3780 Stanley Boulevard – Historic Assessment

INTRODUCTION This historic report is prepared for Mr. Mike Serpa, pending buyer / developer of the 9.05 acre property at 3780 Stanley Boulevard in Pleasanton, CA. Valerie Nagel, Architect was retained to prepare this report to evaluate potential historic significance of this property for the developer’s use. The report is divided into six sections. 1) Research includes a list of resources. 2) Setting is a brief discussion of history of Pleasanton and its development in relationship to this property. 3) Building and Property History discusses specific history of the building and property. 4) Family History includes a brief description of the history of the Huested and Irby Families. 5) Physical Description describes the architectural features of the property. 6) Historic Resource analyzes eligibility of the property as a historic resource. 7) Compliance Requirements discusses requirements set forth in CEQA and the California Register. This document is an overview and not intended to be an exhaustive inventory. Its purpose is to provide information and guidance to the owner. RESEARCH Research was conducted through the City of Pleasanton website and Planning and Building Department Offices, Pleasanton Historical Society, County Tax Assessor’s and Recorder’s Offices. The draft of the Pleasanton Downtown – Historic Context Statement was reviewed. In addition, a record search was conducted through the State of California. Arcadia book on Pleasanton was reviewed, Pleasanton - Images of America by Mary-Jo Wainwright and Museum on the Main. Two books regarding architectural styles were also reviewed. These books are American Houses (A Field Guide to the Architecture of the Home) by Gerald Foster and The Abrams Guide to American House Styles by William Morgan. SETTING Pleasanton Pleasanton is located on land originally belonging to the Mission San Jose. The 1839 Grant of Mission land to the four Bernal siblings became known as Rancho el Valle of San Jose. The new owners were two brothers, Agostin and Juan Pablo Bernal, and brothers in law, Antonio Maria Pico and Antonio Maria Sunol. The Bernal Families did not move to the rancho until after the gold rush, 1849 – 1850 to protect their property. The subject property and the northern portion of Pleasanton was originally part of Juan Bernal’s rancho. Juan Bernal sold 7,000 acres of his property north of the Arroyo del Valle including the subject property to Joseph Black in 1870. In the New Historical Atlas of Alameda Co. California, Illustrated by Thompson and West, 1878; map identifies four ranchos, Rancho Valle De San Jose, Rancho Santa Rita, Rancho Las Positas and Huested Irby Residence / 3780 Stanley Blvd., – Historic Assessment Page 1 of 13 Valerie Nagel, Architect August 1, 2013 Rancho San Ramon, as well as their early subdivisions. It also shows the early town plans for the towns of Pleasanton and Livermore. This Map clearly identifies the location of Joseph Black’s property along the north edge of the Arroyo de Valle immediately north of the town of Pleasanton. There is also a brickyard east of the subject property indicated on Joseph Black’s property. Within this Atlas is a sketch of Joseph Blacks Residence and Farm and a brief summary. “In 1866 Mr. Black purchased the interests of Juan, Raphilo, and Joaquin Bernal in the Rancho El Valle de San Jose, consisting of seven thousand acres.” Mr. Black was described as having a large grain growing enterprise as well as vineyards and hops. New Historical Atlas of Alameda Co. California, Illustrated by Thompson and West, 1878 Another map located at the Amador – Livermore Valley Historical Society was Oakland Daily and Weekly Tribune Map of Alameda County 1880, Tribune Publishing Company. This map also identifies the location of Joseph Black’s property. The Black property was subdivided again sometime between 1880 and 1883. A Map from Alameda County by M. W. Wood dated 1883 shows the Black property subdivided. It also shows the Remillard Brick Company to the east of the subject property with a separation of one property. Huested Irby Residence / 3780 Stanley Blvd., – Historic Assessment Page 2 of 13 Valerie Nagel, Architect August 1, 2013 Map from Alameda County by M. W. Wood dated 1883 shows the Black property subdivided The town of Pleasanton had a train depot and several businesses by 1869. Pleasanton continued to grow and incorporated as a town in 1894 with a population of approximately 900 people. The railroad encouraged agricultural growth with easy access to Oakland and San Francisco. Pleasanton became a regional agricultural center specializing in a variety of crops included hay, hops, grain, fruits and vegetables, wine grapes, sugar beets and later roses and dairy cows. It also became known nationally as an equestrian center. There was also a large brick making facility immediately east of the subject property. The Remillard Brick Company (formerly Pleasanton Brick Company) used clay from the banks of the Arroyo del Valle to produce common red bricks. Many of the residential and commercial structures in Pleasanton were constructed with these local bricks. The Remillard Brick Company, with 200 employees, was one of the largest local employers in the early twentieth century. World War II brought tens of thousands American service men and workers with the construction of Camp Parks, Camp Shoemaker and the Naval Construction Battalion Center. This influx doubled the population of Pleasanton. After the war the valley became a center for military research and development. Suburban residential Huested Irby Residence / 3780 Stanley Blvd., – Historic Assessment Page 3 of 13 Valerie Nagel, Architect August 1, 2013 development began to encroach on the agricultural lands by the 1960’s due to the widening of the highways and increased relocation and growth of offices. Pleasanton’s growth continued through the 1990’s, and currently has a population of approximately 70,000. FAMILY HISTORY Jeremy Huested purchased six acres of the subject property in January of 1887 for $1,500 in gold coins from Enos Taylor and Joseph Black (County Recorders Record’s Book 313, pgs. 339 and 340). The original residence was built in 1882 (as per the Assessor’s office). However, it is unclear if the residence was in fact extant at the time Jeremy Huested purchased the property. There is no mention of any buildings on the property in the deed and the Huested Irby family believes the residence was built by their ancestor. The actual construction date may be 1887, since it is unlikely that there was a house in this location. The Black family residence was located elsewhere. Jeremy worked at a variety of jobs to support his family. He later deeded the property to his son, Truman Huested. The second adjacent parcel containing four acres was purchased by Truman Huested in October 1892 for $710, $10 in gold coins and assumption of debt for $700. Truman Huested worked as a plumber and also operated harvesting equipment. The City of Pleasanton was incorporated in 1894 with a population of 900. In 1931 - 1932, Truman planted walnut trees on the property to obtain an income to carry the property and provide a living for the family. These walnut trees are visible in a 1939 aerial photograph at the Museum on Main in Pleasanton. Truman Huested passed away in 1939, leaving the property to his wife, Jennie Huested. Jennie passed away in November 1946, leaving the property to their daughter, Audrey Jeanette. 1939 photo – Museum on Main 1965 photo – Museum on Main Huested Irby Residence / 3780 Stanley Blvd., – Historic Assessment Page 4 of 13 Valerie Nagel, Architect August 1, 2013 Audrey Jeanette (Jeanette) was born in San Jose and adopted by Truman and Jennie Huested. Jeanette married Richard Irby on September 20, 1942. During the early years of their marriage, Richard served in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a bombardier on a B-17. During this time they had two children, a son, Richard Lee Irby Jr. (born 1944) and a daughter, Evelyn (born 1945). Richard Sr. was later severely injured in an airplane crash and after a long hospital stay finished his career as a radar instructor. He then returned to the subject property in Pleasanton where the family was living to return to civilian life. Initially, the Irby’s were in the nursery business specializing in roses. In 1939, Jackson and Perkins established its rose hybridization center in Pleasanton encouraging several others to open nursery’s specializing in roses. The Irby’s also began a chicken business with the construction of three 20’ x 40’ chicken coops in 1945. The chickens eventually grew to a population of more than 25,000, and the Irby’s became growers of fryers and layers for Nulaid. In 1948, a drive-thru canopy was added adjacent the house for the convenience of their egg purchasing customers. Many residents as children remember driving around the back of the house and stopping under the canopy waiting for Mrs. Irby to bring out the egg orders. Linear chicken coops are visible in a 1962 aerial photograph at the Museum on Main. In 1965, they closed down the chicken business and built a small store to operate a drive-through milk depot. This milk business expanded into a wholesale food business and eventually became a distributor for Crystal Dairy out of Sacramento. They continued the drive-in dairy business until Stanley Boulevard was realigned in 1993. “In 1988 the City of Pleasanton honored Jeanette and the Huested Family for their cultural enrichment, contributions and worthiness as a Heritage Family having settled in the community since 1849.“ Truman Huested is also featured in a mural on the interior wall of Wells Fargo Bank on Hopyard Road along with old time resident Henry Moore.

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