 SARATOGA AVENUE, SARATOGA, CA
Open Saturdays and Sundays 1 P.M. to 5 P.M.
RCdnCC(l to $599.000.00
Don't miss this four bedroom. two and half bath Stone Housc beauty, approximately 3.000 Square feet. Steeped in
Saratoga history and JUSt walking distance to the village.
Parquet hardwood floors and French doors
Wooden pane windows with two fireplaces
Two wincling staircases
Wine cellar off'of lormal dinirn, room with twin chanclelicrs
Large master bedroom with separate French doors entrance
Recently decorated with elegant European taste and it low maintenance -W-den, enhanced by two large front swim,1110
gates.
For further information and private showings call agent Carson C. Williams:
BLISineSS (408)395 -3030. Home (404)354 -5654
graphic design -Sharo n L a n d s n e s s
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xvIlich is the gilt of the
present. and the tarnish zkp n H L (S T g o 0
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SARATOGA HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION "
graphic design -Sharo n L a n d s n e s s
We want to take this opportunity to thank
you for your support and participation in
today's Saratoga Heritage Home Tour. We hope
that you will enjoy yourselves and come away
with a new, or renewed, enthusiasm for
historic preservation in Saratoga.
For years, Saratoga's fine heritage homes
have hosted various fund - raising activities
by outside organizations. Today, in a joint
venture with the California History Center
Foundation at De Anza College, you will be
the guests of the City of Saratoga for the.
express purpose of promoting historic pres-
ervation projects both here and in the Santa
Clara Valley at large.
As you read about the homes you visit, try
to imagine what the town was like when they
were built and the gracious lifestyle they
represent. We invite you to go back in time
with us to a simpler, more agricultural,era,
when fruit trees grew where families are now
being raised.
At the Spanish Colonial home on Glen Una
Drive, where you will be served refreshments,
we would welcome your comments and suggestions
on how we can all work together to preserve
our architectural heritage. This is a task
that needs the help and support of the entire
community, not just the efforts of a few.
There will also be literature available on
the California History Center and its many
educational tours and programs dealing with
state and regional history.
We want to thank the owners of our four
heritage homes, as well as the members of the
Saratoga Historical Foundation at the Museum,
for their generous co- operation. This entire
enterprise has been a volunteer effort for the
sake of a town we all love - a town whose
heritage we feel is worth saving. Without
the help of these homeowners, today's Tour
could not have taken place.
Sharon Landsness Seonaid McArthur
Chair - Saratoga Director - California
Heritage Preservation History Center &
Commission Saratoga Heritage
Commissioner
Jean Kvamme
Saratoga Heritage
Preservation Commissioner
N
Many THANKS to our
Fernwood Florist
18840 Cox Avenue,
Saratoga
379 -1950
The Saratoga Florist
14572 Big Basin Way,
Saratoga
867 -4400
Acorn Florist & Accents
711775_Stevens Creek Blvd.
Cupertino
255 -0360
La Maison du Croissant The Plumed Horse
303 N. Santa Cruz, 14555 Big Basin Way,
Los Gatos Saratoga
395 -4441 867 -4711
Saratoca Plaza Baker
14440 Big Basin Way,
Saratoga
867 -9606
Marjolaine French Pastries
14441 Big Basin Way,
Saratoga
867 -2226
Village Rendezvous
14420 Big Basin Way,
Saratoga
867 -2932
Gene's Quito Market
International Deli
18850 Cox Ave.,
Saratoga
374 -5198
Paul Masson Vineyards
Saratoga Ave.,
Saratoga
257 -7800
I%Vc Avalli to cxtciid a tiilcc1aI -*N,or(I
of thanhs to Mr. Alain Pinel. of
FOX . < M CA 1 ' S 1 A 11(1 ; Z'
for tlic gencrous
(IollfltiQDll tllilt e11111)lcd itti to print.
the invitations.
Residential Scrviccs Dix ,isl(Dll
1,20,4"19 Saratoga- gun ny v a 1C Rd.
SaratoDga. (4 08) 996-1100
California History Center Foundation
Board of Trustees
Morton I. Levine
Carole Pavlina
Anthony Lopina
Austen Warburton
S eona id McArthur
4 4 t}
David Bennion
Stephen White
Yvonne Jacobson
Wardell Winslow
Will Lester
Robert Smithwick
Madeleine Malovos
Michael Sullivan
Roy Roberts
----------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------
For more information on the
California History Center,
call: (408) 996 -4712
Saratoga Heritage Preservation
Commissioners
Sharon Landsness - Chair Roy Cameron
Seonaid McArthur Jean Kvamme
Warren Heid (one member pending
Barbara Voester appointment)
----------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------
For more information on the Saratoga
Heritage Preservation Commission,
call: (408) 867 -3438 - City of Saratoga.
Mr. Michael Flores, in the Department
of Planning and Community Development,
will be able to assist you.
A note before y-on start. .
Last - minute tickets will be on sale at
the Saratoga Historical Museum.
We hope that those of you who are able
will take advantage of the spacing of the
four sites around Saratoga Village and WALK!
This old- fashioned method of transportation
will not only give you a better feeling for
the historic core area of Saratoga and lots
of exercise, but it will greatly relieve
traffic congestion and take the burden off
our limited parking spaces!
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05
Saratoga -Los Gatos Rd. S
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.40
Apoil 14, 1985
1. Saratoga Historical
Foundation Park S
Museum
20450 Saratoga -
Los Gatos Rd.
2. 14605 Big Basin Way
3. 20601 Brookwood Lane
4. 14280 Saratoga Avenue
5. 19490 Glen Una Drive
We ask that you please refrain from using
the bathroom facilities in these homes. The
town of Saratoga is blessed with several gas
stations and we request that you utilize them
for your needs.
Please visit the homes on the Tour in
any order you wish.
'E K
J.
N
0 Saratoga Mstoro ca� FoundatOon
OR4605 Bog Bns5n Way.
- Museum and Park.
ERWIN T. KING HOUSE
20450 Saratoga- Suinyvage Rd.
A stage-stop hostel, an elegant residence,
a respectable hotel for local school teachers
and even a brief existence as a house of ill
repute - this "grand dame', of the Saratoga
village has had a life at least as varied and
as colorful as the town itself. Although known
to many as the "Erwin T. King House ", we know
from the Santa Clara County records that this
wealthy co-founder of the Saratoga Paper Mill
never actually owned the property. It was, in
fact, owned by local wagonmaker and blacksmith,
Mr. John Chisholm, at the time of Mr. King's
The Saratoga Historical Museum, a store-
front structure built in about 1904 or 1905,
served as a drugstore, grocery, creamery and
restaurant, a variety store and for twenty-'
five years as a dress shop called "Swaneels".
I The property was sold in 1975 and the build-
ing donated to the Saratoga Historical
Foundation which had it moved from its orig-
I inal Big Basin Way location to its present
site in the Saratoga Historical Park. This
Park was established by the City in 1976 as
a Bi-Centennial project.
residence there from 1876 until 1893, when
the paper mill burned to the ground.
The actual date of construction is somewhat
vague, but educated conjecture places it rather
early in the life of the town - about 1850 or
a bit later - because of the hand-hewn redwood
Timeless designs, old or new, depend
upon constants; proportion, excellent
workmanship, beautiful materials.
foundation timbers and the low-ceilinged floor
plan. Other references use the date of Mr.
King's tenancy there as the date of construc-
tion.
After Mr. King's departure, John Chisholm
apparently reclaimed the house and added
saloon keeping to his other endeavors. It was
at this period (1883-1893) that the house got
j
That's why they endure and give us
endless pleasure.
California Edition,
American Home Magazine, Sept.,1966
:o116'
its unsavory reputation as a brothel and gam-
bling den, with Mr. "Pegleg" Anderson, barkeep,
running a lottery.
In 1893 the house returned to respectability
J;d
s •- ,�;�� }`si
once again, this time as a stage -stop called
the Oriental Hotel, under the management of
Mr. M.E.Pettis. His relative, Mr. W.W.Pettis,
P
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� 5-' � -III �i; ��:
ran the Santa Clara Stage Line and used the
wonderful old barn the the
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at rear of property
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to shelter his stock. Today this barn is
referred to as the Pettis Livery Stable.
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In 1958, the house, neglected and in
s =� -
"eyesore"
_ -_ =�
condition, was purchased and restored
by Mrs. Barbara Caldwell. The old house, even
after the removal of the dilapidated front
porch, still retained the lines, of classic
simplicity and the charm of age. However it
took the persistence, hard work and clever
designer's eye of Mrs. Caldwell to bring this
grand old home back to its present form as
a prized Saratoga landmark. This was accom-
plished at a time when prevailing attitudes
-20601 B r o ®k w o o d Lane a
made restoration difficult at best, encourag-
ing developers to raze buildings rather than
The Kahle House was built in 1916 by a
preserve them.
Mr. Willard, then head of the elegant City
The "Caldwell House ", or the "Erwin T.King
of Paris department store in San Francisco.
House ", was sold to its present owners in 1984.
The home was part of the fashionable trend
We are delighted to report that this new owner
of such wealthy city dwellers as Fremont
is following in Mrs. Caldwell's conscientious
Older, Senator James Phelan and the Blaneys
footsteps as steward of an important part of
to move out of the city to the clean air of
Saratoga's heritage.
the "country" whenever possible.
The structure and the interior of the
house are entirely original, hence preserving
the character of the redwood construction,
interior wood craftsmanship, intimate spaces
and simple window detailing typical of the
We two kept house, the Past and I,
style known as "California Craftsman ". Con-
The Past and Ij
temporary with Julia Morgan designed structures
I tended while it hovered nigh,
and other redwood and shingle bungalows adjacent
Leaving me.never alone.
to the village, this house exemplifies the
Thomas Hardy
trend to utilize native building materials
`
and natural landscape settings to create a
!
warmth and character promoted as the "Calif-
Yes es' I am old. In me a
}' ► appears
ornia spirit ".
The history of a hundred years.
The Willards remained in the home until
London Observer, 1926
approximately 1950 when Dr. McKuen purchased
it for a summer house. In 1959 it was pur-
chased by the Kahle family. The interior decor
is largely influenced by the Kahles' exten-
A new house has no sense of the has -
sive travels with the State Department. Here
beens.
you will see treasures they have collected
Thomas Hardy
from many different parts of the world.
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° 142 80 Saratoga Avenue.
LUTHER CUNNINGHAMI'S STONE HOUSE
Il ���® ���� ��® ®���� °
The original part of this beautiful Spanish
The multifaceted Mr. Luther Cunningham was
a Saratoga rancher, inventor of farm machinery,
Colonial home was built in 1924 -25 for the
and founder of the firm of Cunningham and
Knorp family. Mr. Knorp kept his Fairchild
Barngrover, a predecessor of F.M.C.
airplane parked across Saratoga -Los Gatos Rd.
Developing his father's farm acreage into
(the landing strip was on Pepper Lane). The
residential lots, called "Cunningham Acres ",
Luther moved his family into the old 1880
home was later sold to Mr. Fred Carter.
farmhouse that still stands today next door
The Carters added the chauffeur's quarters
to the south of the Stone House.
over the garage after they moved in in 1938.
The original part of the Stone House was
As president of the National Lead Co., Mr.
built later in the 1920's as a tool and work
Carter was apparently quite wealthy, for the
area for Luther's many mechanical inventions.
house was staffed not only by a maid and a
It turned out to be so costly, however, that
chauffeur but also three full -time gardeners.
he.rented it out as a home instead. Incorporated
Subsequent owners had their own ideas about
into the walls are rocks he collected in his
how the house should look. When the McKinnon
extensive travels; rocks from 15 countries
family bought it in 1967 it was very rundown,
(including Japan) , 43 states in the U.S. and
with turquoise and lavender walls, dark car-
some from virtually every county in California.
pet on the handmade tile floors and heavy
Here you will find cobblestones from the old
drapery on the fine large windows. The McKin-
San Francisco streets, fragments from the
eons remodeled the kitchen and began the re-
Stanford University Chapel which had been
,
storation of the grounds. They sold the home
destroyed in the 1906 earthquake, Indian
to its present owners in 1972.
mortars and pestles and abalone shells. Two
(
The present owners have continued the sym-
irterior doors of solid black walnut come
pathetic restoration efforts of the McKinnons.
from one of Santa Clara °s oldest homes which
They have restored the gardens to former glory,
had belonged to the Spanish- Mexican pioneer
adding a tennis court, and the house has been
family, the Arguellos.
extended with a cabana, a billiard room and
The Luther Cunningham Stone House as you
three garages. The original garage is now a
see it today has been added to over the years,
library, a sub - basement is a small wine cel-
but here, again, we see a fine example of new
lar. Ironwork fixtures and woodwork have been
additions consistent with the original design.
restored. All changes and additions have been
As for style, it has been called everything
rendered in character with the original Span-
from a Gingerbread House to a Tudor (because
of the half- timbering and the roof). One
a harmonious blend of old and new.
thing that is known for certain is that
(Interior design by Ken Poisson
Luther's Stone House is very definitely Unique!
New woodwork craftsmanship by Steve Van Diest)
(New masonry and brickwork by Michael Ensley)
` e
1-t
�v
i . -
THIS COLORFUL house
(see also cover) was
constructed. nearly 50
years ago and contains
stone from 15 countries,
every county in California,
and 43 of the United States.
HANSEL AND GRETEL aren't the only ones
who have ever seen a gingerbread house. You can
.too. This one can be found just outside the town of
Saratoga. And instead of being owned by a wart-
nosed wicked witch, this one belongs to Mr. Fred
Hubback, who terms himself "a semi- retired
insurance man."
Saratoga's gingerbread house isn't roofed
with tiny cakes or made with transparent sugar.
windows, although it looks real enough to nibble
at. "The Storybook House," as it is known, is built
not of gingerbread but of rocks gathered from all
over the world.
HUBBACK'S father -in -law, Mr. Luther
Cunningham, was a California rancher who made a
hobby of stone - building. Whenever travelling
friends and relatives came home from a foreign
country, they brought rocks for Luther; these were
used to build the gingerbread house.
'The Rock House," as Hubback calls it, was
built between 1924 and 1926 and not only consists
of stones from 15 different countries, but also from
every county in California, and 43 states in
the United States.
MAKING UP still more of the house are
cobblestones from early San Francisco streets and
0
fragments of ruins from old Stanford University
buildings.
Many of the rocks from the various countries
form the northern. wall of the house. A white
rectangular rock is found here, bearing a nameplate
indicating it to be volcanic stone from Japan.
SET ALSO in this rocky wall is a wood -
framed door of ground glass. The designed plate of
glass is priceless, according to Hubback. This door,
along with another interior one, is made of solid
black walnut. Their origins are also very interesting.
Both were found in the home of the Arguellos, who
were one of the oldest families of Santa- Clara, and
who included a one -time governor of California.
Their home, Hubback said, was an old_showpiece
in that city.
Luther Cunningham's original intention for
the rock house was that it be used for a toolshed.
He lived, as Hubback now does, in a home next
door to it. But Luther began renting it out because it
was costing him so much to build, and today
Hubback still carries on this tradition.
"The house," he laughed, "never stays
vacant for more than a month." And even Hansel
and Gretel could probably understand why it
doesn't!
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Cunningham- Tappan House (stone house)
The multifaceted Luther Cunningham was a Saratoga rancher, inventor
of farm machinery, and founder of a predecessor firm of FMC,
Cunningham and Barngrover. He developed his father's farm acreage into
"Cunningham Acres ". (Lutheria street is named after his
daughter.) Cunningham was rich; he owned orchards and vineyards.,
He was fond of small children and used to make ice cream for the
neighborhood kids. The De Havillands lived nearby, and "frolicked in
the sunken gardens" (whose sunken gardens I'm not quite certain).
Luther and his family took over the original family home., which
still stands next door to the south of the stone house. He built
the latter in the 1920s as a tool and work area for his many
mechanical inventions. One source indicates a construction period
of 1924 -26. A date stone on the south side of the house says
"Cunningham 1928 ", which the current owners, Tom and Pat Tappan,
believe marks the completion of the original house. For much of
its history the house was rented out, until bought by the Tappans
in 1976.
One thing that's certain is that Luther loved collecting rocks.
He traveled extensively; friends and relatives also brought back
souvenirs from elsewhere. Pretty hefty souvenirs, too, some of
them. (He used them not only to build this house but also a small
building next door.) Incorporated in the walls of what is
sometimes called the "gingerbread house" are rocks from 15
countries, 43 states in the U.S, and virtually every county in
California. There are cobblestones from San Francisco streets,
fragments of mosaic from the Stanford University Chapel following
its collapse from the 1906 earthquake, Indian mortars and
pestles, abalone shells, sandstone lintels, Italian marble, and
architectural fragments from still other buildings. The two
lions high up in the gables are made of wood and originally held
lights in their mouths.
Architecturally speaking, the style of this house is a little
difficult to define. For the purposes of the tour we have
described it as English Tudor, partly due to the "half- timbering"
detail on the newest portion of the house. In the late teens and
20s small houses built in a style reminiscent of thatched English
cottages were very popular, as well as the larger kind of house
(mansion) with diamond -paned windows, oriel windows, bay windows,
towers, etc. etc'., that one tends to drool over. This house has
many of the same features on a cozy scale. Most strikingly
"English" perhaps is the rolled edge of the roof, done originally
in flat vari - colored shingles and now in wood shakes. (The
shakes, by the way, had to be soaked in very hot water and then
bent to fit.) Sometimes this type of cottage is referred to as a
"Craftsman" type. This is notr4he same as the California
Craftsman style that another house on the tour_is. such a great
exemplar of (the Kahle house)] "round the
turn of the century, in a periodical called "The Craftsman ", a
designer named Gustav Stickley promulgated X style5of house and-
interior furnishings that he called by this term. • D.,f-1,.. 6 -�Y_ _j styAu
a�.,C� l•ovics d�� �S � Cv��. �^ T paw,,, 11a1)S� WGC �oPu►nr.z� GY
Another striking outside feature is the large stone posts near
the front door, of unknown source. (Mr. Tappan says that someone
told him the design showed Yugoslavian influence. I feel they
were more like designs by the turn of the century architect Louis
Sullivan - -very leafy in an abstract way.) There are more of these
gateposts next door.
Both the Tappans have a very warm feeling for their house. Pat
grew up in this area and knew it well as a child from going by it
on the street. Her grandfather had worked at the quicksilver
mines in New Almaden, and used to take the road by often.
Tom Tappan feels that he is in some sense in partnership with the
original builder. Now and then he says to himself "this is
mine, now, Luther, but we're partners in this." Accordingly, the
alterations the Tappans have made have been carefully designed to
be in keeping with the original house.
At first the house was quite small, really just a cottage -with a
living room and kitchen on the first floor, two bedrooms and a
bath on the second. The Tappans have photographs from 1940 which
show the house at that stage. On the outside of the house on the
south side you can see where the original house ended by noting
where the stone wall stops. The wing to the north and rear was
originally the garage with a small room over it, and connected to
the main house by a gate in the wall (visible in one of the 1940
photographs.) At some point this end of the house was remodelled
to enlarge the room over the garage and connect the two sections
more closely. The Tappans have carried this process much further
by converting and extending the garage to form a new kitchen
(with solid cherry cabinetry), family room (with open beam
ceiling) and breakfast area (with bay window); extending the rear
of the house to accommodate a new dining room and service area;
and raising the roof to allow for a spacious master suite and
study. The old kitchen and eating area are now the new formal
entry way and a wine cellar using the original redwood kitchen
cabinetry and fixtures.
From the street one would hardly know that the house has been
more than doubled in size. Most of this work has been done in
just the last three years. Two examples should be given to show
how carefully the Tappans have gone about their renovations. One
is the beautiful match between the new stairway near the entryway
and the old stairway in the living room. The other is the new
brickwork and retaining wall outside the main door and the new kitchen
and family room. Would you be able to tell that these are new?
I certainly couldn't. The mason's name is Michael Ensley. He
looked long and hard for old brick to use; he finally found some
in a building being torn down in Arizona (New Mexico ?), and the
type of brick is called "Chicago sand block." In the new wall he
incorporated abalone shell and other rocks that are similar to
the original walls.
Inside the house are some special architectural features also
carefully preserved. Between the entry and the living room are
two black walnut doors that were originally twice as high as you
y
now see them. They came from an early Santa Clara Valley home
belonging to the Arguello family, one of whose members was a
governor of California during the Mexican period. Also in the
living room note the tiled baseboard and,the telephone closet
under the stairs with its etched glass. I believe that this door
was also shortened at some time in order to make it fit. The
ironwork on the staircase is charming. Upstairs, the cottage
portion of the house has hardly been altered.
Betsey Soreff
April 1985
based on conversations
with Tom and Pat Tappan
r N
4�
Cunningham- Tappan House (stone house)
The multifaceted Luther Cunningham was a Saratoga rancher, inventor
of farm machinery, and founder of a predecessor firm of FMC,
Cunningham and Barngrover. He developed his father's farm acreage into
"Cunningham - Acres ". (Lutheria street is named after his
daughter.)-.Cunningham was rich; he owned orchards and vineyards.
He was fond of small children and used to make ice cream for the
neighborhood kids. The De Havillands lived nearby, and "frolicked in
the sunken gardens" (whose sunken gardens I'm not quite certain).
Luther and his family took over the original family home, which
still stands next door to the south of the stone house. He built
the latter in the 1920s as a tool and work area for his many
mechanical inventions. One source indicates a construction period
of 1924 -26. A date stone on the south side of the house says
"Cunningham 1928 ", which the current owners, Tom and Pat Tappan,
believe marks the completion of the original house. For much of
its history the house was rented out, until bought by the Tappans
in 1976.
One thing that's certain is that Luther loved collecting rocks.
He traveled extensively; friends and relatives also brought back
souvenirs from elsewhere. Pretty hefty souvenirs, too, some of
them. (He used them not only to build this house but also a small
building next door.) Incorporated in the walls of what is
sometimes called the "gingerbread house" are rocks from 15
countries, 43 states in the U.S. and virtually every county in
California. There are cobblestones from San Francisco streets,
fragments of mosaic from the Stanford University Chapel following
its collapse from the 1906 earthquake, Indian mortars and
pestles, abalone shells, sandstone lintels, Italian marble, and
architectural fragments from still other buildings. The two
lions high up in the gables are made of wood and originally held
lights in their mouths.
Architecturally speaking, the style of this house is a little
difficult to define. For the purposes of the tour we have
described it as English Tudor, partly due to the "half- timbering"
detail on the newest portion of the house. In the late teens and
20s small houses built in a style reminiscent of thatched English
cottages were very popular, as well as the larger kind of house
(mansion) with diamond -paned windows, oriel windows, bay windows,
towers, etc. etc., that one tends to drool over. This house has
many of the same features on a cozy scale. Most strikingly
"English" perhaps is the rolled edge of the roof, done originally
in flat vari- colored shingles and now in wood shakes. (The
shakes, by the way, had to be soaked in very hot water and then
bent to fit.) Sometimes this type of cottage is referred to as a
"Craftsman" type. This is not the same as the California
Craftsman style that another house on the tour is such a great
exemplar of (the Kahle house). Instead, it is because around the
turn of the century, in a periodical called "The Craftsman ", a
designer named Gustav Stickley promulgated a style of house and
interior furnishings that he called by this term.
1
Another striking outside feature is the large stone posts near
the front door, of unknown source. (Mr. Tappan says that someone
told him the design showed Yugoslavian influence. I feel they
were more like designs by the turn of the century architect Louis
Sullivan - -very leafy in an abstract way.) There are more of these
gateposts nekt door.
Both the Tappan's have a very warm feeling for their house. Pat
grew up in this area and knew it well as a child from going by it
on the street. Her grandfather had worked at the quicksilver
mines in New Almaden, and used to take the road by often.
Tom Tappan feels that he is in some sense in partnership with the
original builder. Now and then he says to himself "this is
mine, now, Luther, but we're partners in this." Accordingly, the
alterations the Tappans have made have been carefully designed to
be in keeping with the original house.
At first the house was quite small, really just a cottage with a
living room and kitchen on the first floor, two bedrooms and a
bath on the second. The Tappans have photographs from 1940 which
show the house at that stage. On the outside of the house on the
south side you can see where the original house ended by noting
where the stone wall stops. The wing to the north and rear was
originally the garage with a small room over it, and connected to
the main house by a gate in the wall (visible in one of the 1940
photographs.) At some point this end of the house was remodelled
to enlarge the room over the garage and connect the two sections
more closely. The Tappans have carried this process much further
by converting and extending the garage to form a new kitchen
(with solid cherry cabinetry), family room (with open beam
ceiling) and breakfast area (with bay window); extending the rear
of the house to accommodate a new dining room and service area;
and raising the roof to allow for a spacious master suite and
study. The old kitchen and eating area are now the new formal
entry way and a wine cellar using the original redwood kitchen
cabinetry and fixtures.
From the street one would hardly know that the house has been
more than doubled in size. Most of this work has been done in
just the last three years. Two examples should be given to show
how carefully the Tappans have gone about their renovations. One
is the beautiful match between the new stairway near the entryway
and the old stairway in the living room. The other is the new
brickwork and retaining wall outside the main door and the new kitchen
and family room. Would you be able to tell that these are new?
I certainly couldn't. The mason's name is Michael Ensley. He
looked long and hard for old brick to use; he finally found some
in a building being torn down in Arizona (New Mexico ?), and the
type of brick is called "Chicago sand block." In the new wall he
incorporated abalone shell and other rocks that are similar to
the original walls.
Inside the house are some special architectural features also
carefully preserved. Between the entry and the living room are
two black walnut doors that were originally twice as high as you
1)
now see them. They came from an early Santa Clara Valley home
belonging to the Arguello family, one of whose members was a
governor of California during the Mexican period. Also in the
living room note the tiled baseboard and the telephone closet
under the stairs with its etched glass. I believe that this door
was also shortened at some time in order to make it fit. The
ironwork on -the staircase is charming. Upstairs, the cottage
portion of the house has hardly been altered.
Betsey Soreff
April 1985
based on conversations
with Tom and Pat Tappan
i
i
Cunningham- Tappan House (stone house)
The multifaceted Luther Cunningham was a Saratoga rancher, inventor
of farm machinery, and founder of a predecessor firm of FMC,
Cunningham and Barngrover. He developed his father's farm acreage into
"Cunningham-Acres". (Lutheria street is named after his
daughter.) ".Cunningham was rich; he owned orchards and vineyards.
He was fond of-small children and used to make ice cream for the
neighborhood kids. The De Havillands lived nearby, and "frolicked in
the sunken gardens" (whose sunken gardens I'm not quite certain).
Luther and his family took over the original family home, which
still stands next door to the south of the stone house. He built
the latter in the 1920s as a tool and work area for his many
mechanical inventions. One source indicates a construction period
of 1924 -26. A date stone on the south side of the house says
"Cunningham 1928 ", which the current owners, Tom and Pat Tappan,
believe marks the completion of the original house. For much of
its history the house was rented out, until bought by the Tappans
in 1976.
One thing that's certain is that Luther loved collecting rocks.
He traveled extensively; friends and relatives also brought back
souvenirs from elsewhere. Pretty hefty souvenirs, too, some of
them. (He used them not only to build this house but also a small
building next door.) Incorporated in the walls of what is
sometimes called the "gingerbread house" are rocks from 15
countries, 43 states in the U.S. and virtually every county in
California. There are cobblestones from San Francisco streets,
fragments of mosaic from the Stanford University Chapel following
its collapse from the 1906 earthquake, Indian mortars and
pestles, abalone shells, sandstone lintels, Italian marble, and
architectural fragments from still other buildings. The two
lions high up in the gables are made of wood and originally held
lights in their mouths.
Architecturally speaking, the style of this house is a little
difficult to define. For the purposes of the tour we have
described it as English Tudor, partly due to the "half- timbering"
detail on the newest portion of the house. In the late teens and
20s small houses built in a style reminiscent of thatched English
cottages were very popular, as well as the larger kind of house
(mansion) with diamond -paned windows, oriel windows, bay windows,
towers, etc. etc., that one tends to drool over. This house has
many of the same features on a cozy scale. Most strikingly
"English" perhaps is the rolled edge of the roof, done originally
in flat vari- colored shingles and now in wood shakes. (The
shakes, by the way, had to be soaked in very hot water and then
bent to fit.) Sometimes this type of cottage is referred to as a
"Craftsman" type. This is not the same as the California
Craftsman style that another house on the tour is such a great
exemplar of (the Kahle house). Instead, it is because around the
turn of the century, in a periodical called "The Craftsman ", a
designer named Gustav Stickley promulgated a style of house and
interior furnishings that he called by this term.
1
i
Another striking outside feature is the large stone posts near
the front door, of unknown source. (Mr. Tappan says that someone
told him the design showed Yugoslavian influence. I feel they
were more like designs by the turn of the century architect Louis
Sullivan - -very leafy in an abstract way.) There are more of these
gateposts next door.
Both the Tappan's have a very warm feeling for their house. Pat
grew up in this area and knew it well as a child from going by it
on the street. Her grandfather had worked at the quicksilver
mines in New Almaden, and used to take the road by often.
Tom Tappan feels that he is in some sense in partnership with the
original builder. Now and then he says to himself "this is
mine, now, Luther, but we're partners in this." Accordingly, the
alterations the Tappans have made have been carefully designed to
be in keeping with the original house.
At first the house was quite small, really just a cottage with a
living room and kitchen on the first floor, two bedrooms and a
bath on the second. The Tappans have photographs from 1940 which
show the house at that stage. On the outside of the house on the
south side you can see where the original house ended by noting
where the stone wall stops. The wing to the north and rear was
originally the garage with a small room over it, and connected to
the main house by a gate in the wall (visible in one of the 1940
photographs.) At some point this end of the house was remodelled
to enlarge the room over the garage and connect the two sections
more closely. The Tappans have carried this process much further
by converting and extending the garage to form a new kitchen
(with solid cherry cabinetry), family room (with open beam
ceiling) and breakfast area (with bay window); extending the rear
of the house to accommodate a new dining room and service area;
and raising the roof to allow for a spacious master suite and
study. The old kitchen and eating area are now the new formal
entry way and a wine cellar using the original redwood kitchen
cabinetry and fixtures.
From the street one would hardly know that the house has been
more than doubled in size. Most of this work has been done in
just the last three years. Two examples should be given to show
how carefully the Tappans have gone about their renovations. One
is the beautiful match between the new stairway near the entryway
and the old stairway in the living room. The other is the new
brickwork and retaining wall outside the main door and the new kitchen
and family room. Would you be able to tell that these are new?
I certainly couldn't. The mason's name is Michael Ensley. He
looked long and hard for old brick to use; he finally found some
in a building being torn down in Arizona (New Mexico ?), and the
type of brick is called "Chicago sand block." In the new wall he
incorporated abalone shell and other rocks that are similar to
the original walls.
Inside the house are some special architectural features also
carefully preserved. Between the entry and the living room are
two black walnut doors that were originally twice as high as you
2
S
now see them. They came from an early Santa Clara Valley home
belonging to the Arguello family, one of whose members was a
governor of California during the Mexican period. Also in the
living room note the tiled baseboard and the telephone closet
under the stairs with its etched glass. I believe that this door
was also shortened at some time in order to make it fit. The
ironwork on-the staircase is charming. Upstairs, the cottage
portion of the house has hardly been altered.
3
Betsey Soreff
April 1985
based on conversations
with Tom and Pat Tappan
�1,�c,� 6zw�2�
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