Oakland City Landmark 1975 The Cupola National Register of Historical Places

Newsletter 1976

of the Alameda County Historical Society Landmark 1985 Pardee Home Museum Historic Landmark

Fall / Winter 2013 1998

PARDEE FAMILY DRESS MAKER Aura became a Modiste (dress sleds with wide runners so By Cherie Donahue designer) and had many well- that they would not sink into known clients including the the snow. On these was a Aura Prescott was born in a log Pardees. Aura designed and wagon-box. The bottom house on a Minnesota farm on sewed the beaded gown Mrs. was covered with straw and March 31, 1871. Her family George Pardee wore to the then hot stones and jugs of moved eight miles south to governor’s inaugural ball in hot water were placed and Albert Lea, Minnesota in 1876. Sacramento. This dress has all covered with blankets. This was the first time Aura had recently been located in storage The family was seated at ever seen a town. She and her in Sacramento. She spent six both sides and then more siblings could now attend weeks each summer in blankets. All the way the Sunday School and participate Sacramento in the Governor’s family would sing in concert. in group activities. In 1880 the Mansion while George Pardee Prescott’s moved to the newly Aura Prescott’s great was governor. opened Dakota Territory. Aura granddaughter, Cherie taught school in the Dakota Miss Helen and Miss Madeline Donohue, is a Pardee Home Territory before taking the train related memories of Aura living Museum board member, docent, to the 16th Street Station in at the family’s Oakland home and tea committee member. Oakland, CA at the age of 16 in while designing and sewing PHM benefits from Cherie’s August, 1887. She joined her clothing for the Pardee women. family ties to the Pardee family sister, Mattie, in a dress-making Aura would entertain George’s and her memories of Miss Helen shop in Oakland. daughters with stories from her and Miss Madeline. Minnesota and Dakota childhood Upcoming Events Calendar as she fitted their clothing. These tales grabbed the girls’ Sunday, February 9, 2014 from 3- attention and kept them from 4:30pm the PHM Board will be hosting a Members and Friends squirming! An example of one Event to thank our loyal of Aura’s childhood supporters. There will be a light tea recollections: and an historical talk on “Inside the Pardee Family” by Ron Bachman. When I taught school in Please come early for a tour at 2pm Dakota Territory we had where you will be shown some of the school entertainment nights restoration projects recently at the close of each term completed. RSVP required – by phone: 510-444-2187 or email: with either a drama, musical [email protected] – Members comedy or a program of are free, others $20 including tour. separate numbers. All the Saturday, March 8 from 7pm to families attended the Midnight we will be having our 7th evening program. In the Ghost Investigation. These have winter, families came in always been a lot of fun. Details to Aura Prescott come so mark your calendars now. Modiste for the Pardees bobsleds which were two big POLITICS, PLAGUE, AND PARDEE tourism. By 1902 when the Black Plague, as it was called, By Ron Bachman existence of an epidemic was killed over 25 million people more certain, Gage lost which were 1/3rd of the George Pardee may have never credibility. The Southern Pacific population. Although rats have been elected Governor of the felt he had become an always been associated with the State of California if not for the embarrassment and switched plague, it was not until 1897 that Bubonic Plague their backing to Pardee, who it was determined that a certain epidemic that started in 1900. was considered a moderate in species of flea that lived on rats This epidemic was almost terms of the railroad. George carried the plague bacteria. After completely in the San Francisco narrowly won beating Franklin the host rat died, the flea would Chinatown and among the Lane (S.F. City Attorney). move on to another rat. It carried Chinese community. Despite the the bacteria (Yersinia pestis) in fact that Public Health officials its stomach and would deposit it recommended quarantine, when they bit and sucked blood California Governor from a human. The only denied the existence of a plague treatment until antibiotics were outbreak and refused to discovered was the natural introduce measures to halt the immunity of the individual and a outbreak. He also waged a war somewhat ineffective and of words against the Public dangerous antiserum and a Health Service doctors. vaccine. You might recall that it was Governor Pardee worked quietly The word “bubonic” is derived Governor Gage who took the with the Public Health Service from the word “bubo” which is a 1888 Republican nomination, and supported their efforts to swollen lymph gland that occurs narrowly surpassing Pardee with control the epidemic. He signed in the groin, armpit, or neck in votes. Gage was heavily backed the Bill to manage the individuals with Bubonic Plague. by the Southern Pacific Railroad, Chinatown cleanup, which which was the probable reason included laying traps and for his nomination and poisonous bait for rats, hiring subsequent election as individuals to catch rats (salary Governor (1889-1903). He had based on the number of killed always been considered “a rats), utilization of carbolic acid, pawn” of the railroad. smoking sulfur pots, and chlorinated lime (released chlorine gas) to control the rat population. These efforts led to the end of the epidemic in 1904 but reemerged after the 1906 A Swollen Inguinal Lymph Node – earthquake. Since Chinatown a Bubo had been destroyed by fire in the If the Plague epidemic did not earthquake, the outbreak occur in SF in 1900, it is likely occurred in other areas with that Governor Gage would have poor sanitation, such as the been supported by the Southern refugee camps established for Pacific Railroad and Dr. George California Governor Henry Gage the earthquake and displaced would not have been elected our In 1900 Gage denied there was fire survivors (Golden Gate Park only physician Governor (1903- a Bubonic Plague epidemic and the SF Presidio). 1907). It is ironic that the because of his concern it would The history of Bubonic Plague Chinese New Year that was have on the California economy, dates back to antiquity with the celebrated in 1900 was The such as the exportation of fruit first recorded cases in the Year of the Rat. and vegetables to the rest of the Byzantine Empire in the 6th nation as well as a decline in th century. In the 14 Century the The Pardee Garden Venue Restoration Projects Donation and Keeping up on restorations at the Membership Application Pardee Home is a major item for the Board of Trustees. Each year This is the time of year we send new projects are selected. In out our special donation letter. If The Pardee Home Museum 2013 the painting of the exterior of you did not receive one but garden was a popular venue for the carriage house was would like to include the Pardee many events between May and completed. This historic building Home Museum in the list of October. Tables were set up contains the beautifully carved organizations that you value – under the Oak Tree with double redwood horse stalls and the Thank You! layered tablecloths and lovely original horse drawn carriage porcelain teacups. We had owned by Enoch Pardee. In 1911 YES! I want to become a member of birthday parties, showers and George Pardee took the big step the Pardee Home Museum. family and friends gatherings. A of purchasing a horseless __ Student $15 special treat was Trustee Paul carriage, a Winton touring car. Silverstein filling teacups from a This was the end of hay being __ Individual $35 silver teapot. Guests enjoyed pulled up through the top barn th __ Family $50 savories, scones with clotted door on 12 street and also a __ Benefactor $75 cream and strawberry jam and a good by to the groomsmen who nd variety of desserts, including our lived in the small room on the 2 __ Patron $100 - $249 signature dessert of lemon tarts story of the carriage house. __ Sustaining $250 - $499 by Dawn Muller. Trustee John Nichols built new __ Sponsor $500 - $999 shelving for items stored in the The POWER (Progressive __ Visionary $1,000 & up Oakland Women for upstairs of the carriage house.

Empowerment & Reform) group Now we are painted on the __ New Member __ Renewing held their second annual event for outside and reorganized on the inside! over 200 persons in the garden. Please make check payable to Also completed this year was the They chose to bring their own Pardee Home Foundation delicious delicacies and fed an painting of the gift shop, a much impressive crowd. needed face lift to display the and mail to lovely items for sales.: The garden has been the site of Pardee Home Museum th the annual July 4th celebration for 672 11 St, over 15 years. As in years past, Oakland, CA 94607-3651 we had live music by Fredrick MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION Hodges and Ann Gibson, games for the kids and of course a BBQ. st The Deco Bells come again in 1 Member’s Name (or Gift Name) their traditional gowns of the early 1900’s adding a wonderful touch. 2nd Member’s Name (if applicable)

Tour and Tea Price Increases Address Beginning January 1, 2014 the Pardee Home Museum will be increasing its tour price to $10 pp. City State Zip This will also affect the Teas with the Dessert Tea now becoming Home Phone Work Phone $20 and the High Tea becoming $30. Events already scheduled will remain at the original price. E-mail Also, large groups of 15 or more will be charged $5 for a Tour. Thank You for your Help!

Pardee Home Museum th NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION 672 11 Street U.S. POSTAGE Oakland, CA 94607-3651 PAID PERMIT NO. 1071 OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA The Cupola is published by the Pardee Home Museum 672 11th Street, Oakland, CA 94607-3651 Address Service Requested Phone: (510) 444-2187 Email: [email protected]

The Pardee Home Foundation is a private non-profit foundation established in 1981 to preserve, interpret, and keep open to the public the historic home and gardens of the Pardee family.

Pardee Home Foundation Trustees Kay Cheatham, Chair Russell Nelson, Vice Chair Marianne Robison, Treasurer Ron Pardee Nielson, Life Trustee Stan Stidham, Life Trustee Ron Bachman Sue Coffin Darlene Dawson Cherie Donahue Katy Foulkes Lisa Gerstacker John Nicoles Paul Silberstein

Cynthia Foster, Board Secretary Van Lam and Ethyl Lee Miller, Newsletter Distribution Russell Nelson, Editor & Newsletter Production Please Deliver Quickly - Time Sensitive Material

Catalina, The Pardee Home Museum Cat, in Her New Home For many years the Pardee Home Museum had a knew someone who had just lost an older cat and house cat – Catalina. She was originally brought was hoping to find another. Rebecca Young told to PHM as a kitten by our previous Museum Karen she and her family (husband, a son and Director, David Nicolai. He fell in love her striking daughter) would love to take over the care of facial markings and her sweet demeanor. David Catalina. Her two kids now would keep Catalina told how she disliked large groups of people, active and shower her with affection. Rebecca often going into hiding until they left. With smaller came by on August 9 to pick up Catalina and groups she would come out to socialize. She since then our house cat has been living the high loved sitting in a window surveying the beautiful life with her new family. Pardee Home gardens. Thank you Rebecca and your family for taking As Catalina is now 17 years old, it became care of our beloved Catalina!

apparent that she needed to be watched over in a

more direct way than was possible at the Pardee Home Museum. Jose Rivera, the PHM Caretaker, took great care of her and loved having her around but was out often away with his own work. The PHM Board decided it would be best for her if she could be found a home with a family who would give her the constant care and love that all cats want. One of our great volunteers, Karen Zimmerman Catalina Surveying Catalina watching over Leah Young (she leads all of our public Ghost Investigations) her new backyard