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1440 Hawthorne Terrace Berkeley, CA
January 30,2019 Land Use Planning Received Fatema Crane January 30, 2019 Secretary Landmarks Preservation Commission City of Berkeley 1947 Center Street, 2nd Flr. Berkeley, CA94704
Dear Ms. Crane:
V/ith this letter, I wish to respond to the materials submitted by the owners of 1450 Hawthorne Terrace (the Speny Mclaughlin House & Garden) and supplement the landmark application materials that I previously submitted supporting the designation of the Speny-Mclaughlin and Marsh Houses & Gardens as landmarks pursuant to Berkeley Ordinance 4694 N.S. Among other things, I have attached a letter prepared by architectural landscape historian Janet Gracyk, who authored the HALS designation for the 'White House, describing the merits of the landscape that we are seeking to preserve on both Hawthorne Terrace properties. Exhibit A.
First, I am gratified that the present o\ilners of 1450 Hawthorne Terrance apparently concede that the Speny-Mclaughlin House and Garden designed by Henry H. Gutterson and landscape architect Mabel Symmes are worthy of preservation and meet the requirements for designation as a landmark pursuant to Berkeley Ordinance 4694 N.S. According to the December 14,2018 memorandum prepared by Stacy Kozakavichl of Page & Turnbull, which the owners submitted to the Landmarks Preservation Commission ("LPC"), Page & Turnbull does not "question the overall conclusion [of the landmark application] that that the subject property is worthy of local landmark status." We could not agree more! The conclusion that this property is worthy of landmark protection is consistent with the conclusion reached by the various experts whom I consulted including Ms, Gracyk, Richard Brandi of Richard Brandi Historic Preservation Consulting, Chris Pattillo for the local chapter of FASLA, and UC Berkeley College of Environmental Design Professors Elizabeth Macdonald and Joe McBride. (See their letters, Exhibit B.) It is also consistent with the view of majority of the property's neighbors, who signed the original petition or the more recent preservation petition reproduced at Exhibit C.
Second, I have revised the list of "Aspects to Be Preserved" to incorporate several of Ms. Kozakavich's comments and suggestions. This revised list appears at Exhibit D, and is what I respectfully recommend be adopted in full by the LPC. While I agree with Ms. Kozakavich that
I Page & Tumbull's December 14,2018 memorandum lists Stacy Kozakavich as "Cultural Resources Planner/Architectural Historian." Ms, Kozakavich is not a landscape architecture historian nor is she a member of ASLA. ATTACHMENT 4 LPC 02-07-19 Page 2 of 48
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the aspects to be preserved can also be described as "Character Defining Features," that proposed phrase is not the language used in the BMC; therefore, I have employed the phrase "Aspects to be Preserved."
Third, to the extent that Ms. Kozakavich's memorandum advocates or proposes allowing current and/or future owners of either of the properties latitude to make changes to their exteriors, character defining features, or gardens as they see fit--for example, by removing mature, healthy plants and hardscape features without first seeking approval from the LPC --we respectfully disagree, Likewise, her recommendation that the historic frieze featuring Sylvia Mclaughlin not be included in the aspects to be preserved (because it post-dated Gutterson's design), does not make sense in light of the totality of the landmark application proposed for the properties and its exterior features. That frieze should be preserved in recognition of the house's close association with Sylvia Mclaughlin.2
Indeed, given that the house and gardens are equally worthy of landmark designation based upon the merit and integrity of Gutterson and Symmes's designs and the historic and cultural importance the properties have to the community by virtue of its past owners and association with the larger environmental movement, a more restrictive approach should be taken commensurate with the dictates of the BMC. Notwithstanding Ms. Kozakavich's suggestions, therefore, the following aspects should certainly be preserved:
1. The surfaces and surface materials of all patios (front and rear) and the laundry yards -- as they are original to both properties; 2. The rock, stucco, brick, and other walls currently existing on the properties (they are original and/or pre-date the Berkeley Fire); 3. The camellia, rhododendrons, holly bushes/hedges, fig trees, redwood trees, mature oaks, Cyprus trees, boxwood hedges, wisteria, roses, myrtle hedges, citrus trees, and other mature trees and mature shrubs (all of which are either original or were like-for-like replacements of original plants selected by Symmes); 4. The working fountain designed by Gutterson in the shared patio area; 5. The rose and rose trellis on the Eastern Façade of the Speny Mclaughlin house (visible in historic photos of the house as shown in the original submission); 6. The trellis/arbor at the Western edge of the properties, which replaced the original tea house designed by Gutterson and which has been a feature of the modern garden since circa 1960. 7 . The frieze of Sylvia Mclaughlin and her brothers.
With respect to item 3, the green shrubs, I note that Symmes's use of holly, camellias and other ever green shrubs is particularly characteristic of American gardens of the 1920s.3
2 Under no circumstances should it be disturbed unless an art historian or comparable expert provides a written opinion that it can be moved without damaging that artwork -- as at least one previous expert opined that it could not be moved without causing considerable damage to that piece' 3 Balmori, McGuire, and McPeck, Beatrix Fqrrand's American Landscapes, at 122 (noting Farrand's frequent use of holly, parlicularly American holly with boxwood and yew); https://golmn.com/a-look-back-in-time-landscaping- ATTACHMENT 4 LPC 02-07-19 Page 3 of 48
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Fourth, Page &. Turnbull's recommendation that the application for 1450 Hawthorne Terrace be combined with that lor 1440 Hawthome Terrace, while understandable, is unworkable here. Given that the application for 1450 Hawthorne Terrace was by petition, and that for 1440 Hawthome Terrace by agreement of the owners, it was not legally possible to combine the applications at the time they were submitted. At this juncture, it makes no sense whatsoever to delay the consideration of the landmarks applications for a combined application to be created, and there is certainly no legal basis to require it. Further, the condition of the property described in the application was as of the date of the writing.
Fifth, Ms. Kozakavich's statement that Ms. Symmes "did not, as an independent practitioner, demonstrably influence the work of others in her fteld," P&T Mem. at 8, is demonstrably incorrect and unsupported. The garden that Symmes designed at Blake House has been studied by literally generations of landscape architects, including undergraduates and post-graduates at of the CED (College of Environmental Design) at U.C. Berkeley. CED's archives of Professor Katherine Jones's papers, for example, reflect a field trip that she led for her students to Blake Garden (then in private hands) on April 76,1926, as part of the class she was teaching (Landscape Gardening 1138). This record is one of many in the CED archives and elsewhere that illustrate Blake Garden's importance to Symmes's contemporaries and her stature amongst her now better-known contemporaries such as Thomas Church, whose gardens Prof. Jones and her students also toured. Blake Garden remains popular to this day, and its current relevancy is reflected in its busy social media presence, and the number of visitors of all ages who tour that garden regularly. Indeed, Blake Garden has been recognized as one of the pre-eminent gardens of the West in numerous publications, including, Nancy Power's The Gardens of Caliþrnia (2001), Kathleen McCormick's The Garden Lover's Guide to the West (2000), Joan Chatfield-Taylor's Visiting Eden (1993), and Priscilla Dunhill & Susan Freedman's Glorious Gardens (1993).
Page & Turnbull's memorandum also does a disservice to Symmes and other early 20th Century female landscape architects with its suggestion that she was not co-equal with her (presumably male) contemporaries because there is no evidence that she was paid for her work.a The memo references Mai Albergast's conjectures (in the 1980s) that in the 1920s and '30s, Symmes was not an independent practitioner, and Ms. Kozakavich apparently concludes from these words that Symmes "cannot be considered a prominent figure in the field." Contrary to Albergast's supposition, the contemporaneous evidence-including documents in the UC CED archives, which Ms. Kozakavich did not review - show Symmes to be a committed professional who identified herself as a landscape architect,s was identified as such by her contemporades6, was
trends-from-the-1920s-50s/ (describing use ofdifferent types ofevergreens in 1920s gardens). For a discussion ofthe process regardingthe preservation ofanother 1920s garden, see Lucy E. Sullivan, "A 1920's Estate Garden Is Carefully Restored, " New York Times, JUNE 18, 2000.
a One wonders if evidence still exists that her male counterparts were paid, or even if this issue would be examined in relation to them. 5 For example, the 1930 census, which lists her occupation as Architect-Landscape, and various voter registration lists that list the same career. 6 For example, Prof. Jones who taught landscape architecture at UCB mention landscape architect Symmes in her letters to the editor and chief of the National Horticulture magazine. (CED Archives;Katherine Jones Collection). ATTACHMENT 4 LPC 02-07-19 Page 4 of 48
January 30,2019 Page 4 hired by prominent architects such as Gutterson and Walter Ratcliff (twice), designed several of the most significant and expensive residential gardens in the East Bay, and lectured and wrote about topics in landscape architecture and horticulture.T All of these facts show a woman fully engaged in professional life whose work is worthy of recognition and preservation. The Page & Turnbull memo reminds us that (unfortunately) all too often the work of talented, even pioneering, female landscape designers is underappreciated or even ignored for years before being rediscovered and recognized later. As the landscape historian, Jane Brown wrote about two of Symmes's most famous contemporaries (or near contemporaries): "After [Beatrix Farrand's] death inl959,her work and her gardens were quickly forgotten, just as happened to Gertrude Jekyll after her death in 1932., . . For thirty years after her death Miss Jekyll slept in obscurity . . . ." Beatrix: The Gardening Life of Beatrix Jones Farrand (Viking Press 1995). Fanand and Jekyll, of course, are no longer obscure; their garden designs are recognizedas supremely influential. It is important to keep this history in mind when assessing whether Symmes is currently "famous" and whether fame is the proper measure of the degree of protection to be given her gardens on Hawthorne Terrace, which are remarkably well-preserved through the efforts of Sylvia Mclaughlin.
Finally, I have attached an errata sheet to this letter (Ex. E) to correct the various minor errors identified by various commentators, including Page & Turnbull, and Daniella Thompson of BAHA, who kindly reviewed the applications previously submitted; and, as Exhibit F, additional documents of potential historic interest such as various surveys of the property pre- and post-Fire.
Sincerel
Carolyn F lVen
7 For example, "Two Dissimilar Members of the Aristolochia Family, Native of California ," The Amerícan H orticultur al Magazine, Y ol. 42. ATTACHMENT 4 LPC 02-07-19 Page 5 of 48
EXHIBIT A ATTACHMENT 4 LPC 02-07-19 Page 6 of 48
Janet Gracyk landscape architect
January 30,2OL9
To: Carolyn F. McNiven 1440 Hawthorne Terrace
Berkeley, CA 94708
Regarding: Landmark Status lor I4ÉlO and 1450 Hawthorne Terrace, a Mabel Symmes landscape
I ntroductio n The purpose of this letter is to support Landmark status for the Marsh-Sperry landscape at 1440 and 1450 Hawthorne Terrace. The letter has been prepared at the request of Carolyn McNiven. A memorandum and peer review for L450 Hawthorne, prepared by Page and Turnbull and dated Dec. 14r 2018, was reviewed. Preliminary findings and observations are contained below; full documentation and analysis, adhering to the Berkeley Landmark Application form, employing the Secretary of the lnterior historic documentation standards and methods, is warranted.
Landscape, forthe purposes of this report, includes the placement of the buildings on the land, spatial relationships, site structures and furnishings, circulation design, paths, and any other landscape elements, as well as vegetation.
The properties were developed as a single property containing various and related gardens and now consists of two separate properties with a shared center garden. ln this document, the combined landscape is called Marsh-Sperry Garden, as is shown on the original drawings. The house to the north is aT I44O Hawthorne Terrace, and is called "L44O" while the house to the south is called "!450." Other documents may refer to the 1440 property as the Marsh house, and 1450 as the Sperry house, or the Sperry-Mclaughlin house. The 1925 Symmes' plan for the landscape, and a Google Earth aerial view, are on page #5 of this document.
Summary of Findings The landscape has a strong possibility of qualifying as historically significant, and the information contained in this document may be sufficient for the Landmarks Commission to find the landscape eligible for Landmark status, but further research and a context statement would assist in a determination of eligibility.
The Landmarks Application does not require a period of significance, but it is useful to consider an appropriate timeframe. The likely period of significance would be the development of the property, 1925, both for the architecture and the landscape. The period of significance may also reasonably be extended to include the period of time in which Donald Mclaughlin and Sylvia Mclaughlin resided at 1450 Hawthorne Terrace; perhaps
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during the time Sylvia founded the Sove the Bay organization, although both Donald and Sylvia McLaughlin were im portant figu res.
The architect, Henry H. Gutterson, was significant, locally and regionally. Mabel Symmes was an accomplished landscape architect who deserves greater recognition than she has previously received, and the Marsh-Sperry landscape is an extant and substantially intact landscape designed by her. The significance of Mabel Symmes and the landscape may be established by any or all of the following contributions made by Symmes:
a The garden as an excellent example of a substantially intact 1920s Berkeley landscape, designed by one of California's earliest landscape architects, as well as being a landscape designed by a woman during an era when women landscape architects were not common. a At least two of Symmes' landscapes were highly regarded enough to serve as teaching environments. Blake Garden was a teaching landscape prior to the time that UC Berkeley acquired the estate; during Symmes' lifetime, instructors and students regularly visited the property to learn about the design and the plants. The Harold Spens Black Garden, in Berkeley, was also visited by students learning the design profession. a Symmes' was influential in the introduction, use, and appropriateness of new plants. Symmes, with her sister, Anita Blake, explored many new plant varieties at Blake Estate, testing the horticultural limits of the plants, learning if the plants were appropriate for California, Symmes, as well as her sister, presented information about plants and gardens to various groups, and Symmes writing on plants was published, Symmes exchanged information with prominent horticulturalists. Symmes was active in the California Botanical Society from its earliest days and may have been among its first, and possibly founding, members.
These statements are based on preliminary research; the research is summarized below. As a landscape architect specializing in historic landscapes, my focus for the property is on the landscape areas.
Mabel Symmes Mabel Symmes was born in 1875, in San Francisco. She died in February of 7962. Her parents developed significant wealth and Symmes, apparently, remained financially comfortable throughout her life (Blake Estate oral history project: oral history transcript / 7986-1987 p 280). She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1896, from the University of California, Berkeley (University of California). ln 1912, Mabel traveled with her parents to tropical lands, including Hawaii and Tahiti (San Francisco Chronicle).
Symmes returned to the University in L914 to take classes in "Landscape Gardening,"'The "Division of Landscape Gardening and Floriculture," precursor to the Landscape Architecture program, was established in 1913 (Blake Estate oral history project: oral history transcript / 1986-1987 p273). This means Symmes was among the first women, if not the first woman, in the program. At that time, she was 39 years old. ln I92I,
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Mabel and her mother, Anna Day Symmes, traveled for several months in Europe, visiting the British lsles, France, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, Spain and ltaly (U.S. Passport Application).
By 1922, Symmes had prepared a master plan for the Blake estates, then two associated properties. One property was owned by Anson S. Blake and Anita Blake; Anita was Mabel's sister. The adjoining property was owned by Edwin T, and Harriet Whitney Carson Blake. This project was a significant event in Symmes' career. Symmes became closely associated with the Anson and Anita Blake property, living at the house and working in the garden over the second half of her adult life. For some years, it was the only commonly known example of her work. The Anita and Anson Blake estate, at 10.5 acres, is now known as the Blake Garden and is owned by UC Berkeley, persisting as a garden for experimentation and aesthetic pleasure.
The Blake Garden is a sophisticated solution to a challenging site that contains sharp slopes, rock outcroppings, and streams (Blake Garden Geology and Hydrology). The natural features were preserved and used to enhance the garden experience. Formal landscape elements are positioned nearest the house and respond to the character, forms and lines of the architecture. "Pink and Yellow" garden at the Blake estate was said to be reminiscent of a villa in ltaly (College Of Environmental Design, UC Berkeley). Forced perspective techniques were employed as part of the backdrop to the classical reflecting pool. Receding from the house locations, the landscape became less formal. Symmes created several different areas over the then 22-aue acre property and connected the various gardens with a series of paths. Some areas were devoted to California native plants, such as the redwood grove, appropriately located along a natural waterway, and a ceanothus (California lilac) woods. Roads and pathways took advantage of the property's topography and views. The gardens evolved to include many exotic species. Mabel Symmes and Anita Blake were both accomplished horticulturalists,
The home (built between L922 and L924) was designed to accommodate both Mabel and mother Anna; Anna died before the house was completed. Symmes maintained her own personal wealth and contributed monthly funds towards the upkeep of the property (Blake Estate oral history project: oral history transcript / f986- 1987). ln the 1920s, Symmes spoke at clubs about ltalian gardens. She penned articles and made presentations about plants during the 1.920s, 1930s and 1-940s. She was involved in the Rose Society, the California Horticultural Society, 1 and the California Garden Club. She was described as an eager and patient teacher by those who worked with her at the Blake Estate (Blake Estate oral history project: oral history transcript / 1986-t9871.
Mai Arbegast was a landscape architect who taught at UC Berkeley and worked in Blake Garden as a student at UC Berkeley. ln the Blake Estate Oral History, Arbegast asserts that Symmes did little landscape architectural work, except maybe for friends, and could only recall knowing about one other garden, no longer extant. This information is not accurate. lt is not uncommon for landscape architects and designers of the era to have gone without notice, particularly self-effacing women. Additional garden designs have come to light, and more may emerge. Symmes was known to have worked closely with architects. ln the case of the Marsh-Sperry house,
I Preliminary research suttests that Mabel Symmes and her sister, Anita Blake, were involved in the earliest days of the society.
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she worked with Henry H. Gutterson, and on the Charles W. Merrill house she worked with William Ratcliff. Two of her landscapes were used as teaching environments.
Other currently known designs by Symmes are listed below. lnformation on the Spens Black, Una, and Olney landscapes was generously supplied by Marlea Graham.
. Marsh-Sperry Gardens,I44O and 1450 Hawthorne Terrace, Berkeley. 1925, Henry H. Gutterson, architect. Drawings for the home and garden are in the possession of Carolyn McNiven, ¡ The Harry Una Garden, 27 Tamalpais Road, Berkeley. 1927. Walter Ratcliff, architect. 2 (Graham). . Harold Spens BlackGarden, lg0Alvarado Road, Berkeley.L927. (Graham). Thisgarden wasvisited by students of the California School of Gardening for Women at Hayward (Sm¡th). ¡ Frances D. Olney Garden, 2TtlClaremont Blvd, Berkeley. 1928. (Graham). ¡ The Charles W. Merrill garden, 407 Camino Sobrante, Orinda. 1939. (Weyeneth). According to the National Register nomination, the original landscape plan is in the possession of the owners. The house (designed by William Ratcliff) and the garden both retain character-defining features. "Ratcliff worked closely with landscape architect Mabel Symmes to fashion a setting that jointed the residence with its rustic hillside setting. ln this way, house and grounds were designed from the beginning to complement one anothe/' (Weyeneth). Symmes worked closely with the architect, and she also produced detailed planting plans.
There may have been other landscapes and designs. lt appears that Symmes did not promote her work and was described as a quiet person by various people inThe Blake Estote Orol History; however, at least two prominent architects sought her expertise and assistance for their clients. An article titled "ln Memorium," published in the California Historicol Society Quorterly in 1963, contains this statement about Mabel Symmes: "ln this demanding profession of landscape architecture she built a name for herself in the San Francisco Bay area" (Wickson). Given Symmes' financial resources, she may not have needed to support herself through her profession, but she was not a dilletante. Prior to her training at Berkeley, she was listed in census records as having no profession (1900, t9L4l, but later did identify herself as a landscape architect (1930 Bureau of the Census). By 1922 she produced a refined master plan for a large and difficult property containing two residences. Recent research has revealed additional gardens that had not previously come to light. lt is not known how many designs Symmes prepared, or the full extent of her influence, but intriguing and promising research leads are emerging.
Certainly, the Blake Estate had some influence in the Bay Area, both for its design as well as the pioneering use of, and experimentation with, a great variety of plants, including many plants from Mediterranean climates that are suited to California (Haymaker). Anita Blake was an avid plant collector, constantly adding plants, ln accounts, it's clear that this great variety of plants were incorporated into that landscape at a time when experimentation with them was just emerging, and at least one observer thought that it was Symmes' hand at work in balancing the aesthetic with an extensive and ever-changing collection of plants (Blake Estate oral
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Page 5 of 12 history project: oral history transcript / 1986-1987 p28al. The Blake properties were visited regularly by students of Katherine D. Jones, in the UC Berkeley landscape architecture program; the Edward Blake garden was incorporated into Jones' curriculum (Jones).
According to landscape architect Geraldine Knight Scott, articles by Symmes on the landscape and its plants were published in the Journal of the California Horticultural Society3 in 1945-t947 (Blake Estate oral history project: oral history transcript / 1986-1987 p 556-7). Symmes was close to Victor Reiter, Jr., founder of the Pacific Horticultural Foundation, as well as influential Berkeley professors Katherine D. Jones and E. J. Wickson, among other botanists, horticulturalists and landscape professionals. Her activities likely increased the use of the new species and varieties of plants in the region.
Site Summary Based on a brief visit, on descriptions, and photographs, an overview of landscape characteristics and features follows and is not a complete study of character defining features. There was no physical access to 1450 Hawthorne Terrace and the site visit to 1440 was brief. Within those limitations, the two properties are described and compared to the original plan for the Marsh-Sperry garden.
It is useful to note that the landscape consists of many elements and features, with plants being one. ln "A Guide to Cultural Landscapes Reports," the United States Department of the lnterior clearly recognizes that landscapes are dynamic, and that change is inevitable (Page and Dolan). Continuity of a landscape forms, uses, features, materials, and characteristics are also analyzed and considered, with allowances made forthe constant growth, decline, and change that occurs with natural materials and systems.
3 The ¡ournal's name was changed to California Horticultural Journal in 1963.
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Original 1925 plan by Mabel Symmes, left. Courtesy of Carolyn F. McNivens. Google aerial view, Dec. 2108, below
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Original Design Mable Symmes' plan for the Marsh-Sperry garden from 1925 indicates a garden with straight-forward, geometric, and practical treatments for the entry landscapes to each house. Stucco privacy walls and retaining walls were employed along the edge of the eastern sidewalk, and in conjunction with the pathways in the front yard of 1440, accommodating a somewhat significant grade change. At the end of the block, at Vine Street, an old rhyolite wall curves around the corner and to the end of the property at 1-450. The area between the four- bay garage and the sidewalk was clearly intended to contain a number of plants, as shown on the plan.
The back and side gardens were more expressive, progressing from the most formal to the informal. The north garden contained a bilaterally symmetrical parterre, Between the individual gardens was a shared garden with an oval form, symmetrical along the east-west axis. The center garden related to the axes in the north garden and to winding paths in the south garden, as well as to the patio with its pergola. This center garden plan created a strong relationship between the constructed elements that were incorporated into the architecture of the property (the patio and pergola) and the semi-circular beds opposite. Behind the semi-circular beds were views to the San Francisco Bay. The intended focal point at the west end of the oval is not clear in the Symmes plan. A Gutterson-proposed tea house may or may not have been intended for this location and may or may not have been constructed. lt was not extant when Hugh and Marion McNiven bought the house in 1959 (McNiven),
The pergola and rectangular patio adjoining the two houses were shown as edged in shrubbery, with openings into the garden in the center and the north. The so-called "drying yards," occupying the elevated area between the patio and garage, were shown as simple rectangular spaces.
Adjoining the central garden was the larger, southern garden. This section was quite informal, with a central lawn edged in masses of plants. The design extended into the wide side garden and incorporated the character and expression of the back garden. ln the garden of 1450, a round pond was located across from the southern portion of the back of the house, and a birdbath was placed along the upper side path.
The design cleverly related to the architecture of the homes while providing a variety of landscape experiences across the width of the property. (The character of the two individual gardens may also have reflected the interests of the original occupants.)
Current Design A discussion of plants is included as part of the descriptions of areas, with additional detail in the section on "Plants."
The front stucco walls are extant, although height was added to the walls at 1-440. Each is covered in fig vine (Ficus pumilo). Stucco walls, concrete stairs, and concrete paths remain at 1440, as do the simple metal handrails. Garden lighting was added by Hugh and Marion McNiven (McNiven). Shrubs and flowers occupy the planting beds; some may predate the McNiven's ownership of the house. The front garden at 1-450 was not accessible but viewed from the street it appears to have a layout that is the same as on the 1925 plan. The area between the garage and the street contains a vine-covered arbor at each end and planting pockets are located
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between the "Hollywood" or strip driveways. The greening of this area appears to be consistent with the Symmes plan.
The back and side garden divisions remain as they were originally designed, with the important central garden still defined by hedges, architectural elements, the general layout, and views to the bay. The formal garden behind the McNiven's house was removed and now consists of lawn and various plants. A wide stone path remains behind this house, and the entry points into the central garden remain. Shrubs and trees define the north and west edges, such as holly hedges and soap bark trees. These were mature plants when Marion McNiven arrived and appear to date to the original garden.
The central garden is predominantly intact and retains its spatial organization, although it has lost some of its detail. The patio, pergola, and fountain are intact, as well as the wide step into the garden and the shrub borders. The patio is edged with a hedge of myrtle (Myrtus communisl and a low wall. The patio consists of square and rectangular concrete pavers. An old wisteria vine covers the pergola. A formal fountain, while not on the drawing, is clearly original. lt is centered on the wall at the back of the patio, neatly fitted into the narrow area and opposite the wide step into the garden, The pavers, fountain, pergola, and wisteria were in place and clearly old when Marion moved to L440 and appear to be original. The myrtle shrubs lining the north half of the patio were replaced by Marion, using the same genus and species.
The lawn retains its overall shape and is still terminated by a roughly circular gravel form and plants, punctuated by two narrow ltalian cypress and a simple wooden pergola. ln Marion's recollection, a similar pergola was present when she first arrived at the property and persisted for some years, finally succumbing to decay. lt had been covered in a climbing rose. ln the lower, west, section the stone steps and low dry-stack walls appear to be original. Holly shru bs (llex sppl continue to line the north and south edges of the lawn; these are accented by softly curving planting beds. Stones define the beds on the south edge ofthe central garden, and benderboard outlines the north lawn. Marion indicated that during Sylvia's tenure at the house, they each strove to maintain symmetrically-placed plants throughout these beds, but that level of detail has slipped in recent years (McNiven). Some of the symmetry of the beds has been lost, but this is not an irrevocable condition, The holly hedge the serves as a divider between the north and south gardens was well established when Marion moved to 1440 and appears to be original. The low stone wall and stone steps at the lower central garden were also in place and appear to be original.
The "drying yards," below the apartments, also retain their basic rectangular forms.
Viewed from the street, it is clear that many of the paths and steps throughout the garden at L450 are intact; as are redwood trees, and a tall birdbath is visible in its original location. lt is believed that the pond is extant but obscured by soil (McNiven); however, this is not known, Various shrubs, trees, ferns, clumps of bamboo, and vines occupy the garden. The rhyolite wall persists, although it is failing in places. A wooden gate, leading to stone stairs, is present. Comparison of the Symmes plan and a Google Earth image shown that the spatial organization is largely intact.
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Plants Little is known about the plants intended for the property. Symmes indicated "shrubbery" and "Flowers" on her plan. Plants are noted in various parts of the garden, above, and additional information is included here.
Accordingto Marion McNiven, when she arrived atI44O there'had been rhododendron, camellia, roses, pittosporum, eugenia, laurel, nandina, iris, and soap bark trees (Quillojo soponarial4. The small stand of soap bark trees were well-established in 1959 and are likely original (McNiven). At 1450 there were, and are, redwood trees. The trumpet vine (Campsis rodiconsl growing on the garage pergola, from the property at 1450, was already well established in 1-959 and may be original; the trumpet vine growing from L440 onto the pergola is a sprout of the former vine (McNiven). As noted above, Marion McNiven replaced the myrtle (Myrtus communisl shrubs with identical ones along the northern half of the shared patio, and the holly hedges (tlex spl bordering the central garden predate Marion McNiven's arrival in 1959 (McNiven). The myrtle shrubs on the southern half of the central and shared patio predates Marion's arrival and is likely original.
It appears that a redwood tree (sequoia sempervirens) may have already anchored the southeast corner of the property at the time of the Symmes plan, judging from the original plan. A large and old redwood tree is in that location now, causing the rhyolite wallto fail at this corner. Several additional redwoods are nearby. A narrow dawn redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboidesl is located in the front yard. lts age is not known. Mature rhododendron, camellia, and roses remain on the site; some may be original.
Ston e Rhyolite, stone common to the area, was used for walls, and is most prominent along the Vine Street edge, curving around the corner at Hawthorne. This wall predates the Gutterson plan, and therefore the 1923 Berkeley fire (Gutterson, Henry H.). Stone steps and pathways were installed in the back and side of the southern garden at 1450, accommodating the sloping land,
It is not clear from the Symmes plan how extensively stone was used in the northern garden, but any on the site now appears to be original. When Marion McNiven arrived in 1959, the stone paths and stairs on the north side of the house and wide stone walk and immediately behind the house were in place. ln the intervening years, she and Hugh had the dry-laid stone path set on a concrete base, and they removed the formal parterre garden in the center of the lawn (McNiven).
o Qrillo¡o Soponario is an unusual tree, not commonly seen in the region. Marion McNiven feels certain this group of trees dates to the original garden (McNiven). lf so, it may be that Symmes had been exploring its use at the Blake estate where she and her sister were experimenting with plants for Mediterranean climates. Symmes was friends with several plant people, professional and otherwise, who may also have introduced her to the plant. Native to Chili, a soap tree in Geelong Botan¡c Garden, in Australia, is listed as being 145 years old (Register).
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Page 10 of 12
Concl usi on ln this preliminary finding, the Marsh-Sperry landscape appears to retain sufficient integrity, both in design, spatial organization, circulation, topography, and constructed features that it should be considered eligible for Landmark status in Berkeley. This property contains a largely intact landscape from the 1920s. The few important landscape features that are not extant in the Marsh-Sperry landscape may be readily rehabilitated or restored, if desired, since only portions of the built landscape are missing, and some plants appear to be original to the Symmes garden. The overall character of the landscape appears to be essent¡ally intact. The landscape is associated with a landscape architect, Mabel Symmes, whose significance has not yet been firmly established, but preliminary research suggests that she likely had greater importance in the Bay Area that has been previously recognized. Symmes was one of the first female landscape architects to be trained at UC Berkeley. She was not a flamboyant person but it appears that she quietly, persistently, inspired and raised expectations for landscape designers and architects through her work, both for the quality and thoughtful character of her designs and for the innovative exploration and inclusion of new plants species and varieties,
Methodology A site visit atL44O Hawthorne was conducted on December 9th, 2018, and both Marion McNiven and Carolyn McNiven provided information about the garden. Significant research materials were provided by Carolyn McNiven (C. F. McNiven, Marsh-Sperry House and Garden; Landmark Application) and (C. F. McNiven, Sperry- Mclaughlin House and Garden; Landmark Application). Ms. McNiven also provided a blueprint of the Marsh- Sperry garden, by Mabel Symmes and dated 1925. Extensive research on Mabel Symmes was also provided by Marlea Graham. Additional research was performed by Janet Gracyk.
Ms. Gracyk is a licensed landscape architect and historical landscape architect, meeting the National Park Service Professional Qualifications for a historical landscape architect'
Notes Many sources of information on Mabel Symmes and Blake Estate are included as appendices in the Blake Estate Oral History.
Although it is noted in the 8/oke Estote Oral History Project that some of Symmes papers are in the library at Strybing Arboretum in Golden Gate Park, San Francisco and UC Berkeley's Herbarium, none were located in 2018 for this research. lnterestingly, Susan Reiss located letters to Symmes in the Strybing Arboretum Archives in 1987 (Blake Estate oral history project: oral history transcript / 1-986-1987 356).
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So u rces Berkeley Architectural Heritage Association (BAHA), 20 Dec 2018.
1-930 Bureau of the Census. "Fourteenth Census of the United States 1930." n.d.
"Blake Estate oral history project: oral history transcript / 1986-1987." 1988, Worldcat.org. Ed. Suzanne B. Reiss. Berkeley University of California. 20 Dec 2018.
"Blake Garden Geology and Hydrology." UC Berkeley Environmental Design Archives, n.d.
College Of Environmental Design, UC Berkeley. "Blake Garden." 2012,
Graham, Marlea. "Mabel Symmes (1-875-1962)Timeline." n.d. Ten pages of notes on research performed by Graham.
Gutterson, Henry H. "Plot Plan: Residence for Mrs. M.S. Marsh, Hawthorne Terrace, Berkeley, Calif." 1-9 July L924.
Haymaker, Linda. "Blake Garden." Pocific Horticulture Spring 1-987: p 8-13.
Jones, Katherine D. "Landscape Gardening LL3 8." Apr !6,7926.
McNiven, Carolyn F. "Marsh-Sperry House and Garden; Landmark Application." L9 Oct 2018. -. "sperry-Mclaughlin House and Garden; Landmark Application." 23 Sept 2018' McNiven, Marion. Personol lnterview Janet Gracyk. 8 Dec 2018.
Page, Robert R and Cathy A. Gilbert and Susan A. Dolan. A Guide to Cultural Landscope Reports: Contents, Process, and Techniques. Washington, DC: U,S, Department of the lnterior, National Park Service, L998
Register, NationalTrust Heritage. Geelong Botønic Gordens And Eastern Pork.25 Apr 2015. 22Dec2Ot8.
San Francisco Chronicle. "Waterfront News and Maritime lntelligence." 29 May 1912.
Smith, Laura Mercado. "The California Shcool of Gardening for Women: a History." California Horticultural Journol (L970): 732-L34.
Symmes, Mabel. "Marsh-Sperry Garden," Blueprint 3 Mar 1-925.
U.S. Department of the lnterior. The Secretory of the lnterior's Standords for the Treotment of Historic Properties With Guidelines for the Treatment of Culturol Landscopes. Ed. Charles A. Birnbaum and Christine Capella Peters. Washington, DC: lnterior Department, National Park Service, 1996.
"U.S. Passport Application." 28 Jan 1921,
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University of California. "The Blue and Gold '96." University of California, 1896. 20 Dec 201-8. Weyeneth, Dr. Robert R. "National Register of Historic Places, Charles W. Merrill House, Contra Costa." Jan 200s. Wickson, Gladys C. "ln Memorium: Anson Stiles Blake, Anita D. Symmes Blake, and MabelSymmes." Colifornio Historical Society Quarterly June L963: I77-L8O' PLA 5491 PO Box 3182 Redwood City, CA 94064 JanetGracyk.com ATTACHMENT 4 LPC 02-07-19 Page 18 of 48 EXHIBIT B ATTACHMENT 4 LPC 02-07-19 Page 19 of 48 HALS Historic American Landscape Survey Northern California Chapter 44477thSfieet, Oakland, CA 94612 Telephone: 510/465-1284 27 September 2018 La nd ma rks Preservation Commission Berkeley, California RE: 1440 & L450 Hawthorn Terrace the Marsh House and Sperry-Mclaughlin House Dear Commissioners, I am writing on behalf of the Historic American Landscape Survey (HALS), Northern California Chapter to support the proposed landmarks designation for the Marsh House, the Sperry- McLaughlin House, and the joint garden shared by the two properties. This property qualifies for landmark status, and possibly the National Register, for multiple reasons. The property's association with the very notable landscape architect, Mabel Symmes alone qualifies it for landmark status. Ms. Symmes was an early graduate from the University of California in L896. ln l-91-0, she returned to the university to study in the newly created department of landscape architecture. Ms. Symmes is most noted for the design of Blake Gardens in Kensington which she designed for her sister Anita Blake and her husband Anson Blake. Ms. Symmes is also noted for the 1938 design of the Charles W. Merrill gardens in Orinda, California. The gardens att44O and 1-450 Hawthorn Terrace were designed in the 1920s and today are remarkably intact. Symmes's design combined a symmetrical, formalgarden layout centered on the shared garage building that connected the two homes on the property, with an informal garden behind the 1450 property. Today, the lawn has gone brown but the structure of the garden matches the design plan prepared by Ms. Symmes. The property is also important because of its association with Sylvia Mclaughlin - one of Berkeley's most famous and important citizens. Berkeley and the San Francisco Bay would be profoundly different today had it not been for Mclaughlin's determined environmental and political efforts to save the bay. This landscape and property needs to be preserved and protected. I strongly encourage you to take whatever action is needed to save this treasure and to document the site to HALS standards. HALS documentation has three components: measured drawings, a written narrative and archival photography. C/e,.A. fæ4 Christine G. Pattillo, FASLA Founder HALS Northern California Chapter 444 tTth Street, Oakland, CA946L2 Chris.pattillo.fasla @gmail.com (ìhaptet F'ounde¡s l,ìotsv Ilar k I ('atìr¡ Lìar n'lt r ('lu'is l'atlillrr ATTACHMENT 4 LPC 02-07-19 Page 20 of 48 Dopa?tment of L¿ndscape Arch¡tecture UnlversltV of cal¡fo.nla, Berkeley & Envlronmental Pl¡nnln3 collete of Envlronmental De¡ltn 202 Wurster Hall #2000 )" Eerkeley, callforn¡a 9412o-2ooo Lii 510.642.4022 tel J 510 643.6166 fax l*l & trJ z UC r¿) o Fz o z o z5 29 September 2018 The Berkeley Landmarks Preservation Commission Fatema Crane, Secretary Land Use Planning Division 2120 Milvia Street Berkeley, CA94704 Dear Commission Members: I am writing in strong support of efforts to preserve the houses and gardens at 1440 and 1450 Hawthorne Terrace in Berkeley. My particular concern is with preserving historically important landscapes such as these. The gardens were designed by Mabel Symmes, who studied landscape architecture at UC Berkeley in 1914. Symmes is perhaps best known for the garden she designed at Blake House in Kensington, which is currently owned by the University of California and managed by the Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning but also open to the public. lt is a well-loved treasure. Gardens like the ones at the Hawthorne Terrace residences do not come around very often. When they do and people come to realize how fine they are, every effort must be made to keep and maintain them. Certainly any new owner developer of these properties can and should respect the garden heritage. With best regards, Elizabeth Macdonald Professor & Chair Department of Landscape Architecture & Environmental Planning emacdon @ berkeley.edu ATTACHMENT 4 LPC 02-07-19 Page 21 of 48 Joe R. McBride 1611 Allston Way Berkeley , CA 94703 September 27,2018 Berkeley Landmarks Preservation Commission Dear Commission Members, The garden designed behind the houses at 1440 and 1450 Hawthorne Terrace in Berkeley is an outstanding example of the residential garden designs of the early Berkeley landscape architect Mable Symmes. I am writing to ask that it be given historic landscape status by the Berkeley Landscape Preservation Commission to protect it from future development. Mable Symmes was a graduate from the Department of Landscape Architecture at Berkeley in the early part of the 20th century. She designed outstanding residential gardens in the San Francisco Bay area including the Blake Garden in Kensington and the Charles Merrill house in Orinda. Her designs reflected the craftsman period of early California architecture. They are characterized in part by the curving, rock wall line-staircases, reflective water pools, incorporation of native plant species, and areas of redwood trees evoking, by their density and use of native understory species, the redwood forest. She incorporated these features in the Marsh-Sperry garden (1440-1450 Hawthorne Terrace). Sylvia Mclaughlin, noted for her work in the Save-the Bay campaign and the establishment of the Eastshore State Park, owned and resided forseveral decades in the 1450 HawthorneTerrace house and along with her neighbor, at 1440 Hawthorne Terrace, maintained the original garden. One unique character of the garden is it's sized. Designed to span the usual back yards of two houses, it presents a free flowing design that provided private space for each house while presenting continuity of design. lt is a model of early 20th century design that should be preserved for future students of landscape architecture and others interested in the design history of Berkeley and the Bay Area. I urge you to give historic landmark status to this valuable garden. Sincerely,f Joe McBride Professor Emeritus ATTACHMENT 4 LPC 02-07-19 Page 22 of 48 EXHIBIT C ATTACHMENT 4 LPC 02-07-19 Page 23 of 48 We support efforts to preserve and protect the unique family compound on Hawthorne Terrace designed by renowned architect Henry Gutterson and landscape architect Mabel Symmes (Blake House) after the Berkeley Fire for James Sperry (of Save the Redwoods League) and where legendary environmental activist and valued neighbor Sylvia McLaughlin founded Save the Bay. That compound, which sits at the Northwest corner of Hawthorne Terrace and Vine Lane (L440 & 1450 Hawthorne Terrace), is an important part of the fabric and history of our Berkeley neigh borhood. I o ll**1,"r*- ferra.æ-. Gu E..Ae4, cf 141o8 l(tt'r q*l¿lnnÅ ltf Et ilä*øor*.T>n'; Brrtlttt-, U x t7Ôt/ Ltr{ i'\a. \.- 1o*"* I f*or tho.,,*- {or . 'frÅ-** Ïb,,trs.t¡i\J 2-3 ç3 rJ ¿[,no 9t , P>""Jctfu,t 1!118 a L 7 ¿ aaf Z3S8 Vf v.¿ S-fur*uç¿+1,>+ 1)*^-WnnrAI,-o{91 Jstt7-o M&S+ þ{rnesl, (/orr'roru(, /çço 7¿/'t r*¿Q- /4^,1,n [4"lL.h.ltl tilLl gcehì. úu. þ^ (-*" LgrotJirv- Kr.-t ATTACHMENT 4 LPC 02-07-19 Page 24 of 48 October 1,2018 1438 Hawthorne Terrace Berkeley, CA 94708 Letter to: the Landmarks Preservation Commission re. 1450 Hawthorne Terrace This letter is in support of the proposed landmarking of 1450 Hawthorne Terrace, Berkeley, the house lived in for more than six decades by Sylvia McLaughlin and family, and currently occupied by Michael and Karen Dreyfus. The stated objective of the Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) is the preservation and protection of Berkeley's cultural and historic landmarks. 1450 Hawthorne Terrace was designed by architect Henry Gutterson in L923/L924, following the devastating L923 fire that swept down from the hills behind Berkeley, fanned by the "Diablo" winds of October that year. The fire destroyed most of the residences to the direct East of Hawthorne Terrace (including ours, at 1438 Hawthorne Terrace). While virtually the entire surrounding neighborhood was destroyed, the rebuilding of these neighborhoods was key to Berkeley's recovery from the disaster. Besides Gutterson, architects building in the immediate vicinity included founders of Berkeley's notable architectural heritage: Bernard Maybeck, Julia Morgan, Walter Ratcliffe, and John Hudson Thomas. All built homes on Hawthorne Terrace. And many of their structures in the neighborhood have already been landmarked (including t427 Hawthorne Terrace,t537 Euclid, L500 LeRoy, 1581 LeRoy, etc.) The adjoining structures o11.440 and 1450 Hawthorne Terrace, built for siblings, are particularly special--not only for their individual architectural excellence in the difficult period of post-fire revival, but for their construction and property sharing as an almost-unique example of family loya lty and togetherness. By architectural precedent alone, the splendid residence at 1450 Hawthorne Terrace demands immediate landmark status. But there's considerably more: Over sixty years of residency by a person widely recognized in the Bay Area as a major contributor to Berkeley's reputation for social leadership and innovation, Sylvia Mclaughlin. As a co-founder of "Save the Bay", she led one of the most important environmental and social/political movements that has shaped our area's character- environmentally sensitive residents not only of Berkeley, but of communities totaling 6 million people who live around the Bay. Sylvia was a key member of an historic, women-led environmental movement that held untrammeled development in check, to the benef¡t of all residents. Her contributions are enshrined by her name on the trail that surrounds the Bay. There are important architectural and historical merits to the landmark status of L450 Hawthorne Terrace. lf this gem of Berkeley's past does not merit recognition, what does? il-o,r(* € Lr"lnu) Hayne Leland Professor Emeritus, UC Berkeley ATTACHMENT 4 LPC 02-07-19 Page 25 of 48 EXHIBIT D ATTACHMENT 4 LPC 02-07-19 Page 26 of 48 "lû /\liP[ilT3 *il rRä:;ilftVil0 i ililVl$ilü) o The exterior of the Sperry-Mclaughlin House including but not limited to the following: o All exterior stucco and wood facades and features, namely the North, South, East and West elevatíons of the Sperry-Mclaughlin House, each of which feature stucco walls, with painted wood-trimmed and framed glass windows (not metalframed windows) (as noted below), together with painted wood details such as gables, panels, eaves, beams, and similar architectural features as reflected in the numerous photographs of the house provided by BAHA and others in the Applícation materials, including but not limíted to: . All chimneys; . All exterior wood trim including but not limited to: ¡ Wooden Window frames o Cove off of front portico o Finia ls r Cross beams . Bay window frames o Door frames r Rear arcade with circular staircase o All copper gutters, drainpipes and downspouts and related copper fixtu res; o All roof tiles (the tile roof); o All exterior doors and windows including but not limited to: . The front door ' All exterior French doors, including those from the dining room to the exterior shared patio and from the front hallway to the rear deck over the arcade . The "Dutch door" in the living room . All dormer glass windows ' All Bay windows ATTACHMENT 4 LPC 02-07-19 Page 27 of 48 o All original exterior light fixtures including the fixture over the front door and dining room door; o All eaves and dormers; o All window wells; a The exterior of the attached garage structure and front arbor including but not limited to: o The wood arbor over the garage bays o The garage doorsl and door frames o The trumpet vine growing over the front arbor o The windows and window frames o The tile roofs o All chimneys o Exception: the front door of the so-called in-law apartment, which is not original and may be replaced by a more architecturally appropriate door; the staircase to the in-law (1450) apartment is not original. o All exterior hardscape features including but not limited to: o Rear concrete patio with fountain and retaining walls; o Exterior patio surfaces, including brick tile patios at front and to the rear and concrete patio surfaces to the North side of the house; o Frieze of Sylvia McLaughlín and brothers in shared patio area; o Rear wood arbor wíth wisteria (shared with Marsh House); o Side so-called laundry yard behind shared patio area; o All exterior stairs except as noted; o Configuration of low wall and other features of patio adjacent to kitchen area at front of house; o Front patio off living room; o Front stucco walls; o Front saloon gates and side saloon gate on Vine Lane o Front tile entrance way; o All metal railings; o Front entrance area with wood detailing; 1 The garage doors are not original; however, their general design - solid wood or wood-look doors are close replacements of the original doors. ATTACHMENT 4 LPC 02-07-19 Page 28 of 48 o Paths in "wilderness area" of landscape; o All Berkeley Rhyolite stone walls íncluding those located in and along the shared area with the Marsh House; o Orlginal (pre-Fire) Berkeley Rhyolite stone wall along Vine Lane and corner of Hawthorne Terrace; o Original stone pond at rear; o Arbor at West-End of shared yard including climbing rose and wisteria; o Existing paths and pathways; o Bird baths. r The Marsh Sperry Garden, including but not limited to: o The unobstructed víews of San Francisco Bay o The special relationships between the areas of the garden o The center and rear lawns o Allwisteria vines o All hedges, including holly hedges in shared area o All mature shrubs including roses, camelia, and rodedenderons o The climbing rose and wood trellis at the front of the house o The redwood grove o The Wilderness landscape area towards the Southern side of the lot, including paths and stairs o All rose beds o All flower beds in the shared area and to the rear of the house, including the agapanthus beds; o All mature trees including orange, lemon, grapefruit, fig, oak and the Dawn Redwood o The pair of cedar trees in front of the rear trellis o Fig vine on front wall ATTACHMENT 4 LPC 02-07-19 Page 29 of 48 EXHIBIT E ATTACHMENT 4 LPC 02-07-19 Page 30 of 48 CLARIFICATION AND ERRATA SHEET FOR LANDMARK APPLICATION SUBMITTED FOR THE SPERRY-MCLAUGHLIN HOUSE 1450 HAWTHORNE TERRACE 1. Page 6: (P&T Memo note 1): According to the P&T annotations, Bay Area Style is "a bit vague." As used in this application, Bay Area Style (a/k/a "First Bay Tradition" and o'second Bay Tradition" and/or "San Francisco Regional Tradition) refers to the style of architecture popular in the San Francisco Bay Area between the 1880s and the 1930s/40s. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First-Bay Tradition; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Bay_Tradition; California Off,rce of Historic Preservation, "San Francisco Modern Architecture and Landscape Design 1935-1970 Historic Context Statement," available at http ://www.parks. ca. gov/pages/ 1 054/files/sfmod.pdf. 2. Page 6: (P&T Memo note 4): P&T requests footnote for comment about Susan Dinkelspiel's comments on the 1450-1440 properties. The reference is from a BAHA publication (relevant page copied and attached hereto). 3. Page 8: (P&T Memo note 3): The fact that the Sperry-Mclaughlin House was featured in contemporary press accounts, in BAHA tours as well as articles describing Berkeley architectural heritage supports the author's claim that the house is one of Gutterson's most notable works in Berkeley. 4. Page 8: (P&T memo note 5): P&T memo requests a reference for the statement that the house was recognized atthe time as the most significant post-1923 fire home built in the Berkeley hitls in 1924. A copy of the relevant September 12,1924 Oakland Tribune article is reproduced on page 43 of the application document. 5. Page 8: (P&T memo note 6): "Views of the house" references the visible portions of the Speny-Mclaughlin House from public access ways such as Vine Lane, Vine Steps, and Hawthorne Terrace. 6. Page 9: (P&T Memo note 1): While it is true Anita Blake was an "exotic plant enthusiast" and that Mabel Symmes used non-native and even exotic plants in her designs, the significant feature of Ms Symmes's designs were her addition of plants and materials native to California, which were otherwise not in general use in the United States. 7. Page 9: (P&T Memo notes 2 & 3): Donald Mclaughlin's association with the house is significant and his accomplishments are described elsewhere in the Application; we agree that his association with the Speny-Mclaughlin House and that house as meeting place for the UC Board of Regents during the Free Speech Movement should be included and considered in connection with its designation as a place worthy of landmark status based upon its cultural value pursuant to BMC 3.24.110.3. 8. Page 13: "boarded" should be "bordered." g. Page 13: Site and Survey should include a photo description of "sanborn Map" and credit to MTU Consultants directly under the photo. Further, the additional information concerning the block should be included together with the original Sanborn Map reflecting the original residence, burned in the 1923 fire, and other historic documents provided by Daniella Thompson of BAHA (attached with thanks to her hereto). ATTACHMENT 4 LPC 02-07-19 Page 31 of 48 10. Page 14: (P&T Memo note 1): The exterior walls of the property along Vine Lane pre- date the Berkeley Fire. This fact is reflected in Gutterson's original blue prints for the property, which are in the possession of the present owners of 1440 Hawthome Terrace (Marsh House). I 1. Page 14: (P&T Memo note 2): Add "Tudor Revival" to the description provided. 12.Page 15: (P&T Memo note 1): "blue prints" should be one word: "blueprints." 13. Page 24: (P&T Memo note 1): misspelling: should be "stairs." 14.Page26: (P&T Memo note 1): photo referenced is to the left of the text, not the right. 15. Page 29: (P&T Memo note 1): substitute "photographs" for "pics." 16. Page 30: (P&T Memo note 1): 'While we agree that the specific foxglove plants visible in the photographs are likely not original (i.e., were not planted in 1920). Foxgloves are self-sewing. Thus, the plants Symmes chose for her designs (at Blake Garden and on Hawthorne Terrace) reflected in the current plantings. 17 .Page 34: (P&,T Memo note 1): insert a period (".") in the third line from the top. 18. Page 36: (P&T Memo note 1): the aspects of integrity cited here are available at https : //www. np s. gov/hi story/local- law I ar ch stnds 3 . htm. Dan 19. Page 38: (P&T Memo note 1): "All exterior stucco and wood facades" refers to the North, South, East and'West elevations of the Speny-Mclaughlin House, each of which feature stucco walls, with painted wood-trimmed and framed glass windows (not metal framed windows), together with painted wood details such as gables, panels, eaves, beams, and similar architectural features as reflected in the numerous photographs of the house provided by BAHA and others in the Application materials. 20.Page 38: (P&T Memo note 2): while the memo is correct that the garage doors are not original - the original doors were single panels of solid painted wood - the replacement doors are of a similar type and kind and are approximately 20 years old. Therefore, while they were not designed by Gutterson, they remain a historic element of this house (and reflects Sylvia Mclaughlin's choice to replace the original doors). 2I.Page 38: (P&T Memo note 3): The trumpet vine is the original plant. See J. Gracyk letter (Ex. A) 22.Page 39: (P&T Memo note 1): While the arcade is part of the house structure, the patio under and in front of that arcade is a hardscape feature designed by Gutterson. It is the original material and should be preserved as such. 23.Page 39: (P&T Memo note 2): Regarding the note concerning redundancy, we could not ascertain what feature is purportedly redundant. 24.Page 39: (P&T Memo note 3): While the arbor at the West-End of the shared yard is not original to the 1920s design, it is at least 40-50 years old, replaced the existing Gutterson tea house, and has significance for other cultural and historic reasons. Further, it serves as an important focal point for the garden and thus as artistic/architectural importance in the overall design ofthe garden. 25.Page 39: (P&T Memo note 4): "The ponds" should be revised to read, "The pond and bird baths." 26.Page 39: (P&T Memo note 5): All wisteria vines should be preserved; the one over the arbor between the houses is original; the one over the V/est-End arbor should be preserved for the same reasons noted in item 24 above. ATTACHMENT 4 LPC 02-07-19 Page 32 of 48 27.Page 39: (P&T Memo note 6): All hedges should be listed as items to preserve. All replacements should only be made in accord with the requirements of the BMC and the LPC, and not left to the discretion of the current owners. 28.Page 40: (P&T Memo note 2): "Wilderness" should be "wilderness." 29.Page 40: (P&T Memo note 3): All extant rose beds do appear to be original to design and further were maintained and much loved by Sylvia Mclaughlin (see reprinted article attached). 30. Page 40: (P&T Memo note 4): As noted in item 29,the garden remains effectively as Sylvia Mclaughlin maintained it and as it looked during the historic events reflected in the application documentation. We propose the following language, "All flower beds in the shared area and to the rear of the house, including the agapanthus beds"; 31. Page 40: (P&T Memo note 5): "vine lane" should be replaced with "Vine Lane." 32.Page 40: (P&T Memo note 6): "cedar trees" should be revised to read, "pair of cedar tfees." 33. Page 40: (P&T Memo note 7): Fig vine is historic to house. See photos on pages 16 and 18, showing Sylvia Mclaughlin in front of wall with fig vine. 34. Page 44: (P&T Memo note 1): "He" refers to "Henry H. Gutterson." 35. Page 52: (P&T Memo note 1): "'Wood" should be substituted for "'Woods." 36. Page 56: (P&T Memo note 1): "designed" should be inserted between "also" and "the." 37.Page 59: (P&T Memo note 1): "sail" should be substituted for "sale." 38. Page 61: (P&T Memo note 1): ASLA stands for American Society of Landscape Architects. 39. Page 63: (P&T Memo note 1): "planted" should be substituted for "plated." 40. Page 67: (P&T Memo note 1): remove the word "to" in the fourth sentence from the top. 41 . Page 67: (P&.T Memo note 2): The fact that the death of a pioneering female professional was not acknowledged in 1962 is indicative (in my view) of the fact that recognition of female professional achievements (and hrsts) was less important in the 3feminist movement at the time than obtaining immediate equal rights for women in the then- current work-force; whereas, now with the passage of time, we are arguably better positioned to appreciate the achievements of the early female pioneering professionals. 42. Page 7 5: (P&T Memo notes 1,2&3): The application should be revised to reflect that the Sperry's pre-fire residence was at 2425 Hearst; and the word "lived" should be substituted for "live"; and that the Spenys moved to Hawthorne Terrace in around 1927 . 43. Corrections on Page _ a, Corrected Tract Name: Vine Street and Hawthorne Terrace Extension. b. Accessor's Parcel Number is 59-2249-28 c. Parcel Dimensions are reflected on the accessor's map attached hereto (Map 59). d. Historic Name: James Cameron Speny House Commonly Known Name: Mclaughlin House e. Date of Construction: 1924 Factual: Yes Source of Information: Building Permit #17854 f. Builder: Axel G. Cederborg g. Style: Mediterranean with Tudor Revival elements h. Original Owners: James C. & Adelia O. Speny i. Subsequent Owners: Donald & Sylvia Mclaughlin ATTACHMENT 4 LPC 02-07-19 Page 33 of 48 44. All references to "Danielle Thompson" should be revised to read, "Daniella Thompson." 45. We have obtained additional property maps. ATTACHMENT 4 LPC 02-07-19 Page 34 of 48 EXHIBIT F ATTACHMENT 4 LPC 02-07-19 Page 35 of 48 oode ÁEo nlo.ß-æO f¡e ñonchos of ltrcenfe ond Domin Peralta: Plot Aq. (ãþ.rzre-/z) TR.459õ ¡¡otea 'qËä-r. . t+¿'t ..ÐocrlI óÒ w ê tsAY VIEW ho 5o )99 4 Ii nl I e460 I t9 td I \ z \s l¡¡ \ \. s\s r/ ROSÉ s7'FEET. ì ¡du tÉ $s: 9-ì ilTf9 ¿¡¿7 -t o $ -l { ts9E (J ) g ì.1 ?e,53 Q.r ttg 4 @ ,409. 43 o d G .7 7ÞÀR4ce 2?49 J7 v, ,tfl,ì i."ì B.rt n'5.r39t arlrt 21.t ATTACHMENT 4 LPC 02-07-19 Page 36 of 48 Ì. 'l .l t l- K 82069 ,A. ìd i,'il -"rl t ØzL7tlo;n),Ø .ri¿t ----aFV *¿Z Dd'.. y''b b at*u, G t BERÌ tr c R IL E o a t:*ilê^¿u ,/rk'a. z¿ f/ ¿z¿q alcal¿. ¡ ., :rÈu J¡ rì tì stRt .J ttl9 e¡ lr I 3 Fr II I t¿ I I ie 14 I l; É l* ;.' ir r lm z. lr I h t ! ! L__ _ .ô t l- n I I' : l c l, , î¡ ':i . j: @vAr¿ Ut. úd,d., V ./ 6 I a o{ 6a ¿a134ì ATTACHMENT 4 LPC 02-07-19 Page 37 of 48 6/-l%rs ¡-f | ßlrii &;/, ,3, /f /o .ì . ¿-.-L r pk r- Sc=e /* ¿{er /û É2Ð lú*, 'c / Ð'o € t1'/. r S+.¿ r.y- t.- (-t ¿. ,T0 '2 '. (.1 i I ¿' ct¿,1/ o¡ ? ¿¿t', rlc 4.1 --- t'l,tt/'l I ,t,a (, Ír, I t I Þ Jl PL Ð-J' €14 L. CaI .\Y qI I I c¡ h .ì- I I ,v |sa . I .ll ' ètcrJ , .¡' '¡l v ¿( t ¿i'r t' tLãJtl'*'+ .útÍ ttt_".._ /ã, -+- .-.iE..<,þ --.*''¿)¡¡bb-'l'' ,r,t- t.^.-i- tt tr tlrtÃ.,7-r- df: ,¿ *rå:¿ .--<- ¡1*t 'i* -ånr*,- ëlt I Jç t Ê Å;" .rt' -t /- / /, L ATTACHMENT 4 LPC 02-07-19 Page 38 of 48 . ;í,..:t ; ü\Ì t it'j¡ü ,{cp aêcornpaayìtzgr re fc¿teb ,tporf gæ¿b þ| /' ìci-t I \rI I ¡l çtaàa'v.ra Oraurra l Atdra A, Ca/lttla 3 t I Itlcn t). li al. bt g .rl AlÒ.-1 lc/t I I I CÆlrott I a tl Í, i I It ïiq\ q'â t È ü 7 Ãllaor êør/t'tle t! -Ð \ trt l. o ¿V o ¡l f.¡ ï v/NE f I r t- !9-ti ü., -. _ _t-ç J 6e.&*/.¿.ã ,l -t cc-- €*, {;". ,''- á*'"+;''*' l'. I ú"'9 1l rYa. 428 3 ?P Cirnt - f ATTACHMENT 4 LPC 02-07-19 Page 39 of 48 \- \t -¡ ì s \À I z è a ,sA tr w Tfto Rry.ã, TERRA:E t¡ U. $-o L:: \t8 å\.e 4=7+.- ã-r r)+ tÊ ó I 6 2'2 ì- ¡\ I ì ì t ì $ I \o I è" I o)s I c¡ \' I f\ .Q, tr¡ (¡It '.ù z I..l ¡r¡ )i \t¡t {. uJ :i 0 t, (ì (l \ L f u): ('.í q -¡ I Iq { t", s 'Ol .u .{ ì o rüì I .a? !r¡ .è, tt .td :! s èì cl ul q.J I Ðd 'i n/ u t5 ñ aô ¡tX 1X tJ q¡ 219-22 s+ )à oH 8; 4 ttl I I o $. I s t Ë I tL t .o ,i O t, \ ¡. q '.Ð f- J I * \ Þ\ I I a' N 1l \r c\r. .o I \ ìr * + h t- J È¡ ñ' o .¡ (¡ H ê ?¿toj (, -scÃ^/, c 2 A VENUË \s-ì ñ ¡'\ - 7+; q¡ \ - f ----)¡' --l t' :J I -.1rî 'J) o' -o I ,1," -r i ATTACHMENT 4 LPC 02-07-19 Page 40 of 48 \) .s i. }IORNE -*< s ) rE u _ì ,( \¡ ¡ (- I t6 J, I EA.'ÊII'EN7 7A CtTr g t¡7-41 s r5 \) .'i ñ j .1. I I t4 e ù ?4 I _x 24.55 r{q 5 I ,tz \ ?5.7', *Á.*. ': ì¡ so'" 2 .rs. I I -z É' ô 2 ,rê é 7t ,lrN6 J- Vr' q) I.t 3 \hn ñ I s o l,¡J 24 q I /40. / 7 \9 'o Þ. a t- t) rO- v) 30 36 FO.R CLOSTNG POP.VT^JE Sî SEE RES-516 o I L ATTACHMENT 4 LPC 02-07-19 Page 41 of 48 Suneg I L. HUGGINS { oFFl.cE 9F C. Ô'.f--t e- - - inch BERKELEY. C¡U r'Onr.¡l¡'' S ca I - - -6- - - "l Localíon: Por t¿'on ol /fe//þrséer7er'; P'/o/. 8+-. .t .,¿. ì '):,Ü" . " l; ' Fu ,1. C. 57eruy Ì I \ 1., it !t. lx.t 1 J .r,ìltt ,t I ß o S tâ I ì I ! Ìì I ot,r/,îtà/res, q ul ù - /6é '-'r' I k t C¿ -Þo ttu' R \o\ ì c. \ ,l'taA'e t Ib s \ s çl \ lì Ì Cr¿ss in wa// St¿úe ñ St lN tëa LN 3 TR€E 7 VI NE See .f ot-n-y /Ye 2747 _CIV¡L ENGINEER ttTztrl fi . .1924 (-\'\ t -A \À ATTACHMENT 4 LPC 02-07-19 Page 42 of 48 \ I \ t) iÌ I + I iL.,rl I, lSZr z ¡ rt,-t !rd-!t'lo î /.'*t r.r ATTACHMENT 4 LPC 02-07-19 Page 43 of 48 \ út i fto Er- .44.79 þ \ gÈ" N a z ¿s l/'te74 ¿h/Ç-o2ea t ) k ul È 84 oFFrGE. e'F €ffr riùGtÞIEER //v Plor tnfr{üÉT- c^L. av;Icl È .?o FO[.æz€ OgALà /."-. ø¡úÈ Ês*nÍrf¡ Ël¡f. r tIlrl ÉC<¡x ñ ftÉr,,4.7" ?Elgqgr¡F ATTACHMENT 4 LPC 02-07-19 Page 44 of 48 ut \ t?-.qN o z ci.oss ///êe.sl .Tâ,? CA crb's.s.,' . þtî '4r¿as/ lett' ,e /6 2,2 rrþ't | t eÊ, 1. 4 I I ì\l 3o \f.- ñ \ \r ìj ït I 'ã ù 'gl. \lN: 9k tr ñì (ì /J I I eNÈlùÉen- oFEriE.oF.cri'v. {r' EERKELEY. CAL, =loKo .s,¡wer'o,L,fþ.fi r:f-/g/;, a4 ..* c v. ¿ MI.C ,^eè 9Z glll.ENGlLElì ¡. ¿- {itt¿c< ¡ gc.. z¡t¡rtçrt 4=.7 ATTACHMENT 4 LPC 02-07-19 Page 45 of 48 ATTACHMENT 4 LPC 02-07-19 Page 46 of 48 ç I i , \(, '"îrt ..,d41 t 'l .ù Íi þ tt I ,. lù ,. Á' I '\' ¡j 'ì\ .: \ f Y \ Y\. -' t\ ATTACHMENT 4 LPC 02-07-19 Page 47 of 48 Morgar Hall [1953) on the University of article, is both Medieval and 'lnodern" California cãmpus and some buildings at "\ '1 the Lawrence Êerkeley Laboratory. He was Pr-esident of tlle Nortirem Cafforsia Chapter oftJ'eAlA [1943-44) a¡d Fellow of tbeAmerica¡ InstÍtute ofÁ¡chitects. Flom for:ld in tuly mediel'al bundjng. 1937 r¡ntjl hÍs retirenent in 1970 Ted Spencer was Ín parbeership ruith Alton læe. Eldridge Theodore Spencer òed i¡- r975. As a¡ architect FJdridge Spencerwas not h:own as a desig:Ler of picturesque arxd romântic cotta€ies, arf,d evenhis other e.:Lormous fireplace all combj¡re on the houses for Otis Ma¡ston not onlyvaried i:l interiorto fi-lriber and enb.arecettre¡oma¡r- style, but were not as finely det¿iled and tic effect. Älso on view are tÏe bed¡oom, crafted. This was cleârly a rrry special tucked behind tJre ñreplace wall and ñ:ll of skuctu¡e, bothÍn st¡rle and execution, for nooks a¡rd crartxies, a.ad the elegant pe- tl:e Ma¡ston fa.mÍly. riod bath¡oom in black, green, and white' The cottage, ¡eferred to as "Eljzabe- The garden was desigped by Laurence tlrân" ìn a Septernber 25, 1960 Clvonícle Fleu¡y in 1980. -*asanSternCettg 2. SPþRRY TXOUSE walled garden. The house effectivelyùrrns its back on tbe steet, but upon erltering, tr 45O lla¡v'thorne Te¡¡ace the glorious views and gardens concealed frenry E. Gutterson, L924-5 Êom tÌe sbeel ¿¡-g ¡e\rgalsd immediately Bî,rce,7992 1450 Hawthorne a.nd thehous6 imms- diatellr fs the north (1440) were builJ by ,1915. James Clarence Sperry, PresÍdent of Mag- connectjlg this bouse with the one next novox Co., a¡d hÍs sister Marion Ma¡sh, door. Tb.e garden fèatu¡es a grove of red- a.fter tbe Fire. Befo¡e Ure Fire a house l¡ad light; the long, wide, wood-paneled inte- fo¡eshadovøs woods tõ the souûr and û-uÍt trees ând stood on the north side of this large lot, set riõr hall is lir from ilrs imFerta.nt "publlc" Tanch stYle' lawn surror:¡rded bY flower beds. back f¡om t]re road, After the Fi¡e the early I950s. Stern CemY Sperrys, who we¡e Uvin.g at 2425 Hee¡st Gutterson was one of the ea¡liest a¡chi- -Srlsan iLf held ín Avenue, pr:rchased this lot. are discreetly"F"ffil¿ spaces in tJris Att.ttLe o be hiddi:a from vierv. trst homes at bebteen Th Av¿lonbrriltin i{igby I plan b steet apartoents above enhanced by a vine cov- Eeory lljgby GuttersoE, the orchitectolW gt4Sq q4.d:tpLexes,borderÙq Rose ered. a¡bor, a¡d at the rear by a lovely WalXtt:oÁa¡ãAiumentberoJtlhefiirstClurcholchr¿s¿ Sc-rent¿sta-s weLLas-apromÍnent gable-roofed pergola. gàrút"u ottâSa¡tF'ranc¡scp'a¡cÍ¡fect GtitersinofendedthetJnítersítg-oJCalíJorniaín 1450 Hawthorne sketches broadlY -th"i;;ígr"År.frt g clciss (1906) of,1\4 a1chlfeg,lte DeporimertJoun'd'edbg Go'ten a-dhalJbath (19 -J-olut- across its iot, and from the steet oûe coat¡oom aretud CALNEIGHBORS I FALLrggs 3 Activist Sylvia Mclaughlin Cares for Berkeley Since the l-ate r95os,lr{orth Berkeley Resident Has Been a Dynamo of Environmental Activism and Concern for the Campus and the Communiq¡ By Sunny Merik Pttrltc.A¡r¿rns It's 9 a.m. l''londay and already Sy-hia Mclaughìin has been pn:ning and weeding her garden- She's iilled Nù'o vâses v¡ith fresh and fragrant roses. done househo-cì chores and sorted telephonìng By I0, she wilihave cornpieted a newspaper intervierv", sel uÞ 2 meering *-ith a woman saeking data on the environmer:tal. movemen¡, and íinabzed plans cc attend a iour-d¡Ly environmentaì con- ference in Sa¡ta Cruz At noon, she'll head for the Berkele,u- cam- pus, rvhere she liI'rs weiglrts three ¡imes a q'eek in the Cal Fit prograrn "l do srength training- lt's a wonderful program," she says, br',ght brown e,u*es frarned b,"- a halo of whíre hai¡. "The people are all so congenial.' For nearly 40 years \fct-aughlin has worked u'ith city oificials and uruversir;- ad- rninistiators tc preserve and improve both the naiural and architectural beaury o[ the area. At 81, she is a local instÍturion, her en- ergy and influence Iegendary ,4. Colorado girì who in the late 40s mar- n¿d UC Berkeley geology* proiessor Donald lr{cL-aughlin, S1'lvia found herself appornted to numerous universiryr and civic conun-rt¡ees once her husband.. forrneril' Dean of the Col- o lege of Engineering, *-as appointed a UC Re- o gem. The commitrees led ro n¿v,'friends, new concerns, and the discol'ery tiut eñironmen- c tal activì-cm suited her enerry and irrteresrs. c Svivia points out that in the late '50s and. earþ'60s, 4O garbage dunps rineed the Bay. Erwironmenal activist Sy'via Mclaughlin takes pride jn her North Berkeley rose ga.rden- "And at night, many o[ ther. vere buming,' slie said. rried, *-orking with both qhe c¡lf and che inemberrumedElorenceMi¡ardworkedçith rnodel of how careful- preservati.on and