A couple of years ago, I glanced out the front window and saw a stranger taking a picture of our house. I opened the front door and said, “This is NOT a Julia Morgan house.”  He lowered his camera and sighed, “But there’s supposed to be a Morgan house in this neighborhood.” Even though the architecture of our house is unique and interesting, sad to say we know that it was not designed by Ms. Morgan. Sure she is credited with 700 buildings in California—but not our house.

Famed architect, Julia Morgan designed the Foothill Club, just around the corner from our house. It’s interesting that she found Saratoga (or it found her) since our little town is still officially called a village. Morgan was based in San Francisco and we are an hour’s drive south. In 1914, that hour was probably more like three. But find Saratoga, she did. The Foothill Club is an Arts and Crafts style building. It’s still a vibrant structure, the backdrop for many social events throughout the year. Wedding receptions are common occurrences.

Julia Morgan designed Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California. During our coastal drive, we stopped by to take a look. It’s not really a castle in the traditional sense, but rather an expression of wealth at the time. It’s expansive and extravagant—just not a castle. Hearst supposedly enticed Morgan with this simple request, “Miss Morgan, we are tired of camping out in the open at the ranch in San Simeon and I would like to build a little something.” She probably tossed that phrase around in her mind . . . “a little something.” So together they designed its 165 rooms, an impressive number, more than a little something, but still not castle-y.

 

A beautiful private home that Morgan designed is a few blocks away. It was originally called The Chauncey Goodrich House (the Hayfield House) and has recently been restored to its original grandeur. It is Morgan’s “California interpretation” of an English country house. Goodrich was a San Francisco lawyer, who commuted into the city from his country home. A local family recently bought it and restored it by duplicating original elements. The new roof is a replica of the original. The position on the property enhances the house. It really is a beautiful place. Although never called a castle, it is certainly large and impressive.

Just across the street diagonally from us is the Saratoga Federated Church. Julia Morgan designed the original. Completed in 1923, the first chapel and Douglass Hall still remain as designed by Morgan, but over time, the church has been expanded. Given Morgan’s work in a variety of styles, it’s often difficult to determine an original Julia Morgan design. It’s easy to walk by or drive by and not even notice a great piece of curbside history.

Having said that, unbeknownst to many, is the most reasonably sized and probably the most intact Julia Morgan house, adhering to most of her original design features. It is small, and unassuming. It certainly is an easy one to miss, but its authenticity is well documented. As a courtesy to our neighbors and since it is a private residence it’s best to let its details remain a mystery.

Two days ago another neighbor passed by as we were working outside. She stopped to chat for a minute and within a few seconds, she announced, “We live over on La Paloma—in the Julia Morgan house.”

I thought for a minute and then pictured the house she was referring to. It’s a Carpenter Gothic style with a huge pitched roof. “Really?!” I said to her, but I secretly thought, “I don’t think so.” It seems that everybody wants a personal brush with greatness—even without evidence to back it up! Ah, but to dream, to imagine!

Posted on March 20, 2011

Related Story