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| From The Arts & Crafts Society A Sears Hazelton. |
There is a letter in the archives written by Frances Roeding. It says that Maybeck's granddaughter said the house could have been built by Maybeck. For those of us who are familiar with Maybeck houses, this is a source of puzzlement.
Maybeck's houses generally do not look like a kit bungalow.
[Several alternatives have been suggested. There is a similar house in Albany/Berkeley which was built by a Maybeck worker. And that the Sears Hazelton was patterned after an existing bungalow, which could have been a popular pattern.]
There are a great many similarities with the Sears Hazelton (available from 1911 to 1922) Except that there isn't a remainder of any of the beautiful woodwork that goes with the Hazelton. The house was gutted at one time. Did all of the woodwork disappeared with the copper wires?
Maybe some of the historic photos would tell.
The local lore is that it was built in 1907 as a place to stay for President Landers after the earthquake. But that begs questions:
First of all, who was Landers? There were two Landers involved with the nursery: William J. Landers (father) and William H. Landers (son).
William J. Landers was an insurance man who worked in San Francisco. He owned a big (x%) share of the nursery at one time. When? In the 1906-1907 catalog, he is listed as President and until 1908-1909 where his death is announced. In the 1907-1908 and the 1909-1910 catalog, his son is listed as one of the directors, not a president.
In the beginning 1884
Nursery Company. Articles of incorporation of the California Nursery Company were filed. San Francisco was to be the principal place of business. The Directors were John Rock and Richard D. Fox of San Jose, William J. Landers and Thomas Meherin of San Francisco, and James Hutchinson of Oakland. The capital stock of the concern is $100,000, $91,000 having been subscribed. Thomas Meherin was an agent for B.S. Fox and then for John Rock. James Hutchinson?
SF Fire
Note that the Master Plan says that this house was built for Landers in 1907. However, he was ill in 1907 and traveling around the US and Europe. Why would he build a house when he has other homes and was ill?
William J. Landers passed in 1908.
Local lore is that he was electrocuted, but this article says it was the "Shock of Catastrophe" from the 1906 fire (earthquake), not that he was electrocuted. "Nervous prostration" is the cause, which, if you google the term, it is a nervous breakdown. The old-time treatments for nervous prostration were many including cold water treatments, diet, exercise, and arsenic.
Life as an insurance man, after the SF fire, must have been quite stressful as you can see from the news articles.
W.J. Landers Buried
Landers was survived by his wife, two sons, William Herbert and Marsden H. Landers, and two daughters, Eleanor C. Landers and Berenice Landers Johnston. The remains were placed in a vault in Mountain View cemetery.
LEAVES WIFE HALF OF HIS $500,000 ESTATE
W. J. Landers' Will Give's Children Equal Shares in $250,000 of Property
OAKLAND. Feb. 17 - The will of William J. Landers, an insurance man and capitalist of San Leandro, whose death occurred in Santa Barbara recently, was filed for probate today. It disposed of an estate consisting of real property and securities in this county, the value of which was estimated at $500,000. He bequeathed half of his estate to his wife, Carrie Landers, who also is given a life insurance policy for $30,000. The remainder will go to four children. His sons, William Herbert and Marsden Landers, will their shares at once, but, the portions alloted to his daughters, Berenice L. Johnston and Eleanor Landers, will be held in trust for them by the Mercantile trust company of San Francisco, which was named as executor.
W.H. Landers
W.H. Landers was listed on the board of directors in 1908, after his father died?
W.G. Pamanteer was listed as "banker" in 1906 Voter Registrations
Carrie M. Landers, from Ancestry.com
Mrs. Landers outlived her husband for 48 years!
Other clues from nursery records
The local lore is that it was built in 1907 as a place to stay for President Landers after the earthquake. But that begs questions:
- He had a place in San Leandro and in Santa Barbara. Even if his offices were wrecked in the 1906 fire, why would he build a place at the nursery?
- He wasn't a nurseryman, so being at the nursery doesn't seem necessary. But maybe business wise it was important? Where's the proof?
- Why would he stay here instead of the lovely Belvoir Springs Hotel up the hill if he had the money?
- This is what Maybeck was building in 1907. The yellow house doesn't look like a Maybeck.
- The Roeding family bought the nursery in 1918. Did they build it? No? (Pacific Rural Press, Volume 96, Number 3, 20 July 1918)
- If so, then was it a 1917 Sears kit house? Or plans? Or as a Sears kit expert said, this type of house could have been popular in the area and was used as a pattern for Sears later?
- Beaverboard is one indication of a Sears kit house and there is beaverboard in the house. Also checking under the sink will give an indiciation and looking for stamps on wood.
- There was a Mrs. Landers who lived here, apparently. Who was she? wife, sister? sister-in-law?
First of all, who was Landers? There were two Landers involved with the nursery: William J. Landers (father) and William H. Landers (son).
William J. Landers was an insurance man who worked in San Francisco. He owned a big (x%) share of the nursery at one time. When? In the 1906-1907 catalog, he is listed as President and until 1908-1909 where his death is announced. In the 1907-1908 and the 1909-1910 catalog, his son is listed as one of the directors, not a president.
In the beginning 1884
Daily Alta California, Volume 37, Number 12644, 25 November 1884
Nursery Company. Articles of incorporation of the California Nursery Company were filed. San Francisco was to be the principal place of business. The Directors were John Rock and Richard D. Fox of San Jose, William J. Landers and Thomas Meherin of San Francisco, and James Hutchinson of Oakland. The capital stock of the concern is $100,000, $91,000 having been subscribed. Thomas Meherin was an agent for B.S. Fox and then for John Rock. James Hutchinson?
SF Fire
- 22 March 1906 W. H. Landers, the well known insurance man of San Francisco, who returned from a Journey to the south last week, speaks quite highly of the pleasure the trip afforded
- 13 April 1906 Addition to Sacramento property?
- 18 April 1906 SF Fire and Earthquake
- 21 April 1906 Many register
- 2 May 1906 Adjustment to Losses
- 6 May 1906 "INSURANCE MEN ARE ACTIVELY AT WORK IN OAKLAND OFFICES"
- 2 June 1906 Lack of Harmony Threatens the Bureau of Adjustment
- 16 June 1906 "STATE AND CITY ENGAGE IN A FIGHT FOR POLICY-HOLDERS.
Property Owners Rush Their Proofs of Loss in Conflagration. FEAR RESULT IF THEY DELAY Decide Not to Jeopardize Claims by Relying on Extension." 17 June 1906 Insurance meeting at W.J. Lander's office
- 6 July 1906 spending the summer in their home near San Jose. Niles is "near San Jose" as much as it is "near San Leandro." A check of the San Jose directory would be prudent.
- 20 July 1906 Landers country place "near San Jose"
- 1 Sept. 1906 Landers country place at Wayne near San Jose (ah hah, near Wayne might be near Wayne Station which is near Rock's original nursery was located, near Milpitas and near San Jose)
- 27 November 1906 Southern home
- 21 February 1907 Home in LA?
- 2 March 1907 Del Monte
- 5 July 1907 traveling the continent, taking the waters in Carlsbad
- 3 Nov 1907 wrong landers?
- 5 Nov 1907 returning from Europe
- 15 Dec. 1907 Mrs. and Eleanor Landers in NY
- 6 Feb 1908 "Dies of Shock of Catastrophe" "Nervous prostration"
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| W.J. Landers death was announced in the 1908 catalog |
William J. Landers passed in 1908.
Local lore is that he was electrocuted, but this article says it was the "Shock of Catastrophe" from the 1906 fire (earthquake), not that he was electrocuted. "Nervous prostration" is the cause, which, if you google the term, it is a nervous breakdown. The old-time treatments for nervous prostration were many including cold water treatments, diet, exercise, and arsenic.
Life as an insurance man, after the SF fire, must have been quite stressful as you can see from the news articles.
San Francisco Call, Volume 103, Number 68, 6 February 1908 article says:
W. J. LANDERS DIES FROM SHOCK OF CATASTROPHE Insuranceman, Victim of Nervous Prostration, Succumbs After Long Struggle
A telegram received yesterday at the office of the London assurance company brought word of the death at Santa Barbara of William J. Landers, for 39 years an insuranceman of this city and since 1902 manager of the San Francisco branch of the London company. He died Wednesday morning. Mrs. Landers and her two daughters were with him.
Landers death is supposed to have been caused by nervous prostration, from which he had suffered since the fire. At that time his health was completely broken and he seemed unable to recuperate. Last April he went to Europe with his family in the hope that the travel and the change of climate would benefit him, but when he returned a month ago he was abliged to leave immediately for Santa Barbara under orders from his physician.
Landers was 57 years old and was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. He came to San Francisco in 1869 for the insurance firm of Faulkner, Bell & Co. From 1876 to 1894 he was general agent for Balfour, Guthrie & Co.'s Imperial company, and then went to the Imperial of London. In 1902 he became manager of the London assurance company.
Four children are living, Mrs. J. G. Johnston of Los Angeles, Eleanor, W. H. Landers of this city, and Marsden Landers of Ontario, Canada. The funeral probably will be held Sunday from the Landers home at San Leandro. Landers was a member of the Bohemian and Union clubs.
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W.J. Landers' Obituary in the
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W.J. Landers Buried
OAKLAND, Feb. 9. — The funeral of William J. Landers, insurance man, capitalist and clubman, was held from the family home in San Leandro this morning. Dr. J. K. McLean, president of the Pacific Theological institute of Berkeley, presided at the services. Pall bearers were: Harry W. Meek, W. V. Eberly, J. R. Burnham. S. A. Brooks, Charles E. Palmer, William E. Lutz, A. A. Moore and E. B. Stone.
1907 Oakland Directory
William H. Landers was a mining engineer.
Pacific Coast Agent London Assurance Corporation and Niagra Fire Co."
LEAVES WIFE HALF OF HIS $500,000 ESTATE
W. J. Landers' Will Give's Children Equal Shares in $250,000 of Property
OAKLAND. Feb. 17 - The will of William J. Landers, an insurance man and capitalist of San Leandro, whose death occurred in Santa Barbara recently, was filed for probate today. It disposed of an estate consisting of real property and securities in this county, the value of which was estimated at $500,000. He bequeathed half of his estate to his wife, Carrie Landers, who also is given a life insurance policy for $30,000. The remainder will go to four children. His sons, William Herbert and Marsden Landers, will their shares at once, but, the portions alloted to his daughters, Berenice L. Johnston and Eleanor Landers, will be held in trust for them by the Mercantile trust company of San Francisco, which was named as executor.
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San Francisco Call, Volume 103, Number 80, 18 February 1908 |
W.H. Landers
W.H. Landers was listed on the board of directors in 1908, after his father died?
OFFICERS:
H W. Meek, President. John H. Henn, Secretary.
A. C. Hammond, Vice-President. Central Bank, Oakland, Treasurer. W. V. Eberly, Manager.
DIRECTORS:
W. G. Palmanteer, Oakland. Egbert B. Stone, Elmhurst.
Horry W. Meek, San Lorenzo. John H. Henn, San Francisco.
A. C. Hammond, San Francisco. W. H. Landers, San Francisco.
W. V. Eberly, Niles.
A.C Hammond is listed as "Central Bank" here.
Horry Wert Meek was born in Oregon, farmer in San Lorenzo, orchardist in the 1900 census
Egbert B. Stone, contractor in 1900 census.
Carrie M. Landers, from Ancestry.com
Mrs. Landers outlived her husband for 48 years!
Carrie Maud Henn LandersOH! Was Carrie related to John H. Henn? Maybe? Great Register Years: 1879-1888 he is listed as in the insurance business. And the 1880 census lists him as father-in-law to Wm. J. Landers!
| Wm. J. Landers | 28 | Self (Head) |
| Carrie Landers | 25 | Wife |
| Bernice Landers | 2 | Daughter |
| John H. Hern | 55 | Father-in-law |
| Bernice Hern | 50 | Mother-in-law |
Other clues from nursery records
- March 20 to 31, 1917 Ah Yen and Ah Leon cultivating.
- April 4 Mrs. C.M. Landers Planting Roses
- April 20 to May 29 Carrie M. Landers; Planted lawn and watered, planting "Tichler here" ?
- June 8, 1917 Carrie M. Landers; Two hours watering
- June 18, 1917 William H. Landers, San Jose, order of fern and palm
Checking records
These years were checked from 1915 to 1917 in Building and Engineering News for building the house.
Comparison of Yellow House and Hazelton:
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| Many differences, but many similarities |
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| Is This Gordon-Van Tine's Lookalike to the Sears Hazelton: No. 573 / 517? |
Beaverboard?
- 1917 advertisement for Beaverboard in Keith's magazine. First created in Buffalo, NY, in 1907.
- It is similar but many differences too. Upon viewing without knowing anything I would say no, its not from Sears. This is likely a pattern home. They purchased a stock plan somewhere and built the home. This was a very popular bungalow design and it was widely available from many sources. A few companies who marketed bundled materials and also included blueprints acquired use of this stock plan. Gordon Van Tine and Sears both did. It was popular for them. We have termed this method of materials purchase as "kit homes". Knowing the location and year. No. It predates the Sears Modern Homes program. It also predates when they first offered this design, which BTW, I'm pretty sure it came from a west coast architect as most of the bungalows offered as " kit "homes" did. And there are no known or authenticated homes from Sears in California. The freight charge would be too high to be worth it when there were plenty of resources right there. Blog posts that that show what kit home companies did as far as borrowing designs and blueprints:
- Sears Hollywood
- Free Bungalow and who won the Free Bungalow
- How plans were acquired and used (stock plans) Patterns used by Sears
- This one in Seattle The proof all together!
- Here’s another that I think really shows how plans were acquired and used (stock plans) Popular bungalow patterns used by Sears
- California Kit Homes Part 1
- Sears Honor Built Homes book! 1920s, but very informational
What's this all about Maybeck?
- Finding Aid UC
- This home in Albany that is similar looking but was roundly scoffed at by Maybeck scholar. The Albany librarian checked into this and said "I spoke to some of my colleagues, and apparently you're not the first person to ask about this. One of our Friends of the Library volunteers is also active in the Historical Society; awhile back she spoke to Ed McManus, the donor of the photo, about how/ why this is in the catalog as "Maybeck House." He confirmed that the builder of the house was a Maybeck employee, possibly a draftsman. Unfortunately he has no special knowledge beyond that. While it is recognized as being of that same style, he can't provide any assurance that Maybeck himself had anything to do with the home."
How to look up homes
- Records
- Find the History of a Home
- Parcel number 507-68-04 or 507-68-05
The City's reports
From Garden Store DPR form _ revised FINAL[1]
"During the tenure of the next owner, William J. Landers, from 1899 to 1917, the business was still managed by John Rock until his death in 1904, and subsequently by William V. Eberly. Four of the buildings standing on the property today were built during the Landers-Eberly era: the office building, restroom, and President’s house all built around 1907, and the packing shed built about 1910 when the Western Pacific Railroad built a line through the property."
Note that the WP railroad is now the BART line. There was no railroad built through the packing shed. The tracks were for the carts for packing plants.
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