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Hamlin House History – Sky Hy Ranch Beginnings

Most homes, remodeled or not, have one distinct beginning – the year they were built. Lafayette’s historic Hamlin House, though, has two.

Its first beginning occurred in 1941, when this custom, Spanish-style house commissioned by Federal Judge O.D. Hamlin stood alone atop the highest peak of the 200 acre parcel the Hamlin family had owned since 1871.

The second “beginning” happened 30+ years later, after Judge Hamlin sold the house and 45+ adjoining acres to Stekoll Development Company and Fidelity Savings, who then used the combination to create Sky Hy Ranch, Lafayette’s first-ever gated community.

Sky Hy Ranch Original Subdivision Map - 1970s Lafayette CA

Gayle Uilkema and her family were the first to buy in Sky Hy Ranch, purchasing the Hamlin House, the cornerstone of the new development. The original square sales brochure she kept is 1970s mustard brown and has a matching insert for Hamlin House (Sky Hy Ranch, lot #30) that displays the home’s floor plan on one side and describes key features on the reverse, starting with this introduction:

“The country estate of Judge Hamlin has been carefully restored to keep its original old world charm: pegged oak floors, beamed ceilings, beautiful grounds; yet offers all the modern conveniences. The home is shielded with full growth trees which adds to its basic privacy.”

The Hamlin House’s  “modern” 1970s conveniences included the developers’ pre-sale updates — new custom kitchen, landscaping, sprinkler system, updated pool systems, and zoned heating and air conditioning.

 

Sky Hy Ranch Original Sales Brochure 1970s Lafayette CA

“What’s fun about the brochure is the story it tells about the developers’ vision for Sky Hy Ranch,” says Lafayette Realtor Dana Green.

While the Uilkema family bought a finished home, the bulk of the Sky Hy Ranch sales would be builders buying land for spec homes. As a result, the brochure had to rely on the  reader’s imagination. Instead of photos, it’s peppered with architectural pen drawings depicting sun-filled open concept living spaces with clean-lined modern furniture.

“Sky Hy Ranch… a peninsula of classically beautiful homes,” the brochure reads.  “Travel a private drive, pass through a security gate, and discover a mountain top ringed with native oak. Continue on the winding road and note thirty exquisite homes carefully placed on the crown to take advantage of the spectacular views and the trees. You are eight minutes from the town of Lafayette… shops, BART, restaurants, theatres, excellent schools… you are in the world of Sky Hy Ranch.”

It was an imagined world that became a reality and an excellent backdrop for the Hamlin House’s second new beginning.

NOTE: The Hamlin House is currently listed for sale (670 Sky Hy Circle, Lafayette, CA) and will be open Sunday, April 14, 1-4pm. Questions? Contact Dana Green at Dana@DanaGreenTeam.com or 925.339.1918

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