Albert Farr's Legacy and the Changing Face of Piedmont

Provided below is Jim K's summary of this week’s walk that he led and attached are the route map, two group photos, photos of Jim talking to the group inside the Piedmont Community Church, and the PCC’s Revere Dan A's talking to the group in the church courtyard.

Another great job by Jim. Thank you, Jim! -Dick

Wednesday Walkers tour Old and New Architecture in the Piedmont City Center

The Piedmont Recreation Department’s Walking on Wednesdays group had an excellent turnout of 58 walkers and six K-9 best friends for their July 8^th walk starting at the Exedra.

Dick Carter kicked things off by thanking people for walking with the group in last week’s July 4^th Parade, and introduced Matthew Hawk, a new participant who was joining the walk that morning.  Announcements done, Dick turned the reins over to Jim K who would lead the walk this morning.

Jim started by noting to the group that the morning’s walk would focus on Old and New Architecture in the Piedmont City Center. Even though we think that the “old” city center was essentially built from about 1900 to 1920, many “new” additions and changes have been made. When done well, the old and new blend together to add to the beauty and value of our city. This morning’s walk would start at the Exedra, proceed to the Piedmont Community Church (PCC) - Albert Farr’s masterpiece built in 1917 - then walk though part of the “upper” city center east of Highland Avenue, Waldo Avenue, Bonita Avenue and conclude at the  Piedmont Community Swimming Pool.

The group started the walk going to and arriving at the beautiful courtyard of Piedmont Community Church. Don A, PCC Associate Pastor, met the group in the courtyard and talked about the heritage of the Church. PCC was formed in 1910 as the first non-denomination Church west of the Mississippi. The original goal, which still applies today, was to be a church that reflected the diversity of Piedmont that was growing and drawing people from all parts of America.

Jim then talked about Albert Farr’s 1917 design, with the Sanctuary and Guild Hall opening onto the courtyard, each with Spanish Mission style bell towers and the Sanctuary with a copper roofed Chancel Dome.  And they are connected together with a mission style arched walkway. Jim noted that new architecture that was not part of Farr’s original design has added significantly to the richness of what is seen today. The first example is the second level Office-Admin wing above the arched walkway. This was designed in 2005 by Piedmont Architects Bill and Vicky Kendrick, in Spanish Mission style with beautiful proportions and detailing that integrates seamlessly with the original building.  The walkers too group photo there.

The group then proceeded into the Sanctuary for a special tour of the beautiful interior space. Jim noted that the Sanctuary is Farr’s original Spanish Mission style with open wood roof trusses, stucco walls, and Spanish carved wood detailing. But there are several new elements that add to the richness of what we see today.

First is the stunning new stained glass leaded window collection on the Sanctuary side walls,  designed and built by James Hubbell in 1998 to replace the original windows that were showing old age. Hubbell was a famous designer using organic free-form style to “weave art and beauty into our lives from what we see”. His notable work includes the Sea Ranch Chapel on Route 1, built in 1985. And the large Narthex Psalm 23 stained glass window is also a new window redesigned in 2017. The window’s original stained glass was falling out of the lead frames and onto the floor. Something had to be done! Jim designed the new window with the intent of recalling the original but also bring it forward to current times. The leaded stained glass work was done by The Hyland Studio, in Santa Clara, which is one of the few remaining stained glass artisans in Northern California.

Next is the large projecting bay at the Chancel Choir Loft, under the Chancel Dome, which was added to the church in 2005 as part of the second floor remodel by Bill and Vicky Kendrick. This bay also includes three new octagonal Chancel stained glass windows designed by James Hubbell. And last is the Church Grand Organ. The original organ in Farr’s design was free-standing in the corner of the Narthex next to the Psalm 23 window. The church decided in 1957 that a Grand Organ was needed, and it was built to order by Mathias P Moller. The new Grand Organ includes 8 inch diameter and 32 foot high pipe ranks which are all installed in a dedicated wood sound box behind the Chancel side wall screen.

The story of Mathias Moller begins with immigration to America from Denmark in 1892 and settling in Hagerstown, Maryland. The M P Moller shop built many Grand Organs throughout America including the West Point Academy, Naval Academy, and Air Force Academy Chapel organs.  M P Moller is also famous for the “Mighty Mo Organ” in the Atlanta Fox Theater built in 1929. This just goes to show that immigrants to America can add significant value to our culture.

However, the church found that in due course all good things get old. In 2018, it was clear that the console keys were sticking, the air bellows were wheezing, and the pipes were leaking. A complete restoration was required, and it was done by Hupalo and Repasky Master Organ Builders in San Francisco, who are one of the very few qualified organ builders still in existence on the West Coast. Jim noted that the walkers had the opportunity to poke their heads into the wood sound box on the side of the Chancel and see the internal parts and pipes of a Grand Organ – and they lined up to take a peak!

The group was then off down Highland Avenue to their next stop on the walk. They paused at 1900 Oakland Avenue, the Rackcliffe-Coffin House, built in 1899. Jim noted that this is the most beautiful example of a Queen Anne style home in Piedmont, but it’s not all original. The house includes a new second story addition, built in 2014, designed by Piedmont architect Grier Graff. The new addition integrates perfectly with the original Queen Anne and the group was very surprised to learn all that is seen is not part of the original house.

The group then turned north on Hardwick Avenue and stopped at 19 Hardwick, built in 1911, to study the very interesting American Foursquare plan combined with two high pitched gable roofs on each side of the front door.

The group moved on to 505 Blair, built in 1940. Jim talked about this house as a perfect example of Monterey style, a 20^th Century revival of “old” Spanish Mission. The style was initiated in Los Angeles between 1928 and 1943 and represented a nostalgic western appeal. The Monterey style includes predominately horizontal proportions, projecting second floor balcony over the front entry, a low slope gable tile roof, and heavy hand-hewn wood detailing. This house even includes a Spanish style parabolic shaped picture window adjacent to the entry. The walkers thought it was worthy of a second group photo.

Monterey style also included furnishing the house with Mason Monterey furniture, also created in Los Angeles at the same time. This style was typically made with Alder wood, and was hand painted with floral-western decoration. Jim added that if you can locate authentic Mason Monterey furniture now, it can be worth quite a large sum. Jim also pointed out that the Monterey style expanded its popularity from support by Hollywood stars including Will Rogers, Gene Autry, Tom Mix, Clark Gable, and Walt Disney.

The group then continued uphill on Pala Avenue to Monte Avenue and stopped at 122 Monte, built in 1918. This house includes beautiful front yard landscaping, American Foursquare layout with a large, enclosed sun-porch, and roof mounted triple bull’s eye windows. Then there was 110 Monte, the Hunt House, built in 1907. It is listed in Anne Swift’s Cottages and Castles book as an outstanding Spanish-Mission style home.

The group turned west on Park Way and Jim noted two interesting homes along the way. 506 Park Way was built in 1905 and represents the best Berkeley Arts and Crafts home in Piedmont. But it became “old fashioned” and the style was replaced shortly afterwards by the house across the street at 503 Park Way, built in 1915. The “new architecture” is a beautiful two story estate home with horizontal proportions, low-slope hip roof with extended overhangs, and horizontal band wood trim to represent the beginning of the 20^th Century Prairie School design.

The next stop was Waldo Avenue. Jim described Waldo as the end of an era for Piedmont City Center. In its early days, Piedmont was thought of as “Queen of the Hills” with somewhat densely packed elite homes surrounded by pastoral farmland and panoramic vistas. The Waldo property; from Park Way to Blair and Vernal Avenue (Highland Avenue today) to the backyards of houses on Bonita Avenue, was part of farmland owned by Walter Blair, and the only parcel of pastureland west of Vernal.  Blair’s daughter Florence Blair inherited the property and she continued to use it a pastureland until she died in 1925. That was the end of the old pastoral landscape attached to Piedmont’s City Center. The parcel was developed as a “new neighborhood”, Waldo Avenue, and all of the homes were built within a two year period by 1928. The plan made use of consistent front yard setbacks and two-story massing that melded together varying colors and styles to become a very popular neighborhood that integrates well into today’s Piedmont City Center.

The group continued its trek south on Bonita past several other notable old Piedmont homes, then past Havens School built in 2010 and designed by Piedmont architect Mark Becker. Havens is the perfect example of new architecture that utilizes traditional Spanish Mission Revival style to create a beautiful neighborhood school that’s seamlessly integrated into Piedmont’s City Center.

The group then concluded their walk with a stop at the observation deck and sitting area, which is available for use by everyone, at the north end of the Piedmont Community Swimming Pool. The group used this as an opportunity for a brief rest and time to admire the spectacular view of the new pool facility, which was greatly appreciated by all!