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One of a kind, charming, turn-of-the-century gem with distinctive exterior and updated interior features living room, dining room, mezzanine, kitchen, 2 BR, 1 BA, dressing room, and attic, with rare front yard and back yard with patio. Unique floor plan reveals an open concept living room and dining room with fireplace, bay window, bar, mezzanine, and classic vaulted, beam ceiling. Cozy kitchen boasts new floors and appliances, with a pass through window to the dining room, and entry to the patio. Both bedrooms offer garden views, one bedroom opens to the back yard, while the other connects to a dressing room with stairs to the generous attic. Rustic wood shingle exterior accented by Queen Anne details is setback from the street, providing a large front yard with vibrant lawn, complimented by a back yard with mature trees and patio. Nestled in the Outer Richmond, just steps away from both the neighborhood shops and restaurants on Balboa, as well as, the serenity of Golden Gate Park.
House History and Architectural Significance
When it was built in 1907, the house at 774 35th Avenue would have been one of very few houses scattered on the wind-swept sand dunes of San Francisco's Outer Richmond District. Most of the neighborhood developed decades later in the 1920s and wasn't built out until the 1950s. Even then, empty lots remained, density was low, and the neighborhood was very quiet. Around the turn-of-the-century it would have taken hours by buggy to travel from downtown San Francisco to Ocean Beach along what was called Point Lobos Avenue (now Geary Boulevard).
The house was built and first occupied by Bernhardt H.C. Jurgens, who employed at First National in 1907 as a bank clerk and accountant. Prior to the 1906 earthquake, Jurgens had lived in an apartment at Powell and Market Streets and worked in downtown San Francisco, an area that was reduced to charred rubble. Jurgens' quick move to the peaceful, safe, and intact Outer Richmond, where he built a house on a parcel he already owned. Bernhardt Jurgens sold the property on 35th Avenue by 1909, however; suggesting that it may have been intended more as a savvy post-quake investment than a long-term home.
The next owner and resident was Justitia J.C. Glennie. Justitia was a single woman who was born in Scotland in 1876 and had immigrated to the United States as a child. At the time she purchased the house, she worked as a bookkeeper and later retired. She lived at 774 35th Avenue until 1935.
The next known owner and occupant arrived at the property in the mid to late 1940s and stayed into the early 1960s. His name was Chester W. Harper and he was a salesman for the Formica Insulation Company, and later a general manager for Western Plastics Company. By the late 1960s, the house was occupied by John D. and Elizabeth Dusenbury. John was an employee of the Continental Insurance Company.
Later, in the late 1970s and into the 1980s, Richard G. Spielman, a regional sales manager for Sony, lived in the house.
The house at 774 35th Avenue is a shingled vernacular cottage. “Vernacular” means “of its time and place;” built of local materials applied in straight-forward ways to create a charming, livable home. The house's generous setback from the street is another indication of its early construction. Few like this remain in the city today, making this property a true vestige of early settlement in the outer neighborhoods.
The house is clad with wood shingle, a common siding material of the early-twentieth century when First Bay Tradition (or Shingle style) houses were becoming popular. It exhibits some earlier Queen Anne influence, too, in the hexagonal shinglework in the gable end, showing that it was something of a transitional piece of architecture.
It has a one story form topped by a gable roof and its rustic architectural details include the stone-based square bay window and small hooded window on the primary facade, the shed porch cover extending from the north elevation, simple brageboards at the eaves, and a metal stove pipe. Sometime after 1950, the second gable-roofed mass was added to the north rear corner of the building, expanding what was once an extremely cottage into a more spacious home.
Neighborhood
Stretching the from Golden Gate park to California Street, and from Park Presidio Boulevard to 33rd Ave, you’ll find Central Richmond, a uniquely appealing district that features both residential housing and well-known businesses. Real estate in this neighborhood is centrally located with easy access to great food, historic parks, and all kinds of entertainment.
The restaurant selection is unbeatable, from Asian to French, Italian to Mexican, and more. Plenty of cafes dot Clement Street, one of the areas central corridors where food options will match any preference.
Residents of wide-ranging cultural heritage have come to call Central Richmond home, situated, as it is, between the neighborhoods of Inner Richmond, Sea Cliff, and Golden Gate Park. Historically, the Richmond District was known by the early settlers as “the Great Sand Waste” because it was primarily rolling sand dunes - a barrier between the sea and the growing San Francisco.
Truly an area of great possibilities, Central Richmond is a safe and comfortable neighborhood with no-fuss access to both Golden Gate, and Presido Parks, with the Pacific Ocean less than a mile down the avenue. You’ll find the University of San Francisco, San Francisco State, and the University of California - San Francisco, only a short hop away. And in between, a great selection of entertainment and fun to be found, lining the peaceful, family-friendly streets.
Park adventures, music festivals, spectacular museums, and children’s attractions are just beyond the tree-lined park parameter. Spend the day watching the miniature yachts of Spreckels Lake, or giving your kids time to explore the many playgrounds.
Contact
Robert Moffatt
#1 Listing Agent Richmond DistrictSotheby's International RealtyDRE# 01786315415.722.4038 mobilewww.robertmoffatt.com