Wolf House (Glen Ellen, California)

For the Wolf House that is part of the Berkeley student coöperative, see Berkeley Student Cooperative § Wolf House.

Wolf House
U.S. Historic district Contributing property
The ruins of the Wolf House
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Nearest city	Glen Ellen, California
Coordinates	38°21′2″N122°32′35″W / 38.35056°N 122.54306°W / 38.35056; -122.54306
Part of	Jack London State Historic Park (ID66000240 [1] [2] )
Added to NRHP	October 15, 1966

Wolf House was a 26-room mansion in Glen Ellen, California, built by novelist Jack London and his wife Charmian London. The house burned on August 22, 1913, shortly before the Londons were planning to move in. ^[3] Stone ruins of the never-occupied home still stand, and are part of Jack London State Historic Park, which has been a National Historic Landmark since 1963.

Planning

In an essay called "The House Beautiful", written in 1906 and published in his 1909 book Revolution and Other Essays, London described his ideal "dream house". He wrote that "Utility and beauty must be indissolubly wedded" and said the house must be "honest in construction, material and appearance". He described modern bathrooms, spacious and well-appointed servant's quarters, easy cleaning and maintenance, good ventilation and ample fireplaces. He predicted that he would build his dream house in seven to ten years. ^[4]

London had purchased a 130-acre (53 ha) farm in the Sonoma Valley in about 1905. He later purchased several adjoining parcels, increasing the size of the farm to approximately 1,200 acres (490 ha). About one third was cultivated, and two thirds was wooded hillsides. He called the property "Wonder Ranch".

Design

London hired San Francisco architect Albert L. Farr to design the home. Farr was a leading exponent of Arts and Crafts architecture in California. The design was described as "rustic and individualistic", and featured a library measuring 19 by 40 feet (5.8 by 12.2 m), and a living room two stories high measuring 18 by 58 feet (5.5 by 17.7 m). ^[5] In response to London's wish for modern amenities, Farr's plans included a water heater, electric lighting, refrigeration, a built-in vacuum cleaning system, laundry facilities including a "steam dryer rotary wringer", and a wine cellar. ^[5] Mindful of the severe damage caused by the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, London and Farr incorporated great strength and durability into the design of the structure.

A 1987 study by a group of architectural historians said that Wolf House "can be thought of as a combination of one of Greene and Greene's 'ultimate bungalows' of Southern California and one of the great lodges of the Adirondack mountains". ^[3]

The house was 15,000 square feet (1,400 m²), with 26 rooms and nine fireplaces. ^[3]

Construction

Construction began late in 1910 as stones were blasted and trees cut. London hired Italian stonemason Natale Forni (1871–1948) as foreman for the project. He also hired his older sister Eliza London Shepard (1867–1939) as his ranch superintendent, and she was involved in the day-to-day management of the construction. ^[3]

The structure of the home was built of five primary materials, all obtained locally: Coast Redwood logs with bark intact, boulders, chunks of volcanic rock blasted out of the ground and otherwise unquarried, blue slate, and concrete. ^[5]

Fire

Construction of Wolf House was almost complete and the Londons were planning to move in when a fire began late on the night of August 22, 1913. The fire spread rapidly and gutted the interior of the house, although the massive masonry walls remained standing. The red tile roof collapsed into the interior. ^[3] Although arson was suspected, no strong evidence was ever discovered.

The fire had a profound effect on those most involved in the project. Jack's sister Eliza wept that night. Charmian London later wrote that Eliza was "scarred to her soul" and that the foreman Forni was "like a father who had lost his child, and in danger of losing his reason". ^[6] His wife also wrote that "the razing of his house killed something in Jack, and he never ceased to feel the tragic inner sense of loss". ^[6]

Aftermath

Wolf House ruins

Financial losses were estimated at $35,000 to $40,000. London had several insurance policies on the home, and collected $10,000 in claims. The National Union Fire Insurance Company later featured a thank you letter written by London in an advertising campaign. ^[3]

Jack London pledged to rebuild the house, and his workers began to cut fresh redwood logs, which had to be dried and cured for 18 months before reconstruction could begin. However, London's health declined, and he died three years and three months after the fire, on November 22, 1916. ^{[7] [8]}

Charmian London continued living at Beauty Ranch until her death in 1955, settling eventually into a home she called "The House of Happy Walls", about half a mile (800 m) from the Wolf House ruins. There she protected her husband's legacy and wrote a biography of him. Her home is now a museum. ^[3] Both Jack and Charmian London are buried at Beauty Ranch, as is Jack's sister Eliza. ^[3]

Heirs of the London family donated the property to the State of California in 1960. The Wolf House ruins were designated a California Historical Landmark in 1959, and a National Historic Landmark in 1963. Steel bracing was added to the masonry structure in 1965 to prevent deterioration. Although the interior of the ruins is fenced off, visitors can walk up to the exterior walls of the structure.^{[ citation needed ]} Wolf House was one of the first ones to be added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966, because of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 which was signed that same day.

In 1995, a forensic analysis of the cause of the fire was completed by a team of ten experts led by Robert N. Anderson, a retired engineering professor from San Jose State University. Various possible causes were ruled out. The day had been very hot, but there was no lightning. The investigators found no evidence of arson, or of an electrical fire, since the generator had not been installed. Instead, they identified spontaneous combustion as the most likely cause. Earlier on the day the fire started, a linseed oil finish was being applied to the "magnificent" oak and walnut interior cabinets and woodwork. ^[3] Workers had previously been rebuked for carelessness with the flammable finishing materials. The fire probably started in oil-soaked cotton rags, in the ground floor dining room, below the library and Jack London's work room. Some of the windows had not yet been installed, allowing free air flow to feed the fire. The fire probably ignited the wood floor first, then spread to the wood wall paneling. By the time the fire was discovered, it was out of control. ^[9]

References

• San Francisco Bay Area portal

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
2. Cecil McKithan (October 7, 1977). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Jack London Home and Ranch / Jack London State Historic Park" (pdf). National Park Service.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help) and Accompanying two photos, from 1977  (32 KB)
3. Hayes, Gregory W.; Atkinson, Matt (2010). Jack London's Wolf House. Glen Ellen, California: Falcon Books and Valley of the Moon Natural History Association. ISBN   9780615426006.
4. London, Jack (1909). Revolution and Other Essays (web (public domain) ed.). New York City: Macmillan Publishers, republished by Sonoma State University. Archived from the original on January 31, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
5. James, George Wharton (May 1917), "A Study of Jack London in His Prime", Overland Monthly , LXIX (5)
6. London, Charmian (1921). The Book of Jack London, Volume II. New York City: The Century Company.
7. "Jack London Dies Suddenly On Ranch". nytimes.com. November 23, 1916. Retrieved September 22, 2011. Novelist is Found Unconscious from Uremia, and Expires after Eleven Hours. Wrote His Life of Toil—His Experience as Sailor Reflected In His Fiction—'Call of the Wild' Gave Him His Fame." 'The New York Times,' story datelined Santa Rosa, Cal., Nov. 22; appeared November 24, 1916, p. 13. States he died 'at 7:45 o'clock tonight.'
8. "Jack London's death certificate, from County Record's Office, Sonoma Co., Nov. 22, 1916". The Jack London Online Collection. November 22, 1916. Archived from the original on April 27, 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2014.
9. Ybarra, Michael (February 4, 1996), "Discovering An Answer In the Flames", New York Times

External links

• Jack London State Historic Park - Wolf House
• The Wolf House - Jack London State Park at Atlas Obscura