“In 1929, Carmel building designer Guy O.Koepp creates La Rambla Building on Lincoln Street for Josephine Baber. A.Carlyle Stoney is the contractor. The two-story Spanish building is stuccoed wood-frame with a central passage into a garden court to the west. Large arched openings characterize the facade”. Kent Seavey- http://www.amazon.com/Carmel-History-Architecture-Images-America/dp/0738547050
The Anderle Gallery occupies the lower level on either side of the central passage. Beautiful tiles accent the window
and niches.
Large stone urns stand guard .
The door handle of the Gallery suggests this will be a unique experience
I take hold , step inside and am transported to other worlds through the art and architecture of Africa, New Guinea, India, Indonesia and Thailand.
Anderle Gallery | Decorative to Museum Quality Art from Primitive Tribal Societies to Advanced Cultures
Exiting the shop I gaze up at the second-story balconies of the apartments located over the shop.
I often see a gentleman having lunch on this balcony.
I love the grill work.
I enter the passageway and climb the stairs at the rear.
From here I can see chimney pots,
Apartment doors,
and dusty old light fixtures.
I can also look down to the turquoise bench and the closed gate that leads into Aslan’s Garden Aslan’s Garden |
From the records at City Hall, it seems that Ms. Baber remodeled the basement and constructed a small structure to accommodate a nursery and florist in 1957- “Shop in the Garden”, now the home of Aslans.
The original “Shop in the Garden” was created by Carmel artist Milton Williams in 1958. Using the metalwork skills he learned as a Marine blacksmith during the War, Milt created his unique garden and copper sculpture gallery in a spacious outdoor courtyard. He became well-known for his whimsical creations including copper crickets, ladybugs, mushroom lamps and beautifully sculpted copper fountains.
Michael Largent, the current owner of Aslan’s Garden, started working in the shop in 1967 as an apprentice metal sculptor/coppersmith with Milt Williams Sr.. He has been associated with the garden shop ever since. It is Michael who names the shop Aslans – the name of his dog and the name of the lion in the C.S. Lewis book.
This is a popular spot for shoppers and a look at their diverse , whimsical inventory explains their appeal. The following images are from Aslan’s website.
Wind chimes sing in the breeze.
Statuary,
Wall art,
Plant stakes
And solar lights are everywhere.
But my favorite category is the “Critters ” which always bring a grin to my face.
Visit the website. Many of these items are sold “on line” and can be shipped to you.
I walk by Linens & Such quite often. It is a tiny shop full of fabrics that practically burst out of the door.
I am intrigued by the garden that is being created on this corner. I admire the owner’s attempts to “bloom where she is planted”. Pots of geraniums appear and trellis placed over the window. A small wooden bench tucks into the plantings.
One day I see the owner, Meredith Crowell, watering her garden and stop to chat. Her landlord objected to her water use, so the resourceful Meredith saves rainwater in a water barrel at her home and transports it to work in all sorts of water bottles.
Her garden responds to this TLC by blooming like crazy.
Cheerful blue and white stripped cushions appear on the bench and a folding chair joins the bench.
More trellis-work goes up to support the Bougainville and climbing geranium.
Red Nicotiana.
Pink geranium
And orange nasturtium
Spice up the succulents’ cool green.
Wow, a small jungle emerges in several years.
Meredith adds her name to the Linens & Such sign.
And designs a logo of a comfy looking bed.
I love to read the various signs she places in her window. One reads :
“Usually closed Tuesday, sometimes Wednesday and Sunday.”
Sometimes they announce that she is in San Francisco and will be back when the traffic allows.
The latest one lists her priorities.
The shop is often closed when I wander by early in the morning, so I window shop
One sunny day the door is open
I squeeze in past colorful fabric
And shelves .
Although most of her work is as an Interior Designer, Meredith carries a few items to appeal to the tourist who just steps in for a moment.
I must buy several pairs of these colorful socks for my grandsons. They love socks- one of them likes to wear them mismatched.
She also carries lovely robes
Such as this
The fabrics are luscious.
Her forte is helping customers with special orders, custom orders and bespoke orders. I am not familiar with the term bespoke and she explains that this means changing base fabric color of an embroidered pattern which is not shown in the manufacturer’s catalog and /or changing thread colors or scale of a pattern ,even asking the manufacturer to use one’s own design.
She also requires the manufacturer to pre wash the fabric before it is embroidered – thus preventing that pesky pucker after it is washed for the first time at home.
This is a new product – a carry on bag for a laptop.
She is a fount of information after her 38 years of interior design experience and 15 years of retail business and makes house calls.
Check out her website
Linens and Such, Carmel CA
She carries Hamburg House and Home Treasures – both do bespoke work for her as well as providing ready-made lines.
Meredith Design Company
Meredith Crowell, Owner & Professional Interior Designer
Bedding Custom & Ready-made, Towels, bath curtains, Table-top linens, Lighting, Window coverings
Phone:(831) 624-7557
Carmel is blessed with two very different beaches. The City Beach at the end of Ocean Ave. Is a busy, social beach. Dogs play off leash,
their owners visit ,
children play and surfers ride the waves. It is a fun, festive spot.
Bill and I first spot Carmel River State Beach while dining at the Mission Ranch. We see it across the sheep meadow and admire the view. It is here that the Carmel River empties into the sea.
When we are taking our walk along Scenic Dr., we again spot it, a glorious turquoise color on this sunny day.
We later discover that more often it will appear under cloudy skies.
But today we descend the stairway at the west end and walk the relatively deserted mile-long stretch of sand. This is a beach for contemplation and solitary walks
away from the flock.
This is also a beach where the waves surprise you with their sudden strength.
We later learn that swimming, wading or even just walking too near the ocean can be extremely dangerous as the water is known for its unpredictable riptide. We leave the beach with soaked shoes , jeans and respect for Mother Nature’s power.
We have a completely different experience when we approach the beach from the opposite direction. At first we just notice tall reeds, green hills and clouds.
Then the small parking lot comes into view.
We walk across the lot facing inland and discover a bird sanctuary in a lagoon.
During the dry summer months, the ocean beach blocks the Carmel River from flowing to the sea- forming a large “swimming pool” for the birds and creating a bird watchers’ paradise full of gulls, brown pelicans and a variety of shore birds.
The scenery is spectacular in every direction.
Inland, the reeds are backed by soft green hill and dramatic skys.
Sunset is our favorite time .
It seems so tranquil as birds fly home
Or line up to bid the sun “good night”
Lone walkers
Or small groups have the delight of watching the sun set with Point Lobos in the background.
When I read reviews of this beach, I laugh when I find this review:
“Terrible. Awful. Don’t come.”
And this one :
“Don’t come here. It’s a terrible beach and no room for you. Sorry. Ok, just kidding. It is an amazing beach, but if it gets too crowded loses a large part of its appeal. It has always been a kinda hidden local spot and that’s a big part of the charm.”
Indeed it is.
This piece of glass in Wittpenn’s window starts it all.
Bill and I have collected stained and beveled glass over the years and this piece is a knock-out.
We first spot it when window shopping one October night 6 years ago. We stop to admire the Halloween theme and then we spot the glass.
The next day we return to bargain. Soft bluegrass music plays in the background and Chip Wittpenn stands behind the counter of his beautifully kept three room shop
in Reimer’s Stonehouse Terrace
on San Carlos Avenue, between 7th and 8th streets.
He is adamant. Not only will he not bargain, he states that he might not sell it even if we pay full price. He doesn’t carry anything he wouldn’t want to live with and now he is enjoying this piece and is not ready to pass it on.
Each year we try, thinking as we see it year after year, surely he will want to sell .
Then comes the year it is gone. He finally got an offer higher than his asking price and couldn’t refuse.
We are now in the habit of always checking out the new window display that Chip and his wife Kathy arrange so well.
The two of them start with a booth at the Cannery Row Antique Mall. When one booth grows to four, they make the move to Carmel.
We step in to treat our eyes to the mellow tones of
old wood,
brass,
silver,
sparkling glass and
Copper such as this English kettle with spout that would have been used to heat water either over an open fire or in a fireplace.
As I admire this English bronze inkwell dating around 1880-1910,
I hear Chip greeting customers. He knows the story behind each item they admire.
I ask about this stunning lamp with its 8 curved slag glass panels and extensive filigree and find out that it is a signed Miller. An American, Miller was first noted for his oil lamps but progressed with the times. This electric lamp dates around 1925-1935.
The Tiffany lamp isn’t manufactured by Tiffany it is made by a company in California, Lamps by Hilliard, and are quite collectible. The lamp is ” their Tiffany style, bronze base and leaded glass in the favrile flavor.This particular lamp isn’t being made any longer as it wasn’t cost effective. My understanding is that the only other place that has this floor lamp is the St. Francis hotel in San Francisco.
I am amused by this English plate which is part of the “Dickens Character” series manufactured by the Alfred Meakin Company C 1905-1920.
It sits behind this hammered copper, arts and crafts inkwell C. 1910-1920.
I believe my favorite piece is the George Clark spool cabinet C. 1880-1910. These cabinets were mainly found in general stores. The O.N.T., third drawer down, stands for Only New Thread. The customers would come in to the store and look in this drawer to see what new colors were available that month. These cabinets are now used for side tables, coffee tables and the drawers used for scrapbookers, seamstress, Jewelry, etc.
Wittpenn’s is also noted for Roseville and Rookwood Pottery
and Hubley toys.
Chip plays mandolin and the bluegrass music I hear in the store is a recording of one of his bands’ practice sessions. He has a passion for musical instruments and sells violins, mandolins and guitars.
This visit, I meet William, the canine member of the family. He poses for treats and I snap a shot. He is one of Carmel’s many “shop” dogs.
As I start to leave, I see it.
Oh no, another great piece of glass. Better go get Bill.
When we first look for a home in Carmel, the realtor shows us what is in our price range but also takes us to see several homes built by master-builder Fred Slabaugh.
His homes have exquisite craftsmanship. We love Jay’s Nest in particular, although it is way out of our reach. Slabaugh builds this home in 1989 in the Country English Style.
This August, I walk by the house again to admire. I see that it is for sale and take a listing sheet- the listing agent is Jo-Ann Ruffolo of Coldwell Banker.
I call to ask about photos and she informs me the house and garden have just been renovated by a Carmel designer I admire very much , Linda Floyd. LindaFloyd.com
Linda allowed me to photograph her garden at Biddlestone . Follow this link for Linda’s garden.
http://wp.me/p1h6EG-Ln
Jo Ann invites me to tour and photograph the garden at Jay’s Nest. Of course, I accept.
I notice subtle touches at once. Stepping stones have been set in the pea gravel and plantings of boxwood and Impatiens draw the eye to the front door.
I admire the pocket planter on the gate
And the vines twining over the arbor.
Yes, there is the Slabaugh quality right at the front door. The beautiful stonework porch has a bench and pots of flowers.
I ring the bell, just to make sure no one is home, step off the porch and glance to the east. A small path leads to the driveway.
I decide to head west on the meandering stone path toward a small gate.
Copper lights and informal plantings of cranesbill and foxglove line the path
Bougainvillea is starting to climb the stone wall.
I push open the gate and follow the beckoning curve of the path
Giving a backward glance
As in Biddlestone Garden, the breathtaking patio appears as I round a corner.
Soft pink and white plantings and cushioned furniture compliment the lovely color of the stucco.
I step to the upper patio
It takes me a minute to really see the message.
What a clever way to design a wine cellar.
More soft colors and furnishings
The chair armrests are quite distinctive.
From this vantage point I have a nice view of the glass-topped table.
I retrace my steps , noting the lush canopy of oaks and other trees.
Back again at the bench, this planter of blue lobelia and petunias catches my eye.
As I leave the property , I notice that even the cobblestone driveway has special touches such as the groundcover planted between the cobbles,
Pots that hide service areas
And adorn gates.
Linda has redone the interior and it is lovely. I will rely on the photos that Jo Ann has provided on her website to show you the living room
And dining room which features one of the five fireplaces in the home and the reclaimed 19th century walnut floors.
The kitchen has a European flair with its custom 19th century antique cabinets.
The half bath is quite elegant.
The cottage has three bedrooms
and two full baths.
Plus all the lovely details that are hallmarks of Linda Floyd’s designs
Jo-Ann Fantino Ruffolo, Realtor, Coldwell Banker Northern …
List Price $3,995,000
I admire Hob Nob for years and snap photos of its gate.
I know that it is on the California Register of Historic Homes – but not much more.
As I walk by this August, the cottage seems to have an air of new life about it.
The garden is freshened, doors and windows are ajar
and strollers line the driveway.
Encouraged, I open the gate
and walk down the westward sloping stairs set in the Carmel stone retaining walls
and past walkways and well maintained informal garden of flower beds and low shrubbery.
The main entry is on the north side and the roof flares slightly over an enclosed, stucco-clad round-headed arched portico, with a tiny round-headed window in its east side elevation.
As I ring the bell,
a dog alerts the residents. A young women answers and promises to give my card to the owners who are both busy at the time.
Within the hour I receive a call, they will look at the blog and let me know if I might photograph their home.
Hooray! I can.
In the meantime, I go to City Hall to learn about this home I will be privileged to photograph.
Hob Nob is originally known as the Garfield D. Mermer House. Built in 1924 , it is tentatively attributed to Carmel designer/builder Ernest Bixler. Architectural historian, Kent Seavey, notices suggestions that M.J. Murphy may have had a hand in the construction. Mr. Seavey descibes the details I will look for.
I wait for an overcast sky and head out to take my pictures.
The house is an “ell” plan that forms a V, facing the prevailing SW sea breeze , providing protection for the Carmel Stone paved patio fronting the residence.
Offset French doors on either side of the north wing provide easy access through the house to a terraced garden and patio.
This appears to be the ideal place for the dog to keep a keen watch on the house and he again announces my presence.
One of the most delightful aspects of the home is its open round-headed arches enclosing a wooden landing , reached by an open, side-approach exterior wooden staircase to a balcony.
Later,this balcony is even more appealing when a curly-haired , red-headed granddaughter with a few missing teeth poses at the top like Juliet awaiting her Romeo.
I make my way along the south side of the home and down the drive.
A detached garage sits at the end of the drive.
I look back to the west-facing terrace.
I find out later that many children and grandchildren are weekend guests. That explains the strollers, beach toys,
tennis rackets
and balls.
Surely the builder would be delighted to find his creation sheltering so much happy life.
Back up the drive , I admire the diverse textures and colors of the plantings.
The owner now comes out to meet me. He is a charmer . Well-educated, gracious and a wonderful grandfather , we “ hob nob” until his wife announces he has four minutes to get ready to take the family to the Forest Theater Production of “Beauty and the Beast”.
We part, but I am promised a chance to photograph the interior when all the guests have gone.
I can hardly wait.
I am out and about in search of the graffiti art of Banksy.
Banksy (1974 — ) is a graffiti artist from Bristol,UK, whose artwork appears throughout London and other locations around the world. Despite this,he carefully manages to keep his real name from the mainstream media.
He has two “pieces” of art in Carmel. One is at the Cypress Inn.
I have heard that “Einstein” appears on a building in Carmel’s Forest Lodge, so I walk to the SE corner of Ocean and Junipero to see if I can find it.
The Forest Lodge has a great location – cross the street and shop along Ocean Ave., see a play nearby at the Forest Theater, or make a quick get-a-way down the coast to Big Sur.
It is a charming set of cottages in a garden setting.
Yep, there is Einstein on Ocean Ave. side of Ocean Cottage. He is standing in a patch of Acanthus proclaiming that “Love is the Answer”. How can I argue with that?
Now that I am here I decide to wander around. It is a sunny day and the Agapanthus is in full bloom.
Ocean Room has its own little patio
and the rooms look lovely.
The current owners have recently eco-remodeled.
I take the path heading up the hill and come to a building housing 3 units.
The Dali Suite
with its huge stone fireplace.
The Garrett Loft
And on the west side , Weston House.
Now I wander north and see Garden House
And last, Einstein cottage
with its stone fireplace.
The fountain makes its music
and I look down to the red telephone booth outside the office.
The booth holds tourist information.
I bet everyone has their photos taken here. A startled couple graciously agree to pose and I snap this shot.
As I write this post , I start to wonder about the history of these cottages and find they begin as Carmel’s first hospital.
In 1927, Edith Ballou Shuffelton, a graduate of the nursing school at Stanford, persuades people to give to a fund for Carmel Hospital. The hospital is designed by Robert Stanton and built by Michael J. Murphy. In a matter of a few years the facility proves inadequate. The building is then converted to the Forest Lodge apartments.
I read reviews of the Forest Lodge– guests love the place.
“No city should be too large for a man to walk out of in a morning”. ~Cyril Connolly
Our primary residence is in Kansas City.
Although there are many wonderful things to do here, they often require getting into the car.
“Walking isn’t a lost art – one must, by some means, get to the garage.” ~Evan Esar
Our suburban neighbor hood with its large lots makes neighboring a little more difficult.
The climate here is “cold winter,two spring days, hot summer, and two lovely , autumn days.
“The Americans never walk. In winter too cold and in summer too hot.” ~J.B. Yeats
Carmel, however, is just one square mile and has a maritime climate. It is almost the same all year, highs in the upper 60’s and lows about ten degrees cooler. PERFECT walking weather. We try to use the car very little when we are here.
It delights us to walk to so many places.
If we arrive late at night, we go straight to the cottage, unload the car, adjust the thermostat and climb under a load of soft comforters and blankets.
In the morning, we treat ourselves to breakfast. How nice to step out into the cool, still morning and have breakfast at The Cottage.
We also like Katies, Em Le’s and the Tuck Box.
If Bill sleeps in, I pull on my jacket and tennis shoes and saunter up to The Camel Valley Roasting Co for a “Fog Lifter. I sit inside glancing at the newspaper.
Nielsen’s Market is open.
So I buy some groceries and flowers for the house and head on home after admiring the produce.
We often stop here and have them make sandwiches which we share for lunch.
When I get home, Bill is ready to take a morning hike on the path above the beach.
The dogs are having a great time.
“An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.” ~Henry David Thoreau
We stop at the Post Office.
Everyone is getting their mail out of the boxes,
sorting it and recycling the junk mail. And chatting with neighbors as they do this.
While Bill looks though his e-mail, I slip on my work-out clothes and meander to a class at the Carmel Yoga Center.
After I clean up ,it is time for lunch at Patisserie Boissiere
and a short, restorative nap.
Bill does not nap, so he strides to the hardware store
for supplies for whatever project he is starting.
After awakening, I stroll along Ocean Ave.,loving all the treasure I find.
We always stop in Carmel Drug store at some point in our trip. The pharmacist is very pleasant. While Bill picks up a prescription,
I admire cosmetics.
Carmel Drug is under the green awning on Ocean Ave. You can’t miss it.
Should we need refreshment, we stop at The Carmel Bakery and Coffee Co.
I can partial to the the gingerbread men.
Cafe Carmel and The Carmel Coffee House are also comfortable places to order a treat and put your feet up.
By now, my feet have had just about all the fun they can have .
While we sit on the couch , we debate our dinner choices. Good heavens, it has been several hours since our last meal. We could surely starve.
We consider fish at Flaherty’s
or pasta at Il Fornaio ,
peel and eat shrimp at Aw Shuks
or Jalapenos mexican restaurant.
Making this choice is harder than you might think. We have 50 excellent restaurants we can walk to!!
Finally we choose Tommy’s Wok .
This has been a fabulous day, and we have NEVER gotten into the car.
Perhaps some of you who live in a small town can do this easily. But just the thought of walking all these places in KC makes me guffaw.
The next morning dawns sunny and cool and we decide to take our walk in the Nature Preserve.
After our walk, I amble around the corner to City Hall .
to photograph records I plan to use in my Blog.
I have brought nothing to read so I stop at the Pilgram’sWay
and at the Harrison Memorial Library.
I love to read books set in Carmel or written by Carmel authors.
This afternoon , I have errands to do.
1. Dry Cleaner
2. Camera Repair
You guessed it– I walked.
This evening we have theater tickets at Sunset Center.
Imagine walking 5 blocks to see Bob Newhart, Ziggy Marley, Kenny Loggins or to experience an evening with Lilly Tomlin .
We make reservations at the Cypress Inn for a light supper before the theater. They serve “small plates”. The portions are just the right size and delicious.
When our daughter is here we go to “Hairspray” at The Golden Bough Playhouse just around the corner from our home.
But my favorite theater event is when we stroll to The Forest Theater
to see” Annie”
and wander back home carrying small flashlights to light our way. It looks like a huge swarm of fireflies are roaming the streets.
All this and we STILL have not been in our car today .
I plan a day of beauty for myself. I get a manicure from T&L Nail Spa ,
a hair trim at the Salon at Lincoln Lane
and the most fabulous massage from the owner of Kush Spa.
I flip-flop home.
When visitors come, I make reservation to take them to Tor House
and Hawk Tower. It was built by Jeffers himself. And we all enjoy the walk there.
When Sunday rolls around, we walk up to church at the Church of the Wayfarer.
“My father considered a walk among the mountains as the equivalent of churchgoing.” ~Aldous Huxley
Many nights we hoof it down to the beach for the sunset.
“After dinner sit awhile, after supper walk a mile.” ~English Proverb
“Four times I was honked at for having the temerity to proceed through town without the benefit of metal.” ―
Bill Bryson, A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail
So when you come to Carmel, bring your walking shoes.
When we first move to Carmel, I know very little about the history of the homes and cottages I walk by every day. But I do know that they enchant me. No two are alike and the variety and character of the homes attract my eye, my camera and my curiosity.
One day while browsing the books at The Pilgrim’s Way Bookstore, I spot a new book in the “local interest” section. It is a book by Linda Leigh Paul called
“Cottages by the Sea”
The handmade homes of Carmel, America’s First Artist community”.
I buy my copy and immediately I am knee-deep in a study of Carmel’s architecture. I use this book as a reference and try to find the 34 homes described within. My curiosity is no longer restricted by gates and walls and I adventure with Ms. Paul.
The book is widely available in your local bookstore or on Amazon. Cottages by the Sea, The Handmade Homes of Carmel, America’s First Artist Community
The book starts with the Carmel Mission
and explores the Spanish influence in Carmel homes.
In 1900 Frank Devendorf and Frank Powers formed the Carmel Development Co. They targeted school teachers with their first marketing pamphlets. They also enticed artists, poets, and actors and attracted “Bohmemians” who have defined much of Carmel’s character.
After the San Francisco earthquake,
photograph by Arnold Genthe
George Sterling,
Jack London,
Mary Austin,
and Arnold Genthe
among others, settled in Carmel and built their homes.
In 1919 poet Robinson Jeffers built Tor House with the help of M.J. Murphy and later he built Hawk Tower with his sons.
Ms. Paul has some wonderful interior photos. These are hard to come by . Interior photos are only allowed once a year during the Garden Party.
Carmel’s beautiful natural setting and bohemian atmosphere attracted many unconventional men and women and the homes reflect this .
Edward Kuster , Una Jeffers’ first husband, arrived and built his beautiful castle so close to theirs and of such similar stone that to this day a sign in the front yard directs tourists down the hill to Tor House.
Bark House was designed by the owner, Mary Cone , a talented amateur designer and built by Lee Gottfried in 1922. Redwood bark from Big Sur forms the exterior. The interior shots by Radek Kurzaj show a refined interior of untreated redwood that glows in the natural light.
Hob Nob is a Tudor-style stucco, thought to have been designed and built by one of Carmel’s early craftsmen, Ernest Bixler.
Ms. Paul features four of Hugh Comstock’s cottages.
Hansel
Our House
Sunwiseturn.
And a tiny Cape Cod called “Edith’s House”
She shows M.J. Murphy’s masterpiece, Hasenyager House.
Gate House is one of my favorites shown in the book. It took me ages to find it and it’s origins are still somewhat mysterious.
I have often walked by Whitecaps and Nightcaps on Scenic Dr. Built in the 1980’s, Whitecaps was built first and Nightcaps followed as a getaway for the children and grandchildren of the owners of Whitecaps.
image by Google Earth
Read about all the wonderful planning that went into Stone House built in 1990. The interior photos are stunning.
Placed last is the Charles S. Greene House and Studio built by the Charles Greene of the Arts and Crafts Movement. The interior shows the attention to detail for which he is famous. Almost demolished, the home was saved by Charles’ children and repaired by his son Did.
Ms. Paul features 34 homes in this wonderful book.
Catty-corner from our Carmel cottage is my good neighbor,”The Homestead”.
It is originally built in the 1900’s as a private home but has grown over the years into 12 guest rooms in cottage-like buildings
separated by winding stone pathways.
The outdoor patio has a Carmel stone fireplace.
The Main House has seven rooms all remodeled in the Mission Style.
We stay here when we were moving into our house and enjoy the company of Betty Colletto the current owner. Betty lives here with her daughter and tells us stories about our house.
She is one fabulous gardener and has created a lush succulent garden.
Much of the history of this home is archived. The first records in the file at City Hall show Mr. Ray Sutton converting the home in 1936 and opening for business as Sutton Place.
Next Mr. Jim Buffington takes ownership and does some remodeling
and then in 1956 our old friend Hugh Comstock adds 900 square feet and 3 rooms.
We are present for the next change of ownership when Betty retires and sells The Homestead to none other than Clint Eastwood. Mr. Eastwood does extensive work and makes the hotel the “sister” to the Mission Ranch. Guests are welcome to enjoy breakfast, the fitness center and tennis courts at The Mission Ranch.
I love the soft rose color
Winding paths,
And colorful plantings.
The Homestead is a good spot for families as the rooms are large and the patio is a great place to gather in the evening.
Most of the rooms are “up- to- date”, but several stay quite rustic, so be sure to study up before you book a room.
If you stand on a balcony
and look south-west, give me a wave.
After I posted this , I got wonderful messages from girls who grew up in this house.
“Mom and Dad lived in Omaha, Dad working for his father’s insurance company. He didn’t like it so they packed up their things and moved to California. Before we knew it they had purchased the hotel. When we were growing up we did all the work as a family. Mom would clean the kitchens and bathrooms, Dad did the floors and windows and Betty and I stripped the rooms, took in the needed linens and made the beds. As I recall, we were initially paid 25 cents an hr. which was later raised to 50 cents. Another job Dad would do would paint the building, after installing television in the rooms he learned how to test faulty TVs and fixed them himself. He also did most of the hotel repairs. Mom answered the door for the customers, kept the books, did the correspondence, did all the washing of the towels, spreads, blankets, etc. The sheets were sent out to be cleaned and starched. Later Mom washed all the glasses in the rooms in the dishwasher.
When times were hard we took the old used bath soap, let it dry out and then we’d put it thru a meat grinder to use in the washing machine.
In their little spare time Mom would paint seascapes, landscapes etc. and Dad made model ships. When he reached his late 60’s he took up needlepoint. When we were done on the room cleaning on weekends, Dad took us fishing. Those were wonderful times. I have no idea where he found time to do that as he belonged to the Lion’s club, and was a member of the Youth Center Board, worked for the Red Cross etc.
Mom and I would play double solitaire when Dad was at a meeting. Dad was also a black and white photographer as a hobby. As Betty and I got older we learned how to run the business and then Mom and Dad were able to take a vacation. We had a wonderful life there and treasure all of our memories. If I think of anything else I will let you know.
We may have missed being neighbors but we can always stay in touch.”
Mary Thurston
Her sister Betty adds
“Dad was also on the city council in the 50’s he was street commissioner and police commissioner, the shooting range at the police station is named after him. Mom was a wonderful artist, she was president of the Carmel Art Association at some point. My sister went off to college right after high school, married and moved to New York over 40 years ago. She remembers things I don’t, and I remember things she doesn’t. “
Once upon a time..Tales from Carmel by the Sea 