Wednesday, January 11, 2017

The Transformation of the Vallejo Adobe into the Nursery's Guest Lodge

LOC. 1937? 
When I look at this photo, I see "Sunset Magazine" and a very modern romantic version of rustic Spanish California.

The adobe was originally built after the secularization of Mission San Jose. Supposedly built by José de Jésus Vallejo for his vaqueros. JJ Vallejo grew wheat and cattle.

According to Charles Howard Shinn, writing in the Oakland Enquirer in 1889, "The late Thomas Scott was a prominent man of Vallejo Mills. He moved there [Vallejo Mills] after a year or two of farming "on the bottom," where he lived in the old adobe still standing on the California Nursery Grounds." 

According to Frances Roeding, Frank Garcia was born in the adobe in 1867. There was a "hole in the middle of the roof, under which the family cooked, so that the smoke could go out, and some fresh air could come in.  Each corner of the structure was used for a different purpose. One corner was used for sleeping, another for storage of supplies, the third for quarters for domesticated fowl and animals, and the fourth for a family chapel."

When John Rock came here in 1884, this was the only building on the 463 acres. Did they live here until they were able to build some housing? It was later used for cold storage and fumigation. It had no windows and had a shake roof. There was a wooden extension on the west side, as seen in the Washington Township book. 

Again from Frances "When George C. Roeding, Jr. took over management of the California Nursery from his father in 1926 the "Old Adobe" was used as a storage shed for late export nursery shipment so that the stock would be kept cold and dormant." It was surrounded by lath houses and sheds on all sides.


The adobe was reconstructed in the early 1930's. Along with that project, the new Retail Center was built (~1933) by Bill Cull. The first 1920s sales center had to be removed when the road to Niles was cut through the nursery property in early 1930.

The 1931 catalog announced  "The building is in a very good state of repair and forms an interesting link between the early Spanish settlement and our present day. The owners soon intend to restore the old dwelling, as far as possible, to its original condition and the grounds surrounding it are being appropriately landscaped."




The Niles Chamber of Commerce launched a campaign several years prior to 1932 to have First Street (now Main Street) connect more directly to the San Mateo bridge. A portion of the nursery was condemned to build the road through the nursery property. The original sales building and sales yard established in the 1920s sat in the path of progress. The nursery had to remove their salesroom, greenhouse and sell some of their nursery stock to make way for this road. 

This actually gave them the chance to integrate the new retail center into the office gardens. 

[So they must have been without been without a salesroom until 1933 when the new retail center was built.]


The 1932 catalog (copyright 1931) invited us to "Visit this Garden Show-place."

"Pictured here is romantic “Old Adobe,” historic reminder of the days of the Dons. Once the scene of lavish Spanish hospitality, “Old Adobe” has been restored to its rightful estate as our guest lodge. We invite you to make it your headquarters when you plan a day’s outing in southern Alameda County. The building was built by Don Jose de Jesus Vallejo, first administrator of Mission San Jose. The land on which it stands, now included in our growing grounds, was part of the original Rancho Arroyo de Alameda, granted by Spain to Don Jose.

"Enchanting as this old structure is, it is but one of the attractions offered you by our nursery at Niles. In the Spring our extensive tulip beds will be a blaze of color. During the months of June, July, and August the vast rose fields with row upon row of roses in bloom is a sight to delight every lover of beauty.

"Large specimen trees, including the two fine Sequoias shown on our back cover, as well as the Show Garden and the gardens surrounding our general offices, are some of the features which make our nursery the garden show-place of Central California." 

First view of the restored "Old Adobe" gardens? in 1932 or 1933 for a panorama [518, skip to 2:18]. 
See Children playing in "In the Garden of Old Adobe" [603, skip to 0:44] 

In what may be the first film of the Tulip Show in 1932  see Frances giving a tour "In Garden of Old Adobe, Our Guest Lodge, Built by Don Jose de Jesus Vallejo, over 100 years ago"  [036, skip to 3:30 then wait to see Frances at 4:00 and Mr. and Mrs. Thane later]  Some clips are here:


















(First view of the new lawn in the 1932 catalog. And a mention of the Landscape Department and the weeping sequoia.)

The June 26, 1932 Oakland Tribune reported that 1100 people visited the Rose Show. "The gardens surrounding the old structure are now a mass of color."

1933 inside cover

The 1933 catalog (not scanned yet). "Wander through our Display Gardens among the new and rare plants and flowers, many of which may be seen here but not elsewhere in the west. Rest within the snug shelter of venerable "Old Adobe's" hospitable walls. This old building is one of California's best preserved early adobe structures. It awaits you as our Guest Lodge, landscaped and furnished in the authentic manner of its period." 

The Display Gardens are not the current day rose garden but the gardens around the office. Those gardens come with the new retail center in 1933.
 

The 1934 catalog (copyright 1933)

"Wander through our extensive grounds, and see the many points of interest within this unusual showplace. The sketch on the front cover of this book is of our Garden Store, new this year, wherein you will find “everything for the garden ”, as well as the headquarters for the Landscape Department. Immediately in
front of the building are the new Show Gardens, which will be the scene of constantly changing displays next Spring and Summer.
The long-famous gardens adjoining our Office Building are more towering specimen trees.

“Old Adobe”, now awaiting you as our Guest Lodge, was once the home of Don Jose de Jesus Vallejo, first administrator of Mission San Jose, and headquarters for the great Rancho Arroyo de la Alameda, from which our County takes its name. New things are to be seen in the intimate garden surrounding this well-preserved old beautiful than ever, with their background of 
And in addition to these centers of interest, 300 acres of living plants and trees, many of them so rare as not to be found elsewhere in the United States, are yours to enjoy. Plan to visit us soon— bring your family and friends. The latch string is always out to you.

Two colorful displays, with literally thousands of blooms presenting a massed color effect not matched by any other western flower display. Held in our outdoor Show Gardens, on our grounds at Niles. 

AN INVITATION
Visit Our
TWO SPRING SHOWS
The Daffodil Show—Early in March, 1934
The Tulip Show —Early in April, 1934

Inside the 1934 catalog

















from Fremont Library.
Larry Lane was a visitor.




Read Frances Roeding's account of the adobe transformation.

Listen to Bruce Roeding and his mother Frances talk about the adobe in this interview with Phil Holmes. Skip to 17:25 or so.

Fred Reimers combined the old and new - added windows and a new door and fireplace.

Johannes, Fred's father, did the landscape around the Old Adobe

George Sr. and Johannes worked together to create Roeding Park. Johannes was a good friend of George Sr.

Larry Lane, of the Lane Publishing Company attended a barbeque at the nursery. Was he inspired by the hospitality of the Old Adobe to later create the Sunset Gardens building in the style of an adobe? [find latest HALS report on Sunset Gardens.]

The flower and bulb show came about as part of the restoration of the adobe. People came to enjoy the landscaping for over 30 years.

After the CAN committee saved the adobe and 20 acres of the park, they installed a memorial bench. The bench is the same as those that were used at the Sunset headquarters, but it was painted over unfortunately. Check the signature of the maker underneath.








The distinguished John McLaren

The Roeding family, John McLaren, and Sandy P.?



















References Projects by Fred Reimers

Articles about Johannes Reimers, his father


original salesyard established in the 1920s

Saved away by Phil Holmes in the Shinn files - the requisite haunted adobe story, not necessarily this one, but owned by a nursery on nursery property. Did Halloween have the same impact on “news” reporting back then as today. All of the details that were in there to make it real - “rolled a cigarette,” the grandson who tells no lies, and the final comment about the owner (un-named) who embraced the haunting. On the old maps there is a second adobe on the California Nursery Company property. Perhaps that was the haunted adobe and not the Vallejo Adobe.
From the San Francisco Call, October 18, 1896











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