LISTING DETAILS
Situated on a most Normanan Rockwell-esque block in an exclusive vintage enclave of San Anselmo sits one of the County's most iconic and historic vintage brown shingled residences. With a nod to Julia Morgan, it was designed by renowned San Francisco architect, Matthew Bugbee, who had previously designed homes for city scions such as the Crockers, the Floods and other early San Francisco magnates. The 4,320 square foot home was built in 1913 for an Alaskan sea captain, George Breck, whose desire was to bring a flavor of Eskimo art to the Bay Area...hence the home's "indoor campfire nook" featuring an engraved redwood header beam bearing the words "Sitkum Nika Piah Six" which translated means "share my fire, friend" in the Chinook jargon. The famed firepit is flanked on each side by Inuit totem poles and native carvings.
The home is centered around a 30' by 30' living hall
highlighted by a vintage 10 foot leaded glass window. There are 4+
bedrooms, including the former servants quarters with adjacent nursery,
a sun room and a formal dining room that seats a dozen.
The property was purchased in 1973 by the famous San Francisco
based Gump retailing family. Included is the tallest water tower of its
kind in Northern California (5 stories high and 65 feet tall) and is on
the Historic Register. It was covered in ivy and in a total state of
disrepair when Marilyn Gump, the most recent resident, lovingly restored
the tapered and shingled back to life, and today it stands fit and tall
in her memory. Ideal for al fresco entertaining, the grounds are nearly
3/4 of an acre of level lawns, lush landscaping plus a delightful
swimming pool.
HISTORY (Excerpts from article, link below)
A massive, painstakingly restored circa 1912 craftsman-style estate
in San Anselmo has just come on the market — and is drawing interest
from current and former neighbors, local historians and real estate
aficionadoes.
“This is one of the most historically significant properties in San Anselmo,” said Judy Coy, chair of the San Anselmo Historical Commission, of the 4,320-square-foot home at 100 Alder Ave. Coy said the most striking historical feature was the accompanying five-story, 65-foot-high water tower, which is on the National Register of Historical Places and is considered the tallest of its kind in Northern California.
The water tower, at one time a garage, staff quarters and a water tank covered with ivy and sporting an open rooftop, was covered and restored with wood floors and walls in 1983 by the property’s last owner, Marilyn Gump, of the San Francisco retailing company, who died last year.
Coy said San Anselmo has a small number of homes built by renowned Bay Area architects Julia Morgan and Bernard Maybeck. Along with those, the “Igloo House” is one of a handful in the area designed by architect Maxwell Bugbee. Bugbee was commissioned to build the house by sea captain George Breck and his wife, Ella “Binnie” Breck.
According to George Breck’s obituary in the March 21, 1924, issue of the Marin and San Anselmo Herald, “The Igloo” was the first house built in the Yolanda Court section of San Anselmo.“Mr. Breck was a great admirer of things Alaskan and his home contained many of curios of that country,” the obituary said. Breck, also described in some accounts as an electrical engineer, was the founder of Pacific Coast motion picture supply companies, according to an obituary in the March 20, 1924, Marin Journal.
The governor of California in 1913 officially designated the home as the “The Igloo House.”
“This is one of the most historically significant properties in San Anselmo,” said Judy Coy, chair of the San Anselmo Historical Commission, of the 4,320-square-foot home at 100 Alder Ave. Coy said the most striking historical feature was the accompanying five-story, 65-foot-high water tower, which is on the National Register of Historical Places and is considered the tallest of its kind in Northern California.
The water tower, at one time a garage, staff quarters and a water tank covered with ivy and sporting an open rooftop, was covered and restored with wood floors and walls in 1983 by the property’s last owner, Marilyn Gump, of the San Francisco retailing company, who died last year.
Coy said San Anselmo has a small number of homes built by renowned Bay Area architects Julia Morgan and Bernard Maybeck. Along with those, the “Igloo House” is one of a handful in the area designed by architect Maxwell Bugbee. Bugbee was commissioned to build the house by sea captain George Breck and his wife, Ella “Binnie” Breck.
According to George Breck’s obituary in the March 21, 1924, issue of the Marin and San Anselmo Herald, “The Igloo” was the first house built in the Yolanda Court section of San Anselmo.“Mr. Breck was a great admirer of things Alaskan and his home contained many of curios of that country,” the obituary said. Breck, also described in some accounts as an electrical engineer, was the founder of Pacific Coast motion picture supply companies, according to an obituary in the March 20, 1924, Marin Journal.
The governor of California in 1913 officially designated the home as the “The Igloo House.”
100 Alder Ave, San Anselmo, CA 94960
5 beds | 4 baths | 4300 sqft | .64 acres
LINKS:
Listing Agent, Zillow, Realtor, Property Page, Article with Property History,
Featured Photos
No comments:
Post a Comment